The Nightmare

I have a recurring nightmare.

I'm sitting in my wood paneled library, amongst my vast collection of first edition science fiction and fantasy books (I said it was a dream, okay?) when this beautiful young lady walks into the room.

I look up over the Wall Street Journal and wonder to myself - Who is this girl? Why is she in my house? -

She looks me straight in the eye and says, "Daddy?"

At which point I pass straight out cold.

When I come to, she's standing over me with a concerned look on her face. I stammer out, "Yes?"

"Well," she says, "I met this boy..." is all I hear before I jolt straight up, in a cold sweat. It takes a couple of seconds, but I remember - she's only two.

But she'll get there. And that's enough to ruin the rest of my night of sleep.

Ain't parenthood a walk in the park?!