As I left the house this morning I heard the front door open behind me and the sound of feet came rushing down the walkway. “Dad! Dad, wait!” Clara yelled.

“Alright Clara, what do you need?” I said, and then slowly turned around. We had already said good bye several times.

“Um,” she gazed at her toes and brushed her socks in wide arcs on the pavement in front of her. “So, I was thinking. While you are at work. If you find anything that you want to bring home for me,” she looked up shyly, “Like, I mean, something like a snack or something. Something I could eat during the day. Could you bring that home? I mean, don’t go to the store or anything, I know you are really busy, but like, just while you are at work.”

I blinked at her. “You want me to find you food?”

“Yes.”

“While I’m at work?”

“Right.”

“Just, something that I find on my desk?”

“Yeah. Just something I can snack on. You know?”

“A snack…”

“Right.”

I pressed my lips together and nodded. “Okay, Clara. I understand. I’ll see what I can do.”

“Thanks, Dad!” she gave me a thumbs up and then ran back inside the house.

I shook my head slowly and walked to my car. So, anyway, I’m looking forward to explaining to my boss later that he can’t call me anymore because my daughter ate my telephone.