Madison’s World Redux Season 3 Episode 55

The late afternoon continued on around them, stretching longer than Cindy wanted it to. The house settled into that after school rhythm that was no longer truly after school anymore, but not quite evening either. The television stayed on. Phones buzzed. Snacks disappeared. Conversations rose and fell over Cindy’s head as if she were furniture placed too low to be considered part of the room. 

It was nearly six before Evan finally stood. 

She rose with the easy confidence of someone whose body still belonged entirely to herself, gathering her things while keeping Charity carefully supported against her. Charity shifted instinctively into the safer position, tucked close to Evan’s body where a stumble or careless motion would not send her sliding. Evan’s hand curved protectively around her Little, casual and practiced at the same time. 

“We should head out, Brook,” Evan said, glancing toward Brooklyn as she reached for her bag. “You ready?” 

Brooklyn looked up from her phone, then nodded and pushed herself off the couch. That surprised no one. They were all friends here, but Brooklyn and Evan were specifically tight. There was a rhythm between them that did not need explaining. If Evan was leaving, Brooklyn was probably leaving with her. 

Ava and Krysi stayed where they were. They were part of the group, of course, but in a slightly different way. Madison was the one who pulled them into the room. Madison was their center of gravity more than Evan was, even if Evan was the one everyone noticed first. Ava and Krysi were Madison’s friends first, and because Madison belonged to the group, so did they. 

Cindy, much to her chagrin, remained trapped in Ava’s lap. 

Ava had finally sat down after practicing with her for what felt like an unreasonable amount of time, but sitting down had not freed Cindy. It had only changed the shape of her confinement. Now she was expected to sit neatly on Ava Cruz’s lap as if she belonged there. As if she were Ava’s Little. As if all the practice from earlier had ended in a temporary transfer of care that everyone understood except Cindy. 

She kept looking toward Madison. 

Not openly. Not enough to be corrected. But again and again, Cindy let her eyes drift in Madison’s direction, trying to catch her daughter’s attention. Trying to beg without words. Call me back. Tell Ava I’m done. Put me in my habitat. Put me anywhere else. For once, Cindy would have accepted Madison’s palm, Madison’s lap, even Madison’s smug little instructions if it meant no longer sitting under Ava’s direction. 

But Madison made no move to retrieve her. 

Cindy was not even sure Madison noticed the silent pleading. Madison had Greg positioned in her lap in such a way that he did not have a clear view of Cindy either. His body was turned toward Madison and the others, half-shielded by Madison’s hand and the slope of her leg. Whether by accident or design, Cindy could not tell. 

Either way, Greg could not help her. 

Not that he could have done much if he saw. 

That thought settled heavily in Cindy’s chest. 

She was sitting in her own living room, in her own house, on the lap of Ava Cruz, and there was nothing meaningful she could do about it. Madison had allowed Ava to use her. Evan had approved it. Emma had found it fitting. Brooklyn had laughed. Krysi had watched with amusement. Greg had been too small, too positioned, and too dependent to intervene. 

And Ava, infuriatingly, had done nothing technically wrong. 

Cindy sat with her hands folded, spine straight, knees together, every inch of her posture shaped by the knowledge that if she slouched, snapped, stood, or tried to climb down, Ava could correct her. Worse, Ava would probably correct her gently. Competently. With that earnest little trainee seriousness that made Cindy feel less like a person being insulted and more like an exercise being handled properly. 

She was under Ava’s direction until Madison said otherwise. 

That was the rule. 

Not a rule anyone needed to announce. Not a rule written on paper in this room. But Cindy understood it because she had once understood rules like this from the other side. A Little placed with another person remained under that person’s care until the Guardian retrieved them or reassigned them. The Little did not decide the transfer had ended simply because she disliked the person holding her. 

Cindy’s gaze moved toward Krysi. 

For half a foolish second, she wondered if Krysi might ask for her instead. 

Then she dismissed the thought. 

Krysi would not ask. Krysi had no reason to. She was content to lounge, scroll, snack, and exist in the orbit of Madison’s house without becoming responsible for Cindy. Krysi might tease, laugh, or comment, but she was not going to rescue Cindy from Ava Cruz out of pity. 

Now Evan and Brooklyn were leaving. 

Charity would leave with Evan. Brooklyn would leave with them. Emma, if she stayed, would only make the room worse in a different way. 

And Cindy was beginning to realize what that meant. 

She was not about to be returned to Madison. 

She was not about to be put away. 

She was about to be trapped under Ava’s care for the evening. A temporary arrangement, maybe. A casual one. Something Madison could dismiss later as no big deal. 

But Cindy knew better. 

Nothing about being treated like a Little was ever truly temporary once everyone else decided it was useful. 
 
Both Krysi and Ava didn’t live far. They could walk home safely. If they cut through yards it would take matter of minutes. The journey wasn’t far. They may even just catch a ride when Emma when she left. That would not be unexpected or unheard of either. It mattered little to Cindy now. Those kind of things were not something she thought about any longer as a little.  
 
She hated the gap between her and them. Little and Human. It was insurmountable. This wasn’t something like class where if you worked hard you could move up. You could even with lottery or luck into a settlement with some kind of accident. This wasn’t something that people just fought to overcome. She had shrunk and people viewed her as a little. A rodent, a small creature scurrying around under human direction. Even the youngest of children held more authority then any little. Littles were things to directed by man. Utilized like a tool. Cared for like a pet. Littles were not something that had any kind of control over humans. They didn’t possess rights or equality and Cindy was now viewed as one of these servile things becuase Madison wouldn’t set the record straight that she was a shrunk human not a little.  
 
Cindy looked towards Ava. Ava had been understanding. Ava was more tolerent then others. Cindy wondered if there was any shred of a chance that she would understand. That reason could be had. It had been months but Cindy had never tried with Ava.  

“Ms. Cruz,” Cindy said as Madison was distracted with the leaving of Evan and Brooklyn. Talking with them as they gathered there things.  
 
“Oh, you need something ? I can take you to the bathroom or whatever if you need to go. It would be good practice.” Ava said already standing up.  
 
“No–” Cindy tried to say but her voice was lost as Ava speaking and her voice dominated Cindy’s now.  
 
“Cindy has to take a leak. I’ll be right back.” Ava said casually as Cindy looked horrified.  
 
“Oh thanks Ava. You’re a lifesaver.” Madison said thankful not even looking toward Cindy. As cindy understood. Ava was a person, even as guardian in training her word was trusted. It mattered and Cindy was nothing more then a small dog being taken to the bathroom at the owners decision.  
 
Ava held Cindy as they walked towards the rear of the house. Cindy watched them walk by the bathroom as Ava opened the rear door and paused.  

“Its seems to cold for you to go to outside like a proper little. I suppose you can use the bathroom under supervision.” Ava said already decided.  
 
“No Ava you don’t understand.” Cindy tried to explain.  
 
“its fine. Everything uses the bathroom.  In mexico we littles use indoor plants when its to hot or cold to go out. But, I’m sure Madison just lets you use the sink  probably.” Ava said as she pushed the bathroom door open and was already lowering Cindy into the sink.  
 
“No Ava, please just listen for one minute.” Cindy said hating that she had to plead practically beg Ava to listen.  
 
“What? Do you not have to go anymore?” Ava questioend slightly annoyed if that was the case. 
 
“No listen please. I’m not a little. I know what this looks like. I just shrunk. You have to believe me. If you can just talk to Madison we can set this straight.” Cindy said as Ava looked at her a solid minute in silence. It felt like an eternity.  
 
“I’m only going to say this once. You are a little Cindy. You don’t want to be but you are. I’m sure that sucks. But this, this is your new normal. This is your life now.You’re Madison’s little.  You get to live your life in service to Madison. I know Madison has been coddling you. But real talk. You need to get your act together. You’re a little and right now not even a good one. You’re larger, stronger, and can do more then Greg yet he is a better little. Its time you start accepting some realities. Otherwise, eventually you might find yourself in a new home as patience only goes so far and who wants to spend 100 plus years with a ungrateful little.” 
 
  

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