Life As a Single Father

chapter 1

Chapter 1

Danny November 1, 2009

I woke up to Aileena poking me in the face one morning. I think it was around 4:00 in the morning. I had football practice and work that day, and I needed all the sleep that I could get, but Aileena just kept poking me in my face. How I knew that it was her, was simple she was the only one that poked me in the face when I was sleep. It only meant one thing; she wanted to sleep in my bed.

"Daddy, I sweep with you pwease," she begged me.

"What's wrong with your bed and where's your sister?" I asked her, sitting up in my bed switching on the lamp.

"She wight thewe daddy," she said pointing towards the floor.

I leaned over to see a sleeping Aaliyah asleep on the floor. I didn't even know she was in here. I put Aileena in the bed and got up to pick Aaliyah off of the floor. She woke up as I lifted her off of the ground and she began to cry. I bounced her around until she stopped crying. They twins were only 2 years old. After bringing them home from the hospital things would be crazy. Sometimes they would cry at the same time or if one cried the other would start crying as well. Aaliyah was born ten minutes before Aileena. They both had their mother's eyes nose and mouth, but had my skin tone and hair. I love my girls to death and I was so happy when they made it. The only problem was that Aileena had asthma which caused us to go to the hospital a lot.

I turned around and saw that Aileena.   was asleep. I smiled at her. My girls were strong. I put Aaliyah down in front of Aileena pulled the covers over us, pulled them into me, and turned off the lamp. I had at least a good 3 hours of sleep before I had to get up for school.

My alarm clock went off at exactly 8:00 that same morning. I quickly shut it off and slipped out of bed to get myself ready. I guess while I get ready I might as well introduce myself. My name is Andre Daniel Patrick. I'm 20 years old with light skin and curly brown hair and light brown eyes. I'm into football and making sure that I provide a good life for my daughters. As you all should know I'm raising them on my own I work at an office and yes I'm in college trying to make it to the NFL.

After I finished getting myself ready, I got the twins ready to go to my mom's house. It was already 8:30 when I got finished. I put the girls in their car seats buckled them up and drive to my mother's house. It took me less than ten minutes to get there. I unlocked the door and walked in with both girls in my arms. Mom was already up waiting for them so I left them with her and drove off to school.

I parked in the parking lot, and got out, locking the car up. I was greeted by my best friend Mike. Mike has been my best friend through it all. Like since we were in diapers.

"Yo D, my mane," Mike said as he walked over.

"What up Mike," I said as we did our handshake.

"So how my nieces doing?"

"Good, still coming to sleeping in my room," I told him.

"That's good, they love they pops mane. You all they got." Mike said.

"Where's Miranda?" I asked as we walked down the hall.

"I don't know somewhere being crazy."

"Aye you better hush for she pop up," I told him.

We both laughed as we stopped at our lockers. Miranda was Mike's baby mama. She was crazy as hell but, mad cool. They had a son together but also have another one on the way, and are engaged. Yeah I know what you're thinking they're too young to be getting married, but truth is they've been together since our high school years. I was happy for them my brother found someone that was able to change him.

"What's up with my boy Jason how lil mane doing" I asked him.

"Good his ass got a cold last week," he told me shutting his locker.

"So do y'all, know the gender of this one yet?"

"They saying that it's a girl, but I'm hoping they wrong."

        I shook my head at him as we walked into class.  We sat in our seats that were close to the back if the room. We had English first class together. The teacher Mrs. Payne was real cool, she was short a bit on the chunky side with long black hair and dark brown eyes. She was one of my favorite teachers at ASU .
   "Alright, class today we will be starting an essay."
The whole class groaned when she said that. No one liked doing essays in this class.
            "I know, I know, I know essays are boring, but with this one , you get to pick what you wanna write about. Something that inspires you to keep going. That voice that tells you, you can do it just keep going. It will be do before we leave for Thanksgiving break."
   I instantly knew what I wanted to write about. I got out pen and paper and began to write what inspired me. I was almost Finnish d when the bell ringed indicating it was time for our next class. I put my paper away and grabbed my things leaving out with Mike right behind me.
  "So, what are you writing about?" He asked me.
"You already know I'm writing about the twins. They keep me going everyday," I told him.
   We entered the class and sat down at the top. We continued to take about the paper until class got started. Mike was writing about his kids and  Miranda and how she pushed him forward on continuing school. Class started and was soon over. School went by quick and it was now time for football practice.
   Coach Reed was the best coach there was at the school he was like my mentor.
  We got ready for practice and headed out to the field for our drills we had a game that Friday and we had to win. After our drills we picked teams and played a few runs for Friday's game.
             Soon practice was over and I had to be at work at 4. I got my practice clothes off and headed for the shower room. I took a quick shower got dressed and headed for the student parking lot and to my car. I got in and started my car heading to work. I worked at an office in the mail room. It wasn't much but it helped with the bills and kept food on the table for the girls. I made it to work on time and clocked in. I said hello to the front desk lady and made it to my station.
It was a long shift and I didn't get off till 11.
   When 11 rolled around I was tired as hell I had to pick up the girls from my mom's and head home. When I got there I unlocked the door and walked in. Mom was sitting in the living room.
"Hey, baby I made you a plate go eat before you take the girls," she told me.
          I thanked her and walked into the kitchen. She had the plate already in the microwave. I heated it up and dug in. She had made meatloaf with mashed potatoes, green beans and yams. I finished eating washed my plate and went into the living room with my mom.
"How was practice?" She asked.
   "It was alright," I'm tired though."
"I know you are, but soon all of this will pay off, I promise you that," she smiled and leaned over and hugged me. I went and got the girls and went home.
I put them in their room and got in the shower before going to bed. It was already 12:30 am and I knew that the girls would be up soon. I was thankful that I was off and didn't have practice. That way I could catch up on some much needed sleep. I pulled the covers over me and closed my eyes drifting off to sleep.