Ficlet: Security

[vilakins]

A couple of weeks ago, the b7friday topic was neglect. 300 words.

Security

Everything was wrong. She was hungry. Mummy was supposed to be here now, leaning over her cot with soft teasing words that made Dayna laugh and wave her chubby arms. She was supposed to be full and warm and happy in Mummy's lap by now. Father, a dimmer figure in Dayna's mind, was there, but he was banging about doing things in other rooms and he kept making a strange sobbing noise that frightened her. She threw Hippo out of the bed in a tantrum and screamed and screamed, but Mummy never heard. She never came.

***
Hal did his best. He provided a safe home, good food so that Dayna grew up strong and healthy, and an excellent education for her and the little stepsister he found as company for her. He prided himself on always treating Dayna and Lauren as rational beings instead of talking down to them like many parents did with their children. It was strange though. Despite his best efforts, Dayna persisted in cuddling the ridiculous soft toy she'd had as a baby.

***
"Where are you going?"

"Out to test a new weapon."

"Ooh, can we come too?"

"If you think you're grown-up enough." Hal looked at her, and though Dayna couldn't see his blank eyes behind his dark glasses, she thought they were aimed at Hippo. She tightened her grip on the shabby toy, once a bright blue but now an indeterminate colour.

"I'm big!" Lauren stood tall on her tippy-toes.

Dayna hesitated, then threw Hippo into a corner as if she didn't care about him at all. "I am too!"

Hal smiled and Dayna felt proud and happy. Perhaps if she was as clever and brave and strong as he was, then his approval would fill the strange hole inside her just as well.

Comments

[mistraltoes.livejournal.com]

Don't think I didn't notice the poor Hippo. It's a good story, but I won't be reading it to my hippo-friend, Hieronymous. :)

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I remembered someone posting a picture of a stuffed blue hippo. Was that you? Are your cookies based on him?

Dayna was only pretending. She found Hippo later when no-one could see and cuddled him heaps to make up for it.

[mistraltoes.livejournal.com]

I remembered someone posting a picture of a stuffed blue hippo. Was that you? Are your cookies based on him?

No, that wasn't me, but I think I did see the picture. My Hieronymus is a pink ceramic hippo bank.

The cookies are because of the song, "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas", which is where my whole family's obsession with hippos began. So I bought some cookie cutters on eBay. It's the easiest, cheapest way to make sure that everybody in the family gets a hippo for Christmas.

Dayna was only pretending. She found Hippo later when no-one could see and cuddled him heaps to make up for it.

I'm so glad! :)

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

She missed him terribly unless she concealed him about her person when she left Sarran.

No, that wasn't me, but I think I did see the picture. My Hieronymus is a pink ceramic hippo bank.

Ah, well in that case this one wasn't based on any of yours, but on that pic. :-) Just don't let Vila near yours!