Two Mothers

“But why can’t I go with you?” Belle asked.

The seven taon old wriggled her shoulders inside her slightly baggy grey tunic. It was a little chilly inside the Palace of Justice. Sarah smiled and put her hands on the child’s shoulders.

“Because the Captain won’t allow someone as small as you aboard the ship, Belle. When you’re older, maybe, but for now, you have to stay here.”

“You’ll be a good girl for Mr Frollo, won’t you?” added Clayton.

“Yes, Papa,” Belle replied, dutifully. Judge Claude Frollo didn’t really look like the type who’d take care of children, but...

Belle French looked around the large office room she had been brought to and gulped. This was her first time in a proper high school. She had spent most of her life in a provincial little town where the majority of her neighbours had been too poor to go to school. However, after a chance run-in with Maleficent, the Deputy Head of Disney High, her father had been able to waggle a scholarship for her. Now she was here none of it seemed real.

“Ah!” Ratcliffe, the headmaster of Disney High, walked into the room. “Belle French, isn’t it?”

“Yes, sir,” Belle stammered.

“No need to be...

The whole way home, Belle was quieter than usual; and even Lottie, who hadn’t known her as long as the others, noticed this. “You ok, honey?” she asked, ten minutos into the bus ride. “You’re very quiet.”

Belle roused herself. “Just thinking about something, Lottie, that’s all.”

“Ooh, nothing bad, I hope.” Lottie gave her an encouraging smile. “It’d spoil a perfect day!”

Belle managed to return her smile. “No, I think I’m just a bit worn out, that’s all.”

“Is it any wonder?” Meg looked over the back of her upuan at Belle. “After chasing around the beach...

Belle smiled, her head giddy and light as Adam whirled her closer on the dance floor. Her dress, the same she had worn to the school dance, rustled as her petticoats turned with her, and as Adam picked her up off her feet, she giggled.

“I pag-ibig you, Belle,” Adam murmured, drawing her close.

Belle smiled again and reached up to brush back his hair. “And I pag-ibig you, Adam.”

He bent to halik her...and then the doors suddenly flew open. The wind whipped the curtains, fluttering and snuffing the candle flames as lightning and thunder began to rage outside. Terrified, Belle clung to Adam and blinked...