A Bucket

My morning started with a slight disturbance in the mattress. I didn't need to open my eyes to recognize the sensation of Imani's clambering efforts to get on my bed. This doesn't usually happen since I wake up before her a majority of the time, but last night I was a bit distracted.

She successfully reached the top and fell onto me with all her weight. "Papa, it's morning!"

I was prepared for the attack, and like a bear trap i caught her in my arms and wrapped her in the bedsheets between us, a muffled laughter ensuing.

"Gah, I got you! Good morning Imani," I shook her around for a bit before unwrapping her.

"Good morning papa," she jumped from the sheets into my chest with a hug. "I love you!"

"I love you too."

We went about our morning routine as I briefed her on today's play date. She was ecstatic to hear that Samuel and Sophia were going to be there, and more so that it was going to be an indoor waterpark. The one missing piece I needed to say was that her mother was going to be there as well, but it took some effort to finally lay it out for her, so by the time I did, we were already on our way there.

"Imani."

"Yes Papa?"

"It's a bit sudden, but I want to let you know that another person will be joining us for this play date."

"Oh," she gasped in anticipation. "Who, Who?"

"Her name is Laychel, and she's your mother."

"Way-shell," she paused in thought. "My mama?"

"That's right."

"I have a mama?"

"Well everyone has a mama at the beginning. At least most of the time."

"Where was she?"

This is more than I expected her to ask, but she is a clever girl after all.

"Me and her didn't get along."

"You hate each other?"

"No, just we weren't uh... mixing."

"Mixing? Like brownies!"

"Hm, I guess that works. We mixed and made you, which was the most delicious brownie in the world, but after that we didn't mix well. Maybe ran out of ingredients?"

"So you don't have ingredients anymore?"

"Well... I think we both still have the ingredients, but didn't want to share them anymore. You know about sharing right?"

"I share."

"Exactly, and aren't there kids you don't want to share with anymore after you shared the first time?"

"Yea. Wobbie. He dun' say tank you when I share. So I no share no-mo."

"Well that's like me and your mother. We shared once, but don't want to share anymore."

"Then what are you sharing today papa?"

"I'm sharing you."

"Will she share anything?"

"Um... I don't know."

We arrived at our destination, it's a neat place, spiraling slides that go in and out of the building and big, blue windows tinted enough to only make out a vague water play set inside. It's called 'Dunk House' because it also has an array of basketball courts and other recreational activities attached, but our main goal is the water attractions. It was a suggestion by Sophia during our late night exchange. I think one of us brought up swimsuits and that lead somewhere.

Laychel got the message about our place of choice and she was also on-board even though the plans were so sudden. Speaking of which, I can already see her waiting outside the front entrance. As for Sophia and Samuel, they're nowhere to be seen. So I take out my phone and message them both that I have arrived. I see Laychel from afar check her phone and look around before catching sight of me, still, no reply from Sophia.

I walk up to Laychel, she's changed a lot to my surprise. A somewhat dignified aura and style. She let her hair grow out to her upper waist. Am I awful for still finding her so beautiful? It's not like it'll change a thing between us.

"Ah. Carmine, you're here," She bent down to look at Imani who was hiding behind my legs. "And look at how much you've grown, my baby!"

"Hello." Imani spoke with a wary attitude, which was strange since she's usually very excited to meet new people.

"Do you know who I am? Well it'd be hard to recognize me since you were just a baby when we last saw each other."

"I know."

"Great. Well it's so nice to finally meet, it's been so long," She looks around. "So where is the others?"

I take a look around at the parking lot and don't recognize anybody that looks like her, and her car isn't to be seen either. "Maybe they're running a little late."

"Well lets go inside, maybe they're there," Laychel reaches out a hand to Imani. "Want to hold mommy's hand?"

"I want to hold papa's hand."

I doubt they'd be inside, she should've sent a message by now. I check the one I sent her and it's unread. "Alright, well, lets go."

I lead the way with Imani, and we get through the check-in process, earning our wrist-bands that allow us to move forth. Luckily kids under seven enter for free, because places like these will empty your wallet. We take note of where our lockers are and find the changing stalls, me and Imani enter one, and Laychel enters another.

With our bathing suits on, we exit the changing rooms and put the rest of our clothes in the lockers. When we meet up with Laychel she is completely engrossed with how Imani looks.

"Oh you're so adorable," she gushes, pinching at her cheeks from afar. "Where do you want to go?"

"The bucket."

"The bucket?"

Imani points to the large bucket atop the water play set. "The bucket." 

Beneath it is a ramp that catches and funnels the water after it tips over, causing a massive wave to crash down on those who pass by every minute or so. I guess kids like getting wiped out, or there's something dignifying to a child when they can withstand it's sheer power. The timing of us showing up to watch was perfect, as the bucket tipped over and demonstrated its wrath on the children below. Most of the younger ones fell over, while the older are only weak at the knees, stumbling away from the impact.

"Are you sure you want to do that?" Laychel 

"Yea!"

"Alright..."

We move into a spot under the splash ramp where a few other kids are looking up watching the slow stream of water fill it. Imani is stomping the water while she waits and Laychel is no longer occupied with her cuteness, now looking up at the bucket like every other kid in anticipation. I don't think she's ever been to a water park. We never went to any when we were younger or even after we started dating. With how things are we, kind of look like we're back together, and just parents with their kid.

I look up with the rest of them, and the bucket seems to be tipping over. "Here it comes," and Imani uses me as a shield. How cute.

The bucket reaches its limit and topples over completely, releasing a wave of water down onto the ramp and rushing with small white explosions. It almost feels like slow motion, and in that moment when things slowed down and the shadow of the water loomed over us, I felt the hand of Laychel take mine and her body press into my arm, using me to brace herself.

To everyone, we must look perfect. Am I overthinking it? This is what it should look like. No? It's only natural. We had Imani together. Right now, we're standing together. Right now, we're like a family. The water is about to hit us.

But right now... I wish Sophia were here with me.

I close my eyes and the sloshing strike of the water weighs on me for just a moment. To my right, I hear Laychel's muffled scream, and behind me, I hear Imani's laughter. This is ideal.

"Oh my god that was crazy," Laychel lets go. "Are you okay Imani?"

"Yea," Imani giggles. "That was scawy!"

I wipe away the water from my eyes and open them to see the aftermath, but I am taken aback to see a familiar face.

"Samuel," I spot him moving about on the play set. He didn't hear me, so I call out to him again. "Samuel!"

His head turns and then he jumps with joy when he realizes who it was. "Imani!"

Imani waves with both hands, "Sam!"

"Hey Imani," He stands behind the top of a slide. "Check this out!"

Immediately he swings himself into the entrance of the slide, and with both hands up, glides down it into the shallow water below. A little performance that we awarded with praise and cheer.

Laychel claps, "Woah that was so fast! Are you gonna do that again?”

“I can try miss!”

“That was ok,” Imani interjects with a smug grin. “But i bet you can’t wide that one!”

She points to a slide much higher on the set. It’s the kind that has a lifeguard watching over it from both ends to signal each other when a kid can go.

“I-I can ride it. Can you?”

“Yea. It’s no biggie. Let’s go do it then.” Imani goes up play set’s stairs carefully,

“I’ll come with!” Laychel goes with and so does Samuel.

Before he goes I need to ask him something. It’s strange he’s here but Sophia is nowhere in sight.

“Samuel.” I call out to him and he turns.

“Yes mistah Car.”

“Where’s your mother at? You shouldn’t be wandering around the park alone.”

“Huh?” Samuel looks around, puzzled. “She was just with me before you called.” 

Imani cries out from higher on the set. “Come on Papa, Sam!”

This is all too strange. If she was here the whole time, why didn’t she message back? Shit! I left my phone in the locker. Maybe she just arrived. Still, why let Samuel roam around so carelessly?

“I need go check something. Stay with Laychel ok?”

“Ok Papa!”

“You know anything else?” I place a hand on Samuels shoulder.

“Maybe mama needed to go pee-pee?”

“Alright. Stay with Imani and Laychel, I’ll go find your mom.”

“Thank you mistah Car.” He waves and heads up to Laychel and Imani.

“No problem little dude.” I walk towards the bathrooms back at the changing facilities.

On my way I see a giant colorful umbrella. It’s the ceramic kind in water parks that have water come up the top and fall down around it in a perfect glistening curtain. There’s someone standing inside, but it’s hard to tell since the water is like frosted glass. I’m gonna hedge my bets on that being her, as convenient as it may be. Maybe she wanted to be found?

I walk up to the curtain of water and it becomes clearer there is a woman of similar form to Sophia on the other side. Bingo. Pushing through the curtain I’m greeted with the sight of the most beautiful girl I know wearing a navy blue bikini. Did I enter heaven? Ew, don’t say that out loud.