Weird Morning

Papa pulled up the panties up to my thin waist after which he smoothened it, rubbing my behind in the process.

I felt more uncomfortable each passing moment. Where was mama? She normally comes to my room every morning, usually with a: "Hey Kar! It's morninggg..." Or "Wakey wakey Lil princess, it's time to get up." But she wasn't not here, still. Is she fine? Did something happen to mama? Is that the reason why papa is doing all of these?

"Turn around." Papa said snatching the brazier from my hand and I just did as instructed. He wore it on me, and I felt a bit uncomfortable, but I knew I couldn't complain. It felt a bit big and didn't give the feel of my regularly sport bra.

Papa did same with the short and the shirt after which he took my hand and led me to my dressing table.

"Sit." Papa ordered and I did. I've learnt better to not question him.

Papa picked up my hairbrush from the dresser and started to brush my black silk hair with it. I took a glance at the mirror and took my eyes off almost immediately when I caught his eyes. He was looking at me intently, making me wonder if this was how he was with mama - caring and affectionate.

Papa placed the brush down and taking one of my watercolor hairpin, he pinned it to my hair. He reached out for his pocket and brought out somethings that looked like stickers. Walking to my front, he stretched out his hand. "Your hand."

I placed my hand on his and he peeled off the nylon at the back of the sticker and placed it on my hand. My eyes popped open. I unconsciously flinched, wanting to pull my hand away, but he held it in place.

Papa did same for my second hand and then my neck, before going back to peel them off.

I gazed at my hands and they were dark scary drawings on them, and that was when it hit me that they weren't stickers, but tattoos. I gasped, staring up at papa.

"Calm, they are only permanent tattoos. You'll get the real one when you're old enough to bear the pain." Papa said and I felt a hard lump in my throat.

"Hurry downstairs." Papa said like he didn't just say something terrifyingly shocking, and walked out of my room.

And this was the most surprising, painful and weird morning of my life.

.....

"Hurry up with the table." I heard papa say as I climbed down the stairs.

Mama? She's around? She has been around and she never came to wake me up as usual or wish me a happy birthday? What's going on?

"Hey Karine, come over here." Mama said with a smile, but even a blind man would know that it's a forced one. I could see the surprise and unrest in her eyes as she scanned my look. She looked over at papa who stood at the far end of the table and looked away when he glared hard at her.

"Good morning mama." I greeted as I took my seat.

The meal before me was looking ravishingly delicious and smelled heavenly, but I couldn't see to find my appetite as I could feel the tension in the room.

"Did you sleep well?" Mama asked, taking her seat opposite me, just when she finished setting the table.

Papa took his seat quietly at the end of the table, placing his phone aside.

"Yes, I did." I didn't know why I was sounding cold towards her, but I just didn't get the normal jiggy feeling I have with her after all that has happened just this morning.

"Happy...."

"Silence in the table!" Papa banged the table hard, making mama and I jerk in fear.

Why didn't he let mama wish me a happy birthday? That wasn't cool at all.

I frowned inwardly, getting even more uninterested in eating.

The tension in the room was suffocating. Mama and Papa began eating, their movements a stark contrast to the unease that filled the space.

I picked up my fork, listlessly tapping it against the plate.

"Eat. You're going to need all the energy you can get." Papa said, not sparing me a glance. I didn't really know what he meant by that, neither do I know if it came from a place of genuine care or from a place of hidden motives.

I looked up at mama and found her gaze on me. She was looking pale and sad. She gave me a tight smile and moved her gaze back to her food. Definitely, something was not right. Her pale complexion and tight smile spoke volumes. Something was amiss, and I couldn't shake off the feeling that a storm was brewing. Mama wasn't always joyful when papa was around, but she never looked this sad. Something just wasn't adding up. What was it? 

I started eating my food, slowly, not wanting to upset papa.

Papa got a call and left, not saying a word to either I or mama. I could see the relief in mama's eyes once he was gone. 

.....

I wiped the plates dry with a small towel as mama washed them, putting them into the plate rack afterwards.

We weren't as financially buoyant as we used to be but we were still okay, I guess. Mama had told me that we used to be very rich, but papa got into some bad business that made us lose a lot of money. And so we had to move to a smaller town in New York where the cost of living wasn't so high. She says papa is trying to make up for the loss by working extremely hard in the big cities of New York, and that was why he wasn't always around. But isn't he supposed to show a double amount of love to mama and I if that's true?

"Is he coming back?" I was a bit afraid. I didn't want to see him again, at least, not yet. He had been so mean to Mama and I on my special day. Or is that his own way of showing his love? I had so many questions to ask, but I didn't want to make mama more sad by talking about it.

"Maybe not for a long time. We'll have to just wait and see. He's a very busy and important man."

I said nothing, and her Mama lifted my chin and hugged me close.

"It's all right, sweetheart. You know what we're going to do? We're going to go to your room and change your outfit. Then we'll pack a picnic and go down to the creek to celebrate your birthday. Would you like that?"

I nodded and put my arms around Mama's neck, 

and she held me closer, her voice barely above a whisper with her face buried in my hair. "We'll make it through this. You'll see, sweetheart. We will. We will." And for a minute it felt she was assuring herself, more than me.

.....

I held the picnic basket in the living room, waiting for Mama to come downstairs so we can leave. She had dressed me up in a cream kneel length halter dress and a black sandals, and made my hair in a carousel braid.

"You're ready." Mama asked walking down the stairs. She looked pretty in her black A-line maxi dress. She had tried to cover up the dark bags under her eyes with powder, but there were still showing a little.

"Yup." I grinned. "You look fantastic."

"Thanks my love." Mama gave me a peck on my cheek and took the picnic basket from me." Let's go."

Someone opened the door from outside before Mama could, revealing Papa. My heart immediately gave a heavy thud.

"Where are you taking her to?" Papa asked walking into the house.

"Down to the creek, to celebrate her birthday."

"I thought I told you to let her be today?"

"Diego today is her birthday, she deserves all the love and care she can get today."

"And that's exactly what I'm going to give to her." Papa snatched my hand and started towards the stairs pulling me along with him.

"Diego please, she's too young for this." Mama's teary voice spread across the room.

I tried pulling my hand away from Papa's, but he held it tightly, not letting me. I started getting scared. What was going on? How is Papa giving me love and care this way? Why is mama not in support? Why does Papa want Mama to leave me today of all days? God. I'm so confused.

Papa let go of my hand only when we got into my room and then he shut my door close and locked it.

"Calm down now." Papa said when he saw the fear in my eyes. "Your mother is only being paranoid and agitated for nothing. You're a big girl now, and trust me this is me doing you a favor."

Favor?

"Get on the bed." Papa said, undoing his shirt buttons.