Miss Piggy
Miss Piggy’s house smelled. In the clean places there were the sharp scents of
chemical floral air fresheners. In the boys room and the den it smell of sweat sox, oil, rubber, and dirty laundry. Sophie sneezed and her eyes watered. Her eyes watered a lot since she was moved here.
Miss Piggy tried to be nice. She was a tall athletic woman with her bown hair in a sporty pony tail. She spoke in soothing artificial tones. She didn’t smoke or drink like Lilith had. Instead Miss Piggy was a coffee addict. Growly in the morning with out her first cup. She wanted Sophie to know that her home was their home, and they were to call her “Mom” or “Mrs. Houseman.” But she refused to call Sophie by her name and referred to her as Sam. So while Sophie would mumble “Mrs. Houseman,” when she needed to in her head Mrs. Peggy Houseman would forever be Miss Piggy.
Miss Piggy had put all Sophie’s things in storage for safekeeping, and before they got to the new place made two stops. The first was to a Department store. She tugged and pulled and measured and made Sophie try on lots of ugly boy clothes. Whenever Sophie found something she liked Miss Piggy would smile falsely, shake her head and say “maybe next time” which made Sophies skin itch. Miss Piggy was a liar.
Once Sophie had sporty new sneakers that pinched her feet and weren’t as pretty as her sandals, and boring jeans, and a green shirt with a dinosaur on along with two bags full of much the same then it was time to go to the second destination; a barber shop.
“But I don’t need a haircut.” Sophie tried to explain. She received another false smile.
“It’s a little long, hun.” Miss Piggy said. Sophie wished she wouldn’t say “hun.” It reminded her of Lilith and made her throat tight.
“I like it this way.” Sophie told Miss Piggy but Miss Piggy was already talking to the barber. Sophie was led to the big chair, and shrouded. The Barber smells were strangely antiseptic. Her barber was a woman. She had butterflies hanging from hoops on her ears. Sophie sat resignedly as her head was spritzed with water. “I like your earrings.” she said softly expecting to be ignored. Instead the barber whose name was Pepper gave her a real smile.
“I like your new shoes.” she said taking out a comb from a jar that had pink liquid in it. Sophie imaged how cool it would be if wherever Pepper combed her hair it turned her hair pink. She kept her eyes closed to avoid the mirror’s lies and listened as her sandy brown hair was clipped then buzzed. Sophie’s eyes watered.
“It’s ok, you look so handsome now...here open your eyes and see,” Pepper said giving Sophie a neck paper to wipe her eyes with. She held up a mirror but sophie kept her eyes fixed on Pepper’s pretty face. Her hair was chestnut brown and curled unnaturally lovely. She smelled of Sweet Pea and hair gel. Her kind smile was warm and real. Sophie could tell Pepper liked kids. She was pretty sure that Pepper had one of her own a little boy she loved. Miss Piggy suddenly grabbed Sophie hand and roughly pulled her off the chair while handing Pepper a twenty. The rest of the Journey to Miss Piggy’s house was silent. Sophie had angered her new foster mom somehow.
Jay and Logan were seven and eight. George W was 12. These were Sophie’s new family. Jay was dark skinned and taller than Sophie but thin. He looked comfortable in his red striped shirt and Jeans. He was almost bald which made him look smaller. Jay was wrestling with Logan who was dressed much the same except in blue. The two boys were battling over the one gameboy they would all apparently have to share and Jay was whining a “it’s my turrrrn.” it an annoying pitch. Logan seemed to know this already and clamped onto the gameboy tight smiling with anger while trying to pretend innocence. Logan was stocky and stronger than Jay and enjoyed throwing his weight around. He had black curly hair that Sophie noticed was allowed to be longer than hers.
George W was lounged on the one comfortable chair watching the tv in the den. He had a football jersey on. He had blue eyes and blond hair and a chin dimple. Sophie liked chin dimples.
“Not another one.” Logan whined letting go of the gameboy causing Jay to fall backward. George W barely acknowledged anyone had come into the den. The room was a mess of torn board games and ruined toys. The couch the boys were on was the color of cooked squash and smelled moldy.
“Boys. I want you to meet-”
“Sophie!” she interrupted extending a polite wave.
“Sam.” Miss Piggy said louder and glared at Sophie. That got Geoge W’s attention.
“Sophie? Like a girl?” He asked. His eyes very very pretty Sophie though.
“Yes.” She told him.
“No.” Miss Piggy said over her. “Sam as in Strong Side Linebacker. Sam’s part of the family now so I want you all to give him a warm welcome while I put his things away.”
“Your not putting him in my room.” Logan informed her.
“Your room has the free bed in it, so as a matter of fact I am.” Miss Piggy said sweetly and Logan turned hatefully toward Sophie as Miss Piggy walked away.
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