Parenting Issues

[Pretty Peach]

Divorced Father x Divorced Father: Two men get divorced. They don't know each other, but their children do. They each have a daughter (or son is fine) who are currently in the same elementary school. Their children have a sleep over and that's when the fathers first meet. One is a hairdresser who lives with his daughter in an apartment above their shop. He's great at raising his daughter, does her hair, her clothes, always makes her happy. The other father is an absolute idiot who had no idea what to do with a daughter which leads to him embarrassing her often. He spoils his daughter because he doesn't know what to do! Seeing this, the better of the two fathers decides to help the other in his parenting techniques and the two become very... very close.

 

[ERR0R]

(I'm here!)

 

[Pretty Peach]

"Risa! Come on, get up, it's time for school." Takahiro came into his daughters room and opened the blinds to let in the sunlight. His daughter whined a little at the sun in her eyes but otherwise sat up and crawled out of bed. While she went to shower, he laid out clothes for her first day in the second grade. He could hardly believe she was already in the second grade. It was still warm, so he laid out the new dress she had begged him to buy. A little blue sundress with white bow in the back. He laid out tights, underwear and set her new black buckled shoes on the floor by her dresser. The daughters room was small, but cozy. It was painted cutely, with soft baby blue walls and matching blue decor. Many of their stuffed animals or decorations had to do with the ocean, which she adored.


When his daughter returned, he helped her dress and tied the bow on the back. She sat patiently while he brushed out her soft black hair and then braided it into two low pig tails with ribbons on the end. Her bangs were straight across her face, right above her soft grey eyes. Since today was her first day of second grade, he even put a flower clip in her hair that he had bought the other day. The girl was so excited to pack her back up with all her crayons, pencils and notebooks. The two walked down to the street and instead of a car, he road his bike with her on the back. In this small town, there was no need for a car because everything was centrally located. The whole time she was giggling and talking about how her first day was of school would be so much fun.


The school was a small building, with grades one through five in it. It had a small fenced in play ground and a soccer field. The higher level schools had larger fields for sports, but the elementary school students didn't need it. There were other parents walking their children to school and some even had the same bike idea as he did. Others did drive, but they probably lived further away. At the gates he dropped the little girl off. "You be good sweet heart. Make lots of friends! Daddy will pick you up after school okay? Do you remember what I told you?"


"Okay daddy! I'll meet you here! Don't go off with strangers and immediately run away into the school if another adult I don't know talks to me."


"That's my girl, go on have fun!" He gave his daughter a kiss on the cheek and let her go running into the school building with all the other kids. Takahiro was sure his daughter would make plenty of friends, since she was just as sociable as her father. Hell, if Takahiro wasn't sociable, he should have picked a different job.


He road his bike home and immediately went inside to change into his work uniform which consisted of relaxed, but stylish jeans and a button up with the sleeves rolled up. He wore a black apron around his body. Just as he came back to the store his second hairdresser came in for his shift. A younger female also came in to work the register. Together they opened the salon and welcomed their regulars. Takahiro ran a rather popular beauty salon that had services from facials, hair treatments, coloring and cuts. Typically their clients were women but men did come in with their families since he was good with younger children.


"Takahiro~! You stopped wearing your wedding ring?" The other hairstylist said, chuckling at his boss. The man was younger than him, but a very talented hairdresser. A huge flirt, but that's what made him popular with the older women.


"Yeah yeah so what?" Takahiro said as he pulled his black hair into a pony tail. Unlike his daughters, his bangs were jagged across his forehead and longer at the sides. It gave him a soft appearance, but his body wasn't so effeminate. His voice was deeper and his body was slim and toned. He was taller than most people, but didn't tower over the public. "I'm not married anymore so I shouldn't wear it." Takahiro shook his head and prepared his station as one of his regulars came in for a trim. The older women came in during the morning, while younger women and children came in typically in the afternoon. The good thing about the shop was that there were always customers in it. His business was going well, he thought.


Risa went inside and like the other students, but her things in her assigned cubby locker. Many students were meeting each other, trying to make new friends. She couldn't be left out! Risa looked around for any girls like her, or anyone that seemed to be lonely. Everyone was a potential friend. The little girl went up to one who had also come with her father. She hadn't noticed before, but everyone else came with their mothers, or both their parents. No one came with just their father. Risa snuck up behind the girl. "What's your name?"

 

[ERR0R]

Sketch breathed shakily, as she heard a young girl pipe up behind her. Staring her down, Sketch observed the girl. She had light bangs, and faint grey eyes, and a warm smile. Visually, Sketch imagined herself. She was a brunette with blue dip-dye hair. Everyone gave her and her dad weird glares when they walked in. She was only in second grade but she had her hair dyed gently. Sketch had vivid blue eyes, which she got from her dad. But after her parents divorced, she rarely saw the spark in her dad's eyes. He was always busy, and never had time to "get to know" his daughter and how she was changing from the sweet daddy's girl she used to be. "Sketch." She told the girl who had come up to her. "Whats yours?"





"See you soon, baby girl." A tall man with brown hair leaned down, and kissed Sketch's forehead, causing his daughter to make a face. He straightened his daughter's black headband that matched her black cadet boots. Not once did he ever think that he helped dress up is daughter that was only 8 as if she was going into the war.





"Not here, dad!" Sketch whined, looking at her potential friend. She was new, and she didn't know anyone. If anyone saw her dad kiss her forehead, she was sure that she'd never get any friends. Her eyes fell upon her dad who was doing this little dance. Blush filled up to her cheeks. "Stop it, dad!"


"Oh, my little baby! She's so ...." Drake stopped singing to do a little jazz hands. "She's so mature! So big! So much more like..." Getting on his knees, he grabbed at his chest, preparing for a big finale. "LIKE MEEE!"





Sketch covered her face. Her dad always did this. Why couldn't he be normal for once? She thought to herself as Drake hugged her one last time before hurrying off. "Sorry about that." Blushing, she turned over to Risa.

 

[Pretty Peach]

"My name is Risa! Your hair is so pretty. My daddy says my black hair is too pretty to dye though." She held her braided pigtails to show the girl what her father had done. They were just quick braids, but were perfectly even and tight enough to stay in the ribbons, but not tight enough to hurt her. She giggled when the girls father put on a little show for them. Her own father was gentle, but so stoic sometimes. Ever since her mom left he seemed to be uneasy about raising a child, but certainly tried his best. He was naturally good at it for some reason. She never once ate dinner alone, nor did she have a lack of friends. Actually, she was friends with her neighbor as well, but her neighbor went to the private school in town.


Takano was sociable with his clients. Currently he was putting foils in one womans hair while talking to her about his daughter. The older women were always so interested in his life and daughter now that he was single. They tried to weasel the reason they divorced out of him but he just said something was lacking. Risa was a sweet girl and looked more like her father, who also had jet black hair and steely grey eyes. Even their mannerisms were the same, but that was a given. Children would repeat what their parents did. That's why she never swore, was never mean to anyone and for that she was very sociable.


"Come on, let's go take seats!" The little girl said as the teacher ushered everyone inside. There were only two potential classes they could be in and were given the names of their teachers so it wasn't hard to find. Each grade had a different section of the school. The first and second grades were on the first floor, the third and fourth on the second and the fifth were on the third floor. There was also a small library on the top floor. "Daddy told me that we will take an art class again this year. Though he got upset when I got clay and paint on my last dress."


The teacher quieted them down to start the class. Introductions, and class rules, and so on and so forth. Risa remembered most of this from first grade. It wasn't so much different. Math, reading, science, art, music and gym. All the basic classes. They went around the room to introduce themselves. Name, a random fact and what you want to be when you grow up. When it came to her turn she spoke up. "My name is Risa Nakamura. I love the ocean and when I grow up... I want to be like my daddy and style hair!" Some people seemed to be surprised that her father styled hair rather than her mother, but the teacher didn't allow anyone to say anything negative. Risa nudged Sketch, now that it was her turn.

 

[ERR0R]

Sketch looked at Rise before going up, sending her a quick, nice-job-thumbs-up before scurrying up to the stage. "My name is Sketch Morano. I love batman and video games. When I grow up I want to be Batman! Or- a video game designer. Either will work." The teacher chuckled lightly, as Sketch ran back to Risa as the boys gave her weird looks. "I love your hair, too." She added to Risa with a wide smile.


"Batman and Video Games aren't for girls!" A little boy called out from his seat. Snickers came from the boys are him, and Sketch walked up to them. Tilting her head and making a fake pout face. "I thought ugliness was only for Shrek, but I guess you proved that wrong." With a wave of her hand, she walked away back to Risa.


Clearing her voice, the teacher warned Sketch and the boys. "Now, be nice." Sketch nodded, giving her a tiny smile. This was going to be her day. New friend. New year. New school.... and new idiotic boys.


Drake ran his hands through his hair, taking a deep breath, thinking to himself. Why did Sketch despise me? He sighed. Lola, his ex-wife, was always great with Sketch. She knew what to do to make their daughter listen. Lola was a naturalist, and Drake was the exact opposite of that. The day he let Sketch dye her hair was Lola's last strand.


"Oh my gosh! What did you do?!" Lola barked at Drake, dropping her reusable bags at her feet, running over to their daughter. She embraced Sketch, feeling the bottom of hair that was permanently stained blue. "Sweetie, what happened?"





Sketch stared at Lola, and pointed at me. "Daddy told me I could." She had protested. All eyes fell on Drake, and he shrugged. I mean, his princess wanted it- how could he say no to her? He could never make her happy without pulling out his wallet. To think, she's only eight. Lola's yells turned into tears. "Why, Drake, why do you disrespect me so much?"








Shaking his head of the bad memory, Drake walked down the street, his head down.

 

[Pretty Peach]

Risa wasn't sure what to do when her new friend got made fun of. She was well liked by people, but boys were always a problem at this age. Always so annoying and obnoxious. "I've never played video games before. Daddy says they are too expensive." Unfortunately Daddy was right about that. On a hair stylists salary, even if he owned the place, he didn't make much. He made enough for them to live comfortably though. Her extensive doll and stuffed animal collection proved that. She even had her own baking tools to make small cakes, but he only let her use that while he was around since it could be dangerous. At times, Takano was like a mother hawk, always watching over his daughter. Surely there were times he couldn't but he tried his best to make sure his daughter was well taken care of.


His wife had never been like that. It was a shot gun wedding and a short lived romance. Takano was actually a rather young father, since the pregnancy had been an unplanned one the year he graduated high school. Their parents were unhappy with the two but helped either way. He went to beauty school since he could finish that up shorter than a four year school and his mother was a hairdresser. The two constantly fought while Risa was a baby and hopefully that didn't make a lasting negative impression. He married the woman, although at this point it was clear there was no romance. She went off with other men, and so did he. With other men. The only difference was that he was always home to help his daughter, to play with her and to love her, but his wife was either nursing a hang over or out with some guy. She was young, he couldn't blame her. After a heated fight one night they decided to break it off. That was three years ago.


The teacher didn't have them do too much on the first day. They had to fill out their chore schedule for the class room and they made their 'good kid' star chart. For each time they were a good kid, answered questions right, or tried extra hard, or were polite, they would get a star. Risa was so exited to get as many as she could. "Does your daddy do your hair too?" She asked when they were given a break for lunch time. Her own lunch box was only healthy, organic foods, but that's what she grew up on. She had a sandwich, but no meat in it. Her father was a vegetarian, and so was she. "My daddy does my hair all the time!" Risa looked up as a few other girls came over to sit with them.


She remembered these girls from first grade. They were nice enough, but then again, she got along with almost everyone.


"Risa! Can we sit here too?" One asked with a bright smile. She was missing a few teeth due to her baby teeth falling out. Her face was dotted with freckles which matched her red hair. Risa moved over so the girl could sit with them.


"Risa Risa! My mommy is visiting your dad today! She said she needed a new haircut to look young and beautiful!" Risa giggled and nodded, since she often heard that from other people. Her father was one of the most popular salons in town. "Your name is Sketch right? Are you new in town?" The girl asked as she addressed the girl sitting with Risa.

 

[ERR0R]

"Yeah. I'm new." Sketch said shyly, sitting next to the girl and Risa. "No, my daddy never does my hair." She answered, smiling at Risa. To her, she found it odd that a father would ever do her hair. "Whats your name?" Sketch looked down at the lunchbox her father had packed for her in a rush earlier that moment.


Inside was cold french fries from their supper last night, an apple, two brownies, a drink, and yogurt. Her eyes fell upon Risa's lunch. It was healthy. At times she wished she, too, had healthier foods, but her daddy wouldn't care one way or another whether she was eating junk food. Picking at the fries, she took a bite only to spit them out. They were as hard as rocks. "Eww!"





Sketch looked over at Risa, and whispered in her ear. "Want to have a play date after school?"





Meanwhile, Drake was on the phone, as he found himself on all the time. He was the head of a huge corporation, and it was only mandatory it had his full attention. It was one of the only things that helped him manage his thoughts so he could stray away from Lola. On occasions she'd call, that is, if she wasn't with her new boyfriend.


It hurt him to think that his ex-wife had moved on so quickly. But hey. He was an idiot, and there was no signs she ever had feelings for him in the first place. Maybe she only stayed because of Sketch. Drake wouldn't let Lola take full ownership over their daughter. He loved Sketch. She had Lola's fiery attitude. Sighing, she shook it off. It was clear his daughter was angered at him.

 

[Pretty Peach]

"He doesn't...?" Finding it just as strange that her father didn't do her hair. Risa looked over at her new friends lunch and made a rather disgusted face. "You can have some of mine..." She said as she pushed her lunch box closer to her. At this point Risa could even make her own lunch. The only problem was that she was too short to reach the high self in the fridge or reach the peanut butter in the pantry. So that left her father to do it, which he loved to do anyways. She was so young and he didn't want her to have to do so much work.


"Of course! Oh... but, my daddy has to meet your daddy first. Otherwise he gets nervous." Like any parent, he wanted to make sure his daughter was safe. He'd probably suggest having the play date at his place first after seeing Sketch's father.


After lunch they played more games and even got free time to color their notebooks for class. Most of the girls, including Risa, drew things like flowers, cats, and rainbows. She also drew squiggly designs and different shapes, all in different colors. In the early afternoon their parents arrived to pick them up. Takahiro left his work place to pick up his daughter. He always scheduled his lunch break a little late so he could pick his daughter up. sometimes it was difficult, but he didn't want her to have to ride home alone. Not will all the strange people out there...


"Daddy!" She said happy, running towards him as he showed up on his bike.


"Sweetheart! How was your first day back at school?" He asked as he picked her up and swung her around a little bit. Risa didn't seem to mind that this was childish. Actually, she seemed to love it!


"It was so much fun! I met a new friend! Daddy can she come over?" Risa asked when her father put her back down on the ground.


"I think it's okay but let's ask her mom first okay?" He said to his daughter.


"You mean her daddy!" Risa corrected, which made him surprised. Sometimes fathers picked up their kids, but rarely. "She is like me and only has a daddy!" The way she said that was all happy and cheerful but he didn't feel good about it. Risa needed a female figure in her life and a feminine father was not a female figure. Risa ran over to Sketch and smiled. "He said yes but wants to meet your daddy first."