Matryo-ress (Volume 3)

Chapter 4 - Merry-Go-Round

 The jester said his name was Quip. I liked Quip's name, it sounded funny. I think Quip thought I was a bad guy, I don't like bad guys. I am a good girl, my daddy told me so when I helped him cook dinner. When we ate the dinner, it was really yummy. He said we can only play if I say that his rules are okay. He said that if he finds me, then I have to leave. That made me sad, so I said no. I didn't like his rules. I wanted to make rules that made me happy.

I told Quip, "How about, umm...if I find you, you have to be my friend."

Quip looked at me, he looked very confused.

"Huuuh? Ehhh?"

"I don't have any friends to play with, so I want you to be my friend. We can go on playdates together."

"Playdates? I hope you don't mind me questioning your vocabulary, but what is a 'playdate'?"

"It's when we play together and spend time together...it's r-really fun."

"...You are correct, they do seem like fun. Hmm, let me see...I suppose I shall agree to your rules! I'll go hide, jeehee~"

Quip went to go hide, I sat on the ground and put my hands over my eyes. My daddy taught me how to count really well. I can count all the way up to ten. I think that I'm really smart because my daddy told me so. I started to count and counted really loud so that he could hear me. 3, 1, 4, 6, 2, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10. When I was done counting, I got up and went to find Quip. I felt better about being here in the dark, it wasn't as scary because Quip was here with me. Quip reminds me of my daddy, he's funny and he plays games with me. I walked around the carnival.

I looked at the ground while walking. My shoes were getting dirty. Daddy would be sad if he found out my shoes got lots of dirt on them. I found a bracelet on the ground. I almost stepped on the bracelet with my dirty shoes. The bracelet was made out of shiny beads. I don't know how to read yet, so I don't know what the bracelet says. I know a couple of letters though, the ones that I could remember were N, J, G, D, U and O. I walked further and found a yellow flower on the ground, my daddy really likes flowers. I memorized lots of flowers because I want to like what he likes. I knew this was a dandelion because it's one of my daddy's most favorite flowers. Daddy's favorite flower was azalea, he thought that it was the meaning of beauty and he thought I was an azalea flower. My daddy is silly, I'm not a flower, I'm Ume. Because my daddy really likes dandelions, I thought Quip would like it too.

I got lots of gifts to give to Quip when I found him. It would be a thank you for him playing hide and seek with me and letting me be his friend. I was excited to find him. Quip was going to be a really nice friend. I'm very happy I met him.

It was starting to get late. I really hoped that it wasn't past my bedtime. I was starting to get sleepy, but I didn't want to stop the game early. I was going to find him so that we could become friends and I could give him the gifts I found for him. I'm really surprised that strangers could be nice. I don't like new people, but Quip is very kind. I really want him to become my friend.

"Jeehee, you can never find me!"

I heard Quip's voice. I knew where he was hiding now because I followed where I heard his voice from. I walked over to where I heard his voice and looked for him. Quip wasn't in the hiding spot I thought he would be in. I looked around some more. Then, I saw his hat popping out from behind a game stand.

I said to Quip, "I found you!", and I went over to him.

"Oh, oh, how did you find me so quickly and so easily? You're so smart and skilled at hide and seek, young one!"

His compliments made me feel very happy. I liked Quip a lot, he is a good friend. Quip reminds me of a flower. I think Quip is a pretty flower.