Pernicious

|Chapter 25|

April 7, 1988

Houston, Texas

1:00 pm

Michael's Perspective:

"Nadia sweetie, do you want that one or that one?" Naya asks gently as she points to a display of stuffed animals.

Nadia shyly nuzzles into Naya's leg and hides herself.

"I don't know..." she mutters.

"Well, baby you need to make a decision soon." Naya pushes soothingly.

While Naya was helping out Nadia, I couldn't help but look around the magnificent toy store. I generally love the youthful aesthetic it gives me when I visit them. The negative side was the store had to close for a brief period of time so we could actually browse and purchase something. It didn't help that at the front of the store, there were photographers and fans conveniently waiting and wishing for a glimpse of us. Though usually, I was quite flattered by this gesture, this time I felt like we were animals in a zoo with the number of people willing to go out of their way to see my family.

"How about this one? Lately, you've been telling me how much you love bunnies." Naya recommends as she takes the soft, yellow bunny off of the shelf.

Nadia pokes her head from behind Naya's leg to examine the stuffed animal. She snatches it from Naya's hands and pulls into her chest to snuggle it.

"I really really like it." Nadia comments, still hugging the plush.

"Daddy! Over here!" Malik yells from the back of the store.

"Malik! You really need to stop running away like that." I say strictly.

"Sorry, but check this out!" Malik yells as he reveals a Lego set that he would be able to make a train out of.

"That's very cool, so is that the toy you want?" I ask.

"Yes! Can we build it together?" He asks while running up in front of me.

"Of course we can." I say while messing up his black, curly hair. "Now, does everyone have what they want?" I ask.

"I think we're all set! Excuse me?" Naya says to attract a worker.

"Oh, yes Miss Bronwyn and Mister Jackson? How may I help you?" The worker offers while dashing over to us.

"I believe we're all set here, can you ring us up please?" Naya announces.

"Of course, please come up to the counter."

Before we could walk up to the counter to pay for the toys, Nadia hides behind a toy display and takes a peek at the store's outside window.

"Nadia, what are you doing?" I ask.

"Those people...are scaring me, Daddy..." She reveals in a hushed tone. When she grabbed on to my leg, it was apparent how nervous and uncomfortable she was.

I stooped down to her height and wrapped my arm around her. She needed to know that it was okay, even if the circumstances made me feel awkward too.

"It's okay sweetheart. Just keep your mask on and you'll be fine. No one will hurt you, I promise." I said reassuringly.

Slowly, she releases from my leg and looks up at me.

"You promise?" She asks.

"I promise..." I confirm.

"Well, okay..." She says a little more confidently.

"Michael!" I hear Naya's voice from behind me.