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“Careful!”
Mommy’s reminder comes a few seconds too late as Daddy’s bottom touches the ice. Again.
He erupts in giggles right next to his sister as they slowly make their way over to where his father fell.
“Are you okay, Daddy?” He asks.
Daddy nods and holds on to his mother as he tries to get back on his feet. “I’m okay, bud. Thanks.”
…
Jacob Specter looks up to his Daddy a lot, pretty much in all aspects of his life. Except when it comes to skating.
Daddy is an excellent lawyer and everyone calls him the “Best Closer in New York.” This is why he learned how to negotiate at an early age. The number of bedtime stories, the hours of playtime, the scoops of Chunky Monkey — all that he successfully closed a deal with Daddy. Mommy would laugh at their discussion and just whisper, “He is definitely your son, Harvey.” It makes him smile. He wants to be just as smart as his Daddy.
Daddy is an exceptional baseball player. Or he used to, at least. He has seen Daddy’s old pictures, looking good in his striped uniform, helmet on and a bat on his hand. He has listened to the stories about the games he played and the times he practiced with Grandpa Gordon. He knows Daddy can’t play that much anymore because of his hurt shoulder. It makes him a bit sad, but he is thankful they still get to do it together. Their Saturdays are ball days, for when they play catch and he teaches him how to hit a ball. “Good job, son,” Daddy would always say at the end of the day. It makes him smile. He wants to be just as good as his Daddy.
Daddy is “ridiculously handsome”, as Mommy always says when she is fixing his Daddy’s tie. Everyday, Daddy wears his well-pressed suits and shiny shoes. Then he styles his hair with a comb and some gel, just a little or else Uncle Mike will tease him all day about it. Jacob stands next to Daddy every morning and watches him do all this in front of the mirror. He waits for him to give him a thumbs up sign to say he is all done and it’s his turn now. Mommy helps him get dressed for school with his own well-pressed uniform and shiny shoes. He combs his own hair but asks his mother to put on a tiny bit of gel on it too. And when he is all set, he would hear her say, “There, just like Daddy.” It makes him smile. He wants to look just like his Daddy.
And while it’s nice to look really good and have people admire you for what you do, Mommy would always remind them that it’s what’s inside that matters most.
Daddy is extremely funny. He never fails to make them laugh even on a very random, normal day. His jokes are the best, making him burst out laughing in their living room, even when it seems it’s only the two of them who get it and Mommy sometimes rolls her eyes at them, shakes her head and whispers, “These children.” He thinks she is just acting because she also laughs a lot, and sometimes giggles, when Daddy whispers in her ears. All he knows is that Daddy makes all of them happy. Jacob doesn’t have any jokes of his own yet but he tries his best to make his sister laugh, or smile at the very least. He will never forget the first time it happened when they were playing peek-a-boo in their room. The way his sister’s eyes brightened and a giggle escaped her mouth. It makes him smile. He wants to be just as funny as his Daddy.
Daddy is a caring parent. He gives the warmest and tightest hugs to him, his sister Mia, and Mommy. Sometimes, to Uncle Mike and Uncle Louis too, but that’s very rare. Daddy loves cuddling them in bed before a nap or on the couch while watching television. He also makes sure to hold them in his arms when they are not feeling well, when they are sick or after a bad fall in the backyard. He looks after them in all the ways he can. So Jacob does the same by holding her sister’s hand when they are out walking at the park. He would hear his parents say, “He’s such a good big brother.” It makes him smile. He wants to be just as loving as his Daddy.
There really are a lot of things that Jacob admires about his Daddy. But that does not include skating.
Daddy is not good at this activity. Like really bad at it. Can’t even stand on his own for five minutes straight, that kind of bad.
It’s a week before Christmas and Jacob requested if they can try skating at the park. Mommy excitedly agreed, saying she loved doing it as a kid and would gladly teach him how to do it. Daddy was a bit hesitant at first but later on agreed to join them, making it clear that he will only be there to watch.
They arrive at the rink, Daddy and his sister get settled on one of the benches while he and Mommy get their skates on. The lessons started with how to properly stand on ice and keep his balance, then a little bit of marching before starting to glide and carefully stop. There was a bit of a struggle with learning how to swizzle but once he got it, it immediately became his favorite. In no time, he is rounding the rink on his own while Mommy proudly watches from the sides.
They take a little break and go back to Daddy and his sister. They drink some hot chocolate while they sit on the bench and watch the other skaters move around. When their cups are empty, Mommy asks, “You want to go another round?” He nods and immediately gets up on his feet.
“Mommy, can I try too?” His little sister asks, eyes pleading to their mother.
Mommy smiles, “Of course, honey. C’mon, let’s get you some skates.” Then she turns to Daddy, “How ‘bout you? You sure you don’t want to join us?”
Jacob pulls on his father’s hands, “Let’s go, Daddy! It’s fun.” His sister joins him and holds onto his father’s other hand. “Please, Daddy. Please,” she says.
“Okay, okay,” his Daddy replies and finally stands up.
Once all of them are ready with their skates, they walk towards the entrance of the rink. He hears Daddy whisper into Mommy’s ear, “I have no idea how to do this.”
They all stand by the side of the rink, his little sister holding on to the plastic polar bear as she finds her footing while Daddy has never once let go of the rails. Jacob notices how his Daddy tries to stand tall, showing some confidence like he usually does when he is at the firm, but he also sees how his legs slightly shake.
“Let’s try to take one step,” Mommy says as she shows them how it’s supposed to be done. His little sister follows and does it flawlessly. He wishes he can say the same for his father but when his Daddy tries to move his foot, he immediately loses his balance and falls down.
“Jeez,” he hears Daddy mutter under his breath.
“Oh my gosh, Harvey,” Mommy rushes to his Daddy’s side and helps him stand up. “We literally just started.”
Daddy shakes his head and pats his pants down, removing some of the snow that stuck to him. “I told you, I don’t know how to do this.”
Mommy looks at him and his sister, “That’s why we’re learning, right kids?” Then she turns back to Daddy, “C’mon, we’ll try again.”
They all take another step together. And another, and another. They make it up to ten steps before his Daddy wobbles and falls down again, face almost flat on the ice.
“Daddy!” His little sister screams then they both giggle.
Daddy rolls around, back now against the solid ice and looks at them. “It’s not funny, guys. It kinda hurts,” he says with a pout.
“You’re so dramatic.” Mommy rolls her eyes and helps Daddy stand up one more time. “We should try something else. Maybe this one you’ll be able to manage.” His Mommy turns to him and asks, “Jacob, can you show Daddy some swizzles?”
He nods and does a couple of forward swizzles before skating back to them.
“That’s not easier!” Daddy whines, scratching his head.
“I didn’t say it was gonna be easier. I just said we’ll do something else.” His Mommy tugs on his father’s hand. “Look, even Mia is doing better than you,” she says as she points at their daughter who’s already trying to do a swizzle beside him.
“Okay, but don’t let go of my hand.” His Daddy pleads.
His mother shakes her head with a smile on her face. “You’re such a baby,” she says as she jokingly pinches Daddy’s cheeks.
His little sister giggles at his side again. “A baby? Like me?” She covers her mouth to hide another giggle.
“And what if I am, huh?” Daddy jokes and tries to reach for Mia, wanting to tickle her sides. But he almost loses his balance again so his free hand quickly grabs the rails. “Woah, guess I should just really stick here.”
Jacob holds back his laugh and just says, “You should really hold Daddy’s hand, Mommy.”
Mommy nods, “I will, honey.”
They slowly glide around the rink, his Mommy and Daddy holding hands while he and his sister do the same. They stay by the sides to not get overwhelmed when their balance gets a bit shaken. With a few more practices and an approval from Mommy, they all gain the confidence to glide to the center of the rink.
Daddy, looking a little smug, finally lets go of Mommy’s hand and skates on his own. A little too fast that he wasn’t able to slow down and stop in time.
“Careful!” His Mommy shouts but the reminder comes a few seconds too late as Daddy’s bottom touches the ice. Again.
Jacob erupts in giggles right next to his sister as they slowly make their way over to where his father fell. “Are you okay, Daddy?” He asks.
Daddy nods and holds on to his mother as he tries to get back on his feet. “I’m okay, bud. Thanks.” He places his hands on his hips, “But this is the third time my butt hit the ice. I think that’s enough for me today.”
“You said butt, Daddy!” Mia points at Daddy and giggles again.
Daddy ruffles her hair. “Yes, pumpkin. And it’s starting to hurt so I’m gonna go and sit back down outside, okay? You stay here with Mommy.”
“You’re a much better skater than Daddy, Mommy.” Jacob whispers to his mother.
“I heard that!” Daddy shouts as he exits the rink.
“You were meant to!” Mommy replies before he and his sister erupt into giggles and start skating around the rink again.