(Borrowing some space on your thread, Shadow, I know you won't mind.

For Vicki, who is not too dirty and who is way more loveable than Petunia's muddy water-balloon.

BABY GIRL

The chubby baby is always cold, even when we snuggle under my fluffy yellow blanket. I hold her gentle-tight and whisper, "Shh, shh, don‘t cry baby girl." I say it all warm and soft because she is new to the orphanage and she's afraid of the man we hear yelling.

I told all the girls the baby had no arms or legs and they said they would love her no matter what. They were surprised to feel how squishy she was, seeing how most of them are plastic-kid orphans.

I found her on the ground after the water-war ended and the soldiers all ran off to have their supper. I saved her and brought her home under my button-down sweater. I knew she was a girl balloon right away, even though it was hard to see she was pink under all that boy-mud.

I wash her up real good so she's clean and squeaky, and I put a bow on the top of her head where her skin makes a knot like a ponytail. I draw her a nice face with happy eyes and a silly smile, and I bet she'd look just like me if I were shiny-bald and rubbery.

I sneak her upstairs into my room before the enemy brothers find us and break her. "You must keep everyone quiet," I tell my oldest doll. She sits on my bed and looks straight ahead like she can't hear me, but I know she really does. I tuck my water-balloon baby behind the pillow and hope she doesn't leak.

Daddy is screaming and I wonder which one of the boys is in trouble now. I tiptoe down the stairs and I'm extra careful to be quiet. I listen for the unbuckling of Daddy's thick, belt-buckle, but I don't hear it. Whatever the yelling is about, it can't be too bad. No beatings, yet.

"It wasn't me," says David.
"I didn't do it," says Brian.
"It must've been Suzie," says Stephen.
"Suzie, get in here right now," growls Daddy.

Already I start to cry and I don't know what I did. When I see Daddy's eyes I know right away he has become the scary, monster-father. When he's like this, it won't matter what I say. "Did you do this?" the monster demands, pointing to the wet toilet seat. I don't answer right away. I'm not sure what to say. Doesn't he know I sit down to pee?

"No Daddy, I didn't," I say and shake my head and look at him real good with my ‘I didn't do it' eyes so he'll know it wasn't me.

"******* it, baby girl! You get something to clean up this mess with and then get your *** to your room! Do you hear me?" he asks with his green, monster-eyes blaring.

I can hardly see the stupid seat through my tears as I wash off the enemy's pee. I mostly cry because Daddy doesn't believe me and my brothers don't stick up for me. I hate mad daddy. Glad daddy loves me very much. I am his baby girl and I feel safe with him.

By the time I get to my room, my sad tears are gone and I'm very sleepy. I lay down on my bed and pull out my water-balloon baby. We snuggle all safe and warm under my fluffy yellow blanket and I rock us to sleep saying, "Shh, shh, don't cry baby girl. You‘re safe with me."