Just One of Those Days...

*Not to much. I hope you enjoy*

It was early Thursday morning, Safaree and Nicki were headed to the children's daycare to speak with their teacher about Daria. It was a hassle trying to get them dressed when they were halfway sleep but they managed to get it done. They pulled up in front of Wilson's and got out, Safaree grabbed Ethan and Zaria while Nicki had Daria.

Mrs. Jones was standing at the classroom door when they entered. She was always happy to see them, in her mind they were the perfect couple.

"How is my favorite family doing this morning?"

"Tired as you can see." He referred to all three sleeping toddlers.

"Oh you can lay them down on the cots in the back, their blankets should be there as well. But I will need for you to wake Miss. Daria up."

Nicki sat in a chair and took off Darias coat while Safaree put the other two down. She planted kisses all over Daria's face until she peeked out of one eye to see what was going on.

"Come baby you have to wake up." Nicki sat the child straight up on her lap rubbing her back.

"Nicki don't rub her back your going to put her back to sleep." Safaree said picking up Daria and making her stand.

"Toot wake up you're at school." Daria rubbed her eyes and looked around.

"Hi Mrs. Jones." She said in a meek voice then yawned.

"Why hello sleepy head." She smiled at her. "If you could come over to my desk please." Safaree and Nicki sat in the chairs in front of the desk. Safaree gave Daria a peppermint out of Mrs. Jones candy dish and placed her in his lap. "Well I called this conference because I wanted to give you a progress update on Daria."

Nicki could feel it wasn't going to be good and it showed in her face. Mrs. Jones figured she needed to get to the point with a quickness.

"Daria is excelling in basically all of her subjects except for reading. I've noticed it takes her longer to finish her writing lessons. She often mixes up her M's and her W's."

"So what are you trying to say?" Safaree asked all of a sudden uncomfortable.

"Well I believe that Daria has Dyslexia. a reading disability that occurs when the brain does not properly recognize and process certain symbols."

"Oh my God, no." Nicki said looking over at Daria playing with the the string on her shirt. Safaree got quiet.

"Nicki calm down sweetie, we can help her."

"How do you know?"

"I didn't say I knew for sure but i have an hunch."

"Well don't go diagnosing my kid off of a hunch." Safaree said.

"If you like we can have the specialist I called come in and give her a couple of test."

"Yeah let's do that." Safaree looked over at Nicki who was still staring at Daria.

"Fine. wait here." Mrs. Jones left the class room, returning a few minutes later with a little old white lady with her. "Mr. Samules and Ms. Maraj, I would like for you to meet Ms. Margret Cook." The pair stood up and greeted her.

"It's nice to meet you both. Is the little one I get to work with today?"

"Yes this is Daria." Nicki said straightening Daria's shirt. "Say  hello."

"Hello." Daria said with a smile.

"Hi Daria. I brought some books with me today, would you like to help me read them?" Daria shook her head yes. "You would, that makes me very excited. I like sharing my books with others. Let's go find a place that's quiet." She reached her hand out. Daria looked up at Nicki to see if it was okay.

"Go ahead baby, mommy will be right her okay?"

"Okay." Daria took Ms. Cook's hand and they went to a different room.

"Well the children are about to start entering, you may wait in this room until Ms. Cook is done and I will direct her back here when she is done." Nicki grabbed her purse and made her way to the room with Safaree behind her.

--

Nicki was on her phone looking up what dyslexia was, she needed more details. She was racking her brain over if it was something she had did to cause this. Safaree sat quietly trying to figure out what to say, he needed to tell her but knew it wouldn't go well.

"Nicki."

"Huh?" She didn't look up from her phone.

"Nicki!"

"It says here that it's an inherited trait but I don't know anyone who has it." she continued reading. He moved over to the couch she was sitting on and eased his hand over the phone. "Safaree what are you doing?" She finally looked up at his face and seen the worry.

"Nicki I have dyslexia." he confessed. Nicki furrowed her eyebrows.

"Safaree since when?"

"Since as long as I can remember."

"Damn it Safaree that's something you should tell someone before you have kids with them." she looked away.

"Don't act like having them was planned Nicki. I would have eventually told you. In all honesty I just forgot about it. It's not a real problem for me anymore, yeah sometimes I have to stop and focus a little harder but for the most part I'm good." Nicki was quiet. "Say something." He touched her shoulder, she looked back at him with tears in her eyes. This hurt him. "Nicki I'm sorry I gave this to her I really am. I never wanted this for any of my kids."

"I know Safaree, I'm just thinking about all the things she is going to go through now. Children can be cruel and I don't want my baby picked on for something she has no control over." She wiped a tear from her eye.

"She's going to be okay Nicki, Daria can hold her own." It was quiet for a couple of minutes.

"How long have you had it?"

"They diagnosed me when I was seven."

"Why didn't you ever tell me that Safraree?"

"Nicki it's an imperfection that I didn't want known. I'm fine with people getting on my looks or the crazy things I say but like you said when it comes to things you can't control, I didn't want to be teased."

"It's me Safaree I would never."

"Nicki you tease me all the time. If you would have known back then you would have eventually made a slick comment about it."

"Yeah maybe your right but It would have been said in a malicious way."

"I know but anyway for me back then would have hit a nerve. My family always made jokes when it was just us around, That was the reason me and my cousin always were at each others throats."

"Daniel?"

"Yeah, he didn't stop until that day we fought in the street and I broke his nose."

"Ohhh...I never understood what made you so upset that day."

"He thought he was Mr. Funny Man in front of all those girls and said something about it and I lost it."

"So is that the reason you can't say 'Ask' Right?" Nicki smiled and Safaree side eyed her.

"I never made that connection but probably." he smirked. Just then the door opened and Daria came bouncing in with a Tootsie pop in her mouth.

"Mommy look what Ms. Cook gave me for reading." She took the sucker out of her mouth to show Nicki.

"I just wanted you to see her before I came and explained everything to you two."

"Thank you. Daria give me and daddy a hug then go back in there with your class baby."

"Okay." She hugged them both and went back out to join her class. Ms. Cook closed the door so they would have privacy.

"I had Daria read three books that she should be reading according to what she has been learning here at Wilson's and I had her identify words. While reading she mixed her M's and W's and often switched words around while reading, also she had a hard time recognizing words when they were written. From my personal viewing it seems that she has a mild case of dyslexia. But to really confirm it you should go have her medically tested for it."

"Is there anything we can do to help her at home?" Nicki asked.

"Here is a couple of pamphlets to take home and read over that will tell you how to deal with it. When you go to the doctor they will give you more detailed things that you can do. Here is a number to one of the best Neurologist."

"Thank you Ms. Cook for coming."

"It was no problem. I can tell you are worried Mrs. Maraj, don't be. We caught this early so she is very lucky. You and your husband have nothing to worry about."

"He's not my husband." Nicki said.

"Oh I'm so sorry. You two look good together if i may say, well I must be on my way. It was nice meeting you. I will call Mrs. Jones to see how Daria is progressing if that's alright with you?"

"Yes that's fine." Safaree said. All three left the room and headed to their next destination. Safaree would drip Nicki back off at home and he was headed to a couple of meetings, although he didn't know if he would be able to focus now.

Nickis House


When Nicki got home she climbed in the bed with Damon and wrapped herself around him. He could tell something was the matter but she wouldn't speak to him she just clutched him tighter. She just wanted to forget about all that was on her mind. She was already dealing with her rocky relationship with Damon. One day they were fine the next she was ready to stick her fist down his throat, today seemed to be one of their good days. Then she was dealing with what was going on between Safaree and her.


It had been about a month since the pregnancy scare between the two, which she still hadn't told anyone about. She couldn't risk the chance of it getting to the press, she had a wedding to get ready for and didn't want it ruined because someone couldn't keep their mouth closed. Nicki kept her distance from him for about a week after but that was her kids father and her best friend so that was short lived.


Nicki had been noticing little things that happened between them. Like if they were in a room she would come out of a trance of staring at him and notice he was staring at her back. When they touched she would feel some type of energy go through her body. She would think about him at the oddest times and then he would call. It was really frustrating her. She nailed her audition and now had to learn all her lines for a major motion film. Now on top of all that her baby had Dyslexia, Nicki just wanted to sleep her troubles away and that she did.


Hours later Nicki woke up to the sound of a bag being zipped. She popped up and looked around the room for the source of the noise. Her vision became clear and she seen Damon in a suit with a suitcase and garment bag.

"Where are you going?" She asked sitting on the side of the bed. He jumped at the sound of her voice.


"Hey babe, you feeling better? I tried not to wake you."


"That's not what I asked you, where are you going?"


"Kentucky. Something happened at one of the factories down there."


"What?" She asked.


"Tainted meat." he sat next to her. "Do you want to talk about what happened earlier?"


"Can't someone else go and fix whatever is wrong?" She asked completely ignoring his question.


"Yes but I still need to be there to see everything with my own eyes in case this goes to court. It will be known that I went and checked everything out and didn't just try and cover something up."


"I need you right now, don't leave." She put her arms around his waist.


"Don't do this to me now baby, I would stay if I could."


"You promised me." She pulled back.


"I know what I promised but things happen Nicki. Now are you going to tell me what happened?"


"No, you don't give a damn anyway. Just leave and run to Kentucky, that's all you care about." She got up and walked to the bathroom.


"I care about other things to don't say that."


"Well you damn sure don't  care about anything in this house." She slammed the door.


"Nicki please don't be mad." He heard drawers being slammed shut and knew he needed to leave her alone. "Listen I'll call you when I land okay babe?"


"Don't bother." she yelled. He sighed and grabbed his bags and left.


Nicki hopped in the shower to try and ease some of the tension in her body away. She was pissed that once again she needed Damon and he was off doing other things. She knew it was his job but he could have left a little later if not the next day. She loved him but she was beginning to think that love wasn't enough. She got out and dried off her body. She needed to call a neurologist and set up an appointment for Daria. Her phone buzzed.


Baby Daddy
I'll pick up the kids.


Doll Face
Okay. Thanks.

She called and made the appointment for next week and then went to go make her something to eat. She was still heated about Damon leaving knowing something was wrong with her. Safaree would have never left she thought to herself then realized she was once again comparing the two.

"Get yourself together girl." she spoke out loud. "You have a man and it isn't Safaree." She took a bite of her sandwich and went back upstairs.

Safaree

Safaree sat in his car after his meeting wrapped up thinking about Daria and what she must be going through. He reminisced on how hard it was for him to finish a book at times as a child. He always felt dumb and not up to par with the rest of the kids. His self-esteem was low at one point until he really made himself stop playing the victim and overcame it. It took hard work but he eventually became a great reader.

Safaree went by Barns and Noble and picked up a couple of books on Dyslexia for him and Nicki. Then went by the daycare and observed Daria. She didn't seem like a different kid, the same playful but serious child she'd always been. He left around lunch time to run a couple of errands. He told Nicki he would get the kids because he knows she is really upset about this and need some time to herself. He needed someone to talk to so he called his mother.

"Hey ma."

"Hows my favorite son doing?" he could tell she was smiling.

"I'm your only son mama."

"Oh yeah that's right."

"You are so goofy." they laughed

"What's going on?"

"We found out that Daria might have Dyslexia today." the phone got quiet. "You still there ma?"

"Yeah I'm here. I was really hoping that it wouldn't happen to one of them. I'm sorry Safaree, I know how you struggled with that."

"Yeah it's just one of those things ya know, but she'll be fine. She's strong just like her mama, when they see a challenge they take it head on."

"Yeah you're right. How is my daughter in-law?"

"Mom we are not married so stop calling her that."

"Well y'all should be." He could tell the conversation had turned and he did not want any part of it.

"Ma I have to go."

"Don't you go rushing off the phone little boy. Why when it's something I want to talk about you always want to get off the phone?"

"All you ever want to talk about is me and Nicki and how we should be together. When you know she is engaged."

"Mmhhm." was all she said.

"Yeah now you have nothing to say."

"Don't get smart, you still ain't to old to get beat." he laughed.

"Alright mama calm down but I do have to go."

"Alright baby. give my other babies a kiss for me and Nicki."

"I don't know about the last one but the three small ones will get one. Love you ma."

"Love you to baby." She hung up.

--

Safaree opened the door to Nickis house and the kids ran in and up to their rooms.

"Nicki we're here." Safaree yelled then sneezed.

"How could I not know with three pairs of feet running through my house. Get your homework out if you have it." she yelled back as she walked down the stairs.

"Ma told me to tell you hello."

"Awww I need to call her."

"Yeah she feels like you abandoned her after we broke up."

"You mean after you kicked me to the curb."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." he waved her off then sneezed again. "So what you cooking? Where is Damon?"

"Is this freaking 21 questions? Damon left and I'm making spaghetti."

"Cool that sounds good."

"To bad you not getting any." she said getting the noodles out of the pantry. His smile dropped.

"Why can't I get spaghetti?"

"You kicked me to the curb which means you don't get special treatment brotha." She pulled out a pot.

"But I'm still your best friend." he sneezed again.

"So. Are you getting sick?"

"You not even right and no I'm not.."

"Go help your kids with they homework and read a book with Daria." Safaree turned around looking like a Powder Puff and went upstairs. Nicki laughed.

A Couple Days Later

"Sit up Safaree and eat this soup." Nicki said bringing a tray into his room.

"No, I don't want no soup." he turned over. Nicki was over him and his dramatics. He became the biggest baby when he got sick. He had called her early in the morning to bring him some tea. When she went and tried to wake the kids up for school all three of them were burning up. She packed them in the car and brought them to his house. So now she was taking care of all four of them at once. She had gotten the children down for a nap now it was time to get Safaree to eat.

"Safaree stop being difficult and eat something."

"I don't want it dude."

"Who you calling dude? Do you want me to get your mother on the phone because you know I have no problem with doing so?" She threatened still holding the tray. He rolled over and sat up, that was the last thing he needed was his mom. She was worse than Nicki. "I thought you'd see it my way." She sat the tray over his legs. "Do you need me to feed it to you?"

"No." He picked up the spoon and began eating.

"I'll go get your medicine for you to take after you eat."

"I can take care of myself you know?"

"Shut up Safaree." she walked into the bathroom and grabbed the medicine and walked back into the room.

"I'm full." he put the tray on the nightstand and sunk lower into the bed. Nicki huffed and sat on the bed next to him.

"Listen Safaree you have to eat so you can get better faster. I need help with the kids, I can't take care all three of you for to long by myself." She picked up the bowl. "Eat a little more for me please." She put the spoon up to his mouth and waited for him to open up, when he did she put the spoon in his mouth. "Thank you. A couple more and I won't bother you till later." She continued to feed him. "Your throat still hurt?"

"Yeah."

"I'll get the chloraseptic so you can spray ya throat." She put the bowl down and handed him his NyQuil to take. Nicki heard Zaria calling her name, she knew the next couple of days where going to be hectic.

*Okay I know it's not that long. I will TRY to write another chapter tomorrow so don't yell at me too much. I know a lot didn't happen in this chapter but I hope you liked it anyway. Tell me what you think about Darias condition. What are your predictions. And I really do want you to tell me, you never know your idea might make me change something in the story. Hmmmm lol. Don't forget to send me pictures you think would be good for Nina (Onikafareestories@yahoo.com) and don't forget to comment. Well Get ready for HB at the Super Bowl tomorrow, You know it's going to be BANANAS! Love ya my darlings! MUAH*