Chamomile
He had never talked again.
But still...still...
The two pink plastic cups among a semi-circle of equally pretend spoons and saucers lay empty.
They always were at the beginning, fulling with the timely accounts of her day at school, a new monster, a torn party dress...
All soaked up by Octi's black gaze and stitched smile.
Every night, since the one months ago when the little toy had grown sinister and giant, the apology echoed.
The clear water then in the cups rippled, glowing a slow darkening amber as talk and evening would end..until...
"Bubbles! Stop playing with that stupid doll and come to bed!"
"I'm coming!"
One cup dipped to Octi's smile mimicked the powerpuffs' own sipping.
"Honestly, pretend tea parties, when are you ever going to grow up?"
A toy octopus scooped in its owners arms, from over an empty cup, gave no reply in the warm confines of a safe world of sheets.
He never spoke again, after all.
Even every night to answer the last puffs' wondering...
"Hey Blossom...How come nothing evil ever attacks us at bedtime anymore?"
