"Daddy..." Jamie looked down at his tiny daughter, just turned four and as cute as could be with her curly blond hair and big ice blue eyes just like her mom. "Tell me about Mommy 'gain."
Eddie was working nights and their little daughter, Christa missed her mother very much. Eddie had just ended her maternity leave with their third child, their son, Connor, their second son after Teddy.. Christa got used to having her mother around and was having a hard time getting to sleep. Jamie smiled and lifted his precious girl onto his lap.
"Oh, well, Daddy has known Mommy since she was your age and I was just a year older. We were in the same class because Daddy missed the cut off for being enrolled in school. Grandma Mary thought Daddy was too little to go to school that first year. Your Mommy was tiny, she was smaller than you are now...The first time I met her she was in a corner of the class all by herself crying."
Five and half year old Jamie Reagan put his back pack in his very own cubby and turned to find his seat. Our of the corner of his eye he saw a very small girl, too small to be in school. He was a big boy and he was in school now like his big brothers Joe and Danny. Jamie looked again, she was there all right and she was crying.
sJamie forgot his seat and walked over, "Why you sad?"
Eddie sniffled, "Go away you mean boy!" She'd already been teased mercilessly by two other boys, one pulled her ponytail and hurt her head.
Jamie smiled softly as he sat beside her ignoring the other kids coming in. "I'm Jamie, what's your name?"
"Eddie."
"Nice to meet you. Are you sad because it's your first time in school," Jamie asked hating seeing anyone upset.
Eddie shook her head in response finally looking up to meet his friendly blue eyes. "No, well not just that. These two mean boys pulled my hair and it hurt! " Eddie sniffled rubbing her head still feeling throbbing.
"Who was it?" Jamie followed Eddie's glance to two boys across the room playing with action figures roughly.
Without saying another word to Eddie Jamie stood and crossed the room until he stood in front of the boys who picked on the new girl. "Hey you need to say sorry to Eddie for pulling her hair. You made her head hurt."
"Yea and If we don't?" The boys set their toys down and turned to face Jamie who didn't flinch.
"You'll see if you don't. That wasn't nice and Mrs Pat won't like that at all so go say sorry now." Both boys laughed at the younger boy starting to turn back to play, stopping when Jamie grabbed their arms.
"Okay I'll just have Ms Pat call my daddy and have him come down since you assaulted a girl." Jamie made like he was searching for the teacher to have her call.
One of the two boys stepped forward blocking Jamie before he could take two steps. "No okay cmon." Smiling Jamie followed happy hearing them apologize.
Eddie sniffled one more time joined by Jamie smiling gently. "It's okay I will be your friend and , no one will tease you ever again," Jamie assured. He reached a hand out to help her up offering a smile.
Seeing his smile made Eddie smile too, accepting his hand to stand up. Having a friend now made going to this big new place away from her parents seem less scary.
From then on Jamie and Eddie stayed by each other's side during lunch and recess.
Jamie smiled at his daughter remembering the happy memory. "Mommy was my best friend and still is. When I came home from school I asked grandpa and grandma if I could invite mommy over to play."
"Mommy, what time is it?" Jamie anxiously checked the window again sad Eddie hadn't arrived yet. Eddie's parents agreed to bring her for a play date but she hadn't arrived yet.
Mary smiled at her youngest, scooping him into her arms for a hug. "She'll come my boy they're probably just running late."
From across the room Danny at fifteen have his youngest brother a teasing smirk. "Jamie is playing with a girl, you're going to catch cooties and then you'll have to marry her."
"Enough Daniel," Mary scolded watching Jamie's face scrunch up afraid of catching cooties whatever they are. "You're fine honey just have fun with your friend."
Their conversation was interrupted by the bell ringing sending Jamie slipping off his mom's lap and rushing to open the door. Still laughing Mary followed behind greeting Eddie and her parents. "Jamie, let them in first honey."
Jamie moved aside so they could enter smiling excitedly to see his best friend leading her to the living room where they would play. "My brother was here but I'm glad he isn't he said you have cooties because you're a girl."
"I do not have cooties see." Eddie held out her arms showing him her fair skin.
"You're my best friend and my best friend doesn't have cooties. Dany has cooties." Both Jamie and Eddie laughed at their private joke. While they played the friends would meet eyes and burst out laughing.
Speak of best friends reminded Eddie she brought something for Jamie. Reaching into her back pocket Eddie took out a bracelet made of large beads with her name. "I made this for you, mommy helped because it was hard."
Jamie frowned feeling bad she made him something and he had nothing for her. "Stay here," he said jumping to his feet. Eddie watched him disappear upstairs coming back down holding a blue teddy bear against him.
"This is my favorite teddy and he's helped me when I'm sad. I want you to have him so he can help you not feel sad." Eddie accepted the bear grateful to have a best friend.