The bunny goes in the hole

"....and that's how you tie a shoe." Jake held the show up so that his little sister could see it. Her big brown eyes took in the small blue shoe in her brother's hand, and little lines of confusion furrowed the skin between her forehead. She took the other shoe in her hand, and attempted to mimic what her brother had shown her. Pudgy little fingers tried to force the laces through each other and twist and loop them about. She twined a final flourish, and held up the large knotted mess.

Jake tried very hard not to laugh or smile as she took Ainsley's little shoe in his hand, and stared with dismay at the knot that she'd created. He patiently pulled it apart, and slid the shoe onto her stocking foot. Tying it quickly, he pulled the laces tight, before repeating the process with the other shoe. Ainsley watched her brother quietly, the struggle to cry mirroring in her eyes. Jake pulled the four year old to her feet. She sniffled, and Jake offered her a tender and gentle smile. After ruffling her hair, Jake meandered off, and went about his business.

Ainsley wasn't satisfied, and sitting down she pulled off her shoes and her sock, deciding that going about barefoot was much better than trying to have people be constantly tying the laces that she just couldn't seem to manage. Once her shoes were off, Ainsley took to the living room, where her older siblings, Christian and Isobel, were hard and work with their science homework. Every now and then, they would turn to the man in the chair for assistance. The man was Ainsley's father, and he knew everything in the world. She climbed up in his lap, leaning her head against her father's chest, and closing her eyes.

Jonathan smiled at his daughter, taking her little left foot in his hand.
"Here now, Lass, where are your shoes?"
"In Jake's room." The little girl replied, curling her toes into the warmth that her father's hand offered. Jonathan's shrewd brown eyes studied his child carefully, before releasing your foot.
"Still don't know how to tie your shoes, yet?"

Ainsley scowled and shook her head. Jonathan smiled, and picked her up, walking to Jake's room. Without a word, Jonathan picked up her shoes, handing her one and taking one himself. Without a word, Ainsley's father showed her step-by-step to tie her shoe, and patiently guided her through each bit of the process. Finally, Ainsley could tie her shoes.

The queit child didn't say a word; she merely hugged her father, and kissed his cheek. It wasn't verbal, but it was all the thanks that Jonathan needed.