THE SMITHS

"Olivia be quick or you'll be late," Kacper called out, you know we need to take 'first day of fifth grade pictures' before we leave, he added.

"Two seconds dad, I'll soon be down," Olivia answered.

"You know you made a resolution and promised you were never gonna be late to school or make me late for work again," Kacper added.

"I know dad that's why I'm trying to be fast," Olivia replied running down the stairs with a pair of Jordan shoes in one hand, she had a Burberry backpack on the other hand.

It was a fine cool Monday morning in Wasilla, Alaska and the Smiths were doing their best to be early for work and school. Kacper had woken up before 6:00am to get his things ready for work because he didn't want to rush up routines and end up forgetting something at home. He also had to wake up his daughter early for her first day of 5th grade. He didn't want her to leave any school stuff at home because he didn't want to rush to the house from work to get anything for her. It had happened many times before and he was trying to change that.

"I love your outfit darling, you did a great job picking out your clothes" Kacper said on sighting Olivia.

"Thank you dad, you know I always get it right every time" she replied striking a pose. She wore a turquoise colour, high neck t-shirt and a pair of dark coloured blue jean.

"It's your first day of 5th grade, how do you feel?" Kacper asked, emptying his cup of black coffee.

"Dad, I don't think it's a big deal, am I supposed to feel any different from when I was in 4th grade?" she asked as she scooped down her bowl of fruity pebbles, which was her favourite.

"I was thinking you'll feel bigger or bolder or just something different from the last school year" he replied.

"Well….I don't feel any different, I just want it to be a good first day of this school year, with lots and lots of amazing experiences and I'm also looking forward to making new friends and getting the best grades." Olivia said while reaching down to tie her shoe laces.

Olivia had prepared a target board which they hung up in her room, it contained the grades she wanted to get in every test and examination. She was a very smart kid and she had a dream of being in her school's honour roll, which she diligently worked towards. She always made her dad proud and she loved when she did.

"Good luck at school baby." Kacper says as he gives Olivia a soft pat on her head.

"Stop it dad, you're ruining my hair!" she yells

"Sorry honey, it wasn't my intention to ruin your hair, I thought you said my pats on your head does magic and brings good luck." Kacper answered as he puts in some blueberry muffins and a bottle of Sunkist orange soda with some bananas in her lunch pack.

"That was long ago dad, I'm no more a baby, I'm a big girl now and it does nothing rather than ruin my hair." Olivia said bringing down her voice while fixing her hair.

"My little girl is now a big girl, but you're still my baby and will always be," He replied rather calmly, while fixing his gaze on her.

"But can I at least get a goodbye hug from my 5th grader who's a big girl." He continued while standing.

"You're making it look like a big deal dad," she said rolling her eyes. It's not like I'm going off to college, what will happen when it'll be time for me to go to college." Olivia smiled as she gave him a hug. "That's a big hug for my kinda annoying sweet dad." she said.

"It's time to go." Kacper said with a raised voice clapping his hands.

To Kacper, Olivia was his everything. He practically lived for her, there was no life for him without her in it. She was the best part of him, he felt he had everything only by her presence in his life, she filled up so many vacuums in his life that he didn't know was empty until she came. Even though everything didn't go as planned, and it was sometimes hard for him to give her all the attention she deserved, he never one day regretted having her. She made him so proud and he couldn't be more thankful for her. She made him wake up with a purpose every day, he promised to give her everything and anything she wanted. He tried so hard not to spoil her, but he ended up pampering her to a fault every single time. He was glad that she was finally healing emotionally and he now had his bubbly, vibrant girl back. She always had the best grades right from first grade, she was so smart and exceptionally brilliant and he always got good reports from her teachers. Apart from her fear of spiders, she was his brave little warrior, she never saw anything as a challenge. He saw how she was determined to succeed and get everything done the right way and he believed in her because he saw the fire in her eyes whenever she spoke. He promised her a huge room make-over and a shopping spree in her favourite designer store if she got everything on her target board for the year and she was over-the-moon excited. After all she was his little princess and he adored her.

"Don't forget your seatbelt." Kacper said as they got in the car.

Olivia smiled as she buckled herself in.

"Dad, please can I get a drink from Starbucks on our way out?" She asked looking at her dad with her lips pouted.

"There she goes, trying to buy me over with that look, Please honey not now….we only have ten minutes before you'll be late, I promise to get your favourite Starbucks drink, a caramel ribbon crunch Frappuccino and a box of chocolate glazed doughnuts with lots and lots of sprinkles after school, I'll even bring it with me when I'll pick you from school and you can eat it in the car on our way back home." He said.

"Is that a deal?" He added with a smile.

"Of course dad, you always have a way of making me yield," she answered smiling widely. "Please also add a rainbow Popsicle to the list." She added quickly, and looked away.

Kacper didn't reply, he only smiled. He knew Olivia so well, she never failed to add something to the request list after giving in to a demand and she had a thing for popsicles especially the rainbow coloured ones.

He increased the volume of the audio player as they sang along to David Guetta's 'without you'. It was their all-time favourite, they sang it together when they were happy, sad and when they didn't know how they felt. They sang it in the living room, the bedroom, in the car, in the kitchen when whipping up something to eat and every possible place. They continued with their car ride karaoke until they got to her school.

"Don't forget I love you darling." Kacper said in a loud voice as Olivia got down from the car

"You don't have to be that loud dad, people are watching and you're embarrassing me. I love you too dad." she said in a whisper and smiled.

"Be safe and make good choices." Kacper added. She nodded.

He watched her as she walked briskly to the entrance of the school, her pony tail moving side to side. She was always excited to be in school. She turned to wave a quick goodbye.

"That's my angel." he thought with the widest smile.