Red Room Where the Writers Are

Remembering Olsen

A man accompanied by his five year old daughter pulls into a space in the Wal-Mart parking lot.
"Okay sweetie. Take that seatbelt off."
A loud boom is heard. The child is startled.
"Just some fireworks sweetie."
She is relieved. "Just fireworks daddy."
He pulls her from the car and holds on tight.
"Daddy, remember I dreamed you left me at a store?"
"I would never do that honey."
"This is the store daddy."
He worries inside. Being a believer of messages in dreams, he proceeds with extra caution, holding her hand tighter than normal. "Daddy's not leaving you anywhere. Now stay close."
"Okay daddy."
Everything seems questionable around him. A car passes by, he feels it is too close. A man walks along, he seems like a criminal. Thoughts race of kidnappers and sexual predators. A group of boys appear to be up to no good. They resemble a gang.
Father and child enter the store safely where the girl spots a race car shopping cart.
"I know honey. Get in your race car." He smiles. "And what are we here for?"
She sings. "Milk, cereal and apple juice."
"Very good."
They sing together. "Milk, cereal and apple juice! Milk, cereal and apple juice!"
She adds additional items. "Crayons and coloring book."
"If you're good." He knows he will get them for her, that will keep her busy in the car.
He sees sneakers on clearance for twenty four dollars. "Come with me honey. Daddy might buy sneakers."
She won't leave the cart. "Race car."
He thinks about her dream once again. "You have to leave the race car and stay close to daddy."
"But race car."
"Do you want a coloring book and crayons?"
She hops out of the cart.
He tries on his size and its a perfect fit. Another item in the cart.
She points. "Coloring book. It will keep me quiet in the car."
He hands her the book and crayons and continues to cautiously shop until they have milk, cereal, apple juice, sneakers, a coloring book and crayons.
They get to the car and he feels victorious. "See honey, you're in the car now. I didn't leave you."
She puts on her seatbelt and begins to color in the book. "Thanks daddy, you always take good care of me."
He walks around to the back of the car. The gang of boys is not too far away. He begins to place the items in the trunk. A boom is heard.
She continues to color "Just fireworks daddy. I'll stay busy."
The mans blood covers the trunk and the ground around his lifeless body as a gang member runs off with daddy's new sneakers.

Daddy left her at the store that day.