Who The Akuma Know

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"Manon, get your butt down here," Maman calls, "it's time for breakfast. I have to take you to school before I get to work."

"I'm not ready yet, Maman!" you call down the stairs to her. You're busy making your Ladybug doll stomp on all of your other dolls, which you are pretending are akuma. Your babysitter, Marinette, made a second Ladybug doll just for you for your sixth birthday. Maman said you didn't need any new toys, but she made the exception just that once because it was your birthday. Now she is considering that she might have to take that toy away from you.

You hear footsteps coming up the stairs, and they sound angry. "Manon!" Your mother is standing in the doorway, her hands on her hips. "I am this close to taking that doll away from you, and you will not see it again if I do."

You scowl at your mother disapprovingly. "I'm not done playing yet. Ladybug can't leave until all the akuma have been defeated."

"That's it." Your Ladybug doll is now dangling from your mom's hand. "Maybe if you ask nicely you can have your doll back after school, after you get all of your homework done."

You have little option but to follow your mother downstairs now. You sit in your usual seat and prod breakfast with your fork, refusing to eat it. The scrambled eggs on your plate appear limp and unappetizing, not at all what you wanted to eat for breakfast.

"Maman!" you whine, "I wanted Lucky Charms cereal!"

You saw it for the first time on TV just the other day. You were over at Marinette's house watching your mother reporting live when suddenly there was an ad break that was more interesting than the actual broadcast. Someone came out with a Ladybug themed cereal complete with marshmallow replicas of many of her lucky charms! You were hopping up and down the moment you saw it; you knew you had to have it.

 Someone came out with a Ladybug themed cereal complete with marshmallow replicas of many of her lucky charms! You were hopping up and down the moment you saw it; you knew you had to have it

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It was also funny to see your babysitter's reaction to the ad. She choked on air the moment it came on screen, then had something to say about how Ladybug's position was a serious one, and not one that people should be capitalizing on. Yeah? Well that's the sort of issue that concerns adults, and apparently teenagers like Marinette. You still want that cereal!

"No, Manon," your mother says firmly. "You have not been well behaved lately, and I refuse to reward that behavior. If you want me to get you some of the things you want you have to show me that you've earned them. Now, finish your eggs. We're going to leave in five minutes whether you've eaten or not."

You cross your arms and scowl, intent on showing your mother that you are not pleased with the way she is treating you. You don't touch your plate while she is standing there, but do concede to forking the pile into your mouth once she leaves the room. You were already hungry, and - even though they look unappetizing - the eggs really are kind of yummy.

--

Finally! The bell rings for recess. First grade is a lot harder work than kindergarten was! The teacher actually has you doing academic things other than just learning to keep your crayon coloring within the lines, and passing your crayons to the kid at the end of the table when he asks for them. Now you have to learn how to add three together with two, and you're also being pushed to learn to read. You're proud of yourself for being able to sound out most of those squiggly lines you've seen for all your life, but the enforced practice you've endured to get there is not fun.

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