Roll's Birthday Part 1
Winter had finally arrived with dark clouds that were full of snow. It still baffled Roll how for the past two weeks rain had turned into snowfall, but the ground was still dry grass for the most part. Yet Roll wasn't complaining. Since it wasn't snowing, she could still continue about the town in the way she loved best: barefoot. However, even on days when it wasn't snowing, the air had gotten rather chilly. So Roll had now switched to her three quarter leggings. So Roll had to put her pedal pushers away for now because, and she did try, the short leggings and the pedal pushers didn't look well together. But wasn't too big of a letdown for the blonde girl. She liked wearing her shorts with her leggings from time to time, plus she had a walk in closet (She finally moved her clothes into the secret storage room.) full of long sleeved dresses and long sleeves tops that she could wear. Roll tried to enjoy the last few snowless days before she knew she wouldn't be able to enjoy leaving her house barefoot for a while.
And today was the big day in which someone had grabbed the biggest white blanket you could think of and had draped it nice and thick over the entire town. Roll had put on a custom made leopard three quarter sleeved dress with a demin open jacket with some black three quarter leggings. She had also tied her hair into a pony tail with a large brown ribbon in it. Once Roll was dressed she walked outside with her pumps in her hands. She looked at all the snow surrounding her house and just snorted at it.
"I love wintertime, but I just hate that all this stupid snow means I have to wear shoes every time I leave my house," said Roll to herself as she just looked about her house and snorted again before looking at her bare feet. She just stared at her feet for a bit, wiggling her toes on the cold but snow free dirt path in front of her house andthen glared at her pumps before shoving them into her pockets.
"I'm a tough girl," said Roll, "and all this icy cold air doesn't bother my lower legs! My feet are not even cold just standing out here like this! I can barefoot this snow no problem! Being cold is just mind over manner." Roll then shut her door and collected her stuff from the mail box. She curled her toes into the cold path and smiled.
"See?" Roll said aloud, "Snow is not gonna stop this barefoot girl!" Roll felt very pleased with herself as headed towards the rock near her house in order to see if this was today's money rock. Roll just walked right into the snow on her bare feet like it was nothing. She only needed to walk on the snow for a few seconds before Roll's eyes bugged out.
"COLD!" Roll shrieked as she ran back towards the made path and bounced on her feet a bit to shake the snow off of them before quickly putting on the leopard pumps she had and released a long breath from her mouth, which she could see come out of her mouth as a puff of smoke. With her pumps on, her feet warmed up right away. She just looked at them in defeat.
"Dang it," she remarked.
"Watch the language young lady," someone warned, "You even said yourself snow was your limit in terms of cold weather." Roll looked and noticed Isabelle standing nearby wearing her yellow cardigan, blue knee length skirt, and she wasn't wearing shoes.
"How can you be barefoot in this snow?" she asked, her tone filled with jealousy.
"I've got a nice coat of fur on my feet that keeps them nice and warm," said Isabelle, "Many of the other villagers have fur or special pads that insulate their feet in this kind of weather." Roll just continued to glare at her.
"Anywhere I can get these pads?" she asked. Isabelle frowned and shook her head.
"Sorry Roll," said Isabelle, "Either your born with them or you don't." Roll just sighed in defeat, staring at her pumps.
"Cheer up," Isabelle replied, "I mean...you look really chic in your outfit and that includes your pumps. Hey, at least you can wear those short leggings and pumps in this weather. Not alot of humans can wear those without getting their legs cold. That alone makes you pretty tough and special." Roll was still pouting before looking towards Isabelle, who was just smiling cutely at her. Roll's could feel her frown flip over and soon she was gigging to herself.
"Thanks," said Roll, "So what's up?"
"Well for starters," said Isabelle, "I took the liberty of taking a day off at the office so we can go for your test."
"Test?" said Roll and then remembered, "Oh yeah! My drivers exam! I nearly forgot cause I was so focused on the snow...and thinking I could walk barefoot in it." Isabelle giggled.
"Well, I'm ready if you are," said Isabelle, "Come on. The train will be here any minute to take us to the facility where you'll take your written test and your hands on exam."
"Assuming I pass the written exam," said Roll.
"You will," said Isabelle, "You've practically memorized the entire book by now!"
"True," said Roll as they started walking towards the station, "but Sable did warn me about there being trick questions on the written part."
"You just gotta use your common sense," said Isabelle, "You don't have to get a perfect score you know. You can miss a few and still pass."
"Yeah, but..." Roll protested, "I'd like to get a perfect score." Isabelle just sighed and shook her head, but the shi-tzu then remembered something.
"You and I are alot alike," said Isabelle, "We want to get perfects on everything and when we don't..."
"...we feel like flops," Roll finished.
"Not my choice of words but close enough," said Isabelle as she paid for their train tickets.
"I'll pay you..."
"Shut it!" said Isabelle sternly, "Let me do something for you okay." Roll just sighed.
"You done so much already," said Roll, "This town wouldn't be so beautiful without your help." Isabelle giggled. Roll's construction efforts had pretty much come to end. She had completed her renovations and was still a couple of projects under the limit. She even helped Resetti get all the Christmas lights on the pine trees, making the mini pine forest northeast of town look like a Christmas tree lot.
"Tell you what," said Isabelle, "If you can get some us hot chocolate for the way home, we can call it even, deal?" Roll nodded in agreement as their train arrived at the station and just stayed quiet as Isabelle lead her inside and they waited patiently before being directed to the area where Roll would take her written exam. Roll just sat in the wait area quietly, entertaining herself by staring at her feet since she had slipped them out of her shoes. Isabelle just shook her head.
"Can you just leave your feet inside of your shoes for just one day?" the shi-tzu asked annoyed but in a playful manner. Roll shook her head.
"Just a nervous reflex," said Roll, "besides I was gonna leave my shoes with you during the exam."
"You're gonna have to wear them for the hands on exam," said Isabelle. Roll snorted.
"Well I was gonna ask if I could take them off for the test but until they say something, you're gonna watch my shoes until I'm told to wear them," said Roll and soon heard her name called, "I'll see you later." Roll then snootily left her seat, went through security. No one seemed to care she was barefoot and Roll went on her way. Isabelle just continued shaking her head.
"That's why we like her I guess," said Isabelle, tucking Roll's leopard pumps into her pockets and headed outside real quick. Once she had taken care of things, she returned to her seat and found that Roll hadn't returned yet. Isabelle just looked at her smartphone.
"Only been twenty minutes," she said to herself and began reading a book she had brought with her to pass the time. She had barely read a full chapter when she heard someone cough for her attention.
"Whoa, that was fast," Isabelle exclaimed since another forty minutes had past, "Unless...you failed..." Roll just kept smirking and showed Isabelle her TPC, which now had the title "licensed driver" under her picture. Isabelle gasped excitedly.
"Congratulations," said Isabelle, "I knew you could do it! And...hey wait a minute! How did you...you went on your hands on exam barefoot didn't you?" Roll just smiled innocently and nodded.
"There's no snow in the ground leading towards the testing vehicle," said Roll, "They only asked if I was okay driving like this and I said yes. I'm guessing they didn't seem to mind. Times have changed since you've took your exam my dear Isabelle."
"Ha ha," said Isabelle, annoyed at the blonde girl's little "age" joke, "Let me see the scores." Roll showed Isabelle the exam papers with her scores on them. She had gotten 100 on the written section but only a 98 on the hands on exam.
"They probably docked you for not wearing shoes," Isabelle teased and Roll whacked her on the head with the paper.
"Very funny," said Roll, "They docked me cause I was a little crooked doing the parallel parking test. Anyway, if we done here. I'll put my stupid shoes on and we can head home."
"Well, I agree with putting your shoes on," said Isabelle and gave them back to Roll, "but we won't need a train home."
"Then...how are we gonna get home?" she asked curiously as she tucked her pumps back on her feet. Isabelle gestured for Roll to follow her outside. They made their way towards the front of the facility and Roll gasped in shock. There sitting outside in the parking lot was a brand new pink compact car and the license plate that read MAYOR was put on the front and back of it. It didn't take Roll long before she realized that this particular car was for her.
"Surprise Mayor Roll!" said Isabelle excitedly.
"You...you got me my own car?!" Roll exclaimed, still in shock.
"Why not?" said Isabelle, "I knew you would have no problem passing the test so while you were taking your exam. I went to go pick up the car I had ordered for you yesterday. License and registration were complete as well so you won't have to worry about that." Roll just blinked.
"Wow...but...what if I hadn't..."
"There was no way you're were gonna fail," Isabelle repeated, "Have a little faith in yourself." Roll smiled and shifted her foot on the asphalt a bit shyly.
"I'm working on it," said Roll, "I do feel pretty today if that means anything." Isabelle chuckled.
"Of course it does," said Isabelle, "It's good you feel pretty. You look beautiful in your outfit. And I do mean all of it." Roll just rolled her eyes.
"Hey, I'm just teasing you," said Isabelle.
"I know Isabelle," said Roll, "I'm just surprised you got me my own car. It's overwhelming." Roll could feel her composure slip a bit, but she quickly wiped her eyes since they were watering a little and took a deep breath to calm down.
"Why not?" said Isabelle, "You have done a great job as mayor and...it is almost your birthday."
"My...birthday?" said Roll surprised, "What does...my birthday got to do with getting a new car?" Isabelle was rather baffled at her statement.
"Well...you usually give people presents for their birthday," said Isabelle, "Plus with all the bells we earned the other day visiting the island. I wanted to get you something special. Plus I just couldn't wait until your actual birthday to give you this." Roll just blinked for a moment and then gave her a smile.
"Well thank you," said Roll, "You're...gonna make it hard for me to top this for your birthday."
"Roll, I'll I want for my birthday is for you to be at the party in something beautiful and feeling beautiful wearing it," said Isabelle, "You deserve to have nice things. Plus what mayor with a drivers license doesn't have their own car? Now you've got one for now. Even thought I know you could probably afford a sport model..."
"I don't need no luxury car," said Roll as she tried to hug her car, "I love the one you gave me and I'll take good care of it!"
"Great," said Isabelle, "let's head for home. Your call driving with or without your shoes." Roll just nodded as she climbed inside, taking them off and giving Isabelle a raspberry before they drove home. Well...not immediately home. Roll still owed her a hot chocolate so they did make a pit stop at a local bakery for the hot drink and a treat before heading back. Along the ride, Isabelle could see why Roll scored so high on her exam. It was the smoothest and most comfortable ride she had ever taken. Once they were near the town, Isabelle guided Roll towards the town's parking area. The area was also sheltered inside of a hill so Roll didn't have to worry about her car getting covered with snow. Inside contained several reserved parking spaces that included cars for Gracie, Tom Nook, Lyle, Dr. Shrunk, and even for Isabelle, where her scooter was parked.
"I still gotta see you ride your scooter in action," said Roll as she pulled into the space marked for her, "But I think I'm only authorized for standard vehicles and go-karts."
"No, your license includes standard vehicles, go-karts, motor bikes, and even small single passenger ATVs," said Isabelle, "I made sure of it myself when I registered you for the test and your handbook."
"Oh...cool," said Roll as she pulled her pumps back on after she had gotten gotten out, and locked up her car. Then she looked around the area in confusion.
"What's up?" Isabelle asked.
"How...do we get back into town?" she asked. Isabelle just motioned with her hand for the blonde girl to follow her as she pressed a button to what Roll thought was an elevator. Instead a large green pipe appeared out of the wall.
"That's a pipe?" said Roll with uncertainty.
"Warp pipe actually," said Isabelle, "Come on." Roll followed and they found themselves back inside the town hall as a hatch closed behind them.
"So that's how we get back," said Roll, "even when I've think I've seen it all, this town continues to surprise me." Isabelle chuckled as she took her seat at her desk when Roll looked at her skeptically.
"I thought you said you were taking the day off?" Roll asked with her hands on her hips. Isabelle just sighed.
"Well I thought we would be all day," said Isabelle, "since we got back early, I might as well just get back to work."
"Isabelle," Roll protested, "Come hang out with me! It's been a while!"
"Aren't you the least a little bit tired?" Isabelle asked in a motherly tone since it had been a long drive back home.
"Well, I was gonna suggest we could just hang out at my house, read some books, something quiet," Roll suggested. Isabelle just smiled.
"That's a good idea," said the shi-tzu, "I didn't get read too much of my book at the testing facility. I had packed a casual outfit in a duffle bag."
"Great," said Roll, "You can change once we get back to my house, now come on!" Isabelle soon found Roll dragging her out of town hall and towards her house. Once there, Isabelle changed into a pink sweater that had a white collar with some ankle high demin pants that were cuffed at the leg bottoms. She had also put on her black frames. Once she had come out from the changing screen, she found Roll just laying on her stomach, with her legs crossed behind her. While the fact her shoes were off was obvious, Isabelle noticed two things about Roll. The first was that Roll had removed her jacket, showing the dresses elbow length sleeves and wide v neck that had been hidden. The second thing was Roll had on some brown frames while she was reading one of her comic books.
"I...didn't know you needed glasses to read," Isabelle commented as she headed towards the bed. Roll just giggled.
"I don't," said Roll, removing her frames and poking the holes with a finger, "I am a nerd and feel like just letting that side of me show. Plus I just feel...pretty wearing my glasses today with this outfit." Isabelle giggled to herself.
"Well you are very pretty Roll," said Isabelle, "Is there room..." Roll wasted no time scooting over to Isabelle could join her on the bed. The shi-tzu wasted no time laying down on her stomach with her book in front of her. There was about an hour of silence before Isabelle closed her book and smiled at Roll, who was just reading another comic book.
"It's nice to have another nerd to hang out with," said Isabelle.
"Well, I don't mind doing this with you from time to time," said Roll, "Next time, I can even make us some hot cocoa to drink while we read our books and stuff."
"Awesome," said Isabelle, "and let's not limit those sessions to just here. We can have a reading day at my house. It's...still a bit unpacked...but I'm sure we can find a place to relax and enjoy our books."
"I have no problem sitting between a bunch of cardboard boxes," said Roll, "Assuming it doesn't collapse or a tower of them doesn't fall on me." Isabelle giggled.
"Let me clean up first and then I'll invite you over," said Isabelle. Roll nodded in agreement, got up, and walked around the bed. Isabelle was surprised.
"Roll?" she asked curiously as Roll headed towards a mini-ranch bed and pulled out a particular lion dog. Isabelle laughed.
"Well, what good is a reading party without Komasan?" said Isabelle.
"I gotta thank Cyrus for making me the bed," said Roll as she sat back down with the lion dog between them, "who knew you could bring a piece of furniture and have is scaled down for a doll for free?"
"I think Cyrus did that only for you," said Isabelle and Roll just blinked in surprise.
"Why...why would he do that?" said Roll. Isabelle rolled her eyes and Roll became indignant.
"What?" Roll asked a bit defensively.
"Do we need to have this discussion about you deserving nice things?" Roll asked.
"Hey, this has nothing to with feeling pathetic or unworthy," said Roll, "I...I just have never been the kind of person to ask for things for myself. It just feels...so selfish."
"It's okay to still ask," said Isabelle, "even if we say no, there's no real harm in asking from time to time."
"Still," said Roll, "This town has given me so much. And I don't want to feel like I'm...dependent on the town to live a happy life you know."
"I get that," said Isabelle, "most girls want to have some sense of independence. The trick is understanding that needing love and wanting help and support from others aren't the same. You can have both. I've certainly learned that...the hard way."
"No kidding," said Roll.
"Hey I said I was sorry," said Isabelle indignantly.
"I know and I forgive you," said Roll, "I guess...I'm just amazed at how well I live now these days and how nice everybody is. I have a family. I have lots of friends. Komasan and I have a real place to call home and not just some stupid trash can, cardboard box, or even a room corner or a closet."
"That woman really degraded you didn't see," said Isabelle. She had heard plenty from Roll regarding her birth mom, but it still amazed her a mother could be so cruel to her own child.
"Potty waste got more respect than me from that woman," said Roll, "but whatever, she made her choices about me and now she can just sit in prison and rot for all I care."
"That's a bit harsh," said Isabelle.
"Well, when I went to confront her Isabelle, I gave her a choice," said Roll, "but she didn't want to even hear it. All she could do was trash and curse me. So I told her: I'm not wasting anymore of my time or my energy on the likes of you."
"Doesn't mean you have to stop loving her," said Isabelle, "She's still your mom..."
"But she didn't want to be," said Roll, "She even said it to my face. She doesn't want me in her life and for years I wasted years questioning why. I know the truth now that she never will. I've washed my hands of her and moved on." Isabelle just sighed to herself and closed her book. She couldn't read with this discussion hanging in the air.
"Roll, do you hate her?" Isabelle asked her in all seriousness. Roll just closed her eyes and looked deep inside herself. She could picture herself seeing her birth mom. While she could feel alot of anger and bitterness at the sight of her, she didn't feel like she did hate her or could say such a thing to her face.
"No," said Roll quietly, "just hurt by what she did to me. She trashed me as a child, making me feel ugly, worthless, and...just a nobody but a burden and a pain. I thought by confronting her that I would feel free of her torture. Well, I was...her hurtful words don't plague my mind anymore, but...I still struggle just feeling beautiful and not letting that hurt tarnish it."
"You're getting better," said Isabelle, "You might not realize it, but you are. Everyone else would say so too. I mean you said it yourself. You picked what your wearing cause you feel pretty in it, correct? Including being barefoot?"
"Yeah...I do," said Roll, "and the latter does help me feel prettier too. It's the only thing my Mom did I liked."
"So...from the time you were with her, you were barefoot," said Isabelle.
"Yep, didn't matter if it was hot, cold, rainy, snowy, or sunny," said Roll, "My first pair of shoes were at the orphanage when I was almost four and I hated them." Isabelle nodded.
"But...what if...she did realize that she needed you..."
"I'll cross the bridge if it ever happens," said Roll, "But I'm not keeping my hopes up. I did that for years and in the end, she had nothing to give me. I was hurt and she couldn't care less. I'm not gonna let her hurt me ever again. It's already done enough damage to my self-esteem. I just want to forget about her and heal."
"Could you...ever forgive her?" Isabelle asked. Roll just sat up and sighed quietly to herself as she sat on her knees.
"I probably should," said Roll, "being angry about her isn't gonna do me any good, but...do I have to see her face to face? She probably won't even listen...or care if I tried speaking to her again."
"Just send a letter," said Isabelle, "Just say you forgive her and leave it at that. Don't add whether she cares or not. You already know the answer to that question."
"True," said Roll with a sigh and got off her bed and went to leave the room.
"Where are you going?" Isabelle asked curiously.
"My letter stuff is downstairs," said Roll, "but I can write it up here if you want." Isabelle gave her a gentle nod as Roll rushed downstairs to collect a some paper, pencils, and even a tablet to write on while she was on the bed.
"Okay...now...how will I write this..." Roll thought aloud as she got comfortable back on her bed laying on her stomach before she began to write. Within a few minutes, she had finished her letter and handed it to Isabelle. The shi-tzu took the letter and quickly read it over.
Dear Mom
"Good your addressing her properly," said Isabelle.
"Is...it bitterness why I don't want to call her that?" Roll asked curiously as she just relaxed on her bed and crossed her legs behind her.
"No," said Isabelle, "She forfeited that title by rejecting and hurting you, but it shows maturity that you'll still addressing her that way."
While I know this doesn't mean anything to you, but this is very important to me. I know you've hurt me deeply with how you treated me and with the words you used to call me. Whether you meant to say those things or not isn't my concern. I just wanted to say...that I forgive you...for everything you've done to wrong me. If you really want me to leave you alone for good, this needs to be said and it has to be done.
I wish you the best. And no matter how much you've hurt me...I'll always love you.
You're daughter Roll
Isabelle was a bit teary as she read her letter and gave her a smile.
"You've couldn't have written this any more perfect," said Isabelle, "Since this mail is beyond the Animal Part of the world, I'll send it via special mail myself in the morning." Roll smiled.
"Thanks Isabelle," she said softly. She could feel that writing that letter made her feel much better about her mother.
Three days later, Roll was at the Able Sisters with Rosie and Bunnie as they were window shopping. Roll, hair in pony tail with her large pink ribbon, dressed in a plaid cami dress, grey three-quarter leggings and had her black buckle shoes near the entrance as she snuggled Sable from behind. Roll just had a very content smile on her face as she rested her head into Sable's very soft hair quills. Sable didn't mind the snuggling at first, but after a while of hearing her just hum several times, the brown hedgehog just couldn't keep her mind off her work.
"What's got you in a good mood?" said Sable.
"Just...feeling...beautiful today," said Roll, "I'm just happy with life. I mean I've forgiven my birth mom and I've got a real mom who loves me and accepts me. And I've got such a wonderful family. It's not even Christmas and I've already been blessed."
"Well I'm glad you're in a good mood sweetie," said Sable, "I love you."
"I love you too," said Roll, "Mommy cuddly..." Sable giggled to herself and tried to get back to work when Rosie arrived carrying a red dress in her hands.
"How does this look on me, silly?" Rosie asked as she held the dress in front of her.
"Cute," said Roll. Rosie giggled as she turned to ask Mabel for the price when she stepped on something.
"Huh?" Rosie exclaimed as she lifted her foot and found a small piece of plastic on the floor. The blue cat was about to pick it up when Bunnie beat her too it."
"Hey!"
"Roll, why is your TPC on the floor, tee hee?" Bunnie asked puzzled. Roll lifted her head in surprise as she checked her dress pockets.
"How did that fall out of my pockets?" said Roll, "I'm always so careful."
"Might have fallen out when you were struggling to pull off your shoes, miss barefoot," said Sable in a teasing tone. Roll just snorted.
"You said you loved that part of me," Roll retorted with her hands on her hips and pouted as the three girls just giggled to each other. Bunnie was the first to stop giggling when she looked at her TPC and gasped.
"Roll!" she exclaimed.
"What?" Roll asked with her arms still crossed. Bunnie gave her a very serious look.
"How could you?" she exclaimed.
"How could I what?" Roll replied, more confused at why the rabbit was upset. Bunnie showed Rosie the TPC and now Rosie was now looking upset.
"Roll, were you even going to tell us?" Rosie asked. Roll just looked even more confused than ever.
"What...are you...talking about?" she asked, "I told you girls that I passed my driving exam by phone the other day..." Bunnie and Rosie pointed to a particular part of her TPC. It wasn't the part that said she was a liscensed drive, but rather the part where her date of birth was located.
"December 17th, 2002," Roll read aloud, "That is the supposed date of my birth."
"WHAT?" Sable exclaimed as she looked at the TPC herself, "Roll! Why didn't you tell us?" Roll just looked at them plainly.
"Why?" said Roll simply, "It's...just the date I was born...what's the big deal?" Everyone looked at her in shock. But what shocked them the most was the fact Roll didn't looked depressed or sad about saying that. She just looked...confused.
"Sweetie, your birthday is a big deal," said Sable, "It's the day you were born and the day you turn a year older. If I recall, my little girl is going to be twelve years old in a few more days correct? We would have missed your birthday!"
"Yeah," said Roll, "Still not a teenager yet...so...what's so special about the day you were born anyway? My birthday was never anything special growing up. To me, it was just another day."
"Roll can you seriously say that you've never wanted to celebrate your birthday, tee hee?" said Bunnie, "never wanted a cake with lots of candles to blow out? Or lots of presents and gifts?" Roll just sighed to herself as she rubbed her feet together.
"Maybe, but...I've gotten used to not getting those things," said Roll, "It's hard to be glad you were born when for years someone's been cursing your day of birth after all."
"You said you forgave her, silly," Rosie replied since the blonde girl had told them about the letter she had sent a couple of days ago.
"I did," said Roll, "Just all that cursing and being ignored really kills the whole excitement for me about birthdays. I'm still trying to feel beautiful and special...and well...I just feel bad going around and telling people "It's my birthday! It's my birthday!" like many of the others in town do." Bunnie and Rosie than looked away with heavily colored cheeks. They had a pretty good sense of what she was talking about. Sable just chuckled.
"Well, aren't you a humble young lady," said Sable, "I know many of the villagers may go over the top in telling others about their birthday, but that doesn't mean that its selfish to tell others about yours."
"Well it feels like it for me," Roll protested, "I feel like am obligating people to remember about it and that they have to get me a present or something. I don't need any presents. I've got the only toy I need and that's Komasan!" Roll walked over to where the lion dog was sitting quietly in a small chair near the register and gave it a loving cuddle and a kiss on the ear. Since everyone knew about him, Roll would bring him out of the house from time to time when she did her dailies. She had invited him to go shopping with her today. Sable had even made him a sweater vest in dark blue with a light blue shirt with a pair of rolled up dark brown chino pants. The three girls just giggled to each other, finding Roll's cuddling of Komasan rather adorable. Roll just set the lion dog back on the counter before sitting next it with her feet dangling from the air.
"Well, sweetie, I can assure you that birthdays are lots of fun to celebrate," said Sable, "Just you wait and see!"
"Except when you're as old as Sable," Mabel teased and getting a death glare from both her older sister and the blonde girl.
"Sable isn't that old," Roll retorted indignantly.
"How would you know?" Mabel asked in surprise, "We are ten years apart you know and I'm an adult!"
"Sable told me her age," said Roll and Mabel's jaw literally hit the floor. Bunnie and Rosie giggled at the look at Mabel's face before trying to snap a picture of it. However, Mabel closed her mouth once she saw their smartphones and glared. She then turned to Roll.
"Do you know how many times I was threatened about telling people's Sable's age?" Mabel pointed out, "She promised that nobody other than me and Labelle would ever know that."
"You don't think she's good enough to know?" Sable asked innocently. Mabel growled, seeing that Sable had successfully turned the situation on her as Roll looked a bit insecure.
"This has nothing to do with worth," said Mabel, "I love my niece and I'm glad she's part of the family. Just I didn't think you would confide in her about such a personal secret."
"Sable confides alot of secrets to me," said Roll. Mabel gasped silently again.
"No fair!" Mabel retorted, "You never confide secrets with me!"
"Maybe because I know how to keep my mouth shut," said Roll with a smirk on her face. Mabel looked indignantly as the rest of the girls giggled.
"Oh...I'll show you how to keep your mouth shut," said Mabel deviously as she wiggled her fingers at her. Roll could feel herself getting very nervous. She knew what the blue hedgehog had in mind.
"Mabel...no...no...NO!" Roll then dashed away. Mabel tried to grab her but ended up grabbed her right foot.
"Oh, this is even better," said Mabel.
"NO! NO! NO!" Roll pleaded trying to pull away but to no avail.
"Big mistake taking your shoes off sweetheart!" Mabel taunted before dancing her fingers against the bottom of her foot. Roll tried to resist, but shrieked and tumbled into her back laughing and begging Mabel to stop. Roll tried to pulled away, but the tickling was just making Roll laughing herself silly until she was out of breath and Mabel set a foot lightly on her stomach.
"Remind me never to tell Sylvia about your weakness," she replied cockily. Roll pouted until she got a smirk of her own.
"You mean...THIS!" Roll then turned to tables grabbing Mabel's foot and ticking it. Mabel tried to resist before she tumbled into the floor laughing. Roll tried to pin her down but Mabel fought back and soon the two were in a tickle war with each other. Bunnie, Rosie, and Sable just laughed at their childish behavior before Isabelle walked into the shop and saw the two tickling each other.
"Did...I come at a bad time?" Isabelle asked as the two stopped tickling each other to look at her.
"Sorry...we...we're...just...having a little...fun," Roll replied, out of breath as she got back to her feet and ironed out the wrinkles on her dress. Mabel just stood up and hugged Roll from the side.
"Guess it's a draw," said Mabel. Roll smiled.
"Agreed," said Roll, "So what's up...Isabelle?" Roll's smile immediately flipped over when she noticed that Isabelle looked rather upset.
"What's wrong?" Roll asked with concern, "Is something going on back in town?" Isabelle shook her head and reached into the pocket of her yellow cardigan. She pulled out a letter and handed it to Roll. Roll took it and noticed that address.
"Wait a minute!" said Roll, "This...this is the letter I wrote for you to send to Mom!"
"Me?" Sable blurted out.
"No, my...my birth Mom," said Roll, "This is the letter I sent telling her that I forgave her for hurting me so deeply. I wanted to just make peace with the past, but...she didn't even want to open the stupid letter. I knew my feelings didn't matter."
"Roll..."
"I should've expect her to reject it..."
"Roll"
"...but she could have at least opened the letter and then just tore it up or burnt it or whatever! Why send it back! Does she still think she's got power over me! You sick woman!"
"ROLL!" Isabelle shouted. Roll stopped rambling and flinched a bit at her loud tone.
"Sorry," said Isabelle, "I need to you stop talking and listen. Okay? It's not like that at all!"
"It's...not?" Roll asked quietly.
"No," said Isabelle shaking her head, "I had actually received the letter this morning. When I saw it was returned, I wanted answers. I had assumed what you just did and I called the prison to find out why the letter was returned. The prison did receive it, but they sent it back because...well...because..." Isabelle was finding it hard to speak when Roll grew more and more concerned.
"Because what?" said Roll.
"Maybe...we should talk alone about..."
"No," said Roll firmly, "People around here are going to find out anyway. It's no good keep this a secret. Everyone in town knows that I'm a...wait, that's not true...they know that I've been rejected." Roll just glanced over to Sable who just nodded with a small smile in improvement.
"Alright," said Isabelle, "that is a good point. You see Roll...the reason...this letter was returned was...well...your...mother..." There was a long silence as Isabelle found it too hard to say it. Everyone leaned towards her in anticipation and deep silence. Isabelle felt tears form in the corners of her eyes before she found the courage to say it:
"She's dead"
One could have heard a pin drop or the single splash of a small tear that had left Isabelle's eye. There was a long and uncomfortable silence once Isabelle had said her two words. Roll just looked at her with a blank look on her face. Isabelle couldn't tell if Roll was in disbelief or in denial. After about thirty seconds of silence, Isabelle felt the courage to speak again.
"Roll..."
"What do you mean...she's dead?" Roll asked in a serious but also cracking. Isabelle just took a long deep breath.
"From what they told me at the prison," said Isabelle, "Since your visit, her mind...slowly began to become...unstable."
"Unstable?" said Roll in shock.
"From what they told me she just went cuckoo," said Isabelle, "She...kept curling up into a ball and started just talking in gibberish and non-understandable languages."
"Probably was just cursing..." Roll muttered.
"No, Roll, it wasn't..." said Isabelle sternly, "Then she...started harming herself..."
"I've heard enough!" said Roll turned away and panting heavily.
"Okay, okay, I'll skip the details," said Isabelle, "but as a result of her madness, she was put in a padded cell. She was in there for a month before someone walked in to feed her when she found that she was just resting against the wall. They tapped her to wake her up and she...just fell over like this..." Isabelle tapped Komasan so he fell into his side, but looked like he didn't even notice. Roll roughly pushed Isabelle aside and grabbed her doll.
"Don't knock down my Komasan!" Roll said sternly and hugged him close.
"Roll, my point is that, they don't understand how she died," said Isabelle, "There was nothing in the room that she could have used to end her own life. Their best guess was just all the anger just...made her body shut down. Too much anger isn't healthy after all. High levels of anger and stress can damage people physically in the long run, especially the nervous system."
"I see..." said Roll with a bitter look on her face as she put Komasan back onto the counter, "anything else?" Isabelle just turned away and said nothing. Roll took her gesture offensively.
"You're leaving something out!" she said sternly, "There's more isn't it!"
"Roll I don't think it's anything important..."
"TELL ME!" she screamed.
"They said she kept repeating your name in middle of her gibberish!" Isabelle blurted out before she gasped and covered her mouth. Roll just lowered her head and turned away. Isabelle began to cry.
"Roll?" she whimpered, "Roll listen to me!" Roll just said nothing, but just balled her fists. Isabelle didn't need long to figure out what was going through the blonde girl's head and she felt her temper flare.
"Listen to me young lady!" said Isabelle and angry and broken tone, "Whatever is going on in that head of yours you better tell it loud and clear to SHUT UP!"
"YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M THINKING!" Roll screamed.
"Maybe not, but it doesn't take a genius to know that you are blaming yourself for all of this!" Isabelle continued sternly as hot tears ran down her face, "and I'm telling you and your mind right now to SHUT UP!"
"You don't know what it' like to be blamed for ruining someone's life!" Roll yelled back as she was now crying heavily, "to be torn apart day after day and then thrown into garbage pile like...like...trash! You...don't know how it feels...being told day in and day out...even by people who didn't even know me...that you would never amount to anything...and that you'll never be beautiful!" Isabelle just stayed stern as Roll just panted heavily while tears streamed down her face.
"That is probably true," Isabelle replied, "but that woman had no love to give. She didn't deserve you and all those idiots who said those things never bothered to get to know you for who you really are. That is there loss! That is her loss! She made her own decisions and she didn't want to accept the fact that her choices are what led to her own demise! I won't let you blame yourself for her death. She was just a awful woman. There is no legitimate reason for her to hate you that much and if you dare try to give me any excuses. I'll counter it until my face turns blue and my eyes can shed no more tears. I love you. We all love you! So please...stop letting her make you feel so down and depressed! This is not your fault and I'll defend that til the day I die!"
"Don't say that!" Roll wailed in anguish. She didn't want to hear anything regarding death right now.
"I meant of old age," said Isabelle, "my point is that she made her own choice. It's not your fault she destroyed her own life. It was her hate that did that, NOT YOU!" Roll just said nothing but her tears just continued to fall. She knew Isabelle was right and seeing the fire in Isabelle's bloodshot eyes made her stand down. She knew what the Shi-tzu said was true.
"You're right," said Roll, "but despite all the evil she did to me and all the hate. I still loved her and I had hoped...maybe one day...she would see the light and I could truly forgive her and she could be my mom. Stupid wasn't it? How stupid was I to think it was even possible? I knew she had no love to give me. Why did I even think...she...would...change her...mind..." Roll slumped to her knees and just buried her face into the floor before wailed in anguish. Bunnie, Rosie, Sable and Isabelle wasted no time gathering around her to comfort the blonde girl as she just cried her eyes out. Her cries were so sad that eventually Mabel and Labelle knelt beside her and wept with her. In fact, not a single eye was dry amongst the group. Bunnie and Rosie burst into loud crying as they held her, or more like lay on top of her gently. Their hearts ached for Roll. No girl needs to hear something like this, especially not this close to their birthday. The crying lasted a good twenty minutes before they all pulled away slowly as Roll was still just laying face first on the floor and didn't move.
"Roll? Roll?" said Sable, "You need to get up now!"
"Leave me alone," she protested in a muffled tone, "I look hideous."
"Oh shut up!" Isabelle retorted.
"Isabelle!" said Sable in a stern tone, "I know you're just trying to keep my baby from berating herself, but you don't need to be so brash!" Isabelle just looked at her with worried eyes.
"I just don't want her boxing herself again," Isabelle replied in a tone so broken and worried that it softened Sable instantly, "It's because of that...that...wretched woman Roll is like this...so doubtful and insecure...despite all the good she's done for us. It angers me so much that her mother would stoop so low as to hate their own child to the point of death!" Isabelle wanted to cry again, but was out of tears. Bunnie wasted no time pulling the shi-tzu close to comfort her. Roll just lifted herself up, showing just how hurt and devastated she felt. She just looked at everyone, who all had bloodshot eyes and stained cheeks, and sniffled.
"Am I..."
"Yes," they said all at once.
"I would cry everyday if it would prove how much I love you," said Sable, "remember sweetheart. She's not your mother anymore! She lost that right when she chose to reject you! You gave her a fair chance to accept you...as a successful and beautiful young lady and she chose to reject that. Anything she did with herself after that was her own doing Roll. There was nothing you could have done. She had made her own choice...and it destroyed her." Roll just looked at her for a moment before just sighing to herself and sniffling some more.
"Still doesn't mean I don't wish that on her," said Roll, "I'll just never understand...why did she hate me so much? What was wrong with me for her to not accept me?!"
"Roll," said Sable, slowly, "That is just something that we'll never be able to understand. I know this sounds harsh, but...there's really no point in trying to figure this out. You'll never know the real reason other than the fact she was just a very selfish and unloving person. So please Roll...you need to just let that go. You're only hurting yourself trying to figure that out. It's not going to help you move forward with your life or feel better about yourself." Roll just sighed as she looked at her returned letter and was about to tear it in half when Sable took it out of her hand.
"Roll, do you mean everything that is written in this letter, despite what she did?" Sable asked her in a serious tone. Roll was just quiet and gave her a nod. Sable looked into Roll's blue eyes and saw that she meant that and just gave her a soft smile.
"Then, I'll take care of this letter," said Sable, "So don't you worry about it. You forgave her and let that be the end of it." Roll just nodded and tried to wipe her eyes a bit. She still felt rather sad.
"Please don't be sad, silly," Rosie said gently as she hugged Roll from the side.
"Well, she was still my birth mom," said Roll quietly, "Despite everything, am I supposed to be happy she practically ended her own life like that?"
"Of course not," said Mabel, wanting to get a word in, "You've always had a big heart Roll. So try not to let it get you down so much and let's focus on something exciting!"
"Like what?" Roll asked curiously.
"Hey a certain someone is turning twelve in just a few more days," said Labelle, "we've got a reason to celebrate!"
"Celebrate? CELEBRATE!" Roll snapped angrily, "How can I think of my birthday after what has happened? I just wanna go home!" Roll got up to leave but found the door was blocked.
"Oh no, tee hee!" Bunnie protested.
"You're not gonna let you wall yourself up in your house this time!" Isabelle added. Roll just growled.
"Move!" she demanded.
"Make me," said Isabelle challenged. Roll just glared before turning to go towards the accessories when she saw Labelle and Mabel block the door.
"We're ready for you this time!" Mabel warned. Roll just growled.
"I beat you once, I can...hey! Let go of me!" Roll soon found herself pinned down to her knees by Sable herself.
"Could you flip over your own mother and feel guilt free about it afterwards?" she challenged. Roll just glared before she just lowered her head in defeat.
"Is it a crime to want some alone time!" Roll whimpered.
"No, silly," said Rosie, "but whenever you do that, you push us away. Unless you want to lose us, you're not going anywhere! Especially since I've got your shoes and you, my best friend, cannot walk barefoot in the snow!" Roll snorted but still surrendered.
"I hate snow," Roll muttered. She knew being alone wouldn't help her with what happened and leaving barefoot in the snow wasn't very smart either. Roll knew she had no choice but to stay. Once Sable saw Roll was standing down, she let go of her arms and knelt beside her for a warm and loving hug, which the blonde girl welcomed.
"We're gonna get through this as a family," said Sable, "and you're going to have a nice birthday where you can spend time with your family and friends who love you very much. You're birthday is a reason to celebrate, even if your mother made you think otherwise. We are happy you were born and now we are gonna celebrate that...together." Roll just looked at her sadly before sniffling once more.
"Okay..." she conceded in a soft tone and rested her head. Sable's heart reached out to her. She really wanted to help Roll feel better about all of this and be happy for her birthday.
The big problem was...how was she going to do that?
Apologies if you were annoyed with the earlier discussion. You know how Roll is by now, but I am sure there are people out there thinking "She's wearing what in freezing snow?!" The whole barefoot discussion between Isabelle and Roll is just the fact that people in a small town can be rather nosy. While Roll has defended her attire choices, the villagers are still gonna question how her lower legs and feet stay warm. They'll back off after this chapter, minus a certain someone, but that's in another story arc.
Comments made regarding the drivers school and the test procedure are based off of US DMV (department of motor vehicles) facilities.
Please no sacking the fact Roll got her driver's license at the age of 11. The Animal Crossing world has become part of the Mario Kart universe and they let babies drive after all. Also Roll's car is basically the pink compact car from HHD, but driver's side is on the left, not the right.
Talk about life smacking you in face isn't it? Roll really needs a good birthday for sure. The question is will she get one?
Find out...next time.
