5. Tucker

“Alright, Princess, get me a quarter inch socket wrench.”

Riley bounces to my tool box. She taps her chin, eyes scanning each tool, searching for what I”m asking for.

“Quarter means one line four, right?”

My smirk is instant, she’s so damn smart. The way I teach her math is a little unconventional, but it’s worked so far.

“That’s right. How’d you get so smart?”

“I dunno. It just happened.”

“No one helped you?”

“Maybe you… a little.”

I tug her into my arms, peppering her cheek with kisses. She squeals with delight, fidgeting in my arms. When I let go of her, she steps back, hands flying to her hips.

“What else are we doing on this one?” She nods her head towards the car.

“Oil change.”

“Oh! That’s my favorite! Can I do it?”

“You think you’re big enough to change the oil by yourself?” I arch an eyebrow at her.

Riley’s only six years old, I”m fairly certain she can”t do an oil change completely by herself.

“I can, Daddy! Really!”

I eye her for a moment, knowing in the end I’ll give in like always.

“Alright, prove it.” I stand, brushing my hands against my jeans, I fold them across my chest.

I stare in amazement when she taps her chin a few times before rushing over to my tool box once again. She shuffles around, moving tools out of the way. She bounces back to my side with a wrench set and an oil wrench, before rushing away again. She comes back, dropping a funnel and oil pan at my feet. She slides her creeper next to mine, dropping down on the padded metal and slides under the car. I follow her lead, settling onto my own creeper. I lean back and push with my feet, rolling next to my little girl under the car.

“That’s the oil plug, right?” Her small hand reaches up, touching the correct part.

“That’s right, baby.” I can”t hide the pride in my voice. I sit in awe, watching my little girl try several wrenches until she finds the correct size. She fights to get the drain plug loosened. “Can I help?”

“I”m not strong enough!” She pouts.

“That’s ok, you’re only ever going to get stronger.”

I give the wrench a hard pull, loosening it enough that Riley is able to do the rest. She grabs the oil pan, resting it on her belly, the same way I do it. When the oil starts leaking out, she squeals with delight. She waits patiently for the oil to stop coming, then shifts the pan onto the ground and replaces the plug. She tightens it as much as she can before handing the wrench over to me to finish the job. She moves to the oil filter, her other wrench in hand.

“This one, Daddy?”

“Yes! You’re doing an amazing job!” I”m full of excitement, wanting to jump in and help Riley, but also wanting to see how much she can do herself.

She untwists the oil filter, making oil drip down her arm. She doesn’t flinch or whine about getting messy. Not my little girl. Riley turns a toothy grin to me, her eyes shining with pride.

Her face suddenly falls, and my brows pinch together, worry filling my head.

“What’s wrong, baby girl?”

“I don’t know which filter or oil I need.” A scowl forms, scrunching her little forehead.

“Let me tell you a secret…” I slide my creeper closer to her, whispering in her ear. “I don’t know which ones I need either, I check this book I have and it tells me.”

A smile stretches across her face, threatening to break her chubby cheeks in two. She pushes away, out from under the car and hops to her feet. I follow only seconds later, helping her check the book to see what kind of oil and filter we need. Riley grabs her supplies and is sliding back under the car a few moments later. By the time I get back under the car, she already has the new oil filter in. I check to make sure it’s tight before we both slide back out. She grabs a step stool, bringing it next to the car as I pop the hood.

“Here?” She points.

“Yes.”

She positions her funnel and starts pouring the oil in, only spilling a few drops. When she’s done, she checks the oil level, then beams up at me.

“All done, Daddy!”

I snatch her off the stool, tugging her into my arms. I spin her in a circle as tears prick my eyes. I’ve never been so proud of my little girl! She did something most adults don’t even know how to do anymore.

“You’re the best daughter a man could ask for.” I kiss her head, placing her back on the ground. She smiles up at me with smudges of grease on her cheeks. Damn, she’s adorable. I”m certainly going to miss this next week.