I'll Never Be Little

I woke up, feeling as though my head was in the clouds. I snuggled the koala closer to me as I looked for Daddy. He was still there, having a worried look on his face.

"Daddy okay?"

"Daddy's okay, champ. The real question is, are you?"

"I fine."

He looked unconvinced. "Did your parents do this?"

Right, the injuries were actually visible this time.

I shook my head, not wanting to tell him what happened. They were still my family.

He didn't press on it. "You want to stay here or go to the playroom?"

"Pway," I mumbled, rubbing my eyes.

He got up and turned to me to follow him. I stood up and buried my face in his chest.

He chuckled. "We won't get very far in this position, munchkin." I didn't want to be in any other position.

Grudgingly, I removed my head from him and we exited the room. I avoided looking at the secretary, embarrassed as we left the office. When we got out into the hall, he slowly tugged the koala away from me.

I looked at him annoyed and tugged it back, hugging it close to me. "No touch."

"You're not in the playroom yet, others can see you."

"I guess you wight." I slowly gave him the koala and turned my saddened gaze to the floor.

"The pacifier too." Noooooo.

I handed that over as well and grumbled.

"Don't worry, champ. You'll get it back soon."

He led me over to the playroom and I saw a giraffe plushie. He looked so cute and Daddy gave me my paci and koala back!

A lady approached us and I quickly hid behind Daddy, keeping one hand in his and another tugging on his shirt.

"Aww who's this- wait. I've seen you before," she said, curiously.

"He was recently reclassified," Daddy explained. "Can I sign him in?"

"That's perfectly fine! What's his age range?"

"Eighteen to thirty-six months."

"Great!" She turned to me. "You can go to the right side of the room. I bet you'll have a great time!"

I walked away quickly, not liking all of her attention on me. I sat on the soft blue carpet and picked up my new yellow friend. He was so big and fluffy. If only I had a cool shirt for him.

Daddy came over not long afterwards. "What do you want, buddy?"

"Giwaffe needs a fwiend. He wonwey," I said. Maybe the people he loved left him too?

Daddy went over to where some other plushies were and came back with an otter. "Mr. Otter here is lonely too, you think they can be friends?"

"How good is Otte? Giwaffe onwy pways with the best!"

"Mr. Otter is very good. His favourite ice cream flavour is cookies and cream."

"That is aww that matters!" I said, giggling. I scooted a little closer, clutching the giraffe, who I've named Gus.

"Gus wove you," I said, putting the giraffe's face to the otter's. I smushed their faces together, making kissing sounds and laughing to myself.

Not long afterward, I glanced up and saw Asher walk by the room. Without thinking I quickly got up and ran towards the door, almost tripping over myself twice and might have banged the door post, but it didn't matter.