55 A promise with a four-year-old

What's the problem about making a promise with a four-year-old? It is that you make a promise with a four-year-old. After Alex explained to Peter the importance of not carelessly talking about his relationship with Daniel, everything went well for a while. But his luck was bound to run out. In fact, a curse was put on this secret. This curse was a recently dumped woman.

Alex already heard about it on Monday. Emily complained in the staff room to her co-workers. She broke up with her boyfriend. Or more precisely: He broke up with her. The exact reason? Alex listened for a while to her story while he ate his lunch, not participating in the conversation but paying attention in case someone suddenly includes him. But despite listening for a while he couldn't make out the reason why she was dumped. She was instead busy listing every bad habit of his she observed in the last months. It got to a degree where Alex wondered why she even bothered to spend time with the guy in the first place.

However, despite some lame condolences addressed to her he doesn't participate in shaming the other guy like the other co-workers. After lunch ended Alex felt sure that this would be the end of the story. But he would soon know that it was far from the end.

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The next day Alex waits in the hall, welcoming the children in the morning. It is one of his most favorite acitivities in the kindergarten since now most of the times Daniel is the one to drop Peter off and he would always come in and smile at Alex. They only exchange the normal greetings, they don't make skin contact but in this brief moment when their eyes meet and a smile lights up their faces they both feel a rush of happiness and contentment rush through them.

'This handsome man is mine.' Alex blushes as this thought pops up in his head. He feels a bit conceited. No one can own a person. But at the same time he feels that it is right. Daniel and Alex. They belong together, they are in a relationship, they love and trust each other wholeheartedly. Maybe a person can not own another person, but the sense of belonging still remains.

Alex, lost in his own world of happiness, doesn't realize that someone else's eyes stay fixed on the person that belongs to him.

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In the afternoon the kids play outside. The teachers roam the playground and look everywhere, checking if someone is hurt or if there is a fight. Or that is how it is supposed to be. While going around aimlessly he notices Emily scrouching down amidst next to a kid. He goes nearer to see if something is up and if he would be able to be of help. But he doesn't expect to eavesdrop on a conversation that makes his heart speed up.

"Peter, the man who brings you in the mornings, who is that?", Emily asks.

Peter is busy drawing with chalk on the ground. But being a polite kid he looks up when asked a question and answers: "That's uncle Daniel."

"Uncle? So he isn't your father?", Emily's eyes sparkle, betraying her neutral voice.

"No, my father died when I was young." Peter doesn't realize that a four-year-old talking about the time "he was young" is more adorable than befitting a serious conversation. But Emily only smiles and doesn't point it out. She has another objective.

"Tell me a bit about your uncle. Is he single?"

"Single? What's that?", Peter asks, always eager to learn something.

"Single means that he doesn't have a girlfriend." Emily explains patiently.

"Oh okay. Uncle Daniel doesn't have a girlfriend." Emily's smile widens. The handsome uncle of a kindergarten student would be a perfect opportunity for a restart of her love life. But just when she starts to stand up Peter adds casually. "But he has a boyfriend."

Emily is confused. A boyfriend? Well, most certainly Peter means a very good friend.

"Oh Peter, a boyfriend of a boy and a girlfriend of a boy are to different things. I also have multiple girlfriends. They are just very good friends, while the friends of the different sex are for having a relationship." Emily, having gathered her information now wants to go back to her duties when suddenly Alex steps out in front of her.

"Teacher Emily, please don't teach Peter this narrow-minded view on relationships.", Alex barely gets the words out, his heart beating like crazy.

"Narrow-minded? Well, I suppose there are also same-sex-relationships but do we really have to confuse the kids so early on?", Emily is visibly puzzled. She doesn't understand what Alex is making such a fuss about.

Alex wants to run away. He never intended to let his sexuality be known in his workplace. His family was already bad enough but they are an enclosed entity and they definitly wouldn't spread the word about it. His workplace is different. Emily is different. If there ever was a blabbermouth, then it would be right here in front of him in the shape of that woman. With the next sentence he could end his peaceful work environment. Of course, in this day and age no-one in this country can be fired due to his sexuality but his co-workers could still make his life here unbearable. Panic rises inside of him.

But then his eyes shift from Emily towards Peter. Peter looks at him obviously puzzled and confused. Originally he thought it was easy understanding the relationship between his uncle and teacher but now nothing made sense anymore. Where they just friends? Then they wouldn't become family?

Apart from Peter's own thoughts Alex is also reminded of Daniel. Daniel, the man who gave him courage countless of times and always protected him. Just this morning when their eyes met he felt so safe and happy. And Alex feels that even if he still can't say that he is proud to be gay, even if he still has issues with his sexuality and with coming out in front of others, he is definitly proud to call Daniel his, he is proud of their relationship.

With this thought in mind he comes to a conclusion. He breathes in deep. All this contemplation just took a few seconds but over his face washed so many different emotions that Emily, watching him, is already confused. She doesn't understand what the fuss is about when finally Alex speaks up again.

"Emily, Daniel Smith and I are in a relationship." He originally wanted to hold a long imposing speech but his throat clenches shut after only these few words. He can't say anymore. So he only feels the panic rush through him and his heart beating frantically, but also a small amount of pride. He realizes that he always feels this pride whenever he introduces Daniel as his boyfriend. It was the same way when he introduced him to his brother and parents.

Emily on the other hand finally gets the situation. Her eyes widen and she starts to blush. "Oh." The normally talkative woman just gets this one word out. Then she giggles embarrassed and sure enough her words follow up. "Oh, I am so sorry, Alex. I didn't know. That explains why Peter would talk about a boyfriend. So you already let him know? That is so wonderful. But I am really envious. Nobody would have known that the most quiet guy already snatched the most handsome guardian out there. I am a bit envious. But of course, now he is off limits. We are friends, aren't we? But as a friend, why don't you help me out and ask that handsome boyfriend of yours for an introduction to a single guy of equal caliber?"

Alex feels stunned by the onslaught of words. But after calming down and listening for a bit a realization hits him. She doesn't say anything bad. In fact, she treats him normally like before. The only point different is that she promoted him from co-worker to friend. But as an opportunist she must have seen the advantages to have a connection to a handsome guy with potential handsome friends.

A smile spreads on Alex face and not minding her wall of words he interrupts her "Thank you, Emily."

Only then does she realize that he might have been anxious about her reaction. It never occured to her to reject him based on his sexuality but who knows what type of experiences he already had.

Now more sensible to the topic she asks: "Does anyone here know? I can keep it quiet, you know."

Alex lets out a deep breath. "I would be very thankful if you could keep it quiet." After inspecting his own emotions he adds: "For now. I want to take one step at a time."

Emily smiles at him understandingly. And despite the panic Alex just felt moments ago he realizes that he really might have gained another ally. Another friend.