I Want A Mom
Chapter 1: Normal Family
Kendall Knight sighed as he looked out at his second grade class. They were all busy drawing and he was a bit bored. It wasn't that Kendall hated his job, no he loved it. He loved kids and he loved teaching. Kendall loved that he was able to help kids learn and grow as people. He liked watching his students turn into little people with opinions and thoughts.
Kendall had just moved back to Sherwood Minnesota when a teaching job had opened. He hadn't really had a choice though, his best friend, Logan Mitchell, had a son and he had been set on being his teacher and when Logan got an offer at a hospital in Sherwood Kendall started looking for a teaching job and found one that was perfect. It was just an excuse though, he had wanted to come back home closer to his family. His mother and Sister lived in Sherwood and it was good being closer to them. He had also wanted to get away from a bad relationship he had been in.
Kendall hadn't been surprised that when he came back he found out he was teaching a few of his old classmates kids. There were a few last names he had recognized when eh saw his class list. Some names were new to him though. He had been eager to learn about his new students. He was excited to teach.
Right now the students were working on drawing pictures for their Christmas lists. Christmas was two weeks away and Kendall had been trying to teach the kids some math, but all they wanted to talk about was Christmas, so Kendall gave up and told them to draw one thing that they wanted more than anything for Christmas, or Chanukah or whatever their family celebrated, and if they didn't celebrate then to draw something they wanted. Most of the kids were busy drawing. A few kids however were talking and laughing. Kendall would look up at them and they'd stop talking but as soon as he looked down at his desk they'd start again.
Kendall looked up at the clock and saw it was almost time to get ready to go. He cleared his throat and stood up to get his classes attention.
"Ok guys and gals," Kendall said smiling at them. "Who would like to share their drawing with the class?" he asked looking around at his class. Several hands went up. Kendall smiled and started picking kids out.
Each kid had something different to show. Max Stetson drew an iPod. Sherry Miller had drawn a princess hat. Casey Rollins had drawn Xbox. Tabby Johnson had drawn a puppy. Maya King had drawn a pool. Harrison Mitchell and drawn a book which got a few laughs from some kids which Kendall quickly silenced. Kendall was protective of Harrison since he was best friends with his dad and had helped raise the kid. Annabel Diamond took her turn. She walked up to the front of the room with her picture and held it up. He was a picture of a woman.
"Mind explaining Annabel?" Kendall asked slowly. He was confused.
"What I want for Christmas is a mom," Annabel simply.
"Don't you have a mother?" Kendall asked confused.
"No, my dad told me that she wasn't ready to be a mom so she gave me to him. I never met her. I just want a mom so I can have a normal family," Annabel said simply.
"She doesn't have a mother because she was a whore," Max said loudly. Kendall turned on the young boy.
"Max that is not the kind of language I want to hear," Kendall reprimanded the boy.
"Yeah, so just shut up," Annabel said glaring at the boy.
"Annabel I can handle this," Kendall said. Max just crossed his arms and looked away from Kendall. Kendall looked to his teacher's aid and asked him to have the kids get ready to go and that'd he be back. He took Max to the Principal's office and explained what had happened. Principal Griffin listened and promised to make a phone call to Max's parents.
After that they headed back to the classroom and Max got his things ready and Kendall led the class out tot the buses. Harrison walked up to Kendall and looked up at him with a small timid smile.
"Harry man, it's me and you today," Kendall said grinning at the boy.
"Yeah my dad told me this morning, he's got to work," Harrison said nodding his head. Kendall looked down at Harrison. He couldn't help but wonder why this seven almost eight year old kid was so smart. He was smarter than most kids his age, yet at the same time it didn't surprise him. Harrison's dad was a genius and probably tutored Harrison at home.
They headed back into the building and to his classroom. Harrison sat down at his desk and pulled a book out of his backpack and started reading. Kendall sat down at his desk. He started thinking about Annabel. Annabel was a smart girl. She was at the top of the class almost right up with Harrison. She was bright and kind and hardly got into fights with the other kids. When she did get in a fight she usually didn't tell Kendall why she would hit them. Now he was starting to understand. She usually fought with Max and he think he knew why now. Max must be making fun of her not having a mother and this seemed to be a recurring issue with the two.
Kendall reached into his desk and pulled out Annabel's contact information. Harrison at that time asked to use the bathroom. Kendall chuckled as he told him to go. He quickly dialed the number there. He got her father's voicemail and Kendall left him a message asking him to call him back. He set his phone down and started grading some papers he had on his desk when Harrison walked back into the room.
"Kendall," Harrison said.
"Yeah, Harry," Kendall said looking up at him.
"On the way home can we get some ice cream?" Harrison said timidly. Kendall smiled and laughed at that. He was just like his dad when he wanted something. He was shy and timid.
"Don't tell your dad," Kendall said.
"I never do," Harrison grinned. Kendall laughed and started to gather his things. He placed them in his bag and stood up.
"Why don't we head home early.," Kendall asked. Harrison smiled and nodded his head. He grabbed his bag practically jumping up and down. They exited the classroom together. Harrison ran ahead of Kendall and out to the blonde's car.
-I Want a Mom-
Annabel sighed as she made her way into her house. She headed straight to the kitchen where her dad's best friend Carlos was sitting waiting for her. Annabel smiled at him. She had been wishing that her dad was home, but knew that wasn't going to happy. She loved talking to Carlos though.
"Hey Carlos," Annabel said.
"Hey Anna-banana," Carlos said with a smile as he pushed a plate of cookies over to the chair next to him with a glass of milk.
"Is dad working again?" Annabel asked as she sat down in her chair for her usual after school snack.
"Yeah, but he should be home soon," Carlos said. Annabel nodded her head and dunked a cookie into her milk as Carlos grabbed one of his cookies. "So how was school kiddo," he asked.
"Ok until the end of the day stupid Max had to open his stupid mouth," Annabel said her smile leaving. She hated Max and how he always had something bad to say about her and her dad, to about her lack of mother.
"Just ignore him Bell he doesn't know any better," Carlos said.
"My teacher Mr. Knight asked us to draw something that we wanted for Christmas," Annabel said simply. Carlos sighed he knew where this was going. "Why can't I just have a mom?" she asked.
"You mother wasn't ready to be a mother. She didn't know what she was doing and she missed out on getting to know a really awesome girl," Carlos said.
"I am awesome," Annabel said with cockiness only a Diamond could have. Carlos laughed and nodded his had.
"You are awesome Anna-bear, you're my daughter after all."
Annabel looked up as her dad, James Diamond, walked into the room. Anna jumped up and ran over to James and gave her a hug. James picked his daughter up and spun her around. He set her back down at the table and sat down next to her. He asked her about her day and listened to her talk and told her what to do next time Max bugged her. Annabel was happy that James was home. Annabel headed up to her bedroom to do her homework and feed her hamster.
"Thanks for being here Carlos, I owe you," James said once Annabel was gone.
"Nah, it was no big deal I was done working, I mean it kind of pays to work for your mother," Carlos aid.
"I just got held up at work," James said.
"I know, I don't mind watching Bell," Carlos said, "how are things with your boss?" he asked.
"He didn't do anything today, but I think he was staring at least," James sighed.
"James this is sexual harassment," Carlos said.
"I can't quit this job Carlos, I've quit enough jobs because someone can't keep their hands to themselves, I'll figure it out," James said.
"Be careful man, I just don't want anything to happen to you like.." Carlos trialed off.
"Annabel was a blessing even if I was only sixteen," James said looking to the doorway where his daughter had disappeared to.
"I know, but just be careful man," Carlos said, "oh and she didn't tell you this but they were asked to draw what they wanted for Christmas," he said.
"She wants a mom?" James asked already knowing what his daughter had done. He had gotten a message from her teacher and he was gonna go in tomorrow to talk to him. James was going to have to explain Annabel's situation again.
"Yeah, her teacher call?" Carlos asked.
"Yep," James said.
"You don't have to explain anything to him," Carlos said.
"I know, but he sounded genuinely concerned," James said. Carlos sighed and nodded his head.
"Well look, I've gotta go I've got a hot date tonight with this guy I met last night," Carlos smiling.
"Weren't you in the hospital last night?" James asked arching an eyebrow at Carlos. Carlos had called him last night asking for a ride home since he might have a concussion. At twenty four Carlos had not quite fully grown up just yet. He was still doing stupid things from time to time and needed James to bail him out.
"I got a date with a doctor, duh," Carlos said as if it were obvious.
"Is he hot?" James asked.
"Do you even have to ask," Carlos asked. James laughed and shook his head.
"Have fun," James said shaking his head.
"I hope I will," Carlos said grinning. He stood up and started for the door. He walked out to the hallways. "Bell!" Carlos called out. Annabel appeared at the top of the stairs. She looked down at Carlos.
"I gotta go I'll see you tomorrow," Carlos said. Annabel ran down the stairs and gave Carlos a hug as she told him goodbye.
"Anna-bear," James said once Carlos was gone. Annabel turned to look at James.
"Why didn't you tell me about your picture," James asked.
"I knew you'd get mad," Annabel said looking down at the floor.
"I'm not mad, but you can't just wish for a mom," James sighed. She was eight and maybe she's understand. "Sometimes when a mom leave a new mom can take her place, but she doesn't just appear like magic. She has to meet the dad and the kid and they have to like her. Then the dad dates her and eventually over time she might become a mom," he said.
"Date?" Annabel asked, "like in the movies they go to dinner and talk about boring stuff?" she asked.
"No more watching chick flicks with Carlos," James said laughing as he shook his head. "It's something like that, but after dating for awhile if she's a good fit they get married and she becomes a mom," he said.
"I don't wanna wait though," Annabel said pouting.
"Sorry squirt, this is my choice not yours," James said.
"What if you date another man though?" Annabel asked knowing her dad liked men like he liked women too.
"Then you'll have two dads but there's nothing wrong with that," James said.
"But it's not a normal family," Annabel said.
"There's nothing wrong with it, and it's a bit more common than you think Bell," James said. Annabel sighed and nodded her head.
"Fine then I want a mom or another dad then. I want two parents like everyone else," Annabel said determined.
"I'll work on it," James promised. Annabel smiled and nodded her head. "Now go finish your homework and we can get ice cream," James said. Annabel smiled and ran back up to her bedroom. James knew she'd try with all her might to get a mom though, even if she said otherwise.
James walked into the kitchen and sat back down at the table. Life hadn't turned out the way James had planned it too. He put his head down and fought the tears that threatened to fall. He placed his elbows on the table and wondered how life had turned out this way. He was scraping to get by and he had Annabel to take care of. James loved Annabel with all his heart and would do anything for her, but sometimes he wonder how things would be if he hadn't gotten Annie pregnant. James had Carlos to help him, but he hated that he took up too much of Carlos' time. Carlos told him that he didn't mind, but James could see he was affecting Carlos' social life.
James wiped his tears and stood up and grabbed a tissue. He didn't need Annabel seeing him like this. He didn't need her to worry. For an eight year old she was pretty smart. She was near the top of her class. He didn't need her worrying about him. She was a kid and had kid things to worry about.
-I Want a Mom-
Kendall laughed as he watched Harrison run around the room chasing his beagle, Spot. Kendall had gotten the dog not that long ago and Harrison had fallen in loved with him right away. Spot had a bad habit of stealing shoes and right now he had Harrison's shoe.
"Kendall this isn't funny," Harrison whined as Spot evaded him once more the shoe firmly in his mouth.
"Sorry Harry, but it is," Kendall laughed as his apartment door opened and Logan walked in. "Spot," Kendall said quickly as he stopped laughing. The dog ran over to him and hung his head. He knew he was in trouble. Kendall grabbed the shoe from Spot.
"What's going on," Logan asked looking at Kendall and then to Harrison.
"Dad!" Harrison ran over to Logan and hugged him.
"About time," Kendall said standing up and walking over to Harrison and handing him his shoe. Harrison took it and sat down trying to put it on.
"Your dog it a menace," Logan said.
"Nah, he's a sweetheart and misunderstood by mean doctors," Kendall said grinning.
"He's a good dog dad, he just steals shoes," Harrison reasoned. He then looked around and then to Kendall. "Where's my other shoe?" he asked. Kendall and Logan both looked around and saw Spot trying to sneak off with it.
"Spot," Kendall said. Spot walked over to the blonde with his tail between his legs. He dropped the shoe and Kendall smacked his nose. Spot ran off. Harrison took his shoe and put it on.
"Again I say that dog is a demon," Logan said shaking his head.
"He is not you're just not a dog person," Harrison said as he stood up and looked at his dad. Logan's jaw dropped.
"Harry," Kendall said shocked.
"It's true I'm not a dog person," Logan said laughing. Kendall gave a weak laugh knowing Logan was going to chew him out later. "Now say good bye to Kendall and you'll see him tomorrow at school," he said.
"Bye Kendall," Harrison said giving the blonde a hug. He then grabbed his coat from the closet and his backpack and turned to Logan.
"How was work," Kendall asked knowing that Logan hadn't been working at all. He had been on a date and didn't want Harrison knowing, because when Logan dated he got clingy and chased the guy away. Kendall wanted to hear about Logan's date, but he knew Logan wasn't going to talk with Harrison around.
"Same old, same old," Logan said waving his hand and giving Kendall a look. Kendall knew he'd get a phone call later. With that Logan and Harrison left.
Kendall sighed and made his way over to the couch. He let out a whistle and Spot can running back to him. He jumped up on the couch and laid down with his head on Kendall's lap.
"You got to stop stealing shoes Spot," Kendall said looking down at his dog as if he understood him. Spot just looked up at him confused. Kendall scratched the bogs ears, which he seemed to like.
So there you go my new Kames fic. I hope you all liked this. I don't know where this came from really. I just popped into my head and I had to write it. I've got lots planned for this. So expect more to come.
Always
OUTOFMYMIND