Chapter 1: Fun Times

Nate's P.o.v.

"Ring" My once steady hand jumped and made another mistake. Monroe would be so surprised if her phone would stop ringing. "Ring" the phone continued, with one purpose, to get on my nerves.

"I'll get it!" yelled Monroe, even though it was pointless to. I already knew she was going to get it. If anyone else was home they would have been able to tell too.

Today was the worsted day to paint because Monroe was working from home, but I had to. Our anniversary was creeping up on me. I grabbed a sponge and started to sponge off the only line I still had. I had messed up again.

I heard Monroe hang up. She walked in the room and I frantically covered my painting even though she could not tell what it was. She looked at me and laughed. She was wearing a dark maroon shirt and blue jeans. "The girls are on their way home," she said. I knew that she was already trying to picture what I was drawing.

"Girls?" I made a weird face, "I thought I only had one kid. How many do I have?"

"One," she laughed, "Natasha is bringing Cara over."

"Ohhhh," I smiled evilly, "She's the artist right?"

"Yuppers!"I smiled and she laughed, "I like her too. She is a sweet girl with a cute name and is so much like a little girl I know named Natasha. So… what are you working on?"

"That new café that's opening on Bird Street wanted me to paint a painting that represents them and I had a great idea. They offered $700 dollars to paint something that's not a bird and I have been thinking about it for the last week." What she would not know is that I had already done that.

"I haven't heard of that one. Why?"

"Ring…"

"No not again. Silence, stupid phone, silence!" I screamed of aggravation forgetting my wife was there.

She laughed, "I guess I could when I'm next to the phone."

"Really? Thank you so much!" She laughed and walked to answer the phone.

I shut my door and did a silent hurray dance. I then walked over and sponged off the rest of my only line. This would be the start of my new painting. I grabbed my pencil and drew an oval that was the shape of my beautiful wife's head. I drew in the shape of her eyes, nose, and mouth carefully. Her eyes would be the hardest to draw so I started on the beauty that I knew would never transfer quite perfectly. The eyes I wanted for this picture was the one's I found on the day we met. She would be astonished.

Someone entered the front door and I immediately knew it was my daughter and her best friend. I covered my pencil drawing knowing that the next time I came in here I would have 2 minions. I picked up my pencil and put it in the drawer and put my sponge in the sink. I closed my studio door and walked downstairs.

"Hey young ones!" I said. I covered the painting again giving up for now. I opened my door and walked downstairs. They both were in the kitchen. "Nope, you get out of my kitchen." They just laughed.

"We'll go do our homework, and hopefully we will have magic make our money." They giggled and ran upstairs with their assumingly heavy backpacks.

I knew what I was going to do right away. I would do an Oreo extravaganza under an apple pageant. I opened the fridge and grabbed an apple. The cutting board almost jumped out of the cupboard when I opened it. I also tracked down the apple cutter and spaced out the apple evenly under the cutter. I pressed down and watched the juice run out. I grabbed the jar of peanut butter and a butter knife. I spread peanut butter over the apples swiftly. I grabbed 2 plates and the Oreo's. I spread out the Oreo's and covered them with apples.

"Kids, come down for a snack," I hollered "Your apples are getting cold."

"Thanks dad" said Natasha as she jogged to the table.

Cara followed as slow as molasses and said, "Thank you sir"

"What have I told you about that? That's sweet but come on, it's Nate or Dad."

"Ok." She giggled and walked to the table. Natasha watched as her friend ate the first apple and noticed the Oreo. Her eyes opened like a pumpkin on Halloween. We all laughed and I heard a new laugh join. The laugh came from a beautiful angel who put her arms around my hips.

"Guess who!" she said. She laughed and I turned my head. Her laugh stopped abruptly to kiss me. She pulled away and said, "Kids"

"Oh come on, they have seen the movies," We all burst into laughter.