Habi Holidays!

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    “Daddy, it’s simple. Just touch the red circle and hold the phone steady.”
    Simple. Dave frowned at the phone’s screen. As far as he used his phone, it was for making phone calls. But he was becoming painfully aware that he was spiraling into what the kids called a “Boomer” phase. And apparently, that was some sort of insult? So when his daughter had kindly asked him to film her riding and scoffed at him when he suggested using a camera, he knew it was time to break out of the Boomer phase. Apparently, phones had cameras. Who knew?
    “Yes, I think I can manage that, Ms. Abigail,” he stated.
     Abi pursed her lips, giving him a hard look. Dave was sure of many things and said as much, but she had witnessed him time and time again fail miserably each time he was so “sure”. “Please, Daddy, I want to send Grandma and Grandpa this so they can see that I can ride by myself.”
    Dave’s very first instinct was to correct her that, in fact, she wasn’t riding by herself. Not completely. She wasn’t to ever even be around the horses alone. Someone was always there to watch her- “Yes, Ms. Abigail, I understand. Press the red circle, hold the phone steady,” he repeated calmly with a soft smile.
    He watched Abigail’s mix of emotions through her scowl. She seemed awfully determined. That was his girl. Once she set her mind to something, she rarely changed it. He could see her confidence slowly start to bud. She was a hesitant, cautious young lady but Dave admired that about her. She thought things through first and then again, and maybe even a third or fourth time until she committed to it.
    Sometimes, it was daunting when it came to decisions like what she even wanted to wear to school. They had uniforms but Dave remembered a time where she had quite the morning when there was a choice to be made between a pair of short black socks or a pair of long white socks. To this day, he still doesn’t understand what the fret was over.
    But when it came to being around the horses, he was quite relieved. She had her pony looking immaculate. Well-groomed, tidied up, tack neat, and in place. A shame the pony was so flashy but should it be a shade of glistening chestnut, he would admit it looked fine. He could tell Abigail was eager to put her work into action.
    He held the pony’s reins while she used the block to mount. The urge to stay by her side was strong so he started with just one step back, “You have your pattern in mind?”
    Abi collected up her reins, inspecting their length and glancing at her boots in the stirrups to make sure they were resting properly. She didn’t want to look like a fool. She gave a nod, “Yes, Daddy. Mr. Barraway and I practiced it all week. Give us a moment to warm up, please.”
Dave nodded, hesitating to exit the arena. It was just a few yards away but it was always the longest walk. He knew it was silly. She wasn’t made of glass. He had been told by many people many times. But he doubted they had ever held their child’s cold, unconscious body, broken and bleeding, unresponsive. To see them bed-bound for days, hobbling for weeks, hurting for years. It was a struggle to take those few steps away and forever would be.
    He clasped his clammy hands behind his back, huffing his chest out, looking on proudly. Dave's mightiest mask was to conceal his nerves. This was Abigail's moment to be brave when Dave could not be.
    Abigail glanced to the side of the arena, making sure he was still present. He wouldn't leave her. Why should she feel nervous that he might? Because of how much time he spent with her older brother, Chris? He was away at a show with his girlfriend so why did Dave stay behind? Because she asked him to? For a moment, maybe she felt a tickle in her gut, a flutter in her chest. Because maybe for today, she had finally beat Chris for Dave's attention.
    She was all business. She didn't crack a smile in her warmup. She was hyper-focused on even the smallest details of how high she needed to raise a rein, the exact spots she needed to draw her spurs back to, sitting straight as a board. Everything had to be right. Today was like sending in her application to become an acknowledged equestrian of the Burton family. Grandma and Grandpa weren't just two old folks in rocking chairs. They were part of the equine dynasty that raised Dave into the equestrian he was today.
    A dynasty that held little regard to Dressage; not because it wasn't fundamental. Burtons just found it painfully boring when they could be racing around a jumping course or cross country. But this is what Abi had and this is what Abi would use to make a statement.
    "Daddy," she called after halting Stickers near the side of the Dressage fencing. She watched as he smiled and nodded but the phone was still in his pocket. She scowled, tightening her fingers on the reins. "Daddy," she said firmly.
    Dave jumped into action, "Ah, yes! My apologies! The phone, yes, yes."
    She frowned and sighed, "Are you-"
    "I can do it, Ms. Abigail! You have my word! Look, see? Red dot, it's right here," Dave assured her after it took three or four swipes to even open the darned thing.
    "Daddy, please don't mess this up. I'm counting on you."
    Dave's expression softened. As much as she was counting on him, he was counting on her. The fact that she was unsure of his resolve proved his worries that he was failing to support his children. It was part of the reason he chose to leave Chris be, despite Helena's terms. He had to do it. He had to face his fears. He had to give his kids just that extra inch of freedom.
    He held up a thumb, smiling brightly, "Ready when you are, Ms. Abigail."

(1039 wordcount)

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SEE!? DAVE CAN BE COMPETENT! Maybe sometimes xD

Happy Holidays everyone! This is what you chose for me to work on for the season: "Something wholesome"
via this poll: www.deviantart.com/drasayer/po…
And let me be the first to say: I don't even know what wholesome is anymore??
It was a struggle to pick something out. Many days of brainstorming, trashing ideas, more thinking, etc etc. I can draw nekkids all day long and need no reason not to. But wholesome? Seems I have a whoooole in my skillset ;D 
So have Dave not failing for once <3 

And have a happy holiday season, to whichever holiday you choose (and maybe if you don't even celebrate a holiday, have some nice days) <3 

For once my scanner really didn't pick up on the shading this time :''D 
Dare I say, it looks better with eyeballs for once lol 

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Abi/Dave/Stickers/Chris/Art © Drasayer
"Mr. Barraway" © Saoradh 
No specific refs used


Pencil/Photoshop CS6