“One day my little daughter told me, ‘Mom, every time Grandpa gives me a bath, he asks me to play a game. I have to close my eyes, and while they’re closed, he does something…’ I froze. The next day, I opened the bathroom door without warning… and what I saw made my legs start shakingr told me, ‘Mom, every time Grandpa gives me a bath, he asks me to play a game. I have to close my eyes, and while they’re closed, he does something…’ I froze. The next day, I opened the bathroom door without warning… and what I saw made my legs start shaking

He was quiet for a moment.

Then he said,

“You did the right thing by checking.”

I looked at him in surprise.

He continued,

“A mother should always make sure her child is safe. I should have explained our game to you sooner.”

Emily opened her eyes.

“Mom, I told you Grandpa urm wasn’t doing anything bad.”

I walked over and kissed her forehead.

That evening, when Dad was getting ready to leave, he stopped by the door and said quietly,

“By the way, thisgame isn’t new.”

 

“What do you mean?”

He smiled.

“You were afraid of having your hair washed too. When you were five, I played the same game with you.”

I froze.

Then suddenly, I remembered.

Closed eyes.