Tall Tales and Fables

 He noticed her sitting by herself across the yard at the picnic table in the backyard when he brought the trash receptacles in from the curb. His little darlin' completely unaware of his audience seemed enthralled in her activity. Jason, home from a long day of work and errand made his way toward his her.

"Hey there, Angel! Whatcha doin?" he smiled as he cupped a hug from behind her and kissed her on the top of her head.

"Just coloring" she said cheerfully.

"Is Papa inside?" Jason inquired. 

"Yes Daddy. He's making dinner. He's we're having pot roast for dinner. with green beans. I don't like green beans, they're yucky." she sneered with silly disgust.

"I tell you what Baby girl, if you eat 5 green beans for Daddy, I will read you a bed time story tonight. Dop we have a deal?" Jason bargained. Knowing full well that he planned on reading her a bedtime anyway. 

"Deal!" she shot a smile!

"Whatcha coloring?" he asked as he took a seat next to her.

"A unicorn."

"Did Daddy ever tell you the story about how he caught a unicorn when he was in the Marines?"

"You DID? Where did he go?" she asked, eyes wide with disbelief.

"Well, a long time ago, before you and your and your brother were born and long before your Papa and I met, I was travelling in Japan with my buddies. We were looking for the trail to the magical Rainbow Unicorn that lived in the deep forests of the Yakinoma Valley. I was deep on the trail of glitter and rainbows when I saw him drinking from a pond. I had been seperated from my buddies and new that if I didn't take my chance, he would get away, So I pounced and captured him without hesitation!"

"Was he scared Daddy?" she giggled.

"Oh he tried to buck me off of him and trow me into the water, but I was strong and resiliant and I was able to tame him almost immediatelty."

"And happened then."

"I sat on his back, stroking his mane! It was as beautiful as a rainbow. And then, almost as clear as day, I could hear voice. The unicorn spoke to me."

"Unicorn's can talk Daddy?" still flabbergasted, Hannah kept attentive to herr father's story.

"Oh absolutely, Honey! He said to me, if you let me go, If you let me go, I will grant you three wishes."

Hannah inhaled excited "what did you wish for?"

"Well, first I wished for Papa. And he said so be it. And then I asked for CJ. And he said. Whatever your heart desires, But then, do you know what my last wish was for?"

She shook her head.

"I wished for the most the most beautiful angel in the world with eyes like her Papa. Sometimes the temperament of her Daddy. And the wisdom of her family. And he gave me you. And my heart was full. I had used all three of my wishes on everything I had ever wanted." 

"What happened to the unicorn, Daddy?"

"As we agreed, I let him go."

"I want a unicorn of my very own. Daddy. Maybe he will grant me three wishes. I would wish that I didn't have to eat green beans tonight!" she said with a laugh.

Jason let out a hilarious roar and scooped up his baby with a hug and a kiss.

"Daddy, will you push me on the swing for a bit?" she asked.

"Sure Punky, but just for a bit. I know Papa is probably waiting for us to get inside and get cleaned up and get ready for dinner."

Jason gently pushed her from behind on the swing just enough so that the excitement of being airborne gave her that little sensation in her tummy.