“Mama, where are we going?” six-year-old Sophie asked. In her arms was her favorite doll, which she named Dorothy. That was the last gift her father had given her before he died. And to her, it was very special. She has the same short golden curls and ocean blue eyes paired with long thick lashes just like his father. She loved his father so much.
“You don’t need to know. Just remember to be at your best behavior. And I mean it.” Mrs. Herbert looked at her child sternly. “I’ll be right back.” With that, she got out of the car.
Little Sophie was in the van with her nanny, Ms. Dela cour. The child looked at her caretaker with deep innocent eyes and asked, “Why does Mama seems to be mad at me at all times, Nanny? Did I do anything wrong?”
The concierge can’t help but feel pitiful to her acquitted girl. “Nothing, my dear. Let’s just try to understand your Mama. Maybe she’s tired.”
Mrs. Herbert came back to the car. She glanced through the vehicle’s window. “C’mon. Remember, best behavior.”
With that, Sophie, her mother and Ms. Dela Cour proceeded to the building. Inside, there seems to be a celebration. The small place is full of people. It was nicely decorated with magnificent lanterns that hung over the ceilings. A banquet was placed in the center of the room.
“Take care of her.” By the way Ms. Herbert said that was she meant it badly. The nanny clasped her hand to the child’s. “Stay right beside me. We don’t want any bad thing to happen won’t we?” The child nodded as a sign of confirmation.
Thirty minutes passed by and more people came. Sophie played with the other six-year old children.
A mean kid suddenly grabbed Sophie’s doll. “Hey, that’s mine!” she exclaimed. The kid just laughed. “It’s mine now. “ With that, the kid tossed the doll and stepped on it. “Give it back!” Sophie was now hysterical. It was his dad’s last gift to her before he died. It meant everything to her.
She grabbed for the kid’s hair and started pulling it. “My hair! Ouch! It hurts! Daddy!” the cruel toddler screamed. Soon, all the people were staring at the small fuss. A forty year old man emerges out of the crowd. Then Sophie’s mother followed. “What is all this about?” the man asked. The kid ran to his father’s arms and faked to cry. “It was her fault Daddy. She started grabbing my locks for no reason. She’s crazy!”
All eyes seemed to be glued on Sophie. “No, it’s not true. She began with-“ Her mother did not let her finish. “Apologize, Sophie.” She looked at the child intently. Sophie knows that look. Her mom’s mad. Real mad.
Sophie took a deep breath. “I’m sorry.”
“You should be.” the kid said sarcastically.
Mrs. Herbert turned to the man and asked for forgiveness. “I’m sorry, Sir. This would not happen again.”
“You better watch your child, Ms. Herbert. Or I’ll fire you if you mess with my daughter again. C’mon, honeykins. I’ll treat you to an ice cream.” “Really? Thank you, Daddy!” the kid said victoriously.
The crowd began to disperse. In no time, everything was back to normal. But not to Sophie, it wasn’t.
“Bring her to the car now Ms. Dela Cour.” Ms. Herbert commanded. The nanny obeyed and brought the child outside. Sophie picked her wrecked toy on the way and sobbed.
“Mama is going to punish me again. It will hurt a lot, Nanny”, the child continued to weep. “Nanny’s here. Don’t worry.” she assured the toddler.
When Ms. Herbert came to the car, she turned the key to ignition and drove it home quickly.
When they reached inside the house, Sophie kept grasping for her caretaker’s dress. She won’t let go no matter what.
“You can go now, Ms. Dela Cour. Leave us and Sophie alone.” Ms. Herbert directed.
“Don’t do anything painful to the child again, Ma’am. I’m begging you.”
“She’s my child and I can do anything to her. Now go!” Without any hesitation, she grabbed the child harshly. Ms. Dela Cour had no choice and left the room.
“What did I tell you before the party Sophie?” Her voice sounded calm yet Sophie knows that her mom is furious with her.
“B-be at my best behavior.” Sophie was frightened of what is going to happen next.
“But what did you do?” Ms. Herbert continued to ask. “You ruined everything. You were stubborn! Always stubborn!” she raised her voice at her.
“But she is trying to ruin Papa’s gift for me, Mama.”
“Did I tell you to speak, huh?” She slapped the child.
“You know what? It was your fault why your father died! You were so obstinate! At your 6th year party, I just wanted a simple gathering, but no, you want to go swimming! You told your father to have a beach party! And then what? You swam across the sea and you started to drown. Your father came to rescue you! He died saving you just because you were so persistent from the very start! It would not have happened if you didn’t ask for a beach party! Your dad should still be alive by then!”
She slapped the child again. And again. And again.
“It was your entire fault. Your fault!” Sophie’s mom was screaming it all over again.
Sophie shrieked for the pain. The fact that her mom hated her all the time since the accident happened was more painful than the blows her mother was giving her. She wailed harder. Her mom hates her. It hurts all so much.
Ms. Dela Cour tried to stop the dispute. It was enough for the little girl. “Stop it! Stop it Ms. Herbert! You’re harming the child. It’s causing her too much damage!”
Sophie was at last freed from her mother’s clutches. Tears were streaming at her tiny cheeks. “Mama hates me. She doesn’t like me at all.”
“Hush, dear child. Go on to your room.” Ms. Dela Cour said sympathetically.
“I’m out of here. I don’t want to see that child’s face right now.” Ms. Herbert suddenly said. She stood up and left the room. Sophie followed her mother.
“No, Mama. Don’t leave me!”
“Sophie!” called Ms. Dela Cour. But the child didn’t budge and continued going after her mother.
“Stop following me!” Ms. Herbert screamed. They were outside the house now.
“No. Mama, tell me that you love me.” Sophie pleaded.
“Go back inside the house!”
Ms. Herbert crossed the street to her parked car. She needed a time alone. She can’t take the pressure. She heaved a heavy breath.
Unexpectedly, a car screeched into the corner. There was a shriek of pain before a sound of crashing happened. Ms. Herbert turned around to see Sophie, her child, lying lifeless at the street. Blood was all over her petite body.
“No... No, please no!” She hurried to her daughter’s motionless body. She was not breathing. She was dead.
A few seconds passed and Ms. Dela Cour got outside the house to find out what happened. The scene of Sophie resting on the road with Ms. Herbert sobbing beside greeted her sight. She was surprised and approached them wondering what happened.
“She followed me. Even after I told her to go back. How could you be so stubborn Sophie?” Ms. Herbert continued weeping.
“I never want to lose you. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry Sophie. Mama always loved you. She just never showed it to you. Mama had been so bad. She kept blaming you for your Papa’s death. I’m sorry Sophie.”
Ms. Dela Cour stood there too stunned to move. “Poor child. She just wanted her mother’s love.”
-END-
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