“They get more attention with negativity.” Sadie sighed as she sank down onto the stool next to the kitchen island. Jordan sighed too, an equal mix of both his exhaustion and frustration. “That is not true and you know it, I love the girls – they get plenty of attention from me.”

He had just returned from a long day in the office, still clad in his light blue button-up and tan suit pants. His hand rested on his hip as he leaned against the counter, seemingly completely uninterested in this conversation. “You’re always working, Jordan. The only time they get any of your attention is when you give out to them.” Sadie retorted, her head held in her hands as she rested her elbows on the counter.

“Dad..?” It was Lauren, calling to him from the dark-stained wooden steps of the staircase that led into the kitchen. She was quite petite but other than that she was the spitting image of her father. She stood there on the bottom step in her pink unicorn onesie clutching her brown stuffed bear, Mr. Fluffles.

“You’re home now.” She smiled and swayed shyly on the step. Jordan ignored her as he stared down at his shoes and pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance. “Lauren…” – “Go on back to bed sweetie, Dad’s a little tired right now.” Sadie cooed, cutting Jordan’s reprimand off and ushering Lauren back up the stairs.

“Really Jordan? You’re unbelievable.” she scoffed over her shoulder.

The next day Jordan came home from work to find one of his button-ups absolutely ruined. It was covered in paint, cut with scissors, and sprinkled with pink glitter just to top it off. “Lauren! Jeanie!” He raged, as he picked up the shirt with his index finger and thumb like it was diseased.

The girls soon came bounding into the room, excited to see their father. “What have you done to my shirt?” he boomed. The girls cowered, suddenly holding hands with each other for comfort. “We just wanted to make it pretty.” Lauren offered, which was quickly followed by Jeanie laughing, “Pretty! Pretty!” Jeanie was too little to understand that her father wouldn’t like his new shirt design – after all she was only two.

“I cannot believe you two. Go to your room right now.” Jordan snapped.

Months passed but their routine never changed, Jordan would work all day and then come home to find something destroyed. Then, he would set his briefcase down, loosen his tie and call for the girls to reprimand them. Sadie was often upset and arguing with him about his lack of time for the girls. Jordan would simply remind her that he had to work this way to put food on the table.

This had been their routine ever since Jeanie had been born. With the new baby at home, Jordan had felt this immense pressure to provide for his family and in doing so had incidentally shut all of them out.

Then, their daily routine was shattered.

Jordan came home, found a mangled suit-tie, sighed, put down his briefcase, took a deep breath in preparation for his yell and then stopped. Sniffles. Small, child-like sniffles. He followed the sound, rounded the corner into the kitchen, passed Jeanie and Sadie who were at the kitchen island, went up the stairs, opened the girls’ bedroom door and saw a small figure trembling slightly under Lauren’s Disney Princess duvet. He approached the bed cautiously, sat on the edge, and slowly pulled the duvet back.

“Lauren..? What’s wrong?” He asked, with the tiniest pang of guilt seeping through his tone. “You’re gonna yell at me again.” Lauren sobbed, pulling her knees even tighter to her chest as she rocked herself just slightly back and forth. “I only yell at you when you misbehave.” Jordan sighed, gently stroking her hair without realizing how long it had been since he had done that last.

“Why have you been so bold, Lauren? You used to be the sweetest little girl.” He asked. Lauren looked up, eyes watery and red-rimmed – her bottom lip quivering ever so slightly. “Because you don’t notice me anymore unless I’m bad. Ever since Jeanie came you never play with me anymore.” It had finally come out, the same story Sadie had been telling him for months but from his own daughter’s mouth.

She didn’t understand, but he wanted to be at home with them more than anything – it just wasn’t an option anymore. He stilled for a moment before pulling her into a hug. “I know sweetheart, I’m sorry.” He didn’t give her a reason for his behavior, she was five after all and wouldn’t likely understand the concept of needing to make money and providing for his family.

After comforting her, he went back down to the kitchen. Jeanie and Sadie were still at the kitchen counter doing dishes from that night’s dinner which he had missed. “Hey girls.” He smiled softly. Sadie narrowed her gaze as he approached, clearly confused as to why he wasn’t ‘too tired to talk’.

He kissed his wife’s cheek and ruffled Jeanie’s hair. “C’mon Jeanie, Lauren has already picked out a story for tonight.” Jeanie’s eyes lit up as she jumped down from the stool and scrambled up the stairs in that excited but not-so-well-coordinated toddler way.

That night, Jordan read the girls their favourite story – a story about a family of grizzly bears who lived in a small home together. The story was centered around Lila – a sad bear cub who had gotten lost in the forest. Jeanie always forgot that Lila’s father would eventually find her but Lauren wouldn’t hesitate to remind her with a huff that he saves her every time. Sure enough, Lila’s father saved her and brought her back home where she was safe and warm. “The End.” Jordan read as Jeanie squealed with joy in knowing that Lila’s father had come to save her.

Lauren snuggled into her pillows and blankets, a soft yawn escaped her after little protest. Jordan smiled warmly as he looked over at Lauren and down Jeanie who was now asleep against him. He gently tucked Jeanie into her own bed and put the book away neatly on their shelf.

“Goodnight girls.” he cooed softly as he turned out the light and disappeared back into the hallway.

“You gave them your attention.” Sadie whispered as he appeared in their shared room, reading a novel in their bed. “They’re my girls, they deserve my attention.” He responded, though his voice seemed lighter and was accompanied by a small, proud smile. The tone of exhaustion and frustration that he’d carried for months was now one of contentment and pride. He settled into the bed and pulled her against his side as he gazed up at the ceiling fan spinning idly above them.

“I should’ve listened to you months ago.”

Sadie laughed softly and whispered back,

“Jeanie could’ve told you that.”