Halcyon

Growing up too Fast

Today is Poppy's first day of school and Poppy is currently sat between Nikki's legs patiently, while Nikki carefully plaits her daughter's thin blonde hair. "Poppy look forwards for me darling or your plaits will be wobbly" Nikki smiles as she tries to keep her daughter from moving. 

Nikki carefully finishes the first plait before brushing the remainder of the hair and gathers it up ready to plait it. "Mummy, what is my teacher like?" Poppy questions curiously. 

"Oh, Poppy have you forgotten already?" Nikki chuckles and Poppy nods with a grin which Nikki catches through the mirror they are both sat in front. "Well she is very lovely, do you remember when we met her? She had dark brown hair and is tall, she has a Scottish accent too" Nikki speaks trying her hardest to recall what Poppy's new teacher looked like.

"Does she sound like Daddy?" Poppy questions curiously as she recalls Nikki talking to her about where Jack is from and his accent. 
"No darling, Daddy is from Northern Ireland" Nikki smiles and kisses Poppy's head as she ties the last tiny hair bobble around her plait. 

Poppy turns to look at her Mum and smiles up at her, "Mummy where are you from?" She asks. 
Nikki chuckles at her daughter's innocence, "I'm from South Africa... but I grew up in England" She speaks. 

She sits for a moment and thinks to herself trying to get her head around everything, "Where am I from?" Poppy replies with a curious expression on her face.
"England..." Nikki replies before moving Poppy out the way so she can get up and get herself dressed ready to take Poppy to school.

Nikki walks across to her dressing table and starts brushing her own hair before tying it up into a neat ponytail. 

"What is my teacher's name Mummy?" Poppy asks as she attempts to turn to look at her Mum. 
"Her name is Mrs. Munro" Nikki smiles happily.

Poppy clambers onto the bed and sits watching Nikki, "Why do I go to school?" Poppy sighs messing with her socks again. 
"To learn darling... It's like Nursery Pops" Nikki smiles as she puts her earrings in and glancing over her shoulder at Poppy. 
"I don't want to go! I want Alison!" Poppy whines as she starts to get tearful.

Nikki sighs and slips into a clean jumper and grabs a set of skinny jeans from the wardrobe. "But you're too big to be at pre-school, Alison would want you to go to primary school with all the big children" She smiles and Poppy bursts into more tears. 

"Come on baby, you'll be fine" Nikki smiles and walks over to Poppy and pulls her into a tight hug. 
Jack walks into the bedroom with Maddison resting against his shoulder, "What's going on in here?" Jack questions as he looks at Poppy. 
"She doesn't want to go to school, I think she has last-minute nerves, Butterflies again" Nikki speaks softly kissing Poppy on the head again and stands Poppy up. 

Jack smiles and looks down at his three-year-old daughter, "You'll be fine, you will have lots of fun and make new friends" He replies and Poppy nods and wipes her eyes.

45 minutes later - Jack and Nikki have just arrived outside Poppy's new school and are just putting Maddison into the pushchair, "Mummy my belly hurts" Poppy says as she holds onto Nikki's hand. 
"You'll be fine Pops, Just nerves, silly little butterflies in your belly" Nikki smiles sympathetically before looking at Jack how has just locked the car and has Maddison in the pushchair. 

Jack nods to Nikki and they begin to walk to the school, they get into the playground at go stand by the sign that says 'Nursery 1- Mrs Munro'. "Mummy, why are all the other children standing over there?" Poppy points and looks up at Nikki. 

"Oh well, they are in different classes" Nikki replies and smiles before turning and looking at Jack who is gently pushing the pushchair backwards and forwards. 
"Here let's get a photo of you two" Jack smiles as he pulls his phone from his jacket pocket, Nikki smiles and adjusts her hair slightly before crouching down beside Poppy and wrapping her one arm around Poppy and smiling up at Jack, "Three, two, one..." Jack smiles and takes a photo and Poppy gives Jack the cheesiest smile ever which makes him chuckle.

"Now you turn" Nikki smiles as she reaches out for his phone as she stands back up, Jack smiles and scoops Poppy up and sits her in his arms. Nikki takes the photo of Jack and Poppy. Not long after Poppy's new teacher arrives with the class teaching assistant and informs the parents that they can bring their children into the class. 

They head inside and Poppy walks straight in and removes her coat before giving it to Nikki and walking off to see what there is to do, Nikki sighs and starts to feel very emotional at the fact her daughter didn't even say goodbye to her and has walked off to play independently. Nikki hangs Poppy's stuff up on her coat peg before they both leave and head to the car. 

Nikki gets into the car once she has secured Maddison in the back and sighs, "She's so grown-up" Nikki smiles as she looks at the photos of Poppy on Jack's phone.

"I know, where did our tiny baby go... she's more and more like you every day... I will have to lock her up until she's at least 36" Jack smiles happily and rests his hand on her knee.