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ST. PETERSBURG
She drinks chocolate milk now. She goes to school. She's taller.
But what's changed in the year since Senior Airman Ronique Waite last saw his daughter doesn't matter. He cares only about what's stayed the same: Jazmin is still daddy's "little danger girl."
Waite surprised Jazmin, 5, at Perkins Elementary School during her lunch period Friday. He has been in Afghanistan for the last six months, and this is the first time they have seen each other since Thanksgiving 2010.
"I missed the sound of her voice," said Waite, who arrived in St. Petersburg late Thursday. "I missed holding her. It's so great to have her here again."
As Jazmin and the rest of her class began filing into the cafeteria just after 10:30 a.m., Waite waited, hidden behind a wall. Television crews and photographers huddled around the cashier as bewildered kindergarteners picked up their pizza and brownies.
Jazmin was last in line.
Her mother, Phylicia Waite, walked with her toward the cash register. Lunchroom workers and teachers darted back and forth excitedly, updating Waite on his daughter's progress.
"She's almost here,'' teacher Kathleen Morris said. "I can't wait to see her face."
Waite was nervous. He fidgeted, dug his hands into the pockets of his green Air Force fatigues, bounced on the balls of his feet.
Jazmin asked for a brownie and turned to leave. She almost didn't hear her father's voice: "Jazmin," he said. "Jazzy bear. I'm here."
She hesitated, eyeing the cameras and tears rolling down her mother's cheeks.
"Hi," she started, as Waite scooped her into his arms.
He carried her out of the lunchroom as students applauded and an assembly of eight fourth- and fifth-grade jazz band students played American Patrol.
The two went outside for a quiet lunch atop a hill. She told Waite she wanted to go with him after lunch. She wanted to go to the park.
Waite will spend the next two weeks with his daughter before heading back to San Antonio, Texas. Jazmin and Phylicia Waite are planning to move to Texas after the school year.
Assistant principal Laura Kranzel said it was the first time Perkins has hosted such a reunion. And it was exactly what Phylicia Waite hoped for.
"I don't like to cry, but I can't stop," said Phylicia Waite, who organized the reunion with the school. "I really just wanted to see him surprise her. I think she's in shock."
Contact Marissa Lang at mlang@tampabay.com or (813) 226-3386.
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