Dolls

Sam never liked anything that had to do with being a girl. Not now not ever. Not when her father bought her the most expensive china dolls, or the fact her mother always bought her expensive crème colored frilly dresses.

The two main things Sam Manson hated that her mother forced on her were dolls and dresses. Not so much dolls anymore. Every single day, too early in the morning would be the same question.

"Samantha. Honey. Wouldn't you like to wear something more colorful? You know more cheerful and elegant." Her mother would say cheerily.

And each time she'd response with the same monotone answer every morning of everyday.

"Nope!" Covering her dark comforter over her head.

"Oh come now dear. Don't you want to look beautiful, like every other girl?"

So not ever going to happen.

"Aren't I beautiful just the way I am. Mother?" She asked underneath her lay of blankets,

Her mother would of course ignore her. Questioning at where she had gotten such a quick tongue. Shaking her head at such a behavior. Then she walked over to her closet and hang up the dress next to the other dozens of creamed frilly colored dresses.

Sighing in defeat for the day she say, "I'll see you downstairs for breakfast dear," and with her head held high walked out strutting. Sam would cover the pillow over her head compressing the sides of the pillow to block out the clicking noise of her mother heels against the floor.

It wouldn't be until ten years later that Sam would be in the same bedroom with her ten-month-old baby boy. Hovering over him on her rather large queen sized bed, carefully smoothing his dark hair through her delicate fingers. Little Riley's hair was so naturally soft almost like silk. A trait he had gotten from his mother.

Then as she was looking down the baby boy stared back with his rather large violet eyes. Another trait Sam had given him, but having large eyes must have been a trait from the father.

Getting bored little Riley began flailing his little arms and kicking his feet while babbling his baby talk. Sam would sing a soft song, while Riley continued to kick with added baby giggles.

Choosing at this moment to ruin a perfectly good mother-son bonding moment, her mother came in holding some tiny clothes. Another set of baby clothes for Riley she sighed.

"Samantha, Honey. Look at the clothes I've chosen for little Riley, aren't they adorable?" Holding one dark suit in one hand and the other a four-piece baby suit that included pants, a shirt, a bow-tie, and a red velvet vest. Laying the clothes out on her daughter's bed eagerly.

At that moment baby Riley eyes widened and began to whine as the red headed figure was approximately too close for comfort. Hushing and quickly calming her baby down by whispering silently, "its just Nana Riley, just Nana."

After several minutes of calming him down and making sure he was comfortable. Sam did the best she could do to show him that grandma was friendly in her own weird way. Remembering reading somewhere that her baby's fear of strangers meant that he had a close bond with her. How cute! Turning to her mother with a look of concern.

"Mother. How many times have I told you, I'm capable of dressing my own child?" Raising a well fine eyebrow.

"I just thought the clothes would look nice, for your occasion tonight." She said quietly.

"This situation wouldn't have to do with the fact that you couldn't dress me as a teenager, have anything to do with my baby would it mother?" Making sure if had anything to do with her rough teenage years.

"Of course not! I just wanted my grandson to dress like the handsome boy he is." Sighing, she somehow yet again upset her daughter and grandson. Sensing that there was tension in the room she decided it was time to leave. Not so much a good environment for her grandson.

"I'll just take these clothes… back and return them." While picking up the clothes and walking out the room.

"Mom?" Noticing her mother not being her perky self.

Taking a deep breath she knew she had to do something to bring her mother to her old comfortable self again. Knowing somewhere along the road she'd be kicking herself for doing this.

"Mom. How about you ditch "that special occasion" tonight and join Riley and me. Where going to the pier to see the Sailors coming from Russia. And maybe you and Riley could bond or something…"

Turning around to get a look at her daughter, making sure she was feeling all right.

Sam watched her mother's face go through several emotions and more. She would have laughed at the moment, if it weren't so serious.

"Come on, mom. Just the three of us." She pleaded.

"Well… I wouldn't want to intrude, and the dinner tonight is important and-" Her daughter was giving one of her looks again.

"I'd love to dear. Let me go fetch something more suitable for the event." Walking out of her daughter's room with a broad smile, an evening with her daughter and grandson. Although there could have been a better place the three of them could of have mingled, but that was just her opinion.

Picking up Riley and putting him her lap comfortable she began to keep him entertained. Resting her upper body against a pillow propped by the headboard of the bed. Then began to play with his tiny hands.

"Good thing we didn't let grandma choose your outfit for today. If I let that happen, she dress you until you were twenty-one." Sam couldn't help but laugh at the thought, her poor baby.

Picking up the outfit she purchase not so long ago, beside her bed. She showed the outfit to little Riley. Curious Riley grabbed and felt the weird thing wrapped around the outfit. Liking the noise it made when touching he laughed. Sam smiled.

"Hmm… How about we dress you up as a sailor today?" Removing the wrapping from the little sailor suit and pulling off its hanger.

Riley giggled and kicked as his mother began undressing with a playful manner.

She'd never admit it, but Riley was her personal dress-up doll.


Author's Note: This piece was actually supposed to be a short drabble. I have a problem with writing more than necessary.