Young Writers Society

Riley

She makes a cry face, "Since when does me age matter?" She crosses her arms, "Me a person."

Grayson

I sigh and sit on my heels, "You wanna know what we were doing, Mari? Mommy and Daddy were sharing cooties. You don't wanna share cooties. It's nasty, isn't it?"

Riley

I smile and she makes a face, "Then why do you call it fun?"

Grayson

I smile back, "'Cause it's only fun to Mommies and Daddies."

Riley

She studies him, "Why can't it be fun for Mari's?"

Grayson

I shrug, "Cooties aren't fun for Mari's, are they?"

Riley

She shakes her head, "No.."

Grayson

"That's why," I say.

Riley

I plop next to Mariah and take her in my arms. She looks at me, "You have daddies cooties."

I smile, nodding, and she makes a face, "EW."

I think of something before blowing playfully on her stomach.

She laughs, screaming, and keeps laughing, "Cootiess!"

Grayson

I smile and watch, tickling her as she laughs.

Riley

I let her breathe after a while and she crawls off my lap and under the bed.

Grayson

I watch and lean against the wall, shaking my head.

Riley

I smile and look for her, "Come out, Mari."

She shakes her head and I swear, "Please?"

She shakes her head again, smiling.

Grayson

I smile and crawl to the bed, looking at her, "C'mere, Mari. We can play hide and seek."

Riley

She keeps shaking her head and I swallow, sh*t.