Chapter Seventeen
Nanish
Mags is nervous when we arrive at Ekert and Sophie’s house. She’s chewing on her bottom lip. We probably should have given her a pacifier to help with her anxiety on the way over.
I bend down, unfasten her restraints, and pick her up, settling her on my hip while Bamgin knocks on the door. Without a word, I bring her fingers to my lips and prick her pointer.
“Owie. Papi…” She has perfected the whine. When she tries to pull her hand out of my grip, I hold it tighter and pierce her middle finger. In seconds, she’s calmer. Her heart isn’t beating as fast, and she’s less rigid against me.
I rub her back. “Good girl.” The praise always grounds her. We don’t discuss it out loud, but it’s apparent she enjoys our words of approval.
Ekert opens the door. His blond Little girl is at his side, holding on to his leg. She’s almost a foot shorter than Mags. I often forget that my girl is much taller than others. Days go bywithout contact with anyone else’s Little, making me think she’s average.
“Welcome,” Ekert says, taking a step back. “Come on in.” He sets a hand on the top of Sophie’s head. “Margaret, this is Sophie. Sophie, Margaret.”
I smile. “She prefers Mags.” I squat down and set her on her feet.
Sophie’s eyes widen as she tips her head back to look up at Mags.
My girl leans into me. “Yeah, I’m really tall. Yeah, I played basketball.”
I glance at her, trying to decide if her tone is intentionally rude, but then I realize she’s simply stating two facts she’s had to say to hundreds of people throughout her life.
Sophie shrugs. “Maybe I’m just short, and you’re average.”
Mags smiles broadly. “That’s sweet of you.”
Ekert gives Sophie’s pigtail a tug. “It’s nice to meet you, Mags. I’m Ekert. Sophie is actually a bit of a savant when it comes to gemstones. She has picked out the prettiest stones for you. Would you like to see them?”
“Yes, please.”
I give her a squeeze and kiss her cheek. “Such a polite Little girl,” I whisper into her ear. When I stand, I take her hand and guide her toward the jewelry shop that’s attached to Ekert’s home.
She rises onto her tiptoes and pulls my head down so she can whisper in my ear, “I think her stones are diamonds.”
I cup her face and kiss her. “I think you’re right.”
“It’s hard not to stare,” she says softly even though everyone else has moved deeper into the shop.
“I don’t think Sophie minds, Little one. She’s used to it.” I take her hand again and guide her to catch up.
Bamgin is already leaning over a display case.
Mags keeps muttering, “Wandering around nearly naked is even weirder than wearing nipple piercings.”
I chuckle as we join the others. The first few days were hard on our girl. Every human Little girl who arrives on Eleadia faces the challenge of overcoming their need to be clothed. For some it takes longer than others. Since Mags was stronger than most soon after her arrival, we’ve been taking her out for walks every day. It has helped assimilate her. We haven’t let her out of the stroller to play at the park yet, but she’s seen that every single Little wears nothing but a diaper and hoops in their nipples.
We’ve also taken her to the clinic three times. She’s met several Little girls in the waiting room. She’s not fully over her nudity, but she doesn’t throw a tantrum about it either.
Bamgin is beaming when he turns around. He grabs Mags around the waist and lifts her off the floor, helping her see over the edge of the display.
I set a palm on her back and lean around her other side to share in the experience. A pair of perfectly cut gozanite stones are already set and ready. They’re identical in every way that I can see except for the color. One is red. One is yellow.
“What do you think?” Sophie is bouncing on her toes. She’s been here long enough to ignore the fact that her breasts jiggle with every jump, the diamonds flopping up and down.
Ekert clears his throat. “Want to know what I think?” he says, his voice stern, his gaze on Sophie.
She stops bouncing and stands still, clasping her hands behind her back. “Sorry, Papi.”
