A Dress in Distress (Shiress)

by **Leila** on March 12th, 2013, 9:01 pm

Timestamp: Spring 15, 503

Leila had just turned nine years old today, and she was ecstatic. She woke up early, grabbed her dolly Cheryl, ran through the house, into her parents room and leapt toward her sleeping father. Who wasn't sleeping, and caught her in the air, "Why good morning little dove? Why are you so excited darling?" he asked teasingly.

"It's my birthday!"

"Well I'll be... it sure is. How about we go make you some breakfast, what would you like?"

"Um... Fried chicken... strawberries... bacon... and chocolate!"

Her father laughed, and moved to carry her to the kitchen, when his wife stirred, "She can't eat yet, I'm taking her to Yvette's, she needs to look beautiful today."

Her father set her down, and asked her to go get dressed quickly. While putting on her sundress, she could hear her parents arguing, her dad arguing on her behalf, while her mother went on about making her a proper lady. She sat there and played with Cheryl until her mother came to get her. "Let's go visit Yvette and get you a pretty dress."

Leila was a bit disappointed, her dad always made her whatever she wanted for breakfast on her birthday. But lately her mother started making her do a bunch of 'lady like' things, like not playing in the mud with the other children, and not letting her eat stuff like chocolate. And now this. Leila pouted the whole way to Yvette's Dresses for All Occasions. Her mother introduced her to the lady, and then the two fussed over her for a long while, both ignoring her pouting, which only made it worse. When they both disappeared into back of the store, probably to find some stupid dress that itched like no other, Leila decided she was going to spend her birthday her way. And slipped out the side door into an alley, wondering what she was going to do next.

by **Shiress** on March 14th, 2013, 3:42 am

Like most warm spring mornings in Zeltiva one might find a certain brown haired, green eyed young 13 year old Shiress sitting under a nice shade tree eating an apple or, on rare occasion, reading a book, but more so than not, she sat munching away at her bright red apple.

It was nearing the 8th bell and Shiress could still see her mothers figure swaying down the road toward the University's infirmary for her days work. Shiress usually accompanied her mother on the short walk. Most often stopping to eat her breakfast under the same tree before meandering off to the Shipyards to wave hello to her father and older brother.

Shiress had just slid down the tree and made herself comfortable when "whoppp" Her brother Zayne attacked. "Oh Im sorry little girl. I didn't see you there." He teased giving a sly grin. Shiress giggled "Running late, huh? You're gonna get it." Shiress gave her brother a half smile as her apple came to her mouth. "Yep and I forgot to eat." He snatched the apple from her hand laughing and ran off

Shiress' face twisted in playful annoyance as she made it to her feet and sprang after him. She didn't make it far before colliding with a figure causing her to sail through the air and land flat on her stomach. She turned quickly to see who or what she had hit. A smile spread wide across her lips. She was looking in a face as young as hers. "Im so sorry! Are you OK?" She pulled herself straight and walked to the brown haired girl. "Im Shiress." She said giving her a polite smile and glancing down. "Oh, I like your doll."

by **Leila** on March 16th, 2013, 10:21 pm

Leila quickly grew bored during her escape from mother, held up Cheryl, "What do you want to do Cheryl? Want to go find some candy? What's that? There's a bunch of meanie moms in this alley. We need to be super, very sneaky." The little girl and doll quickly ran and crouched behind a trashcan. She poked Cheryl's head out, "Do you see anything?" Leila quickly popped her head up, then back down. "Good, let's keep moving!" Quickly, and as silently as an enthusiastic little girl could, she ran from trash can to trash can, constantly looking around for imaginary enemies.

That is until she crashed into someone, and fell to the ground. She didn't notice that it hurt, so she looked up, and saw what she wanted to be, a big girl. She was one of the most beautiful girls she'd ever seen, having been sheltered for so long. Often times her mom would let her play with other children from families like theirs, but they all looked like Cheryl. Fake, and never genuinely happy. But this girl looked so happy, and her name was pretty too! "Hi! I'm Leila, this is Cheryl! Wanna be friends? We're looking for candy, and it's our birthday!"

by **Shiress** on March 17th, 2013, 4:15 am

Shiress gave Leila a warm smile. "Nice to meet you Leila." Glancing down she gave Cheryl a pat. "You too Cheryl. I would love to be your friend" Shiress scanned the area for Leila's companion. It wasn't uncommon for kids to roam the streets and play alone. She gave no thought to the fact Leila was by herself. "Your birthday, huh? Be right back."

Shiress stepped away toward a small rose bush bearing tightly closed buds. Her hand moved out and her fingers gently grasp the new bud. Her thoughts ran from the small green leaves through the stem and to the root of the plant buried deep beneath the soil. Bala's mark began to tingle and burn on her skin as her mind yielded completely to the roots of the rose bush. Slowly, the bud began to grow in length as radiant red peddles gently began to lay open.

Shiress smiled as she pulled the perfect rose from the bush and turned toward Leila. "Happy birthday." She said as her hand stretched out the rose.

by **Leila** on March 18th, 2013, 6:40 pm

Leila was absolutely beaming that the girl had agreed to be her friend. Then she turned around to a rosebush, one that had no flowers, did something with her hands, and returned with an absolutely beautiful rose! Leila clapped her hands excitedly, "That's amazing! Thank you ever so much! Do it again!" Leila accepted the gift and put it in her curls behind her ear as she saw some foreign girls that came from the ships.

Leila turned toward the door she'd entered the alley from, and saw it beginning to open. "Quick, we need to go, I, uh... am going on a birthday adventure!" Having learned to lie from her mother over the years, and lying to her, it came somewhat naturally to Leila. But unlike when she lied to her mother, she actually felt bad about doing it to her new friend. "We should do something fun together!"

The little girl grabbed Shiress' hand and pulled her down the alley, and out onto the street, on the opposite side of the store's entrance. Standing there in a momentary awkward silence, Leila's stomach growled incredibly loudly. "Let's go find some breakfast! Mother hasn't let me eat yet today."

by **Shiress** on March 21st, 2013, 12:44 pm

"A birthday adventure?" The words barely had time to be said before Swoosh Shiress was being pulled down the alley way. Shiress couldn't help but smile. It was nice to have someone to interact with. Fun sounded good to the young green eyed girl.

Her long hair swung around the front of her shoulders as they finally came to a stop out in the street. She stood scanning the area trying to think of something fun to do with little Leila when she heard the tell tale sign of hunger reminding her that her breakfast had just ran away with Zayne, her Brother.

She looked back at the girl with a surprised expression "Im hungry too Leila. I live right down there." Shiress held her hand out pointing in the direction down the road."Come on, I know we can find something there." She turned and headed toward her small cottage just down the road from where they stood.

OOCFeel free to head to the cottage and follow Shiress inside

by **Leila** on March 26th, 2013, 10:31 pm

Leila looked up the street where her new friend pointed, excited to go to her home. She immediately began pulling the older girl with her, when her eyes fell on a familiar, albeit sad sight, causing her to stop in her tracks. Across the street was her father's failed Herbalism shop. Instead of Hughes' Herboriam, it now read, Plakon's Plants. Everything else looked the same as when he'd been running it. There were even plants she recognized in the windows.

"Let's check out this shop first!"

She let go of the girl's hand and rushed across the street to get a closer look at the plants. Her father helped her memorize different plants with poems. She pointed to a purple flower with thin leaves and then recited, "Alfalafa: Purple flowers, pointed bunches, good for your pee, says my hunches." She then pointed at a plant that looked like a fern, with leaves instead of fronds, "Licorice, sweet and thick when squished, good for those on boats with sore throats.". The last one she knew, a vine with little white flowers, "Zulrav's Vine, best for men who love ladies, and don't love babies."

She turned to find her companion, "This is my papa's old shop, can we go inside first? I miss it."

by **Shiress** on June 7th, 2013, 4:51 pm

Shiress followed her new friend to the store front window. Stepping up beside her, she tilted her body to peer in as Leila proudly described the plants viewable there, giggling at the last description given.

"Of course we can." She said smiling as she stepped away and pulled the entrance door open. Stepping inside, her green eyes scanned the tiny room. A vast variety of plants, vines and flowers filled the shelves.

The girl had passed this shop a hundred times but never stopped to appreciate the beauty inside. The many colors coming from blooms had Shiress in awe and the farther she moved into the the shop, she could feel the mark of Bala on her leg tingle, she was in her element.

Looking at Leila, she smiled again. "Tell me what you know of these beauties, Ms. Leila."

by **Eldritch** on August 12th, 2013, 1:45 am

Shiress :

Notes :

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Keep on writing!

Flashback A Dress in Distress (Shiress)