Hush now {DDLB}

Letters and Numbers

Richy had been worried for a while now for Owen. Most littles learn how to read, write, and do simple maths but Owen didn't learn. And he's struggling. Richy needs to teach him but it's harder then it looks being the teacher.

It was a fairly normal Saturday morning. Richy had booked this day off and decided to sleep in.

However, that plan didn't work out as such. It was only 10 minutes past when his alarm would have normal gone off, when he woke up to the loud calls from Owen in the next room over.

"Dada! Dada! Dada!" Owen cried out. He had gotten so used to be woken up at 8 o'clock that he didn't understand why his daddy wasn't coming to get him. He was standing up in his crib, gripping onto the bars and jumping up and down. Tears threating to spill as the worst thoughts started to come into his head.

What if his daddy doesn't want him anymore? What if something bad happened to his daddy? Does his daddy not love him? Has he done something wrong?

Richy got up in a flash, worried that Owen was hurt.

"Baby?!" Richy rushed in to see Owen standing perfectly upright with now a grin on his face. A crooked smile that is showing his inner mischief.

"Daddy!" Owen squealed. A wave of relief washing over both of them.

"Morning little one. Had a nice sleep?" Richy smiled and picked up his little baby.

"Ya!" Owen said clapping his hands in the arms of his daddy.

"Inside voices please. And next time don't jump on your bed, just call out to daddy next time." Richy warned.

This startled Owen has he's never really been told off before. His eyes widened in shock and he didn't know what to do.

"I- I- I-. I sowy daddy! I be good boy. Pwomise." Owen stammered, tears pricking in his eyes once more.

"It's just a warning, okay? I'm not telling you off, just remember to use inside voices and don't jump on your cot." Richy said.

Owen nodded and put his head in the crook of Richy's neck, sucking on his paci that Richy had brought to his lips as he layed him on the changing table.

Once diaper changed and breakfast eaten, Owen was sat on the floor in front of the mini table in the living room. His daddy sat beside him, getting out pencils and paper

Owen looked curiously at the items, then to Richy and back to the pens and papers.

"Right today I'll be teaching you how to write numbers and the alphabet." Richy informed, receiving a bizzar look from Owen.

"Daddy help." Owen asked.

"Yes, of course. I'll draw them out, then you copy them, that sound okay?" Right explained.

"Yeah. An I ave boo pen?" Owen pointed at the collection scattered on the table.

"Of course! You don't have to ask, you can have any colour you want. Now watch how daddy writes his numbers."

Owen watched very carefully at how his daddy drew the numbers. It was much easier looking then he thought. And he didn't even wait for his daddy to finish before having a go himself.

At the adoption center he was never allowed to do things like this. He was never taught how to read or write, never allowed to play like this. Apparently, he had overheard the matron discussing his intelligence, they said he was 'incompetent'. Whatever that meant but he was sure that stopped them allowing him to learn anything.

Luckily now, he was getting that opportunity. He could laugh right in their mean faces.  That's what Marcus said he'd do if he ever found the people that left him and said he was a no good.

"Wow baby. You are doing brilliantly." Richy beamed. He thought it would take a lot more practice and paitents for Owen to get it right, turns out he was wrong.

"Weally? Daddy prowd?" Owen smiled brightly.

"Yes, really proud."

Owen didn't have to be told twice before he was copying the letters he remembered the shapes of. Brow creased and tongue sticking out in concentration. He even drew a few smily faces.

Richy watched chin resting on his hand. He adored the site. His little baby was so much better than he thought, there were times when he stumbled over some letters with backwards shapes or adding extra lines.

"I'm just going to get you a snack, I'll be back in a minute baby." Richy kissed the top of Owens head and ruffled his already messy hair.

"Otay daddy." Owen said almost on autopilot, he was so immersed in his new drawing to really pay attention.

Owen bobbed his head to nothing and wiggled his bottom when Richy had walked back into the room, with a bowl full of cut up grapes and chocolate covered biscuits. He also had with him a bottle of warm milk.

"I'm back sweetie." Richy said as he put down the snack and drink.

Owen mumbled a thank you and Richy sat down on the couch, turning on the TV to the football game he's missed half of.

Owen thought back to the first time he met his daddy. The moment when he was picked up abruptly in rough arms that sort no comfort. He remembered crying as the changed and scrubbed him clean. He remembered the kind eyes that he first layed eyes on. The warm arms that held him close and the smile that had given him his favourite teddy. His daddy had just met him, didn't even know what an awful little boy he was, he just took him in and looked after him without a second thought. And he loved his daddy for that.

He really really loved his daddy.

"What you thinking about bud?" Richy had noticed Owen deep in thought.

"Dada! Wook!" Owen snapped his head and grinned waving around the now colourful paper.

"You let daddy see, come over here" Richy said as he couldn't make out the picture because of Owens need to shake it about.

It was colourful. Two stick figures in green and yellow, one tall and one small both with lopsided smiling faces. In the background was a collection of rainbow scribbles. Owen even tried writing his name like Richy had shown him as well as his daddy's. Owen looked immensely proud and he shifted from one foot to the other, anxiously waiting for what his daddy would say. He didn't want to disappoint his daddy. He really did try his best at creating something good.

"It's beautiful baby. I'll put it on the fridge so I get to see it everyday." Richy put the paper next to him and picked Owen up to give him a bear hug.

Owen giggled and squealed, squeezing his daddy with his arms and legs.

Then the phone started ringing and Richy had to go and talk. Apparently, it was important and Owen wasn't allowed to stay all cuddled up, that's was his daddy said to him anyways. But Owen didn't mind he was just glad that his daddy liked what he did. Now he can make even more to impress him!