Sammy and Ilna, love you guys to the moon.

REAL McRollers and Readers, thank you, always!

Osmosis

Rollins Condo

DJ grinned at Catherine across the table as they ate dinner. "… and then after school me and Grandpa stopped for a donut on the way to Home Depot." He turned his smile on Joseph. "I got orange juice and he had coffee and we got a new garden hose and some washers to stop the sink from dripping."

"Sounds like you two had a productive afternoon," his mother said.

DJ nodded. "Yeah, and we made dinner being as Grandma and Grandma Ang are eating with some of the book club ladies. Oh, and I helped fix the drip."

"He did a great job, too," his grandfather said proudly and the nine year old sat up straighter on his chair.

"We got extra stickers at school today and I got one for Angie," DJ said before taking a bite of hotdog.

"I know she'll love it." Catherine smiled at his never ceasing thoughtfulness. "Daddy's picking her up from Ashae's and they're going to go over some self defense before dinner with Uncle Danny."

"Cool," DJ smiled. "Angie's getting so good at it. Even though I know more stuff because I'm older, it's super important all kids learn, right?" He looked between his mother and grandfather, who both nodded.

Catherine leaned over and kissed his head. "Right, my smart boy. We hope we never need them but self-defense skills are important to have."

Beach House

Angie and Steve stood across from each other on the soft sand of their beach as Cammie watched from under a tree a few feet away.

The almost five year old had insisted on donning her The only easy day is yesterday T-shirt. "I'm very very ready to practice defensing myself!" She declared, making Steve smile.

"Defending," he gently corrected and she repeated the word.

"Can I flip you, Daddy?"

He chuckled. "Let's start with some rules, like always. First," he said as he knelt and looked at her enthusiastic expression. "You know how much Mommy, DJ and I, and our whole family loves you and you should never go anywhere without Mommy or me knowing."

"Yes, cause you'd get sad if I was lost."

Steve kissed her cheek, thinking his soul would leave his body if he didn't know where she or DJ were, but he answered, "Exactly right. And there can be danger anywhere so we try to not be in dangerous places, right?"

"Right! Don't go nowhere scary or nowhere without a grown up."

"That's my girl. And if anything or anyone makes you feel scared or gives you a yucky feeling…" he led.

"Run fast and scream, help, this isn't my mommy or daddy! Help!"

"Perfect."

He always taught the kids, starting with Gracie back when she was seven, to avoid danger first and that the option of defending themselves from an attacker when necessary was a last resort.

Starting with a plan of action to outwit or out scream an attacker if they felt unsafe by yelling key words like 'Help me, this is a stranger' instead of just kicking or screaming which could be mistaken for a tantrum.

The very first skill he always went over was how important the kids' presence was because it could prevent them from being singled out as a victim as opposed to projecting an image of confidence.

He ticked off his fingers and Angie followed suit. "Always look where you're going. Pay attention. Tell me or Mommy right away if someone makes you feel scared."

"Okay Daddy." She looked into his eyes and he thought how he hoped she'd always maintain her self confidence.

"Good job," he stood and she followed. "Now let's practice some moves. "You flip me first." He knew that was a highlight for her and he grinned when she turned away. When he placed a hand on the tiny shoulder, she grabbed it, buckled her body and he propelled himself over her and onto the sand.

"Yay!" She beamed as he looked up at her before standing.

"Okay let's do a few more moves."

He went over things some parents would shy away from, concerned they would make their kids fearful, but Steve and Catherine knew were important to know.

After the moves, he said, "If someone grabs you and you can't get away, bite them. Hard. And when they let go, you run."

"Cause they're bad if they try to take kids away."

"Right, baby girl. That's right. And you are a very good girl, but you don't have to obey adults you don't know. Especially if they tell you to go somewhere or do something that Mommy and I don't know about.

"And don't look for no puppies," Angie repeated what she'd been instructed in the past.

"Good job. If a grown-up says their puppy or kitty or even their goat got lost and they want you to help look for it, or they want to show you some animals you say no, you run and you tell me or Mommy right away."

"Cause it's a trick?"

"Where'd you hear it called that?" He questioned.

"DJ teached me." She nodded seriously. "He said some bad guys trick kids. And kids gotta tell so you can catch dem."

Steve smiled at his son always doing his best to keep his little sister safe without scaring her. "And your brother is exactly right." He offered a hand and she took it.

"Next time we'll practice some new stuff. For now," he lifted her into a hug. "Who's my big girl who did a great job?"

She threw both arms up. "Me!"

While walking back to the house, Angie squealed when she saw her godfather coming onto the deck. "Uncle Danno!"

"Angie!" He called back with a smile.

"We was practicing self defencing and I flipped Daddy an' ran zigzag!"

"Of course you did," Danny smiled and lifted her for a hug. When he placed her down and she ran over to Cammie who had gone to sit in her casa, he glanced at Steve. "She still doesn't get concerned, right?"

Steve shook his head. "I think she's understanding more but no, she's not scared. At this age we mostly just want her to be alert and careful."

"And she will be. Hell, she already knows more than most kids, probably through osmosis. I know she's younger than Grace when you started teaching her self-defense, but this is your kid, babe. And Catherine's. She's got a bead on it."

Steve looked at his daughter who was happily telling Cammie how she flipped Daddy and how "You gotta be careful."

Seeing his best friend's knowing smile he waved at his little girl when she looked his way before turning back to continue repeating her lesson to their contentedly listening dog.

Smiling to himself he thought how Catherine asked him for that very first promise so many years ago. Smiling at Angie he thought, "As careful as you possibly can."

# End. Thanks for reading!

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