I kicked, I screamed and I cried as I was carried to the nursery. If Daddy was going to treat me like a baby, I was going to act like one. I had flipped the board game, I called him bad names and I even bit him when he tried to pick me up. That got me a hard swat on my padded bottom.

The rush of shock, Adrenaline, and shame was too much. It made me wail. Like a dumb baby; in front of Miss Jenny and Mister Caper. When Daddy threw me over his shoulder I thought for sure I was going to get a big spanking; but instead, he plonked me in my crib and left.

He let me cry and scream. I bunched up all my pillows and stuffies in the corner of my crib so I could sit up and stay awake ALL night. That would show him. I finished my makeshift lounge just as Daddy came back into the nursery. I leaned back, crossed my arms and scowled at him.

“I am NOT happy with you Louis,” his tone started angry but suddenly softened, “but I want you to know that I still love you,”

He handed me a bottle of warm milk but when I didn’t take it, he leaned over, set it beside me and then he kissed the top of my head.

Daddy was really good at making me feel guilty. I wanted to cry again but for different reasons.

“Goodnight Baby,” he waited a moment for a response. When he didn’t receive one he turned out the lights and softly shut the door behind him.

I stared at the baby bottle beside me for a few moments before I picked it up and started to suckle. Just because Daddy was being nice when I was being mean doesn’t mean I can’t be angry…I’m still going to stay up all night to prove I’m a grown up too!