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Baby Dawn Dreamer
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>Ask him why he got grounded.
You pick Lime off the floor and cradle him softly to try and soothe him, his anguished wailing awakening a twinge of motherly compassion within your breast.
“Well, come to think of it, there is something more important right now. You see, I’ve been asking to behave all this time, but I never asked what got you in so much trouble with your parents.”
“Oh, you now, this and that. Painted mustaches on people’s pictures, leaving jelly on the floor to see what bugs show up. Biting my brother’s friend in the leg when he was bullying me.”
“Mmhmm? And what was so bad that they locked you up in this house with me?”
“I put a firecracker on Old Wilkins’ mailbox. His dogfriend was standing too close when it blew up and it singed the fur off his face.”
“Oh goodness!”
“I say dogfriend ‘cuz that’s, like not a dog pet more like a dog guy and he lives with the old man ‘cuz he is his fried or boyfriend or one of those landlords mom and dad keep complaining about.”
“Yes, I know him. His name is Doggfried, nice young chap. Why did you put a firecracker I the mailbox?”
Lime shrugs, “They are really cool when they blow up and I wanted to see what happened when you put it there.”
“And you saw happened,” your voice never shifts its dulcet tone, but your words turn sterner nonetheless, “you said you never hurt anyone for real, but this time you really could have.”
“It’s not my fault. I thought he was gonna stay inside and not suddenly walk up to the street!”
“Well, part of life is learning to plan for the worst, and avoid doing things that might end up getting someone hurt. I know what I’m talking about because…”
>Tell him.
“Because I’m also here for getting in trouble.”
“Weh?” Lime sputters in surprise.
“It’s true! You see, the government says I’ve been irresponsible as a mom. That I’m not very at raising kids. And now they say that if I can’t show that I can help other kids and keep them from getting in trouble….” Your voice starts to break, “they take away my child forever.”
“Wow, that’s messed up!” Lime yells out, fully aghast, “sounds like the human government are total monsters. I mean the bad ones.”
“Oh, it’s not just humans. The new government is made up of monsters too. The good kind. And they are sort of right, I’ve…. Not always paid attention when they were in trouble. I’ve… not always been the best mom…. For them.”
You are not talking in the singular.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes! Yes, I’ll be fine. At least.. I’ll be fine if you help me, and.. I think I’ll be fine if I help you too.”
“Help me how?”
>TV and video games for homework.
“Tell you what. If you do your homework, I’ll help you in the hard parts that you on’t understand, and if we are mostly done by evening, I’ll let you play your favourite video game. Would you like that?”
“Mmhmm” Lime nods, “Do.. do you want to play one of my games with me?”
“Ehm.. I mean sure, I can give it a try! If you like them, I’ll probably like them too.”
Lime smiles at this, and you find his smile is contagious.
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