The Trials of Single-Parenthood
The time of the fating festival came and went the same every year, at least, that was what it seemed like. Hundreds, if not thousands of people, flocked to find their match, the masses ranging from excited young women to older men who had yet to find their sweet hearts on their own. To be honest, Khint found it all a bit nauseating. He didn’t dislike romance, that wasn’t the issue. The sentiment of finding someone to share your life with in one way or another was appealing, but something about the entire experience of fating... well, the implications and process made him a bit unnerved.
But that was possibly because of the crowds. Or his discomfort with emotional issues in general. Children were simple. Adults were emotionally all over the place, and hard to deal with.
This year’s fating wasn’t going to be any different. Khint would avoid the crowds, stay home, and possibly take Amira to an event or two that had very little to do with the actual fating. Last year one of her teachers had gotten fated, and there had been a party for that, but that was as close to the true festivities he would get. Normally, this behavior would result in pouting and whining from Amira. Her disappointment that her father wouldn’t be looking for love, or at least a friend, usually waned quickly. She knew how stubborn he could be, and that she couldn’t get him to budge.
...Somehow, this year was different. She was persistent this year.
“Just once, daddy? The nurse told me she would be going this year.” Amira proffered for about the tenth time since they started dinner. Khint didn’t know why she was so focused on the school nurse-- rather, the head of the school nurses-- and getting them together. While the woman was pretty, and very kind, and Amira did like her quite a bit, Khint barely knew her on a personal level. Children could get the wildest ideas.
“No, Amira. I told you, I have to--”
Amira interrupted him abruptly... she never interrupted. “You get time off, you don’t have to do anything.” She pouted, fixing him with the sternest look she could muster. “You’re just scared.”
There was a drawn out silence where the two stared at each other. Amira, of course, was the first to crack, lip wobbling very slightly. She hadn’t meant to be so harsh and hurt her father’s feelings. Although, it was hard to tell exactly what he was thinking with that expression. “I’m sorry, daddy, I just...”
Khint sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of his nose, looking down at the table as he leaned an elbow on it. There was no getting out of that argument, was there? Especially with an expression like that. After all, maybe he was scared.
“...Alright, alright. Just once. And there’s no promises as to what may happen.”
Amira lit up, although still teary from her prior worry. “Don’t worry, daddy. Whoever gets fated with you must be the best sort of person!”
That sort of logic was going to get him killed. Or worse. His luck tended to be... interesting.