Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 229(@200wpm)___ 183(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 229(@200wpm)___ 183(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
I understand immediately what Papi has explained to me about not being able to tell anyone’s prior social status. That’s for sure. Every Little girl at the park looks the same—diapers, pigtails, and nipple rings. No one has on makeup or nail polish. No one has on any sort of designer anything that would make them stand out.
Both girls have brown hair like mine. One of them gives a small wave. “Hi, I’m Clara, and this is Eden. Did you just get here recently?”
I nod.
Papi lifts me out of my stroller and sets me on my feet. He kisses me behind the ear and whispers. “Go play. Meet some of the other Little girls.”
I try not to hyperventilate. There’s no reason. It’s not like the night in the club where there were too many people, flashing lights, and loud noises. There’s no need to panic.
Papi turns toward the girls. “This is Janelle. She’s feeling kind of shy still.”
“That’s okay,” Eden says softly. “I was really nervous when I first arrived. I didn’t think anyone would like me. I thought I was too weird. But everyone is so friendly.”
I wonder why Eden thought she was weird. There’s absolutely no way to know anyone’s story until they tell me. If I wanted, I could make something up and say I was a rich girl from a nice family. I wouldn’t do that because I’ve never been a good liar, but I could. That’s what matters.
Clara holds out a hand. “Are you steady walking?”
I step toward her, taking a deep breath when Papi’s no longer touching me. I glance back to find him right behind me.
He smiles. “I won’t move from this bench.” He points next to the stroller. “Every time you look, I’ll be right here.”
“Okay.” He’s so good to me. I know he won’t move. I take a fortifying breath and let Clara lead me toward the playground equipment.
“How long have you been here?” she asks. “You’re so steady on your legs.”
“Almost four weeks.”
“Oh, that’s why. Sometimes people come to the park for the first time before they can even walk.”
“I was…” I swallow. “I was too nervous.”
Eden takes my other hand and squeezes it. “We understand. I bet you’re nervous about getting your nipples pierced, too.”
“Yeah. But we’re going there this morning.” I glance at Eden and then Clara. “Did it hurt?”
They both shake their heads, pigtails flying. “Not at all. The only reason you’ll even know it happened is because the piercing gun makes a slight popping noise, but you won’t feel it.”
“Aren’t they kind of heavy?” I ask.
Clara giggles. “At first. You’ll get used to them. The hardest part is learning not to touch them.”
I look at hers. “Yeah, I met Sophie. I was surprised she was able to keep her fingers away from her, uh…” My face heats. I’m not used to talking about private body parts with anyone.
Clara leans in and whispers, “Titties.”
We all giggle.
“Such a babyish word,” I say.
Clara shrugs as we reach a sandbox. “We’re living in a babyish world. It fits.” She nods toward the sand. “Do you want to play here?”
“Sure.” I glance back to find Papi right where I left him. He waves. My anxiety is at bay.
I sit where I can easily see him when I want. That helps.
“What did you do on Earth?” Clara asks.
I look down and drag my bare toes through the sand. Shoot. My chest tightens.
Eden touches my arm. “It’s okay. You don’t have to tell us if you don’t want. We understand. I bet whatever you did wasn’t as weird as me,” she says with an odd pride in her voice.
I look at her.
She grins. “I was in a cult. I ran away that night and ended up in Club Zoom without signing the paperwork. Do you wanna know how weird I am?”
I swallow, not moving. It would be rude to nod or shake my head.
Eden shrugs. “I used to be really embarrassed, but I’ve told my story to several other women…uh, girls…now, so it’s getting easier. I was so weird that I didn’t even know what sex was. No one educated me. I thought you got pregnant from lying with a man. With. Next to.” She covers her mouth as she giggles.
My eyes shoot wide. “Really?”
“Yes. I was married to an old man as a teenager, and Papi suspects he wasn’t able to get, uh, you know…”
“Hard,” Clara provides. “Probably he was impotent.”
Eden’s cheeks are pink. Her story relaxes me. It wouldn’t be kind to call anyone weird, but I can see why she thinks she was. I would feel the same way if I were her.
Eden takes a deep breath. “Yeah, so I told Papi I was barren. That’s what the elders in my cult said about me. Imagine his surprise when he found out I was actually a virgin.” She giggles. “I didn’t even know what a virgin was.”