How Mommy Rides

Synopsis

After a two-week business trip, I came home to find my wife, Linda Taylor, wasn't there. I collapsed onto the bed, playing with my five-year-old son, Henry Taylor. "Dad, I want to play horsey," Henry said. I rolled over and got on all fours, patting my back. "Climb on, Daddy's gonna take you flying!" But Henry stood by the bed, pointing at me with his chubby little finger. "Dad, that's not how you do it." I sat up a bit, confused. "Then how are you supposed to ride?" Henry stacked the pillows together, sat on them, and grabbed the corners. He bounced wildly up and down, leaning forward, and started mimicking, "Giddy up. Giddy up." But he wasn't done yet. He kept bouncing, and then, something creepier flew out of his mouth. "Mom's supposed to lift her legs now," he blurted out. In that instant, it felt like my blood ran cold, like someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over my head.