Flight of The Gypsy Bird

Once upon a time, in a land not so far away, there lived a little princess.  She was beautiful, joyful, talented, full of grace, and everything a princess should be.  Her parents, the king and queen,  loved her desperately and not a day passed that they didn't surround their little princess with their beautiful love for her, and they loved her well.   The little princess blossomed under their tender mercies and gentle guidance and all seemed well. Daily, the king would twirl her and whisper to her, "Do you know how beautiful and special you are?" She would giggle, the way little girls are prone to do, and respond, "Haha, Yes, Papa." as she threw her little arms around him and squeezed him tight. "You always tell me that."  And the little princess believed him with her whole heart. He was her papa and he had never lied to her. She knew he could be trusted and in her wee eyes, he was the wisest, most handsome man in all the world. She would sm...

Yesterday began like normal. The usual 'double snooze', yawn and stretch, "Good Morning, Daddy...etc", wish I had gone to sleep earlier, roll out of bed-careful of new ink(tender tender...oosh), tip-toe into the girls room to wake Maddie Rose, get caught by two big blue eyes, cuddle a baby girl and get ALL kinds of squeezes(complete with precious grunts) and slobbery kisses(complete with new teeth..O_o), set out clothing for the oldest princess, open the door to the teenage sanctuary and flip on the stairwell light and tap the wall, "Tucker..."(wait for response) "Time to get up, dude." (wait until I hear the appropriate responding grunt), make my way to the kitchen with baby on the hip to make her bottle and then plop her on a pillow in the floor with it while I make my way into the little boys room,  and I as pass the Tweenager's cave, I flip on the light, tapping the wall, "Up and at-em, bud...let's go." Turn on the lig...