Mistress(es)

Ep 4: Double Agent

Erica's mom had promised her that she'd be home in time to help her get dressed for her first day of 3rd  grade. She always loved the way her mom dressed the women in the magazines she brought home from her shoots, and her mother had swore that as soon as she was home in time for the big day, she'd pick out an outfit for her that'd blow all the other kids away. That's why when that morning rolled around and Erica hopped out of bed, she was a little disappointed to see Celine, her nanny, enter her room.

"Erica, my little tart, I um... your mother is on the phone for you." She tried to smile, knowing only disappointment waited on the line's other end.

Erica knew it too. She'd been through this song and dance more times than she could count. Her small hand wrapped around the clunky device and raised it to her ear, "Hello?"

"Erica, darling?" her mother's voice sang out.

"Hi mom," Erica mumbled, pulling at the fabric of her nightgown, "Are you... coming home? You're supposed to help me pick an outfit today, remember?"

There was a bit of a pause over the line before her mother spoke again, "Y-yes dear, I remember... and I am so sorry, my love, but my flight got delayed and I'm running far behind schedule. I'm afraid that Celine will have to help you this morning."

"But Celine always helps me... I wanted you to help me..."

"I know, darling, I know. The flight is only delayed a few hours though- I'll be back before you get off school. How about I pick you up, and we can go pick out an outfit from the store for you to wear tomorrow?"

Erica looked at the floor, still fidgeting with the side of her gown, "You promise?"

"I promise."

"...okay." Erica agreed, a small smile spreading across her face. The girl was still disappointed, but the small promise was enough to keep her going.

Celine helped dress her that morning (very well, to her credit) although, it wasn't the outfit that really mattered to Erica; it was the meaning behind it...

School went by fast, fortunately, lots of getting to know her classmates through games and exercises. Sleepy Valley was a fairly small town, however, so most of the class already knew one another pretty well through the previous years. Erica wasn't too focused on any of it, though. She was just looking forward to seeing her mom afterward. After all, it had been a month since she had.

When the time finally came, Erica rushed out to the parent pickup area and started scanning the cars on the side of the curb, looking with starry eyes for the one her mother might be inside. When she didn't see her, she figured that she must be farther down the line, so she took a seat on a nearby bench and waited.

And waited...

And waited...

The morning had started clear, but around halfway through the day, clouds had begun rolling in, and as Erica sat there still waiting, that's when it started to pour down. It was steady at first, but then turned into a near shower the more time went on. Unfortunately for the young girl, her and Celine had settled on a yellow dress with a pull over jean jacket, one that lacked a hood. That meant while Erica began losing hope, she also began getting soaked to the bone.

Cold, wet and alone, the poor girl did the only thing she could. She held herself tightly and began to silently tear up, letting her hot tears mix with the cold rain that relentlessly pummeled her.

Erica looked down at the sidewalk and closed her eyes, folding her head into herself to try and farther shut out the world. She sat like that for a while, listening to the rain and trying to stop her tears when the sound of footsteps began to approach her.