There was some commotion inside the room, and I could see waving arms and gesturing even though we couldn’t tell what was being said exactly.
Then Jamie, Mal’s boy, stormed out of the room and came straight to us, climbing onto his Daddy’s lap. It looked adorable, because Jamie was a good four inches taller than Mal, yet he somehow managed to appear exactly as Little as he was right then.
He was clearly upset.
“What’s wrong, baby boy?” Mal asked, petting his back.
Jamie glanced at me, then leaned closer to whisper into Mal’s ear.
Mal’s gaze snapped into mine, obviously amused as fuck, but wiped the expression off his face as soon as Jamie pulled back a little.
“I see. Do you think you should take this up to Uncle Luke?”
Jamie whisper-shouted, “But he’s ameanie, Daddy!”
I wondered what I’d done to be called that, but then it came to me. There was a very limited treat bar in the littles’ room.
I gave Mal a look, raising my eyebrows for permission. He nodded subtly.
“Jamie, could you go get the other littles and Bear for me?”
The boy glanced at his Daddy who didn’t object, so he slid off Mal’s lap and trudged very theatrically across the room to do as I’d asked.
He led the train of littles back to us and stood there next to Mal’s legs, worrying the bottom of his Superman T-shirt.
The others—Shauna, a middle called Julie who enjoyed looking after the little ones, another boy called Andy, and finally Bear—seemed very uncertain and hesitant.
“Can you all sit down please,” I asked, and they did as told. Shauna sat with her legs spread out in a V, Bear knelt like a submissive, Julie took a more prim approach and sat with her legs on her side as she leaned one hand to the side for balance, Jamie leaned to Mal’s feet, and finally Andy who plopped his butt down like a toddler.
“So, we heard there was some sort of yelling coming out from your room, and then Jamie stormed here and called me a meanie.” I kept my voice even and firm, but kind.
The gasp from all the littles at Jamie’s name-calling was audible, and even Bear’s eyes widened.
“Could I get an explanation on what I’ve done to be called such a thing?”
As I’d suspected, Julie cleared her throat and winced. “Uh, Uncle Luke, I was giving the littles their treats and Bear didn’t take one because you’d said he’s not allowed, and then Jamie got upset and then it all kind of went downhill from there.”
I shared a glance with the Daddies, who were amused.
“Huh.” I turned my gaze to Jamie who was now blushing and trying to hide behind Mal’s legs, as if that was possible.
Instead of addressing him, I turned to Bear. “Did you tell them why you couldn’t have treats, Bear?”
Looking like a deer in the headlights, Bear shook his head. “I, uh, I didn’t have time, Sir.”
“Understandable.” Nodding slowly, I made eye contact with each and every one of the littles. Then I said, “Bear, please explain to the others why you can’t have any treats this weekend.”
Bear blushed crimson and shook his head minutely. He didn’t say anything.
“Bear?”
“I don’t wanna,” he murmured.
Shauna let out a little “Oooh” at that.
I let my voice drop a little. “Bear.”
He worried his hands where they rested on his lap for a moment. Then he took a deep breath and blurted out, “I called myself a bad name.”
