That’s not a me problem

George, as he did whenever he came home early because business was slow, was standing in the hallway in front of the closed front door. He was waiting for his second youngest daughter to come flying through the door, throwing her book bag on the floor and crashing into her father’s wings. But today was different.

A few minutes after three, George opened his wings to envelope Rosa. However, when the door opened, Rosa walked in slowly looking forlorn, while dragging her bookbag along the ground. Then, just before she reached her father, she slid onto the floor laid on her back and stretched out her wings. George was immediately baffled by her behaviour. He turned to look at Sybil at the other end of the corridor, where she was waiting for Rosa to give her a peck on her way into the kitchen to see what Julia had made for her snack.

Sybil shrugged and grinned. It was the first time Rosa hadn’t rushed into her father’s arms. So, Sybil took it as a win.

George stepped over Rosa, closed the front door before some hermit crabs decided it was an invitation in for tea, and then stood over her. He took a good look at Rosa wondering if there was something really wrong with her, or if it was just another evolution in her dramatic behaviour. He decided it was the latter. Thus, George bent down to lift her off the floor. Rosa groaned as she felt her father’s wings on her.

“What’s the matter young lady?” he asked trying not to be amused by her behaviour.

At first Rosa said nothing. Her eyes were still closed and her wings remained outstretched on the floor. “My life is over!” she finally said keeping her eyes closed.

“In what way?” asked her father now feeling better that there wasn’t anything wrong with his daughter. Rosa stayed still for a moment believing she had got her point across, and then she opened her eyes and looked at her father.

“Today is Valentine’s Day,” she said slowly and not waiting for her father’s input, continued, “and everyone in class got a Valentine’s Day card, except me.”

That was easy to remedy thought George. “Oh, I’m sorry,” he said and then a moment later added, “but I got you a card. So there, your problem is solved.”

That didn’t appear to help Rosa out. “No daddy! All the girls got Valentine’s cards from the boys, except me. Your card is at home, not at school.”

George smiled. “But didn’t you once say that none of the boys were worthy of your attention because you’re a JAP and therefore you couldn’t be bothered with them?” Yes, Rosa knew her father was right. “So how,” he continued, “is one of them supposed to give you a Valentine’s card when you told them you were too good for them?”

Rosa thought for a moment. In her mind things weren’t playing out the way she expected, though she really wasn’t sure what to expect. “Maybe you should’ve sent your Valentine’s Day card for me to my school and then Mrs Benjamin could’ve given it to me.”

George wasn’t sure of his next step. He knew his daughter very well and based on past experience he knew she had no difficulty walking him into a trap. “Maybe,” she finally said still laying on the floor, she wasn’t ready yet to give up her behaviour. “Maybe you should’ve come to the school and given to me.”

“Oh, Rosa, how could I do that? I was at work.”

And then he suddenly realised that his dear little Rosa had led him into a well laid trap. He was about to divert her attention to the Valentine Day’s cookies he had brought from Surf City when he heard Rosa confidently utter. “Daddy, daddy, daddy,” began Rosa now attempting to get up from the floor without her fathers’ help. “That’s a you problem, not a me problem.”

And that did it. All this while Sybil was standing patiently at the kitchen door watching with disbelief the scene unfolding, when she burst out with laughter. “Ok Rosa dear,” she said after a moment of trying to compose herself. “It’s all right. Your father didn’t get me a Valentine’s Day card either.”

“Well,” began George who knew he needed to rescue himself quickly. But before he had chance to, in walked Timmy with his friend Max and after they briefly said ‘hello’ to George and looked at Rosa, who still hadn’t quite got up from the floor, walked towards the kitchen. They were halfway down the corridor when Max stopped and turned around.

“Oh, I’m sorry Rosa. I forgot I have something for you,” and with that, he walked back to her and gave her an envelope wishing her a Happy Valentine’s Day!

Rosa was stumped. She didn’t know what to do. She had never expected Max to give her a Valentine’s Day card. She thought for a moment before she took the card, opened it and read it to herself. Then, before Timmy and Max could turn and walk to the kitchen, she gave Max a little kiss on his cheek which immediately made him blush. Sybil for her part couldn’t believe that yet again, Rosa was going to be the centre of attention. Even George felt embarrassed that it was left to Max, to make the situation right.

Rosa had now fully recovered and clutching the card in her wing smiled as widely as she could. She then walked confidently past her mother and into the kitchen where Julia stood unaware of what had been going on in the hallway.

“What’s for snacks?” she asked and without saying a word, Julia pointed to the kitchen island upon which there was a plate covered with a white napkin. Rosa immediately removed the napkin and let out a gasp. She was expecting a tray filled with Valentine’s cookies, but instead, there was a bunch of cards. She looked as if she was about to cry. Rosa picked up one and saw it was from her brother, and then there was one from her father and then there was one whose handwriting she didn’t recognise. She opened it and gasped. “Who’s is it from?” asked Julia. Now the entire family, except for Brenda who was fast asleep in her crib, were standing in the kitchen.

“It’s from Yehuda,” she replied, the smile on her face unable to get any bigger.

“The Jewish boy who celebrates Christmas?” asked her father.

“Shush, George. Grow up!” said Sybil trying to smile at the same time. “Read it to us please Rosa dear,” asked her mother.

“Dear Rosa,” she read. “Unfortunately, I don’t go to your school, otherwise I would’ve given it to you there. I gave it your brother to give to you. Happy Valentine’s Day. You are my favourite Valentine!” Rosa went as red as the carpet in their living room. “I have to thank him,” and then she turned to her brother. “Why didn’t you tell me this before you made me suffer?”

“I couldn’t tell you. It was supposed to be a surprise. If I did tell you, then it wouldn’t be a surprise.”

Rosa looked at her brother, while she still clutched the envelope. “That’s a you problem, not a me problem!” and with that, she walked out of the kitchen and on to the beach to show the card to Melody, who at that moment was catching cat nap under the nest and didn’t want to be disturbed.