Charity’s legs dangled helplessly against Alejandra’s chest, each step jostling her high above the bustling market like some living accessory. She could feel the steady flex of Alejandra’s shoulder muscle beneath her thighs, the faint grit of sweat and fabric under her palms where she clutched for balance.
She hated how small she felt up here. How exposed.
Every breath she took pressed the collar’s leather snug against her throat. The tag jingled softly near Alejandra’s ear each time she shifted, a little traitorous bell announcing this is who she is now, to everyone.
Below her, the market pulsed with bright colors and warm smells. She caught flashes of mango, bright red peppers, the shimmer of sunlight on crates of soda bottles. Laughter bubbled from stalls where families shopped without noticing the tiny, collared girl perched like a trophy on a stranger’s shoulder.
But some did notice. Their eyes flicked up, a double take, curiosity, maybe a whisper in Spanish she couldn’t catch. Mira… una Pequeña.
And every time, Charity’s cheeks burned hotter.
She tried to sit stiff and dignified, chin high, eyes forward. But the bouncing of Alejandra’s confident steps made her sway, made her cling to the other girl’s shoulder like a child riding piggyback. She felt ridiculous. Powerless. Owned.
A breeze shifted her hair across her face; she pawed it back with a trembling hand, fingers brushing the collar’s spikes and making her flinch.
This is my fault.
I supported these laws.
I did nothing to stop the laws they signed the papers that let someone like Alejandra pick someone like me up, leash me, show me off like cheap jewelry. I thought my money could stop it, that we’d be above it all, my whole family did and we were wrong.
Below her, Alejandra paused to haggle over some fruit. Charity could hear her low, rolling Spanish, warm, familiar, alive in ways Charity’s frozen, tight little English could never be. She swallowed her shame and pressed her forehead to Alejandra’s temple, hoping no one would see her eyes.
She whispered, small and broken against Alejandra’s ear:
“…Please. Please… I’ll be good. Don’t show me off. Please don’t…”
Alejandra’s shoulder twitched in silent laughter. Her reply came in that soft, mocking murmur Charity could feel rumble through her bones:
“Shhh, Patrona. Smile pretty for everyone. Let ‘em see what I caught.”
And with a slow, satisfied step forward, she carried her prize deeper into the market, the little collar bell laughing louder than Charity could ever beg.
Alejandra shifted her shoulder, making Charity squeak and tighten her shaky grip on her tank top strap. She didn’t even bother steadying her with a hand, let the Pequeña cling or slip. Either way, everyone could see exactly what she was now: a delicate little pet perched high where no one could mistake her for anything else.
They stopped at the first stall, crates stacked with ripe mangos and sticky bags of candied tamarind. The vendor, an older man with deep laugh lines, raised a brow at the sight of Alejandra’s shoulder ornament.
Alejandra grinned wide, dark eyes dancing.
“¿Cuánto por los mangos, Don Pedro?”
Charity didn’t catch more than mangos, but the rest rolled like a warm current beneath her, reminding her how foreign everything felt now, this market, this language, this girl’s easy confidence while she… she couldn’t even speak for herself.
The old man chuckled, eyes flicking up at Charity’s flushed face. He said something fast, the word Pequeña was clear, and gave a toothy grin. Then, bold as daylight, he reached up and patted her bare ankle like he might pet a favorite cat.
Charity gasped, jerking back, but Alejandra just laughed, steadying her with a firm hand on her thigh.
“Behave, Patrona,” she purred, switching easily back to English just to make sure Charity heard every word. “Don Pedro’s being friendly. Be nice.”
She didn’t wait for a reply. She handed over a few folded bills, accepted a paper bag heavy with fragrant fruit, and moved on, Charity bouncing helplessly with each stride.
Next, they paused at a stall dripping with cheap jewelry, beaded bracelets, and rows of glittery trinkets. Two teenage girls behind the counter squealed at the sight of Alejandra and the tiny collared girl perched on her shoulder. One leaned forward, wide-eyed, phone already out to snap a picture.
“Ayyy, qué bonitaaa!” she squealed, then in broken English: “She is… your little one, yes?”
Alejandra’s grin sharpened. She shifted her shoulder so Charity bounced just enough to squeak.
“Sí. Mine. Muy obediente… usually.”
The girls giggled wildly. One rummaged through a plastic tray until she found a tiny elastic friendship bracelet strung with neon beads. It looked like nothing in her hands, but to Charity, it was practically a belt.
“For her! So cute!” the girl said, looping it over Charity’s wrist like a child fitting a doll. She gave Charity’s tiny hand a playful tap, the beads clacking together.
Charity’s face burned hotter than the noon sun overhead. She tried to tug her wrist away, but the bracelet stayed, pink, glittery, humiliatingly snug on her miniature arm.
Alejandra snorted softly, loving every second. She turned her head just enough that Charity could feel her warm breath teasing her ear.
“Perfecto, Patrona. Don’t lose your pretty bracelet, or I might have to get you a whole matching set.”
The girls laughed harder. One fished out another, this one a bright green, and snapped it gently around Charity’s ankle. The tiny beads bit into her skin like a soft plastic shackle.
She bit her lip to stop a whimper. She could only nod stiffly, collar tag jingling, wrist and ankle sparkling like cheap jewelry for the whole stall to gawk at.
Alejandra paid a few bills, tipped her head politely, then turned away, carrying her helpless, glitter-banded prize deeper into the crowded market, where every bounce of her confident stride reminded Charity exactly who owned every inch of her now.
not as bad as i was expecting it to be, tbh. i guess since they’re all poorer and mostly immigrants, having a little in the USA is probably a huge deal to the people of that market for one reason or another. Still curious as to what kind of gaurdian Al will end up being when the high of this being charity wears off
True and hey at least it’s nothing to bad like Cindy faced but she deserves that karma too degree gaaah I don’t know if I’m just to forgiving for bad people that get what they deserve but I do want them to get a happy ending or something
If I’ve learned one thing. If I’m ever on trial, I want you on the jury.
Awww thanks
what were you expecting out of curiousity?
Alejandra as a guardian is still nebulous as its been maybe a day.
Okay just being embarrassed doesn’t seem too bad for charity, but I will be interested to see how Al will treat her after this moment of feeling empowered with her ownership over her will be
Plus i still want to see Charity meet Al’s family and see what happens there
embarrasment is to be a bit expected.
This much better then Madison’s World hope it get cancel and replaced with Whispers of a Former Life season 2 with side story with Charity parents story
Okay fair but come on no need to cancel something because the treatment of one character is better than the other and some cases Cindy deserves the treatment she is getting for advocating for it but I get it I too hope Cindy gets better treatment or proves she earns it
lol i get what you mean. it’s hard to read madisons world sometimes cause those are their kids treating them like this.
at the same time though i think that has the most complex characters and situation of all the stories so i’m more curious about it than the others.
By every measurable metric Madison’s world is the most popular series. So while i appreciate how much you are enjoying this series and will look to do side story content with it In the future canceling Madison’s world won’t happen. It has to many fan and I get to many messages on it. It generates a ton of views.
Were the hell do you see the views?!!!!! That’s feature !!!!!
probably something they have access to only since they host and admin the site lol
its in the backend through the marketing, seo, information then i have to manually add in view count from other platforms.
Guess people do like cruel stories.
I feel like becuase it can be more compelling. Kind of like a car accident people like to stop and watch and see what happened and the aftermath.
In a story where everything is kind and everyone is happy. There isn’t very much compelling from a narrative standpoint. THats why in Smallara Prime i have Sara depicted as very much a grey character as she is narrative foil who makes things a bit more interesting.
In good girlfriend Mallory is designed in a way that makes the story interesting based on her personality as she is kind of the foil in that story.
Are there any extra episodes like step monster or Birthday Shipment is been long time now
stepmonster is a completely written story. I just have to make pictures and render them so that i could post and i’ve been lazy about that.
Im actually writing a birthday shipment episode currently. I was talkign with lethal about that. But i ahd to stop writing to render this weeks pictures.
Is there any way to see how many views a post gets?
im sure there is a plugin i will look around and see if i can get some viewable stats. I’d also like to upgrade the commenting sections.. currently i use rely on google for impressions information.
1) “The tag jingled softly near Alejandra’s ear each time she shifted, a little traitorous bell announcing this is who she is now, to everyone.” That is a brutal humiliation.
2) “She felt ridiculous. Powerless. Owned.” SO exactly what she is.
3) “This is my fault. I supported these laws. I did nothing to stop the laws they signed the papers that let someone like Alejandra pick someone like me up, leash me, show me off like cheap jewelry. I thought my money could stop it, that we’d be above it all, my whole family did and we were wrong.” You fucking dumbass, you’re even more deserving of this now.
4) “…Please. Please… I’ll be good. Don’t show me off. Please don’t…” “Shhh, Patrona. Smile pretty for everyone. Let ‘em see what I caught.” It seems Al’s made up her mind here.
5) “She didn’t even bother steadying her with a hand, let the Pequeña cling or slip. Either way, everyone could see exactly what she was now: a delicate little pet perched high where no one could mistake her for anything else” not sure how much of this is Al or just Mexican guardian training, but this seems reckless.
6) “¿Cuánto por los mangos, Don Pedro?” Just trying to act like all is normal.
7) “Then, bold as daylight, he reached up and patted her bare ankle like he might pet a favourite cat.” Cute, but I can see why she’d hate that.
8) “Behave, Patrona, Don Pedro’s being friendly. Be nice.” Yeah, you did promise to be good.
9) “Two teenage girls behind the counter squealed at the sight of Alejandra and the tiny collared girl perched on her shoulder. One leaned forward, wide-eyed, phone already out to snap a picture” that would be exciting, especially if they’ve never seen one in person.
10) “Ayyy, qué bonitaaa!” If Charity knew Spanish, that’d boost her Little ego a bit
11) “Sí. Mine. Muy obediente… usually.” No she isn’t
12) “For her! So cute!” the girl said, looping it over Charity’s wrist like a child fitting a doll. She gave Charity’s tiny hand a playful tap, the beads clacking together” free stuff, Charity should be used to that (though typically higher quality).
13) “Perfecto, Patrona. Don’t lose your pretty bracelet, or I might have to get you a whole matching set.” that’s an odd threat.
14) “One fished out another, this one a bright green, and snapped it gently around Charity’s ankle.” more gifts, she must feel special, Lol.
9) I glossed over them taking a photo of Charity. wonder what will happen if that circulates on social media and sarah sees it
9) It depends who these girls are, I don’t think it’s overly likely that Sara’s following them, or anyone they know.
But if Sara does see it, she’d probably just move on, she’d know there isn’t anything she can do to get Charity now.
yup canonically these girls aren’t on sara’s radar at all they are just strangers with social media accounts. It would b elike random teen in germany posting something and then someone asking you if you saw their post. you;d never uncover that
Plus they don’t know the name of the Little, so a search for Charity would not produce anything. Of course, Sara could search the Little registry, once she realizes Charity is missing.
there is a six month gap. So she would need either hack servers or use Chloes generitech login and access those databases and then search.
I love that you have little details like this thought out.
I try to come at things from logic whenever possible. I mean some things just have to happen for narrative purposes. Like realistically as other people pointed out Charity’s family could have setup a trust and then made stipulations as far as levels of care on who gets to manage the trust and even potentially maintain a level of control and just have the trust manager as an advocate for them on the board of the company.
However none of that is particularly interesting to read or really is that interesting from a plot stand point. So sometimes logic and realism I have to push to the side just for interest of the story.
1) It is but its also innocent on Alejandra’s part. As her intention isn’t specifically to humiliate her. Unlike Madison or Mia, who sometimes do things to humilate or embarass.
2) yeah, exactly.
3) It really is her family’s own fault but it seems like something people who are use to having alot of money and power would do though.
4) Alejandra is very much on the Charity is my little train.
5) I feel like your picturing her just letting her fall to her doom. Its more that shes just walking and not coddling her. So its more like horseback riding in that you need to make sure you stay on the horse its not the horses job to make sure you stay on it. I will admit i’ve only done it once but that was my general expierence. Also I learned how difficult it was to get on a horse. They make it look so easy.
6) When wrote that i was thinking about that meme “don’t be suspicious, don’t be suspicious.”
7) Its understand able why she wouldn’t like it I agree. It would be uncomfortable to have to get used too.
8) Its an aspect of her life she will need to get used too. As a litlte she has less agency.
9) It is very much a novelty for middle class and lower income families. Seeing one that close would be exciting for them. I wanted to highlight how its different for people in Alejandra’s world than Sara’s world.
10) She probably knows what Bonita means. But maybe not.
11) she does need more work but alejandra is bragging a bit here which i feel is understandable. She probably doesnt get many times to show out.
12) In another world…charity would never allow something so cheap on herself.
13) Alejandra is aware of Charity’s tastes in jewelry as she cleaned most of her jewelry. So she knows how Charity feels about it.
14) Just loving life im sure.
1) But she’s choosing to do it knowing that’s exactly what will happen.
3) I’m not sure is I have more sympathy for Chairty or Cindy.
4) and riding it high
5) Riding horses is difficult, but if a horse is trained well enough, they’ll take care of their rider.
Getting on a horse is somewhat of an artform, my brother’s a skilled horse
rider and still broke both his wrists mounting one back in 2019 (then I sent him a “if you’re happy and you know it clap your hands” themed get-well card to him)
7) much ankle petting in her future.
9) I loved that scene, they reacted in a completely expected way, a way I’m surprised doesn’t happen more often.
10) 50/50
11) I know, but realistically it’s too early to tell if she’s obedient or not.
13) that makes more sense
14) More free gifts and the second time a giant strangers grabbed at her foot? It’s the good life.
Are we going to see Alejandra family in this season too and are anyone off her family are tiny ?
None of her family is vulnerable. Also, being her family is in another country she would need leave the country as an illegal and sneak back in. So the logistics of that make it unrealistic. As she is in the US to make money and sends money home to her family. She can’t do that from Mexico and the risk is to great.
While her family could visit her they are also poor. So affording a plane tickets from Mexico to new york would be alot. They normally talk via video calls and phone calls.
I thought her apartment in Mexico with all her talks in Spanish to the people around her ?
No, she lives in New York City. She lives in a Mexican district where the majority of the people are from Mexico and Latin America.
Charity lives in New York as well, so it would be a massive commute from Mexico to New York.
Madison’s World, Smallara, Junior Guardian Chronicles, Good Gilfriend, all take place in New York City.
I don’t remember off hand where brothers took place, but Birthday shipment and Chrisssy take place in California.
All this time I thought the story in taxes or california with all the spanish talks .
Well i oringally started the main smallara story in new york and most of the other stories are spinoffs of the main story. So it just just worked out that New York is the hub.
Plus I wanted the story to be in a major city.
What about Charity parents whare are they right now .
unknown as honestly until people kept asking they were just throwaway characters who only were intended to exist as minor level characters to fulfill narrative roles in charity’s life where they were required and to hire Alejandra.
I don’t even know if I gave them names.
Brothers was in New York, but Hailey was going to LA at the end.