His Unwanted Bride ~Editing~

Chapter Seventeen: Clarissa

     "What do you mean?" He asked me.
     "Momma and Papa like to go to parties a lot. They don't take me with them," I replied.
     "What do you do when they're gone?" He asked me.
     "I call Tabby Cat and she comes to stay with me, or she calls the baby sitter Mrs. Henson. I like her she's nice and treats me good," I yawned. "Tabby takes care of me, but it makes me sad."
     "What do you mean?" he asked me.
     "She shouldn't have to. She doesn't have any friends. She's always alone. She doesn't know, but I look at her face a lot. She always looks so sad like she forgot to bring her blanky," I yawned again, my words smooshing together.
     "Clarissa, does she ever do anything for fun?" he asked.
     "When she first moved in, I remember Tabby writing and reading a lot. She used to smile and laugh at the people in them. But my Papa took all of her notebooks away. He put fire on them and made Tabby stand in the yard and watch. Then he used the hose and made her sit on the books while he got them all wet and broken with the hose," I started to cry again. "I saw him from the window, but Tabby doesn't know."
     "Shhhh it's okay little one," he spoke softly through the phone. "Tabby wouldn't want you to cry."
      "Can we get her more books?" I asked. "I don't have money, but I'm a good dishes washer. I just don't do the knives by myself."
      "Okay, but don't worry about the dishes, I think it would be nice to do something special for your sister," Alex said.
      "Thank you," I said.
      "Hmmm... does she have a favorite flower?" he asked.
      "She likes the ones with the pokies that smell like soap," I smiled. "They come in lots of colors but she likes the purple ones."
      "Roses?" he asked.
      "She says they are the flowers princes give their princesses in the stories she tells me," I smiled.
     "What else do you both do together?"
     "We make cookies lots," I smiled. "Sometimes at school we sell them at the bake sale. Ours are always gone super fast... Alex, can I ask you something?"
      "Of course," I could almost hear his smile.
      "Does Tabby let you touch her skin, or see it?" I asked.
      "What do you mean?"
      "Well, when we go swimming she always wears long pants and long sleeves. And she always jumps when people touch her. Does she let you touch her?"
      "I've only ever touched the top of her head, or her hands, or her arms little one, she used to flinch, but not as much now."
      "Good," I smiled. She trusts him. "She doesn't trust people, but I think she trusts you. Now I know I can too."
      "Do you feel like you can sleep now?" He asked me.
      "Can you pinky promise me something," I yawned.
     "Can you help me make her smile more?"
     "What do you mean?" he asked.
     "She always smiles when she sees me. But when she doesn't, she always looks tired like she wants to cry and like she has owwies," I said. "She never cries in front of me, but I hear her cry when she's alone. If she lets you close when she cries, hug her lots please."
     "I'll do my best little one. I can't pinky promise you because I'm here and you are there, but I promise you, and I don't break my promises. Not on purpose anyway," he spoke.
     "Goodnight Alex," I whispered.
     "Goodnight little one," he said. "Sweet dreams, and if you need anything please call me. I will be here for you too, not just Tabby," he said.
    I smiled and fell asleep.