A Million Conversations for a Million Days

This is a story about characters who go into a forest that turns out to be a world of magic with talking animals and mystery!

Introduction

Chapter Three: We Got to Feel the Love

Part One: Meet Nina and Her Family

Nina’s Journal

Date: May 19th, 2022

Age: 19

Hello my beautiful journal,

I haven’t written in a while and I’m sorry about that. I did want to reintroduce to you me and my family, since I haven't spoken to you in three months. Hello! My name is Nina Aue-Abebe.

I remember, two years ago, moving to Blueberry Town and our house grew. Before, we lived in an apartment. I am grateful to have a place to live but I’m so happy I get to live in a bigger place. I help pay bills, too! Grandma Shelly and my dad Earl sat down with me and told me that wasn’t necessary but I’m in school and I work and I just wanted to help. They said ok and gave me a hug. 

*sigh* I miss my mother. My mom, Nora Aue-Castillo, isn’t here anymore. She passed away when I was born. I wonder what she was like, what she was really like. I’ve heard stories from my dad...he adopted me, but I just wish I was able to meet her, to see her. My dad told me about her. Oh, I forgot to mention that he knew my mom, actually, and when he took me in, he cried a lot, because he missed her.

My dad told me about her very short wavy black hair. He said she always had a fascination with dying her hair black. She had green eyes, too, and was from Germany. She loved sharing stories of her and her family from Germany. Nora was very beautiful and incredibly young. There are pictures framed with photos of my dad and Nora sprinkled all over the house. He looks at her with awe as she laughs at the camera. Her husband and my birth father, Jacob Castillo, who was in many photos with Nora and my dad, would take the photos of Earl and Nora and himself. They were all such good friends. I love hearing the shenanigans they’d get into.

My birth father was from Honduras. That’s what Earl told me. He didn’t talk much about his life there, but he talked about family. He always said “familia está siempre y amor está siempre,” Jacob always talked about all kinds of love. Platonic and romantic love, sexual love and how delicate and deeply valid it all was. He was so intelligent. 

I know Earl isn’t my birth father, but...I will always see him and love him as my dad, too. 

I feel bad that I caused my mom's death. I mean, I know I couldn’t control being born or her contracting a hypertensive disorder, but I still feel bad, and it makes me sad that the moment I came into this world the person who loved me and had so much love to give, left this world. And my dad, Jacob, too. He died from a heart attack, the doctors said it was from a broken heart, the day after I was born. There was a lot of death surrounding my birth. My dad knew both my birth parents. And he loved them. And he missed them. 

Earl came to their funerals, which they shared...they were buried together in the same grave on the same day. “They had always shared everything,” my dad said, “so this was a beautiful symbol of their undying love for each other, even if their lives were cut short,” I keep crying. I don’t think I’ve ever really written it out. Wow.

~~~

Just then my dad came into my room and saw me sobbing. He was quiet. He sat on the edge of my bed with me and he held me. “It’s going to be alright sweetie,” he whispered as he rocked me. 

He looked at my journal and he started sniffling, remembering she passed away this month. 

“I miss her too,” he whispered. I looked up at him, tears flooding my eyes. I smiled and handed him my journal. He nodded, hesitantly. “Are you sure?” I nodded and he took it from me. He took his glasses that hung from his shirt and rested them on the tip of his nose. 

A moment later, he put the journal down and hugged me. He was quiet, all I could hear was his heartbeat and his breathing. 

“You are not the reason your mother and father aren’t here. And you are everything, Nina, everything,” he kissed the top of my head. I know he knows that doesn’t fix me, but it made me smile, hearing someone say that reassured me, even if it was just for a moment. 

It felt like we held each other for a long time. Grandma Shelly came into my room and smiled, putting her hands on her heart. She sat next to me too, and joined in the hug. “Too much death, hm?”

I wonder how she knew.

I giggled. “Yes, too much, 

My dad pulled away. “Maybe we should do something together. Go on an adventure?”

I giggled. “You mean go for an ice cream run?”

He frowned. “No! But that does sound like a good idea!”

“Those are your favorite adventures, son,” Grandma Shelly giggled. 

My dad continued frowning, this time at her. “Let's go on an adventure!”

“Dad, it’s 9pm. Past my bedtime,” 

He looked out my window, my light pink curtains pushed to the side, the moon shining bright into my room against the dark sky. 

“Right, soon then!” He gave me a kiss on the top of my head and stood. 

“Goodnight, my love, my world, my sun, my stars,”

My grandma stayed sitting with me. “You are your mother,” she said smiling. She put a hand on mine. “You are everything and you are everything she was,” I smiled, looked down, and started crying. “I’m always here if you want to talk,” she gave me a tight hug and laid with me for a while. 

~~~

Date: May 20th, 2022

Hello journal!

Last night, my grandmother stayed with me again. She stays with me to make me feel comforted and safe and she’s been doing this since January. Not every night, but last night, she kept rubbing my head near my ears and my temple slowly and gently. She listened to me talk about my mum, and dad, my sadness when it comes to them, and I cried to her until I fell asleep in her arms. I remember her telling me this was good for my heart to cry and talk to her about them and how I feel. 

My grandma has a journal, too, October. She talked about her wife Patty. Patty, who she loved so deeply, I thought maybe they shared the same soul. She passed away a  few years back. That’s when Shelly moved in with my dad and I. I remember always being around Patty and Shelly. They were so loving towards me even though we’re not related. They taught me, along with Earl, that love is stronger than blood and that they’ll love me no matter what, even if the sun burned out of the sky. Even if the moon fell. Even if everything we knew and loved froze over and existence ceased for humans forever, their love would still exist in the stars that watched the earth take its final breath. They were thorough in their love and telling me how strong and long it would last. They hugged me. They wanted to make sure I knew how loved I was by them, and how safe I could be with them. I grew up with three parents. I have so many people who love me, I’m so lucky. I’m so lucky. I am surrounded by love, but they make me feel like I am love. 

Love, Nina

~~~

Hello! Okay, it’s 2:30pm, now, and I’m back from school. I forgot to mention I dyed my hair this morning. Also, I don’t know if I’ve talked much about school in the last few months, but I’m going to the town’s college called Blueberry University. It’s really small. I’m wearing this cute outfit and I feel so confident in it. It’s a cute long floral green skirt and a crop top with thick straps. That reminds me, there was this one day I ….

At school, it smells like oranges. There are orange trees all around us. My friend named Payton took a photo of me outside near the green shrubs after our plant class ended, which we were outside for. 

I was wearing a yarn sweater that matched the shade of green on my outfit. I have brown hair now. It’s naturally ash blonde, but I dyed it brown this morning. I love it and I really liked the picture my friend, Payton, took, even though it’s a little exposed. It’s summer, what can I say? My friend loves taking pictures and I let her take them for me. I am her test subject sometimes, but I am more than okay with it. And it also helps with my confidence issues. Last week she took this beautiful candid of me and I fell in love. I pinned it on my wall. 

Chapter Four: The Love I Hold For You

Part One: Meet Buttons and His Family

Piano filled the living room. The white curtains open to reveal the sun, which was bright and warm and shining in through the large windows. Janine was sitting with her husband, Buttons, and they were playing together. Their daughters, Calica and Betty, were playing the banjo and guitar in the big open space . The song, Casmir Pulaski by Sufjan Stevens, was soft and sweet and even though they were playing off key, it didn’t matter because they were together. They were doing it together. Buttons wanted more quality time with his family. Between all the work and school, he wanted to be with his family. He has a deep love for his family, including the family cat and fish. He had always fantasized about being one of those dads who takes his daughters to a sports practice and is able to choose to stay with them and watch them. Whether gymnastics, basketball, ballet, soccer...he wanted to be present if his job allowed. And it allows. Calica is six and Betty is seven. Being so close in age, Janine expected them to fight for mum and Pops’ attention, and although they did that, she had always expected them to be worse. They’re not. They slap and interrupt each other sometimes, but most of the time they’re respectful. Their parents are always pleasantly surprised because there are quite a few adults that never learned respect. 

There is so much love in their home. Buttons is proud of the love he spreads. He has a journal and is very nervous about it. He wants to do good by everyone, but sometimes he forgets “everyone” includes himself. 

~~~

Buttons’ Journal

Date: August 25th, 2022

Age: 33

Hello journal, 

It’s me, Buttons, but you must know that already. What am I saying? It’s been a while. Right now, it's morning. It’s the weekend. I’m feeling… I wish I had the right words to describe the feelings inside me. Right now, I’m feeling a bit emotional, so I wanted to talk about my wife, my children, and my family. I love them. My wife, Janine, and my children Calica and Betty are my world. I was so scared to become a dad, but I’m so so glad that I am. 

There are a small number of things that make me spontaneously cry: looking at my Janine and my children and seeing this beautiful life we’ve created. 

Also the moon. She is so gorgeous, ancient, and wondrous. I wonder how She’s been able to stay so strong for so long. We can learn a lot from the Moon, I think. 

Then, sometimes I think that maybe one day she won’t be up in the sky. And I wonder “What will we do then?”

I love painting and I wonder a lot and I daydream too much. My manager gets frustrated at me. I stay quiet with her, though. I don’t tell her what I’m thinking or give excuses, I just apologize and tell her I’ll do better. I work at a paper company, but I hope someday to leave and be a full time artist, maybe even open up my very own studio where artists can come in and show their work. I want it to be open to everyone. I want it to be like a community center and the artists can even sell their art in a little store inside, and you can take painting or art classes inside, at low cost too! I want everyone to feel welcome no matter their skill level, age, or style. And I want it all to be affordable.

But..back to my wife, Janine. I remember when I first met her. She was the moon: bright, big, bold, and beautiful. She was so so kind to me; I was a nervous wreck and all she did was…*sigh* exist. She was on the sidewalk in Eve City when I met her. She was wearing a winter hat in summer, Strawberry crocs, white wash jeans, and a turtleneck oatmeal colored dress. A DRESS WITH JEANS and a winter hat in summer!!! I’m no fashion expert but, politely, what the f**k was she thinking??? *sigh* I thought about her all the time. I walked up to her at that moment and smiled. Then she turned around and her beauty choked me. I could barely get out a hello. I was twenty four then. I didn’t have a car, so I walked a lot. And there she was on the sidewalk in June. I thought she was a movie star. She was glowing. Her long face and dark eyes. She looked tired too. Not in a bad way. Just like maybe she was stressed. She was leaning against a lamp post, waiting for a bus. Then she spoke and the butterflies swarmed. She was worried for me. “Hi, sir. Are you okay?”

I gasped. “Yes, I’m just…” I couldn’t speak nor breathe. For a moment I wondered if I was in heaven and she was an angel. Gosh! I’m so so dramatic but it’s how I felt for some reason. I mean, logically it didn’t make sense because I didn’t know her�"how could I, I just met her? I don’t even know her name. Why am I feeling this way, hm? 

“My name is Janine. What’s your name?”

I cleared my throat. “B-Buttons,”

She’s so kind. 

“Thank you, Buttons,” she smiled. 

“Did I say that out loud?” My heart jumped out of my chest and ran down the uphill street. 

She giggled and nodded. We kept staring at each other. She was the only human heart in existence. “Where is this bus?” Janine looked all around at the few cars passing by. There were some stationed by the curb in front of the apartments they were standing by. Janine began focusing on the light brown bricks from the buildings. 

“Bus? This isn’t a bus stop, J-Janine,”

Janine turned to me and looked at me dead in the eyes. “What did you just say?” Her voice was cold and full of fear. It frightened me. 

“Yeah this isn’t a bus stop. It-it’s a lamp post..”

Janine giggled. “Well,” She sighed. “Thank gods I wasn’t trying to get to work or something,” she looked down and her eyes widened. “Why am I wearing jeans with a dress?”

“Tired this morning?” I asked playfully. 

Janine gave me a dirty look, “Maybe I was completely exhausted when I picked out my outfit...these are very magnificent pieces of clothing, just not mixed together,” she laughed. 

I smiled. “You know, whenever I think of your name, I think of jeans”

Janine frowned. “Is that because I’m wearing jeans? Are you judging me for my choice of dress?”

“No. I think it’s unique and brave you chose to wear this..n-no really!”

She giggled. “You're funny for a stranger,”

“Does that statement have any meaning?”

“Does it have to?”

I looked up at the sky. There were clouds and the sun seemed to have moved away from them and was shining in his eyes. 

“You're trying to blind yourself?”

He looked back at Janine and all he saw was a big shadow where her face should be. I blinked a lot. “I just wanted to admire the sun…so not intentionally, no,”

She giggled. “You're interesting,”

“I don’t always look into the sun,”

“Well, gee. That's a relief,” she joked.

There was a moment of silence. 

“Were you headed on a date?” I asked. 

“I know tiny things about you, mm,”

“Tiny?!” I exclaimed. 

She giggled and nodded. “Mhmmm! I know next to nothing about you,”

I smiled. “Okay, I told you my name. I’m 24 years old, I don’t have a car. I can’t ride a bike. I want a family and I want to know more about you,” After I said that, I froze and my eyes widened to the size of the planet Mercury. 

Janine stood up straight, smiled, then squinted her eyes at me. “Your name is Buttons, yeah?”

I nodded nervously. 

“Hmm,”

“What?” I asked. 

“Would you like to take my email? Just in case I get lost at this lamp post thinking it’s a bus stop or my memory gets wiped and I forget everyone in the world except you and need to contact someone?”

I laughed and nodded. “I would love to get your email, J-Janine,”

She pulled a tiny notepad out of her pocket. “Here you are, Buttons...what a cute name. Reminds me of a name given to a kitten,” we both laughed and we ended up taking a walk to a nearby cafe and had lunch. I never did find out why she was waiting for the bus, but I’m sure glad she got lost there, because I found her and she found me, and we are happier than we were, and we are happy with our family. 

She ended up taking off her hat at the cafe and her Afro popped out. I smiled. I loved her nappy, curly hair. I loved her brown eyes, but what I loved most was her soul and her tender heart. She was so kind to me that day and every day after that. 

My favorite film is about a girl named Lily who is abandoned and Fairy princess, Charlotte, adopts her and brings her to a forest where She and the animals help take care of her. The movie is called “Lilies in the Field”. It is my favorite movie, but my all time favorite is her. I love to sit and watch her move. It’s hard to explain the love I hold for her. It’s hard to explain the love I hold for her. I’m not too good with words but I am good with painting and drawing. Can you guess? I paint my wife a lot, even if I don’t mean to. I love her more than I probably know. My favorite artists are Claude Monet and Andy Warhol. “But my very favorite artist is everyone. Everyone who’s ever tried,”

There’s this one that’s called Impression, Sunrise. Claude Monet was a genius and so so talented. 

There’s these sculptures from Nigeria that I’m so interested in. They’re beautiful. Janine showed them to me. She collects and analyzes them. There’s this one that is called ”Nok, Nigeria Terracotta Head”

My wife is so smart. She is so so passionate. All she does is love, teach, learn, and hope. She gets to teach about art at the History Museum of African Arts in the city, Eve; giving tours and all and she couldn’t be happier. I get so excited to see her come home from work because she always has so much to talk about, so many work stories, and so much to teach me. And I sit there. And I listen and just think how grateful I am to be in her presence. And then I think about a poem I listened to, “Me, But Happy” by Neil Hilborn and how he said “there are probably infinite dimensions, but I’m with you in this one so why would I try to find them?” It makes me cry every time, but I can finally relate to it. Finally. 

I have lots of fears, but the biggest one is losing her. My sun, my moon, and all of my stars. I can’t imagine an existence, a true existence where I don’t love her. I always will. Until the day I die. 

Talk soon, love Buttons. 

~~~

“Sweetie?” 

Janine knocked softly on the door and I turned around, still sitting on the edge of our bed in our bedroom in my pajamas. I smiled and closed my journal. My eyes softened. “Hi, my baby,”

The sunlight was shining on her through the window adjacent to the bed. A gentle reminder [that she is the sun]. 

She took some slow steps then halted. “How are you feeling, inside, my love?” She knew. She knew. 

I smiled wider. “Emotional,” I held out my journal. “This is day one for me, again,” I let my head drop in defeat. She walked over to me, this time faster. She put her hands on my head and gently swifted her hands through my hair. 

My head lifted and she sat down. “Don’t be ashamed, my darling, it’s hard to keep a journal. Day ones are beautiful because they’re the start of something new, a new beginning,” she nodded. I smiled and kissed her. Her lips tasted like honey crisp apples. And she felt safe. She made me feel safe. Janine put her arms around me and held me there for a while, as I listened to her heartbeat. 

~~~

Part Two: Everyone Was Home

Janine ended up reading his journal and she became very emotional. She knew how much he loved her but some of these words she had never heard before..the specifics, like her nappy hair, her Afro, and her love for the Nigerian and African arts. He was proud of her for her teachings, but more proud of how passionate she is with teaching, learning, and art. Pride isn’t the right word. The right word, I think�"I believe, is love. She walked all around the house and when she found Buttons, all she did was hug him. He was cooking breakfast on the stove and he felt warmth. Buttons looked down and gasped. He saw the journal in her hand hanging in front of his tummy.  

Buttons let out a soft gasp. “You read it..” He smiled widely. 

“And I love you. And you love me. And you love so much about me and I-“

“I told you I loved you when we dated and at our wedding…” Buttons shut off the stove and turned around. 

“Yes, but…” Janine took his hands in hers. “I just didn’t know…” Janine hugged Buttons. Betty and Calica came out of their rooms and inhaled deeply, looked at each other, and smiled. They ran down the hallway and giggled when they saw their parents hugging in the kitchen. It was 7am on a Sunday. Everyone was home. 

Giggles filled the air. Calica and Betty held hands and hugged their parents legs. Janine backed away after a moment of silence. 

“Good morning, my beautiful girls,” She placed a hand on Betty’s thick curly head and another on Calica’s tame straight hair. “Hmm, hungry?” The girls nodded dramatically. “Okay. Go wash your hands and come to the table. We’ll eat together,” Buttons kissed their heads and sent them on their way. He put an arm around Janine and they set the table for breakfast. 

~~~

Janine’s Journal 

Date: August 25th, 2022

Age: 28 years old 

My dearest journal, 

I wonder if my husband will ever know, truly, how much I love them. I read his journal today and he’s so….deeply beautiful and I knew that and I know that, I just didn’t know he loved me so deeply and noticed little things about me like my hair or my freckles. I just...didn’t know he saw me...sometimes I can be very in my head, I just sometimes wonder if people see me, truly, and he does. He’s the only person I truly care about seeing me, the real me. He shows me he does over and over again. He always makes sure I’m okay. Buttons, if you’re reading this, I want you to know I notice your love and I cherish it. It feels like a million hugs and kisses and I’m so grateful and lucky, this life we’re building together. You’re a beautiful father and wonderful husband and you give time to everything. Just hope you can do that with yourself. I love you for having the courage to journal. It’s not easy. I love you for trying. What a beautiful family we’ve created. I love you endlessly, and I wish us a beautiful life always. 

Love, Janine

Ps. I didn’t mean for this to turn into a letter to you, but now it is. Cheers!

~~~

Buttons found Janine’s journal, which she hid in plain sight. He had no words for her, so he hugged her and kissed her forehead. 

~~~

Button’s Journal

Hello journal! 

It's the same day. I just wanted to talk about an experience I think can be very important and beautiful. Very recently, me and Janine decided to surprise Betty, our little seven year old, with a journal. It’s fuzzy and blue and, I have to be honest, Janine is passionate about getting thoughts onto paper or speaking them, so she talked to Betty about how important it was to have this special place where you can go, a safe space. She said how it’s nice to have a safe place when you’re out in the world. “Home is safe but you’re not always home” Janine said. I held back tears because all of this brings bad memories to my mind. Someday I may share. I hope I do. 

My hand was on Janine’s knee as she and I sat on the edge of Betty's bed early one morning. I just watched Janine’s passion spill through her eyes and heart. I don’t think Betty understood all of it, but I’m glad she said she’ll try to talk to her journal once a day. She wants to try. How beautiful! Now, we can try to be open with our feelings and thoughts together!

~~~

Betty’s Journal

Date: August 25th, 2022

Age: 7

Hello, my friendly little journal,

My name is Betty. My daddy’s name is Buttons, but I call him Pops, and my mommy’s name is Janine, but I call her Ma. My sister's name is Calica. I’ve always loved her name. She’s so kind to me. She gets really annoying, but...I don’t know. I love her very much. Calica is my world.

I’m writing to you because my mommy said it would be good for me. You are a periwinkle blue fuzzy journal with a sun and moon on the cover. I love you already. I love you just the way you are. That is what my mommy teaches me. She said it would be good for me. I wonder what that means...do you know?

My daddy hugged me and then sat with me. It was really early in the morning on a Saturday and mommy and daddy came into my room and sat on my bed. Mommy was holding a journal. This journal. You. And she told me important things I can’t seem to remember. Like, she said, “this can be your friend, if you let them in,” and things like that. 

My mommy is so so nice. She hugged me and my daddy just stared at my mommy. I know I’m only seven years old, but he loves my mommy, and I know that and that makes me happy. Very happy. My daddy said he has a journal, too, but he has a hard time writing in it. He said we could do this together. I’m excited!!

I don’t know what else to talk about except later, my daddy is taking me, Calica, and my mom to the park. It’s called the Sleepy Bear Family Park. There’s a little forest nearby. I heard my mommy talking about it with my dad. I’m so excited. It’s warm outside and the sun is shining. Maybe we’ll get to go on the trail!!!! Journal, wouldn’t that be amazing?! 

I feel like giving you a name. I think I’ll call you Pixie. Is that ok? I hope so. I like that name. It’s also a candy. Pixie Stix! Anyways, I’m going to go and eat lunch. Bye for now! 

Love, Betty. 

~~~

Buttons’ Point of View

“My love?” I asked Janine, walking up to her. She was standing by the front door. 

“Yes, baby?” She had just picked up the mail out of the holder by the door. 

“I want to go to the park today, with you, Calica, and Betty,”

“Yeah?” She asked softly, knowing that tone drives me crazy. 

I walked behind Janine and hugged her right after asking if it was okay. 

“Mm, oh I like that,”

“Yeah?” I asked softly. 

“Yeah.” Janine turned around. “Let’s go to the park together. I love that idea.” She put a hand on my chest. 

“Sleepy Bear Family Park?”

“Wh-Buttons, where is that one?”

“Do you remember when we drove up to Blueberry Town? It was like thirty minutes away from our town, Strawberryville. We had dinner with the kids and when we were driving back, we passed by a spooky trail that goes into a forest and a park a few meters away and I said ‘Hey! It’s the Sleepy Bear Park and Trail,’...

“Was that like a few months ago?”

“Yes!”

“I think I do remember.  It … gosh it looked so spooky, babe,”

“Maybe that’s because it was at night, and I’ll be there to protect you from the boogeyman, okay? So will the girls,”

Janine gave an exaggerated laugh. “What time do you want to go?”

“How about after lunch?” 

“Yes! I love it!”

~~~

Sleepy Bear Family Park and Forest 

“Come on girlies! Time to go to the park!” Janine called from the front door. 

She suddenly felt a gust of wind. Betty and Calica ran past her, chasing each other. When Janine saw Betty's hair, she sighed. “Come on, Betty, we gotta fix those pigtails,”

Betty was on top of Calica. “Wanna Tap out?” She asked. Calica was struggling to try to pin down Betty, who was still on top of her. Though both the same size, Betty was a little better at this than Calica sometimes. 

“Betty?” Janine was tapping her foot and crossing her arms. 

Betty groaned and looked over her shoulder. “But mom…”

“But, nothing. We gotta use the leave-in conditioner and comb it out. Come on! You can hurt your sister some other time,”

Calica frowned. “HEY...mommy!”

Betty got off of Calica and took her mum's hand. 

Janine smiled at Calica “I’m just joking baby, hm? I won’t let her kill you. That’s illegal,”

Calica gasped at her mother and watched her disappear down the hallways and around the corner with Betty. 

When Janine got Betty into the bathroom, she took out the supplies: rat tooth comb, coconut leave-in conditioner, spray bottle with water, edge control, hair clips, and a wide tooth comb. She began surgery. 

Betty winced in pain. “I’m sorry, baby. I know this hurts.” Janine said gently, rubbing her head. Betty took a deep breath. I hate this, mommy. I hate being dark!”

Janine sighed. “I hope someday you’ll hate it less. You’re deeply beautiful. No matter your shade-”

“I hate my hair! Calica doesn’t have to worry about this,” she crossed her arms and pouted. 

Janine gave a small laugh. “No, she doesn’t,” Janine sighed sadly. She went through the same phase-hating her race because nobody around her looked like her. 

Calica ran towards the bathroom.  “Hi, mommy!”

“Hi, baby. Are you ready to go to the park?”

“Yes!”

“Ok, good. Where’s daddy?”

“I don’t know mommy, but I’m ready,”

“Okay, my love,” Janine giggled. 

“Ow!”

Janine leaned forward to look at Betty’s deep brown eyes. Janine held Betty’s forehead. “Sorry babe,”

Betty sniffled. “I’m okay,”

“My tough cookie,” 

“Mommy, why don’t I have hair like you or Betty?” Calica asked, pushing her straight bangs to either side of her face. 

“Brown hair?” Janine asked. 

“No, thick hair. I’ve heard you call it ‘nappy’ before,”

“Oh! Well, we were born with thick nappy hair. I think that we should embrace what we’re given, even if it makes us unique or one of a kind,” Janine looked into Betty’s eyes. “We may hate it right now, but in time, I always hope we learn to love it…” 

Betty gave a small smile and hugged her mom. 

“What’s nappy mean, though?” Calica asked. 

Janine stood. “Nappy is a word to describe how your hair feels. How something feels can be called ‘texture’. Your hair texture is soft and your hair color is orange,”

“I don’t get it,”

“That’s ok. Someday you’ll understand. It makes us different but different isn’t bad,”

Janine looked at Betty again. She tapped her forehead softly. “All done, my baby girl,”

“Hehe, thanks mommy,” Betty inhaled. “Mmm, coconut!”

“Yes, always coconut. Now your hair will be moisturized and hopefully won’t break off. It does that when it gets too dry,”

Betty walked next to Calica and suddenly Buttons appeared in the doorway of the bathroom with Calica and Betty. 

“And where have you been, mister?!” Calica said, copying her mum who she’s seen do that many times. She even copied her arm cross, head turn, and impatiently tapping foot. 

Buttons giggled. “Bathroom..you know, pooping,” he said to Calica. 

“Ew! Daddies don’t poop!” Calica yelled then ran away. 

Betty ran after Calica and they put on their shoes. Janine put away the conditioning lotion, comb, and hair clips. She gave a serious look to buttons. 

“What? I sprayed and cleaned up the bathroom. It doesn’t stink,”

Janine shook her head. “It happened again..”

Buttons turned his head in confusion. 

“My baby girl hates herself, just like I did. Hates her hair, hates her skin color, hates her race,”

Janine put a hand over her mouth and Buttons came closer. He put an arm around her shoulder. “In time, she’ll learn to embrace it..”

Janine nodded. “That’s what I told her..I-I-I just hope she learns to love herself,”

“With you as a mum, I can’t imagine she won’t learn to do that,” He touched her forearm gently.

Janine smiled and looked up at him. She loved the way Buttons knew exactly what to say to give her hope when she runs low on it. 

Betty ran down the hallway towards the bathroom and looked at her parents. “Hello? Are we going or what?!” She threw her arms in the air dramatically. 

Janine laughed, walked over to her, and put a hand on her head. “Okay, baby. We’re coming,”

Buttons took Janine’s pinky in his and rubbed the top of her hand. “Maybe, she’ll write about her race in her journal, Janie,” he whispered. Betty was skipping down the hallway ahead of them. 

Janine smiled and nodded, looking at him as they walked towards the front door.

~fin~

~~~

Janine’s Point of View

“A magical forest?!” Buttons exclaimed. 

The fairy nodded. “I’m Raini. Welcome to Sleepy Bear, the Magical Forest. Despite the name, this is actually a whole world...full of magic and love,”

Buttons was taking deep breaths. He looked up at the sky. It was green. 

“May I continue?” Raini asked. 

I nodded as I held my family close to me. Betty was trying to get away. “Are you real?” Betty asked her. 

She giggled and nodded. “As real as you, you betcha!”

Betty giggled. “Can we stay?” She asked me. 

“Can we explore?!” Calica asked excitedly. Even though she’s a teenager, well I see her as a kid who never grew up.

“Yes baby, but let’s hear Raini explain things okay?”

Calica smiled and nodded, jumping up and down. 

“This world is endless, and it holds a lot of love and beautiful places. Oh! Here is a map..” Raini handed me and Buttons a hand drawn map. We smiled, our eyes lit up. “Yeah, it’s pretty amazing and magical here. “I love everything, but especially the Danube river. It’s on the east of Montburesso. The water is… que Bonita! You know?”

My mouth dropped open slightly and rain giggled. “Of course you don’t, this is a new place for all of you, but it does exist on Earth, too. It’s located in Europe. Have you been to Europe before?”

Buttons shook his head. We are saving up money to go on a trip. Maybe we can think about going there?” Buttons looked at me, his eyes wide. I nodded. “This is all so exciting!” I exclaimed. 

Raini looked at buttons. He came close to me and gave me a hug from behind.

“Told you magic is real,”

I laughed out loud. “Shut up, Buttons,” I said playfully. 

“Y’all are very cute,” Raini said, flying a little bit above the ground in her blue and purple transparent wings. Betty looked at us and smiled. I think she smiled at us like that because we're happy and that makes her happy. I love her so very much. 

“Thanks, Raini,” I giggled, embarrassed. I should not have felt embarrassment, all I should have felt was love. 

“There is an elevator that can take you anywhere in the world of Montburesso. Each button takes you to a different place and it takes no time at all to transport!”

“I love the elevator! My legs get tired from running, I’m sometimes lazy, and my le*s are tiny so they get sleepy quick,” Flower giggled. “Hi. I'm a chinchilla named Flower!” She had gray fur and was really tiny. 

Raini picked her up and held her in her hand, stared at and spoke directly at her. “This is Flower. One of the most badass humans and chinchillas I have ever seen. I look up to her always, not just because she spends time in trees, but because she has so much love inside her, and confidence,”

“Awww! That was so incredibly beautiful and kind!” I couldn’t help but gasp and cup my hands over my smile. A teardrop fell out of my right eye and Buttons touched it and let his hand stay on my face.

Flower was facing Raini. “I love you, Raini,” Flower jumped on Raini’s shoulder and she dipped her head to the side, so she could feel Flower’s soft fur on her neck. 

Betty smiled. 

Raini giggled. “You get to meet beautiful creatures like animals and insects and anime’s. I do have to go, but flower will be continuing your tour of our planet. I hope you enjoy your journey. I hope you always remember to enjoy the journey, even if it’s just walking to the restroom. I’ll see you all again soon. Have a lovely day,”

“Bye!!” We all helped. Flower hopped down on the dirt floor. “Hi!”

“Hi!” Calica yelped. 

Flower giggled at Calica then made a silly face at her. “We have lots of forests, lots of colorful skies, and in the sky we can see Pluto from the ground. We can also see the moon and the sun. There is a cat forest, and lots of villages. They’re community villages�"-lots of creatures live in them, in separate units, and they like to socialize at events held by the actual neighborhood community center, which are located every 10 miles. Near the cows in the field, there is a Cow Village, and near the trees, there are Chinchilla Villages, but any creature can live in them, it’s not specific to animal genus, but since it’s nearby the field, lots of cows do choose to live there when they’re in their human form.”

“Human?”

“Yes, my dear. Most creatures here, including me, can shapeshift into humans, including the Sky. Her name is Alana, and she is the goddess of the sky, but she can shapeshift in any creature ever,”

Gasp! What?!

I know it’s so cool right?! Has any creature told you about the Dunabe River wya over on the East?”

I nodded. 

“Doesn’t it sound beautiful? All the luscious greens and the water!? Oh! Did they say it runs right through Germany�"the one on Earth�"and Austria, and Romania?” Flower took a breath. “It’s beautiful and lovely! Something you should know about me is I love geography, mythology, and soccer, among other things,”

“Soccer?” I asked. 

Flower nodded. I like offense, but I keep tripping over the ball. Too small I guess,”

We giggled with her. She looked up at the sky. “There’s too much to mention about our deeply beautiful world. I’m not great at telling creatures or showing them where everything is…”

“You’re doing great, Flower, okay?”

She nodded. “Thank you, Janine,” she sniffled then smiled. “We have lots of love here. This whole world truly is a safe space. Always,”

The corners of my husband's eyes started to curve. “Safe place,” he said, a tear rolling down his cheek. I grabbed his hand and forearm. “You’re my safe space,” I whispered. “You’re my safe space,” he whispered back, kissing my forehead. My cheeks went red and I closed my eyes. 

~~~

Author's Note

Let me know if there’s anything I can do to make it better or clear :) does it make sense? I really like reviews so let me know if you like or dislike something 🥺🙈

Reviews

[Vertigo Cat1111]

This is just so, cute and sugary sweet and beautifully written! I love how well shown the affection was and it just exemplified your writing. Having a character write in their journal is always a great way to explain more subtly and get the story rolling. It’s also a great place for a little foreshadowing. I also love the passion in how this is written. Please keep writing! The characters are written so wonderfully. And I have to say, as someone who used to post my own stories and chapters, if anyone gives you some criticism, don’t take it too literally, but I’m sure you know that. Not all of them, but some critics can certainly be rude snobs. Although, I’ve gotten very kind help too. The best way to write is however makes you happy, and others too, and just do what you can to keep improving. I’m bad at critiques, because whatever people write or makes them happy is a masterpiece to me. This story definitely left a smile on my face. Adorably written. (: (Also, I love stories of characters entering new magical worlds! They’re the best).