The Little Princess

The high-pitch voice came from a figure standing in the hallway entrance looking towards the living room where you and Paige were both in each other’s arms just kissing a few seconds ago. A little girl, the age of anywhere between six and ten(you could never really guess younger kids ages), was standing there holding a rabbit teddy by one of its long floppy ears. She had tawny color hair tied in a braided ponytail and big aqua eyes like a doll. Despite her age, the little girl gave you and Paige a look of pure contempt, one a school teacher provides a pair of students caught necking in the hallway.

“Hello? I asked you guys a question. Why are you in my house?” The little girl asked she crossed her arms, expecting an answer. She was wearing sky blue pajamas, which matched her eyes with tiny crescent moons on it.

Paige quickly straightens out her shirt. Both of you get up off and shuffle to your feet, feeling like a couple of children caught with their hands in the cookie jar.

“I’m sorry… We were both drunk. The door was open, and I thought this was my house,” Paige lied, looking away. Her face was flush in the lights, making her look like a tomato neck up.

“Really?” The little girl smirked. “¿Cuánto tiempo viviste aquí?”

“Ummm…” Paige looks confused and turns to you for help. You shrug. You roughly understood the question, but there was no use in pretending.

“Thought so,” The little girl said smugly. “Are you guys thieves?”

“No. We thought this house belonged to someone else,” You say. “We’re really sorry for bugging you little girl. We’ll be on our way.”

“Hmm… do you guys know my parents or something?” The little girl asks.

“Umm… yes! Of course. We’re friends of your parents,” Paige quickly jumps on the first lifesaver she can think of.

“You look like sort of like my mommy. Are you two related?” The little girl asks.

“We’re actually distant cousins. I… they told us to stay here if we were ever in town so… viola! Here we are. Sorry for waking you, sweetheart,” Paige’s word came one right after the other, barely keeping up with her lies. She was really awful at lying. You wish the little girl didn’t know better.

“Oh…” The little girl says, her eyes widening. She might clever, but she was still a little girl.

“Are you here by yourself… umm? What’s your name anyway, kid?” Paige asked. You plant your face in your palms. If you knew her mother, why wouldn’t you know the name of her daughter?

“Mom says it’s bad manners to ask for another person’s name without giving yours first.” The little girl says.

“Well, I’m Liz… and this is Rick. Say hi, Rick,” Paige elbows me to talk and go along with it.

“Yeah… hi. I’m Rick,” You say, unenthused about tricking a little girl. You both weren’t good at this.

“Liz and Rick, haaaaah?” The little girl says the last part with exaggeration, and it made you wonder if she was sarcastic like she didn’t believe your name or just goofy. “Well… You can call me… Phoebe.”

‘Phoebe’ sounded like she just came up with that name as well.

“Okay, Phoebe. Where are your parents? Why are you in this house alone?” Paige asks.

“I’m not alone, silly. You guys are here. DUUUH,” Phoebe smirks, looking at Paige as if she was dumb. Paige clenches her fists. You could immediately tell these two are not going to get along.

“Were you alone before we came? Where are your parents?” You asked.

“No. Mom and Dad are on some smoochy woochy date, so they left Chesa to watch over me. Chesa is my Nanny, but I told mom I didn’t need a nanny cause I’m old enough to take care of myself. But did she listens? Noooo…..” Phoebe explains.

Paige flashes you a look of concern that another person might be in the house.

“Where is Chesa, Phoebe?” You ask.

“She told me she was going to be watching TV in the living room. When I came downstairs to find her, I found you guys.” Phoebe says.

Paige let out a deep sigh of relief.

“Phoebe. It’s late. We better get out of your hair and let you sleep,” Paige says.

“Wait…” I pull Paige aside and whisper, “We can’t just leave her here by herself. She’s a little girl.”

“The Nanny is probably coming back any second. We should book it,” Paige whispers back.

“Ah-hem. Why are you two whispering?” Phoebe says, twirling her rabbit stuffed animal in her hand. “You guys are discussing how to rob this place, aint ya?”

Paige rolls her eyes looking irritated and speaks, “Listen, you little brat. Don’t make me call your mom and tell her you’ve been staying up past your bedtime.”

Fright covers Phoebe, and her legs shiver. She clearly feared her mom. “I-I couldn’t help it. I wanted some water, that’s all. Daddy is supposed to read me a bedtime story… I can’t sleep.”

“Paige,” You whisper harshly. “She’s just a little kid.”

“Look, I know how to deal with little brats like that. Just leave it to me,” Paige whispers back, winking.

While you and Paige were talking, Phoebe pulls out a phone from her jammies and says, “Hi. I would like to report a couple of in-druders.”

You and Paige both stand there solid as ice. Phoebe gave her mischievous smirk again. “Yea… I think there are two in-druders in my house, but I’m not so sure.”

Crap crap crap. Wait a minute… if Phoebe is calling the local police, why is she speaking in English?

Phoebe covers the phone and says, “Hey, should I tell the police about you guys being here, or do you want to do what I say?”

“Fine fine. Just don’t call the police,” Paige hisses, though she clearly looked scared to ****.

“I’m sorry, miss. It was all a big understanding. Just a couple of stray dogs.” Phoebe puts her little mobile phone away in her pocket. Kids these days already have smartphones. She must be a spoiled little princess, you thought. What made your eye widen was the fact that her flat touchscreen phone folded. It didn’t look like any model you saw before.

Like some wannabe diva, Phoebe walks with airs on with her chin held up and says, “Okaaaaay. First. I want you to make me pancakes. With lots of Nutella. Theeeeen. I want you to tell me a story before I go to bed. Like my mommy and daddy always do. Got it?”

“Alright, kid. Gee, if you just wanted pancakes, ask for them next time you brat,” Paige says scornfully.

“Humph,” Phoebe pouts. “I should expect little in the way of manners from a common thief. Come on, my servants. The kitchen is this way. Mr. Wiggles is really hungry. Mr. Wiggles is my bunny. Do you want to see him? He can dance you know-”

Paige grits her teeth and walks along while Phoebe kept on talking to herself, whispering to you, “I’m going to strangle that smart alec. Let’s just book it, Matt. We can outrun her.”

“She’s just scared. She’s by herself here. Who knows where her Nanny went,” You whisper back. “Let’s put her to bed and explain to her parents the situation. I’m sure they can forgive us if we take care of their daughter.”

“I’m never going to have kids,” Paige says. “Not if they are like this.”

So the two of you went into the kitchen. Somehow you thought you were finally going to get laid tonight, but now you were cooking pancakes for a little princess.