It was now Dad's turn to finish up. "What can I do for X?" he moaned, "that's a toughie. Wait, I've got it!"

X IS FOR X-TRA SPECIAL
X-tra Special is something that's real.
It's warming and lasting and what you genuinely feel.

Y IS FOR YESTERDAY
With red hair and freckles, I was a kid somewhat fat,
If Caroline saw me, she'd say "My Dad was that!"

Before beginning Z, Dad joked to Caroline, "I can't believe it. For once I get the last word."

Z IS FOR ZIP
It's a pain to mow the lawn. I try to zip it through.
I'd rather do the fun stuff, like sharing this with you.

They both cheered at the end. "A promise made is a debt unpaid," Dad quoted an elderly Amish friend. "Time to go to bed."

"Hey, it's my turn Dad,"came that familiar voice that could only belong to Bess. "If you did an alphabet rap with Caroline, I get one too. Fair's fair." Dad felt certain he heard muffled laughter with this ultimatum.

As Caroline jumped under the covers a deck of cards spilled on the rug. "Cool Dad, let's think of something to do with cards for tomorrow night. There are fifty-two in a deck, so it'll be TWICE as good as tonight."

"Great idea, Caroline," Bess shouted with glee. "I bet Dad can't wait."
As for Dad, he slowly sank to the floor groaning (but with a grin) "HELP !”