While Ava used Cindy as her new practice Little, Greg stayed with Madison, Brooklyn, and Evan.
He hated how small he was.
Not every second. Not in the dramatic way Cindy hated it, where every breath seemed to become a legal argument against the universe. For Greg, it was often simpler than that.
Being a Little was inconvenient.
Everything was bigger. Everything was farther away. Every normal object became something that required help, planning, or permission. Even sitting in Madison’s lap after eating part of a Pizza Roll came with the quiet knowledge that he could not simply get up, stretch, grab a drink, and walk to another room.
He was full from the Pizza Roll now, fuller than he wanted to admit. He had watched Madison finish the rest of it with the same effortless bite that still felt impossible to reconcile. What had become a meal to him was barely a snack to her.
Now he was being lovingly prodded and fussed over by Madison and Brooklyn.
Madison’s fingers moved through his hair, not roughly, but with the distracted confidence of someone already imagining changes. Brooklyn leaned in from the side, studying him like he was a project they had just remembered needed work.
“Oh my god,” Brooklyn said. “You should totally get Brie to work on his hair.”
Greg looked up. “I appreciate it, but I really don’t think I need…”
“She’s like a wizard when it comes to Little styling,” Brooklyn continued, as if Greg had not spoken. “Like actually. Charity’s hair would look tragic without her.”
Evan looked over from where she was half watching Ava practice with Cindy. “Charizard’s hair is not tragic.” Evan says giving Charity a gentle pet.
“Because Brie saves it,” Brooklyn said.
Madison’s eyes lit up. “Wait, Dad, you remember Brie, right? She does the scent baths and Charity’s styling stuff. Mom goes sometimes.”
Greg tried to keep his expression neutral. “I remember hearing about her.”
“Perfect,” Madison said, like that settled everything.
“It really doesn’t need to be a whole thing,” Greg said.
“Don’t worry, Dad,” Madison said, patting his shoulder with one finger. “I’ll handle everything. You’re gonna look totally adorbs.”
Greg closed his eyes for half a second.
Adorbs.
He was a grown man. A father. A husband. A former full sized adult who had once picked Madison up from dance, paid bills, fixed leaky faucets, and stood in line at home improvement stores comparing screws by thread size.
Now his daughter was promising he would look adorbs.
Brooklyn tilted her head, narrowing her eyes in concentration. “Okay, but we need to decide what vibe he is.”
“I already have a vibe,” Greg said.
“Dad,” Madison said gently, “your vibe is cargo shorts at a cookout.”
Brooklyn snapped her fingers. “Yes. Dadcore.”
“That’s not an insult,” Greg said. “Dadcore is practical.”
“It is absolutely an insult in this context,” Evan said.
Greg looked toward her. “I thought you were busy supervising.”
“I can multitask.”
Brooklyn leaned closer, studying Greg’s hair. “He needs something less… suburban.”
Greg frowned. “Suburban?”
Madison nodded seriously. “Yeah, like you look like you’re about to tell someone the grill is almost ready.”
“I have said that many times.”
“We know,” Madison said.
“That’s the problem,” Brooklyn added.
Greg sighed. “I’m not sure I understand why looking like myself is a problem.”
The girls went quiet for half a second, but not in the way he hoped. Not because his point had landed. Because they were all thinking about how to answer without sounding too mean.
Madison softened first. “It’s not a problem, Dad. It’s just… you’re a Little now.”
Greg looked up at her.
“And?” he asked.
“And your styling should fit that,” Madison said, as if it were obvious. “Like, you can still be you, but elevated.”
“Elevated,” Greg repeated.
Brooklyn nodded. “Exactly. Elevated dadcore.”
Evan made a face. “That sounds like a TikTok trend for divorced men.”
Madison laughed. “Stop.”
“No, but seriously,” Brooklyn said. “We don’t want him looking like a toddler. That would be weird. But we also don’t want him looking like he shops at the tiny version of Costco.”
Greg looked offended. “Costco has perfectly good clothes.”
Madison pointed at him. “See? That. That right there is why we need help.”
Brooklyn reached for her phone. “I’m making a note. No Costco energy.”
“I am not energy,” Greg said.
“You are absolutely energy,” Madison said.
Evan leaned over slightly. “He could do a soft fade.”
Madison nodded. “That’s what I was thinking. Not super dramatic. Just cleaned up.”
Brooklyn squinted at Greg. “A subtle fade could be cute. Like, neat on the sides, but keep some length on top.”
“I’m not sure I want a fade,” Greg said.
“Not like a teenager fade,” Madison said quickly. “Not broccoli hair or anything.”
Brooklyn gasped. “Oh my god, imagine Greg with broccoli hair.”
Evan burst out laughing.
“No,” Madison said immediately. “Absolutely not. I would never do that to Dad.”
“Thank you,” Greg said.
“Unless it was really funny,” Brooklyn said.
Madison tried not to laugh. “Brooklyn.”
“I’m kidding.”
Greg was not fully convinced.
Madison turned his chin gently with one finger. “Look forward.”
Greg obeyed before he even thought about it.
That bothered him.
Evan noticed. “Aw, he’s trained.”
Greg gave her a look.
Madison shot Evan a warning glance, but it had no real heat. “Be nice.”
“I am being nice. That was nice.”
Brooklyn lifted her phone. “Spin around, Greggy. Let us see the back.”
Greg stiffened at the nickname.
Greggy.
He hated how easily Brooklyn said it. Like it was charming. Like it belonged to her now. Like Greg Wessen, the adult man who had once driven her home from Madison’s birthday party because her parents were late, had been compressed into something cute enough for her to rename.
He wanted to refuse.
Instead, he turned slowly in Madison’s lap.
“Okay, the back is definitely too long,” Brooklyn said.
“It is not too long,” Greg said.
“It’s giving tiny professor,” Evan said.
Greg turned his head. “A professor is respectable.”
“Not this professor,” Brooklyn said. “This professor forgets his password and asks the class for help.”
Madison laughed so hard her lap moved beneath him, forcing Greg to brace himself.
“Careful,” he said.
“Sorry, Dad,” Madison said, still smiling. She steadied him with one hand. “But she’s not wrong.”
“She is very wrong.”
Brooklyn was already texting. “I’m sending Brie a picture.”
Greg turned quickly. “Wait, no, don’t send pictures of me.”
Madison touched his shoulder. “Dad, it’s fine. It’s Brie.”
“I don’t know Brie really.”
“You’ll meet her.”
“That doesn’t make it better.”
Evan lifted her phone. “Too late. I already took one.”
Greg stared at her. “You took a picture?”
“For reference.”
“Without asking?”
Evan blinked. “It’s hair.”
“It’s my hair.”
Madison gave him a soothing stroke along the back. “Dad, it’s just for styling. No one’s posting it.”
That was meant to comfort him.
It did, slightly. But not enough.
Because his objection had already been reduced to overreaction. They were not trying to embarrass him. That was what made it so hard to argue. To them, this was harmless. Cute. Helpful. A fun way to include him in their after-school talk.
To Greg, it was another reminder that his opinions about his own body had become optional.
Brooklyn’s phone buzzed. “Brie says he has good texture.”
Madison brightened. “See?”
Greg looked between them. “Good texture?”
“Hair texture,” Brooklyn said. “It’s a compliment.”
“I know what hair texture means.”
Evan grinned. “Do you?”
Greg ignored her.
“What else did she say?” Madison asked.
Brooklyn read from her phone. “She says, ‘Light clean-up, softer sides, maybe warm tone correction if Guardian approves.’”
Madison’s mouth opened. “Tone correction.”
“No,” Greg said immediately.
Brooklyn looked delighted. “He said no so fast.”
“I’m not coloring my hair.”
“It’s not coloring,” Madison said. “It’s tone correction.”
“That sounds like coloring with better marketing.”
Evan nodded. “It is.”
Madison glared at her. “Not helping.”
Brooklyn leaned forward. “No, but listen. Not dye-dye. Just like, softening the harshness. Maybe bring out the warmer brown.”
Greg touched his hair self-consciously. “My hair is fine.”
“It is fine,” Madison said. “But it could be better.”
“That is not reassuring.”
“It’s fashion,” Brooklyn said. “Nothing is ever done. It can always be better.”
Greg sighed. “That sounds exhausting.”
“It is,” Madison and Brooklyn said at the same time.
Then both girls laughed.
Evan looked him over. “What about scent?”
Greg’s stomach dropped. “What about scent?”
“Not like Charity’s,” Evan said quickly. “Charizard has a whole signature thing. That’s different.”
Brooklyn looked dreamy. “Her scent bath is so good, though.”
“It is,” Madison said. “But Dad doesn’t need something super sweet.”
“Obviously not,” Brooklyn said. “He’s not vanilla cupcake.”
Greg blinked. “Thank you?”
“He’s more like…” Brooklyn gestured vaguely. “Warm laundry.”
Madison tilted her head. “Clean cotton?”
Evan shook her head. “Too basic.”
“Cedar?” Brooklyn suggested.
Madison considered it. “Maybe. But not too old man.”
Greg looked offended again. “Cedar is not old man.”
“It can be,” Evan said.
“What about something like sandalwood but lighter?” Madison asked.
Brooklyn nodded. “Soft sandalwood, clean linen, maybe a tiny bit of citrus.”
Greg stared at them. He had no idea when his existence had become a candle description.
“I smell fine,” he said.
Madison smiled down at him. “You do smell fine, Dad.”
“Then why are we discussing changing it?”
“Because fine is not the same as curated.”
Greg opened his mouth, then closed it.
There were some sentences he simply had no way to answer.
Brooklyn snapped again. “Okay, wait. Style board. We need a style board.”
“No,” Greg said.
“Yes,” Madison said at the exact same time.
Evan laughed. “Sorry, Greggy. You lost.”
“I don’t remember voting.”
“You don’t get a vote,” Brooklyn said, then caught herself and added brightly, “You get input.”
Greg looked at Madison.
Madison smiled at him with real affection. “You can have input, Dad.”
“What kind of input?”
“Like if something is itchy,” she said.
Brooklyn nodded. “Or if shoes pinch.”
“Or if a scent makes you sneeze,” Evan added.
Greg stared at them.
“That is not input. That is product testing.”
Madison giggled. “Dad.”
“I’m serious.”
“I know,” she said, rubbing one finger along his back. “But you’re not exactly objective about fashion.”
“I have dressed myself successfully for decades.”
Brooklyn laughed. “Successfully is generous.”
Greg pointed at her. “I owned a suit.”
“One suit?” Evan asked.
“A good suit.”
Madison looked at Brooklyn. “He did have a good suit.”
Greg felt a small spark of victory.
Then Madison added, “But that doesn’t mean he understands Little styling.”
The spark died.
“Little styling,” Greg repeated.
Brooklyn nodded. “Totally different proportions.”
Evan leaned in, suddenly sounding more serious. “Actually, that part’s real. Clothes that look normal on humans can make Littles look bulky or weird because the seams scale wrong. Charity had this one jacket early on that made her look like a tiny linebacker.”
Charity went very still in Evan’s lap.
Brooklyn’s eyes flicked down. “No offense.”
Charity looked up politely. “No, Ms. Brooklyn.”
Evan glanced down at her. “It was a bad jacket, Charizard. Not a you problem.”
Charity lowered her eyes again. “Yes, Ms. Evan.”
Brooklyn nodded like that settled it. “Exactly. Bad jacket. Tragic seam placement.”
Madison ran a finger gently over Greg’s shoulder. “See? This is why Brie matters. She knows how to make Littles look right.”
Greg caught the phrase.
Look right.
Not feel right.
Not choose right.
Look right.
He looked down at Madison’s lap, at the fabric beneath his feet, at the hands around him that could turn him, lift him, angle him toward a camera, or decide whether his hair needed tone correction.
“I still think I should get a say,” he said quietly.
Madison’s fingers paused.
For a second, he thought maybe she heard him.
Really heard him.
Then Brooklyn said, “You do get a say. You get to say thank you when you look amazing.”
Madison laughed.
Evan snorted.
Greg forced a smile because not smiling would turn the moment serious, and serious would make Madison defensive.
“There we go,” Brooklyn said. “He knows we’re right.”
Greg did not.
But he also knew he was not going to win a fashion argument with three middle-school girls while sitting in his daughter’s lap at four inches tall.
Brooklyn’s phone buzzed again.
“Brie says she can fit him in with Charity’s next appointment if Madison confirms,” Brooklyn said.
Madison immediately reached for her own phone. “Done.”
“Madison,” Greg said.
She looked down. “Ms. Wessen, Dad.”
The correction was gentle.
Almost playful.
But it was still a correction.
Greg swallowed.
“Ms. Wessen,” he said, “I really don’t think this is necessary.”
Madison’s expression softened. “I know you don’t. That’s why I’m deciding.”
He had no answer to that.
Because she said it with love.
Because she meant it as care.
Because to Madison, this was not dismissing him. This was handling something he could not understand because he was Dad, and dads did not understand styling, and Littles needed Guardians to make presentation decisions.
Brooklyn leaned back, satisfied. “Greggy glo -up is officially happening.”
Evan grinned. “Honestly, deserved.”
Madison looked down at him, eyes bright with excitement. “You’re going to look so good at my dance competition.”
That was the part that stopped him from pushing again.
Her dance competition.
The place she wanted him to be.
The event she had asked him to attend instead of simply taking him.
Greg looked at her face, at the excitement she was trying not to show too much, and felt his resistance weaken.
Not disappear.
Just weaken.
“I don’t want anything too dramatic,” he said.
Madison smiled immediately. “See? Input.”
Brooklyn nodded solemnly. “No broccoli hair. Got it.”
Evan added, “Probably.”
Greg sighed.
Madison laughed and lifted him slightly, pressing a quick kiss near the top of his head. “You’ll be fine, Dad. I promise.”
He wanted to believe that.
And maybe, in a narrow sense, it was true.
He would be fine.
His hair would be trimmed. Maybe adjusted. His scent would be chosen. His clothes would be planned. He would be cleaned up and presented and praised for looking good beside Madison at her competition.
He would be fine.
But fine, Greg was learning, was not the same thing as heard.
Ohhhhhh! McKenzie will not be happy at all….
I mean Madison is talking about a haircut and a scent bath. This could also be considered basic grooming and care.
It could be agrued his lack of say in it isn’t great but thats also a byproduct of the world they live in. Littles arent people in this world. So this woudl eb comparable to you giving your dog a haircut and then people being upset becuase you vioalted your dogs rights.
You’re probably going to come back with some version of this is my dog. I’m going to do what i want.
But isn’t Greg McKenzies little?
no….keep him away from Brie…
shes just an innocent teen trying to make ends meet while going to school as a stylist for littles.
Is there new page of The Birthday Shipment ?
lol she made a bad first impression
How? Her first impression was her getting back at Charity for being a Karen to her, I don’t think that’s too bad of a thing to do.
to me she was super vindictive, like she took way too much enjoyment in what she was doing even if there was justification, its probably never even stopped after that. even Alejandra wasn’t as cruel to charity or took as much enjoyment out of it as Brie had.
Greg’s model looks like James Corden to me, and I can’t unsee it. Anyway, it looks like Greg is getting an updated wardrobe, good for him. I do enjoy these scenes of Greg and Madison.
I never noticed. I htink its the hair that gives of james corden vibes.
Lol they’re both ending up in a prison of their own making in different ways. Cindy because of the laws and general attitude towards littles she put into school curriculums, and Greg for being a huge pushover. Greg is gonna have to sit there and be doted on like a Chihuahua because he refuses to risk that pathetic position at all, for anything. And both of his daughters are going to grow up thinking they did the right thing by breaking the people who tried to raise them with love because they got small. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if Mads ended up selling Cindy for her Japanese little, because she clearly doesn’t really care about her beyond as a little slave. With this chapter, I see that she sees Greg the same way, but also different.
Cindy is treated more as a working dog is. Where her utility matters over anything and is only rewarded with more instruction. Very little in the way of affection at all. While Greg is the Corgi that you put in a sweater and dote on and make do tricks for treats. He will be sitting is his cage, waiting for his owners to come shower him with affection, and will do little to nothing else. His dignity will be eroded to nothing and the humiliation will just become comfortable.
On the surface, it seems like not such a bad deal. But, those are the girls he helped raise and he is going to have to watch their lives go by while his wife is in a whole other world. If things don’t change, the relationship with the one little who somewhat understands what he is going through, his wife, will erode and the love they once shared will dissolve until all that is left is the crumbs of affection that his monsterous, slave owning daughters drip feed him when they have the time to care about his existence.
Pretty bleak stuff. I hope something changes, but they all suck so I am not too worried about it lol.
They are kind of in a prison of their own making i agree with you on that. However that happens often in real life as well across many countries and nationalities.
Oh yeah I am not calling it unrealistic. It is what naturally happens when you fail to have introspection and address your faults.
I live in a very racist state and have no tolerance or patience for that idiocy, so her being racist just made me really not care if she gets humiliated. I wouldn’t say she deserves it, as I think nobody deserves slavery, but that doesn’t mean I feel bad about her.
And with Greg, dude married a bigot, obviously it isn’t that important to him. He is fine with her demonizing people for where they were born or the color of their skin, because “it isn’t me” is how these attitudes fester and grow. She gets to think it is acceptable because to her husband, it is. Then she treats her daughters friend and family as less than and he still doesn’t fight her on it? No fucking way dude.
None of this is saying that it is unrealistic, on the contrary, it is too realistic. I just hope we get to see more of the degradation of Greg being seen as a father or worthy of respect because he taught his daughters that he was a pushover. Or that both he and Cindy realize how fucking stupid they both were, in their own ways.
I think Greg will have fun and it seems the girls generally love him which is fun to see. Being fussed over by his giant daughter & friends is better then doing work lol.
They do love him even if some may question it. I do agree with you on that.
I think Madison’s World does a good job kind if walking the line of why things are uncomfortable. As while they arent big things they are things people do like to have agency on.
1) “He hated how small he was.” All Littles do
2) “Like, actually. Charity’s hair would look tragic without her.” Charity’s hair looked fine before her
3) “I’ll handle everything. You’re gonna look totally adorbs.” This may be something Greg will need McKenzie to veto.
4) “That’s not an insult” – Dadcore is practical.” – “It is absolutely an insult in this context,” only because they want him to be Littlecore
5) “They were all thinking about how to answer without sounding too mean.” that’s not like them
6) “And your styling should fit that, like, you can still be you, but elevated.” Actually, if you’re trying to fit him to being a Little, then it’d be decreased, not elevated.
7) “I’m kidding.” Greg was not fully convinced.” Nor should he be, these girls didn’t need much power for it to corrupt them
8) “Greg stiffened at the nickname. Greggy. He hated how easily Brooklyn said it.” Now what he needs to do is ignore that instruction. Act like he didn’t know it was for him because “Greggy” isn’t his name
9) “You took a picture?” “For reference.” “Without asking?” When have any of these girls actually acted like they needed your or any Little’s consent?
10) “My hair is fine.” – “It is fine,” – “But it could be better.” Better for who? Not Greg
11) “Her scent bath is so good, though.” Greg was saved from these earlier, and now he’s being dragged back to them.
12) “You don’t get a vote, You get input.” but not if they don’t like his input
13) “What kind of input?” – “Like if something is itchy,” – “Or if shoes pinch.” – “Or if a scent makes you sneeze,” That’s not input, that’s bare minimum for not being abusive about this.
14) ““That is not input. That is product testing.” Good way to put it.
15) “Greg felt a small spark of victory. Then Madison added, “But that doesn’t mean he understands Little styling.” The spark died” Oh no, that poor spark
16) “Actually, that part’s real. Clothes that look normal on humans can make Littles look bulky or weird because the seams scale wrong.” sounds like low-quality clothing.
17) “Look right. Not feel right. Not choose right. Look right.” These girls are very superficial, looks are more important than his feelings to them
18) “You do get a say. You get to say thank you when you look amazing.” She probably thinks that’s generous.
19) “There we go, He knows we’re right.” No, he just knows you won’t react well to being told how wrong you are,
20) “while sitting in his daughter’s lap at four inches tall.” damn, growth spurt
21) “I really don’t think this is necessary.” – “I know you don’t. That’s why I’m deciding.” and she wonders why he prefers McKenzie
22) “Because she said it with love. Because she meant it as care.” Just because she meant it that way doesn’t mean that’s what’s happening
23) “Her dance competition. The place she wanted him to be. The event she had asked him to attend instead of simply taking him. Greg looked at her face, at the excitement she was trying not to show too much, and felt his resistance weaken.” That does make sense, she wants him dolled up for her event, but it shouldn’t be in a way that breeds resentment from him.
24) “But fine, Greg was learning, was not the same thing as heard.” Very true, but you know who will hear him? McKenzie, whom I’m still hoping will just overrule this entire conversation.
1) I feel like most people who short or small have times they hate being small. A little probably just has more of them.
2) Evan views it as easier to maintain like this. Nice for guardian management of a litlte is a bit different then what charity may view as nice. But charity doesnt get to make that call anymore.
3) I mean its a haircut and a scent bath. I’m not sure McKenzie would be ardently opposed unless its something that completly tasteless. But as long as its decent like a fade cut wouldnt be inherently bad looking. The scent wouldnt be inherently bad.
I think with Greg is more complicated as both daughters actually want control so there is a level of he needs toe shared wehre McKenzie doesnt want Cindy as a litlte. So seh really doesnt care as much as long as Madison isn’t being inhumane and waterbaording her something.
4) Societally speaking though they aren’t doing anything all that horrific or bad. People stylize there pets all teh time. People put dogs in sweaters and get them groomed without the dog consenting. This is really no different in this world.
Just because from the outside we may not agree with the processes it doesn’t mean the logic and thoguht process behind what they are doing is not understandable. I think how they get to this place and why they would do is understandable its just uncomfortable if you’re viewing Greg adn Cindy and littles in general as people where in this world they aren’t really.
5) Well they like Greg. So the answer needs to be handled with more care then cindy.
6) lol i like that. “brought down to your level”
7) I mean to be fair that is true of most people. It doesnt take much power to corrupt someone.
8) Its probably been to long for that and if anything it would just get him reprimanded. its hard to claim in one breath i should be able to style myself, dress myself and then in the next breath say i had no idea you meant me when you said greggy as if there were possibly other littles it could reasonably be?
It would just vindicate further that he needs their guidance and shepherding.
9) Never, they would have asked madison if they wanted or felt tehy needed consent. Greg or any little doesnt exist where these girls or anyone in this world would even ask. Its just not a thought anyone on this planet would have in a serious way.
Even Chloe would like for it to be so but even she knows its just not reality and while you can pretend its not how its going to work in a real way and doing it is just playing house.
10) Better for Madison and Mckenzie. Greg and Cindy are there little style boards.
11) It was always going to be a matter of time but from madison’s perspective she just wants him to look nice for her dance competition and when they go out in general. Its not like shes actively trying to be mean.
12) Even if they dont like it he sitll got to give said input. They never said all input would be used just he could give input and they would listen.
13) It meets the terms of what was told though. they werent lying all of that is in put.
14)I thought you would like that.
15) It had a good run considering how many teen girls were around.
16) It is but bad clothing exists for littles just like it does for people.
17) I wouldnt say more important but they are specifically talking about his looks right now. So they are focused.
18) Some litltes dont even get that.
19) Definatley not worth the fight.
20) lol
21)Harsh, but fair. Although mckenzie could want his hair styled as well and just not done it yet.
22) If shes doing it with love that does mean something though.
23) I feel like resentment is a bit strong. I mean guys put on clothes, cologne, hair styyles they may not like becuase of wives and girlfriends. This isn’t all that different.
24) Nothing madison is proposing is all that outlandish. Shes even talking about a fairly normal haircut in a fade. The scent was reasonable.
1) Yeah, I’d say for a Little it’s nearly permanent
2) Does Evan even do Charity’s hair?
3) Fair point, but I’m sure she wouldn’t want Madison forcing them of Greg without his consent.
4) Yeah, it’s a different world, but even in that world there are people who agree with this world’s morality.
5) But not the process of it all
7) Not everyone is so susceptible though.
8) Ok, than just refuse to answer to it.
9) I don’t think asking a Littles consent is “playing house” it’s just bare minimum decency.
11) Just because it isn’t her intent doesn’t mean she’s innocent of it.
12) If they ignore of dismiss what he says, than it’s not really input. They clearly already know what they want and have decided to force it on him, giving him the illusion of a voice.
13) Not really, it’s like the way Greg put it “product testig.
15) Yeah, I suppose
17) Given how often they dismiss belittle or ignore Little’s feelings, I’d say more.
21) But she’d give him more say in the matter.
22) Not if her “love” is actually selfishness
23) There’s a massive difference between a man choosing to alter his appearance for a loved one and the loved one forcing it on him.
Can the story be more brutal than that?