For All Eternity

I'm Still Learning

Connie was sat on the counter, light pouring through the big window, bathing her in gold, as she got flour wiped off her face. The hands that were freeing her face of the essential ingredient were strong but delicate. They paused to squash her cheeks one last time before they easily lifted her off the counter and deposited her on the floor.

"Can we wake Daddy up yet?" She asked, squeezing the maple syrup all over her plate.

"Not yet, he was back quite late last night. Once you've eaten breakfast then of course. So that he can help you into your uniform and get a picture," Dianne said, joining Connie on a second barstool her stack ready.

It was the highly anticipated first day of year one and Connie had naturally woken up just before 6am. The whole world had needed to know about what day it was. The method she had chose was to get Alexa to sing the song that goes here comes the sun, as she played the post and pans to it. Dianne had kissed Joe back to sleep and come down to see if Connie perhaps wanted to make pancakes.

"I hope that Miss Horris is ecspecially nice," Connie said through a mouthful of pancakes.

"I'm sure she'll be lovely Con, Mrs Addler was nice wasn't she?" Dianne reminded her, tying her hair back so that it didn't get sticky, even through they had enough time for a bath.

"Yep! Are you coming to drop me off?"

Dianne nodded, "and pick you up for the rest of the week then Elise might be getting you next week. Depending on when I finish with Dev."

"Is Dev going to come over soon?" She asked, aware that Dianne had a new dance partner.

"I'm not sure he'll be at Daddy's party but you'll be well we're still not sure. You won't be here though. I'm sure you'll meet him at some point in the competition you'll come to Elstree at least once, won't you!" Dianne said, not wanting to talk about the subject of Joe's impending Birthday Shindig without a solid plan, him present and at 7am.

"Otay, do I go to afterschool club still tonight?"

"Not tonight lovie, or this week but the days where Elise gets you then yes." Dianne explained, glad she knew the answer to that question.

In no time, as usual, Connie had finished her pancakes and was running to wake Daddy up. She entered the room quietly and saw he was curled in a ball holding Dianne's pillow tightly.

"Nicely Con, he's very tired," the Australian reminded her, taking a seat on her side of the bed, fingernails already tickling his back.

"Yep." Connie pushed him over onto his back and promptly starfished him.

"Morning Tiny, ready for Year One?"

"Extremely!"

"Good, have you had breakfast?" He asked, opening his eyes slowly.

"No!"

Dianne raised her eyebrow at Connie, "what are you talking about missus, we just had pancakes, you've got some made downstairs but I thought you could eat them whilst I was doing her hair," the previous night they had discussed, firstly to Joe's annoyance, the roles they would be sharing in the morning wake up routine. Joe had been insistent that Dianne did nothing and got as much rest as possible but she quickly pointed out that Joe wouldn't be home until midnight on a school night and she wouldn't be so late hence he had caved and allowed her to take breakfast and hair whilst he did uniform and teeth brushing. Joe would always be the one drop her off though, if he didn't have anything to do early morning. On the mornings he did, Dianne could walk Connie or get a cab in before continuing to work.

"Ooh lovely, can we just have a little cudge first, Daddy can't get his ar-bum out of bed," Joe said, pulling Dianne down kissing her cheek.

"Tan I watch TV?" Connie pointed to Joe and Dianne's television, oblivious to the fact that her Dad was currently sharing a meaningful kiss with her basically mum. "Hello?"