Greg and Cindy had moved on to pulling debris from the treads of Madison’s sneakers. The tops were already spotless, nearly new-looking now under the desk lamp, but the bottoms were worse. Tiny pebbles, packed dust, dark grit, and bits of whatever Madison had stepped in over the course of the week still clung stubbornly to the grooves.
They were both mid-pull, bent over the rubber tread, when McKenzie walked into Madison’s room.
“Kenz?” Madison looked up immediately, her whole expression softening. “I didn’t hear you come in.”
“It was a long day,” McKenzie said, stepping inside and closing the door behind her. “Feels good to be home, though.”
Then her eyes moved to the desk.
To Greg and Cindy.
To the shoes.
Her brow knit slightly.
“Why is Dad cleaning your shoes?”
Cindy felt that omission immediately.
Not why are Mom and Dad cleaning your shoes.
Just Dad.
She noticed it, and hated that she noticed it, and knew better than to say anything. This was Madison’s room. Madison’s conversation. Approaching McKenzie over Madison now, even in something as small as tone or eye contact, would be treated as crossing a line. Madison had made that clear often enough.
Cindy lowered her eyes and kept pulling grit from the sole.
“Dad wanted to do something nice for me,” Madison said brightly, standing up from the bed. “He was cleaning my shoes to show how much he loves me.”
A look of doubt crossed McKenzie’s face as she took in the scene.
Madison noticed at once.
“Tell her I’m not lying, Dad.”
Greg looked up at Madison for the briefest second, then over at McKenzie.
“She’s telling the truth, Kenzie,” he said carefully. “I wanted to do something for her. It’s not like I can take her out for ice cream the way I used to.”
It wasn’t exactly a lie anymore.
Not fully.
It had become the story Madison wanted, and Greg was too deep inside it now to tear it apart without exposing what he had actually been trying to do.
The irony that he could have simply waited a little longer and seen McKenzie anyway was not lost on him.
“We heard from Madison that you’ve got a real shot at the tour,” Greg added. “We’re really proud of you.”
McKenzie’s face softened immediately.
“Dad,” she said, and there was real warmth in it, “you know I wanted to tell you myself. It’s just been insane with school and work and practice.” She stepped a little closer. “I promise I’ll set aside some time for you.”
Greg felt something in his chest ease at that, however briefly.
Madison, standing a few feet away, caught it.
“They’re really locking in,” she said, her tone casual, almost conversational. “Mom’s gotten a lot better. She’s not as confused as she was at the start. She’s really settled into things.”
Cindy kept her face down, but the words still landed.
Then Madison walked over toward Greg and gave him a few gentle pets, fingers brushing over his hair and back with practiced affection.
“It’s still harder on Dad, though,” she said. “The back and forth can get confusing for him.”
McKenzie’s expression shifted. “What do you mean, confusing?”
Madison gave a small shrug, but the pause before she answered was just long enough to make it seem like she hadn’t wanted to say it.
“Well… you know.”
McKenzie waited.
Madison exhaled lightly, as if reluctant. “I just think he needs consistency. It’s probably hard for him, bouncing back and forth between us. I think sometimes it confuses him about whose direction he should really be following.”
Greg looked up sharply.
“And for a Little,” Madison added, glancing at McKenzie, “that can get dangerous.”
“No, that’s not—” Greg began.
Madison turned her head at once.
“Dad,” she said, not sharply, but with that unmistakable tone she used when she wanted immediate compliance, “we’re talking. Finish my shoes.”
The correction landed with humiliating ease.
Then Madison looked back at McKenzie, her expression smoothing over again.
“Maybe we should talk downstairs,” she said. The tone she used made it sound absurdly like a parent deciding to move a conversation away from children who didn’t need to hear it.
McKenzie hesitated only a second before nodding.
“I’ll be right back, Dad,” she said. “Then we can talk after Madison and I go downstairs.”
And just like that, it was settled.
There was no appeal.
No way to push.
McKenzie was still ultimately in charge, and now Greg was trapped again, stuck waiting while the two daughters decided what his life meant.
Madison gave Greg one last absentminded pat, then turned and headed for the door with McKenzie beside her.
Cindy kept working silently until the door shut behind them.
Then, only then, did she look up.
Madison didn’t say anything as she followed McKenzie downstairs.
She waited until they were fully down in the living room, far enough from the stairs and far enough from the bedroom that she could feel reasonably sure there were no Little ears catching pieces of the conversation through vents, floorboards, or open space.
Only then did she speak.
“Dad doesn’t listen because you coddle him,” Madison said, folding her arms. “He needs to understand how things actually are. I love him, McKenzie, but that doesn’t mean he gets to run around acting like he still understands the world better than we do. He’s a Little.”
McKenzie’s expression tightened slightly. “Madison, they’re still our parents. You can’t just treat them like you would random Littles.”
Madison made a face. “I don’t.”
McKenzie waited.
“I treat Mom the way she would want a Little treated,” Madison said. “That’s different. And I’m good to Dad. You know I’m good to Dad.”
McKenzie didn’t disagree with that, which Madison noticed immediately.
“But you heard what your coach and trainer said,” Madison continued, pressing the advantage. “You actually have a shot. A real one. You could go way beyond here.”
McKenzie’s posture shifted a little at that. Not pride exactly. More the weary awareness of possibility turning into logistics.
“And if that happens,” Madison said, “then who’s doing Little parent duty while you’re at tournaments and training and whatever else? Because you’re not going to be able to do everything yourself.”
McKenzie blinked. “Little parent duty?”
Madison rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean.”
Then she added, more casually, “Also… we’re obviously going with you.”
McKenzie stared at her. “We?”
“Yeah, we,” Madison said, like this should have been self-evident. “You’re my guardian now. You were not seriously planning to leave me here while you go flying out of the country for a week or something doing tennis stuff.”
“Well… no,” McKenzie said, caught slightly off balance. “Of course not. I just haven’t really thought through the logistics yet.”
Madison nodded once, already moving on because that answer was good enough for her.
“Exactly. So I’m thinking through them now.”
She stepped a little closer.
“If you’re busy, then I’m the one who’s mostly going to be taking care of them. Which means Dad needs to actually respect me as an authority. And that does not work if he keeps running to you every time he gets in his feelings.”
McKenzie opened her mouth slightly, but Madison kept going.
“He’s our Little father,” she said. “And I need you backing me on that.”
McKenzie exhaled through her nose. “Madison…”
“I’m serious.” Madison’s tone was firmer now, though still recognizably hers. “I took Mom in that stupid custody thing with the case workr because we both know you weren’t going to. You would’ve hated it, and honestly? She’s the worst Little anyway. You know how Mom is.”
Despite herself, McKenzie almost looked like she might smile.
Almost.
“Madison.”
“What?” Madison said, defensive now. “It’s true. She’s exhausting and kind of a bigot about littles.”
McKenzie shook her head, but there was less resistance in it than there had been a minute ago.
Then her face settled again.
“I’m trusting you,” she said. “But there better not be any funny business with this.”
Madison’s expression went immediately innocent in that way that meant she was absolutely enjoying herself.
“There isn’t.”
McKenzie gave her a look that made clear she did not fully buy that.
“I mean it,” she said. “If I find out you’re twisting things or pulling something, I’m dropping the hammer on you.”
Madison lifted both hands slightly. “Okay, okay. Jesus.”
But they both knew she was pleased.
Because “dropping the hammer” still meant McKenzie was talking about boundaries inside Madison’s authority, not taking it away from her. And for now, that was enough.
Fuuuu….
Lol
Congrats McKenzie you have now been manipulated!! And if I know how this story will go then Greg won’t say anything… Also McKenzie has a problem with him cleaning madsions shoes but not painting her toes??? Where is her consistency…. I’m sorry but Greg is the only decent one in the family
Cindy was painting Madison’s nails in season 2 when McKenzie came to talk with her. I don’t know if McKenzie has been present for Greg painting her nails .
She was also more questioning.
There are more reasons she could question this like it just being outside the normal schedule.
She could have expected them to be in the habitat.
She was present: Madison’s World Redux: Season Two: Episode Seventy Five, she came into the room to talk to Madison and Greg and Cindy were painting nails…. McKenzie has fallen! I repeat McKenzie has fallen
Madison the Manipulator is at it again.
Madison? Never all her points were on the up and up.
Lol, no, she is a liar!
She did bring up actual facts here though. McKenzie is her guardian. A solution would b needed.
The greatest manipulators and liars always have some truth in what they say lol
True, she’s still scum, though.
Can’t wait to read Lethal’s post on this episode 😁
I have strong feelings about the last few episodes, but have not posted anything because so much of them are obvious.
Yes Madison is a manipulating bitch, but there is a twisted form of love there as well.
McKenzie is just not there enough and still suffers from some of Cindy’s pre-Little indoctrination about Littles. She does not agree with all of it, but she does agree with some of it, much to Greg’s dismay.
Madison is unfortunately correct about having to watch both parents in the future, unless McKenzie’s future plans drastically change. Greg’s only hope for a better future is a change in attitude for Madison, or McKenzie realizing that something needs to be done and hires a “nanny” (assuming she becomes successful enough to do that). Both of these options are highly unlikely.
Greg (and Cindy) are going to have either accept their fate as Littles (by Cindy’s definition), or they are going to have to out-manipulate Madison.
Of course Asuka could throw us all a curve ball at some point! 😇
This I think this was always Greg’s fait when I when I heard Kenz was getting really busy. Greg needs to suck up to Madison and ask if he can get a little guy toenail painting kit from little mart so he can do her nails instead of Cindy. That would be a good suck up. Organization of her makeup like Jordan could also work.
If this goes the way I think it will go I think Greg will loose himself and McKenzie will be to blame because she’s too busy, she’ll notice how Greg will talk to her and how he will act… it’s kinda sad
0) Oh yeah, return of the Mc(Kenzie)
1) “They were both mid-pull, bent over the rubber tread, when McKenzie walked into Madison’s room.” So she went straight to Madison’s room? If he had made it to McKenzie’s room, he would have been waiting anyway, lol
2) “Why is Dad cleaning your shoes?” Is that really so weird a sight for her?
3) “Cindy felt that omission immediately. Not why are Mom and Dad cleaning your shoes. Just Dad”, get fucked, Cindy
4) “Approaching McKenzie over Madison now, even in something as small as tone or eye contact, would be treated as crossing a line. Madison had made that clear often enough.” Who taught her these uncrossable lines?
5) “I wanted to do something for her. It’s not like I can take her out for ice cream the way I used to.” heartbreaking reality, though not technically a lie. He wanted to do something nice to distract from the betrayal that he was doing an instant prior
6) “It’s still harder on Dad, though. The back and forth can get confusing for him.” He’s not confused; he just wants time with both daughters. Though maybe it’d be less ‘confusing’ for him if less information was hidden from him
7) “I just think he needs consistency. It’s probably hard for him, bouncing back and forth between us. I think sometimes it confuses him about whose direction he should really be following.” It wouldn’t really be any harder than a child of divorced parents bouncing between mom and dad’s new homes.
8) “Dad, we’re talking. Finish my shoes.” Alright, fuck you, Mads
9) “Dad doesn’t listen because you coddle him,” Greg still did what you wanted, Madison; he just doesn’t pretend he doesn’t have his own wants also.
10) “Madison, they’re still our parents. You can’t just treat them like you would random Littles.” While I agree with that to a certain point. I don’t like the implication that Littles need pre-existing relationships with a guardian to be treated respectfully.
11) “Little parent duty?” I feel like guardian duty would be a more accurate description.
12) “I just haven’t really thought through the logistics yet.” Fair, she doesn’t even know for sure if she’s going yet
13) “Dad needs to actually respect me as an authority. And that does not work if he keeps running to you every time he gets in his feelings.” Respect is earned, and he would run to McKenzie if you didn’t keep getting him in his feelings
14) “I took Mom in that stupid custody thing with the caseworker because we both know you weren’t going to. You would’ve hated it, and honestly? She’s the worst Little anyway. You know how Mom is.” As much as I hate Cindy, lines like that still seem so mean to read.
15) “What? It’s true. She’s exhausting and kind of a bigot about littles.” Hey, Kettle, the pot called, she says you’re black.
16) “I’m trusting you, But there better not be any funny business with this.” Oh, poor naive McKenzie, there will be, there always is. Please tell me she’ll at least spend time with Greg tonight, instead of getting his hopes up just to crush them.
17) “If I find out you’re twisting things or pulling something, I’m dropping the hammer on you.” Yes, McKenzie, make your power moves.
18) “Because “dropping the hammer” still meant McKenzie was talking about boundaries inside Madison’s authority, not taking it away from her. And for now, that was enough.” definitely something I wanna see more of.
14) This makes me think of a Simpsons episode where Bart and Lisa are arguing about who likes Homer more:
Lisa: You like him more!
Bart: No, you like him more!
.
.
.
and so on 🤣
“I’m serious.” Madison’s tone was firmer now, though still recognizably hers. “I took Mom in that stupid custody thing with the case workr because we both know you weren’t going to. You would’ve hated it, and honestly? She’s the worst Little anyway. You know how Mom is.” – I can’t quite understand the meaning of this sentence, perhaps because of the translator. Is Madison saying that Mackenzie would have given up her mother’s care? Wouldn’t have taken her away from social workers?
Madison is basically airing the laundry over what happened that day all the way back in season 1.
McKenzie wasn’t taking Cindy full stop. There was no circumstance where she was putting her name down for Cindy. McKenzie was only taking her dad and made sure she got her dad.
Madison is saying she stepped up and took mom, giving up her opportunity to get Greg on paper because she knew McKenzie wasn’t taking their mother.
So Madison had to do what was right as it’s ultimately their mother. So she was forced into taking Cindy by McKenzie, Madison let McKenize do what she wanted but Madison isnt letting McKenize forget about it.
It’s strange, this is the first time I’ve read about this. I don’t think it happened in the first season. As far as I remember, they actually expected Mackenzie to help because she’s more sensible. And guardianship was also granted to her, jointly. Perhaps this happened somewhere behind the scenes in Greg and Cindy’s vision, in a conversation between the sisters that the Littles weren’t supposed to know about. But if Mackenzie really wanted to abandon her mother, she’s an even worse scumbag than Madison. All in all, they’re a decent family.
It was mentioned that if there was a split between the sisters they legally documented who would get who. This is referencing that line.
it wasn’t highlighted but was a part of season 1 but its literally just a line. every part can matter you never know what i might pull out as crucial even if it seems not important in the moment.
Well, I remember that. I thought Mackenzie didn’t want to take her mother from the start, but leave her to the state.
Kenz is a ghost guardian & Madison
Knows it
0) The long awaited return
1) yup that is the irony McKenzie was coming directly to see them so gregs plan would have meant she either missed him completely or she sees him in the hallway and would have scolded him for being reckless.
2) Not in and of itself. its more why is he doing right now as normally they are in the habitat by this point. Kind of like if a kid is staying up late and then the parents come home and tehy are like why is so so and still up.
She just didnt understand why tehyw ere cleaning shoes this late at night unless something happened.
3) Well McKenize is going to care way more about Greg then Cindy. Consiering there history.
4) Madison not getting Greg is a factor with the case worker. As Madison is already historically a bit jealous and feels 2nd place at itmes to greg adn mckenzie’s relationship. As its always been easier for them. So Madison has always been protective of her space and time with Greg. Now that he is a little and she can exert more control she is trying to hold onto whatever she can in anyway that she can. As she isnt stupid. She can see how things play out if she does nothing.
5) yup, i mean he probbaly does like how genuniely happy shesi about it. As making her happy does make him happy. But what lead to it happening wasn;t good intentions.It was covering up trying to see Mckenzie which would have made madison mad, sad, and hurt.
6) Now now lets not bring logic into this.
7) that is true. and like hte child Greg is caught in the middle.
8) That one in a vacuum does come off a litlte harsh. Shes trying to fight for dad time though and its hard to do that with him interrupting as McKenzie will take it all.
9) That is true he does have his own wants and dreams still. Just ebcuase he is a little that doesnt change that. He is more adjusted then Cindy in that he does still have interests and things he likes to do.
10) I agree with you. it shouldnt be one or hte other but i try to look at it realistically, people will be more invested, generally speaking, if it is a family member. Not that relations of the family variety are required but it helps.
11) both work.
12) yup but Madison bringing it up and thinking about makes sense as it does directly affect her. As McKenzie is her guardian. So she is more directly affected.
13) He might though as McKenzie is setup as hte final authority. So he knows if he doenst like madisons choice he can always go to mckenzie and him and Mckenzie have a good relationship so she would definately listen..
14) Its true though in that Madison also wanted Greg. Her father is important ot her too and would want him under her care. If madison had gotten greg it would have been a different story completely. As she is only doing the cindy stuff because of cindy and honoring ehr. If she was Gregs guardian
15) Madison I wouldnt call a bigot. Cindy I would for sure. As Madison doenst inherently treat other littles the same way she trets cindy.
17) Mckenzie powers activate. She will come in guns blazing for her dad.
16) you will have to wait and see.
18) you do like some good Madison punishment
Madison was already starting to rub his hair like she started the bonding with Cindy. It would make sense for Madison wanting to bond Greg to her for a leg up on kenez