AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Calm yourself. I’m going to brush your hair like I originally planned to before your little show of stubbornness… unless, of course, you’d like to continue your streak and spend some time over my lap getting your little bottom painted red. I will warn you that your skin is more sensitive after a shower and it will hurt a whole lot to get a hairbrush paddling right now.” She accepted the brush from Mr. Sam and smiled sweetly like she hadn’t just threatened Pippi’s sitting privileges.
“No, Ma’am. I’ll be good,” Pippi assured her.
“I thought you might see it my way. If you change your mind though, you let me know.” She winked.
Pippi sat on the floor with her legs crisscrossed in front of Ms. Cat and allowed the other woman to brush her hair.
“How about some French braids?”
“Oh! Yes, please. I love French braids but I can’t do them on my own head.”
“Well, good thing I’m pretty good at them then, isn’t it. Sometimes I braid my patients’ hair while they talk. It brings a little bit of intimacy and comfort into the situation.”
“You’re like the best therapist. If I had someone like you a long time ago, maybe I wouldn’t be so messed up in my head.”
“You’re not messed up in the head, little one. You’re just learning that you were lied to and figuring out how to let go of those lies. And you may not have had me back then, but you have me now.”
“Me too,” Mr. Sam announced from his spot leaning against the wall.
“Thank you.” Pippi smiled.
“You’re welcome. How about we finish these and get our movie started, otherwise it’s going to get too late and we won’t be able to finish it before you need to go to bed.”
Pippi looked at the clock, it was only seven.
“Good idea,” Mr. Sam agreed.
“What time do you usually go to bed?” she asked.
“We’re adults, we go to bed when we’re ready. But in our house, Little girls have a strict bedtime,” Mr. Sam informed her.
“Oh.” Pippi didn’t know what else to say.
“Oh, indeed. So let’s go get the movie started. I already have the popcorn popped and I think there might be some cookies and milk for a certain good Little girl. Do you see any of those around here?” He looked around dramatically, opening the closet door and peeking inside, even looking under the bed. “Hmm… I don’t know where she went.”
A little giggle escaped Pippi’s lips at his antics. “I’m right here.” She played along.
“Oh, there she is! Phew. I thought I lost you.” He winked and put out his hand to her. “C’mon, sweetie. Let’s go pick a movie.”
“Do I get to pick?”
“You do, but Mo… Ms. Cat and I have veto power if we don’t think it’s appropriate.”
“Yes, Sir.” Pippi smiled. After her big cry, she felt so much better and she was having so much fun just being. Ms. Cat sat on the couch and she settled herself on the floor in front of her. Mr. Sam put the treats on the coffee table within her reach and sat down next to his wife.
Pippi chose a fun movie she’d actually been wanting to watch for a long time but just never did because it was a kid’s movie. As they watched the colorful trolls dance and sing a bunch of popular songs with a special twist she could have kicked herself for keeping herself from it. Even Ms. Cat and Mr. Sam seemed to enjoy it as well. Instead of moving to the couch, she relaxed back against it and laid her head on Ms. Cat’s leg, hoping she would continue to play with her hair. She didn’t disappoint and Pippi had to fight not to fall asleep at the gentle attention.
During a lull in the movie, her mind wandered. Mr. Sam had slipped a few times and responded to her as Daddy and had almost referred to Ms. Cat as Mommy. She had pretended not to notice, but she did. She wondered if it was habit or if they really saw her as their Little even though there had been no discussion of moving forward. She had no idea what a future with them could even look like, or if she really could just leave her own life behind and start a new one miles and miles away. Away from everyone and everything she had ever known.
“Time for bed, little one.” Mr. Sam spoke close to her ear, making her jump.
Had she dozed off? She looked at the television and noticed the movie was still on. “But it’s not over.” She pointed at the screen to illustrate her point.
“I see that, but you’ve had a big emotional day and you’re falling asleep which means you need to go to bed.”
“But…”
“But? But you want to go to bed with a red butt?” he asked.
