After the shift, Ellie and Sara changed into their regular clothes. Sara gathered her dirty clothes and shoes to take home for cleaning. As they walked towards the car together, Sara couldn’t stop thinking about the strange situation of meeting one of her teachers outside of school.
She struggled with the decision, torn between her desire to protect Jordan and his right to maintain contact with his old friends. But what she never expected was the realization that her own life and her little’s were now intertwined. Who would have thought her little would be friends with her teachers. What were the chances? She didn’t know what to do, feeling conflicted and unsure about the best course of action.
Sara wondered if other people in her life were littles. Jordan wasn’t directly in her life but he was around it. They were neighbors. It was strange to think about. She understood why someone wouldn’t want to talk about it or publicize it. It was kind like the French’s a few blocks over. One day the house was on the market by another family member but the French’s themselves were gone.
They were a nice older couple. They were in there mid forties with no children. They were just living their life. She never knew they weren’t human. In there false form Sara was aware a Little could easily mask their true form. In training she was taught that Littles and People were seperate. They were two divergent species. Her mother believed much the same. She was educated and worked closely with littles. She never knew her to be mean or hateful towards a little but she knew that she viewed them as a different species. The doctor in her couldn’t get past the biological differences. They were a similar species she would say to man but they are different from mankind.
That knowledge and those opinions were difficult for Sara to overcome. How could her mother be wrong? She wasn’t infallable or anything she was aware of that but the evidence is the evidence. People on the news are and in her guardian classes are saying the same thing.
It wasn’t until she had gotten Jordan that she ever thought different. It was hard to accept that a being that was so similar to her was less than. She understood the reality of it. They couldn’t live on their own. Jordan had only reinforced that belief when he attempted to run out into Dayton’s backyard. He was almost killed by Mosquitos. She wanted with every fiber of her being to run back there. She wanted to shield him from the harshness of the world. SHe wanted to protect him and give him a good home. However, her friends had told her he needed to make the choice for himself. He needed to accept what and who he is and if he rushed to his aid it would only furhter push him away.
Sara had her doubts if that was true but she had alraady made so many mistakes in her life. She had already hurt so many of those around her. She couldn’t deny the fact that maybe she was wrong. So she let him run and make his choice. It did ease her mind that Nicole was reporting what was going on. She saw him early on. Dayton had taken things to far. It was her own failure once again. She knew that but all she could do was smile. If jordan wanted freedom she would let him fly. Even though she knew in heart it would be to his death. That death would be her fault.
As after all having the knowledge and practical ability to care for a little was different then the reality. In guardian training they don’t teach out about personalities. They dont’t teach how a little is basically a smaller person in so many ways. Yet where they are dfiferent they are different. A little is like a neanderthal in so many ways. They had legs and limbs, they were self aware and while possessed simlar knowledge to her had no way to apply it. A little was at a different tier of animal kingdom. A lizard or insect could be deadly. They could use and craft rudimentry tools but a little couldn’t make a gun. They had no way to make or create the tools mankind had spent a generations crafting and honing. Littles were forced back to square one.
However as her mom put it Mankind had adopted them into mans new bestfriend replacing dogs and cats in many ways. As while a little was more fragile it was also able to do so much more then a dog or a cat. You could also converse and talk. It was capable of so much more.
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So in other words defining a little is both simple and complex because there not 100% animal or human but something that is both in other words damn that is interesting. Glad that Sara is going through and thinking about all of her mistakes with Jordan so her ego is not so big so honestly a great character and life choice analysis
That is kind of where Sara is at. THey are a combination so its why she think of Jordan differently at times. As he kind of has his foot on both lines.
0) Congratulations for the one year anniversary of Smallara.com 🎉🎊🍾
1) “She hated this but she knew it was the right thing to do for Jordan” is what I imagine goes through her mind every time she shows him kindness. I am glad she’s removed that stupid pay wall to seeing his friends though.
2) “She understood why someone wouldn’t want to talk about it or publicize it” hopefully she can be more forgiving of Gavin then.
3) “In there false form Sara was aware a Little could easily mask their true form” That’s gotta be the most disgusting way to look at it. Their full size is no less of a true form as their small body.
4) “Her mother believed much the same. She was educated and worked closely with littles” is Toff actually guardian trained or does she given special training to work with littles?
5) “In guardian training, they don’t teach out about personalities” that’s clearly a massive oversight on Genritech’s part.
6) “She never knew her to be mean or hateful towards a little” just dismissive and condescending. Also hr mothers a nurse not a doctor.
7) “It was hard to accept that a being that was so similar to her was less than” That’s because he’s not, those were lies you were taught in order for the government to bring back slavery. It’s more like caring for a disabled person than a pet.
8) “It was her own failure once again” it’s good that Sara knows that, but what she needs to do is admit that to Jordan and make it up to him. Jordan could have asked her for help, but she’d burned that bridge, and she needs to admit fault before she can properly rebuild it.
9) “no way to make or create the tools mankind had spent generations crafting and honing.” Actually given what we know about littles and their history… Littles did most of the heavy listening during humanities early development. We know Sara’s kind diverged from Jordan’s, not the other way around, so it’s probable that most of the developments humans have made were actually littles.
10) “if she rushed to his aid it would only furhter push him away” I’d argue that knowing he was getting picked on and choosing to sit back and do nothing for literally hours would push him away further.
Oh shit it the anniversary damn didn’t realize that
1) yeah glad she is not doing a paywall for his friends interaction because that was bs from the get go.
2) yeah very understandable situation to feel the need to hide that fact from others even friends and family. One of the reasons I wish we knew the overall mental state of Littles.
3) yeah I don’t know how anyone could think like that as if should their whole life was lie that just a disgusting thing to say to someone sounds like their life is invalid like wtf.
4) yeah that a good question
5) yep like did no one think about that part I get smallara is kinda unknown and new but how did that not see that one lol
6) true
7) that’s what think because I get that there weaker and smaller and more vulnerable but that doesn’t make them less than we could say a lion or bear is greater than since that could do anything that want to a person if they are in arm or not knowable to a bear it self so I don’t know how that is a mindset for the government to imply.
8) I know right glad she is taking fault just wish it was out loud and says that to Jordan more and rebuild that sense of trust.
9) really ?
10) exactly
O) it’s getting ylto a point I might like this story too much, lol.
1) especially since she at minimum owes him for Dayton.
2) it would be logical, Sara, Mal and Ellie would be talking about how much lesser littles are when they were between guardian training sessions and Gavin would have been privy to all if it before getting his results.
3) yeah, that’s why I didn’t like it.
5) growing pains, but also, if someone “isn’t a person” then personality wouldn’t be the first thought regarding them.
7) agreed
8) hopefully she will in future.
9) yep, it’s established in Madison’s World at some point.
2) my thoughts exactly
3) dumb way for someone to look at it. Being normal height is part of their form. what if a underbred never ever catches smallara or lives like 20 years before it happens, assuming its possible, does that mean they aren’t living their authentic life? lol
5) that’s so weird to me. The fact she never even considered it on her own is even weirder, though i guess I’m not sure how many littles prior to Jordan she actually interacted with to learn that herself. I’d assume she have talked to Gavin a few times or heard him talk post smallara, but i guess it’s possible she didn’t cause of how mad she was
8) She’s maturing very slowly, but maturing none the less lol
9) thats the thing, they don’t want littles even attempting it i think lol I’m pretty sure that the worst possible thing for humanity is coming to the conclusion that little might actually be able to survive on their own in the wild and be autonomous if given the chance. not that it’d be easy, but it’d shatter the image of them being less
3) living 20 years is probably not possible as the virus is a airoborn virus which is infecting everyone that is unavoidable.
As once you catch you are carrier for it. Its just a large portion of the population is immune. But immune people can still spread the virus. So the more people who are carriers the more likely you are catch it.
It will eventually come to the point that unless you live as a shut in or walk around in a hazmat suit you will eventually catch it.
5) If you never have a reason to think about it why would you? People who aren’t minorities don’t often spend time dwelling on racial injustices. (note I know some do but they are a minority in comparison) So many people if it doesn’t really effect them they don’t think about it. Poverty isn’t a huge issue when you have money. Worrying about where you next meal isn’t a concern when you have food.
Is it really weird if it was never brought up to you and your just living your life. you may not think about something that isn’t brought up to you.
8) she is, just like all of us at that age. Very few teenagers are mature.
9)I’m not saying they 100% couldn’t in this world. But odds are most freeze death because they aren’t made for high heat or low cold situations. They would be viewed as prey to most animals, insects, bugs, etc.
While they could in theory craft rudimentary tools they wouldn’t beable to construct something that coudl withstand their predators. They don’t have many effective tools to ward off predators.
They would still be susceptible to other sicknesses and diseases without any medicine.
The list goes on when you think about reality of it.
All good points. I kinda figured 20 years would be too far but I think you saw what I was meaning. It’s just and odd way to look them to me, though I guess it’s a social norm thing, but currently they’re living their normal life, and dismissing it as a farce is just not really ethical. If that’s the common consensus, why not just get all of the nonimmune in one group and actively inject them with smallara vs subjecting them to what the immune consider a false form and reality
3) It bugs me also that Sara’s position moves so often. Sge was originally in the Tiff’s camp of “person until infection” but now looks more like she’s leaning closer to Maisy’s “only pretending to be a person” ideology.
5) well if they “aren’t people” then personality wouldn’t come up. She likely only spoke Gavin and knowing him prior would change things for her ” he’s not a regular littke, he’s Gavin” type deal.
8) indeed,
9) I don’t think they could, in the sane way many disabled humans couldn’t. But I’m referring more to littkes shaping most of “human” history.
Well her position isn’t soldified though shes been trying to find out where she really stands throughout the story. As he parents believed on thing but CHloe has opened up her perspective to a different way of thinking. So shes trying to find what she believes which is why her viewpoint changes as she doesn’t fully know.
Ah I see, i look forward rlto further developments.
still it’s weird that she’s currently swaying Maisyward.
0) Thanks. Hard beleive my account was banned on DA last year around this time.
1) I know your joking a bit. But its not that she hates doing good things for Jordan. She just has issues with both of Jordan’s friends. So the idea of going to hang out with not only her teacher she doesn’t like it and then beyond that its a teacher who have issues with each other. But she is on better terms with Daniela then Emily.
2) I do think there is a difference between understanding and then your best friend not telling you plus she is more mad about him selling her out to mal when she covered for him. More then anything else. which is unrelated to smallara.
3)I knew you weren’t going to like that.
4) she is gurdian trained because of her position. Doctors, nurses, etc. are all guardian trained so they can care for injured and sick littles.
5) Well Sara was trained much earlier. It didn’t seem realistic to have flawless course.
6)Yeah when I was writing I confused her with Steph’s mom. I will have to correct it after work.
7)Once someone is taught something its hard to unlearn it though.
8) Its a big step for her to just have that thought. It shows a lot of inflection and learning from her part.
9) History is just the lies of the victor. This world is known different.
10) I think it would very much depend on the person in reality. Both can be true depending on the person.
0) you’re welcome, but that’s a pretty pessimistic way to look at it (but who am I to judge?)
1) good/nice things for Jordan are always ob Sara’s terms, so accepting this invite she wasn’t expecting would feel different for her. Her issues with the teacher make sense, but it’s not like Jordan hasn’t has issues with her friends.
2) given what she believes about littles, what she learned from Tiff, I’d wager Gavin had good reason. Though other issues factoring in makes sense.
4) Ok, I thought Doctor’s and nurses may get a different medically inclined course, but I guess not.
5) will utilise be part if Dayton ls cause?
7) agreed.
8) true, I shouldn’t expect step to so soon after step on.
9) it’s nit like its a big secret that littles use to be the majority, it wouldn’t be that hard to figure out.
10) That’s fair, it’d push me way, or more accurate make me wanna push her away.
As always, love the chapters where we see Sarahs thoughts. Kind of wild that they don’t touch on the idea of Littles having personalities just like their Gaurdian counterparts and the rest of humanity.
It’s cool to see that Sarahs views are malleable, and getting Jordan has had a profound effect on her. Idk if she’d have gotten the same reaction if it were Gavin or Ellie since she already knew them so well, but taking care of a complete stranger probably really opens you up to challenging your own world views. its similar to living with a room mate in college, you kinda realize that going from stranger to acquaintance and potentially friend means you have to expand how you think otherwise you just won’t grow as a person, and sarahs getting that with Jordan.
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Chapter 11: A Quick Rinse
Roni wrapped herself in a bathrobe as she walked down the hall from her bedroom to the bathroom she shared with her sisters. After everything she had been through in the last few hours, Roni felt that she earned a warm shower before going to bed. She still had lingering shock in her system after her parents actually agreed to try and adopt Joey and let her become his guardian. After all, she was basically asking them to stand up to one of the most influential families in the area, take in a 4th child, and then drop roughly 50 to 80 grand on training and little registration fees. Still, she thought, it’d all be worth it to keep Joey safe. A small smile formed on her face as she locked the bathroom door behind her and opened the shower door to run the water. Knowing that she is potentially going to be able to provide Joey a home and keep him in her life caused a nice warmth to emanate from Roni’s chest and spread to her body. He was her rock, her best friend, the person that supported her in her endeavors and always pushed her to do her best. Joey may be the introverted quiet to her energetic extroversion, but it never changed the fact that, in reality, she wasn‘t as confident in herself as she wished she could be, unlike Joey, who normally seemed so sure of himself when he needed to take action. Roni did love pulling him out of his comfort zone for his own good, but she had accepted long ago that it was just as much for her benefit as it was for his.
Having tested the water to make sure it was warm enough, Roni disrobed and frowned when she looked down, seeing hair green nail polish starting to chip. “Is that going to be Joey work?” she murmured, thinking about some of the extra things her parents added as conditions to her guardian training. Her toes wiggled as she replayed that part of their conversation in her head. “He’ll need to be trained, Roni, there’s no compromise with that” her father had said, with her mom adding “We also expect him to pull his weight with you, too. We understand he’s your best friend, and that he’d be your responsibility, but, from how we understand underbreds, they need work to thrive, no matter the task”. Roni has tried to convince her parents that she couldn’t force him to do anything and that he had his own autonomy, but they wouldn’t budge.
Sighing and scrunching her toes, she stepped into the warm shower and hummed happily, feeling the soothing water run down her slim body. If she has to make Joey do things, she thought, she’ll make sure they aren’t demeaning. Maybe helping keep her desk organized, or maybe help with dusting her chibis. Plus, he could still help her with homework if needed, which would at least help him feel like he was still part of school and at the top of their class.
The water continued to rain down on Roni as she scrubbed her coconut scented conditioner into her hair, making sure to get into her scalp and down the length of her hair a few times before starting to rinse it off. “I wonder what life will be like for him” she thought to herself, “I’m sure he’s aware of what it should be like, but to actually live as a little, to be completely dependent on a guardian for basic rights and respect that they should be offered regardless of height, would be much more different than just reading about it online. The thought of anyone mistreating Joey just because he happened to have been born a different species only strengthened her resolve to keep him protected. As she turned off the shower and stepped onto the floor mat and began drying off, Roni began to think about that idea. How much should she protect him? Is it better to let him fight his own battles and make his own arguments when challenged by someone bigger than him? Who would even take what he says seriously other than her?
After drying off and wrapping the towel around her head, Roni step over to the bathroom counter, still a mess from when Sandi and Ciara were last in the bathroom. Various toiletries were scattered around the counter top, ranging from toothpaste and dental floss, to products of a more intimate matter for Sandi and Roni. She shuddered at the idea of Joey being anywhere near this stuff as a little, and immediately decided that cleaning the counter top after the three of them was definitely not Joey work when he became small. Her eyes surveyed the mess until she spotted her bottle of facial lotion. Taking it in her hand, Roni brought it up to her eyes and frowned. “This is about as tall as Joey will be,” contemplated Roni, who now held the bottle on her palm. “That….will take some getting used to” she said to herself, the idea of someone that towers over her now in height being small enough to sit in her hand making purse her lips. “I wonder if he’s going to be afraid of me…if he’ll be afraid of everyone…” she says before letting out a sigh, “oh Joey…I really hope this works out…”
Finishing applying her lotion and tidying up the counter a bit, Roni heads out the bathroom door and starts going back to her room, stopping at the top of the staircase for a moment. She considered going down stairs to make sure Joey had all that he needed, to talk more about the situation and make sure he’s okay, but her dad was probably right and Joey needed to rest. He did look worn out, and even with his poor attempt to hide his tear of joy earlier, it was apparent to see he was really doing everything he could to hold himself together. It’s not like he hated his parents, he just had strong feelings about littles that his parents didn’t want to hear. It’d make sense to be broken mentally at this point to find out the two people that should love you unconditionally would turn their backs on you the first chance they got. Closing her eyes briefly, Roni gives the stairs one last, longing look, before going back to her room and getting into bed. “Good night, Joey…I hope you sleep well, tomorrow’s going to be a long day” she said to herself as she drifts into a deep slumber