The Most Important Daddy

Shellie and her friends were sitting on her front porch talking.

“My daddy makes people well,” Cindy said. “He’s the most important daddy in the whole world!”

“Oh, no,” answered Robert. “My daddy’s the most important daddy in the whole world. He puts out fires!”

“Well, I think my daddy’s the most important,” said Henry. “He teaches school!”

Shellie sat and listened to her friends talk about their dads, but she didn’t say anything.

My daddy must be important, she thought, but I don’t know why.

That evening after supper Shellie’s daddy sat down on the couch to read the newspaper.

Shellie went over and cuddled up next to him.

“Daddy, is your work important?” she asked.

Daddy thought for a moment. “Yes, Shellie, my work is very important.”

“Is it more important than making people well or putting out fires or teaching school?”

Daddy thought again. “Let’s just say it’s as important,” he replied, “but not more important.”

Shellie frowned a little bit. She wanted her daddy to be the most important daddy in the whole world.

“Hey, I see a frowny face,” said Daddy. “It looks like this.” Then he made a big frowny face that was so funny Shellie laughed out loud.

“Do you know what I do to people who have frowny faces?” asked Daddy. “I tickle them.”

Shellie tried to wiggle away, but she was too late. Daddy tickled her ribs and then he tickled her chin.

“What happened to that frowny face?” Daddy asked.

Shellie laughed and laughed. She looked at Daddy’s happy face and thought, My daddy is the most important daddy in the whole world because he makes me happy!

Then Shellie put her arms around her daddy’s neck and said, “I love you!”