Ruby Slippers

Lilly curled up at the corner of her room. She closed her eyes and shoved her little fingers in her ears to mask off the shouting and the horrible sounds of smashed furniture and her mother crying.

"What have you bought potatoes for, you know I hate potatoes. You are just wasting my money, you cow".

The noise kept creeping in Lilly's small room and she couldn't bare it anymore. She knew that it is just the beginning. In a moment or two a glass would break and shortly after a whole cabinet can be slammed onto the floor. It depends on how much did her father's boss put him down today and how big of a whole he has left in her father's soul to fill in with abusing her mom.

Lilly knew that after the meltdown her father would gently knock on her door, enter and sweet talk her to death. She would give him the benefit of the doubt while still hearing her mom crying in the background and then she would go to her mom and hug her and kiss her and try to consolidate her. "I know these potatoes were for me. I know this mommy. I love you, mommy".

At these times Lilly always wished she had those ruby slippers that Dorothy had. She would just wear them and run towards her mom and hug her really hard and knock her heels three times and go to a wonderful quiet place - away from her father's tantrum.


--Time's up--