Those big brown eyes said it all: “No” was not an option. Luv put one hand on her hip, switching all her weight to the same side and telling her servant, commonly known as her mother, every thing she needed to know without saying a single word. The pink leopard print tutu that she insisted be bought for her two days ago despite her thriving tutu collection that would make a prima ballerina cry, was stained. There was no time to wash it, no way. Even if she put it on quick cycle and didn’t even let it dry all the way, there was no way it could happen in time for Luv’s arrival at Kiki Elaine’s third birthday extravaganza.
Kiki was the pride of Swankford Hills, the small but swanky community that Luv and her parents had recently relocated to. It was crucial Luv not be late for this small get together because, as her mother had carefully decided, all eyes must be on her and her grand entrance before Kiki entered the room. Yes, it was Kiki’s birthday party, but it was Luv’s coming out party. Oh, and out she would come! Her mother was not ruling anything out to catch the attention of the Stepford wives she was about to throw herself in the middle of. Luv was only two, but her dear mother knew that she was going to be the talk of the town as soon as she stepped out in her newest outfit. A pink diamond encrusted crown was to sit atop her wispy blonde hair, perfectly complimenting her bubble gum pink cheeks and lips. Her coordinating black tank top was ordered from Japan weeks before her mother had even received the formal invitation to the party. Custom made leopard print leggings were delivered just in time for their shopping trip for the perfect lace skirt. Yet, as we noted before, Luv had other plans. Being devoted to the spotted cat, Luv refused to wear anything that was not leopard to the party. She screamed and screamed when she was told no to the tutu, causing such a scene that the saleswoman at Prissy Boutique said she would buy the tutu for her herself just to make the princess smile again. Not wanting anyone to think for a second that she couldn’t afford the luxe tutu, her mother went ahead and bought two, one in lime green, just to prove her point. Telling Luv it was for the party only did no good: the next morning when she stumbled down the steps after waking from her eight hour slumber, she was wearing nothing but the tutu and a bright pink boa around her neck.
It was really no surprise when her mother found the huge stain on the back of the fluffy ballerina staple. There was no way to conceal it, and definitely no time to wash of course, so they had no choice but call the boutique owner at home and ask for another one. Delivered to the party site, of course. Miss Luv’s dear servant would give the appropriate payment to cover the hassle and secure their wealthy standing. Miss Luv smiled when she heard the demands being barked and knew that she would still be decked out in her new outfit, which she added her own sassy touch to with pink high top sneakers. Climbing into her car seat, holding tightly to her designer handbag and listening as her mother continued to rant and demand every thing on her behalf, Luv went over her routine in her head. Yes, she had a routine. An entrance was planned and it would be nothing short of spectacular.
Luv and her driver/servant/mother arrived fifteen minutes early. Her mother carried the huge gift they had bought for Kiki and smiled at the perfect wrapping paper and the big, bright zebra print bow that Luv had picked out for the top of it. As she walked in front of her mother, guiding the way of course, Luv shook her Huggies covered bottom side to side as she walked. The walk to the house was like a runway for the little diva. She looked straight ahead and didn’t stop a single time to look at the balloons and streamers and children running about. Outside playtime was for boys and she would have no part in it. Climbing up the front steps, careful not to trip and scuff her perfectly pink ballet flats accented with silver glitter, Luv turned to look at her mother, signaling with her eyes that she hurry it up. Carrying their heavy designer diaper bag, as well as her own handbag and the hefty gift, Luv’s mother rang the door bell. Kiki’s mother was surprisingly the one to open the door, looking down at Luv and immediately gasping as she saw her attire.
“Oh Luv! I heard you were quite the little fashionista, but I never would have believed you would be THIS stylish! You look DARLING!”
“Mommy!”, Luv cried out, a call that her mother knew meant to take over.
Kiki’s mother pointed to the room directly behind her and told Luv she was welcome to go play with the other girls while Kiki finished getting ready for the party. Leaving her mother to mingle with the host, Luv glided across the shiny hardwood floors, pacing herself so she could enter at the perfect moment. The room quieted down and Luv then felt like it was time to walk into the doorway. Stepping into what must have been a playroom for this “extravagant” child, Luv was not impressed. Immediately she saw messiness, disorder, and over all lack of organization. She couldn’t believe she had to put herself through the torture of playing here, but she had to do what she had to do. As she reached the middle of the room, she knew all eyes were on her. She smiled, showing her blinding white smile. She heard toys drop. Suddenly, half a dozen little ladies stood in front of Luv.
“Wow! I like your purse!”, one cooed. “Can I play princess?”, another asked, reaching for her tiara.
“NO!”, shouted Luv. “I am the princess! This is my tiara. Do NOT touch my handbag. It is not a toy! It is designer! I am only here to watch! I don’t play!”
“She’s no fun! Lets play stone the princess!”, shouted a little curly haired brunette. Luv was just not amused, not at all. She sat at the coloring table in the corner, turning the chair towards the wall so she didn’t have to witness the behavior around her. She could not believe this was what her mother was making her do! She was so above this! As she was settling in her chair, pulling her pink tablet out of her handbag to play number games, she felt something hard hit the side of her arm.
“Ouch! That hurt! Who did that? Why would you throw something at me? Don’t you know who I AM? I’ll tell my mommy and no one will ever play with you again!”.
Furious, Luv watched as these terrible little people ignored her words. They continued to throw every thing at her! Stuffed animals, blocks, you name it, it was flying at her head. In anger Luv picked up one of the blocks that hit her cheek and threw it. Then she picked up the yellow bunny that lay at her foot. She tossed it at the nearest redhead standing near her. She kicked the little purple car on the book shelf at the brat who yelled at her before. At some point, she started to feel something else. She wasn’t sad, she wasn’t hurt, she wasn’t embarrassed, what feeling was this? This was new. She felt excited, but not in an anxious way, in a relaxed way. Before she knew it a sound escaped. A silly, strange, cackling… LAUGH.
Luv covered her mouth. “Oh no!”, she thought. No no no, she couldn’t be doing this. There was no way. No, it couldn’t happen. Was this what she thought it was? Surely not, but wait, yes yes, maybe so. Was Luv having….fun? Dropping her handbag to the floor and sliding her shoes off, Luv continued to throw every thing that lay around her. Like a frisbie, every thing came right back to her. She couldn’t hear anything but loud laughs, giggles, shrieks. She couldn’t believe she was playing, and not alone, or with adults, but with LITTLE PEOPLE LIKE HER!
“Hi! I’m Spencer! My sister is Kiki, today is her birthday. We have a little brother too, his name is Ben. You should come over and play with us more. We play stone the princess all the time! Its fun!”.
Luv couldn’t help it. She smiled. She handed Spencer the car she had kicked earlier and he handed her a doll. She had blonde hair and big brown eyes, just like Luv. Luv noticed a doll house in the corner and slowly walked towards it. Spencer followed behind her and as she sat in front of it, placing the doll in the chair on the little front porch, she looked to her side and saw two girls, each holding a doll of their own. The longer she played, the more she laughed, and the more she laughed, the more people that came to play with her. She was having to much fun. She didn’t know it could feel so good to share and laugh.
Kiki came down a few minutes later, and instead of outshining her, Luv sat at a small table filled with cupcakes, hiding in between Lily, a brown haired little girl wearing a pink t-shirt and leggings, and Kiki’s brother Spencer. She smiled when she saw Kiki’s shiny tiara and her sparkly tutu. She didn’t stand up, she didn’t make a sound, she just watched as Kiki smiled at every body and had happy birthday sung to her. As they all ate cake and settled down to watch the birthday girl open her gifts, Luv stood up. She walked over to Kiki and sat beside her. “Happy birthday, Kiki. You look like a princess.”, Luv said, smiling sweetly. “Thank you”, Kiki said, “I like your tiara. We should play princess together.”
Luv sat beside Kiki for the rest of her party and when Kiki asked if Luv wanted to play outside in her castle, she didn’t turn her nose up at all. She climbed in the little cars that were lined up by the pool and smiled big when Kiki, her brother, and even their little brother climbed in the car with her. They rode around in circles, laughing and having fun, and imagined Kiki was a princess and Spencer was a prince, and little Benjamin was their baby. Luv was their driver. And she was perfectly fine with that.