"Early Papa, too early"

I mumbled as I squirmed on the changing table. Today I was going to daycare, which aparently meant woken up way too early.

"Shshsh bubba it's ok, you have to stay awake just a bit longer"

Papa changed my diaper and got me dressed in some dungarees and a dinosaur t shirt. Plus some fluffy socks and velcro shoes. I briefly stopped my whining once a pacifier was pushed into my mouth.

"Ok, bags all packed, my bubba's all ready for daycare trial one"

"Papa I wanna go seep"

Papa took me in his arms, bouncing me a little.

"Once your in baby, you can go right back to sleep, right now thought, you need to feed"

Papa picked at his neck till a cut opened back up. He positioned me up against it and I latched on, sucking up the blood lazily.

I have no clue how Papa is so awake right now, he was already ready to go when I was woken up... like how???

I don't think Daddy knew either as he sat on the couch, zoned out, every now and then sipping a mug of coffee. He insisted seeing me off and I was very thankful for that.

"Ok bubba, that should tide you over for today"

Papa took me away from his neck and before I could even begin to whine, gave me my paci.

"Ricky, we're off, say goodbye to your baby bear"

Daddy put down his mug and took me off Papa. He cradled me in his arms and cooed gently.

"Good luck baby, you're gonna have an adventure today, and I'll see you later."

I wasn't really paying much attention in my sleepy haze. I grabbed a fistful of Daddy's soft hair, not yanking on it, just feeling it. Daddy chuckled.

"Bye bye my sweet baby bear, I love you"

I yawned and curled up in Daddy's lap, whining I felt myself being moved. I was back in Papa's arms, where I snuggled up instead but pitifully reached out for daddy.

Daddy gave me a last hug, kissing my cheek and assuring me I'd have fun.

Papa brought me out to the car and strapped me into my carseat. I never realised how comfy it was until I was back asleep, soothed by cars humming.

I was begrudgingly brought back to consciousness as Papa hoisted me into his arms and shut the car door. He walked through a dark basement looking place, empty apart from a few cars. It was kinda scary so I hid in Papa's neck.

He rubbed the back of my hair and cooed at me.

"Its ok princess, nothing to be scared about, we're almost there"

I removed my face from Papa's neck, seeing we were now walking down a hallway. I peered around nervously before Papa turn in to an open door, a small gate surrounded us on the inside.

There were toys everywhere, mats lay in lines in the middle of the room. I thought there was no one there until a man came out of the backroom.

"Oh you're early, usually people don't bring the little ones till 7"

He opened up the gate and Papa stepped inside.

"Yeah, I work early"

"Alrighty then-"

The man grabbed a clipboard from a nearby table.

"-name?"

"David Nightshade, here with Wren Nightshade"

Papa bounced me a little but it didn't stop me clinging to his neck.

"Ok your name is checked, I'll just take him, get him back to sleep and such, and you can come back at 5"

The man reached out for me but I let out a little screech and Papa's grip tightened on me.

"Perhaps I'll just put him down, where does his bag go?"

Papa walked over once the pointed to a stack of cubby holes to put stuff. He put my backpack in one at the top, but not before taking out stuffie and blankie.

Papa carried me to the centre of the room.

Papa kneeled and layed me down on a mat, it wasn't as comfy as my own bed but it was still ok, becoming slightly better once papa gave me my Blanket and stuffie.

I was only aloud to bring one stuffie sadly. Papa said everyone would get jealous if I had three stuffies.

"Ok princess, you can finally go back to sleep now, Papa was really silly keeping you awake this early, wasn't he? You're gonna do so well baby, I love you so much and I'll be back later. Everything's going to be ok"

Papa kissed my forehead and stood. He walked away and I wanted to cry out for him, but i was too tired.

Letting out a quiet whimper, I fell back asleep, scared of what was to come once I woke up.

"Alright wakey time everybody!"

My eyes shot open as the lights came on full force. I whined and sat up, rubbing my eyes. I hugged stuffie and my blankie tight as I suddenly remembered where I was, daycare.

I was surrounded by other kids about Alex's age, all groggily waking up. I'm pretty sure I was the youngest there. They all seemed to be in the same situation as me, whining and fussing about having to wake up. Some hid back under blankets.

A woman in the room was stepping over kids and taking up blankets. Why was she taking their blankets? And why didn't they care?? The kids just gave them up and started walking over to a line of tables and chairs.

The woman grew closer to me and I started to shake. She stood over me, reached out and grabbed hold of blankie. I cried out and tried pulling it out of her hands. She tutted.

"Sweetie-"

Her voice sounded so condescending

"-whats your name?"

"W'en"

I squeaked out from behind my pacifier.

"Well 'When', sleepy time is over and you need to give me up the blanket"

I whimpered and started stuttering as everyone looked at me.

"Buh- bu- buh is mine"

"No sweetie, it belongs to the daycare, everyone has to give it up and you'll get it back at naptime"

I refused to let her take my blankie, and it doesn't belong to the daycare. It's mine!

"No! Is mine-"

I started to cry.

"-Daddy gave it to me"

I choked out pathetically and began to sob. Then another daycare worker came over.

"Hey hey hey, what's all this? Kiddo you're missing breakfast- Jane give us a minute"

'Jane' aparently, sighed and walked away with a basket of blankets. The other worker kneeled down next to me.

"Hey buddy, my name's Chris. Now, is that your blanket, like you brought that blanket with you today?"

I nodded and hugged my blankie, still afraid it would get taken away.

"Thats ok kid, don't worry. But usually kids here don't bring their own blanket so they borrow them for sleepy times. Jane just didn't know your blanket was well... your blanket "

I nodded along, making the inner decision that talking was really scary. I wasn't going to do talk much today.

"But kiddo, isn't it a bit unfair that only you get your blanket when it's not nap time? I'm gonna need you to put it in your bag, just until naptime, you still keep your stuffie friend"

I wanted to keep crying but that sounded better than blankie being taken away all together. I nodded again and waddled over to the cubby hole. Chris held his hand out and I reluctantly gave him blankie. I then pointed to my back pack and he squashed blankie inside.

Chris lead me over to everyone else, where I sat at the end of a long bench.

"Looks like someone was just a bit grumpy, maybe some breakfast will help"

I sniffled, pouting as I hugged stuffie. Breakfast sounded nice, I was a bit hungry.

I nervously looked down the bench at the other kiddos, they were all talking to eachother, some had stuffies, others didn't.

"Alright grubs up little ones"

Bowls of greyish gloop were placed in front of everyone as well as small sippy cups of juice. Everyone dug in apart from me, I took one spoon and could barely keep it down, it tasted like sawdust. I should know, it was all I ate for a while.

I may have been hungry but whatever was infront of me was not of this world, and I wanted it nowhere near me.

I pushed away the bowl and began drinking the juice, they couldn't get juice wrong. None of the workers noticed I wasn't eating. Until they started collecting up the empty bowls. Jane scowled when she saw my full bowl.

"When if you don't eat, you're not getting anything else till lunch. I know you're new here but you've got to work with us if you want to enjoy yourself-"

I kept my head down and put my pacifier back in my mouth. I squeezed stuffie as the mean lady Jane continued her lecture. Eventually she realised I wasn't paying much attention and sighed, picking up my full bowl.

She muttered to herself as she walked away "brat".

Tears pricked at my eyes and I wiped them away with stuffie. The other kids who had already finished 'breakfast' were all around the room playing with loads of different toys. I hesitantly slipped off the bench.

The sleeping mats had been put away, in their place, a kitchen set, a small table covered in art supplies, and some beanbags had been pulled out. I didn't even notice anything moving, maybe I should be paying more attention.

Sadly everything that interested me was already covered with kids. So my anxiety trumped my want to play with the kitchen set or do some colouring.

I waddled to an abandoned pile of blocks sat. I started building a castle, a castle just for stuffie. He was gonna be so proud of what I built.

Just as I finished the second tower, a girl ran by making aeroplane noises. She just narrowly avoided stuffie's castle and I let out a sigh of relief. When suddenly another kid, following after the first one, ran straight through stuffie's Castle. He sent the whole thing tumbling.

I stared up at the boy as he skidded to stop. He spun around and immediately started apologising.

"Oh no, I'm sorry. I didn't mean- I'm sorry. Here, let me help"

H sat down next to me and started building. I smiled a little, maybe this place wasn't too bad. "Tank chu"

I uttered quietly as I hugged stuffie. He giggled.

"You talk funny-"

Suddenly the first girl came running back over. She grabbed my new friend and tried pulling her away.

"Finn come on! We're playing aeroplanes, not blocks. That's for babies!"

She eventually got Finn to his feet and Finn started running away. The girl stared me down and kicked over my partially rebuilt castle before sticking her tongue out at me and running away.

I looked sadly at the pile of blocks, I didn't really want to build a castle anymore anymore. I wiped away some tears I didn't realise had come.

My tummy rumbled, maybe I should've eaten the mush. This is all so frustrating, I hate it here!

First, they make me put away blankie, that's just mean. Then it's either gross grey mush or no breakfast. Then, there's loads of toys but I can't play with them cause they're already taken by kids who are all older than me and think I'm just a dumb baby.

Jam told me you got looked after in daycare, daddy told me I'd have fun. They lied!!! I hate it here, I just wanna go home.

Maybe daddy packed something good for lunch. I crawled over to the cubby holes and gazed up, my bag was at the top. I sucked on my paci anxiously, its just like climbing out of the crib.

I began scaling the cubby holes, it being way easier then I thought it would've been. Almost like my hands were sticking to wherever I grabbed.

I somehow reached my bag and went digging. I pulled out a clear blue box with a smiley face on it. Inside I could see a sandwich, some apple slices and a chocolate bar! I really wanted that chocolate bar.

I tried opening the box but that must've been a step too far as it was soon snatched out of my hand and I was pulled off the shelf and put back on the ground, by Jane. She held my lunch high above me.

"Just what do you think you're doing when?"

My breathing hitched and tears pricked at my eyes as she loomed over me, everyone was looking.

"H-hungy"

I tried to reacg up and grab my lunch box but she pushed me back down and I landed on my padded butt.

I realised I was wet as my diaper squished under me. I yelped and got more upset, which just seemed to annoy Jane more.

"Well maybe you should've eaten your breakfast- hey don't you start crying now, that won't get you anywhere other than naughty corner, do you hear me?"

I began to sob when she raised her voice. Papa and Daddy have their stern voice but they never yell at me.

I put my hands (and stuffie) to my face and dug my nails in, attempting to quiet myself. She harshly pulled my hands away.

" None of that now. When you need to stop it, there's no reason to be throwing a fit"

I wanted to stop, i wished it was that easy. I should've never tried for food. I should've just stayed hungry. I attempted to steady my breathing and stop my tears, but it just turned shallow and quick.

Jane was obviously mad I didn't immediately calm down. My small amount of progress came to grinding halt when I felt a pull on stuffie.

"Bad boys who throw fits don't get toys, you can have this back once you stop all this nonsense"

Jane ripped stuffie from my arms and I shrieked. I clawed out for stuffie, she can't do this, I need him.

"Peas! Stuffie Peas"

I sobbed out, fat tears running down my face. Jane threw stuffie and my lunch box atop the cubbies and grabbed my hands.

"Thats it, naughty corner till I say so! Unacceptable, your daddy will be hearing of this"

Please, please let her call daddy. I cried louder as she dragged me, fully dragged me across the room. It had fallen silent as all eyes were on me and my impending punishment. My arms hurt from her yanking.

Jane continued to yell at me about how rude I had been all, how I have no respect and I really deserve this.

"You're going to stand here until I think you've learnt your lesson. No moving, no crying, not a peep. Do you hear me?"

She pulled me by my collar and kept me standing. I trembled and struggled to keep my blubbering under control.

"I said, do you hear me?"

I held onto my paci to keep my hands from shaking and nodded. Jane snarl and pulled the paci from my mouth.

"Bad boys don't get toys"

What was wrong with her??? With nothing left to occupy my hands or mind, I turned biting my nails. Which were already short so began hurting soon into my attack.

I looked over to my classmates, who had continued on playing like I wasn't having a mostly silent meltdown in the corner. Well, all apart from Finn, who watched on sadly. He gave me a reassuring smile and waved but Jane intervened, turning Finn around and giving him a quick talking to.

"Finn we know that there's no interacting with naughty kids, they need to be left alone to think about their actions-"

She looked up at me and sneered. My body racked with sobs, I was so afraid. I bit down on my hand to keep from making sound and started instinctively scratching my arm.

Jane ignored me and leaned back down to Sally.

"And sweetie, your dad will be here to pick you up early today. He just called to say he was just let off so he'll be here soon"

She patted Finn's head like a dog and Finn cringed. Jane moved on to watching over other kids while I continued scratching my arms till their went numb.

If I just waited, maybe I'd be let leave the corner. I'd be given my things back. Daddy and Papa will hug me and tell me how brave I am and take me home.

So much time past, well I can't really tell how much, but it felt like alot.

My eyes and throat stung from all the crying. I had stopped biting my hands but my nails remained firmly dug into my arm as I sucked my thumb to try soothe myself.

I thought I'd be left in the corner forever, when there was a call came from the door.

"Hello? I'm here for Finn... anyone there"

A man, dressed fancy like Papa stood at the mini gate around the door. He gazed around, I then realised there wasn't a worker in sight. They just left me in corner, probably forgot about a stupid brat like me.

Suddenly Chris came from a door in the back.

"Ah sir, sorry for the wait"

He let the man in and Finn ran over to him.

"Papi!"

"Heya pumpkin"

The man picked Finn up and he rested on his shoulder. He noticed I was still standing in the corner made a shocked O face.

"Why is no one out here?"

"Well Jane is supposed to be watching them- but that doesn't matter, I'm out here now"

The man frowned

"You really shouldn't leave all these kids unsupervised, something could happen- What pumpkin?"

Finn poked his dad's cheek, he whispered something in his ear and pointed to me. Her dad looked horrified by my state.

"Is he alright?"

Chris noticed me squashed into the corner and chuckled awkwardly.

"Hes fine, I'm sure there's a good reason he was put in the naughty corner."

"He certainly doesn't look fine"

The man put down Finn but held his hand as he walked towards me. I covered my face, afraid of what he might do.

"Sir the children in the corner are to be left alone"

The man must've ignored Chris as I felt my hands gently being pulled from my eyes.

"Sweetie-"

It didn't sound condescending this time

"-do you need some help?"