A ZeLink Family

Home Alone

The little girl knelt in her room, a plastic castle before her and a large variety of dolls and toys lay sprawled around her and the castle.

"Oh no." She said in a deep voice, moving the toy turtle in her left hand with the voice. "The princess is captured, we have to save her!" She reached up and wiggled the blonde haired doll at the top of the castle tower.

"Save me!" She said in a high voice. Then she took her right hand and grabbed a knight in shiny armor.

"Don't worry, Mr. Turtle!" The girl called in a heroic voice, a sword sticking from his left hand, and a shield clutched in his right. "I will save the princess!" The girl took that knight and pressed it to the castle wall, slowly sliding him upward, grunting and groaning as if he were climbing the wall. He reached the top of the castle, and jumped up, landing triumphantly on the tower.

"I am here to save you, Princess!" The knight walked over to the Princess, and the little girl maneuvered his arms around her.

"My hero!" She said in the princess's high voice. Then, the knight made a large jump off the castle, landing on the carpet with a grunt.

"You did it!" The turtle's low voice came from the girl. "Yay!" She grinned wide, then softly put the toys on the ground, and fell back, laying flat on the carpet. "I hungry." She mumbled, and slowly got to her feet, reaching up and opening her door. She waddled over to the stairs, carefully holding the rail and hopping down each step. "Mommy!" She called, her high voice echoing about the mostly empty house. The three boys were out doing...something, she didn't know what, so her and Mom were alone in the house. She heard a soft rustle from the living room so she quickly hopped down the remaining stairs, and ran (as swiftly as a teetering toddler could) into the room. Kneeling in the middle of the floor, her head hung low, was the girl's mother, sniffling softly.

"Mommy?" Zellie tilted her head curiously, an odd trait learned from her father, and approached the woman. "Are you okay, Mommy?" She asked, kneeling in front of her mother. Zelda shook her head subtly. "Why are you crying, Mommy?" Zellie leaned forwards, looking up at Zelda's red, tear streaked face.

"I don't know." Zelda responded softly, her arms limp by her sides. Zellie furrowed her brows, reaching up and placing her small palms on Zelda's cheeks. Zellie lifted her mother's face so they held eye contact, and in as commanding a voice as a three year old could muster, scolded her mom.

"No, Mommy not be sad. Mommy can't be sad if there's nothing to be sad about." She pointed an accusing finger at Zelda and put on her best grumpy face.

"Zellie." Zelda began, but was cut off by the determined child.

"Mommy, I make you happy." The girl said, and her face quickly transformed from one of command, to a silly and playful grin. The girl made strange, goofy noises, flopping on the ground like a fish. She danced, and giggled, flopped and blubbered, but to no avail. She looked up at Zelda expectantly, and still saw the same distant stare. Zellie frowned, sat up, and leaned so their knees touched and their noses almost did.

"I love you, Mommy." Zellie whispered, a kind smile on her face. Zelda slowly looked up, her cheeks still moist, and gave a small barely noticeable smile. She lifted her arms and pulled her daughter into a tight hug.

"I love you too, Cupcake." She said, resting her chin on the girl's head.

They knelt there, in a silent hug for several seconds before the little girl finally chirped up.

"I'm hungry. Feed me." Zellie demanded, her voice muffled by Zelda's sleeve. Zelda stifled a laugh, and held the girl out.

"Of course, Princess Cupcake." Zelda said, standing and lifting the girl into her arms.

"Giddy-up, horsie!" The girl said, and giggled with Zelda as they headed into the kitchen, happy as a mother and daughter could be.