Christmas Daisy Read Free

“The sun is shining, and it’s a beautiful cold day God’s given us!”
    “Yes, it is, dear lady,” he replied with a laugh.  “Good Morning.  Now keep your eye out for our new teach Davey Donovan, and let me know the minute he arrives.”
    “You better believe it, Dr. Ben.  I shall hog tie him when he gets here so he can’t escape. And if that fails, I have a stun gun in my bag.”
    His deep laugh almost shook the building.  “ Let’s hope we don’t have to go that far. Let’s keep things calm and pretend we’re normal around here, Esmerelda.  We don’t want him running away before he gets to see how charming and loveable we are. And by the way, I made hot chocolate for the kids as well as our coffee.”
    “Ah, yes, I can smell it”, said the tiny elderly lady. “So domestic.  You will make someone a good wife some day.”  She giggled.  “I am going to go start pouring cups for the kids.  You guard the door so the new victim doesn’t get away.”
    The kids started to arrive, the smell of hot chocolate pulling them immediately to the kitchen.  Each eagerly took their cup of hot chocolate (with marsh mellows!) and bounded up the stairs to their classrooms.  Miss Gracie and Mr. Andy arrived, and took their places in their classrooms.  Esmerelda was back at her desk.
      The minutes had ticked by, and the new teacher had not arrived.  Ben gave a sigh, and picked up his stack of classroom ma terials, ready to head up to the teen room.  He’d  get the morning started, and if  the teacher had not arrived in a few more minutes, he’d have Esmerelda get on the phone and hire another frustrating emergency substitute from the service that supplied them. It had been too good to be true.
    But then, when Ben was ready to give up hope, he heard the outside door open and close quietly, a hush of voices, then Esmerelda’s big melodious laugh.
    ‘Is he here? Did the new teacher arrive?” he called from his office. Did he sound as desperate as he felt?
    “Well, yes and no,” said Esmerelda, coming to his doorway, her face scrunched up in confusion.  “The teacher is here, but it’s not exactly the dragon slayer you expected.  It’s not Davey Donovan.  It’s Daisy Donovan. I’m going to introduce you two, then I’m going upstairs to keep the cherubs from burning down the building while you two sort this out. This ought to be good.”
    With a dramatic flourish, she swept her arms through the air. “Dr. Benjamin Wilson, may I present Ms. Daisy Donovan.” 
    Then she stepped aside, allowing Daisy to enter, all 5’2”, 110 pounds of her.
    A myriad of feelings swirled over him.  This little slip of a girl looked like a teen ager herself.  He thought of the large, often angry teen boys and girls who sat in the room upstairs.  He was disappointed, confused, and curious. But strangely, very attracted.  A long blond braid flowed over her shoulder, her woolen cap was pulled low on her forehead, and her cheeks were pink from the brisk air.  She looked cold.  She stared back at him, bright green eyes, staring directly into his.  It set off something like an explosion in his head.
    “Is that hot chocolate I smell, Dr. Wilson?” she said, her voice soft and lilting. “Hot, hot chocolate?” She had dropped her bag to the floor, and was rubbing her hands together.
    He nodded.  “ Call me Ben. I’ll get you a cup.”
    “Thanks. ”
    Ben began  to walk past her in the doorway, but she stopped him, putting  a ha nd on his arm, meeting his gaze head on.
    “ It sounds like you thought I was – what? Older? Male? Bigger? All of the above?”
    Was he that transparent?
    “Yes.  It’s a teen class. They are big.  Some with issues.  I’m not sure..”
    She frowned.
    “Whatever. They are kids. They need a teacher. I’m here.  Sorry I’m late, I had a little trouble finding you.”
    From upstairs, he heard a burst of “God Bles s America,” being sung by the two older classes, with