That’s a relief. “Are they more sensitive?” Seems like the most bizarre conversation to be having with perfect strangers, but it’s also my biggest concern today.
Christine fists her hands at her sides and sits stiffly. “You have absolutely no idea. There are no words. And don’t ever touch them unless you enjoy having your titties swatted. That really hurts.”
My cheeks heat. “Yeah, I already found that out.”
Ava winces. “Yikes. Then you know.”
“It’s okay to stare at them,” Janelle says. “We get it. We’ve all been in your shoes.”
Christine giggles. “Or bare feet.”
I can’t help but smile. That was funny. I dig my toes into the sand. It feels good. I don’t think I’ve ever played in a sandbox before.
“We were going to make a sandcastle,” Janelle informs me. “Do you want to help?” She holds out a shovel and bucket.
I cautiously take the two items from Janelle. When the three of them swing around onto their knees to fill their buckets, I hesitate and glance down at myself.
Ava smiles at me. “If you’re not strong enough yet to get on your knees or crawl around, don’t worry, we’ll help you.”
My heart is racing. “I’m fat,” I blurt out, feeling my face heat. Why did I have to say that? They can see that I’m fat.
Ava glances down at me. “You’re not fat. Who told you that?”
“Everyone.”
“No one on this planet,” Janelle adds, her eyes narrowed as if she’s about to get up and fight someone on my behalf.
I shake my head and lower my gaze. “No. Not yet.”
Christine sets her hand on my bicep. “I’m so sorry people were mean to you. It won’t happen here. We don’t judge here. We’re all equal. It doesn’t matter what we look like or where we came from or what our backgrounds are. We’re all Little girls now with nothing but diapers and nipple rings. If a Papi found out his Little girl was mean to another Little girl, he would discipline her so hard she’d never be able to sit down again.”
“That doesn’t mean people aren’t thinking about how fat I am when they look at me,” I respond.
Janelle straightens her spine. “Look at me. I’m so skinny no one can see me sideways. No matter how much I eat I’m still skinny. Do you think that didn’t embarrass me when I first arrived? It was humiliating. But now I know that no one cares about what anyone else looks like on the outside. It’s on the inside that matters. You’re perfect just the way you are.”
Tears come to my eyes.
“Am I fat?” Ava asks.
I gasp and shake my head. “No. You’re like a model.”
She rolls her eyes. “My tits are bigger than yours. They’re heavy, too. And just because I’m tanned doesn’t mean I’m notalso flabby.” She shrugs. “I don’t care anymore. My Papi adores me just the way I am.”
I glance over my shoulder in the direction of my Papis. They’re watching me and smiling. I give them a wave, feeling less panicky.
“And you have two Papis. Double the love,” Janelle says.
Ava giggles. “Or double the punishments.”
I find myself laughing. It feels good. For the first time in my life as I rise up onto my knees, I look down and think maybe I’m not as repulsive as I’ve always been told. Maybe I’m okay being who I am. My Papis definitely think I’m perfect. They make me feel small. They carry me around like I’m a feather.
My new friends are giggling and having fun. I like them. Maybe I can make friends on this planet. They seem to genuinely not care about my rolls.
I’m not fat. I’m soft. That’s not a bad thing. It’s just how I was created.
Maybe if I keep telling myself that, I’ll eventually believe it. Maybe one day soon I’ll get kicked out of the funnel cloud and land on my feet.
Chapter Fifteen
