“Are the Pizza Rolls cooled down enough for my dad?” Madison asked as she continued to pet him gently in her lap.
“Yeah, they’re basically room temperature now,” Krysi said.
She tossed one of the last Pizza Rolls toward Madison, who caught it with one hand. Madison took a bite first, breaking through the exterior and exposing the softer filling inside.
Greg watched with quiet understanding.
He knew what she was doing.
It was humbling, knowing he could not even eat one of his favorite snacks without Madison helping him. The outer shell would have been too much for him to bite through cleanly on his own. Too thick. Too awkward. Too much food at once for his smaller body.
It was the kind of helplessness he wondered if he would ever truly get used to.
Madison set the opened Pizza Roll down near him on her lap.
Before Smallara, he could eat ten of these without thinking about it. He remembered tossing them into the air fryer on weekend afternoons before a game, grabbing a cold beer or soda, and standing at the counter eating one too soon even though he knew it would burn his mouth.
Now, looking at one Pizza Roll from this size, he could not imagine finishing the whole thing.
He leaned forward and took a bite.
Even to his Little tongue, the taste came flooding back.
Sauce.
Cheese.
Pepperoni.
Salt and heat and memory.
For a moment, he forgot to feel embarrassed.
Brooklyn noticed immediately.
“Look how happy he looks,” she said, snickering. “It’s the little things. He looks exactly like Madison with an iced coffee.”
Krysi laughed. “Oh my god, he does.”
“It must be a family trait,” Brooklyn added.
Madison’s face flushed. “I do not.”
“You do.”
“I do not. Shut up.” Madison reached for another Pizza Roll. “I love a good Starbucks. Sue me. It’s not like you’ve ever turned down pizza.”
Brooklyn pointed at her. “Pizza is different.”
“How?”
“Because it has dignity.”
Krysi nearly choked laughing.
Madison rolled her eyes. “You are so annoying.”
Greg listened to the familiar back and forth with a strange ache in his chest. He had heard this kind of banter hundreds of times over the years. Madison and her friends teasing each other in the kitchen, in the car, at sleepovers, sprawled across the living room like the world belonged to them.
Only now, the voices were above and around him.
His youngest daughter was a literal giant, and he was eating part of a Pizza Roll in her lap, careful not to get sauce on her clothes. If he spilled, he knew exactly what would happen. Madison would make a face, try not to be too mad because she was in a decent mood, and then he would spend the evening blotting at the stain with a tiny cloth until she was satisfied.
No one liked stains on their clothes.
Madison especially did not.
Her clothes, shoes, jewelry, everything had to look practically brand new.
Brooklyn glanced toward the stairs. “What is Evan doing? Did she get lost going to get your mom?”
The room shifted slightly.
Not a lot.
Just enough.
Greg looked up from the Pizza Roll.
Krysi leaned back against the couch, another Pizza Roll between her fingers. “You know Evan. She likes giving Cindy the real Little experience Cindy always said people needed. Evan always felt Cindy was too hard on Charizard with all her methods.”
Madison’s hand stilled against Greg’s back.
“She didn’t give Charity enough respect,” Krysi added. “Greg was there. He probably gets it.”
Greg did not answer right away.
Ava’s expression changed too, her earlier playfulness fading around the edges.
“Well,” Ava said, “Cindy was good at making people she didn’t like, or didn’t think were worth it, feel like trash.”
The room quieted more.
Ava looked down, then back toward Madison.
“Look at what she thought of my family. Because my parents are immigrants, she always made these little comments. Not super obvious. Just subtle stuff. Like enough that if you called it out, she could act like you were being dramatic.”
Greg felt the words settle heavily in the room.
He wanted to deny it.
He could not.
Ava gave a small shrug, but it was not casual. “So yeah. It’s not surprising Evan likes giving Cindy a hard time.”
Madison looked down at Greg, waiting.
That was the hard part.
They were all waiting.
Not because they expected him to fix it. He could not. Not anymore.
But because he was Cindy’s husband, and whatever he said still mattered in some small way.
Greg set his hands on Madison’s lap and took a breath.
“Cindy was, and still is, very opinionated,” he said carefully. “And sometimes she couldn’t see the other side. She looked at things from her point of view and assumed that was the correct one.”
Ava watched him quietly.
Greg continued, “But she was also loving. Caring. Kind, in her way. She did try to help people.”
Brooklyn lifted an eyebrow but did not interrupt.
Greg looked down.
“It just came at a cost,” he said. “And some people would say the cost may not have been worth it.”
The words hurt to say.
Maybe because they were true.
Madison’s fingers resumed their soft motion over his back, but her voice was quieter now.
“Dad, I know you love Mom.”
Greg looked up at her.
“But she doesn’t even think she’s a Little,” Madison said. “She won’t admit it. She won’t even consider it. She’s never going to adjust. She’s not like you.”
Greg opened his mouth, but before he could answer, they heard Madison’s bedroom door open upstairs.
A second later, it closed.
The sound carried through the house.
Everyone went quiet.
Even Brooklyn stopped moving on the couch.
Footsteps approached the stairs.
Evan was coming back.
And she was bringing Cindy with her.
Stuff is gonna get real.
whatever do you mean?
LOL, you know what I mean.
part of me is hoping that Greg asks to sit with Cindy
that would be a bold move. “So you want to sit on Evans lap but not my lap?” Many a women have a field day with similar “injustices” and “insults” against them.
oh haha i wasn’t thinking of it like that, I was thinking Cindy would sit with Greg on Madison’s lap
“Dad, I know you love Mom.”
Greg looked up at her.
“But she doesn’t even think she’s a Little,” Madison said. “She won’t admit it. She won’t even consider it. She’s never going to adjust. She’s not like you.” I agree with Madison but how do they expect her to adjust when they test Greg and Cindy differently! Now! I agree that she needs to accept she’s a little first and we’re 8-9 months in and she still doesn’t accept it!!
agreed. idk how much cindy’s really tried up until now, but i’m guessing part of the difficulty is that Cindy is super limited to what she has time to explore in the little sphere because she’s constantly doing work for Madison and Co. on top of her just being a control freak.
But that’s the definition of what Cindy expected for all littles.
I’m not meaning to imply it isn’t, just that even in moments of downtime from not doing a tone of madison work, I think her controlling nature and stubbornness get in the way of exploring the new culture and adapting in the way Greg has.
Like I’m sure he’s busy doing the same stuff, but at least he recognizes this is the life they have now and is trying to make the best of it through engaging in the culture in ways that Cindy isn’t.
though on the otherhand, idk what Madison and her friends mean by adapting. Greg i think has adapted to being a little in terms of having new culture and stuff to explore and has accepted and engaged with it better than any other little, but I’m unsure if that’s what Madison and her friends mean. i’m assuming Madison and Co mean he’s adapted in a way that works for them and is compliant vs actually being a little and making a most of the new world he’s in
Maybe it is easier to be comfortable in the new position when you are treated with at least some modicum of love and not like a scorned dog. It is almost like Cindy was horrifically, obviously wrong and by following her dumbass beliefs, Madison and Kenzie are preventing her from changing and just fostering a deep seeded resentment toward her daughters and husband.
Greg has no room to judge her, as he knew she was a bigot, and not just towards littles, and still loved her and ignored it. He is getting off way easy and is acting like he fought against her shit at all in any meaningful way.
It’s crazy to think that, in less than a week, Jordan has already accepted himself as a little and has even learned to find joy in his new life, even though, before, he didn’t even believe in Smallara.
Cindy’s sick ideology certainly makes things much more difficult. Thankfully, Sara is kind to Jordan and still treats him with dignity and respect.
Yeah. I think the thing with Jordan is that he’s pretty passive by nature, so he may have resisted initially but ultimately he’s easy going enough to transition in his life. Plus he’s got a pretty solid purpose in the sense that he’s trying to keep Sarah emotionally supported, which i think he does a great job in
Also: “Thankfully, Sara is kind to Jordan and still treats him with dignity and respect.”
if there was ever a beetlejuice equivalent for summoning Lethal, this would be it lmao
I think comparing anyone’s experience to Cindy’s doesn’t make sense. She is being straight up treated worse than a dog. I understand that she preached that stuff, but if you believe people deserve slavery as punishment, you still believe in slavery.
Once they became responsible, it was on them to prove their methods of care are better.
In the smallara world, Jordan & Sara need a hallmark movie made. Man gets a better life after he becomes a little because his guardian shows him a life he never knew existed. Lol
Everyone is different. I think Jordan’s personality made it easier for him to accept. He also atleats in my opinion was going to into a better situation.
she could never be ready accept it.
Sigh ….. here we go…. At least I’m ready for the shit show that’s about to happen
You never know it could be a lovefest that follows
……… really….. with this family track record and the conversation just had….. a love fest ….. sure buddy….. I’ll believe when I see it….
You know what I think this is the moment Cindy finally admits the truth and accepts that she is a little shocking everyone after months of fighting it
Showing her love for her daughter and how she’s willing to do anything for them…. Probably me be a foolish with this prediction but damn it I just want the drama to end with Cindy and she finally move forward in a positive way
atleast you wont have to wait long to find out.
1) For a moment, he forgot to feel embarrassed. – Momentarily slipping back into being human.
2) “Look how happy he looks,” she said, snickering. “It’s the little things. He looks exactly like Madison with an iced coffee.” – Little things like being treated as a sentient being.
3) If he spilled, he knew exactly what would happen. – He can’t truly enjoy even this!
4) Krysi leaned back against the couch, another Pizza Roll between her fingers. “You know Evan. She likes giving Cindy the real Little experience Cindy always said people needed. Evan always felt Cindy was too hard on Charizard with all her methods.” – So, we get at least some excuse for Evan’s attitude.
5) Madison looked down at Greg, waiting.
That was the hard part.
They were all waiting. – The typical trap all women set for men.
6) “Dad, I know you love Mom.” – Greg does what he can to support Cindy.
7) “But she doesn’t even think she’s a Little,” Madison said. “She won’t admit it. She won’t even consider it. She’s never going to adjust. She’s not like you.” – Sounds like Madison thinks Cindy is a lost cause.
8) Evan was coming back.
And she was bringing Cindy with her. – Dum Dum Dummmm (ominous music)
9) You never know it could be a lovefest that follows – I’m sure they will all gather round and sing Kumbaya
10) Cindy is going to see Greg with the pizza roll, it will not end well.
11) There will be an argument about who Cindy sits with…. “She sits with you! No she sits with you not me! Oh! just put her on the floor!”
12) Better yet. They ask Cindy who she wants to sit with.
13) Brooklyn- Oh! Cindy did you want a pizza roll? Sorry Greg got the last one.
1) When you believed you were one for pretty much your whole life it woudl be easy to do i feel like it would happen from time to time.
2) Its funny when I wrote that line the intent was the girls were teasing madison a bit but in the comments everyone is portraying it towards Greg. Those are the kind of things I always find interesting when releasing these chapters.
3) Well he can but also its very annoying to get tomato sauce stains out of clothing. So i can understand the practicality of why Madison would be not happy, Now it could be said she could put him somewhere else where it wouldnt be an issue but she also wants quality time with her dad and if he is on the coffee table or whatever it doesnt feel like he is with her to her.
4) Yeah, although to Evan its not an excuse. Charity is important to her. So Cindy acting how she acted wouldn’t sit right with Evan especially now that it turns out Cindy is at best no better then Charity but as a little Evan could view her as less desirable.
5) its like genetically passed on from woman to woman. Where they are born with the knowledge and abilities to do it.
6) I know some people doubt him but I feel like he does do as much as he can without shooting himself in the foot. Its his wife but he also has to look at self-preservation sometimes too. He also wants to keep his relationship with his daughters because he does love and care about them. Ruining his relationship with his daughters to protect Cindy would be asking alot .
7) Well she atleast believes that she knows what cindy believes and where she sits.
8) The moment you have been waiting for.
9) See you get it. But i ahte giving out spoilers.
10) Perhaps
11) Cindy in high demand it sounds like based on your predictions.
12) That would be a pressure cooker for Cindy.
13) lol poor greg.
1) “It was humbling, knowing he could not even eat one of his favourite snacks without Madison helping him” That would certainly be hard to accept
2) “Before Smallara, he could eat ten of these without thinking about it. He remembered tossing them into the air fryer on weekend afternoons before a game, grabbing a cold beer or soda, and standing at the counter eating one too soon even though he knew it would burn his mouth.” Greg’s lost so much
2) “Look how happy he looks, it’s the little things. He looks exactly like Madison with an iced coffee.” – “Oh my god, he does.” – “It must be a family trait,” Finally, something she inherited from Greg instead of Cindy
3) “His youngest daughter was a literal giant” No, she’s actually normal-sized, he’s just small
4) “What is Evan doing? Did she get lost going to get your mom?” I was wondering if Evan was actually taking a while or if it just seemed that way with the way this is written
5) “You know Evan. She likes giving Cindy the real Little experience Cindy always said people needed. Evan always felt Cindy was too hard on Charizard with all her methods.” I like that she might be doing this to protect her Little,
6) “She didn’t give Charity enough respect.” None of you give any Littles enough respect
7) “Greg felt the words settle heavily in the room. He wanted to deny it. He could not.: That’d be hard to hear about your wife.
8) “Cindy was, and still is, very opinionated, and sometimes she couldn’t see the other side. She looked at things from her point of view and assumed that was the correct one.” Greg is taking the neutral approach, what a surprise. In other news, a fork was found in the kitchen.
7) “But she doesn’t even think she’s a Little, She won’t admit it. She won’t even consider it. She’s never going to adjust. She’s not like you.” That denial will hold her back
1) Atleast his favorite snack is not expensive. A bag of Pizza rolls is pretty inexpensive. At his current size if they buy him even 20 thats probably months worth of snackage for him.
It woudl be humbling to need help but that is true of people with disabilities as well. Sometimes you just need help.
2) Maybe not hte trait madison wanted but there are far worse things seh could have inerhited
3) true, although you could say he is normal sized as well for a little male.
4) No shes taking a long time. As the whole evan scene takes place while allt his is happening.
5) Evan does care about Charity. She’s her little, and pet, and part of her family. So it would bother her if she felt Cindy was crossing a line.
6) thats a variable line though
7) At some point reality has to be faced.
I just realised my numbering was 7, 8, 7, so I have no idea which seven you responded to, lol
I didn’t even. Realize that numbering issue myself.
1) humbling, but that’s the situation most Littkes are in.
3) also true. But he’s comparing Madison to how she used to look to him.
5) I like that’s
6) True.
Are you only using the fingers on one hand to count with today? 😝
How many fingers do you think are on one hand? 🤚