die or die dude. you either die, or you die [@ mary]
Raising a boy was no sweat at all. Ito had spent most of his life surrounded by men of all ages, from various social classes and from all walks of life. What's better than that? Guys being dudes... However, taking care of a daughter was completely new territory. Where his world had been rich in male companionship, there was a significant lack of meaningful female interaction. Needless to say, he wasn't quite sure he would be up to the task. But a girl is a girl, right?
Lucky for him, Mary didn't seem to be particularly high-maintenance. In fact, she was just the opposite. Even so, he felt compelled to do at least a little something for her, something to further break the ice in their relationship. And what better way to melt that ice than spending a sunny afternoon in the park? She seemed to like animals and being outdoors well enough, it seemed like a innocent way to win her trust at least.
Although the setting was perfect, he found it slightly more difficult to strike up a conversation. That in itself was half the battle... Maybe starting off with a compliment or some playful, lighthearted teasing would do the trick? Or better yet, a little bit of both!
"You know," he began, looking down at Mary with an unfazed grin, "I think you might be the tiniest girl I've ever met! You're so petite and fluffy- just like a baby rabbit! I wouldn't be surprised if a great big bird swooped down, grabbed you, took you away, and ate you right up!"
Morbid as it might be, he had to laugh at himself for making such a wise-crack in such a fragile situation. He really was a riot!
