Belle Stone

Part 11

It was Mother's day at school. Belle started getting a weird feeling. Everyone was talking about something strange to her, something she knew nothing about. She found herself a dad. One thing that brought her closer to the other kids, made her feel like them. The kids outside of the orphanage. The "normal" ones. Again something stopped her from fitting in.

The bell rings. School has ended. Finally, she can get away from that word. She can fit in somewhere again.
She hurried home to play with her best friend. It is funny to think that the kid that was most terrified of her, now became her best friend. If you are wondering who that is. It is, Amy. The girl who talked about her father which resulted in Belle finding herself a dad of her own.

Belle opens the door of that big gray building she calls her home. There in front of it, she finds the girl. Her eyes lit up as she saw Belle.
"Hello, Belle."
Amy greeted her eagerly.
"Hi... "
Plain and flat. The tone of her voice didn't match the energy Amy was expecting to see. Even her shining personality couldn't chase away the clouds that towered over Belle.
"How was school? You don't seem so happy."
Concern about her friend drains Amy's energy.

"What is a mum?"
Belle shoots the question straight away. The question that is stuck in her head. It doesn't seem to want to go away, at least not until it gets answered. Amy thinks for a bit placing her finger on her tiny head.
"Hmmm, don't know. What is it? Did you learn that today?"
She puts on a little show. Purposely or not she makes Belle cheer up. Of course, Amy didn't know. She was younger than Belle. That and she lived in an orphanage. Belle laughed at little at her friend's goofiness before answering.
"No, not really. We just did something that was for Mother's day... I think that is what it was called."
"Oh, oh, oh...What is it?"
The little girl jumped up with excitement. She was fascinated with Belle's school. The stories Belle told her when she came back enthralled her. In a way, Belle was teaching Amy what she was being taught in school.

"What did you do?"
Belle couldn't help but grin at her. Amy's joy and excitement were way too infection, she just had no strength to resist it anymore.
"Just some cards... They were like birthday cards, just instead of Happy birthday you write Happy Mother's day..."
She explains as simply as she can while the fascinated girl stares at her profusely.
"That is so cool. I can't wait to go to school too."

They continued smiling, laughing, and playing. Belle's weird feeling went away. She forgot about that annoying question trapped in her mind. In her orphanage, she doesn't feel weird and out of place. She is not the only one without something. Everyone else understands her. They know how she is feeling. She doesn't have to wonder about their belongings because they don't have the same things as her.

It is different in school, though. That is a completely different environment. She often feels alone and out of place. The kids there talk about their cousins, their aunts, their uncles, moms, and dads. They change through so many different things in one sentence that even if she wanted to ask about one of them a new one would appear. She just couldn't keep up.

The whole day today was about that one thing. That mother thing. She finally had time to discuss it without something else appearing. She wanted to ask what it was but felt ashamed that she didn't already know. It must be something very important if it has the whole day dedicated to it.

After the whole day of jumping and running around with her best friend she finally got to see her dad.
"Hiya... Dada."
She does her baby voice. Emphasizing each syllable as she spoke.
"Aw, come on now, princess. You know you can't talk like that. Only babies talk that way."
He shakes his head dismissively at her. A hint of lightheartedness in his voice.
"I am sorry dad. I was just too excited."
She frowns a bit and looks down. He didn't think it through. A little girl like her can't catch hints.
"It is okay... I am not mad. Turn that frown upside down. Come on now. Where is that magical smile?"
He kneels next to her. With his huge index finger, compared to her head, he lifts her head up. She raises her head and smiles brightly.
"There it is. So... Princess... How was school? Did you learn anything new? Matter of fact, did you do your homework young lady?"
Once again she remembered her school day and that weird feeling came back. The question irked her mind. It was the first time she felt annoyed thinking about school. She liked going there. The kids enjoyed her company and she played with everyone but... They were just kids and they talked to her like she was one of them. Careless of her being an orphan they always started to talk about their relatives unaware of her feelings. She felt hurt but not annoyed. Not until now.
The teacher would stop the kids from time to time but she wasn't always around.

Belle did a weak smile. Her voice softened. All the energy disappeared.
"There was no homework. It is Mother's day today so the teacher didn't give us any."
The guy's smile disappeared. That same sting at the heart that happened that day he became Belle's dad. He knew what was coming up. He was hoping that he could avoid the question this time. This time he can't take up the role of that person. He can't act as a replacement. How could he take her hurt face? Especially, knowing that he can't do anything to fix it. Closing his eyes he took a deep breath. Belle looked up at him, curiosity in her eyes. That same curiosity.
"Oh, yeah. I forgot about that."
Uncertainly, almost afraid of his words, he manages to answer.

"Dad...What is a mother, a mum as some call it?"
There it is. It was just unavoidable. He thought about what he was going to say for a while. He had to think of something that didn't hurt as much.
"It is like a dad just instead of being a boy it is a girl."
A simple definition. If she thinks that it is just the different version of the thing she has maybe she won't feel as bad.
"Oh... thank you, dad. Why is there a whole day dedicated to her?"
It seemed to have worked. It startles him as she jumps on the new question, without thought.
"Well, women were oppressed back in the day. Oppressed... Like... Treated badly. They fought for their rights and the day that they won they called it Mother's day."
He hoped it was a good enough answer.
"Why Mother's day? Why not Woman's day?"
"It is also called a Woman's day. You should celebrate all women, mothers especially."
"Oh... It is okay then. By the way, why were they mistreated?"
The guy shrugs. This time he could not think of a clever answer. In his opinion, there wasn't one.
"To be honest, my princess I don't know. I guess that boys are just awful."
"I don't think so."
The guy looks curiously at her. This was something new. She always just agreed or said okay. It wasn't like her to contradict him. Not that he didn't want her to ever go against him, he was just surprised. 
"And why not?"
"Well...You are a boy right?"
"Yeah, so?"
"You treat me like a princess and as far as know that is really awesome."
The guy smiles at her, now he understands what she was saying. Inside of him starts to get warmer at her words. He had to transfer some of the warmth to her so he hugged her. In the crook of her neck, he dug his smiling head.
"Thank you, Belle. I do my best."
"No problem Mark..." 

His eyes widen as she pulls away. It was the first time she called him that. He felt a bit betrayed and disrespected. Dad sounded better. He grew fond of it. 
"What?"
A mischievous smile emerges on her face. 
"You called me by my first name."
The smile turns into a toothy grin.
"You did it first."

He shakes his head and lets her go to bed.
"A story?"
He asks her. She nods her head and lays down. While telling a story Mark's mind wanders away.  Belle didn't continue with her questions which surprised him. He was expecting more interest in the mother. How come she didn't ask about her mother? Doesn't she want to know where she is? Did he really answer her questions that well that she doesn't need to ask anything? He was happy if he did but somehow he didn't think that was the case. 
To be continued...