daddy - j.m

53 - pray

Jason

Setting the table for 4 again was strange, really uncomfortable. It was almost pathetic to act like everything was okay with those four plates staring back at me. It was pathetic to feel my heart break with the fact that the fourth plate wasn't set for Madison. It was for Alyssa's friend, Hanna. I wanted to give the impression of a perfect parent, the mix of a mother and a father figure, to Hanna so that Alyssa wouldn't get treated any differently because only one of us were around. I wanted us to seem natural and completely okay with the wife not present.

"Blossom! Come help me with dinner!" I called. A sloppily dressed Blossom came out of her room with her arms crossed and a stern look playing on her face. I had allowed her stay home from school because of severe menstrual cramps, and it was no problem since I knew that she had done phenomenal work during her first two months at New York High.

"Alyssa's bringing a friend with her home after they've been at the mall. Please take care of the pasta for a while?"

Blossom grunted loudly. "I need to take a shower before they show up."

I sighed, looking her in the eyes. I couldn't go against that because I knew she enjoyed being liked and that she enjoyed dressing up.

"Go take a shower then."

She gave me a quick hug and ran off to her room to gather whatever she needed.

-

"We're home!" Alyssa called out, right when I had gotten myself ready as well.

"Hi. And it's nice to meet you, Hanna. I'm Jason."

Hanna took my hand and nervously looked me in the eyes. "Nice to meet you too."

Blossom had now gotten the word that the girls were here and came walking down the hall. Hanna stretched her arm out to shake Blossom's hand but was denied. Instead Blossom wrapped her arms around Hanna and then told her to feel like home. I couldn't help but to smile.

"I'm Blossom by the way." She smiled. "Like the flower."

And the company, I automatically thought to myself. Sigh.

"I like it." Hanna responded. "A lot."

Alyssa giggled. "Okay, Blossom. Don't steal my friend now."

Blossom smiled back at her and walked out to the kitchen, ready to take a seat.

"Only 4 plates?" Hanna quietly whispered to Alyssa and I thought that it was the best for all of us to pretend like I didn't hear her.

Alyssa did the same thing, just ignored her statement simply because she didn't have an answer.

I took the seat next to Blossom who gave me an exposing yet confirming look that she had heard Hanna as well.

Alyssa began putting food on her plate and then scooted the pot of pasta over to Hanna, who looked very dazed and confused.

Alyssa suddenly understood what the problem was. "Your family prays right?"

Hanna looked ashamed but nodded. "Yeah."

"Dad?" Alyssa put all the pressure on me.

"Oh, right! Do you hold hands?"

Hanna nodded so I grabbed Blossom's hand with my right one, Blossom was a bit confused but took Hanna's hand. As Alyssa and Hanna chained up, I had already found Alyssa's tiny hand.

"Hanna you say the prayer." I said. I don't know if I came off as rude or as a nice person. I didn't want to be the one loud and clearly speaking of religious stuff, considering everything I've done in my life. I also wanted the prayer to be correct.

"God is great, God is Good." She began, eyes closed and speaking voice turning into some kind of more serious tone.

"And we thank him for our food; By his hand we are fed; Give us, Lord, our daily bread."

I really did try really hard not to laugh. I was an immature parent who had never seen a child so passionate about something like dinner prayers.

"Amen." She said and I quickly repeated her. Then I squeezed the girls' hands and amens' flew out both their mouths. I was now hoping I'd never get into a similar situation again.

Hanna was now fine and started putting food on her plate, back to her normal self.

Was it bad that my kids barely knew what a prayer was? Were kids these days religious? I never had any of that which was not resulting in no knowledge for my kids. They didn't seem too confused about it all, though.

-

"Time to go to bed!" I entered Blossom's room where Alyssa was also located. They both looked up at me from the TV and then their eyes wandered back. Must be some interesting show.

"Can't we sleep in here? On B's couch?"

"A couch? You all have a bed on your own for a reason. There's always time to watch more TV tomorrow."

"But this is so cozy." Alyssa kept going.

"I already told you what to do. You can lay on this couch any other time than sleeping."

"Just do what he says." Blossom sighed to Alyssa.

Alyssa stood up, obviously mad at the two of us. The kind of mad kids uses when they, themselves, know it's only a temporary anger. That way they get all the frustration out all at once by acting more angry than they actually are. Stomping her feet, Alyssa made her way to the bathroom to brush her teeth. Blossom and I silently snickered back in Blossom's room.

"Just make sure you go and brush your teeth soon, too. And then go to sleep. You're the one grumpy in the mornings."

"Oh shut up!" She joked. "Don't forget that my birthday's coming up."

"What do you mean?"

"You have to be nice to me."

I scoffed. "I'm always nice to you, Blossom. Goodnight. I love you."

"I love you too."

Then I went to Alyssa in the bathroom where I could hear her impatiently brushing her teeth. "Did you have a good day? Did Hanna like it here?"

Alyssa nodded. Then she spat the tooth paste mixed with saliva out of her mouth and wiped the area just around her lips to dry them off.

"C'mon. Get in bed."

"I can do that myself, Dad. You don't have to wait for me."

"I'll just go watch some TV, then. Sweet dreams, Aly." I kissed her forehead and then I left the bathroom.

2 hours later I stood in Blossom's door and had it confirmed that she was sleeping. Since I had just checked Alyssa's room as well, I felt relieved that they were sleeping.

My fingers swept and pressed and touched on my phone screen, creating a text message, only to get a reply right away. You could call me the king of bootycalls.

----

what????? jason?????

OH AND OH MY GOD I HIT 100K WHICH IS INSANE AND BEYOND ANYTHING I EVER EXPECTED OR DESERVE IM SO HAPPY I LOVE YOU GUYSSSSSS 💗

you're all so sweet and believe it or not but i screenshot every single compliment or loving message / comment and save them in it's own photo album on my phone. you're such babes and i wanna befriend all of you so feel free to message me at any time about anything I LOVE TALKING AND LISTENING TO PEOPLE. (also my ig is frootornin!!!)