Decker pops the other piece of gum into his mouth. “Can you blow a bubble?”
She shakes her head.
“Okay, chew it until there are no hard pieces.”
Hazel does, her jaw working so hard I fear it might lock.
“Good and soft?” Decker arches a dark eyebrow.
She nods, continuing to chew.
“Now, slide your tongue through it just a little. Just the tip, then push a little further, stretching it. It might be hard at first, but it’ll come.”
I try not to take his words as innuendo with my daughter standing here in front of me, but it’s hard.
Hazel tries to do what he says, and her tongue pokes through the gum.
Decker laughs. “Okay, watch me.” He opens his mouth as wide as he can while he works his tongue through the gum.
Am I being tortured right now?
I cross my legs and try to turn away, but willpower is in short supply lately, so I end up watching him expertly use his tongue to get the gum into a thin film. Then he lets air in bit by bit. The gum turns into a bubble and pops.
Who knew you could be insanely jealous of a piece of gum?
“Now you try.” He watches her, and she fails three more times before she gets the tiniest bubble that pops immediately. “You’re getting there. Awesome job, Hazel. The more you do it, the easier it will get. But you picked that up so fast.”
She concentrates on the goal, and we watch her for a minute before ultimately giving her some space to master it on her own.
Decker still blows another bubble, and I’m stuck slyly watching his tongue. Maybe I’m going through early menopause because a hot flash has me wanting to fan my body.
Dad walks in, his hand overflowing with gum. “Who wants Portillo’s?”
“Grandpa!” Hazel runs over to him and gives him a hug. “Watch.” She tries again, and this time the bubble is a little bigger.
“Whoa, you can blow bubbles now?”
She points at Decker. “Decker taught me.”
My dad’s gaze lifts and shifts to me.
“Good thing I have all these for us to practice tonight.” He holds out his hand, and Hazel’s eyes widen.
“She’s with me tonight,” I say.
“Please, I’m missing everything. She knows how to blow bubbles now? And how is your hula hoop thing going?”
“Great. I can do it around my neck.” Hazel is proud as punch, and it makes me so happy to see her confidence grow.
Dad’s face lights up. Let’s be honest, Hazel could say she ate one pea on her plate, and my dad would give her a high five. “See, I’m missing everything. How about a sleepover?”
I step over to them. “Oh no, not tonight.”
Dad picks up Hazel, and I just know he’s going to walk out of this room with her before I can stop him.
“Please, Mommy,” Hazel begs.
“We’re supposed to go to Decker’s to do seating arrangements for the VIP Night.” I stand tall as if that’s going to make a difference to my dad.
