From the Diary of Mia ThornbyI finally did it. We've left Riverview, and we've found this new life, here in Sunset Valley. Even the name sounds full of promise. The sun has sat on our past life, and it's time to embark on a new one. The house is small, and there's barely enough room for the two of us, but we'll manage fine, I'm sure of it.
It's nothing much to look at yet, but I plan to fix that. I planted the flowers and dug the garden the first day. It was just so gloomy and grey. I wish the grass wasn't so dead. I'm sure the previous owner used pesticides.
People used to tell me I'd met the love of my life. They were wrong. Clay wasn't the one who has utterly taken my heart. He's back in Bridgeport, living with that lusty and busty blonde girl whose name is too stupid to remember. Don't think I hate him, though. I have one thing to thank him for, and that one thing is something I could not live without.
Bella.
She is an angel, I am sure of it. My little Bellalise Thornby. It sounds like a name out of a story, doesn't it? She will grow up to be something, I know it. I remember when she was born the midwife smiled at me and said, "Mia, you've got a star here. A real star." Don't I know it.
We'd barely settled in when there was a knock on the door. It seems the neighborhood invited themselves to visit. I certainly didn't ask them.
I really liked Ms. Bunch, but the others were a little... odd. They were more interested in playing with the few toys I could give to my little Bella, and rooting through my garbage than they were interested in talking. I mean, it was quite kind of them to visit, but honestly!
On my meager savings, I could hardly afford a babysitter for Bella while I worked at a desk all day. It would take up as much as I'd make, and anyhow, answering the phone and fetching coffee for a boss who doesn't even remember that I'm Mia, not Susie doesn't fit with me. I tried that, back in Riverview, when Clay decided he wanted to "pursue his writing career." It didn't suit me at all.
I have a different plan. I've opened up a daycare, and already I've got two of the sweetest little kids you've ever seen in my care.
Sandi
and Sam
Days go by too quickly. The kids always have me on my feet. Whenever I have time to spare, I try to work with Bella. She's such a sharp girl! She's picked up fast. It won't be too long before her crawling days are over, and she's toddling around the house.
She really loves that little alligator with the bow. She calls it Pinkie. I have seriously taken too many pictures of her with it.
I've been so tired. I try not to show it, but Bella's a sharp little girl.
I was trying to teach her how to say 'dollhouse' but I kept slurring the words. I've been running on brief naps and adrenaline, and it starts to catch up with me after a while.
"Can you say dollhouse? Doll-house?" I asked her, pointing to her much-loved toy, second only to Pinkie. "Holldouse?"
"Mama sweepy," Bella answered, blinking at me with those angelic little eyes. "Mama go bed?"
Well, who am I to deny her whims? I read her to sleep(Bluish Eggs, with a Side of Pastrami, her favorite) and went to bed myself, and for once I had a full night's sleep.
I had a horrible dream.
