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theatrical_muse Mommy/Mummy
May. 14th, 2007 10:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
theothermuses"Mummy, I'm thirsty!" The little girl, who appeared to be about five, tugged at her mum's sleeve as she rushed her daughter through the busy shopping centre and past MacDonald's.
"Not now, Lucy. I've got to get that dress before the shops close." Not even looking down to see Lucy's pleading eyes, she grabbed her hand and nearly pulled her towards the clothes boutique, ignoring her plaintive cries.
Some people looked over with sympathy, either for Lucy or her mother, thinking that perhaps the child was throwing a tantrum at being denied a Happy Meal toy, and then just as quickly forgot them as they continued their own lives. Only one watched with sympathy for neither. He had been watching and listening for some time and knew them both quite well by now.
He knew that rather than Lucy being a whining little brat, she was quite a sweet natured girl. The mother, Sarah, didn't pay her enough attention.
Normally, this would not be something that would attract Iblis' attention, and he had come upon them quite randomly -- which is always the best way. If Sarah had been a busy, working mother trying to maintain that delicate balance between work and raising a family, or if she had been a single mother, trying to make ends meet on benefits with several other mouths to feed, then he wouldn't have wasted his time. But she wasn't. Sarah was married to a reasonably successful businessman, and had given up her own career to support his…and their family. Now with Lucy, she had quickly discovered that children severely cramped her social life. Which was why this cocktail dress was far more important that Lucy's comfort.
By listening closely, Iblis had heard her secret desires. Wishes that she had no child. Thoughts that bordered on the edge of what no mother should ever contemplate…thoughts of losing Lucy, and the idea that it would bring her husband closer to her without having to compete with Lucy for his limited attention. Dreams of the life of being young, free and single, lost.
"Mummy, can I get a drink after you get the dress?"
"When we get home. You know I have to get back and get ready for this party." She sighed in frustration. Why did her husband refuse to let her hire an au pair? And she would have to take her into the dressing room while she tried the dress on.
She didn't see the old man looking into the shop window. In fact, no one seemed to notice him at all. No one but Sarah heard the whisper. Leave her outside. She'll be fine.
After a brief look around, as if trying to locate the source of those words and finding none, Sarah told Lucy to stay right where she was, and she would be right out in a minute.
Let her get the drink she wants.
Sarah looked worried, but that idea wouldn't leave her. "Here's a couple of quid…" But she's only five…but she's quite sensible… "Go and get yourself a drink. I'll be right over. Okay."
Lucy blinked at her, but knew better than to argue. "Okay mummy."
Once Sarah had disappeared to try the dress, Lucy wandered out of the shop. Iblis took a step near her and she seemed to just vanish into the crowd.
That was the beautiful thing about temptation, is that it worked best on those who needed no reason at all not to fall into temptation…but who had no idea of its consequences. The ideal life Sarah often imagined without her husband's darling little girl would fracture and break.
One should always be careful of what they wish for.
"Not now, Lucy. I've got to get that dress before the shops close." Not even looking down to see Lucy's pleading eyes, she grabbed her hand and nearly pulled her towards the clothes boutique, ignoring her plaintive cries.
Some people looked over with sympathy, either for Lucy or her mother, thinking that perhaps the child was throwing a tantrum at being denied a Happy Meal toy, and then just as quickly forgot them as they continued their own lives. Only one watched with sympathy for neither. He had been watching and listening for some time and knew them both quite well by now.
He knew that rather than Lucy being a whining little brat, she was quite a sweet natured girl. The mother, Sarah, didn't pay her enough attention.
Normally, this would not be something that would attract Iblis' attention, and he had come upon them quite randomly -- which is always the best way. If Sarah had been a busy, working mother trying to maintain that delicate balance between work and raising a family, or if she had been a single mother, trying to make ends meet on benefits with several other mouths to feed, then he wouldn't have wasted his time. But she wasn't. Sarah was married to a reasonably successful businessman, and had given up her own career to support his…and their family. Now with Lucy, she had quickly discovered that children severely cramped her social life. Which was why this cocktail dress was far more important that Lucy's comfort.
By listening closely, Iblis had heard her secret desires. Wishes that she had no child. Thoughts that bordered on the edge of what no mother should ever contemplate…thoughts of losing Lucy, and the idea that it would bring her husband closer to her without having to compete with Lucy for his limited attention. Dreams of the life of being young, free and single, lost.
"Mummy, can I get a drink after you get the dress?"
"When we get home. You know I have to get back and get ready for this party." She sighed in frustration. Why did her husband refuse to let her hire an au pair? And she would have to take her into the dressing room while she tried the dress on.
She didn't see the old man looking into the shop window. In fact, no one seemed to notice him at all. No one but Sarah heard the whisper. Leave her outside. She'll be fine.
After a brief look around, as if trying to locate the source of those words and finding none, Sarah told Lucy to stay right where she was, and she would be right out in a minute.
Let her get the drink she wants.
Sarah looked worried, but that idea wouldn't leave her. "Here's a couple of quid…" But she's only five…but she's quite sensible… "Go and get yourself a drink. I'll be right over. Okay."
Lucy blinked at her, but knew better than to argue. "Okay mummy."
Once Sarah had disappeared to try the dress, Lucy wandered out of the shop. Iblis took a step near her and she seemed to just vanish into the crowd.
That was the beautiful thing about temptation, is that it worked best on those who needed no reason at all not to fall into temptation…but who had no idea of its consequences. The ideal life Sarah often imagined without her husband's darling little girl would fracture and break.
One should always be careful of what they wish for.
