Once upon a Friday night, while Avril slept, just out of sight, Daddy crept in with a blanket in tow, and covered her up from her toes to her nose.
"She sniffled and shifted, this new weight detected, and her eyes popped open, baby blues drifted. She glared up at Daddy, and with several kicks, sent the blanket flying off her to show she was ticked. "No Daddy! No way! Don't put that on me. There's no way, no sirrie, you'll put a blanket on me."
"Avril Patricia," Daddy shushed calmly, "The temperature's dropping and Mommy is snoring. It is time to go to sleep but your good health we need to keep." He slid the blanket back up to her chin. "This will protect you, from drafts and from wind."
"What about bad dreams?" Avril asked with a frown, afraid of the shadow pressed low to the ground. "For bad dreams I prescribe that Daddy stay asleep by your side. I will protect you from ghouls and from goblins. From monsters and Munsters and big wooly moths."
"I'm still not convinced that this blanket is worth it. It's scruffy and scratchy and all around stuffy." Avril plucked the blanket from up off the floor. "I tell you this color far too much of a bore." "The color doesn't matter." Daddy breathed in quite deeply, "It will still keep you warm, now I'm getting sleepy. I am sure it's past your bedtime, my dear." "I can't Daddy, not yet, for I haven't said prayer."
Avril and Daddy knelt down by the bed. "Lord Jesus please bless me and know that I love you. Protect me from Daddy and his stupid old blankey." "Are you done?" Daddy grit with his jaw locked up tight. "But I need a glass of water to last me through the night." "One glass of water, and then off to bed." "I tell you the truth, now go! Straight ahead!"
With her prayers all sent and her water all drank, Avril had thought all the diversions she could think. With her head hung down low and her lips in a frown, she sighed, "I guess I'm ready to go down."
Daddy and Avril laid down together, for he promised to sleep close, right beside her. He pulled up that blanket, that ratty, heavy thing, and Avril decided it was not as bad as it seemed. The blanket was cozy, and in Daddy's arms, she soon drifted to sleep, under the blanket's new charms.
THE END