To The Food Court

Stacey dragged her new ward by her left hand easily, the girl's nylon feet offering up little friction for the polished floors as she dug her heels futilely. Stacey's right hand carrying the bags with the child's soiled clothing, as well as the spare underwear, as she marched toward the food court. Really... a girl this young shouldn't be out on her own. What kind of parents must she have? She turned her gaze to pry some more information out of the petrified girl. "What's your name sweetie? Who did you come here with? Your parents? Did you lose them?" Stacey was intent on making sure this little girl didn't get into any more trouble. "Came alone..." Was all the meek and wide eyed girl replied, when Stacey's stare persisted she found her tongue saying. "Lau.. Lauren. My name is Lauren." Finally, Stacey was getting somewhere. She smiled at her progress and continued to easily drag her newfound charge to the food court.

Hungry, confused and still adjusting to being under Stacey's control; Lauren was pleased when Scott called to them and she saw three paper bags from McDonalds at the table. Her stomach growled. Stacy smiled, hearing the complaints from the little girls stomach and seated her at the table opposite Scott before taking her own seat between them. Lauren's toes only just scraped the smooth floor. "Have you got any information out of the squirt?" Scott asked in a friendly tone. Stacey finished chewing her mouthful, unlike Lauren she didn't wait to start eating, and took a long slurp on her straw before answering. "Mmmm hmmmm... Her name is Lauren, she's about 10 and her parents let her come to the mall all on her own! Can you believe that? This tiny little girl! Parents these days..." Scott shook his head and stared off into the distance for a moment. His left hand cradling his elbow and his right hand stroking his chin, Lauren could almost hear the cogs turning in his mind. "Well.." He began. "If her parents are that unfit, perhaps we should take her to social services?"

Sat there listening to the "adults" talk about her like she wasn't there, Lauren's concentration was broken by another rumble from her stomach. "Eat up before it gets cold." Stacey chirped. Lauren opened the bag and began to cry, inside the bag sat a child's Happy Meal. Tears pouring and snot running, this final indignity broke Lauren. Hyperventilating, Lauren began to panic. Heart racing, head pounding and hands shaking, the next few moments were ****. Finally calm enveloped her when Stacey **** her to stand, picked her up and, as Lauren wrapped her legs around Stacey's waist for the second time today and buried her face into her bosom, Stacey stroked her hair and spoke softly.

"Honey... Did all the talk of social services scare you? You needn't worry, I'm gonna look after you and not let anything bad happen to you, okay? But you need to understand that little girls need to be cared for and, if their parents can't do it, someone has to." As Stacey continued to try and sooth Lauren, certain phrases stirred feelings of comfort and warmth. Being told she was going to be "looked after" and "cared for" and that she "needn't worry." A warm feeling crept through her body and she breathed in the scent of Stacey deeply and let go. Finally, Lauren wasn't on edge. Stacey was going to look after her and she didn't need to worry about anything, her new caretaker would see to it that she got home safely. She could finally start doing what she intended to this whole time, relax at the mall. Sure, it wasn't exactly how she saw her day going but, after everything that had happened, at least someone was going to make sure she got home safely. All she had to do was play along and it would be over before she knew it. With that in mind, Lauren tore open her bag and started childishly stuffing her face with the fried food with no concern for the mess she was making.