This is the preview of Forever Remember which was in my local newspaper on Christmas day, 2016. 

It starts just before the prologue and includes some, but not all, of the prologue. 

One of my fondest childhood memories is going to the Watson Theater in December to see a princess movie with just me and my Daddy. (Mommy and my little brother stayed home.) – 3L 

Date With Daddy

Daddy was taking me to see the newest princess movie, and Mommy was staying home to wrap Christmas presents. I had asked for a new sled since I wrecked my old one last year. I wondered how Mommy would wrap (and where she would hide) a huge, round, red Flying Saucer. It had to be easier than putting on tights. How did elves squeeze their legs into these stretchy things every day?

I didn't want to wear them, but Mommy said I had to cover my bare legs, or I'd get frostbite. So I sat on the edge of my bed, pulling up the thin red material, being very careful not to jab a hole in it with my fingernail, like I did last time. After all this work, I hoped I looked pretty, like Mommy.

Mommy had helped me comb my hair and put a pink rose on my red hair band to match my favorite dress. It was red with tiny pink roses. I wanted to use Mommy's red lipstick, but Daddy said, "Not 'til you're thirty." I had twenty-two years to wait, so I smeared yummy cinnamon Chapstick on my lips, instead. It was just as red as the lipstick. Red was my favorite color, this month. I also liked blue, because Tyler Price had blue eyes.

I jumped off the bed, pulled up the waist of the tights, and then spun in circles, making the skirt of my dress flair out, until I got dizzy and tripped over my shoes.

"Jasmine, are you ready yet?" Mommy yelled from downstairs.

"Almost." I slid my feet into my shiny red shoes and struggled to fasten the gold buckles. I'd rather wear my sneakers, but Mommy always dressed up for her dates with Daddy, so I would, too. I stood up and wiggled my toes to make sure the buckles weren't too tight or my feet would hurt.

Daddy walked into my bedroom. "Is my princess ready to paint the town red?"

The first time he asked me that I grabbed my paints and brushes, but he couldn't trick me again. I giggled. "I'm ready to have fun!"

Daddy laughed. "Then let's go."

I skipped down the stairs, holding on tight to the railing. Mommy waited in front of the closet, holding out my new coat.

It had a huge red hood, two deep pockets, and four big red, rose-shaped buttons. When I saw it on a giant doll in the store, I just had to have it. Mommy said the giant doll was called a man-knee-kin, but I said it should be called a girl-knee-kin. That made Mommy laugh.

I slipped my arms through the sleeves and buttoned the roses down the front. I pulled my red mittens out of my pockets and onto my hands and put up my hood. I felt warm and safe inside my comfy coat.

Daddy put on his old brown coat and gloves.

Mommy kissed Daddy and me on our cheeks and closed the door behind us as we walked from the house to Daddy's shiny pumpkin-orange car, which we'd nicknamed Cinderella's Carriage.

Daddy opened the back door for me and bowed. "Your carriage awaits, my lady."

Giggling at Daddy's silliness, I climbed onto the seat and buckled the belt. Daddy shut my door and got in the front. He started the car and backed out of the driveway and onto the street.

I gazed out the window at all the houses decorated for Christmas: lights on the roofs, wreaths on the doors, reindeers on the lawns, but no real snowmen. It hadn't snowed yet. I couldn't wait for the first snowfall. I loved riding my sled and building snowmen with carrot noses, button eyes, and stick arms.

"Daddy, can we listen to Frosty the Snowman?" I asked.

He pressed the buttons and Frosty boomed out of the speakers. I sang along as the car followed the river road to Watsontown. My third grade class was practicing this song for our winter play, so I knew all the words. The teacher chose Tyler Price to be Frosty the Snowman. I wanted to be Karen, but Mimi Holt got the part instead.

As the song ended, we passed the WELCOME TO WATSONTOWN sign on the right and three very tall pine trees, covered with big red, gold, and green light bulbs, on the left, and then Daddy turned left onto the gravel road for the park.

"Do you want to play on the swings?" he asked. "We have a few minutes before the movie starts."

"Yes, please." I unbuckled my seat belt, opened the car door, and slammed it behind me. I ran to Daddy's side.

We walked across the crunchy, frozen grass to the swings. I sat down on the cold rubber seat and held on to the icy chains. I was glad I had my mittens. "Daddy, can I ask you a question?"

"Anytime, Princess." He sat down on the swing beside me.

"How do I get a boy to like me?"

Daddy swallowed a big gulp of air and then blinked as if he was going to cry.

"Are you okay, Daddy?" Why was he so sad?

"Not really. I didn't expect this question for a few more years. How old are you, Jasmine?"

Something must be really wrong with Daddy if he forgot my age. "I am eight. I'll be nine on May 15th," I reminded him, so he wouldn't forget my birthday. "And Christmas is December 25th."

"That's right." He nodded. "Did you ask your mother this question?"

"No, silly. She's not a boy."

"True." He let out a deep breath. "So who's this boy you want to like you?"

"Tyler Price. He sits beside me in school. He let me borrow his pencil when I forgot mine." I kept the pencil, but I won't tell Daddy that.

"He must already like you, or he wouldn't have given you his pencil."

"He's nice to everyone," I explained. Tyler was also very cute, but I won't tell Daddy that, either. "What made you like Mommy?"

"Hm. . ." His eyebrows went together as he thought about my question. "I loved the way she smiled at me. Still do."

I frowned. I had an ugly smile. My two front teeth were missing. Mimi laughed and pointed at me whenever we practiced All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth. She was so mean. I didn't know why she picked on me. Most of the kids in my class were missing teeth, even Tyler, and new ones wouldn't grow in for a while.

I sighed. "What else did you like about Mommy?"

"Well. . . She makes the best chocolate chip cookies in the world."

Mommy's cookies were the best. I could help Mommy bake cookies and give some to Tyler at lunch. "Thanks, Daddy. You have the best ideas."

"You're very welcome. I'm glad I could help. We have a few minutes left to swing. Bet I can swing higher than you." He grabbed hold of the chains and swung his legs forward and back.

"I know you can. Your legs are longer." I started pumping my legs anyway, aiming my feet higher and higher toward the sky. I loved the feel of the freezing wind on my face. "Someday, I'll be as tall as you, Daddy."

"Someday."

We swung for a few minutes until our fingers were numb and our cheeks turned red.

"It feels like it is going to snow," Daddy said, dragging his feet on the ground and standing.

"Oh, I hope so." I jumped off the swing and landed on both feet.

Daddy looked at his watch. "Time to head to the movie theater. We don't want to miss the previews."

I raced Daddy back to the car. He drove to the parking lot, and then we walked down the narrow alley to the Watson Theater. Daddy bought two tickets, and we entered the warm building. It smelled like buttered popcorn. I pulled down my hood and peeled off my mittens and shoved them in my pocket.

At the candy counter, Daddy bought all our favorites. We found seats in the back row and took off our coats. Daddy placed them in the seat next to him.

The theater was packed with people. We sat down and waited for the movie to begin. The lights soon dimmed.

My eyes stayed glued to the bright screen the entire time, while I stuffed my face with soda pop, caramel popcorn, and chocolate-covered peanuts and pretended I was the beautiful and brave princess.

When the movie ended, Daddy and I put on our coats and picked up our trash. We followed the long line of people through the theater. Daddy threw our garbage in the cans beside the counter, and I pulled on my mittens.

Holding on tight to Daddy's hand, I skipped out of the warm building and into the cold air. Fat flakes of snow floated down from the sky, coloring the whole outside world white. I tilted my head back and tried to catch one on my tongue. "Look, Daddy. It's snowing!"

He laughed at my silliness. "Did you like the movie, Princess?"

"Oh, yes! Very much." I giggled. "Someday I will marry a handsome prince and live happily ever after in a great big castle."

We walked through the narrow alley to our car. Daddy opened the back door for me. "When you find your Prince Charming, just don't forget about your ol' Dad."

I climbed onto the seat and buckled the belt. Daddy shut my door and got in the front. He started the car and turned on the windshield wipers.

"I'll never forget you, Daddy," I promised.

He smiled at me in the rearview mirror as he backed out of the parking space and headed home. On the way out of town, we passed man-knee-kins of an old man and woman riding in a one-horse-open sleigh.

"Daddy, please play Sleigh Ride. It's my favorite winter song."

He pressed the buttons for number five on the CD player. I loved the sound of his deep voice as we sang together about sleigh bells ringing and other wonderful things to remember. I would never forget this date with Daddy.

But I couldn't wait to get home and make cookies for Tyler. Maybe, someday, when I was bigger, I would have a date with him.

Author's Note: I hope you enjoyed this preview. We get a glimpse into Jasmine's close relationship with her daddy and her crush on Tyler.  

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas! What gifts are on your wish list?