“Medina!” June tightened her eyes in frustration and wished her mother were still alive to answer life’s unanswerable questions about raising stubborn children. She opened her eyes to find her hands on her hips, a pose she remembered her mother holding in faded, damaged photographs.
“Peanut’s on the loose again, Mommy.” Medina batted big eyes at her mother. “I scared him with the magics.”
She felt her eyes sliding shut again in self-defense and stopped herself before the indulgence gave way to defeat. “You know, not three weeks ago, I was wishing you’d show signs of magical ability.”
“An’ I did!” she said proudly.
June bent and picked up her daughter, letting out a slight oof as she settled her in on her hip. It’s been a lot of change, kiddo. Are you sure you’re not tired?”
Medina shook her head, pigtails flying, and otherwise silent.
“And the magic you did that scared Peanut?”
Medina stayed quiet and bit her lip as they maneuvered around plastic bricks and scattered books.
I have got to watch how much I do that. It’s a bad habit she doesn’t need to pick up. “Hmmmmmmmm?” She drew out the ending. “Did something break?”
“Go boom,” Medina whispered.
“You know Peanut’s got big ears. Loud noises will bother her until she grows into them.”
June opened the front door to find a small, shell-pink dragon huddled at the end of the driveway, watching intermittent foot traffic. She let out a low whistle.
Peanut’s ears flipped backward in relief as she raced for the townhouse. “Milady, you may have to talk to the neighbors again. Apparently I lack the demeanor for a convincing golden retriever.”
She let her suddenly kicking daughter down and the pair raced off. June rubbed her face with one hand and pulled her phone from her back pocket with the other. “I’d better tell Peter we need to step up the house hunt.”
***
This week’s prompt was inspired by Becky Jones and a dragon. My colorful prompt went to Leigh Kimmel. Check it, and more, out at MOTE!
