you know i got you

Danial Mian. 25 Years. Graphic Designer. Proud Papa Of Addison. Now I've got you in my space I won't let go of you. Got you shackled in my embrace I'm latching on to you.

[danialmian-blog]

Teaching kindergarten isn’t as easy as some people think. Granted, there’s a nap time and it’s a lot of reading a teaching basic skills but it can also be exhausting. That’s not to say Lexie didn’t love her job because she did. She loved waking up two hours earlier than the kids had to arrive to the school to make a run to the bakery and be the first in line to pick out whatever treat she wanted to give the kids that day. She didn’t hype them with sugar and send them home, her job was to help them progress and mature as children. But that didn’t mean they couldn’t have a treat in the morning that they’d burn off during lunch and recess which the blonde typically spent chasing after a certain student who stuffed his mouth full of mud and spat it at one of the girls. For the entire day, the fact that a transfer was coming in made her  determined to make the day run smoothly so that the moment he walked in everything seemed picture perfect. Granted, the day had barely started and she’d sectioned the time off into periods on a chart that the children could always reference. Snack time was next, followed by art, but first was the music lesson. She’d felt silly suggesting it but the kids loved it, helping her pick what song they would sing. In any case, come graduation they would have to perform for the school so any practice was good practice. A voice, a deep voice unlike what she was used to hearing in the walls of her classroom had her turning her head, the last of notes from the Disney song they’d been singing fading into nothing. “Oh!” she remembered suddenly, cheeks flushed as she excused herself from the group of kids in a circle. “Something has to pay the bills,” she teased, hoping that wasn’t inappropriate. “I know all about Miss Addison, come on, sweetheart,” she smiled at the young girl, glancing over her shoulder to the cubbies for a second. “I’m Lexie Summers, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Mian. Would you like a tour of the classroom? Kids, you can play for a bit,” she called back to the students. “Why don’t I show Addison her cubby?”

Danial knew it was cliche, but he felt the need to do a double take. Lexie Summers was just about the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on. Right away Danial fell for her warm smile. “That’s too bad. You should enter a singing competition. That voice is...something,” Danial hoped he wasn’t coming off too strong as he came to meet her in the center of the room, holding out a hand for her to shake. He was used to speaking his mind with great candor and had trouble holding things back. “The pleasure is all mine Mrs. Summers. Addison and I would love a tour!” He followed Lexie to the back of the classroom. “Woah you get a cubby Ads?! Nice shirt little man, I love spiderman too,” He high-fived the boy before straightening up, only to find Addison staring up at Lexie with awe and a pang of guilt hit his stomach with a resounding thump. Danial had always felt like he was somehow responsible for the lack of a woman figure in Addisons’s life. She needed a mom, but Danial wasn’t ready to settle down again. The death of his wife five years previous still sent a wrack of pain throughout his body. The thought of betraying her with someone else was unimaginable. “It even has your name on it! How cool is that?” Danial headed towards them, almost tripping on one child’s lunchbox. “Once a klutz, always a klutz,” Danial apologized, smiling softly.

[danialmian-blog]

Needless to say it had been a rough morning. Addison hadn’t slept at all that night and Danial was up with her, trying to lull her back to sleep by singing, and when that didn’t work he took to fashioning a sock puppet and putting on a show. Addison had picked out her clothes the night before and came tumbling down the stairs, a huge smile on her face. Her flower dress clashed loudly with her lime green polka dot tights and fuzzy scarf. Danial bit his lip, stifling back a laugh. “You look very pretty Ads,” Danial was a believer in self expression and if Addison really wanted to wear that outfit how could he refuse? Breakfast was strawberry waffles and bacon with freshly squeezed orange juice, and after a quick spill, they were both out the door. Danial had only moved him and Addison to this town last week. Already he was having doubts about uprooting his daughter so young, and after she had made so many new friends and fingerpaintings back in Florida.  On the drive to the elementrary school, Addison’s favorite Kidz Bop song blasted through the speakers. “You ready, squirt?” Addison jumped into Danial’s arms, wrapping herself tightly around his waist. “Hey, it’s going to be great. You’re going to love the classroom, and the teacher. I bet she’s very nice and will let you play games sometimes,” He set her down gently, giving her a high five. “That’s my girl. Now lets go get ‘em.” The two walked into the main office and then were directed down the left hallway. Class had already started and Danial could make out the back of the teachers head as she led the class in a song. Once they were finished, he opened the door and popped his head in. “What are you doing as a kindergarten teacher when you have a voice like that?” He smiled, striding into the classroom with Addison trailing behind him. “This is my daughter Addison. I don’t know if you were aware of the transfer. We just moved here from Florida. I’m Danial. Danial Mian.”