Toddler Tales

Disclaimer: I deny any ownership of any adult or adolescent transformed shadow warrior chelonians.

Chapter Seven- The Tail End...

Michaelangelo:

I had finished giving Rama her evening bath, and was allowing her some free time to play before getting her ready for bed. She was getting a lot better about the potty training bit, knowing when she had to go and usually, though not always, getting there in time. So, I hadn't even bothered to place on a diaper, though I knew there was an off chance the kid might make me regret that decision.

She had just turned three, and I had all ready learned, more then once, that kids, or at least this kid, loved nothing better then making me look like a fool. Perhaps, it was her own odd sense of humour. Or, maybe she just had to prove that she could make me second guess myself and all my instincts on a moment's notice. Not, that that took a whole lot. I was new to being a father, and it seemed the more I learned about it, the less I really seemed to know.

Maybe, those feelings came from having to deal with a child, when I myself wasn't much older. I had just turned twenty after all. But luckily for me, my father did have some answers. I packed a pair of warm pjs and a diaper into the living room, Leo was watching a movie and keeping half an eye on Ramiela who was sitting on the worn mat, with a few toys scattered around her. However her interest was not on any of her toys. She was ignoring them.

Her head was bowed down and she was rolled into a partial ball as she looked between her chubby legs.

" What you looking at Rama?"

"Dat" she said pointing down as she spared me a quick glance.

I shrugged not sure what she meant, " I have no idea hon," I said.

Rama returned her focus to her bottom portion of her shell. I saw her hand and tiny fingers snatch at something, but she scowled a little when they didn't seem to catch whatever it was she seemed to be after.

Leo glanced up and chuckled, " I think she has become aware that she has a tail. She just doesn't know what to make of it." He informed me, " I'm waiting to see what she does, next."

Ah, ha. Now I understood, Leo was actually far more interested in what his niece was doing, he was just acting like it had little to do with him. Being the ever observant Sensei, and Uncle.

Of course Rama had never had much chance to find that part of her body, and typical young kid she was interested in things like toes and fingers, the fact she had hair and we didn't. But her tail for the most part had been covered by a diaper, just to make everyone's life a lot more easier.

" Da-ddy, dat?" She asked again as she turned her head to one side.

" It is your tail Rama." I answered.

" Ama ail." Rama echoed. She then almost stood on her head as she tried to get a better look at it, only she ended up somersaulting over herself. She sat up and blinked in surprise and shock, then giggled a little. " Ama ro ail."

" Rama rolled over her tail did she?" I asked, arching an eye ridge up at her.

" Ama get ail." She announced and then tried wiggling and squirming in a vain effort to get into some sort of position where she might, actually, stand some kind of chance at getting a hold of the ever elusive, stubby, but thick appendage that stuck out down below. She'd try one way then another. She rolled over head to tail in I don't know how many different ways and still was not able to capture the object of her attention.

Leo and I were both laughing hard at her antics. In fact I can't recall the last time I saw Leo laugh so hard he was almost crying. While Leo gasped for breath, he managed to remark that she was showing remarkable flexibility and athleticism.

I myself was cracking up laughing as the child looked as if she had just got a whole tin of ninja itching powder dumped down her shell, she twitched and moved this way and that. She finally sat up with a confused look on her face.

" Ama ail?" She said.

Clearly she wasn't sure where it had gone to. The look on her face and the sound of voice alone told me the translation of her two simple words were more along the lines of ' Where did it go?"

" Tails are very tricky Rama, especially when they are as small as a turtle's tail." I assured her, " It might be hiding under your shell."

" I'd be careful with that word Mike, we had troubles enough breaking Raph of the habit of swearing," Leo quipped, " we don't want Rama saying anything bad."

" Ummm," I muttered, " You could have a point there."

Rama gave a large yawn from out of nowhere.

I nodded as I went and scooped her into my arms, " I think it is time, little Rama for you to get your tail into bed."

Rama laughed and tugged on my bandanna tail " Ail."

I chuckled, " Very good Ramiela, you caught a tail after all." I cheered.

She gave a sleepy grin in silent reply, refusing to relinquish her grasp on my bandanna. I had to take my mask off before I could even begin to put on her diaper and pajamas to ward off the chill damp of the night. She didn't struggle, she must have all ready worn herself out in her antics.

" Going say good night to Uncle Leo?" I inquired as I picked her up again, turning her to face him.

Leo held out his hands and pulled her close holding her in the crook of one arm. " Good night Rama." He bent and kissed her, and she returned it with a sloppy kiss of her own.

" Ight, ight Eo." She reached up and touched the end of his bandanna " Eo ail."

Leo smiled as he caressed her short hair, " I think you have enough tails for one night." He teased lightly, as he handed her back to me.

I tried to pry my mask from her death like grip but Rama suddenly looked as if she was going kick up a fuss over it. " No, Ama ail." She informed me sharply, the pout that came assuring me the water works and scream couldn't be far behind.

I sighed, " Okay, you can have it" I caved in, I would get it back later, probably a little worse for wear. " I guess you earned that tail Rama you worked hard for it" I agreed as I packed her off to bed.

I smiled, it was really small payment when you realized that I got so much enjoyment from watching my own daughter chase her tail like a young puppy or kitten.

TBC?