TIME WARP: Lazy Daisy Days [Amelia]

[L.C. Milliner]

July 15th, 1998. Somewhere in Virginia.

It was hot, unbearably so. The heat index was high and the heat wave of ’98 had a vice grip on the southern U.S. The carnival and circus business was looking bad down the coast, and so the carnival decided to alter its route and head north instead, away from the heat and toward the higher profit margins. The tear down process for the tents had begun, and all the animals were being loaded into the trucks. The only idle hands were that of the children, who had long ago put all the costumes in the trailer where they belonged in their plastic wrap, hung up neatly and carefully.

Now that she had helped Magda put all her weird glass crystal things away in her trailer, Lyra was running around the carnival, tanned legs pumping as she tore across the field. Her hair was shorn short like a boy’s again- with all the heat it was impossible to keep her unruly hair in line. When it came time for the shows, they just pinned in some of those fake ponytails to make her look like a girl. Outside of the shows she almost looked like a boy- she was currently running around in shorts, boy sandals, and an olive green tank top that was a size too big. Around her neck there was a stone Magda gave her.

Gray eyes surveyed the gray clouds in the distance as Lyra skirted the animal loading trucks, running straight into Helena, the lion tamer’s daughter. Both of them puffed up their chests at each other- Lyra had to look up at her because Helena was so tall. After a few moments of glaring they left each other alone, each satisfied that the other knew who was really the boss around the carnival. Lyra was looking for her friend Amelia anyway, so she didn’t want to get into it with Helena. Even if the girl was a couple years older and a few inches taller, Lyra could still show her a few things when it came to fighting.

After a moment, the young girl finally cupped her hands around her mouth, yelling for her friend. “MIIIIILLYYYYYY!” Pause. “MIIIIILLYYYYYY!” Another pause. “MIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILLYYYYYY!” She ventured out into the tall grass of the open field, oblivious to the idea of ticks or spiders or any other creepy-crawlies lurking about. She looked all around for her friend before groaning and sitting down in the grass, yanking up dandelions as she began to make a strange little bouquet. After she was satisfied with it she stood up again. “MIIIIILLYYYYYY! I PICKED YOU SOME FLOOOOOWERRRRRS!” That was sure to get her to come running. Milly liked flowers and stuff, kind of. She liked them more than Lyra, anyway.

[Amelia Jeffords]

Amelia missed her mother terribly. Mrs. Jeffords was nearing the end of her term and as such had returned to her parents rather than staying on her feet at the carnival and risking a preemie. This was a perfectly logical decision, but one which the young girl didn't understand. As far as she was concerned her mother had inexplicably abandoned her, worse that her father had explained that her mother wouldn't be returning for at least a year while she cared for baby Cassandra: she wasn't even born yet, and already she was stealing away Milly's mother. She was interested in a playmate, but not at the expense of her mother's attentions.

At least her small part helping to pack up the carnival was finished, and until it was time for them to move she could spend her time as she pleased.

She had been unable to find Lyra; it was likely that her mother hadn't allowed her the freedom the other children were enjoying. She didn't understand why the older woman was such a hard taskmistress, but that she was one was clear even to five-year-old Milly.

As her friend was nowhere to be found and she was too shy to approach the other children, she hid herself behind the caravan that was her home, sitting cross legged on the flattened grass as she prodded idly at a line of ants marching toward mud-caked wheels.

"Go 'way, ants." She ordered, disrupting their line by dragging a finger across it and then watching as they milled about in confusion, pleased with her work.

It was in the middle of this very important project that she heard a voice calling her name, and she glanced up expectantly.

Lyra was her very best friend in the very whole world, and when they grew up they were going to get married, because that was what best friends did and because Lyra always kept older or bigger children from picking on her, a fact she appreciated and felt that marriage would show.

The promise of flowers as well as Lyra's company galvanized her into action, and she shot forward, leaving the ants in peace.

"Lyraaaa!!" She sang out, racing toward her friend's voice, dodging around boxes and te feet of laboring adults, "Lyra!"

As she neared the fields she spotted her friend; the nearness of her goal gave her a burst of energy, and she sprinted toward the other girl, collapsing beside her in a shy fit of giggles.

"Hey. 'd you say you had flowers?"

[L.C. Milliner]

Milly had never told Lyra about getting married, but if she had Lyra would’ve agreed wholeheartedly. She liked Milly well enough, because Milly liked her and did everything she said, even when she told her to do gross things like eat bugs or dangerous things like jump off swings when they got really high. Because Milly did everything she asked Lyra made sure she got extra special care- which meant beating up the other kids who liked to push her around, especially Helena.

When Milly finally showed up, Lyra grinned and hid the flowers behind her, waiting until Milly decided to collapse next to her before showering her with them, along with a hug. “I DID. I hope you like ‘em.” There were a few other flowers scattered in the dandelions, but all of them were weeds anyway.

The grass was tall enough that the two of them couldn’t be seen when they laid down- the carnival had only mowed the grass they needed mowed. The older of the two sprawled out on her back in the withered brown grass and stared at the bright blue sky. There wasn’t a cloud in sight, only the sun, which hurt Lyra’s eyes when she looked at it.

“So.” The girl rolled around in the grass for a moment. “I lost one of my teeth!” She hadn't told Milly yet because it only happened the night before- her brother had held her down and pulled it out after she wouldn’t stop complaining about it being loose. She didn’t give it to the tooth fairy though, instead she gave it to Magda, who gave her a dollar for it and sent her on her way. She hid the dollar under the passenger seat of Magda’s car so her brother and her Mama wouldn’t find it. Sometimes they found her money and used it before they found out it was hers, and sometimes Orion just found it and used it, because it was hers. He was a jerk like that.

Opening her mouth, Lyra pointed to where her bottom right canine should have been- in its place was a hole she could stick the tip of her tongue through. She already lost her on of her upper front teeth (also thanks to Orion) and it was growing in quite nicely. “Sheeeeee?” She asked, the noise distorted by her open mouth and prodding fingers. “My brother pulled it out. And I didn’t even CRY.” That was a lie- she cried like a baby. She’d never tell Milly that though. “You got any loose teeth? I’ll YANK ‘em out for ya!” She giggled, knowing full well she’d never do anything like that to Milly.

[Amelia Jeffords]

Milly giggled as Lyra showered her with flowers rather than handing them to her, snatching at the air as she tried to grab them, but to no avail. "I loooove them!" She beamed, reaching up to fling both arms around the older girl in return, the hug made awkward by the fact that she was lying on the ground.

When her friend dropped to the ground beside her she rolled onto one side, plucking one of the fallen dandelions from the grass and twirling it between her fingers as she listened to Lyra's story with wide eyes.

"Woooow." She whispered, leaning forward to peer at the gap being shown off to her. "You didn't cry at all? I would've."

She knew that she wasn't as strong or as brave as her friend, and she couldn't conceive of any universe where she might be. She thought that it was mighty impressive to have a tooth yanked out and not cry.

" 'd you give it to the tooth fairy?" She wondered, pushing a strand of dark hair back behind one ear before placing the dandelion there as an ornament; a rather crooked one, since she couldn't see herself. "Daddy says the tooth fairy can't find us 'cause of we travel all the time, but I don't b'lieve 'im, fairies have magic, she could prob'ly find us." She nodded sagely, sure in her knowledge of fairies. Her dad just didn't understand how that kind of thing worked; unsurprising, really, because he was a boy and boys didn't seem to know much about fairies as a general rule.

"Eeek!" She shrieked as her friend offered to yank out teeth for her, rolling backwards and squinting up at the sky alongside the other girl. "Nooooo, my teeths are fine!" She objected, covering her mouth with one hand. One of her back teeth was loose, but she didn't want it yanked out. Thinking about it made her rub it with the tip of her tongue, then glance at Lyra expectantly. "Don't need 'em yanked out."

She idly grabbed at the other flowers (and weeds) that had formed the bouquet scattered around her and added, "We should make crowns and be fairy princesses, then the tooth fairy'll know to come get your tooth."

[L.C. Milliner]

A smug grin came to Lyra’s face as Amelia believed in her lie, her loyalty to the older girl and her bravery unwavering, as always. She got away with so much wherever Amelia was concerned it should be criminal. Crossing her arms, Lyra nodded and raised her eyebrows. “I did have to kick Orion in the face though. He did it when I wasn’ ready. But even then, I didn’ cry.” The first part was true- she did kick Orion in the face. His nose bled because of it. But after that she grabbed her tooth and locked herself in the bathroom because he came after her. He did leave though, and that was when she finished crying and ran off to Magda.

Watching Milly put a flower in her hair, Lyra frowned and leaned forward to take it out and put it in again so it looked right and not crooked. “I gave it to Magda. She says the tooth fairy only comes for regular kids.” She was tempted to run and get the dollar she got to show Milly, but she decided she’d keep it hidden. “‘Sides, I don’t want no fairy money. Fairies are meanies. They steal kids and eat people because they’re related to trolls. That’s why you halfta sleep when the tooth fairy comes, because if you don’t she’ll steal you and eat you and use your teeth to make a house or something.” She nodded, happy she had heard some Polish fairytales from Magda so she could warn Amelia.

Giggling, Lyra started to tickle her friend, grinning at her. “I don’ wanna put my hands in your mouth! That’d be icky!” She chirped, giggling. She could never do that to Milly anyway- they were best friends. She might try to get Helena later, but Helena might bite and her teeth were sharp. She had made them that way on purpose, which made her really creepy.

As Milly picked up the flowers, Lyra moved to help, but ended up just picking up one and pushed her thumb up against it, pushing the top off the dandelion. With a short bark of laughter she dropped the stem and went to do it to another, stopping only when Milly asked to play some fairy game. Lyra stuck out her tongue. “I don’t wanna be a fairy princess. You can be a princess, I’ll be a...” Stopping to think, Lyra huffed and looked around at the grass, thinking how it was a bit like Africa and the plains. “I’ll be a fairy lion!” She shrieked, jumping up. “And, and I’m like, your pet, but I’m not. Like, your fairy King Dad made me your pet, and I gotta watch you and stuff because you could get stolen if I don’t. And... And I have blue fur.” All fairy animals had to have cool fur, after all. Otherwise they’d just look like regular animals.

[Amelia Jeffords]

Milly didn't feel particularly sympathetic toward Orion; he was a meanie butt, always picking on Lyra and her. But mostly Lyra. Her daddy said that was just how older brothers were, and she thought if that was the case she was really glad she didn't have one because older brothers were obviously awful. If anyone deserved to be stolen by the fairies to have his teeth used for houses it was him.

Too bad Lyra had just told her that fairies didn't visit Carnies.

Or maybe that was a good thing. She wasn't sure if she would be able to sleep, knowing that a child-eating fairy was coming to visit for her tooth. She would definitely get kidnapped, and then Lyra would have to come rescue her. She had the utmost faith that Lyra would come and rescue her in time, but it still seemed like a better idea to just not get kidnapped by fairies in the first place.

"But fairies are s'pposed to be beautiful and magic." She objected half-heartedly. Lyra had told her that fairies were cruel, so it must be true, but it was difficult to shake her image of tiny winged creatures flitting about and having courtly romances.

At least her friend didn't object to pretending that they were fairies, even if fairies weren't very nice to humans. And the idea of a fairy lion for a pet made her smile. "Yeah! Blue fur!" She agreed, picturing this in her head, a dark-haired fairy in a gauzy dress with her loyal feline companion. Her dress would have to be blue to match Lyra's fur. "You're so smart, Lyra." She giggled, attempting to weave together the flowers in her lap. "You aren't really a pet, you're my guardian, but everyone thinks you're a pet 'cause you're a lion. But if they make you mad you can just eat them." She reasoned, seeing no cause to be disturbed at the thought of a guardian lion eating its enemies.

[L.C. Milliner]

Lyra snorted and ruffled her hair, looking at Amelia with a withering stare. “Would I lie to you? That’s what Magda said.” She huffed before realizing that Milly looked kind of sad. Normally this wouldn’t bother her, but she remembered how she felt when her brother told her Santa and the Easter bunny weren’t real. (She’d never tell Milly that, she would hate her forever if she told her.) She decided she could lie to Milly a little and tell her a few fairies were nice. “I guess some of them are okay. Like, the little ones.” She made her fingers tiny to show what size was nice.

Watching Amelia make flower crowns was boring, so Lyra crawled around in the grass, pouncing on bugs while pretending to be a big blue lion that ate people. “And other fairies are trying to steal you, so when they do I chew their wings up so they can’t get away and then I eat them.” Lyra always liked to expound upon Amelia’s ideas and make them more interesting. She stalked up behind Milly and butted her head against her arm, signifying she wanted petted, like a lion should. “And there’s a prince from the evil fairies trying to steal you, but he only comes out at night because he’s so ugly that the sun would like... Explode if he came out during the day. And it’s almost sunset now.” They needed a good setting and some decent conflict. Now that some conflict was set up, she had a purpose.

Jumping into action, she got up and ran across the field in one direction, then another, making sure no evil fairies were out to find the princess for the dark, ugly prince. She yelled and kicked at some grass, pretending she found one, then got on the ground so Milly couldn’t see her and pretended she was eating a fairy. “MUNCH MUNCH MUNCH.” She said, wondering what fairies tasted like anyway. She decided they tasted good, like funnel cake. That reminded her of how much she wanted one, and she went back to Milly to ask, but on the way there she realized she had to make the story more interesting.

“You’re a good fairy and you have wings too, but I don’t, so sometimes you can run away. Like Tinkerbell. Oh, I’m going to be Tinkerbell for Halloween this year, during our Halloween show! Isn’t that awesome?!” Mr. Anderson told her himself. She was going to look exactly like the Disney fairy. “Maybe if you ask nice, you could be Esmeralda or Pocahontas or Jasmine or something. Or princess Tiger Lily.” Lyra knew that Amelia couldn’t be Tinkerbell, because she was too tan.

[Amelia Jeffords]

Milly heaved a sigh of relief at hearing that some fairies were nice, even if they were only itt bitty ones. Like many young girls she was quite fond of pixies and fairies, and to hear that they were all child-eating monsters like trolls and werewolves was distressing.

She squinted at Lyra's fingers, as if perhaps she could see a fairy being used for measurement. "That's bitty." She commented. "Even bittier than a normal fairy." Not that she knew how big a normal fairy was, but they were supposed to be small and to use flowers for parasols and live under mushrooms and acorns for hats, so they had to be tiny already.

She shivered as the conversation turned to the ugly fairy prince and his courtiers who were sent to catch her. "Ewwww." She scrunched up her face at the thought. "I'm glad you eat them, I don't wanna get caught." She rolled over onto her stomach, scattering dandelion seeds as she did so. "After you eat all his fairies, he'll have to come out himself, an' then you can eat him, too." She decided, twisting her flower garland into a circlet before draping it across her forehead.

She watched as her 'guardian' tromped around, chowing down on wicked fairies. "An' then you'll be a hero. And all the nice fairies will throw you a p'rade." Her eyes took on a dreamy, faraway look as she envisioned the triumph that would accompany the mawing of the evil fairy prince.

"Hunh?" She propped her chin in her hands, furrowing her brow in confusion at Lyra's proclamation, "That's so silly, why'd I wanna run away from you?" Maybe Lyra had meant something else. "You keep me safe from the pr....oooooh, Tinker Bell!!"

She pushed herself to her knees, sighing enviously, "Tha's so cool, Tinker Bell is so pretty."

And sassy, which suited Lyra perfectly. Although the other Disney ladies mentioned were equally pretty (was it possible to be a Disney Heroine who wasn't beautiful? Probably not.) and they all had strong personalities. She wasn't sure she was cool enough for any of them, though she did like Esmeralda's dancing. "Mmmm. Maybe I'll ask to be Esmeralda, she has pretty skirts." She decided.

If she'd only known the fate the gypsy girl faced in the book, she might not have been so quick to jump at her. Then again, Tinker Bell's book fate wasn't that much better. Still, she was only five, not yet old enough to read either story. Watching the Disney movies was another story entirely.

"You'll make the best Tinker Bell." She assured Lyra, wondering who would be Peter. It had better not be Orion, that would be so lame. "Orion's not gonna get to dress up, is he?" She asked cautiously. Best not to be too disrespectful, or he might appear out of nowhere and give her a wedgie.