She always thought Mommy was the prettiest woman in the
world, as they’d lie on the bed basking in the afternoon sun pouring through
the window, she fit so perfectly snug against Mommy’s curves. Mommy turned on
her side one time and her baggy shirt revealed scars on her hips and stomach.
She gently traced them with her fingers and quietly asked, “What are these Mommy?”
After a moment Mommy replied, “Those are my warrior scars, baby… They show the
world that I’ve done one of the toughest things a woman can do, and lived to
tell about it. I brought forth life.” She wanted to be just like Mommy… a
warrior too.
She was seven when that all changed though, as your eyes
fixated on the woman who had just walked into the restaurant. Mommy was too
busy wiping mashed potatoes off baby brother’s hands to notice, but she saw
you. She watched as your eyes follow the woman all the way to her seat, and she
noticed how this woman’s beauty had captivated you. She studied the woman
carefully, noticing the sexy way she dressed even though she didn’t know the
word to describe it at the time. And in that moment she wanted to be just like
her. That woman may not be a warrior, but she had your full, undivided
attention.
After dinner you came back home and began to shuffle through
the monotony… baths, teeth, PJ’s, and bed. After you tucked her in, she laid
awake in her room thinking about the beautiful woman… the way she walked, the
way she dressed, the way she did her hair. She thought about the woman for quite
some time when suddenly she heard you and Mommy arguing down stairs. “What do
you mean it’s overdue… I thought we just paid it!” Mommy’s voice was too quiet
to hear, but she could tell Mommy was crying. She heard you yell, “Well, maybe you should get a job already?” And with
that she was very confused. Mommy was always telling people she had the best
job in the world, taking care of her and little brother… but maybe you didn’t think
so. Maybe you think there’s something better than being a warrior. She wondered
if maybe being beautiful like the woman was better...
She tossed and turned until finally the scary shadows in the
corner got the best of her. She slowly snuck out into the dimly lit hall and
went towards the glow coming from your study. She was drawn to you like a moth
to a flame. She stood in the threshold a moment, gathering the courage to let
you know she was out of bed, then gently pressed the door open, making a creak
and prompting you to immediately close your browser window. But it was too
late. She had already seen what you were looking at… another beautiful woman
with long flowing hair just like the one from the restaurant earlier, again moving
sensually before your eyes. She turned her tiny face up at you and hesitantly
asked, “Daddy, do you think I’m pretty?” to which immediately you replied, “Absolutely,
baby… just like your mommy.”
And in that moment she knew, she didn’t want to grow up to
be a warrior like Mommy, she wanted to be beautiful and sexy like the women she
saw you adore.
