The hallways were already crowded by the time Madison made her way through them, the usual chaos of the morning settling into place around her. Lockers slammed open and shut in uneven bursts while conversations overlapped into a constant wall of noise that echoed through the building. Students clustered together in shifting groups that forced everyone else to weave around them, creating the familiar current of bodies and movement that came with the start of the school day.
Normally Madison navigated all of it without thinking.
Today, her mind was somewhere else entirely.
McKenzie dropping her off.
The conversation from that morning.
Greg staying with McKenzie more.
The thoughts lingered in the back of her head, pulling her attention inward enough that she stopped paying attention to where she was going.
So when she slammed into someone, it hit harder than it should have.
“What the hell, scrub!”
The voice cut off abruptly.
Madison already knew who it was before she looked up.
“Oh,” Dayton said flatly. “It’s you.”
“Shark,” Madison replied, letting just enough attitude slip into the word to make it clear she meant it.
Dayton stood there completely unmoved by the collision, her expression settling into that familiar mix of annoyance and superiority she always seemed to carry around the school halls like a second uniform. Around her, students were already beginning to subtly shift their attention toward the confrontation. Not openly staring yet, but close enough.
“Yeah,” Dayton replied. “And you’re in my hallway bumping into me like that.”
The emphasis wasn’t on the collision. It was on the possession.
My hallway.
Then she tilted her hand forward slightly, drawing attention downward.
“You could’ve hurt my Ezra. Apologize.”
Madison’s eyes followed the motion instinctively.
Of course, she recognized him.
Ezra literature teacher, or at least what used to pass for one, stood in Dayton’s hand, brushing himself off more out of reflex than necessity. He didn’t look injured. He didn’t even look particularly shaken. Just inconvenienced.
Madison’s gaze lingered there for a brief moment before she looked back up.
Hayden had already moved in beside Dayton.
And further down the row, Hannah and Nicole were watching. Not discreetly, either. Just openly paying attention like this was exactly the kind of thing worth seeing.
Madison took all of it in at once.
Dayton on her own was one thing. Dayton with an audience was something else entirely.
This wasn’t about bumping into someone anymore.
This was a moment.
“I got this, Hayden,” Dayton said casually, leaning back against Nicole’s locker like she had nowhere else to be and nothing else to do. Her eyes never left Madison. “We aren’t going to have any problems, are we, Mads?”
There was a faint smile there, but it didn’t soften anything.
“But why don’t you stay for the apology?”
Ezra spoke before Madison could respond.
“That’s really not necessary,” he said quickly, still brushing himself off. “It was just an accident.”
Dayton didn’t even glance at him.
“You’re my little, Ezra,” she said, her tone smoothing out in a way that somehow made it more pointed. “I can’t have Madison of all people thinking she can knock me around and harm my little.”
She adjusted her grip slightly, almost absent-mindedly, as if the movement didn’t require thought.
“If I wasn’t paying attention, you could’ve gotten hurt,” she continued. “I braced when we hit, using my Left hand to protect you. You know I’m right-handed.”
Madison rolled her eyes, the gesture small but deliberate.
“Whatever,” she said. “He wasn’t in any danger, and you know it.”
Her voice sharpened slightly as she continued, the pushback measured instead of explosive.
“If you’re half the guardian you think you are, you already know that.”
The words hung between them.
Madison didn’t look away.
“I’m not afraid of you.”
It wasn’t loud. It didn’t need to be.
But it shifted the air around them all the same.
Nearby conversations dipped just enough to make it obvious people were paying attention. Not fully silent, but quieter, more focused.
Dayton didn’t react the way most people would have.
No immediate retort. No raised voice. No escalation.
She just looked at Madison for a moment longer, like she was deciding something—how far to take it, how much of this needed to be seen, and by who.
Then she pushed herself off the locker.
“Noted,” she said, her tone almost casual.
Her eyes flicked downward briefly, then returned to Madison.
“And you should be.”
There was no shift in volume. No change in posture.
Just certainty.
“Tell Charity I say not forgiven.”
That landed differently.
Not like part of the same argument.
Like something separate. Something older.
A message, not just a response.
Dayton didn’t wait for an answer. She adjusted her hold on Ezra and stepped past Madison as if the interaction was already over, Hayden falling in beside her without question.
The hallway noise slowly returned to normal around them, conversations picking back up, attention drifting away as quickly as it had gathered.
But the moment didn’t disappear.
Madison stood there for a second longer than she meant to; her jaw tightened slightly as the words settled.
Charity.
Of course, she would bring her into it.
And of course she’d do it here.
Not because it mattered right now.
Because people were watching.
damn! not sure what to make of this one haha totally out of left field.
I guess my one reaction is that Dayton not forgiving Charity’s expected: she’s not very mature in that way and probably doesn’t see forgiveness in the way that Sarah opted to
WAR !!!! It’s going to be a little girl school war !!!! The two sides clearly don’t like each other for reasons both valid and some that are just them being immature kids dealing with a lot in their personal lives
Holy shit, I forgot it was mentioned that Dayton and her friends and Madison and her friends went to the same school. Hell yeah, though I love me some continuity, and Dayton putting Mads in her place is awesome.
WAR IS COMING!!!! It’s going to be two side battle I sense in the force the empire vs …… I don’t know if I call them rebels since they were the good guys and I can’t say Mads and co are all that good in that sense soooooooo ….
Maybe the Galactic empire of Dayton versus semi rebel alliance of Madison
It’s going to get ugly ( obviously no fighting to the death but ugly in maybe words and maybe punch’s thrown like any school fights)
Either way….. like in GOT of winter is coming….. WAR IS COMING!!!!
Wooooow the crossover!! Love it!!
True it’s awesome to see worlds collide but what a collision of this magnitude will bring …. I fear it will lead to a middle school level of chaos and conflict
Oh so a middle school version of a street war I see interesting turn of events
Also does Evan and crew know what charity did to Sara at this point?
If I recall, I think Charity kept it to herself in Evan’s World, so I’m not sure.
True that but the chances of maybe Evan and charity talking about her past might have happened hard to say otherwise depending where in the timeline we are at it’s hard to imagine if this happened seeing how Mads took Dayton message and her reaction
Hmmm I give it 60/40 chance they do but not sure if Mads is angry at charity or angry for charity and is willing to protect her or however she views it she clearly doesn’t like it being put out there idk it’s clear that there’s going to be a big conflict between the two sides lol with a slight edge in influence and a slight moral edge …. And I say slight moral edge by like one point at most lol
Charity’s actions towards Sara were all public, and were meant to be. Charity publicly tore Sara down.
What wasn’t so public is how Sara almost ended her life over the taunting. Also not so public is Sara forgiving (not sure it was full forgiveness or just moving on) Charity.
that’s true, but it was kind of implied Evan wasn’t aware of that during Evans world. She seemed to be under the impression Sarah and Charity either just knew each other or were somewhat friends or acquaintances, which makes sense as Evan i believe idolized Charity to an extent.
I think this chapter is a great reminder that, at the end of the day, these are children. They are being expected to be responsible for the life and wellbeing of a whole thinking person on top of managing all of the things a teenager has to, and in Madison’s case, without the support and guidance from her parents. Their house is basically suburban Lord of the Flies at this point, so I am trying to judge them much less harshly.
This society is fucked up for giving actual children that responsibility though.
Yaaaaaaaaay realistic wise I highly doubt government would allow this young of age to handle a little unless it’s family and personal responsibility but yeah it’s hard to say this society isn’t fucked up in some regards
I think they for sure wouldn’t let them be solely responsible without some kind of adult guardian.
You need to remember that the government and society see them as not much more than a domesticated pet.
As far as I can tell, if you are of age (12 or 13 I think), pass the training and can pay the fees, you can own a Little.
Even though they are called “Junior Guardians” I don’t think there was a requirement for any supervision other than governmental.
I understand that and am saying that that is exactly what I mean by it is fucked up though. It doesn’t make much sense when you can talk to them and see that their mental faculties are all still there to treat someone like an animal, no matter what the government says, unless society is just either insanely ignorant or evil. I would understand if they became dumber, but what could possibly lead to someone watching someone they love shrink down, have them communicate that they are mentally unchanged, and you still treat them like a dog. Much less majority of society.
I just have a real problem seeing some of these characters as good natured when they so easily disregard the feelings of people they cared about and knew because the government told them to. Despite the fact that they are still able to talk to them and confirm that their minds work.
American history has repeatedly shown that when a vulnerable group can be legally reclassified, economically exploited, or socially marked as lesser, large parts of society can be convinced to accept terrible treatment as normal. That is the foundation of Madison’s World and Smallara as a whole.
The argument that “people would never treat mentally intact Littles like pets because they can still talk” assumes that humanity is always enough to protect people. American history proves otherwise. Enslaved Black people were obviously human. Native Americans were obviously human. Women were obviously human. Poor Black citizens trying to vote were obviously citizens. None of that stopped systems from being built to deny them rights, dignity, land, wages, safety, or political power.
After the Civil War, the 15th Amendment was supposed to protect voting rights regardless of race, yet Southern states developed literacy tests, poll taxes, intimidation, and other Jim Crow restrictions to suppress Black voting while pretending the system was legal and orderly. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was necessary because those rights had been so systematically denied.
Women were not granted constitutional protection for voting until the 19th Amendment was ratified in 1920. That means the country spent well over a century treating women as full moral beings in private life while denying them equal political power or rights in public life.
Native Americans were forcibly displaced through policies like the Indian Removal Act, which helped turn land theft and forced migration into official government policy.
Workplace inequality followed the same pattern. The Equal Pay Act of 1963 was necessary because women could perform substantially equal work and still be paid less on the basis of sex. The law exists because society had normalized unequal treatment while pretending it was just the way things worked.
So in Madison’s World, the government does not need to prove Littles are mindless. It only needs to create a category that says their personhood no longer counts the same way. Once the state says, “They are reborn as Littles,” the public can be taught to see their old identity as dead and their new status as natural. That is how oppressive systems often function. They do not erase the victim’s humanity in reality. They erase the legal and social obligation to respect it.
So if a disease created a physically vulnerable class of people who were suddenly easier to control, exploit, license, sell products to, regulate, and politically silence, I do not think it is unrealistic that the government and private industry would build an ideology around that. They would say Littles are not really the same people anymore. They would say the “human” died and the “Little” was reborn. They would create guardianship laws, registration fees, approved habitats, collars, food systems, care licenses, and penalties for noncompliance.
And once that system existed, ordinary people would not have to think of themselves as evil or bad. They could say, “I’m following the law.” “This is what experts recommend.” “This is safer for them.” “They’re happier this way.” “They aren’t really adults anymore.” That is how dehumanization becomes normal.
The believability of this world, and why I think of the world itself almost as a character, comes from that history. American history repeatedly shows that people can be convinced to accept cruelty when it is legalized, normalized, profitable, and aimed at a group society has been taught to see as lesser.
Madison and McKenzie are not inventing this ideology from nothing. They are children absorbing the world around them. Madison embraces the system because it gives her power, convenience, and emotional revenge against parental authority. McKenzie partially accepts it because it gives her a way to process her resentment toward Cindy while still seeing herself as caring and responsible.
Neither of them has to think, “I am a bad person.” They can think, “This is just how Littles work now.” And that is the point. The story is not arguing that what happens to Littles is right. It is arguing that history gives us plenty of reason to believe a society could convince itself that it is right, because societies already have before, and they likely will again. Its why the world feels real as it’s plausible in an uncomfortable way often times.
I’ll also point out that my examples are American because, as an American, I am more familiar with American history. There are many examples of this happening throughout history and in other countries as well. The specific events differ, but the patterns are often similar: legal reclassification, economic exploitation, social dehumanization, and normalization through authority.
If they got into a verbal battle, Dayton could go low and say “maybe I’ll see if there is a way I can make your parents my littles “ lol
I am worried that may be what she is doing. Not making them hers, but making it known that they are two minors who have no adult guardians, and are therefore unfit to care for her parents. Which she wouldn’t be wrong about, but still…
I think that was all taken care of in season 1. McKenzie is the legal guardian of Madison, so the government has spoken on that issue.
“Guardian” gets a bit confusing in this case, given that owners of Littles are called Guardians as well. 😀
Yeah I’m pretty sure kenzie is emancipated and is Madisons legal guardian
Facts 100%
A) I could be wrong but I believe Kenz is considered a adult legally
B) Many teenagers around the country are more mature and motivated than millions of adults laying around our country.
McKenzie is emancipated which even though she is a teenager she is legally an adult. As Madisons guardian she has to work, provide a safe home, etc. and prove she can live independently which she did.
So she is legally adult despite her age which is why she is able to run the house, be responsible for her sister and basically keep the family together.
1) “Oh,” Dayton said flatly. “It’s you.”
What the devil is…what is the devil still doing in this middle school? It’s 2023, she should be 15 at this point, an American high school-aged student (I looked it up). It’s established that Madison and Dayton went to the same middle school, but this seems off in the timeline2) “Shark,” Madison replied, letting just enough attitude slip into the word to make it clear she meant it.” I do like Dayton getting attitude, even if it’s from another demon child
3) “familiar mix of annoyance and superiority she always seemed to carry around the school halls like a second uniform” I assume that’s her default setting
4) “You could’ve hurt my Ezra. Apologise.” pretending to care for her Little to assert dominance over another person is an odd surprise.
5) “Hayden had already moved in beside Dayton. And further down the row, Hannah and Nicole were watching. Not discreetly, either. Just openly paying attention like this was exactly the kind of thing worth seeing.” They would gang up on yonder students
6) “That’s really not necessary, It was just an accident.” Ezra defying
SatanDayton is a releif7) “I can’t have Madison of all people thinking she can knock me around and harm my little.” I’m surprised these two aren’t friends, to be honest. They have so much in common.
8) “If I wasn’t paying attention, you could’ve gotten hurt,” but if you were paying attention, you probably could have avoided the collision.
9) “If you’re half the guardian you think you are, you already know that.” Kinda the stuff I wish Ezra would say to her, not Madiosn
10) “I’m not afraid of you.” Dayton losing power is good to see
11) “Tell Charity I say not forgiven.” I’m sure Jordan would pass the same message to Dayton, given the chance. (actually that’d be a pretty funny message for Ezra to have to pass on).
12) “That landed differently. Not like part of the same argument, like something separate. Something older,” Does Madiosn even have the context for that?
13) “Charity. Of course, she would bring her into it. And of course she’d do it here. Not because it mattered right now. Because people were watching.” No one performs without an audience.
1) She could be as old as fifteen as young as 14. 8th graders are typically 14. The reason Dayton isn’t a freshmen in high school is two fold.
2) Madison is definately the kind of character who would give Dayton attitude whether it is wise or not is anoher story. But she wouldnt be afraid too. The difference between them is stark though. Dayton is popular, people do respect and fear her. She is the leader of her group. Madison is popular in her grade but she doesnt lead her group. Evan is the leader. You could aruge brooklyn is a co-leader but evan is hte clear alpha of the group. Madison is behind both of them.
3) It is. She never leaves home without it.
4) She does care about what happens to ezra. I did really enjoy hte idea of Dayton using her little to assert dominance over another. It seemed like it would be unexpected to people. So i like that you found it surprsiing.
5) Although they didnt gang up on Madison they just watched. As Dayton could destroy Madison for sport. She doesnt really need help.
6) Ezra still has some Ezra in him.
7) Dayton would never be friends with them because of Charity. Sara is to important to Dayton. She understands Sara has forgiven Charity, but what Charity caused went beyond Sara the moment Sara tried to take her life because of Charity. At that moment forgiveness no longer solely lies with Sara as the pain, the consequence, and the repercussions go beyond Sara. That hurt, that pain was inflicted on the people around Sara. Who each have to reconcile and deal with it.
8) Well, she wasn’t facing Madison, though. As Madison bumps into Dayton and then Dayton has to react accordingly to protect Ezra first and then herself. There is some legitimacy here. Not saying Dayton didnt overreacat but it wasnt nothing either.
9) you have to give Madison some credit here.
10) Well it is partly a lie. Madison is willing to stand up to Dayton but she is also afraid of her. Just like pretty much most of the other students and faculty.
11) Jordan seems to nice to be that petty though. Especially after the holiday where Sara talked to him about not having to accept or forgive Dayton but that doesnt change that she is going to be in her life as Sara does love and Care abotu Dayton. So he can choose to be involved or can stay behind in Dayton present festivities.
12) Madison knows Dayton knows Charity, and Dayton is mad at her. She doesn’t know what for, as Dayton hasn’t shared out of respect for Sara. As it’s not hers to share. Charity also hasnt shared any information about why Dayton is mad at her, which would involve Sara.
13) You are right about that.