(Everyone engaged in sexual activity in this story is over 18 years of age. Any similarities between this true story and anyone's life are purely coincidental and the names have been changed.)
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Life has a way of handing us circumstances that give the feeling of being caught in an endless tornado. Losing my wife in a car accident, just after my daughter's second birthday, was one of those storms. Raising our first child, a very active girl, was challenging enough with two of us. Alone and 33 years old, in the midst of a rising career as an attorney, made it seem impossible.
And yet, 3 years later as I was preparing to send Samantha off to kindergarten, I reflected on how far we'd come from the early days of desperation. Thanks to a team of family and friends, Sam was a very well adjusted little girl and about to take on elementary school with reckless abandon.
Samantha would be going to school near our home in an LA suburb and, in an ideal situation, I'd find a nanny to bring her home from school and take care of her until I returned from work.
Lacking an "owner's manual" on this part of life that provided easy "how to's", I put an ad in the job listing section posted at the local community college. Boy was I surprised, shocked, and dismayed at the people who responded to the ad. I might as well have just selected a homeless person out from behind their shopping cart. Completely disheartened, I removed the ad and was back at the drawing board looking for plan "b".
Samantha and I have a tradition of getting an "Allie Treat" on Sunday afternoons before we wind down the weekend and head into another week. We walk down the street from our home to a small, locally-owned ice cream store where Allie, the young woman who works there, let's Samantha try just about every flavor in the place before finally settling on her choice for a kid's scoop; chocolate is always the choice. It is a great tradition and I love to see Sam light up when I tell her it is time to see Allie again...and get the ice cream.
This particular Sunday afternoon, as Sam slowly enjoyed every drop of her kid's scoop of chocolate ice cream, I couldn't help but overhear Allie's conversation with the owner of the ice cream shop.
"Allie, I am really sorry, but as we head into the new school year in a few weeks I can only give you hours on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. We just don't have the business to keep anyone else here working during the week when school is back in session," the owner explained to Allie.
"I totally understand Mr. Young. I'll find something else. If you hear of anything in the neighborhood, I really need to be able to stay at my grandparents while I attend community college," Allie replied.
"I wouldn't hesitate for a minute to recommend you to anyone else, Allie. You are more responsible and hard-working than half the grown adults I know," Mr. Young said trying to encourage her.
"Thank you Mr. Young. Life has a way of teaching you that."
Fortunately, this wasn't one of those times when I was "asleep" while wide awake. Allie would be a perfect nanny for Samantha. The idea sounded way too good to be true, but I could at least explore the idea a little bit. On the walk home, I broached the subject with Samantha.
"Hey Sam. You know how we talked about finding someone to pick you up after school and bringing you home each day until I can get home?" I asked her.
"Yeah dad. A special big sister I call it," Sam said, understanding in her own way.
"I can't promise you anything, but what if I asked Allie to be your 'special big sister'"
"YES! Can we? Can we? Can we please? Let's go back there right now," Sam exploded with excitement.
Trying to rationalize away that I didn't need to rush back there right now, I was faced with no other options and 3 weeks left to figure it out. What if Allie found another job before we went back next weekend. "Okay, but let me do all the talking. You just be quiet when we get back there," I explained.
Samanta covered the two blocks back to the ice cream shop in record time. And, upon arriving, completely ignored my instructions, burst through the door, ran behind the counter, grabbed Allie and started pleading, "Pleeeeeeeeease say yes. Please, please, please." Fortunately, the ice cream shop was empty of customers.
Completely confused by what was happening, Allie looked at me for help as to what Samantha meant by all this begging.
"Allie. Sorry about that. Please excuse Sam, she's a little excited right now. First of all, I'm David Turner. I don't think I have ever formally introduced myself. But I do have something to ask you. I couldn't help but overhear your conversation with Mr. Young earlier about losing your mid-week hours and, well, I am looking for a nanny for Samantha, Monday through Friday, afternoons and evenings."
"Really Mr. Turner? And you'd consider me?" Allie asked.
"Please, please, please be my 'special big sister'", Samanta interjected.
"Sam, relax for a minute. If you're interested a little, any chance you can come by sometime this week and we can chat more about it? We just live about 3 blocks from here."
"Sure. Wow. This is really great. I'd love to come by and talk to you about it. As it turns out, I live nearby with my grandparents and I am studying early childhood education at the West LA Community College. I get off tomorrow night about 8. Can I come by then?"
"That would work perfect."
"Here's my number. Text me your address."
"Okay fantastic. Thank you Allie."
"Is she gonna do it? Is she? Is she," Sam demanded to know.
"Allie and daddy are going to talk about it. If it works out, yes, she'll be your 'special big sister'"
The sugar from the ice cream had no impact on Samantha's ability to go to bed, but the possibility of having Allie around all the time trumped even the heightened Christmas Eve anticipation. Finally, Samantha dozed off and I was able to relax a little knowing I may have just had my prayers answered.