Sherman hide behind a potted plant on the windowsill as he held his breath locked in his chest. He was able to match the pots design by a quick camouflage trick only he was able to do unlike any other Worman in existence. The shudders of the window flew open revealing a beautiful young girl.
"Sherman, are you out here?" the young girl called. When she got no response, she went back inside. Sherman sighed in relief just as something wrapped around him. "Found you!" the young girl cheered as Sherman formed into his usual colour. He then mumbled something in his unknown language towards the girl as she untangled him from her hair.
"No Sherman, I like it in here and so do you!"
Sherman stuck his tongue out at the girl.
"Oh c'mon, it's not that bad. There's plenty to do!" the girl stated happily as disappearing back into the towers window with Sherman.
"7 AM, the usual morning line up:
Start on the chores and sweep 'til the floor's all clean
Polish and wax, do laundry, and mop and shine up
Sweep again, and by then it's like 7:15.
And so I'll read a book
Or maybe two or three
I'll add a few new paintings to my gallery
I'll play guitar and knit
And cook and basically
Just wonder when will my life begin?
Then after lunch its puzzles and darts and baking
Papier-mâché, a bit of ballet and chess
Pottery and ventriloquist, candle making
Then I'll stretch, maybe sketch, take a climb,
Sew a dress!
And I'll reread the books
If I have time to spare
I'll paint the walls some more,
I'm sure there's room somewhere.
And then I'll brush and brush,
And brush and brush my hair
Stuck in the same place I've always been.
And I'll keep wondering and wondering
And wondering and wondering
When will my life begin?
And tomorrow night,
Lights will appear
Just like they do on my birthday each year
What is it like?
Out there where they glow?
Now that I'm older,
Mother might just
Let me go...
I've got my mother's love
I shouldn't ask for more
I've got so many things
I should be thankful for
Yes, I have everything- except, I guess, a door
Perhaps it is better that I stay in
But tell me... when will my life begin?"
"Uniqua my flower let down your hair, so I may climb the golden stairs!" a voice out of the tower called out. Uniqua gasped with glee as she looked towards Sherman.
"Todays the day Sherman, I'm finally gonna ask Mother." Uniqua said as she hid the painting she did of her looking up at the floating lanterns…outside. Uniqua opened the shudders and threw down her extremely long golden hair. Down below, a crocodile woman stood there in a cape. She grabbed hold of Uniqua's hair as Uniqua pulled her up. The woman happily unclipped her cape and threw it over to Uniqua.
"Oh Uniqua, hauling me up every day without a fail…how do you manage?"
"It's nothing really…"
"Then I dunno why it takes so long! I'm just joking darling I love you." Gothel said as pinching Uniqua's cheek. Gothel made her way towards the rooms mirror and began to gaze at herself. Uniqua took a deep breath, she wanted to ask her mother to leave the tower, and today she was gonna.
"Mother I –"
"Uniqua come here." Gothel as taking Uniqua into the mirrors reflection too – the too looked into the mirror, "Uniqua, I see a young confident beautiful young woman." Gothel explained. Uniqua grew a small grin towards her mother's words. "Oh look, you're here too! I'm just joking sweetie I love you." Gothel teased as gently pushing Uniqua out of the mirrors way. Uniqua tried to explain once more when Gothel noticed her skin was going worn again. She was aging. Once again, she cut Uniqua off of her speech.
"Uniqua, Mother's feeling worn down. Can you sing to me?" Gothel asked.
"Oh…of course Mother," Uniqua said. Quickly, Uniqua pulled out a chair for Gothel to sit in. Uniqua sat in on the wooden stool in front as handing Gothel a brush. It was when Uniqua was five when Gothel had realized she had a wonderful voice. Gothel wouldn't have to sing the spell if Uniqua could. Uniqua, at a rapid speed, began to sing the song. Gothel gasped as she hastily touched Uniqua's glowing hair as it swiftly dimmed down.
"Now Mother, back to my question," Uniqua said as leaning her weight on her Mother. "Tomorrow is a very special day for me…it's my birthday!"
"No, can't be," Gothel said as standing to her height pushing off Uniqua, "I distinctly remember your birthday being last year."
"That's the funny thing about birthdays, their kind of an annual thing." Uniqua said nervously. "Anyway, I'm turning 18 and the thing I want is for what I wanted for a couple of birthdays now…" Uniqua mumbled.
"Uniqua, flower, speak up you know how I hate mumbling," Gothel said without full attention.
"I wanna see the lights!" Uniqua spat out quickly before clapping her hands over her mouth.
Gothel was silent. "Excuse me?" She asked as turning. Uniqua climbed over the fireplace as where she painted her mural and showed her mother. "I mean, I was hoping you'd take me to see the lights." Uniqua said. Gothel looked at the mural awkwardly. "You mean the stars."
"That's the thing Mother, I charted stars and they are in the same place each night but these…these lights only appear on my birthday and…I can't help but feel their made for me." Gothel knew exactly what the "lights" were. There was no way she'd let Uniqua go.
"You want to go outside? Why, Uniqua...!
Look at you, as fragile as a flower
Still a little sapling, just a sprout
You know why we stay up in this tower,"
"I know but..." Uniqua began.
"That's right, to keep you safe and sound, dear
Guess I always knew this day was coming
Knew that soon you'd want to leave the nest
Soon, but not yet,"
"But –"
"Sh!
Trust me, pet
Mother knows best
Mother knows best
Listen to your mother
It's a scary world out there
Mother knows best
One way or another
Something will go wrong, I swear
Ruffians, thugs
Poison ivy, quicksand
Cannibals and snakes
The plague,"
"No!" Uniqua yelped.
"Yes!" Gothel replied firmly.
"But –"
"Also large bugs
Men with pointy teeth, and
Stop, no more, you'll just upset me
Mother's right here
Mother will protect you
Darling, here's what I suggest
Skip the drama
Stay with mama
Mother knows best
Go ahead, get trampled by a rhino
Go ahead, get mugged and left for dead
Me, I'm just your mother, what do I know?
I only bathed and changed and nursed you
Go ahead and leave me, I deserve it
Let me die alone here, be my guest
When it's too late
You'll see, just wait
Mother knows best
Mother knows best
Take it from your mumsy
On your own, you won't survive
Sloppy, underdressed
Immature, clumsy
Please, they'll eat you up alive
Gullible, naïve
Positively grubby
Ditzy and a bit, well, hmm vague
Plus, I believe
Getting kind of chubby
I'm just saying 'cause I love you
Mother understands
Mother's here to help youAll I have is one request…Uniqua?"
"Yes?"
"Don't ever ask to leave this tower again." Gothel said harshly.
"Yes, Mother." Uniqua replied sadly.
"I love you very much, dear." Gothel said returning to her sweet cover.
"I love you more." Uniqua replied.
"I love you most." Gothel kissed Uniqua on her golden soft hair.
"Don't forget it
You'll regret it
Mother knows best!"
After that, Gothel left Uniqua as she climbed down the tower. "I'll be back by lunch!" Gothel stated. "And I'll be here…like always." Uniqua sighed when Gothel was out of hearing range. Sherman climbed onto her shoulder and gurgled something in his language. Uniqua closed the shudders as the tower fell into complete darkness. Not even a candle was lit nor windows open a crack.