The Shrink Program

Chapter 1

"Maddison, could you please stop.... picking on Mr Twinkle?" My younger brother Devin asked like the G-rated words pained him, and though his tone was polite, his eyes glared at me reproachfully. "You're upsetting Monica."

I silently gulped, trying not to let how distinctly uncomfortable I was feeling enter my expression.

My vision may have been limited to the thirteen-year-old boy's giant gaze alone, but Devin was all too capable of seeing everything. Expression, body language, he could probably feel my tiny heart beating against his fingers.

It was a disadvantage I was seriously beginning to dislike.

Trying to ignore the fact that I was hanging relatively sixty feet from the floor by nothing more than my little brother's fingers, I gave Devin a defiant glare, crossing my arms over my chest. Like a child, daring their parent to make them behave.

From Devin's eyes alone, I could tell that he was fine with that method.

In fact... I was pretty sure he preferred it...

Giving in with a scowl, I sent one last scathing look at my furry enemy.

Instead of acknowledging my passionate hatred, Mr Twinkle had proceeded to lick himself in a more private location, which really spoke levels about his opinion of me.

I then moved my attention down to Monica, the little girl clinging to Devin's leg far below me, her heart-shaped face looking up at me tearfully.

Like always, my grumpy attitude melted in the presence of the three-year-old's pleading gaze.

"Don't cry, sweetheart." I pleaded, frustrated that I was too small to give her a hug. "I was just playing with Mr Twinkle. Okay? Look he isn't hurt at all."

Right on cue, Mr Twinkle began to yowl in agony, as if the evil little jerk knew exactly what I had been saying.

"Oh, shut up!" I snapped, anger instantly flaring back up. "Before I come down there and rearrange your fuzzy butt with...!"

Before I could get into an in-depth rant about the effects I intended to inflict on the kitten anatomy, Devin's fingers gave my waist a gentle squeeze.

Warning me to shut up.

I glanced at Monica to see her little lips trembling, and her green eyes welling with tears.

Great, now I'm the bad guy.

Devin sighed, suddenly shifting his fingers around me until I sat in the palm of his hand. Squawking like an unsettled parrot, I tried to resist clinging to the giant hand as it moved beneath me, lowering me from Devin's face.

With one last irritated look down at me, Devin crouched next to Monica, softly patting her golden curls with his other hand. "It's alright Mon. You know Maddy doesn't mean to yell, she's just feeling a little grumpy because she's small."

I bit my lip, resisting the urge to snap at the condensing words as the little girl nodded gravely, biting her lip as she pushed back her tears.

My strong little angel.

She glanced at me shyly, where I sat cross-legged in my own little brother's hand, my eyes blurred by the loving mist of an older sibling. Noticing her attention, I straightened, trying to wipe the look of adoration off my face.

"You go give Mr Twinkle a cuddle, and I'll take Maddison into the kitchen to... cool off," Devin suggested cheerfully, and she nodded again.

With one last look at me, Monica bent to carry the small kitten off to her room.