Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33577 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33577 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
“I’m glad,” the doctor said with a kind smile. “Come in. Zoey thought you might like to play in her nursery, but there are swings out back and so many toys.”
Melissa looked at Zoey, who not subtly at all signaled she should choose the number one choice by raising her index fingers on both hands and waving them over her head. “I think I’ll take nursery.”
“Yes!” Zoey took Melissa’s left hand, obviously remembering which arm was recovering.
“No skates,” Dr. Richards warned.
“Of course not, Daddy. We’ll wait until Melissa’s arm is completely healed before we zip around like the wind,” Zoey promised.
“No zipping,” Dr. Richards clarified.
“Promise,” Zoey said, crossing her fingers behind her back so only Melissa could see.
Melissa tried really hard to keep her face composed so she didn’t give away Zoey’s sneakiness.
“Be good, Lissy,” Rocky warned her. He knew her too well.
“Yes… yes, Daddy,” Melissa answered, using the name she always called him at home now.
Zoey tugged her hand gently and Melissa followed with her lion stuffie in her arms.
“Do you go by Lissy, or is that something only your Daddy calls you?” Zoey asked as they walked down the hall.
“You can call me Lissy. It’s great for people I trust.”
“Thank you for putting me in that group. It’s really hard when you’re newly Little to share yourself with others,” Zoey said, knowingly. “Do you like to color?”
“I love it.”
“Come sit down at the table. I’ll get the colors and the books. Crayons or colored pencils?”
“Crayons,” Melissa answered.
“Ah. A purest. I love it.”
A few minutes later, an assortment of different types of coloring books decorated the table, along with what Melissa guessed was every possible shade of crayons. Choosing was difficult.
“Was letting people know you were Little tough for you?” Melissa asked.
“Oh, yeah. But I lived here with Dr. Richards. I had come here to apply for a job,” Zoey explained. “It was just me and him. Well, with Jillian and Paul. They work for Dr. Richards. I was super embarrassed for a while. Now, they’re my family.”
“That’s nice. Did you get the job?” Melissa asked.
“I got an even better job than the one I thought I was applying for. I’m Dr. Richards’ Little girl. Mostly, I love him and try to help everyone feel as comfortable here as possible. I’ve gotten to know so many amazing people—like you.”
“I work for Tami. Do you know her?”
“I love Tami. What a fun job! You get to hang out with dogs. Oh! Is that how you got hurt?” Zoey asked, horrified.
“It wasn’t the dog’s fault. A kid hit him, and he reacted.”
“Poor dog. He had to be so scared,” Zoey said, with tears in her eyes.
Melissa had already decided Zoey was one of the sweetest people in town. Now she knew Zoey was even more special. Very few people thought of the dog first, like Melissa had. She’d ignored the pain and blood to reassure her canine friend.
“He was. He’s better now. The housekeeper isn’t allowed to bring her son to work anymore. She couldn’t keep the little boy in sight all the time and get her work done.”
“I’m glad,” Zoey said with an authentic smile. “Tell me everything about you.”
“Well…” Melissa tried to figure out what to share. To her surprise, words tumbled out of her mouth. She and Zoey discovered they had a lot in common.
By the time their Daddies came in to check on them, the two Littles were great friends. Rwahr Rwahr was surrounded by a dozen stuffies who had wanted to come meet him. Zoey had invited her to the regular gatherings they had at their house for all the Littles in Dr. Richards care. Melissa couldn’t wait to go.
“I’m afraid we have to go home, Lissy,” Rocky told her.
“Really?” she answered, dejected.
“You can come back and play soon,” Dr. Richards promised.
“I’d like that,” Melissa shared.
“Me, too! Next time, we’ll play outside,” Zoey suggested.
“That sounds like fun. Can I take my pictures?” Melissa asked, hating to abandon them.
“Of course. Your Daddy wants them for the refrigerator,” Zoey declared.
“I definitely do. Thank you, Zoey,” Rocky said with a smile.
CHAPTER 10
“That’s it,” Santiago declared.
“Thank you so much for your help,” Rocky said, shaking the man’s hand before turning to express his gratitude to everyone else.
Tim and his Daddies, Santiago and Clark, had appeared at the apartment complex as well as Tami and Archer to clear out Melissa’s possessions from her apartment. Melissa knew Rocky could have handled everything himself, but having the people she worked with support her meant the world.
Throwing away the possessions she’d worked so hard to buy was tough on Melissa. It had only taken her one look at the condition of the mattress after she hadn’t been there to keep the water bowls filled. Melissa agreed with Rocky’s assessment that she should just leave it in the dumpster. Insects had eaten their way into the padding, making her skin crawl.