Me and him (dating my dads best friend)

16

****flashback*****

I run my hands over the green plaid material of my skirt and sit on the old wooden chair. I cross my legs and kick my feet out.

I scowl when my classmate Daren pulls at my pigtails from behind. My dad says hate is a strong word but I'm pretty sure I hate Darren. He's a brat and has cooties.

I turn to look at him and narrow my eyes, I scrunch up my nose and point my chubby finger at his face. "Do that again and I'm telling mrs Pratt that it's you whose eating the fish food"

He sticks his tongue out and turns his attention to this girl to his left. Daren is so immature, I know I'm mature for 9 but he acts like he's 4 years old.

"My nanny use to work for his family, she says he still wets the bed" my best friend Julia whispers in my ear.

I giggle, she's probably lying to make me feel better. Julia hates Daren more than me, they got married last week but she found him playing in the sand box with Sarah so their not speaking now.

Our teacher Mrs Pratt walks across the stage so she she is looking straight at us. Mrs Pratt is my favourite member of the staff at the school, she's very funny and smart. I find her very unusual, she has orange hair and bright pink lips. My dad once described her as an eccentric, I'm not sure what that means but my dads a lawyer and he knows what he's talking about.

The hall starts to fill with staff and parents. I smile when I see my uncle and nana sitting at the front row, my nana has two chairs beside her saved with her coat and bag. Those seats are for my parents. I don't usually get nervous but today I'm meeting my mom for the first time so I'm shaking a little.

My daddy was speaking to my mom on the phone and he had mentioned my speech when she asked if she could attend. My mom had never wanted to visit me before and had never shown interest in my schooling so my dad quickly agreed. I heard him telling my uncle that our family would be whole again. He's always loved my mom even after all these years. He tells me stories about them when they were young, they were like a fairytale. I loved to hear about my mom, it made me happy.

I hope my mom likes me, I hope I don't disappoint her.

"Can you see her" Julia whispers as she looks around the room.

I shrug, "I've never met her and I haven't seen a photo."

My dad has a few photos of her but there all over 9 years old. There isn't even a photo with the two of us together.

I scan the room but I can't see my daddy, my mom will be with him. I look at my nan who shakes her head and looks at the back door. My uncle shrugs then indicated for me to smile.

"Do you think that's her" Julia asked pointing at a small blonde woman sat near the front.

"That's Adams sister, she 14. My moms older than 14" I huff.

"Oh"

"I hope she comes for ice cream afterwards, my dad says she loves chocolate like me. " I'm almost bouncing on my chair as I search the room again. The lights dim in the room and the patents begin to take their places.

The back door swings open and I see my daddy walk out, I'm glad he's here. I was worried he was going to miss my speech, I look behind him for my mom but she's not there. He's alone, like he has been for the last 9 years.

I don't know why I let myself get excited, I should have known she wouldn't come. My nana had told me not to get my hopes up but I hadn't listened. Helen will never be my mom, I can see that now.

"She didn't come" I whisper to Julia.

"I'm sorry"

I shrug, I want to cry but I won't cry at school.

My dad shakes his head as he sits, he mouths " sorry". he looks as upset as I feel. He had been sure she would turn up, he has promised. Helen had never shown any interest before but had been so interested in visiting my school that my dad had no reason to believe she would not stand us up. My dad thought she was finally ready to step up and be a parent.

Every year since I can remember I have been disappointed when I don't hear from her on my birthday but now I won't expect it anymore. I won't expect anything from her again. I don't have a mom.

Daren is tapping his pencil against the back of my chair and is driving me crazy. The noise is echoing through my ears so I turn and take it from his hand before throwing it to the side of the stage. I look at the paper in my hands and wonder how I will be able to speak these words when my heart is breaking.

"Roxanne bell had written a moving speech about who inspires her and is going to read it for you all" mrs Pratt says in to the microphone before adjusting it to fit my height.

I walk to the podium and lean in so I'm hovering over the microphone. The room fills with applause, it makes me jump a little.

"The person who inspires me the most is my daddy Garry bell. He is the best dad ever, he gives me so much. He gives me a good education, a happy family life and love. Things haven't been easy for my dad, my birth mom left me when I was born so I don't have a mom and a dad like my friends. My dad has 3 jobs, lawyer , dad and mom and he does them all well. My daddy works really hard to make sure we have enough money so he's in his office so much. He always has time for me, if he can't tuck me in bed at night he calls me and reads me my story. I love my dad and all the bell family, I'm proud to be a bell.

People have said that my daddy should get married so I can finally have a mommy but I don't need a mom. I have never needed one"

I sneak a glance at my dad and he's crying, he looks so happy and proud. He's holding his trusty video camera like always. I smile and wave at him.

"My uncle James tells my daddy all the time that I don't need a mom that I'm happy and he's right. He says why would I want a mom when my current one is more interested in whoring around than her daughter"

The audience gasps, I notice a few of the parents smirk. Some of the fathers are covering their mouths with theirs hands to hide their laughter.

My dad is now facing my uncle with his camera. My uncle looks worried, his eyes are wide. My dad looks furious but not as mad as my nan does.

I quickly resume with my speech "I'm not sure what whoring means but my daddy looks mad so I don't think it's a good word"

Mrs Pratt is out of breath from running on the stage and takes the microphone in her hands. "Thank you Roxy for that interesting speech"

I sit through the rest of the assembly quietly and just look at my dad. He still looks mad, I notice he keeps glaring at my uncle. When my dads not looking my uncle john gives me two thumbs up.

I run to my dad when we're dismissed and he scoops me up in his arms.

"How did I do" I ask, I'm always greedy for my dada praise.

His smile falters a little " you are a wonderful public speaker but we need to talk about you repeating uncle Johns words"

My uncle shakes his head and puts his hands in the air before dropping them by his sides. "I said I'm sorry, i fucked up. Ok"

I nod at my dad then cuddle my uncle. He picks me up and I ask "did I fuck up too"