the perfect match

There was another option. Before Crazy came along there was Sharon. She was a nurse, with shiny, black Dorothy-Hamil hair.

Sharon colored pictures with us, did dolphin jumps in the pool, and called me sweetie. She babysat us when Daddy worked late. She took me shopping for dresses and lip gloss and made the boys stay home. When we watched Wizard of Oz on TV, she pulled me on her lap like I belonged there.

I told her I missed mama. I didn't tell anybody else. But I told her once. She hugged me and kissed my head and said, "I heard that she was a wonderful lady. Tell me what you miss the most."

But Daddy broke up with Sharon. She wanted to marry him - to marry all three of us, but Daddy said no.

It was only two months ago that I asked him why.

"Isn't it obvious?" he said.

I shook my head no. I still could not figure out why he left her, what she could have possibly done.

"I didn't marry her," he sighed, looking back at me, "because I am an idiot."