Flipped

"So this story is about... a silly little girl... who didn't know any better."

Janette paused, concentrating on how to lay out the details. This story was difficult to explain without a bit of bias, so she had to focus on keeping the details without hammering up the sympathy. Or drawing the image of a victim, no one wants to be a victim.

"This girl was umm, she was born without knowing better about anything. She didn't know the difference about what perspective or side an action would take, only that an action called for a reaction. And it was hard for her to tell if she did something good or not."

"Didn't her mom teach her what was good or bad?" Syri asked. It was a fair question, Janette figured it would be the first thing on her mind. Clearing her throat, she responded as best as she could.

"I don't know, her mother wasn't around most of the time."

"What about her dad?"

"Him too."

"So did she live alone? Where were her parents?"

"She sort of did, her parents were nose deep into their career, their way of living. See this girl was privileged, she was born from a couple who crafted a successful state of living. They uhhh... they established a market of s-selling animals to other people, other farmers I mean. Their animals were voted as the best around the place, so they did smart choices and made a lot of money through that. So when they had their little girl, they were often too busy keeping the flow of work to maintain a good living, so their daughter didn't see them much."

Syri turned her head to face her, she couldn't read her emotions too clearly but it seemed like she at least seemed interested in the story. Janette continued.

"Anyways, she wasn't the normal quiet girl in school. Often she had a habit of asking questions like a lot of children do."

"What's wrong about that?"

"Well, the village she went to school in practiced a belief and really didn't like monsters and monster girls. And she didn't understand why, she understood that some of them were really bad and did bad things to people, but she asked what about the others who aren't so bad?"

Syri's eyebrows drew close together, it looked like she was giving it some thought as well. "I don't know any bad monster girls but... the only girls I know are like me. But it's a good question!"

"Yea well, not for them. They made a fuss about her even suggesting such a thing as a decent monster girl and the other kids held that over her head for the longest time. So since no one wanted to think about it, she did and went on too study into them as she grew older. But, because of that question the other boys didn't really look at her with nice words, even the girls were super mean. Of course, they went on to spread rumors and well... she really didn't have a nice time making friends."

"Oh." Her cat ears went low after hearing that bit.

"Yea, but she did make one. Or rather, one girl did look for her."

"So she did make a friend!"

"Yea." Janette confirmed with a low smile. "Her name was Theresa, and she didn't mind listening to the questions the little girl made. Unlike the girl, Theresa got along decently with the other kids. But she had other issues that were different, her parents refused to let her date anyone until she was of age, of which then they would select a husband for her."

Syri raised her eye. "I know husband is kind of like being a mate, but what is dating?"

Janette looked surprised. "You don't know?"

She shook her head innocently. "Uh-uh."

"Oh. Well, I guess it's when two people really like each other and spend romantic times together before... before mating, I think."

"Oh. So... okay, I think I have an idea. So did my sister date her mate before they mated?"

Janette shrugged. "I don't know, I wasn't around when they first met."

"Did you go on dates before?"

Janette blushed but decided to answer honestly. "Oh, once I did but not in a long time. I guess I... didn't have time for relationships."

"Kind of like the girls parents! Oh Oh, but she had Theresa, yes? What happened then, were they happy together?"

"Yea, I think so. They couldn't be together in public though."

"What! Why?"

"Well, the girl had a nasty reputation about her so Theresa suggested they keep their friendship a secret. It was fine though, she enjoyed spending time with Theresa and really liked her."

Syri adjusted her position slightly, now with a serious look. "Theresa didn't want to be seen with her?"

"No, not like that. It's that Theresa didn't want them to make fun of the girl even more."

"But it sounds like she was looking after herself more, I wouldn't care if I liked her back as much as she likes me. Who cares what other people say?"

"That's not the... huh. Well, they had a special kind of friendship and shared a lot of secrets together. And so one day she-"

"Did they end up doing sexual things in secret?" She interrupted, making Janette a bit annoyed.

"That's... is it bad if she did?"

She shrugged. "I don't know, if the girl was happy that is one thing. Sorry, go ahead."

Janette nods and goes on. "Well yea, they do that. And eventually they were caught one day so her parents took her and moved out, leaving the little girl alone. But it left a good memory on her, and she was always thankful for living through that."

"Did the kids keep being meanies to her?"

Her sigh gave away the answer. "It didn't matter, she grew up and her parents finally came around to see her more."

"Oh! To make up for being so busy with work before?"

"Well it was to teach her about the work so she could manage it when they passed but it was still nice I guess. I don't know what I was going with this story, I guess it was silly and I'm just bad at storytelling."

Syri shook her head and patted her head with her fluffy paw. "Doesn't sound so bad to me, but it doesn't seem clear. I think I heard it wrong but it sounds like the friend wasn't so nice. Was she nice when people were around?"

"Well, when we were in public she would normally be with her friends and so luckily I never saw her when things got a bit bad."

"What? Don't you want someone to be there when you're feeling bad?"

She shrugged in defeat. "I guess she got used to being alone. Seemed to work then."

"So why does she do dumb things to keep herself alone, like if a new person wants to be her friend and she did stupid things to hurt them. Did Theresa did that to her too? Does she not want any new friends?"

"She... umm," She sheepishly rubbed her forehead as she struggled to add any thoughts to that. "I don't think so? I mean who doesn't want friends?"

Syri leaned in and kept her green beautiful eyes locked in with hers. "I think the girl doesn't know what she wants and is being really dumb with what she is doing. But at least she is pretty and honest."

"Yea..." Janette replied sheepishly and with shame. "Seems all she is good for is being dumb."

"But dumb people just means they have room to be smart, right? I sure would like to be her friend, but she needs to show me that she wants to be MY friend too. And then maybe, well maybe we can see about that weird thing you said. Dats?"

"D-Dates. Really?"

She nods with a soft smile and look of optimism in her cute face. "But she needs to be honest and clear and stop being stupid like this. Because she hurts other people who want to be with her, and if she doesn't be better than she really won't be a good friend. Do you think the girl can do that?"

Janette's face went hot and she felt like she was going to be sweaty soon. Her paw never left her head, rubbing her hair softly in contrast with her amazingly comforting fur. She reached in and held her paw, rubbing the fur between her fingers and managing to smile. "I-I would like that. I am so so s-sorry." She whimpered as her eyes went red.

"No no, don't cry. Don't cry, you'll make me sad too." Syri pleaded, beginning to feel her emotions rise too. Janette scooted up and hugged her Nekomata with gentle care, being sure not to squeeze too much. Syri managed to hug her back with just one paw, it was good enough and both girls sobbed quietly while holding each other.

"Wait, you mean the other girl no? Or were we talking about someone else?" Syri smiled as Janette wiped a tear of her cute face.

"Thank you." She whispered back before laying down with her. "I know I messed up but I will do better."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"Good, because next time you get the claws." She snickered, messing with her hair and enjoying her company. "Also you have green on you now."

Janette shrugged and held her anyways, she didn't care, and so she felt better with Syri holding her back.

This felt nice, she thought to herself.