When the half finally ended Harry wanted to talk to the others about the game, but Suzie wiggled around so much he knew it would be useless to try so he left the crowd of spectators and put Suzie down. O.K., o.k., we’ll go to the playground. You happy now? completely exasperated and frustrated. She trotted off, her mind empty of everything but the forthcoming pleasure of the swings, the sliding pond and the see-saw, Harry walking rapidly behind her, turning his head occasionally to look back at the football field.

Suzie was hanging from a swing when Harry caught up with her. Now be careful. Youll hurt yourself doing that. He picked her up and put her in the swing and told her to hold on tightly to the safety bar across the front. He pushed the swing and Suzie kicked her legs with glee and at first Harry told her to stop kicking and to sit still, but after a few minutes of his daughters giggling, and the silence from the football field, he relaxed and continued pushing until Suzie suddenly announced, Sliding pond.

He held his hands out ready to catch her as she climbed the steps one by one, then waited for her at the end of the slide, but she vigorously shook her head, no, and so he allowed her to slide down alone still standing ready as she climbed the steps once again and waited for her to come running back after she slid down. There seemed no end to the amount of laughter the sliding pond could evoke from her.

Soon the noise from the football field made it obvious that the second half had started. Harry continued to watch his daughter as she climbed the ladder, but he was getting more and more fidgety. Then a loud cheering, and the movement of the crowd, indicated that someone had scored. It must have been a touchdown, the cheering had that kind of sound to it. Suzie was skipping her way back to the ladder when Harry picked her up and spun her around a few times and she giggled happily. When he put her down he knelt beside her, Did you have fun, sweetheart?

Suzie nodded her head vigorously, Put me on the seesaw now, daddy.

Im afraid we havent time, honey. We have to go home soon.

We got time. Its not time to eat yet—sounding as if she actually knew dinner would not be ready for another hour or so.

Well no, not exactly, but daddy wanted to watch the football game for a few minutes before we have to go home.

O I dont like it. I dont wanna watch anymore—scrunching her face into a complete pout. We only been here a few minutes. I wanna stay here—her voice on the brink of a sob.

Ah please, sweetheart. I’ll tell you what. I’ll carry you piggy back all the way. Hows that?

We could stay here and you could carry me piggyback. You said we’d go to the playground. You said—lowering her head, still pouting, her voice even closer to tears.

Look, I know what. How about a nice surprise after dinner? How about that?

What sprize?

O, I cant tell you that. Then it wont be a surprise.

She looked up at him for a moment, still pouting, Honest? A sprize?

Of course—feeling a blush warming his face—I wouldnt lie to my little girl.

One more slide?

O.K.—standing up and following her to the ladder. When she reached the bottom he knelt and his daughter climbed on Harrys back after he cautioned her to hold on tight to his neck, but not to choke him.

He walked toward the field quickly, holding his daughters legs, then broke into a jogging lope as Suzie prodded him with a giddyup, she enjoying the breeze on her face as she put her cheek next to her daddys and relished not having to bend her head backwards to look up at people, even being able to look down at many.

Harry swiftly worked his way back to his previous spot and found out that the score was now tied. He immediately became completely involved in the game as one team put the ball in play on their own 20 after a touchback, and the fullback picked up 12 quick yards on a draw play. After that the quarterback moved his team upfield by continually outthinking the defense with trap plays and slants off the tackles and guards, and a couple of short hook passes at just the right time.

His daughter remained satisfied with the novelty of her position and her daddy moved around just enough to make it interesting. For a while. Then the novelty faded, just as the defense recovered a fumble inside their own 20—and just when they were really moving the ball too.

I wanna go on the swings again, daddy—tapping him on the head with her hand.

I told you, Suzie, not now—what a jerk. A few more plays and they wouldve been over.

Suzie bounced up and down repeating, Please more—tugging at Harrys neck.

Not now, and stop that. Youre hurting daddy—lets see what this other quarterback can do. If he can get them out—I said stop—turning to look at Suzie. Do you want me to put you down?

No—still bouncing but no longer tugging at his neck—but I wanna go on the swings, you said—slowly pouting the words—I was hardly on them.

A time out was called and Harry knelt and his daughter slid off his back and he held her hands as he spoke softly, but firmly, to her, his irritation growing. I told you if you are a good girl I would give you a surprise after dinner. We have to go home soon—glancing at his watch—and we dont have time to go back to the playground. Now be a good girl and dont bother daddy for few minutes and I’ll piggyback you home and youll get a nice surprise after dinner. O.K.?

What sprize daddy?

Youll see after dinner—time was back in—now climb on daddys back and be a good girl. Harry stood up with Suzie on his shoulders and decided he had enough time to watch at least the next series of downs before he had to start home, and perhaps more if this guy didnt move the team. His daughter hung on quietly for a few minutes then started jiggling up and down and then jabbering and asking questions, wanting to know what they were doing and why they ran after the boy and when they were going back to the swings… and Harry grunted a few answers while moving along the sidelines as the teams moved down the field, occasionally telling Suzie not to choke him, her whining increasing his irritation. Then Suzie started humming to herself and rocking her head back and forth as she jiggled up and down and Harry started getting angry and squeezed her leg and yelled at her to stop as she fell forward and banged her head on his and Suzie hung completely motionless for a second, stunned from the blow and Harrys voice, then started whimpering and Harry fought his anger and knelt and rubbed her head for a moment and told her not to cry. She was still whimpering slightly, asking to go back to the swings, when the quarterback threw a perfect strike to his running back and he went in for the score. Harry decided to go home as it was a little after 2.

When they were out of the crowd he wiped Suzies face with his handkerchief, We dont want mommy to know we were crying now do we?

We going home now, daddy?

Yes, honey.

Can we go on the swings first, huh?

No.

Please. I hardly didnt get to go.

No, its too late—the sadness in her voice causing Harry to respond angrily—dinners ready now. He paused and took a deep breath, thinking how his wife would react to Suzies complaint. He smiled, But dont forget I promised you a piggyback ride all the way home. O.K.?

And a sprize you said.

Yes, I wont forget. Youll get a surprise. Now climb on and we’ll go home.

Harry played horsie to his daughters giddyup and between that and an occasional tickle Suzie was laughing when they romped into the house.

Well, its about time you two vagabonds got home—taking her daughter off Harrys back, kissing her before putting her down -a few more minutes and you would have had a catastrophe instead of a roast.

Hmmmm, smells good. I guess we had better get washed. Come on honey, lets get our hands and face washed.