The chase in the backyard only lasted a few minutes before Roni finally caught up to Joey. He laughed in amusement at her frown until she punched him in the arm and snatched her glasses back. Sliding them on and adjusting them, she shot him a glare while he rubbed his arm, still smirking. She flipped him the bird before smiling back at him. It was their usual game: Joey would take something from her, forcing Roni to chase him down. Normally, it was his way of cheering her up—and Roni definitely needed it right now.
Suddenly, the sound of their mom hollering “dinner time!” from the kitchen window startled the two of them. Regaining his composure, Joey grinned and gave Roni a theatrical bow, gesturing for her to lead the way. “Why, thank you, sir,” Roni said with mild amusement, curtsying before turning toward the house. But Joey wasn’t done teasing. He lightly stepped on the back of her foot, causing her shoe to pop off. “Joey!” she groaned, stumbling to put it back on. He couldn’t hold back his laughter, but it was short-lived as Roni elbowed him in the stomach, making him stumble back. They exchanged looks and laughed, calling a truce as they entered the house together.
Dinner was typical Hale family chaos, though the atmosphere felt a bit lighter. Joey took his usual spot between Ciara and Sandi, cracking jokes and keeping his official younger sisters entertained. Mr. and Mrs. Hale exchanged amused glances as they ate, grateful for Joey’s ability to engage the girls. His antics even got Ciara and Sandi to clear their plates without complaining, forgetting that they “hate” broccoli and meatloaf all together.
Roni, meanwhile, smiled at the lively scene but felt a heavy weight pressing on her. She joined in the conversation occasionally, but her mind kept drifting back to what Tonya had told Joey. The looming change broke her heart. She had hoped Joey could enjoy at least a month of normalcy—a month of family dinners, loving parents curious about his day, and the occasional annoying yet comforting moments with his new sisters. But it seemed like that hope was slipping away. According to Tonya and Joey’s own account, his transformation could happen any day now. Then, he’d have to spend a month in a special facility while Roni learned how to care for him—a process she understood but couldn’t help resenting for its unfairness. She had just wished her best friend could catch a small break and enjoy being human a bit longer.
As Joey made another joke that had Ciara giggling uncontrollably, Roni pushed her food around her plate as she continued to think. She eventually finished her last bite and rose from the table. “I’m full…I’ll be upstairs finishing some homework. Don’t worry about dessert. I don’t feel like anything tonight,” she said, forcing a smile to deflect any concern.
Joey watched her closely, recognizing her facade. Still, he gave her a reassuring smile in return. Their parents exchanged a look but decided not to press Roni, respecting her need for space.
“Okay, sweetheart,” her mom said warmly. “There’s pie leftover if you change your mind.”
Sandi and Ciara exchanged puzzled looks as Roni left. Normally, even if she finished early, Roni would remain at the table to chat. Sandi, being older, had a better grasp of the situation and sensed the toll recent events were taking on her sister. Before either could voice their thoughts, Joey caught them off guard by tickling their ribs, causing them to squeal with laughter. The girls retaliated with tickles of their own, sparking a playful battle. Their parents watched with fond amusement, grateful for Joey’s ability to shift the mood when needed.
Upstairs, Roni entered her room and sank into her desk chair with a long sigh. The space was tidy, save for a few stray clothes and books. The walls were decorated with theater posters, a silhouette of comedy and tragedy masks, and the calligraphic quote, “Be great in act, as you are in thought.” Her TV console displayed photos from community theater productions and cycling races, alongside a few second-place science fair trophies. Joey had most of the first-place ones, but that only fueled Roni’s competitive streak. She smiled faintly, her gaze settling on a photo of her and Joey, arms around each other, waving happily at the camera. She longed for those simpler days, knowing life was about to become more complicated.
Shaking off her melancholy, Roni logged into her desktop and opened her browser. She had spent much of her time alone earlier researching the equipment Joey would need as a Little. Generitech’s website had everything from Little habitats to clothes and electronics, all exorbitantly priced. She was grateful Joey had saved so much money—a resource she now controlled. The thought unsettled her. “It’s my money now…” she whispered, bitterness creeping into her voice. The law dictated that Joey’s belongings were hers simply because he was becoming a Little, a notion Roni found profoundly unjust.
Her research led her to advocacy forums Joey had shown her. They featured interviews with Smallara victims who showcased advanced skills, from solving complex puzzles to debating political topics. Joey believed these demonstrations were genuine, while Roni remained skeptical of some. She and Joey often argued about the legitimacy of these videos, particularly one where a Little explained modular arithmetic and cryptography—concepts even they found challenging. Their debates usually ended in a truce, rooted in mutual respect despite differing views.
After finalizing a wishlist on Generishop, Roni closed her browser. She planned to show it to Joey later for his input. A light knock on her door broke her focus. “Must be him now,” she thought, rising to answer. But when she opened the door, it wasn’t Joey.
“Roni?” Sandi stood there, her expression somber. “Can I come in? I…wanted to talk to you.”
1) “she punched him in the arm and snatched her glasses back. Sliding them on and adjusting them, she shot him a glare while he rubbed his arm, still smirking. She flipped him the bird” yeah Roni, fuck ‘im up.
2) “It was their usual game: Joey would take something from her, forcing Roni to chase him down. Normally, it was his way of cheering her up—and Roni definitely needed it right now “ he’s a good brother.
3) “Joey took his usual spot between Ciara and Sandi, cracking jokes and keeping his official younger sisters entertained.” that’s cute.
4) “His antics even got Ciara and Sandi to clear their plates without complaining, forgetting that they “hate” broccoli and meatloaf altogether.” C’mon girls, that’s sloppy faking right there.
5.1) “he’d have to spend a month in a special facility while Roni learned how to care for him” Damn she must be in an express course, Sara’s took three months and Dayton’s looks like it’s almost two months.
5.2) “a process she understood but couldn’t help resenting for its unfairness” THat’s a fair reaction.
6) “Don’t worry about dessert. I don’t feel like anything tonight,” those words are a red flag.
7) “forcing a smile to deflect any concern” … “Joey watched her closely, recognizing her facade” That went well.
8) “Sandi and Ciara exchanged puzzled looks as Roni left” yeah, the fuck’s she mean by “There’s pie leftover”?
9) “Before either could voice their thoughts, Joey caught them off guard by tickling their ribs, causing them to squeal with laughter” Brotherly duty right there.
10) “alongside a few second-place science fair trophies. Joey had most of the first-place ones, but that only fueled Roni’s competitive streak” Joey takes the win.
11) “She had spent much of her time alone earlier researching the equipment Joey would need as a Little” that’s a good guardian right there.
12) “It’s my money now…” Technically still Joey’s until he shrinks.
13) “They featured interviews with Smallara victims who showcased advanced skills, from solving complex puzzles to debating political topics. Joey believed these demonstrations were genuine, while Roni remained skeptical of some.” That’s a little disappointing, but I suppose she couldn’t be perfect. She’s one of the few Guardians I believe will learn the truth.
14) “Roni?” Can I come in? I…wanted to talk to you.” She needs her big sis
1) “she punched him in the arm and snatched her glasses back. Sliding them on and adjusting them, she shot him a glare while he rubbed his arm, still smirking. She flipped him the bird” yeah Roni, fuck ‘im up.
lol she’s not easily intimidated or pushed around
2) “It was their usual game: Joey would take something from her, forcing Roni to chase him down. Normally, it was his way of cheering her up—and Roni definitely needed it right now “ he’s a good brother.
and a good friend. he never likes seeing Roni or his other friends upset.
3) “Joey took his usual spot between Ciara and Sandi, cracking jokes and keeping his official younger sisters entertained.” that’s cute.
favorite past time of his lol
4) “His antics even got Ciara and Sandi to clear their plates without complaining, forgetting that they “hate” broccoli and meatloaf altogether.” C’mon girls, that’s sloppy faking right there.
lol picky eaters, Ciara especially. My sister-in-laws daughters pretty picky still as a teen lol
5.1) “he’d have to spend a month in a special facility while Roni learned how to care for him” Damn she must be in an express course, Sara’s took three months and Dayton’s looks like it’s almost two months.
crap, I must have misread this somewhere. I knew it was three, but thought Daytons was three weeks. there will probably be another retcon for the month it takes place. This isn’t a spoiler so much since it’s sunday right now, but I’m wanting parts of the story to take place at their school, but if it’s a 2-3 month course, I’ll have to adjust that.
Also, I noticed I goofed up on the birthdays. Joey’s should be April and Roni’s should be July
5.2) “a process she understood but couldn’t help resenting for its unfairness” THat’s a fair reaction.
it just sucks for Joey cause he keeps getting bad breaks. She’d feel better if it he had more time at his pre-smallara height
6) “Don’t worry about dessert. I don’t feel like anything tonight,” those words are a red flag.
yup
7) “forcing a smile to deflect any concern” … “Joey watched her closely, recognizing her facade” That went well.
that’s what happens when you spend that much time with someone, you can see right through them and pick up on when there are underlying issues
8) “Sandi and Ciara exchanged puzzled looks as Roni left” yeah, the fuck’s she mean by “There’s pie leftover”?
lol more of a reference to the left over dessert from the other night. they’d gotten two pies, apple and lemon meringue. I should have worded this better as they were more puzzled about Roni’s abruptly leaving the dining room
9) “Before either could voice their thoughts, Joey caught them off guard by tickling their ribs, causing them to squeal with laughter” Brotherly duty right there.
one he takes seriously lol
10) “alongside a few second-place science fair trophies. Joey had most of the first-place ones, but that only fueled Roni’s competitive streak” Joey takes the win.
He worked really hard on a lot of his ideas. not to say Roni didn’t, but he’d do things like make working models of salmon runs or running capture cards to microscopes he’d borrow to record cell division and things like that. Roni did similar things, but she also split her time amongst more extra curricular than Joey so she didn’t have as much time as him, which is really a testament to how smart she is too.
11) “She had spent much of her time alone earlier researching the equipment Joey would need as a Little” that’s a good guardian right there.
she wants to provide Joey the best possible life she can.
12) “It’s my money now…” Technically still Joey’s until he shrinks.
fair point
13) “They featured interviews with Smallara victims who showcased advanced skills, from solving complex puzzles to debating political topics. Joey believed these demonstrations were genuine, while Roni remained skeptical of some.” That’s a little disappointing, but I suppose she couldn’t be perfect. She’s one of the few Guardians I believe will learn the truth.
exactly. She has her flaws, and being the skeptic to Joey’s idealism is one of them. A fair amount of the videos I’d say weren’t setups, but there could have been one or two where the smallara victim had the answers before hand.
14) “Roni?” Can I come in? I…wanted to talk to you.” She needs her big sis
It should be a good chapter. I need to write it correctly. I was going to have it be in this one but decided against it since I want Sandi and eventually Ciara to have more involvement, with Ciara being tougher to write for me.
Roni doesn’t a break from his guardian duty!
lol she could, but she’s too thorough. she wants to be as prepared as absolutely possible