The Hardest Part Is Letting Go Of Your Dreams

That night as I tuck Ruby into bed I ask "Did you have fun at play group baby?" She smiles and says "They had lots of toys daddy." "Yeah they did baby. So you had fun?" "Yeah" she answers before saying "I don't like the mean lady daddy." "Why is she a mean lady baby?" "She yells a lot, I don't like her." "I didn't hear her yell Rubes." Ruby just frowns at me and says "Don't like her." "Ok then, that's alright, you don't have to like her. You want a story?" Ruby nods her head and smiles again and I cross the room, picking out a book before kneeling by the bed and reading to her, completely confused. After Ruby's asleep I go back into the living room and sit on the couch beside Frank. "So Ruby says she doesn't like the woman from play group because she yells a lot." Frank looks at me confused before saying "She didn't yell." "I know right? I don't know what's going on, Ruby's never been like this before." Frank wraps his arm my waist and pulls me into his side before saying "Maybe it's just a phase?" I shrug and snuggle into his side, resting my head on his shoulder. The next week we take Ruby back to play group and she looks wary when we enter but she spots her little friend from last week and takes off across the room to play. Frank and I sit to the side again, drinking coffee and talking when I hear a familiar voice scream out "No." I look over to see Ruby cowering away while the woman from last week kneels infront of her. Frank rushes over and tries to defuse the situation but Ruby holds her arms out and says "No daddy" before starting to cry. He bends down and picks her up, gently rocking her from side to side as she buries her face in his neck and he whispers in her ear. They make their way over to me and Frank sits beside me with Ruby in his lap. "What's up baby girl?" I ask and she pulls her face out of his neck and says "Bad lady daddy." I sigh before deciding to put an end to my mental torture for the last week, standing up and walking over to the woman. "Hi could I talk to you for a moment?" I ask and she smiles and nods, leading me to an office. Once we're both in she closes the door and tells me to take a seat. "So I want to apologise for my daughter, I'm not really sure what's going on here but I also need to ask, do you know her?" A look of fright crosses her face for a brief second before she puts on a calm facade. "No I can't say I do" she tells me and I narrow my eyes before saying "Well I asked her about it and she told me you yell a lot, now we've only been here once and I was here the whole time so where did she get that from?" "She's a child, I'm assuming she's around four, children that age have quite the imagination." I sigh and nod before standing up again. "Well again I'm sorry for her behaviour" I say, making my way to the door. "It's quite alright, she'll get used to me" she assures me and I smile and nod before leaving the room. When I reach Frank and Ruby I tell them we're leaving and they get up, following me out the door. Once we're out on the street I stop and kneel down, grabbing Ruby by the shoulders. "Rubes baby do you know that lady?" Ruby nods her head and says "She's mean daddy, she yells and it makes me scared." "How do you know her baby?" Ruby shrugs her shoulders and Frank scoffs before saying "Come on babe, it's just silliness." I look into Ruby's eyes and say "Did she hurt you?" Ruby shakes her head and says "No she just yells, the other lady did." "What other lady baby?" I ask and her bottom lip starts to quiver before tears roll down her cheeks. "Shh baby it's ok, daddy won't let anyone hurt you" I coo at her as I pick her up and cradle her to my chest. Her little hands fist around my shirt as she cries into my neck and I whisper soothing things into her ear until she calms down and lets out a little hiccup. "You're ok baby I promise" I tell her softly before settling her on my hip and continuing to walk home.

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