i. Little One {5}

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Omniscient

Saturday, September 2006.

Sarahi's house.

Laanville, Mississippi.

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"RAHI" "MA'AM" "YOU BETTER BE READY. Jayla will be here any minute now"

Sarahi didn't reply and continued to stare at herself in the mirror. She was wearing a baby blue romper, two straps with bows on them and it stopped in the middle of her thigh. She fidgeted with the ends of it, feeling uncomfortable in it.

It used to be one of her favorite outfits until a few months ago. Now it just felt like it was suffocating her even though it was the right size.

Her hair was styled in two braids going into two buns. She just wanted the two braids but her grandmother told her that she looked masculine. Sarahi didn't know what it meant, but assumed it had to be something bad because her grandmother had disgust in her voice.

All she knew was that today she was going to a birthday party with Juno and Jayla. She didn't want to go at first because a party meant kids, and kids meant there could be someone like Ariel there. Meaning when they see her irritated legs or arms, they wouldn't want to play with her.

She flinched when she heard a light knock on the door. "Come in" she mumbled, and Jayla popped her head in and smiled at her. "Sarahi you look so pretty" 'you mean it?' Sarahi wanted to say but instead looked down as she blushed. "Thank you" she said lowly.

"Are you ready to go?" 'Do I have to?' She thought 'maybe I could back out?' 'That wouldn't be nice since she's already here for me' she looked at the floor as she thought of what she should do. She then looked up and lightly nodded. "Yes"

When they got in the car, Sarahi got in the back. Jayla didn't play about kids safety.

While sitting in the back Sarahi tried to look out the window, but Jayla kept her attention. She wasn't doing anything special or even talking to her, but Sarahi couldn't stop staring. She was used to being around elderly women so it was unfamiliar for her to see a woman like Jayla. Who did newer and cooler hairstyles, had golds in her mouth, dressed cool and more revealing. How nicer she was. Everything about Jayla fed her in a way that her grandmother never could because she would look for her mother in Jayla unconsciously.

She hadn't seen her mom in 2 years, but she wondered if she was anything like Jayla and in the moment the thought made her sad before she quickly looked out the window. Distracting herself by focusing on buildings she drove past maybe once a week.

Sarahi walked behind Jayla as they walked into her shop. A place Sarahi had seen before but had never been in. "Good morning Ladies" Jayla greeted and both the clients and hairdressers greeted back. "And who might you be?" One of the older ladies asked and Sarahi tried to make herself disappear behind Jayla legs which Jayla found humorous.

"She's not much of a talker. Her name is Sarahi" Jayla announced as she grabbed one of the appointments books. "Oh that's Claretha's grand baby" was heard throughout the shop and it went dead silent. Sarahi was too young to notice, but Jayla wasn't so she mentally rolled her eyes and grabbed the child's hand. "Let's go to my office"

"It's so pink in here" Sarahi mumbled as she looked around "you don't like pink?" Jayla asked amused and Sarahi shrugged. "Well what color do you like?" She continued and Sarahi stared at her. 'Should I trust her?' She thought then looked around the room releasing a deep sigh. "Blue" she answered, very lowly. "Didn't hear you" "blue" she spoke a little clearer.

"But please don't tell my Nona. She said God made pink and purple for girls and I don't want God to hate me" she begged and Jayla knew it was serious because she spoke higher.

'I must've missed that scripture' Jayla thought while holding in her anger. She didn't want to scare Sarahi but who tells a child they can't like a color because of their private parts? And then to bring God in it? She was pissed.

"Come sit" she told Sarahi as she sat on her mini couch. Sarahi didn't move. "Are you gonna whoop me?" She softly asked, hesitant. "No, you did nothing wrong my little mouse" Jayla replied. Sarahi blushed at the new nickname and slowly walked to the couch.

"I know you have rules when you're with your grandmother and you should respect them" Jaya started and looked at Sarahi to make sure she was following. "But when it's just you, Juno, and I, you can be your whole self. You can like blue all you want" "I can?" Sarahi asked, confused and on still edge. "Yes, always" Jayla made known. "Also, Blue is a beautiful color" Jayla admitted and Sarahi nodded. "I know right and it's always right there because of the sky" Sarahi let out a satisfied sigh. Jayla smiled at her, loving the relaxed look on the child.

Their moment was interrupted when Jayla's landline rang. Jayla saw the number on the tiny screen and stopped herself from smiling so hard. "Hi baby" she answered softly, ... "yeah we're still here. You want me to make what?" ... "Boy.. I'll think about it" ... she lightly laughed, playfully rolling her eyes. "It won't be long" ... "okay. I love you more" Jayla hung up and sat in her rolling chair.

"Was that Big Man?" Sarahi asked and Jayla nodded "why isn't he here? Does he not wanna see me?" Jayla froze before clearing her throat "of course he does, he just had some errands to run before the fun could start" Jayla explained as she put a stack in the safe. Sarahi sat silently, she didn't quite believe Jayla, even though she wanted to. She learned early that adults lied and their words held no security.

Jayla felt the mood dim in the room and knew it was time to leave.

🌊🌊

"You can put on some cartoons, I'm going to get started on lunch. Have you ever had a quesadilla?" Jayla asked and Sarahi gave her a confused look. "Do you like cheese?" She changed her question and Sarahi nodded.

Jayla turned on the radio, then washed her hands and got out all the ingredients. While Sarahi silently cried while staring at the TV. She was upset that Juno wasn't there and it meant he really didn't want to see her.

'First mommy and now big man' she thought.

But her thoughts were stopped when she heard the front door open and on reflex she turned her head. "Big Man" she announced and ran to him, almost knocking him down. "Hey little one" he chuckled and leaned down and she wrapped his arm around his neck. "Wait- what's wrong?" He asked as he felt wetness on his neck "I- I thought yuh didn't want to be my friend anymuh" Sarahi expressed as she looked down "why not?" He asked confused, and concerned with how upset she looked.

" Cause I haven't seen yuh in-" she stopped to count her fingers "seven days" she explained and he sighed and immediately hugged her again. " 'M sorry. We were too busy" he half-lied. They were mostly waiting for Claretha to decide. He respected how long it took her but he didn't know it would make Sarahi feel like this. It caught him off guard.

"I'm sorry little one" "it's okay, just don't do it again" she replied, feeling much better. She turned around and closed her eyes 'please don't let him do it again' she prayed mentally.

"Lunch is ready, y'all go wash up" Jayla came from the dining room as she tried to act like she wasn't eavesdropping. "Last one to the bathroom is a rotten egg" Juno teased and the two dashed off.

2 hours later.

"She's still not done?" Sarahi asked as they sat on the couch and Juno sighed, shaking his head. "Rule number 1 of Jayla, she needs at least 3 hours to get ready" Juno kissed his teeth. "Oh shut up. I was getting her present" Jayla walked in and mushed his head. "Chill" he smacked her butt and she yelped, rubbing it. She was about to talk her shit when they both heard Sarahi giggling. She pointed her finger at him to tell him he was lucky and he blew her a kiss that she dissed making him nod, fake hurt.

"Here my little mouse" Jayla sat on the other side and Juno's face scrunched, but he decided not to ask about the new nick name. Sarahi opened the jewelry box.

"Nooooo wayyyyyy" she laughed loudly. "But why?" She asked, because it wasn't her birthday nor Christmas. "Why not? You deserve it" Juno replied and Sarahi nodded, liking that answer. She opened it all the way and seen there were ear rings too with her initial on them. "Got them made in LA, just for you" Jayla told her, proudly. "Thank you guys" she wrapped her tiny arms around both of them. "I love them" her eyes watered as Juno put on them for her.

"Just one of many little one" he made known and Jayla nodded.

They made it to Chucky Cheese 40 minutes later and Sarahi was skeptical about going towards everyone. "Are you sure they're not mean?" She asked and Juno nodded "they're the same kids from the pool party. But if they are, Jayla knows how to be meaner" Juno replied and Sarahi looked up at Jayla and Jayla winked at her.

Sarahi couldn't say anything else because she heard her name being yelled then she had arms wrapped tightly around her. "You made it" Rayven smiled widely at her and Sarahi gave her a genuine smile, still kinda dazed from the hug. "I told mommy you weren't going to miss it" Rayven continued and Sarahi eyed the party. Hello Kitty was everywhere.

Rayven ran to a table and grabbed two halfway filled cups of tokens "come on" she grabbed Sarahi's hand and dragged her to the nearest game. Sarahi's whole body went stiff when she realized that Rayven was holding the hand that had a bad eczema breakout on it. 'Doesn't she care?' She asked herself, eyeing Rayven but she couldn't dwell on it because it was her turn to play.

They played for around 16 minutes, well it was mainly Rayven leading, but Sarahi was alright with it because she had never been there. They sang happy birthday then everyone sat around to eat cake and ice cream. The cake was chocolate so Sarahi just had ice cream.

While everyone was talking amongst themselves, Sarahi was staring at Juno who was on the side, talking and laughing with what appeared to be a masculine woman. It was extremely confusing to her because the only reason she noticed the woman was in fact a woman was because the woman's shirt wasn't large enough to hide her breast.

"It's rude to stare you know" Sarahi jumped as Jayla's voice hit her ear. "Sorry" Sarahi mumbled, embarrassed. "It's okay to be curious, you just have to be nice with it. You don't want to make others uncomfortable, do you?" "No ma'am" Sarahi quickly shook her head. She didn't want to be like Ariel.

"She wears men's clothing because it makes her feel comfortable" Jayla tried to explain in the best way she could to an 8 year old. 'But God says it's forbidden' Sarahi thinks. Jayla already knew what Sarahi was thinking so she continued "to her she can't breathe when she wears a skirt or dress" Jayla really wanted Sarahi to understand that her grandmothers way of thinking wasn't the only way to think.

"I sometimes feel like that too" Sarahi admitted hesitantly into Jayla's ear since the area was so loud. Jayla immediately noticed Sarahi messing with the ends of the romper and she put her hand on top of Sarahi's. Squeezing her fist.

"Y'all over here telling secrets?" Juno laughed as they both jumped. "You irritating" Jayla rolled her eyes "you love my irritating ass tho" "language and only sometimes" she patted his cheek and he kissed the corner of her mouth. Sahari smiled at that then looked around the party, not searching for anything in particular, but her eyes stopped on Rayven and her family.

She was sitting on one of her dad's knees and he was kissing her cheek and her other cheek had an icing outlined of a heart on it. Her mom was informs of them kneeling and taking the picture. Sarahi's heart tightened and she quickly stood. "Excuse me, can you please take me to the bathroom?"

Jayla noticed the mood change in Sarahi as they walked to the bathroom but she was certain when she heard sniffles coming from a stall. Sarahi sat on the toilet, fully clothed and patted her eyes with tissue. She didn't know why she was crying but she couldn't stop.

She started having trouble breathing and closed her eyes and tried to picture she was back in the pool, water hitting her ears and she lowly sang 'her' gospel song.

Hii. Hope all the studs (18+) who wear gold chains have a wonderful weekend 😏🤭 byeee y'all lmaoo

03/2/24