A Twist Of Time

thirty three

"That's too much for a toddler to think of," I spoke to Margaux, who was down with the common cold, sipping on a cup of coffee Jane had prepared for her. Elpidio and Sergio had left (as always, and I had finally gotten used to not waking up to the both of them) to go to another appointment in the nearby camp. 

"She's five, Valerie. Sometimes you need a hit in the head," she replied. "Five. And she already knows how to speak three languages. She's smart, she can handle something small like acknowledging the fact that you are not her mother."

"She knows that. God, Margaux, I've only been with the kid for a few months. Am I really motherly to make her forget that she has a family in Japan?" 

"You're beating your own point." She took a sip and sighed. "There she is. She's coming this way."

"Speak of the devil."

"Not Hisako, Jane."

I turned around and saw Jane with a tray of sugar cookies, balancing them and trying to keep the frosting design on top neat. Margaux called with quite a raspy voice, "Are those chocolate?"

"Yes," Jane replied, "and they're not for you. This won't help you or your situation. Finish your coffee."

"You're not my mom," Margaux whispered.

"And I don't care. Finish that."

The president's daughter crossed her arms. "What if I don't want to?"

"Then fine. Suffer with your cold."

"This isn't even medically proven to cure the common cold!"

"Nothing is, and you're just running out of arguments that you're starting to sound like a child," Jane said sternly. "I still have a lot of work to do."

The latter walked away, leaving the tray of cookies in front of me. "Bitch," Margaux quietly called after her.

"You know she's not being a bitch, right? She's trying to help you," I said.

"I know she's not. It just hurts my pride."

"Oh," was all I could say. "But do you hate her?"

"Nah. I love that bitch. She's like my sister, though a few years older than I am. Like a big sister, and I'm the terrorist little one who likes to ruin her day."

"Quite literally." I was describing how obviously short Margaux was which earned me a slap on my hand and a frown from her. "I'm joking. I appreciate your height. It suites you."

"Aw, thanks." And Margaux coughed up a bit.

I didn't have anything to do. Nothing. Like the other days where I was just a spare tire that was told that, hey, if Sergio dies anytime soon, you're becoming the president, since he has no vice president. I'm sure nothing worked that way and that all of that was just wind in an empty cave and something that I shouldn't even think about. Besides, nobody would want me running the country. I could potentially damage everything and not have guilt.

Hisako smiled at me weirdly while she was playing with the toys I brought her from the library in the palace. "You're gonna be happy."

"Uh, I already am, Hisa," I replied. I didn't mean it to be said in a condescending tone but it just did.

"No, more happy. Very happy. Happy."

"Really? How do you know?"

She put a finger on her mouth and shushed. "Nobody should know."

I rolled my eyes jokingly. "Alright, kid, go play with your toys. I'm too busy doing nothing."

Hisako did, but it didn't stop her from asking me another question later on. "Vawee, do you have husband?"