This was written in answer to the Storytellers challenge. It takes place in the very distant future, on the assumption that mutants have been wiped out by genocide until almost nobody even knows they ever existed. All that's left is exactly that - a legend.

Things Little Girls Should Never Hear

by Maelstrom

Sit down, child, you'll give me a heart attack one of these days.

No, I will not tell you a story. I have to finish marking these papers. Your Grandma is a busy woman, you know.

Don't whine, Jennie. It's not proper.

And don't think I didn't hear that.

Hmm?

No, Jennie, I'm not interested. I said I'm busy.

Fine, fine, talk then. As long as I get to do my work in peace. (Jesus, don't college students know how to write these days? It's 'too', not 'to'. Another red mark for you, Emily Schibert.)

What? Yes, child, I'm listening. (Oh, there goes your B-, Ms. Schibert. You're lucky if you even manage a C with this paper. Good grief.)

I *said* I'm listening!

Oh for Christ's sake. Okay, come sit on Grandma's lap, Jennie. Shhh, don't cry. Shhh. No, I'm not mad at you, I'm just mad at some stupid students who shouldn't even be in college if they can't manage simple punctuation.

That's fine, Jennie, you're not required to understand.

(*sigh*) All right, I'll tell you a story. Let's see. . . once upon a time, there was -

What's that?

. . . Excuse me?

'Mutants'?

No, child, I've never heard of that story before. Are you sure you're not talking about the Three Billy Goats Gruff or something like that?

I see. Mutants. No, can't say I know of that story. Oh, your babysitter told you that one, did she? What exactly did she tell you?

. . . People flying.

And walking through walls.

Mind-readers.

What's that? Tele. . . what? Oh, teleporting. She taught you that word?

I see.

That's a funny kind of fairy-tale to tell a child -

*What?*

A man slashing people with claws? She's been telling you these kinds of -

Ooooh, not just *any* claws, they're - what? Ada-man-tium claws? No, Jennie, there is no such thing as adamantium. For God's sake, *slashing* people! What was that girl thinking?

Damn right I'm mad, you're just four years old! She has no right -

Oh Jesus. Shhh, child, shhh. I wasn't yelling at you. Stop crying. Shhh. (God, I have no time for this.)

No, I'm not mad at you, I'm mad at her. Your babysitter. What's her name again, Suzy? (What did I expect from a girl with a name like that?)

I don't care if she's nice to you, Jennie, she shouldn't be telling things like that to little girls. It's not right.

Shhh. That's a good girl. Now you listen to me, Jennie. There are no such things as mutants. There are no such things as adamantium, teleporting, or anything Suzy says. She has a wild imagnation.

What's that?

Oh, there aren't any *now,* but there used to be? They were eradicated, she says? ('Eradicated.' She chooses to expand Jennie's vocabulary by telling her crap?)

That's a good girl. Okay, Jennie, you go play in the living room, okay? Grandma needs to make a phonecall.

Good girl. Have fun.

"Hello, Alex? Your mother speaking. Listen, I want you to stop hiring that babysitter Suzy, she's a bad influence on Jennie. . . . Well she's *not* a nice girl, she's downright awful. She tells Jennie all sorts of nonsense! . . . . Well, for one thing she talks about violent *mutants* slashing people with claws. . . . I know, isn't that horrible? . . . . Good. No, don't look at me, I can only babysit Jennie sometimes, other days I have to teach. . . . Yes, you do that. Bye."

(God, the kind of people nowadays. . . . Back to work now. Well surprise, surprise, Emily Schibert, you've failed.)

End

Maelstrom