Baby Daniel's Arc

Chapter 2 of 3

Daniel waited on the cold stone. His mother's footsteps faded, then came back quick. Princess Allee knelt and pinned a bright golden badge to his shirt. "You did it," she said. "You said the word." Her voice was plain and sure. Daniel touched the shiny star and felt his chest go warm. Then a tall shape passed in the hall. The big one carried a glass jar under one arm, lid clinking. He did not look down. He did not stop. He walked on like Daniel had never spoken at all. Daniel's mouth opened. "Coo-kie," he said again, louder. The big one kept walking. A small giggle came from the doorway. The small one peeked in, saw the badge, and laughed like it was a game. Daniel's face went hot. He looked at his mother. She had heard him. She believed him. But the rest of the castle moved on, busy with the empty jar, busy with everything but him. Princess Allee saw it too. She pressed a soft blue blanket into his lap, the funny blue face smiling up at him. "They will hear you," she said. "I promise. But not today." She said it plain, the way she said all hard things. Daniel held the blanket tight. One person knew. That was something. He looked down the long hall where the big one had gone, and a small crumb glinted on the stone. He had been heard once. Now he had to be heard by everyone.