If I Were a Surprise

If I were a surprise,
I would be the one that
brought the tears to Emily's eyes.
Her mom hustled her into
the car with nary a please.
No time to dawdle,
we have to go now.

I had driven 1800 miles
in two days instead of three
to pick up my daughter for
summer vacation.

The shock was complete
and watching it register
on Emily's face was
something to behold.

She first looked,
then started smiling
wider and wider
as the tears started and
her chatter stopped.

"Daddy you tricked me,
you weren't supposed
to be here until
tomorrow or something,"
came through my little girl's
happy cries.
Come to think of it,
I was that surprise.