Short Story

My mama has red eyes.

When she's happy, they glow like bright rubies. When she's sad, they don't shine at all.

My daddy likes mama's eyes too. He says they look like scarlet stones. And they remind him of her.

Daddy likes making mama feel good inside and out. She says he can do things that no-one else can do. He can cook. He can clean. And do the laundry too.

But at night, I keep hearing strange noises.

Is it a monster...?

Thump! Thump!

Something is hitting my bedroom wall! What could it be?

I put on my slippers with Pollywogs on them and rushed down the hall to mama and daddy's bedroom. I reach up to turn the doorknob...

Thump! Thump! There it goes again!

I take a deep breath and open the door...

And saw mommy and daddy in bed with no clothes on.

~0~

"DON'T READ THAT LINE!"

Startled, the small girl looked up from her reading material at the audience.

"Why can't I read it?" Her tone was innocent.

Mint's face turned a beautiful shade of red. "Just because!"

"Daaaaddddy! Mommy's beating the buuush!"

"Yes, mommy is beating around the bush, pumpkin. But she's still the boss."

"But mama lets you be the boss of her every night!"

Her comment sent a roar of laughter and wolf whistles through the crowd.

Rue palmed his face in his hand. "Heaven help me..." He eyed his red-haired partner suspiciously, his brow twitching. "Mint, did you have anything to do with Rumi's paper?"

Mint started. "NO WAY! What are you looking at me for! She's the one who wrote it!"

"Then how did she know about "that"?"

"I don't know! You ask her!"

"Fine..." The man released a deep sigh and turned his eyes to their offspring. "Rumi!"

"Yeah daddy?"

"What sound did the monster make?"

"Um." The girl tapped her chin in thought. "The monster was making lots of moaning and grunting noises. And it had fuzzy ears and a long tail like a pussycat!"

"Ears and tail like a pussycat..." Her father pondered. "Now where did I see them befo-" His face turned white in realization, the same color as his hair. "Oh no... So she did hear us..."

A smug grin tugged at Mint's lips. "HAH! See? I had nothing to do with it! Now it's time for us to blow this joint and head home!"

"Then daddy can go and find the monster and make it go home. Like that big snake I saw eating your flower, mommy!"

Both parents groaned in exasperation. They were not going to hear the end of this on the way home.

And that's the end of the story.