Dad's birthday gift

Dad's birthday

"Honey," a mother says shaking her son  awake. "It's time for school baby."
He grumbles and mutters some incomprehensible words. He rolls away from her trying to snuggle back into the arms of unconsciousness, he's not ready for today or for school. He feels his mother's hands slowly run through his hair, her tired hands slowly getting heavier on his little head.
"Come on Baby, even mommy is falling asleep but we have to face the day. You wouldn't want to miss out on a great day would you?" She asks.
The boy shakes his head but doesn't open his eyes, silently praying that she'll leave for a few minutes. Maybe he can actually sleep for a little while more.
"Today's Daddy's birthday," his mother says in his ears. "Did you get him a gift?"
His eyes snap open at this and he looks into his mother's warm brown eyes. He can see how much this means to her, how much this day means to her. He slowly sits up and rubs the rest of his drowsiness away with his little hands.
"Now you're awake?" His mother asks laughing.
He nods and can't help but smile at his beautiful mother.
"I don't have anything for him yet," he tell her truthfully, his smile slipping as he looks down at his lap.
His mother places her gentle hands under his little chin.
"Well why don't you make him something at school and you can give it to him when I pick you up?" She prods.
He quickly nods and gives her a toothy grin.
"It's gonna be the bestest gift ever!" He explains throwing his hands out as if to illustrate just how great his gift will be.
His mother laughs and holds his little hands within her own. Her eyes lighting up with joy as her son can't contain his excitement.
"I'm sure it will be. Your father will love it!"
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At school he grips the straps of his bag as he enters his second grade classroom. His eyes sweep the big room and sees the crayons out on the table. Drawing has always been one of his favorite things, his father loves his art so he's sure it'll be the perfect gift.
Quickly running to his desk he tries his bag down and begins on his greatest work yet. Dad's birthday gift. His little hands fly over the desk quickly grabbing the clean white sheets and box of crayons.
Dad's favorite color is blue just like the tie he wore to work. He reaches for that color first and then green like his father's eyes. The boy's hands quickly make a picture the best six year old Picasso can and soon it's done.
He looks at the picture, judging how it would look in his fathers eyes. The sky is blue and clear like how it was on their last picnic, the tall tree isn't quite as big as he remembers but he's sure his father won't mind because he drew the three of them together perfectly. His father and mother holding each other's hands with him on his father's shoulders. How it should be, he thinks.
Admiring his work he quickly folds it as best he can and runs up to his teacher, Ms.Darby's desk. The last thing he needed is what she always has on her desk. A rose. His dad would love that with the picture.
"Ms.Darby?" He calls trying to get her attention.
She pushes her glasses up, glasses he accidentally broke once. He grins sheepishly at her serious face and coughs a few times before mustering the courage to ask her for a favor.
"Today's my dad's birthday," He starts and immediately he sees her eyes soften. "I'm sorry about breaking your glasses last week. I didn't see them."
She laughs and smiles. "What can I do for you today Sam?" She asks.
"Well today's my dad's birthday," he repeats. "I made him this!"
He unfolds his picture and shows it to her proudly. Ms. Darby carefully takes the picture and looks at it for a few seconds before looking back at him smiling. A weird smile, Sam thinks. It's different from her usual smile, but his picture is good! He knows it is.
"I'm sure your father will love this," she says politely.
He smiles. He knew he was right! He giddily takes this picture back, refolds it and is about to run out to the playground like everyone else but remembers what he came here for.
He turns back around and looks at Ms.Darby again.
"Ms.Darby," he says again. "I think my father would like that flower."
He points to the blood red rose sitting at the edge of her desk. She looks at him then the rose and chuckles.
"At the end of the day, come back here and I'll give it to you to give to your father okay?"
Sam nods and does a little happy dance making his teacher laugh.
"Thank you!" He says. He quickly places in drawing in his desk and runs out to recess.
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The bell rings, signaling that it's finally the end of the school day. Sam zips up his Spider-Man backpack that he just got for his birthday.