Whisper

49

I brought the strings and Whisper's new instruments to the car. Whisper waited for me, just inside the mall doors.

When I walked back in, she was staring at an arcade.

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'What's wrong honey?"

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I watched as the young boys and girls, many not much older than her, walked in and out of the arcade.

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'Do you want to go in?'

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She shook her head.

'No Daddy.'

Her voice was so sad, as she walked away from me.

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I caught up to her and knelt by her, pretending to tie my laces.

"What's wrong, honey?"

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She looked back at the arcade.

At that moment three young girls walked out, laughing and chattering to each other.

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"I will never be a real girl," she sighed.

She looked down at her nightgown and bare feet.

"I don't even have any clothes, other than what I have on."

She turned and walked away from me.

"I am going back to the car, Daddy. I will wait for you there."

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She walked away from me.

My heart was breaking. I could feel tears coming to my eyes.

'Whisper? Wait hun.'

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She disappeared.

I took a deep breath.

The three young girls walked by me.

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Suddenly I heard a scream.

I looked around. No one else was reacting.

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"DADDDDDDDDDDDDYYYYYYYY."

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Whisper appeared a few feet in front of me.

"Look at me, Daddy."

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She was dancing around, showing off her new clothes.

She was dressed similar to the three young girls we had seen earlier.

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'You look beautiful.'

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She ran to me, floating up and hugging my neck.

"Thank you, Daddy. I love my new clothes."

She floated back to the floor, spinning around.

"What do you think?"

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'You are absolutely beautiful.'

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She strutted up to me and took my hand.

"Come, father. Let us finish our shopping."

.

I must have looked like a fool, walking through the mall, with a huge smile on my face.