Page 15 of Schooling Little Sage

“’kay.” That was the day before Devon left. Guess we might as well make it a fun one, then maybe he wouldn’t forget me like everyone else did.

Each morning, I woke up and hurried through dressing, knowing Warner was waiting downstairs for me. I didn’t rush because I was scared of getting into trouble for dawdling, as my parents said, but ’cause I was so excited to see him. He always greeted me with a smile and a hug, starting my day in the best way.

We’d fallen into a routine, beginning each day with breakfast together first. No more dreading leaving my bedroom, my safe space, or another repeated day of being ignored. Warner wanted me to talk, tell him what I was feeling. He didn’t get upset with me and answered the millions of questions I always had. It was nice to not be alone as much anymore and have someone to talk to.

I’d won so many prezzies, a fun word Devon taught me, prizes from the arcade and the cute basket Warner gave me to keep them all in was full. I was supposed to shower and go to bed when Warner sent me up to my room at night, but sometimes I was too wound up to. Zoomies were what Devon called them. They were fun, but when I was younger, they’d gotten me in a lot of trouble. Now I got to zoom-zoom-zoom all I wanted, as long as it was in a safe space for that. I’d zoom and play with my new toys until I passed out.

My new life was so awesome. Even cleaning up after the horses wasn’t as bad anymore.

“Alright, Sage. Let’s get cleaned up. It’s time for lunch and for you to get to class.”

“How much longer do I have to take them for? Can’t I just work with you all day?” They talked about stuff in there that wasn’t for me. I spent a lot of time on the internet afterward looking it all up, but some of what I found was terrifying. The teacher tried to explain it to me, but it just went right over my head.

“You can take regular college courses such as accounting, or business, stuff like that if you’d rather. General life classes most grown-ups utilize,” Warner said.

I still wasn’t interested in any of that either.

“I want a Daddy who takes care of all of that,” I blurted out. “S-sorry. That’s selfish of me.”

Warner crouched down in front of me. “No, it’s not, but you need to make sure that’s truly what you want.”

I nodded. I didn’t want to risk my stupid brain putting any more words into my mouth it couldn’t keep quiet.

“I still wanna work and earn money but I just don’t want to worry about stuff like paying bills and what to make for dinner.” Where was all of this coming from? I’d never had this conversation with myself, let alone with another human.

Did I want a Daddy?

Yeah, but that’s where my thoughts had stopped. I’d never paid any bills, no clue what was even involved with that. I didn’t even have any accounts to pay them from. Working here, all my money was loaded onto the card they gave me to use at the store. Super easy and worry free.

“Why don’t we talk about this more after Devon leaves?”

“’kay.” Was it possible for someone you weren’t dating to break up with you?

Just keep your mouth shut, Sage. You’re lucky to have this life.

No matter how far away my parents were, Papa’s words would always haunt me.

“Hi, Sage.” Devon waved from across the room. “I saved you a seat.”

“I like your shirt.” It was short, showing his belly, but it had cute tiny ladybugs all over it.

“Thanks, one of the Daddies I play with back home got it for me.”

“You have more than one Daddy?” How did that even work?

“Kind of. I don’t have a Daddy of my own and I’m okay with that. My day job keeps me really busy, so it isn’t often I get playtime at the club. There are a couple of Daddies I play with, depending on our schedules.”

That didn’t sound fun to me. Almost sounded lonelier than my life was. Maybe I was just projecting, but still… I wasn’t in the right mindset today.

“Settle down,” the teacher said and we all quieted. “Today we’re going over implements and the proper usage of them.”

Implements?

“Floggers and paddles are the most widely used impact play toys on the market.” She flicked her wrist and the flogger snapped. “They can be used lightly, at times even to tickle, though there are ticklers made for that particular sensory play.” The others oohed and ahhed, but if I was getting tickled, it would be by real fingers.

“This,” she pulled a stick out. “Is a cane.” As soon as it swished through the air, I froze. My vision blurred, her voice and the others around me sounded like they were under water. I flinched when it swung through the air a second time. Every hair on my body raised.

I had to get out of here.