It was amazing!
By the time she scampered out to meet Elena in the dining room, a feeling of elation had gripped her. It was the first time in her entire life that all her troubles seemed to be far away.
It wouldn’t last, she knew. Jobs were still hard to come by. The rent was still due. Times were tough and her bank account would still be overdrawn when she left Auntie Athena’s. But for now, she was just going to enjoy the unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience.
“You look amazing!” Elena said, standing up from the table. She’d been sitting there with a colorful, plastic, portioned plate in front of her, eating fruit snacks, nuts, and cheese cubes. A sippy cup of juice lay next to it.
“Thanks,” Iris told her friend. “You look great, too. I love that dress you changed into.”
Elena giggled as she stepped further away from the table and twirled. The pink ruffles of her babydoll dress flew up, revealing a bulky diaper.
“Thank you,” she said, once she was facing Iris again. “Out there, we have to wear boring Big clothes. But as soon as I get here, I love to change into the stuff I really want to wear.”
Behind Iris, Auntie Athena said, “Do you want a snack, little one?”
For a moment, Iris was embarrassed. Did Auntie know how hungry she was? Her last paycheck had run out a couple of days ago, and groceries were pretty sparse at her apartment. There was some peanut butter and crackers left, as well as some apples and bananas. But other than that, it was slim pickings.
“Yes, ma’am. That is, if Elena doesn’t mind waiting a bit longer to play,” Iris said.
“I don’t mind one bit,” Elena said. “Come on. I’ll show you where everything in the kitchen is.”
“No, you two just sit down and let Auntie take care of this,” Athena said. She paused before adding, “That being said, Little Iris, you are welcome to rummage through the kitchen any time. No need to ask. Just grab whatever you want.”
Now Iris was fairly certain that Auntie knew she was hungry.
Or maybe she was wrong, and all the Littles did that here. Elana had a snack, after all. Perhaps she’d just gone in there and made herself at home.
Either way, it didn’t matter. Iris was going to get something to eat and that was what counted.
Once again, she found herself nearly mowed over with gratitude. But she also wanted to pay Auntie back. She would, too, one way or another.
Fighting tears, and hoping her emotions weren’t showing, she said, “Thank you, Auntie.”
“You’re very welcome, dear.”
The Littles sat down and talked and giggled while Auntie disappeared into the kitchen. A moment later, she returned with a colorful plate. It had the same snacks as Elena’s, but also a turkey sandwich.
“Eat up, honey,” she said.
Iris obeyed, eating every morsel and crumb on that plate. Once she was done, she hoped she hadn’t scarfed it down too quickly, making a pig of herself, but realized there was nothing she could do about that now.
If she didn’t eat again that day—which was highly likely—she’d had a better meal than she enjoyed most days.
She was more than grateful.
“Want to see the backyard?” Elena asked.
“You bet!”
Elena led the way and soon they were in a square of paradise tucked away right there in the busyness of West Hollywood.
“This is amazing!” Iris said. “Look at those orchids!”
She leveled a finger at the rows of vibrant, colorful flowers that were planted next to one section of the tall privacy fence. Their pleasing fragrance reached her nose, drawing a smile out of her.
“Auntie Athena has a green thumb,” Elena explained. “But check out the playground!”
Iris forced her eyes away from the gorgeous plant life to the center of the perfectly manicured, green yard where a large, adult-sized climbing structure stood. There were slides, tunnels, and faux rock-climbing walls shooting off of it.
