Shockers – Freddie POV
We didn't buy Cece all the new gadgets and gizmos that came out every single day. However, we did drag out the ancient Wii Fit from when Sam and I were teenagers.
Cece was still getting used to it, but she had already mastered pretty much everything.
"What's the point of this again?" she asked as she brought her foot out behind her and held it there with perfect balance in a yoga pose.
"To get you off your lazy butt and seriously, how are you doing that?" I asked, my thoughts being interrupted by my amazement.
"Okay, 1.) My butt is not lazy and 2.) I'm just doing what the hot virtual trainer guy told me to do," she said as she brought her leg back down to the board.
"Cece," I warned.
"Yeah, yeah, no talking about guys in front of you," she recited.
She lifted her other leg up and held it there, picking up her conversation with me.
"Where's mom?" she asked.
"She went to bed," I answered.
"Yeah, big shocker there," she responded sarcastically.
Sam had a reputation for changing into pajamas at the first sign of sunset and turning in to bed at eight.
Cece brought her leg back down.
"Great job! Come back every day to improve your balance and stability!" the trainer said.
"My balance and stability is perfectly fine, thank you very much," was her rebuttal. "Dad, is there anything remotely entertaining on here?" she asked me.
I smiled. "Yeah, I think I know one that you might like. Gimme the remote," I said.
She tossed it to me and watched me pick the game. I handed her the remote back. She turned her attention back to the TV and read the instructions on the screen I brought up. Her eyes brightened just looking at it.
"Whoa, really?"
"Yup," I said.
"Dang, dad, your childhood was awesome," she said as she started hula-hooping to her heart's content.
"Yeah. Real awesome." If only she were there.
"What, you didn't have a happy childhood?" she smirked, noting my sarcasm.
"Oh, my childhood was just fantastic, Cece, just fantastic," I smiled.
"What's with all the sarcasm? That's me and mom's thing," she said.
"What a lucky guy I am," I joked.
"Don't you forget it," she said, taking me seriously. "Seriously, what was wrong with your childhood?" she asked.
I smiled. "You don't really wanna know, Cece, you want me to leave so you can hula hoop some more," I pointed out.
"I do not! You know what they say. Never hula hoop alone," she said.
"Who said that?" I asked, confused.
"Me. Just a few seconds ago. You were there, remember? You're losin' it, old man," she joked.
"Cece," I warned. She was my best friend, but she was still my daughter.
"Sorry. But seriously, tell me," she pestered.
"You seriously don't know?" I asked.
"I think we've established that I don't," she said.
"Have you met your Gramma?" I asked in disbelief.
Cece started laughing hysterically while trying to remain hula hooping. "Oh," she laughed some more. "Now I got it," she said, not even trying to keep a straight face.
"You're such a people person," I joked.
"Hey, thanks. So elaborate," she asked.
"Mmkay. Well, for starters, my allowance was eight bucks a month."
"Why eight bucks a month?"
"She was afraid I'd buy a bus ticket and leave her," I explained.
This time Cece actually tried to stifle her giggles. "Please, do go on."
"Alright. I got weekly tick baths," I admitted.
"Have I ever mentioned how lucky I am?" she asked.
"On occasion."
"Well, don't let me forget it," she demanded while swiveling her hips to the rhythm.
"We try not to," I said.
"So what else?"
"Gramma pounded my medicine with a mallet, cut my food into non-chokeable pieces and made me eat mushrooms on a daily basis."
"Why was she pounding your medicine?" she asked.
"So I wouldn't choke on them," I explained.
"But… they're pills… They make 'em so you don't choke on 'em," she reasoned.
"Hey, would you mind going back in time and telling Gramma that?" I joked.
"Nah. Could throw off the space time continuum. I would hate to have never been born or something of that nature," she joked along with me.
"Smart girl."
"Anything else?" she bugged me.
"Gramma didn't get along with your mom so well," I said.
"Oh look, more big shockers," she said sarcastically. "Dad, this is so much fun, you gotta try this with me," she said, grabbing my arm and pulling me to stand next to her.
I looked at her in shock. She couldn't possibly expect me to be able to do that.
"Do it!" she yelled.
"Cece!"
"There's only ten seconds left! Please, for me…" she said.
Ugh… That's what I get for letting her talk to her godmother over the phone.
I did my best to hula hoop to the best of my abilities for the last ten seconds, going out with a 'pop'.
"What was that?" Cece asked.
"I think I popped my hip!" I stated.
She looked at me knowingly.
"Go on, say it, you know you want to," I told her.
"Nah. I prefer to be not grounded if that's okay with you," she said.
"Smart girl."