The smell of fresh paint and polished wood still lingered in the air. After weeks of hard work, unpacking, cleaning, and arranging furniture, the house finally felt like a home. Lala, with her wide eyes full of excitement, skipped around the living room in her little dress, her voice echoing across the new walls.
“Dad! Our house is so beautiful! It’s like a castle!” she declared, spinning in circles until she nearly lost her balance.
Her father, still in his work shirt with rolled-up sleeves, chuckled as he watched her. He placed the last empty cardboard box in the garage, brushed his hands together, and said, “Yes, princess. And every castle needs a celebration.”
Lala’s face lit up instantly. “A celebration? Do you mean a party, Dad?”
“Not a big party,” he said, kneeling down to her level, “but something special for just us. How about we dress up and have a fancy dinner to celebrate our new home?”
Lala squealed with delight. She adored the idea of pretending to be fancy. “Yes, yes! I want candles, shiny plates, and maybe even music like in the movies!”
“Then it’s settled,” Dad said with a smile. “Tonight, we’ll have the fanciest dinner we’ve ever had.”
Preparing for the Celebration
The afternoon turned into a whirlwind of activity. Dad pulled out the good dishes—the ones usually kept safely wrapped to avoid scratches. He laid them carefully on the dining table, which was newly polished and reflected the soft golden glow of the overhead lights. Lala insisted on helping, though she was a bit clumsy. She carried forks with both hands, walking like a tightrope performer, determined not to drop anything.
“Careful, princess,” Dad said, guiding her gently.
“I’m being fancy,” she replied, sticking out her little pinky finger as she set down each fork.
Dad laughed so hard he almost dropped a glass himself.
They searched through the boxes for the tall silver candle holders that once belonged to Lala’s grandmother. Dad placed long white candles into them, and Lala stood on a chair to help light them later. The table was slowly transformed into something elegant: folded napkins, sparkling glasses, and a vase of fresh flowers they had picked up earlier from the market.
In the kitchen, Dad began cooking. He wanted something special but also something Lala loved. After thinking for a moment, he decided on creamy pasta with chicken, fresh salad, and garlic bread. For dessert, he had bought a small chocolate cake that Lala had chosen at the bakery.
The smell soon filled the house, mingling with the faint scent of paint. It felt warm, comforting, and new all at once.
Dressing Up
As the food simmered on the stove, Lala dashed upstairs to her new room. She pulled open her brand-new wardrobe, which still smelled faintly of wood, and dug through her clothes. She wanted something sparkly, something worthy of a celebration. Finally, she found her favorite dress: a light pink one with little sequins that twinkled when she moved. She added a plastic tiara from her toy box and clipped on two tiny earrings shaped like hearts.
She looked at herself in the mirror, twirling slowly. “Perfect,” she whispered.
Meanwhile, Dad quickly changed into his best suit. It wasn’t often he wore it, but tonight was special. He knotted his tie—slightly crooked, but good enough—and polished his shoes. When he stepped out of his room, Lala gasped.
“Dad! You look like a prince!”
“And you,” he said, bowing dramatically, “look like the most beautiful princess in all the land.”
They both laughed and walked together to the dining room, holding hands like royalty entering a grand hall.
The Fancy Dinner Begins
Dad dimmed the lights slightly, and Lala carefully lit the candles, her little face glowing in the flickering flame. The soft music Dad had put on in the background—gentle piano notes—made the atmosphere even more magical.
When Dad brought out the plates, Lala’s eyes widened. “Ohhh… this looks amazing!”
She sat upright, imitating the fancy people she’d seen on TV, holding her fork properly, though every now and then she slipped back into her usual silly style of eating.
They clinked their glasses together—hers filled with apple juice, his with sparkling water.
“To our new home,” Dad said warmly.
“To our castle!” Lala replied proudly.
They ate slowly, savoring every bite. Dad told stories about his own childhood home, how he used to climb trees in the backyard and build forts out of cardboard boxes. Lala listened with wide eyes, giggling when Dad described his old silly mistakes, like spilling flour all over the kitchen while trying to bake cookies.
“Someday,” Lala said between bites of garlic bread, “I’ll tell my children about this house too. I’ll say, ‘My Dad and I had the fanciest dinner ever when we first moved in.’”
Dad’s heart melted at her words. He reached over and squeezed her hand gently. “And I’ll always remember it too.”
Dessert and Dancing
When it was time for dessert, Dad carried the little chocolate cake with two candles on top. He winked at Lala. “This isn’t a birthday, but I think we should make a wish anyway.”
Lala grinned, closed her eyes, and wished very hard for happiness in their new home. Together, they blew out the candles, filling the room with a faint puff of smoke and laughter.
After a few bites of cake, Dad turned up the music slightly. “Now, princess, every fancy dinner ends with a dance.”
Lala gasped. “A dance? Really?”
“Of course,” Dad said, standing and offering his hand.
She placed her tiny hand in his, and they moved slowly around the living room, stepping carefully so she wouldn’t trip. Dad guided her gently, and she giggled each time she accidentally stepped on his shoe.
They twirled, laughed, and swayed until the candles burned low and the cake was nearly gone. The house, once just a building, now felt alive—with laughter, love, and memories already being made.
A Special Ending
When the evening came to a close, Lala was tired but happy. She leaned against Dad’s arm as he carried her upstairs. “Dad,” she murmured sleepily, “this was the best celebration ever.”
He tucked her into bed, kissed her forehead, and whispered, “Every day with you is the best celebration, princess.”
Downstairs, as he blew out the last candle, Dad looked around their new home. The boxes were gone, the table was messy from their feast, and the room was quiet. But in that quiet, he felt peace. They had begun a new chapter together, and it had started with joy, warmth, and the glow of a fancy dinner shared between father and daughter.
