Replacement - Part 2

>Still be an average joe
>But this time, there's a key difference
>You've got a fluffy pony on your lap
>Her name is Plumsweet, which she will not stop thanking you for
>"Fank yoo 'gain fow Pwumsweet name, daddy! Pwumsweet wuv name!"
"You're very welcome, Plumsweet. But you don't have to keep thanking me. This is like, the 7th time."
>She looks at you with her mouth open
>"Oooooh, Daddy smawty! Can cownt to seven! Pwumsweet wuv smawty daddy!"
>Hoo boy, this is going to be interesting

>The only reason you bought Plumsweet was to help your dad out of his depression
>He's been drinking heavily since your last dog died
>Having a new creature to care for, especially one with as much unconditional love as a fluffy pony, should hopefully be enough to do it
>"Wook at twees, daddy! Twees move fast!"
>If she stops getting distracted by damn near everything
>She seems to see the world in High Definition ADHD
>And her curiosity is never sated
>"Daddy, how caw move?"
>Yeah, you're in a car
>Luckily your mother is driving, so you can safely field fluffy questions
>Then you realise: You have no fucking idea how a car works
"I don't really understand how it works either, Plumsweet. Maybe it's magic?"
>This makes the little ball of energy on your lap smile and laugh
>"Pwumsweet wide in magic caw! Vwoom vwoom!"
>You've got to admit, the sight of a fluffy pony making car noises is enough to damn near give you diabetes
>You just hope your dad feels the same...

>Your dad is an interesting man
>His childhood was pretty rough, his father was a bit of a dick
>So he's always tried his best to avoid the mistakes he saw his father make
>He loved to make jokes, work hard and provide for the family
>Always very protective of the things he holds dear, always fretting about everything
>Until the death of your dog, you'd never seen him shed a tear
>He was in AA for about 21 years until now, but he's relapsed
>He hasn't lost his touch, he's been drinking a bottle and a half of vodka over the course of an afternoon
>You look down at Plumsweet, who is still ooh-ing and aah-ing over everything she sees out the window
>Maybe she can help your dad back on his feet?

>The car pulls into your driveway, and you carry Plumsweet out
>Your place isn't huge, but it's a really nice house
>A decent sized backyard opening onto bushland beyond a waist-height fence
>Every morning waking up to the calls of bell birds and magpies, with one hell of a valley view from the second floor
>You put Plumsweet down on the front lawn and let her wander around
>"Dis Pwumsweet home?"
"That's right, little girl. This is your home now."
>She smile sweetly
>"Pwumsweet happy! Fank yoo daddy an' mummy!"
>Your mother laughs at this
>"If that's what she's calling you, what's she going to call dad?"
>Plumsweet cocks her head
>"Dewe anudda daddy hewe? But DAT daddy!"
>She points a tiny hoof at you
>You laugh a little, you were expecting this confusion
"Actually sweety, another daddy lives here. MY daddy."
>Plumsweet only looks more confused
>"Daddy haf daddy?"
"That's right! I'm your daddy, and my daddy is inside."
>Comprehension dawns on this small inquisitive creature
>The thought never occurred to her that even daddies have daddies!
>"Dad... Daddy haf... WOWWWWWWW!"
>... You think you've broken your fluffy
>She's just sitting there, staring blankly with her mouth open
"Plumsweet?... Aaaanybody home?"
>She shakes her head as if clearing it and smiles
>"If daddy Pwumsweet daddy, and daddy haf daddy, den Pwumsweet caww daddy daddy dadad!"
>... You THINK you understood that
>She's going to call your dad 'Dadad'
"That's very good idea, Plumsweet! That way we won't get confused."
>"Pwumsweet no wike confoos. Make Pwumsweet head owwies."

"Ok Plumsweet, before we go inside, do you have to make poopies?"
>"Nu-uh! Pwumsweet no need poopies! Pwumsweet go in wittabox at aminaw pwace."
>Aminal place...?
>Animal Place...?
>Oh, the RSPCA Centre. Right.
"Ok then little lady, one more thing before we go in. It's about da- I mean, Dadad."
>"Otay, daddy. Pwumsweet wissen."
>Plumsweet sits down on the grass and stares up at you attentively
>You figure it's best to bring it in close for this, so you sit down with your legs crossed in front of her
>You try and think of the best way to put what you're about to say into fluffy terms
"You see sweety, Dadad is very sad right now."
>Her expression turns into one of sympathy
>"Why Dadad sad? No haf huggies?"
"No, it's more than that. See, we had a doggy here and we loved her very much. She was a good doggy."
>"Pwumsweet wike doggies. Doggies gif wicky-wicks to Pwumsweet, make tickews on fwuff."
"Our doggy was like that, too. But see, she went away. That made everyone very sad. Especially Dadad. Our doggy was like Dadad's baby."
>Plumsweet gasps!
>"Dadad wose doggy babbeh?! Dat su sad! Pwumsweet hewp find doggy babbeh!"
"That's not how it works, Plumsweet. Our doggy got very sick and went away forever. That's why Dadad is so sad. He has... Heart owwies."
>Plumsweet is hanging on your every word with a sad expression
>"Heawt owwies? Dat dah wowst kind of owwies..."
"I know, sweety. That's why we've brought you here. Dadad needs a friend. Someone to love him and give him huggies and play with him to make him happy again."
>She brightens up at this
>"Pwumsweet do dat! Pwumsweet gif BESTEST huggies an pway BESTEST games! Make Dadad heawt owwies go 'way!"
>You smile at how keen she is to make your dad feel better
"Atta girl. Remember, it will take a while for Dadad to feel better, so we have to take it slow, okay?"
>Plumsweet nods and smiles sweetly
>"Otay daddy. Pwumsweet be weawwy nice to Dadad, hewp make heawt owwies betta."
"Good girl. Now, let's go inside."
>You pick up your new little fluffy lodger and start heading inside

>You hope this works...