I reached into my pocket and shot a text off to Melanie, letting her know we arrived safely to the school and that I’d met Miss. White.
Melanie:She’s a piece of work, isn’t she?
Jack:She seemed nice but I don’t think Amelia likes her.
Melanie:Amelia says she think she knows everything but that she really doesn’t.
It was clear where Amelia got her feedback on Miss. White but I couldn’t hold it against these girls. They were right. There was an air about Amelia’s teacher that felt like she knew more than anyone else in the room. It was only kindergarten, not college lady.
The day seemed to go by quickly, from seeing where Amelia had art and music class, to where she played at for recess. Then each of the girl’s had a special surprise for their parents’s and the school provided a lunch for us.
We were sitting at the lunch table, the cafeteria full of families. Amelia chose the table in the far back corner. When I was half way done with my lunch, Amelia pulled out a folder and held it close to her chest.
“I didn’t want everyone else to see because they would make fun of me.” She was looking down at her folder now, the paper crunching between her little hands.
“Can I see it?” I put down the peanut butter and jelly sandwich and held out my hand, waiting to see if she’d let me look at it.
“Everyone else made their parents’s pretty clay bowls but I didn’t want to do that. I wanted to make something else.”
“What did you make, Amelia?”
“Here.” Amelia shoved the folder at me and turned away. I opened the folder, looking down at the piece of paper that had stick figure drawings across it. One said Dad under it, the other Mom, and then Amelia. Then at the very end of the paper was another figure and my breath caught when I read what it said under him.
Wade.
I looked back to the figure that said Dad and realized that it looked strangely like me. I sat back in my chair, aware that Amelia was now watching every move I made, and looked the picture over once again.
She’d drawn me, Meanie, and herself as a family, with her dad off to the side. She had made me her Dad and a part of the family, while still including Wade in the photo. It was as if she’d read my mind last night about Melanie and her being a part of my life and us being a family. Maybe she’d heard me tell Melanie that I’d always be there for them and even make sure Wade was still part of their lives.
“Do you like it?”
“I love it,” I said, not hesitating with my response. I did love it. I loved that Amelia was accepting me into her family. I held the piece of paper close to my heart and pulled Amelia toward me in a half hug.
“This is the best father/daughter day ever,” Amelia whispered into my side. “Thank you.”
I pulled away and looked down at Amelia and then across the room to the other families. It looked like most of the parents were talking to each other while the kids talked amongst themselves. It’s why I’m sure Amelia chose for us to sit so far away from them. Today wasn’t about meeting other people, it was about getting to know each other. She wanted to know if I was interested in her life and I was. I could see how much it meant to her every time she showed me something new and her enthusiasm moved me. I wanted to see so much more. I wanted to know everything that Amelia had to offer, not just at school but in life.
And not just in this life right now but in the future as she grew up into a young girl, then a young woman, and then when she finally becomes the woman that her mother is today. I wanted to see it all and it was clear now that Amelia wanted me to see it all also.
I pulled out my phone and took a photo of the drawing, sending it to Melanie. She should know that this was how her daughter saw us.
Jack:We’re going to be headed to the house soon. See you there.
I didn’t check to see if she responded, since I wanted to see her reaction in person when she saw the drawing. I was going to make sure to put in on the fridge when I got to her house. A bell rung and Miss. White, along with a few other teachers, stood at the front of the cafeteria.
“Thank you Dad’s and Mom’s for coming out today to see your daughters and what it is they do every day. The school day has ended and you are free to leave for the day.”
“You ready to blow this popsicle stand?” I turned to ask Amelia who had a literal popsicle in her mouth. She grinned and nodded her head excitedly. I grabbed her hand along with the folder she’d given me as we headed back to my truck that was parked at the back of the school. It was the only place it would fit but that meant we weren’t waiting in a line to get out of the parking lot.
We rode home in silence as Amelia worked on her grape popsicle, leaving sticky fingerprints on the glass but I didn’t care. I was reminiscing over the day we’d had and how I wanted more of these days with her.
When I pulled into the driveway, Melanie was already out the door and headed for the truck.
“Mommy!” Amelia wiggled in the backseat but waited for her mom to get to the door before she took her harness off. Melanie had made sure to put her booster seat in the car this morning before we left.
“How was your day, little miss?” Melanie wrapped Amelia up in her arms. I came up next to them, closing the truck door. My hand rested on Melanie’s lower back as we all made our way to the house.
Amelia raved about her day at school and having me there. The folder she gave me was by my side. Melanie had already eyeballed it when we walked through the door and I knew she wanted to see it in person.
