Ricci Schwarzler - Delay, Dash, Ensconce

‘You’re with Daddy today at work?’

‘Yes.’

‘How are you enjoying it?’

‘Very well thank you.’

‘Oh, what beautiful manners. Who’s your favourite, Daddy or Mummy?’

‘Daddy today but Mummy tomorrow.’ She always liked to be fair and not have just one favourite.

‘Oh, how sweet. What do you want to be when you grow up Kiki?’

‘An architect’, Kiki said casually.

‘Wow, ok that will be terrific.’ She smiled and nodded at the man.

‘Can I play in the sand please Daddy?’

‘Yes of course Kiki.’

Without delay Kiki made a dash for the sand pile at her father’s concrete yard. She would carve caves into the sand and link roads between them to create small villages. With her gap between her thumb and other fingers she would smooth out the entrances to give a better finish.

The ‘houses’ would extend far back into the sand pile. As far back as her six-year-old arm could reach. She would carve out different rooms and never would the sand collapse.

When Daddy had finished with the man, he came to see what she was doing.

‘That’s very nice Kiki.’

‘Which house do you and Mummy want Daddy?’

‘Oh, such a hard decision…I think that one.’

‘I knew you’d like that one Daddy.’

‘Now look what I have here Kiki.’ He reached into his pocket and brought out a small mechanical thing she had never seen before.

Curious she said ‘Oo what is it Daddy? What is it?’

In muffled spy-like tones he said, ‘It’s called a tape recorder, and you can record what people say.’

Kiki jumped for joy. She had no idea of what that meant but it sounded mysterious. She leaned closer to eye the apparatus. It certainly was mysterious.

‘Hang on’, Daddy pressed a button, ‘Now say something Kiki.’

‘I love you and Mummy, Daddy.’ Daddy’s eyes filled with tears as he watched this little gift that life had given him, jumping for joy around the excitement of the moment.

He played the recording back and Kiki squealed with delight. He had to give her a big cuddle because she was just so cute and adorable.

‘Now Kiki,’ Daddy said in a whisper, she moved closer, barely containing her excitement. ‘When the next man comes, I’ll put it in my pocket, and we’ll record what he says so we can hear it later.’ Jumps, skips and muted conspiratorial squeals accompanied his words. ‘But whatever you do don’t tell him, ok?’

‘Ok Daddy.’

The man arrived, he greeted them both, and complimented Kiki on her lovely manners. She jumped around in excitement.

‘Have you got ants in your pants Kiki?’ the man asked.

Looking knowingly at Daddy she said, ‘No,’ but kept jumping.

They concluded their business and Daddy and Kiki got into their car.

‘Play the tape Daddy, play the tape.’

He did and she squealed some more in total disbelief at the magic of it all.

‘Quick Daddy we must get home to show Mummy.’

They set off and showed Mummy. She was very impressed.

‘Oh Kiki you and Daddy are like spies.’

Kiki did more jumping, skipping and little squeals. Mummy laughed.

‘Yes Mummy we are…What’s a spy?’

Mummy and Daddy laughed some more and gave her a huge cuddle. Ensconced in their arms she felt like she could do anything in the world, even a spy…whatever that is. 

Prompt: a six-year-old girl plays in the sand in a builder’s yard, making intricate housing complexes and roads and environments. Hyperrealistic detail, cinematic, bright, slightly enchanted feel.