Mannequin Challenge Ends With Surprise Reunion For Cleveland Family

The Mannequin Challenge is a new trend both adults and children are doing; Friday, middle schoolers in Cleveland took on the challenge.

But this particular challenge came with a surprise ending, a Christmas wish comes true.

Friday, Cleveland middle school students got ready for their Mannequin Challenge. They went over their poses, looked over notes, picked up spilled pencils or broke up a fake fight.

Then, when a familiar festive song came over the speakers – All I Want for Christmas – they froze in time.

Sisters Jaquelynn and Shaylynn Larkins were picked to get video and pictures, not knowing someone was waiting to surprise them at the end of the hallway.

That someone was their dad, Gunner's Mate Sean Larkins. He's been away for the past year finishing up his 20-year Navy career in California.

It's been more than a year since they last saw their dad.

“It's been a long year,” he said.

He wasn't due back in Oklahoma until January, but his daughters said having him home for the holidays was all they wanted for Christmas. Friday, that wish came true.

“I missed him a lot,” the girls said.

Sean said, “Well I'm here now, I'm not going anywhere.”

And if there were a moment the family could freeze in time, this would be it.