Daddy's Precious Little Girl

Timeout again?

Ethan's POV

After finishing my second afternoon class, I hurried over to The Sanctuary, anticipation buzzing in my veins. Today was special; Ashlynn and I were going to demonstrate the caregiver-little dynamic for my students. As I approached the door, I could hear the soft sound of Miss Harper's voice filtering through the air, captivating the Littles with her story.

Inside, the cozy reading corner was filled with Littles, their eyes glued to Miss Harper as she animatedly narrated a tale. I spotted Ashlynn nestled among her friends, completely absorbed in the story. My heart warmed at the sight of her joy, but I knew I had to interrupt this moment to pick her up for class.

"Hey, sweet girl," I called gently, hoping to catch her attention.

She turned her head, her expression shifting. "No! I don't want to leave! I want to hear the story!" she protested, her voice rising slightly.

"Ashlynn, we really need to go now," I said, trying to maintain my calm. "I promise you'll enjoy our demonstration, and you've heard this story before."

She hesitated, crossing her arms and pouting. "But I want to hear it now!"

I knelt beside her, looking into her big, pleading eyes. "I know, but we can't stay. I promise you'll get to hear more stories when you come back tomorrow. Let's go to class."

With a reluctant sigh, she finally nodded. "Okay, but I don't want to leave!"

I smiled, gently lifting her into my arms. "Thank you, precious girl, you're going to do great. Let's go."

As I carried her toward the door, I could feel her warmth against me, and I hoped today would be a rewarding experience for both of us.

As I walked back into my classroom, Ashlynn nestled comfortably in my arms, I noticed that my third afternoon class was still trickling in. The atmosphere was lively, filled with the sounds of laughter and chatter as students settled into their seats. I gently set Ashlynn down, hoping she would perk up for our demonstration.

"Ashlynn," I began, trying to engage her as I adjusted my notes. "Let's talk about the lesson plan for today. We're going to focus on communication and how it works in a caregiver-little dynamic. I need your help to show the class how important it is to express feelings."

But Ashlynn merely crossed her arms and pouted, her defiance evident. "I don't want to talk," she mumbled, turning her gaze toward the floor.

I tried again, kneeling down to her level. "I really need you to cooperate with me, sweet girl. It's important for both of us. Can you help me?"

She didn't respond, her expression resolute. I felt a wave of frustration wash over me, but I knew I needed to remain patient. "Okay, let's try this again. How about—"

But before I could finish, she turned away from me, refusing to engage. My heart sank as I realized this wasn't going to be easy.

"Class," I said, looking around at my students, "I need your help. Ashlynn isn't cooperating. What do you think I should do next?"

One student raised their hand and suggested, "You should just give up."

Another chimed in, "Why not ask her nicely to listen to you?"

I turned to Ashlynn. "Okay, I'll take that suggestion," I said, my tone softening. "Ashlynn, please, can you help me? I really need you to stop ignoring me."

But she just turned her head away from me, her defiance still strong. I could see her little fists clenching, her body tensing as she braced herself against what was coming.