Get Back to You 55 Dramatic Play

"Wow, Jessica's mother is super talkative. You did great, honey!" Lia patted her mother gently.

The little girl immediately went to her room. For the next few minutes, Lia changed into her nightdress, washed her face and came back running straight to her mother, who's still on the couch.

"MOM, I'm hungry..." Lia crawled up on top of Giselle and then hugged her.

Giselle didn't have the energy to play with Lia. But she did give soft pecks on her head.

"There are cookies in the cabinet. Go..." Giselle sang. After knowing the location, Lia jumped out from her mother and went straight to her destination. She found the cookies, brought them back to the living room, switched on the television, kept her favorite cartoon, and finally started eating.

Giselle watched her child's after-school routine. 'It never changed' - Giselle thought. Even with no energy, Giselle scooched over and then called Lia to come to sit with her. The next thing was, both Giselle and Lia, watching Lia's favorite cartoon together.

Lia took out a cookie and then fed it to Giselle. She didn't want to be the only one enjoying the cookies.

"Thank you" Giselle turned into a little girl herself.

The scene doesn't look like a mother and daughter but two sisters enjoying cartoon together.

"That burger looks super delicious. I kind of want one." Giselle pointed out the food from the cartoon.

"Me too, Mom. You know... it's called the 'Krusty Krab Burgers' it's delicious," Lia replied in awe.

...

The time is now 8:00 PM.

Both Giselle and Lia were in their rooms. Giselle spent time on her laptop researching about 'KeyLine Publication', 'Jayce' and about other authors. Mostly, about Jayce. She spent time reading his novels. Shane even sent her copies of Jayce's books.

Giselle kept her laptop aside and looked at the time. She went to Lia's room and saw her daughter working with school stuff.

"Lia?" Giselle called.

"Hmm..." Lia didn't bother looking at her mother but let alone focused on her own stuff.

"We still have Mac and Cheese leftovers. Will, that does for dinner?" Giselle asked.

Lia turned around to face her mom. She requested if there's more garlic bread.

"Yes," Giselle replied.

"Alright. But mom, we need to have something else other than Mac and Cheese." Lia suggested.

It made Giselle think.

"Mash potatoes?" Giselle recommended.

"Mac and Cheese... mash potatoes... same consistency mom. Nope..." Lia didn't like it.

Giselle kept thinking.

"Got it. Baked beans and sweet potato fries." Giselle decided.

She didn't need Lia's permission because Lia's face revealed everything. The little girl liked the menu. Giselle then went to the kitchen and started cooking immediately.

About half-hour later, Giselle's mobile rang. She requested Lia to check who it is. Lia went to her mom's room and picked up the call. It was Ethan, Lia's father.

"Reporting straight from New York, Sir" Lia spoke first.

"Oh... alright, Future Hero Lia. How are things going? I heard that a citizen named Giselle got caught by the villain" Ethan played along.

Lia took the position of a Hero and had her fake powers. She posed as if she's on an infiltration mission to rescue Giselle from the villain.

"I'm on it, Sir. The Villian had kept the hostage in the kitchen. I'm slowly moving towards the target." Lia reported back as she came out of Giselle's room.

Giselle could see her daughter's pose and figure out that it was her dad who called. Giselle kept cooking. She didn't really want to be a part of their dramatic play.

Ethan and Lia kept playing their game. Lia went from Giselle's room to the living area, where she hid near the couch and often kept glancing at Giselle. Then she moved to the kitchen where Giselle's cooking. The beans were boiling while the sweet potato was getting baked inside the oven.

"Sir, I've defeated all of the side-kicks. They're all got burnt down in the flame." Lia reported back.

"Good work, Future Hero Lia." Ethan went along.

...

The father-daughter due game finally came to an end. Giselle already finished cooking and waited until they both got completely worn out from their dramatic play. Soon, Lia gave the phone to her mom and went to have dinner while it's hot. Meanwhile, Ethan and Giselle kept talking.

"I'm exhausted," Ethan said.

"You always do that. She's not a boy. You guys need to tone it down a little." Giselle advised.

"I know but I love playing with her. And I can only do that now. Who knows when she'll grow up and start to like makeup and stuff. I gotta do it now when she's in the phase." Ethan groaned.

"Fine, Fine. It's midnight there. I was hoping that you would call after you had dinner." Giselle asked.

"It's Lia first day at school right? I thought you guys might have been busy and tired as well. It's alright. I'm actually working right now. The sooner I finish, I can be at ease." Ethan replied.

Giselle kept quiet. Noticing her being quiet, Ethan changed the topic.

"So, you start tomorrow right?"

"Yes, Tomorrow's my first day. I think I'll be meeting with the writer."

"Good"

Giselle kept still.

"Are you nervous?" Ethan inquired.

Giselle's calmness confirmed her anxiety. Since she had no one to talk to about the work, Giselle's nervousness kept piling up. Ethan figured it out and tried comforting her.

"Giselle, don't worry. I'm sure you will do fine. See Lia, didn't she rock her first day at school. How hard is it going to be for you? Just don't sweat it out. Be bold. I keep repeating it but you never listen to me." Ethan exclaimed.

"I know. I'm just... I don't know. It's all happening but I'm not sure. I don't feel anything. I'm not sure if this is where I belong. Argh..." Giselle trembled. Her voice kept shaking. This time it's serious and Ethan felt it.

"Giselle can you put me on the video call, I want to see Lia?" Ethan requested.

Giselle turned on the video call and went to the dining area. She saw Lia eating happily. She almost completed her dinner except for Sweet potato fries. When she saw her mother approaching, Lia looked puzzled.

"Someone wants to meet you." Giselle turned her phone towards Lia facing the screen. Lia's face lit up as soon as she saw Ethan.

"Dad!!!" Lia jumped out in joy.

"Baby girl, I told you to finish your dinner in one go." Ethan laughed.

"Dad, I finished my dinner already."

"Then what's that in your plate."

"Fries" Lia answered

"Just Fries?"

"Just Fries!!!"

"Meh... that's my girl. Good. Good. Go drink your water and come back. I need to talk to you."

Chapter end