Daddy Parker's Arc

Chapter 2 of 10

The next morning, Daddy Parker tucked a clipboard under his arm and set out across Storyland Canada. His list of six father-heroes felt impossible. Too many good dads. He needed to watch them up close before deciding. He started at the playground. Colorful slides curved down the rocky hill. One dad caught his daughter at the bottom of the blue slide every single time. Another pushed twin boys on the swings, never tiring. Daddy Parker scribbled notes. His pen moved faster than his thoughts. By lunchtime, the clipboard was crowded with checkmarks. He slipped into the coffee shop where the local dads gathered. Steam curled from warm mugs. Fathers traded stories about scraped knees and missed bedtimes. Daddy Parker listened, head down, adding more names to his list. He took his notes to a wooden bench outside. He spread the pages across his lap. His own book on heroic fatherhood sat beside him, dog-eared and worn. He read his rules again. A hero shows up. A hero listens. A hero pays what he owes. His pen froze. He thought of the speech therapy bill he hadn't paid. He pushed the thought away and circled six names. Six dads. Done. Daddy Parker closed the clipboard. The list was finished, but his hands were shaking. Choosing six heroes had been easier than facing the one waiting at home.