Rufus sighed heavily, gazing out the window thoughtfully. He was comfortably seated in his favorite armchair, gazing out the window of his study tiredly. It was already dark outside, though this could partly have to do with the heavy gray clouds crowding the evening sky, looming over the city depressingly. A stack of paper was resting on his lap, much like his reading glasses were resting on the bridge of his nose, indicating that he was working despite what day it was. In fact, he was currently reading the draft he'd been given before the weekend, which explained the list of notes and comments in his left hand. Somewhere along the line his attention had simply drifted away, and with it his gaze, which was at this point no longer focused at anything specific.
"Daddy!"
It was the voice of a young girl which brought the black haired man back to reality. Blinking, he turned his attention to the 6 year old standing between the armchair, her little arms crossed over her chest and her cheeks puffed up in a display of anger. Even if she was angry, Rufus couldn't help but smile at how adorable she looked. Shorter than even most children her age and with a tousle of black hair crowning her head, part of which had been tied into a small pig tail, she was simply too cute- even with a angry pout.
"What is it, dear?" the father asked, peering down at her over the edge of his reading glasses.
"Daddy!" she repeated angrily, balling her little hands into fists, "I'm hungry! You're so busy working again, you forgot all about me!" Melody pointed at him accusingly, fuming, "and that is why I won't leave you alone when you're working!"
"Oh right... sorry Melody." Rufus looked down, hanging his head guilty before he sighed and got up, putting aside the draft on his desk before ruffling her hair. "Come now, it's time for dinner, no?" he stretched and yawned, feeling stiff after having spent so many hours sitting still. She nodded her head, though still didn't look pleased.
"I'm very angry at you!" she informed him, enforcing this claim by stomping after him as he headed to the kitchen.
By the time dinner was ready, Melody's anger had melted away (with the help of a cookie), and she was chatting away happily about all sorts of nonsense she could possibly spout out. Sometimes it ward hard for Rufus to keep up with her rapid pace, as she liked to quickly switch subject without warning whenever a new thought entered her mind. It could be anything from the newest toys her friend had acquired to someone she did or didn't like or her new favorite cartoon. Nevertheless Rufus did his best to comment on everything she had to say, and encourage her interest in different matters. This was how it always had been- at least ever since Melody's mother passed away. Their conversations were often cheerful and uplifting, seldom failing to bring a smile to his lips.
Rufus and Melody spent the rest of the evening together, as he read aloud for her from her favorite fairy tale collection, before tucking her in. Even after that when he had some time to himself, Rufus felt too exhausted for work. So, after smoking his usual evening cigarette, he too retired for the night.