Dayton stood in front of the pellet wall like it was a scholarship decision.
The aisle smelled like new cardboard and sanitizer, with a faint sweet bready undertone from the “dessert” section a few shelves down. Little Mart lighting did that flattering showroom thing where every box looked like it had been photographed for a catalog. Even the pot roast pellets had a glossy hero shot and a tagline about “comfort you can trust,” like this wasn’t food for a four-inch person who used to assign essays.
Nicole kept the cart angled toward Dayton like a patient assistant. Mr. Myers hovered a step back, pretending not to hover. Kinsley sat in the child seat, legs crossed, holding the s’mores pellets close to her like someone might snatch it and they coudlnt just get another box.
Dayton reached up and grabbed two boxes with the kind of certainty she didn’t feel.
“Okay,” she said, half to herself, half to the group. “Chicken and herb.”
She dropped it into the cart.
Then she grabbed another box, the one with the green accents and the little cartoon carrot wearing a smile that should’ve been illegal.
“And vegetable and herb.”
Kinsley leaned forward, interested. “Yes. That’s the combo.”
Nicole lifted an eyebrow. “You’re actually going to mix them?”
Dayton nodded like she’d been thinking about this all day, because she had. “A meal plan. Not like… weird controlling. Just… structure. So he’s not eating the same thing every day. So it feels like dinner and not… rations.”
Mr. Myers’ gaze flicked to Dayton, then away. He didn’t say anything, but his silence got heavier in a way that made Dayton keep talking.
“Chicken and herb plus veggie and herb one night,” she went on, more focused now, hands moving as she picked boxes off the shelf. “Then I want a pot roast night.”
She held up the pot roast pellets again like she was presenting evidence.
Kinsley made a pleased noise. “Pot roast night is a vibe.”
Dayton added it to the cart, then immediately reached for another box beside it.
“Potatoes and beef gravy.”
Nicole’s mouth opened. “There’s no way that’s real.”
Kinsley said, reverent, “It’s real. It’s sacred supposedly. I’d know if someone wasnt so stingy.”
“I’m not stingy.” Nicole said just loud enough for Kinsley to hear.
Dayton smiled. “Pot roast plus potatoes plus gravy. Like… actual dinner.”
Nicole made a face. “Your Little is going to eat better than I do.”
Kinsley didn’t miss. “As he should. He’s literally a former educator. He’s expierenced a lifetime of disappointment.”
Mr. Myers’ lips twitched, but he kept his dad composure. “Just make sure you’re not overcomplicating this.”
Dayton nodded quickly. “No. I know. It’s just…” She looked at the cart, at the boxes piling up like proof she was taking this seriously. “If I can make it feel normal, even a little, it might help.”
Kinsley’s gaze flicked to Dayton again, that quick recalibration that always lived behind her jokes. “Normal is a strong word.”
Dayton didn’t argue. She just reached higher, scanning the shelf.
“I want a pork one,” she said, then squinted at a label. “Okay. Smoked Pork Spare Ribs. I cant see Ezra eating ribs. To messy but in pellet form i could see him trying. He seems like a sophisticated person.”
Kinsley’s nose wrinkled. “Spare ribs are either the best thing you’ve ever eaten or a felony.”
Nicole tapped her phone screen, adding a quick note. “Try small portion first.”
Dayton chuckled, then grabbed it anyway and set it into the cart like she was building a menu.
“Seafood,” Dayton said, eyes moving again. “I need one seafood.”
Nicole’s face immediately said no.
Kinsley’s face immediately said yes.
Kinsley sat up straighter. “Seafood pellets are underrated.”
Nicole pointed at her sister. “You hate seafood.”
Kinsley blinked innocently. “I hate seafood when you pick it.”
Dayton found a box with blue accents and a cartoon fish that looked way too happy about being processed.
“Coastal blend,” Dayton read. “Salmon and… kelp.”
Nicole made a gagging sound.
Kinsley clapped once. “Elite. That one is elite.”
Mr. Myers looked mildly alarmed. “Kelp?”
Dayton shrugged. “It’s supposed to be good for… something. Like omega oils or whatever.”
Nicole muttered, “My Little will be healthier than me.”
Kinsley grinned. “Your Little is healthier than you. I have scheduled naps. Being a little allows you to take advantage of the finer things in life. Like learning to appreciate that 1:15 to 2:30 nap each weekday knowing you and Dayton are slaving away at school. ”
Nicole’s eyes narrowed. “I will drop you off the cart.”
“You wouldn’t,” Kinsley said, delighted. “You love me.”
Nicole pushed the cart forward an inch, threatening. “Keep talking.”
Dayton kept building her little “menu” like it was the one part of this she could control without feeling monstrous.
“Okay,” she said, counting quietly with her fingers. “Chicken and herbs with veggies. Pot roast with potatoes and gravy. Pork. Seafood. That’s four base dinners.”
Kinsley tilted her head. “You said five.”
Dayton nodded and reached toward the lower shelf. “I want one more ‘neutral’ option. Something he can tolerate even if he hates everything else.”
She found it: a plain-looking box with beige design and the most corporate name imaginable.
“Home-style base,” Dayton read. “Which is… basically nothing. But it’s a fallback.”
Nicole nodded approvingly. “That’s smart.”
Kinsley rolled her eyes. “Boring. But smart.”
Dayton put it in the cart anyway.
Then she turned to a smaller endcap with a sun icon and pastel packaging that screamed morning routine.
“And breakfast blend,” she said, almost shyly, like she knew this was extra. “For mornings.”
Nicole leaned in. “What’s in it?”
Dayton read the label, lips moving. “Oat… cinnamon… fruit vitamin mix.”
Kinsley’s eyes widened. “Breakfast pellets are so good.”
Nicole stared at her. “You’ve never had breakfast pellets.”
Kinsley shrugged. “I’ve watched reviews.”
Mr. Myers made a sound. “There are pellet reviews?”
Kinsley looked at him like he was adorable for not knowing. “Dad… there are reviews for everything.”
Dayton smiled and added the breakfast blend to the cart. Then her eyes drifted back toward the “fun” shelf. The one that was basically candy disguised as nutrition.
She picked up the s’mores box again, then the Dunkin Donuts.
“These are snacks,” Dayton said, more to herself than anyone. “Not meals. Like… Friday night treat. Or if he has a really bad day.”
Nicole’s voice softened. “He’s going to have a lot of bad days at first.”
Dayton didn’t answer directly, but her fingers tightened on the boxes.
Kinsley, sensing the mood shift, snapped them back into banter like she was flipping a switch to keep the room from freezing.
“Also,” Kinsley declared, “if you don’t get donut pellets, you’re actually evil.”
Nicole deadpanned, “That’s not how evil works.”
Kinsley grinned. “Yes it is.”
Dayton put both in the cart.
“Okay,” she said, exhaling. “Pellets handled. I’m going to do a rotation. Five base dinners, breakfast in the morning, fun snacks sometimes. If he hates something, we pivot. If he likes something, we keep it.”
Nicole nodded, satisfied. “That’s a real plan.”
Mr. Myers glanced at Dayton, gentler. “You sound like you’ve been thinking about this nonstop.”
Dayton swallowed. “Yeah.”
They rolled the cart out of the pellet aisle and into the treats section, where the shelves got smaller and the packaging got louder.
Tiny chew sticks in bright wrappers. Soft bites in resealable pouches. “Training treats” with a cartoon Guardian giving a thumbs up. “Reward drops” in flavors like strawberry cream and honey butter.
Dayton slowed, suddenly uncertain again.
“This part feels…” She didn’t finish.
Kinsley finished for her, unhelpfully. “Like bribery?”
Nicole shot her a look. “Kins.”
Kinsley shrugged. “What? It is bribery. But it’s also enrichment. Two things can be true.”
Mr. Myers cleared his throat. “Okay. As the only adult present, I’m going to say something boring.”
All three girls looked at him.
He pointed to a section labeled Dental & Safe Chew.
“Start there.”
Nicole nodded immediately. “Yes. Safe chews first. Nothing sticky, nothing that can splinter, nothing with those stupid artificial dyes that stain everything.”
Kinsley made a pained noise. “Nicole. Let her be fun.”
Nicole snapped her eyes to her sister. “I am fun.”
Kinsley’s smile turned wicked. “Name one fun thing you’ve done in the last twenty four hours.”
Nicole opened her mouth.
Closed it.
Mr. Myers coughed a laugh into his fist.
Dayton smiled a little, She picked up a small pack of soft chews, read the label carefully, then set it back and grabbed the “gentle dental chews” instead.
“Okay,” Dayton said, voice steadying. “Safe chews. Maybe one ‘reward’ treat. And… maybe one comfort thing. Not for obedience. Just… for being alive.”
Kinsley nodded, surprisingly serious. “That’s actually the right way to do it.”
Nicole’s eyes softened. “Yeah.”
Dayton’s fingers hovered over the shelves again as she searched, not for something cute, but for something that felt like the least-wrong version of kindness in a store built to sell cages as care.
I like that we’re seeing growth from Dayton in that she’s getting Ezra a variety of pellets. Let’s just hope he’s not allergic to any of the pellet flavors. Also, I love the banter between Nicole and Kinsley.
An allergy to pellets would be a dark twist. Especially if he’s allergic to a specific ingredient that’s common in most pellets.
Could you imagine having to expierence your body slowly shutdown from malnutrion as you would be allergic to pellets so you’re eating regular food so your body kidn of like of jordans would be just not getting enough of the right nutrientes and you would get weaker and nutrient deficient until you eventually just die as your organs shut down.
That would be pretty dark and sad to have to watch.
What a dark situation, truly grim even by Smallara standards.
I did specify “most pellets” to avoid that fate, I just meant the Littke would be stuck with an extremely limited and bland flavour variety
Nicole and Kinsley are fun to write. I try to give them sisterly banter of giving each other a hard time.
dayton is trying to do the right thing even if she did want ezra the little for the wrong reasons.
1) “like this wasn’t food for a four-inch person who used to assign essays.” if it is that’s be very convenient for Dayton.
2) “A meal plan. Not like… weird controlling. Just… structure. So he’s not eating the same thing every day. So it feels like dinner and not… rations.” Any food he doesn’t control is gonna feel like rations to him.
3) “He’s literally a former educator. He’s expierenced a lifetime of disappointment.” She says that like the disappointment is over and not leveling up.
4) “If I can make it feel normal, even a little, it might help” Bridge may be burned on that matter.
5) “You hate seafood.” – “I hate seafood when you pick it.” Sounds like Kinsley’s being intentionally difficult for nicole.
6) “It’s supposed to be good for… something. Like omega oils or whatever.” That’s not the well researched perfectionist Dayton’s been being lately
7) “Your Little is healthier than you. I have scheduled naps. Being a little allows you to take advantage of the finer things in life. Like learning to appreciate that 1:15 to 2:30 nap each weekday knowing you and Dayton are slaving away at school. ” She’s definitely found an adorable list of silver linings
8) “Dayton kept building her little “menu” like it was the one part of this she could control without feeling monstrous.” Doesn’t mean he won’t view her as a monster
9) “Home-style base, Which is… basically nothing. But it’s a fallback.” That sounds like it’d taste lit cardboard
10) “Breakfast pellets are so good.” – “You’ve never had breakfast pellets.” Sounds like Kinsley needs to go shopping with them more often, she’s clearly had things she wanted but never mentioned to them.
11) “He’s going to have a lot of bad days at first.” I’d argue that he’s mostly gonna have bad days from now on.
12) “if you don’t get donut pellets, you’re actually evil.” – “That’s not how evil works.” Dayton would be evil regardless.
13) “You sound like you’ve been thinking about this nonstop.” planning it since before she met Thomas most likey
14) “Tiny chew sticks in bright wrappers. Soft bites in resealable pouches. “Training treats” with a cartoon Guardian giving a thumbs up. “Reward drops” in flavors like strawberry cream and honey butter.” ah, the part of the store that drops the pretense and just shows Littles as pets.
15) “This part feels…” – “Like bribery?” Like a room full of carrots whan all Dayton wants is a stick
16) “He pointed to a section labeled Dental & Safe Chew. “Start there.” Logical place to start, could argue that it’s medical.
17) . “Nicole. Let her be fun.”“I am fun.” – “Name one fun thing you’ve done in the last twenty four hours.” Nicole opened her mouth. Closed it.” That one made me wanna hug Nicole, Kisnley pulled a dirty move with that one.
18) “Safe chews. Maybe one ‘reward’ treat. And… maybe one comfort thing. Not for obedience. Just… for being alive.” All things she can take away is she’s not getting her way.
19) “That’s actually the right way to do it.” according to who? The government that welcomed slavery back with open arms?
7) This makes wonder if Kinsley has stopped learning. Does she have some kind of schooling still? I would think that her parents would insist on her learning, from what we have seen and heard of them so far.
10) Exactly my thoughts as well. Ezra needs to wake up and go shopping as well.
11) Over time, what he deems bad now will turn into routine and he will become numb to that level of bad.
15) I think Dayton is conflicted with what she said she would do as a Guardian which was not to treat Ezra as a pet. What she said and what she ends up doing may not be the same.
16, 18, 19) Do Littles have toothbrushes and toothpaste? What about other hygiene issues? None of the habitats thus far have shown a privacy area for taking care of bodily functions.
7) She is studying for the LSAT’s it a standardized test for littles. Its mentioned in the mainline series as well where TIffany is making sara have jordan take it.
10) ezra only has his self ot blame if he doesnt like food. If someone was buying me food I would go with to make sure it was htings i atleast liked.
11) That is true, or he adjusts.
16-19) in the smallara mainline series Sara had toothbrush and things for Jordan that he used at hte sink she installed for him in her bathroom.
Sara has Jordan set up with his own toilet and other hygiene stuff, while other guardians, like Chrissy, for example has Scott go outside to use the bathroom.
Dayton is trying to make Ezra’s life somewhat normal. “Using the bathroom” outside does not fit the bill and using whatever is provided in the habitat without a privacy screen would also be abnormal as well. Plus whether outside or inside, what about toilet paper (or a bidet) ? If outside does the Littlle scoot across the grass like a dog would? (
This is topic is starting to degenerate, so if we drop it I will not be offended.
I will be honest i never gave this particular facet that much detailed thought as far as bidet v scooting v toilet paper.
So I didnt map out the practicality of it all. in regards to scott going outside, jordan going inside. Beyond it happenng i never thought much about it.
1) A part of Dayton probably likes that it is though. As even if she is trying to do right or better by Ezra now that he is her little. HE wasnt great to her for years so it would be natural to feel alittle enjoyment. As I think anyone would if someone had been mean to you for years and then something happens and now they are on hte other end of it.
2) well that boat has shipped for him. He’s probably never gonna control fully his food ever again as even if he makes a request its still dayton deciding to get it for him.
3) Well she was more saying how most of his students probably disappointed him so he is used to it as he held everyone to impossible standards.
4) It might not but she is willing to try and thats something. Good is doing the right thing even if your not getting praised. Dayton is doing the right thing here and Ezra may not like it or appreciate iet but shes doing the right thing and trying and that means something.
5) No she really doesnt like seafood she is just giving nicole a hard time.
6) Well shse didnt know she was going to be buying pellets until her first period class. So she wouldnt have had that much time to research. As while she may have thought about it all day. The whole plan came to a finalization as she was talking with nicole and kinsley. So there isn only so much she could do.
7) She has. She has made the best of being a little. She woudl obviously rather been immune. but she isnt unhappy with her life as is.
8) that is very true but dayton cant control that. What done is done all they can do is move on from this moment and this reality. She is doing the right thing here if he had concerns he should have come. SHe did ask him at school if eh had any known allergies or things and he said he didnt have anything. So she knows he didnt have anythin glike that take into account unless he was lying which that would really be on him at that point.
9) Well its doesnt really taste like much of anything its just basic nutritonal needs with no extra’s.
10) she could, its part of her personality trait she is her natural self around Dayton. She is more quiet and reserved not around dayton.
11) well it really depends on him at this point. THe days will only be as bad as he makes them. HE controls if he is miserable or not or tries to move on.
12) she got the dunkin doughnuts pellets so by the kinsley meter shes not evil. Sorry its official kinsley has spoken.
13) She hasnt been planning the pellets since before thomas. SOme aspects yes.
14) Well some things just kind of are.
15) lol
16) Agreed, its a very adult choice and recommendation.
17) She did but nicole kind of walked into that one. As KInsley probably knew she hadnt done much becuuse she had homework the night before and then school today.
18) THats true of any reward for anyone though. Thats not unique to dayton. A reward is normally something that can be taken away. if you get a raise at work thats a reward which could be taken.
19) Some say it never left.
6) but she researched practically everything else prior to getting a Little. I would have thought she would have put in some time researching food as well.
7) She is still in a loving family relationship, which goes a long way towards being happy. Ezra certainly does not have that (yet?).
9) Punishment rations!
10) Only one breakfast option?
11) Well, he has some control on HOW bad it may be. But it is certainly will be bad to some degree compared to his life prior to now.
13) See my #6 reply, She dropped the ball here.
17) I get the feeling that Nicole is the rigid, by the rules, make a list type of sibling and Kinsley is the one that initiates the fun ans is spontaneous.
6) She didnt know what they would like which is why she was annnoyed ezra didnt come with. As if he wasnt going to be a participant in it she could have just bought stuff ahead of time.
however its an example of what lethal talks about where its the image you have in your head of having a little versus the reality. she pictured them going to the store together and picking out things. that is not what happened.
7) presumably that wasnt an option otherwise i cant imagine him wanting to be a ward of the school district.
9) when i was growing up that was when my mom made tuna noodle casserole. Absolutely hated it but she loves it.
10) lots of people eat the same thing for breakfast though via it ceral, granola bar, etc.
11) Well his old life as a human sure, but his old life as a district little was probably not glamorous either. but he would have had more control due ot the lack of oversight or care by the disrict.
13) I would blame him personally. If he doesnt want to be apart of his meal choices that on him not dayton. He’s a grown man little or not. If people want to treat him as an adult then he should really know better and its on him. He should be responsible for his own needs. He shoudlnt need a 13 year old to make him a list. HE should have an idea of what he needs want to go to ensure his needs are met. But thats just my 2 cents.
17) Nicole can be fun but she is also the more responsible one of the two. SHe is the one where if you tell them they are going paris. Nicole would have a list of things she wants to do or see. Where kinsley would just be winging it.
1) Dayton is being better to Ezra than he’d be to her in reversed fates, but I also doubt Ezra would even consider claiming Dayton in that situation.
2) That don’t just apply to food.
3) My point remains; he’ll just have four former students disappointing him worse than ever.
4) Doing the “right thing” is also a subjective concept though, from Ezra’s perspective Dayton did the wrong thing, and I suspect he’ll judge her actions from that angle. Dayton’s doing the legal thing, but they’re laws Ezra viewed as unjust so he will probably resent her even if she thinks she’d doing good.
5) Literally my point
6) But she’s been fantasising about owning a Little since probably 2019, she’s had two years to research this shit.
7) From how Nicole spoke about her around the back yard escape, it doesn’t sound like she started out that way.
8) “What done is done all they can do is move on from this moment” Actions have consequences, Dayton chose a Little she already had a toxic relationship with, she doesn’t get to just shrug and assume everything is going to go her way now that she’s ‘won’. Ezra especially doesn’t get to move on because all moves, he could possibly make would lead back to Dayton, the same person he’d be trying to move on from.
10) Not even for Nicole?
11) Not really, Did Sara control her misery under Charity and or Kaitlyn? Does Christine control her misery under Saddie? Will Bryce control his misery under Mia? People’s emotions aren’t so easily controlled as that, Sara needed special training and medication just to reign misery in, not even fix it. So, I don’t think it’s fair to say it’s solely on Ezra if he’s miserable or not.
Dayton put him in this situation, she wanted responsibility over him, she can take responsibility for his mental state too.
12) I don’t wanna argue with Kinsley, but I also wanna be right… this is a conundrum.
13) She probably was just thinking she’d grab the generic, bland ones.
17) I’m not sure she did, all she said was that she’s fun.
18) Last time my work took my raise away I threatened to quit and got a bigger raise.
19) Yeah, but this is more explicit.