Shelter from the Storm
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a/n Goldie Blox are a construction toy that earlier this season were much lauded for their intent to teach girls construction/ engineering. Then public opinion swung the other way and they have been vilified for their pinky, princessy styling. Plus they stole a Beastie Boys song?
[you can google them since ff won't allow the link here]
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56 . Another Year, Another List
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Ranger
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"Da-ad. That is so sexist!"
Uh oh. When Julie calls me me dad I know I am in teenage trouble land. It's like when your mom called you by full name when you were a kid: Ricardo Carlos! You get your butt in here!- - - if, you know, my name was really...uh. And my mom was around to give a shit. Oh nevermind, you know what I mean.
''Dad! Are you paying attention!? ''
''Yes.''
''Okay. Stop procrastinating! Please read the list again.''
Julie and I have a tradition. We always do the family Christmas shopping together. And right now we are going over everyone's wish list.
This year not only is Julie with us for the holiday, she has brought her siblings, Mark and Sara. Rachel and Ron wanted to go on a festive romantic holiday trip, minus offspring, and have foisted their entire set of children on me and Stephanie. I'm used to extended mixed up family situations so I'm fine with having two more kids here. The more the merrier?
But Stephanie was appalled. She welcomed the kids with open arms but privately she called Rachel a ''selfish bitch".
Not an issue I care to address.
"I swear she'd have left the two kids home alone!" huffed my lovely wife.
"Well.''
''They are not old enough for house sitting duty, Ranger. Remember that old movie, Home Alone? You must insist they come here with Julie. ''
''Fine, babe.''
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Now Julie and I are planning our shopping campaign. I read off my iPad : "Mark wants Hobbit Legos and the new GTA 5." (Grand Theft Auto 5)
"Mom would never allow him to have that, daddy!''
''She's not here though,'' I point out.
''Fine.''
''And Sarita wants a video game called Lost Kitty. Is that like Hello Kitty?'' I enquire carefully.
''No, it's more like Mario Brothers but it's pink. Eeew."
''She plays it on her iPad?''
''Well she would if she had an iPad, daddy.''
''Okay, so add that to our list." A kid needs a tablet, right?
Julie taps the items onto her own iPhone list. ''Okay. But remember, mom doesn't like us to call her Sarita, it's too ethnic.''
I channel my inner Stephanie and roll my eyes. "Yeesh. Sara, then."
Julie nods a little. At 13 she still looks a lot like that school photo we used when Scrog kidnapped her. She is still sweet and beautiful, her smile can light up the world. But she has gotten tall. And somewhat to my dismay now has the beginning of what Rachel primly calls ''a figure".
Maybe Julie doesn't look quite so much like me anymore, I think vaguely.
(Though of course she does. It'll take more than baby boobs to make her anything other than a baby girl clone of her Daddy. Maybe she could dye her hair?)
"Next?" comes the teenage longsuffering prompt.
''Now for Zoë,'' I say carefully. "She really wants these Goldie Blox." The Goldie Blox were what inspired the severe Dad reprimand a few minutes earlier.
"Dad. Goldie Blox are a con, a fake, a marketing ploy. They claim they'll make little girls grow up to be engineers, but they're just all pink and sparkly. While claiming to instill science techniques they instead perpetuate the American Princess myth.''
I have no problem with princesses. Certainly my Zoë is a perfect example and I love her just the way she is.
I tell Julie, "Both guys I knew in college who became engineers couldn't get jobs, chica. They both went back to law school."
''Yeah like the world needs more lawyers?''
"What do you suggest instead, for Zoë?"
Julie stares at me then seems to deflate, her political stance has suddenly run out of gas, I guess. ''I just don't know, daddy.''
''So we'll get her the Goldie Blox," I decide. I'm the boss, uh parent?- I get final say.
Big sigh. "Fine. Merry freakin' Christmas.''
My little Scrooge."Merry Christmas, baby. ''
I love you.
the end, series tbc
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Merry Christmas, Happy and Healthy and Peaceful holidays to everyone. love, sunny.