Mark Judah: Chosen

Chapter 5 Wichita KS

                  LOVE LIFE, ENJOY LIFE

           "One of the best things life has to offer's the present.
                              -KezTown

           "Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier."
                           -Mother Teresa

           "Whoever is happy will make others happy too."
                              -Ann Frank

                       343 HOURS BEFORE
                            APOCALYPSE

     Mark Judah

     I returned to the school a little before
three. When the bell rang, I stepped out of
the bat, and watched the kids pour out of
the school.
    Esther was the first to come out. Her eyes scanning the crowd of parents until they
locked on me. A wide grin formed on her lips.
    "Daddyyy!" She screamed.
    I just smiled back, and waved, as she took off running. Then, she was lunging. I'd Deja vu as I braced for impact. As soon as we
made contact, she wrapped her legs around my waist; arms around my neck. Yet,
before she could start giving me kisses, I
started giving the kisses first.
    "I..." Kiss. "Missed..." Kiss. "You..." Kiss. "So..." Kiss. "Much!" Kiss kiss kiss.
    Through laughter, she responded.
    "Not nearly as much as I missed you."
    I put a halt on the kisses and said.
    "Blasphemy!"
    Esther cried out with laughter. I, then,
continued the kisses. A few moments later, I caught sight of Marian, followed by Moriah, and guess who else?
    Martin, of course. Once Marian caught
sight of me, she headed our way with her
posse.
    "Esther. Make room for us." Marian
pleaded, as she came up to us.
    Esther glared at Marian. Then, said.
    "This is my daddy! But, I guess I'll share
forrr... A little bit." She sung, as she got
down. Then, emphasized. "Just a little bit."
    I laughed, then hugged both M&M. Marian, then looked at me, and said.
    "Dad, this is Martin. His dad texted him,
and told him, you asked if he could come
with us. You did that?" Marian asked with a hopeful look.
    I winked at her, and said. "Wing-man."
    She looked confused at first. But then, it
dawned on her. She chuckled to herself,
then gave me another hug. A big one.
    Before she let go, she whispered.
    "You're the best dad in the whole wide
world."
    A tear would've come to my eye if it
weren't for all these people milling about. I felt great.
    "I love you." I replied.
    For all the great things my dad had taught me, he hadn't been supportive of the women I'd dated. It forced me to go behind his back. Thus, getting Marian's mother pregnant at seventeen.
    I thought over all this while I was in prison. I decided to be supportive of my daughters. And maybe, just maybe they'd let me give them a little guidance when it came to boys, amongst other things.
    So, I introduced myself to Martin.
    "Je m'appelle Mark Judah. Je suis heureux de faire votre connassaince."

    Once in the car, Moriah riding shotgun,
Esther behind me, Marian in the middle, and Martin on the right we left the school. Speaking to Martin in fluent French, I said.
    "Martin, your dad told me you just began learning the art of shooting! Would you like to go to the gun range for a while?"
    He appeared thrilled at the idea.
    "Oui oui, Monsieur." I chuckled to myself. 
    I just realized what attracted my daughter to him.
    Switching to English, so Moriah and
Esther could understand, I said. "We're
going to the shooting range for a bit."
    Esther sung with joy. Moriah, on the other hand, remained silent.
    Moriah's mom didn't like the idea of her
messing around with guns. So, I respected the decision she's made for her daughter.
    Glancing over at Moriah, I said. "Then,
after the shooting range, your wish is our
command."
    At this, her face shun like that of an angel. She looked at me with her pretty hazel-brown eyes and asked.
    "Anything?"
    "You name it." Then, I whispered to her. "I brought my favorite weapon, just for you."