‘Dad, look at me!’ my little girl giggled as she rocketed up higher and higher with each bounce on the trampoline.
‘I’m watching!’ I called out the kitchen window, smiling as enthusiastically as I could.
‘I told you not to walk in front of the window,’ my wife snickered, ducking behind me to run some lettuce under the sink. ‘She’s been out there for hours, and every time she catches sight of one of us—’
‘Is Mum there?’ our daughter called across the yard, craning her neck to try and see behind me. My wife froze, turning to look at me with wide eyes.
‘Please…’ she whispered. ‘Please don’t.’
‘No, sweetheart,’ I called out, rolling my eyes at my wife, and affixing my supportive grin as I turned back to the backyard. ‘I think she’s having a bath before dinner.’
‘Oh, okay,’ she smiled, giggling again as she flipped onto her back and began bouncing again.
I took the opportunity to whip myself back inside before she spotted me leaving.
‘Nice work, Mister Granger,’ my wife nodded.
‘I knew we shouldn’t have purchased one of the largest backyard trampolines for sale when we did,’ I shook my head. ‘She’d be bored by now if it was a little one.’
‘Exactly,’ my wife laughed. ‘She’d be under our feet while we’re cooking dinner, or up in her room learning how to like loud music and boys.’
‘Good point,’ I conceded, absentmindedly running some tomatoes under cold water, listening to the springs bounce.
‘I wonder if she’d like any kinds of backyard games,’ my wife mused, starting on the cucumber.
‘What do you mean?’
‘Listen to her,’ my wife smiled, pointing at the window. ‘Doesn’t she sound happy?’
‘You think we should give her, what? More high quality sports equipment? Australia doesn’t need any more rising sports stars.’
‘No, no,’ she laughed, flicking at me with a tea towel. ‘Just games and fun things outside.’
‘I have always wanted her to spend less time on her phone,’ I admitted, sneaking a peek out of the window. ‘Even if it’s just a phase, I’d rather buy her a golf set than goth makeup, that’s for sure.’