Chapter 12 - Formal Education

Never mind... I allowed him to abuse me as my payment for the body inspection of his that I did this morning.

Time flew as fast as those flock of birds soaring above the bluish sky, swooping and gliding underneath it to pounce on their prey. Adrianne May Solis, four years old, was excited to have her formal education.

Her qualifying exam accelerated her to be in Kindergarten 2 with classmates older than her. The challenge to exert more effort tutoring Baby Arm was something that cannot be ignored.

A team work of her mother and her father should be strong and well planned. On weekdays, Sydney would be her tutor, on weekends, it was Ms. Peace's turn.

She was enrolled in a public school with more number of pupils in every class. It was hard and taxing on the part of the teacher to individualize every pupil.

Unlike in a private schools that prefer a decongested class with only fifteen pupils.

Still, Splash and Granny Reyna chose public school for an exposure to a real life situation, that living is not easy if no efforts are exerted.

Sydney G. Britton was unable to interfere on choosing the school of his child because it has been planned long before he claimed for custody to his daughter.

The Britton man had already acknowledged her to be his child so as the time she was enrolled in preschool her name was Adrianne May Solis Britton.

If Baby Arm was busy studying, her parents were also busy with works to be done. Her mother, Ms Peace or Splash was busy working as an ordinary employee while continuing her Masters Degree. Her father was busy with his new project which he called VEAS.

Looking after her in school had become a habit of her grand parents. They alternatively accompanied her in going to school and fetching her from her school for her home.

Everytime her mother or her father would teleport, new reading books, drawing pads, and coloring books were bought for her. Her father had decided to spend three hours a day tutoring her at home to follow up the lessons discussed in their school.

Coming home from a distant place because of employment had aroused her feeling of guilt as a mother that was why Baby Arm's mother spent four to five hours for educational learning fun, their bonding moments as well.

For instance, while Sydney would flash some cards one by one, a competition between Splash and Baby Arm was declared. Every correct answer would be allowed to step forward. Sometimes, her mother would never allow her to win. Oftentimes Splash would intentionally read the words incorrectly so her child would be the winner.

They did the flashing of cards for Reading, spelling of word numbers, addition and subtraction. After the semestral break, multiplication would be given to this four years old Kindergarten 2 pupil.

Every grading period she would request her father to get her report card and receive the certificate for attaining outstanding marks.

Splash would frequently remind Sydney not to pamper her lavishly. To deprive her sometimes of her demands would be a lesson to her life to pursue more, persevere more, and to be self-reliant. She was also taught to be compassionate and to share what she had.

Like any other children, Baby Arm was agitated. She was giving her grandparents and her father a hard time pacifying her fretful mood. She wanted her mother by her side.

A drastic decision was made. Her grandparents allowed Sydney to teleport together with his daughter. With the backpack on his back, and a daughter he carried in his arms he set the buttons.

PLOK!!! They disappeared.

PLOK!!! They appeared.

Opening the door for her mother when they heard her inserted the key in the knob, eased away all her insecurities being away from her mother.

They hugged and kissed. They ate together the dinner that Sydney cooked in her apartment.

Mommy, can we sleep together in one bed? You, Daddy and I.

. Sydney and Splash stared with each other showing all over their face that they were in hot water. But before their child could see their hidden feeling of rejection they smiled and nodded to her request.

While I am still awake, I would be at the middle. If I would be fast asleep, Daddy can sleep beside you Mommy.

You are setting us up honey? Splash retorted.

What? Mommy, you don't understand what family is? A family has wife... And that's you, husband... That is daddy... AND A CHILD... that's me.

We don't deny it darling that I am your mommy and he is your daddy.

Mom, you really don't get me. I said wife and husband... Not mommy and daddy.

They are the same.

My classmates told me that a wife and a husband like her mommy and daddy are sleeping together.

For all you know, I had never seen you two slept together. Of course I did not tell her about it. I don't want to be teased in school.

Sydney laughed out loud and said, "What else did your classmate tell you?

Splash glared at him and spoke. Why would you listen to your classmate? You tell your classmate that in every rule there is an exemption.

Ms Peace I have no objection against our daughter's suggestion.

Baby Arm's hands were in akimbo and later she was wiggling her point finger to her father and said. That... That.. Ms. Peace... Ms. Peace.. (trying to imitate her father's voice while moving her head left and right with her puckered mouth).. Your wife.. Mommy is your wife. You don't call her Ms. Peace.

So what will I call your mommy?

What else? Darling, sweetheart, honey, Love,. Whatever

By the way, One thing more that I noticed, you never kissed each other.

Sydney quickly stood up, brought his chair beside Splash, sat, embraced and kissed her and said.

Mommy, I love you. Like this baby Arm?

Yeeeeeh. I love it. And mommy it's your turn.

Splash nudged him really hard at the lowest part of his rib cage before giving in to her child's request.

I love you, too sweetheart. Approved, Baby dear?

That's it! Together with a snap of her right thumb and middle fingers.

Splash rolled her eyes and murmured after a deep sigh, What a drama!

Sydney chuckled.

Dad, What's so funny? Are you laughing at me?

Of course not honey.

And you mom, you were rolling your eyes at me? It doesn't fit you at all.

Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Both parents laughed boisterously.

You're making our day so hard baby darling. Sydney quipped.

Why, both of you were making my life so hard as well. I want you both in my daily life.

Splash bowed her head... feeling guilty whereas, Sydney shrugged his shoulder off.

Splash's ordeal was still on going during sleeping time. To avoid her restlessness she busied herself downloading stories tha can be read to her daughter as a form of lulling her to a nightmareless sleep.

They were momentarily resilient to be sleeping together in one bed. She read the stories while Sydney was petting her hair even though he closed his eyes hoping to sleep at once so he wouldn't be kicked out.

Both of them were fast asleep while Splash was still awake. She had no choice but to sleep as well as she couldn't get rid of Sydney out of her bed.

Unknown to her, Sydney was still awake who was intently listening to her every flipping of her body. He waited till she, too, was snoring sofly like Baby Arm.

He touched her forehead to gauge if she was already unaware of her surrounding. She was.

Very slowly she layed down beside her, stretched his left arm under the nape of Splash, his right legs over her legs, and his right hand hugged her waist, kissed her lips for a minute without movement, then... Went to a serene sleep.

When Baby Arm woke up, she witnessed how both of them were sleeping in each other's very tight embrace.

She was overjoyed watching them. She had a story to tell to her classmates that her mommy and daddy love each other very much.

No matter how much she wanted her lukewarm milk as of that time, still, she prevented herself by waking them up. She wanted to see this sweet moment of her parents to her heart's content.

Her daddy discreetly gave her a mobile phone. She sneaked out slowly to get it and quickly snapped its camera for souvenirs. She could show these pictures to them.

She would be very proud that like them, she belonged to a family with dependable and loving parents.

She went back to sleep once again clutching her cell phone with two hands that she placed on her chest with a smile.

Sydney was awaken with the hard nudge that hit his stomach.

Instead of removing his body coiling around Splash's body, he tightened it more, kissed her on her lips and whispered in her ear... Would you like our daughter to reprimand us again?

Good morning!

Scram!

Mommy!

Darling loosen up your arms. I cannot breath well.

Daddy, are you strangling my mommy?

I am just hugging and kissing her.

That's enough, daddy. I want my milk.

Sydney and their baby went downstairs as Splash was fixing their bed.

Daddy, look! I have a souvenir taken when you and Mommy was still asleep.

LET me see. Here's your milk. Well... Not bad. (Then he whispered) You're mom is coming down.

She passed it to his daddy to keep it away from the sight of her mommy.

He sent a copy to his messenger and Splash's, too.