Page 6 of Dare You to See Me
“Hello my dear.” He walks over to me and pulls me into a hug and kisses my temple. “I’m sorry. For Gene. For my daughter. Mywife,” he spits out the word like it tastes bad.
He rubs my back as I cry into his shoulder trying to gather my wits.
“Alice. Meredith. Go to the car. Now!” He barely manages to contain his anger.
Both women open their mouths to argue but think better of it when he shoots a look at them so deathly that I’d welcome the grim reaper instead. They shuffle off, both with tears in their eyes as they watch us, and disappear around the side of the church.
The five of us stand on the sidewalk, Uncle Dave with his arm around my shoulders, and I take a last look at the two women I considered family.
Uncle Dave’s hand squeezes mine and he says, “You let me know if you need anything, Sunny. Day or night. I’m really sorry.”
His throat works to swallow down either tears or anger.
“Thanks, Uncle Dave. Love you,” I choke out and hug him.
He kisses the top of my head with a reciprocating hug. “Love you, too. I better go handle those two. We’ll talk soon, George.”
He hugs his brother-in-law, something I’ve seen them do plenty of times, then hugs Mom and Kyle before leaving. The somber day is the worst I’ve ever lived through.
George pulls me to his side and breathes deep before whispering, “I think Dave has had enough of his wife’s antics. Add in that spoiled rotten brat daughter and I’d say this is the straw that breaks the camel’s back.”
Call me petty but it warms my insides to think of that witch possibly losing her husband like I lost mine. The difference is she still wanted him. Me…
Good riddance.
THREE
MALIK
ONE YEAR LATER
I take one last look around my room to ensure it’s perfect, then walk over and unlock the door. My school starts our kindergarten students a day early so they can meet me and get acclimated to their new environment.
The first day is always so difficult. Tears, sobs, hugs that won’t end. Meanwhile, the kids are trying to pry themselves away from their moms and dads to go play and meet new friends. I should start sending the parents off with a snack and tissues.
The small tables are all set with coloring pages and crayons, and their tiny chairs all have their names hanging from a sign on the back. It makes it easy for them to find their seat, and it helps me gauge which kids need help in reading.
Kindergarten teacher is an unusual job for a man who has millions in his bank account, but it’s a job I’ve always wanted. Years ago I had a teacher who showed me that I didn’t have to be a bad student just to seem tough. I was angry and convinced I’d never be anything more than a criminal. I knew I was smart, but at that young age I was beyond caring.
One day my teacher caught me by the arm in the hallway when I started yet another fight. She dragged me into her classroom and sat me down, and told me not to open my mouth until she was done speaking. She spent an entire hour showing me all the ways I was wrong and the path I was headed down if I didn’t change my ways. I was so worried about being seen as a nerd and not a threat, but she told me that the biggest threat was a wise person who strived to be better.“A successful life is the greatest F you that you can give the naysayers. Don’t let their assumptions determine your future. Go out and make something of yourself, then come back and throwthatin their face.”
She was blunt and approached me in a way that she knew would get through to me. After that day, I worked my ass off, got amazing grades, still caused trouble but kept it minimal, and got a scholarship. It was while I was in college that my brothers and I created Dare Inc., but I was not about to give up on my dream of being not only a college graduate, but a person like Mrs. Cameron and make a difference in a kid's life.
So while we worked at developing elite gear and later additional businesses, I worked my ass off to finish school. And when I thought about what I wanted to teach, I realized there was no better position to have than that of the first teacher a child will face as they start their academic career. Eight years later and I’m still everyone’s favorite teacher.
The door opens and in walks the first student and his parents. I do the usual welcome talk to the student to get him relaxed and ready for the first day, and the crowd of parents begins pouring in. My classroom is bustling with kids excited to see their desk, and parents finding a spot to stand around the room, waiting for me to begin my first day spiel. Only one empty seat remains when a dark haired little girl comes skipping in, her pigtails swinging and her pink dress swaying. Her sneakers are bright white and you can tell they’re her new school shoes. The kids love to tell me about their school shoes and first day outfits.
I’m so caught up smiling at the little girl that I actually startle when I see her mother walk in behind her. It suddenly feels hard to breathe and my body’s reaction is visceral.
The woman has ivory skin that looks like porcelain, and her ebony hair hangs just below her shoulders. Her brown eyes are cat-like in shape, and soft freckles dot her nose and cheek bones. My feet take me to them like I’m floating on a cloud.
“Good morning,” I greet the little girl. “I’m Mr. Dare. Who are you?”
The little girl grabs my hand and begins to shake it with both of hers. “I’m Dahlia Rose Brooks. I’m five years old, my favorite color is pink, and I do not like broccoli, no matter how much Mommy tries to make me eat it. Oh and my daddy is dead.”
“Dahlia,” her mom gasps and places her hands on the little girl's shoulders. “I am so sorry. She thinks she needs to inform everyone of that.”
The beauty looks aghast and her fair skin blushes with embarrassment.
