He breathed in her hair, the sweet-smelling thickness of it. My father usually agreed with her requests, because stamped in his two-footed stance and jaw was the word Provider, and he loved her the way a bird-watcher's heart leaps when he hears the call of the roseate spoonbill, a fluffy pink wader, calling its lilting coo-coo from the mangroves. Check, says the bird-watcher. Sure, said my father, tapping a handful of mail against her back.
The excerpt conveys a deep and affectionate relationship between the father and the mother. The father’s nature as a Provider is evident in how he readily agrees to her requests, reflecting his dedication and love for her. The metaphor comparing his love to that of a bird-watcher’s excitement upon spotting a rare bird captures both the tenderness and admiration he holds for her.
The sensory description of the mother’s hair adds richness to the scene, emphasizing not just the physical attraction but also the emotional connection between the couple. The father's actions, like tapping the mail against her back, symbolize a nurturing attitude, suggesting a harmonious domestic life where love manifests in small, tender gestures.
