Scene 2: A Morning Together

Jerry yawned as the beams of daylight streamed through the cracks in the blinds. His eyes fluttered open for a moment as he spied his room, following the lines of his ceiling and walls as he felt himself awakening. Was today a work day? He rolled to his side and smiled as he spied the tiny red LED lit about the upper case “SA” on his clock.

“A day off,” he said with relief as he turned around and flopped back onto the bed. He laid there for another five minutes, slowly waking up as he thought about what things he and Alicia should do today. The bright sun shining through the window promised that it was going to be a lovely day and he definitely wanted to make the most of it.

“Okay, time to get up,” he said after a couple more minutes. He rolled out of bed, taking a moment to stretch in the open space of the room before turning and walking toward the corner. He approached the large, lavish dollhouse that sat on a tall side table, taking a moment to appreciate the stark contrast between the dark blue window frames against the cream color of the exterior walls. He had painted the shutters just a couple weeks ago, and Alicia had been absolutely ecstatic. Bending down slightly, he carefully placed his hands on the sides of the roof of the house. With one, intentional motion, he pulled the room upward, dislodging the entire top level of the dollhouse from the frame. The top floor floorplan was now completely exposed and he eyed the tiny lump that was lying in the middle of the small, doll-sized bed in the corner room. He heard a tiny murmur as the lump began to move, and moments later he watched as a tiny little face popped out from beneath the blankets.

“Good morning, sunshine,” he said as he placed the top of the dollhouse down nearby. The miniature woman yawned deeply, rubbing her eyes with her tiny little fists before cracking a sleepy smile.

“Good morning,” she said in response as she slowly took in the room around her which, with the roof gone, was now also bathed in sunlight.

“Sunshine indeed,” she said with a laugh before yawning deeply again. Jerry laughed as he reached down and gently stroked her soft hair with the very tip of his finger. Alicia murmured contently.

“Want a shower this morning, hun?” he asked the tiny woman.

“Mmm…bath?” she responded, looking up at him with pleading eyes. Jerry smiled.

“Of course, sweetie,” he said. He laid his hand down like he had so many times before and Alicia rolled out of bed, her tiny legs dangling over the edge of even the doll-sized furniture as she hopped down and sat in her husband’s massive palm. He lifted her up into the air and gingerly carried her over to the bathroom. Letting her down onto the sink, he ran the water for a little before plugging the drain and allowing the sink to fill up with warm water. Alicia murmured happily as she pulled off her sleeping clothes, stepping over to test the temperature. She dipped her little toes in before smiling up at Jerry.

“Perfect as always,” she said. Jerry made a cordial bow which elicited a laugh from the miniature woman as she slid into the warm water. She sighed happily as Jerry turned around to start the shower. He washed himself, taking things a little slower as usual to allow his wife a few extra minutes in her sink bath before finally shutting off the water and stepping out. Toweling off, he noticed that Alicia seemed to also be finished as she climbed up and out of the sink, turning toward her massive husband.

“Towel please?” she said as teeny goosebumps began to form on her skin. Jerry smiled as he reached over and handed her a small washcloth. She grabbed the huge piece of fabric and toweled herself off as well as she hummed a tune.

“Finished!” she said as she tied the washcloth around her. She held her hands up toward the Giant.

“Up!” 

Jerry smiled as he wrapped his fingers around her tiny frame. Alicia giggled as she was lifted up into the air and she watched the rooms of their house pass by as he brought her back into their bedroom. He placed his little woman down into the dollhouse yet again, in front of a long, large dresser and watched as she excitedly opened it up. Inside were rows of beautiful doll clothes, dozens of different styles that Jerry had cultivated over many years to give his wife the best options that she could desire. There was everything from fancy ball gowns to day-to-day wear to intimate wear…if a person could wear it, there was a doll version of it, especially as shrunken people became more and more common day by day.

“What to pick today….” she said in a sing-song voice. She reached out and touched a pretty pink dress, giggling a little as she remembered the last time she had worn it. This one had really driven her husband crazy….

“Well, I can tell you that we’re going to be going outside today,” Jerry said. 

“Ooo,” Alicia said, looking up at her gigantic man. “Thanks for the tip!” Pushing past hangar after hangar of options, she eventually settled on a bright, yellow sundress. She slipped it over her head, threading her arms through the sleeves before turning her back to Jerry.

“Would you please?” she asked. Jerry smiled as he gingerly gripped the zipper between his fingernails and pulled it up. She smiled widely, twirling around once as the dress whirled and flowed with her motion.

“Do you like?” she asked with a smile.

“Love it,” Jerry said, returning the expression. He put his hand down next her her once again.

“Hungry?” he asked. 

“Famished!” Alicia said as she stepped into his palm and sat down once again. Jerry smiled as he raised her up into the air. He brought her close to his face and puckered his lips, feeling as the tiny woman met him with her own tiny lips pressing just against his own.

“Let’s eat,” Jerry announced.

The couple shared breakfast with each other and a little over an hour later they were outside heading to their favorite park. It wasn’t far, just around a ten minute walk, but Jerry usually took it slow so as not to jostle his wife around too badly. Alicia was, as usual, perched in Jerry’s front pocket, staring out with wonder at the massive world around her as she clung to the safety of her husband’s fabric.

“Oh gosh…it’s beautiful today,” she said halfway through their walk.

“Told you,” Jerry responded. The couple continued their trek until they finally reached the park. Lots of people were out today and everywhere you looked you could see someone biking, running, playing games, picnicking as well as a host of other outdoor activities. Jerry selected a park bench off to the side and sat down. He pulled out a small bag of bread crumbs that he had brought and casually began to throw them out. In a matter of minutes, several birds began to flock to their position, violently diving for the bits of bread or hopping curiously around the bench in the pauses between throws. Jerry peeked down and saw Alicia watching the birds with quiet fascination.

“Did you want to come out and sit with me?” Jerry asked.

“Yes,” she said. She raised her hands up and Jerry carefully reached in and hooked a couple of fingers around her midsection before slowly pulling her up and out of the pocket. He gently placed her down onto his thigh, watching as she adjusted her balance and perched herself on top like an ever watchful guardian. Jerry went back to tossing the crumbs and the birds continued to flock before suddenly scattering as some kid ran at them.

“Boo!” the kid yelled as the birds scattered. Alicia squeaked as the huge animals took flight in all different directions, ducking and covering her head for a moment. 

“You shouldn’t do that,” he said to the kid, pointing at the tiny woman on his thigh. “Someone could accidentally get hurt.”

The boy paused a moment, staring at Jerry before looking at his thigh. For the first time he noticed the tiny person there and his eyes went wide.

“Oops…sorry,” he said before turning around to run back toward the center of the park. Almost as soon as he had left, the birds began to return, intent on continuing to devour the free food that was being provided.

“You can come out now,” Jerry said, smirking down at his little wife. Alicia peeked up, folding her legs beneath her as she again perched on his massive leg.

“I know,” she said after a moment.

“Are you alright?” Jerry asked. Alicia nodded her head.

“I’m alright,” she answered with a smile. “I’ve been small for a while so I’m used to it. Don’t worry, it’ll take more than some rambunctious kid to scare little m-”

At that exact moment, one of the larger birds extended its wings and half-hopped half-glided over and onto Jerry’s knee. Alicia squeaked with panic as she threw her weight backward, completely losing her balance and toppling off of her husband’s thigh. She rolled down between his legs as the bird, just as startled as she was, made an awkward high pitched screech and rapidly beat its wings in retreat. Jerry felt laughter bubbling up from deep within him but did his best to resist.

“Sorry…” he said, trying ever so hard not to burst out into giggles. “Are…are you alright?” 

Alicia shot daggers up at her husband and he quickly swallowed the chuckles that were just starting to escape his throat. He put down his hand, gently laying a finger on her back to comfort her.

“I’m sorry,” he said, stroking her softly. She sighed.

“It’s alright,” she said, looking back up at him. “I was just shocked.”

Jerry nodded his head. 

“Do you want to go back home?” 

She nodded in answer and Jerry gently scooped up his little wife into his hand and deposited her back into his pocket. He closed the bag and stood up to leave, walking away from the bench and leaving a swath of disappointed birds behind them. He walked home slowly yet again, only pausing once he had reached their door.

“It’s such a nice day…would you like to hang out in the backyard?”

“Yes please,” Alicia said. Jerry smiled as they entered the house. He made a small pitcher of lemonade and a half sandwich before stepping out onto their porch. He sat down in the rocker chair they had out back and leaned back, slowly rocking as he again pulled Alicia out of his coat pocket. He laid the tiny woman on his thigh again and handed her a small thimble of lemonade which she happily drank. They shared the beverage and food together, Jerry gently rocking as they conversed and laughed and ate.

“It really is a lovely day,” Alicia said in her quiet, tiny voice. She was laying on her stomach now as Jerry slowly massaged her tiny legs between his fingers, all the way from her soft thighs down to the tips of her tiny, perfect feet.

“An absolutely perfect day,” he said in response. Alicia purred happily in response as Jerry continued to play with her and he couldn’t help but feel an air of ease and contentment come over him as they rested on the porch together.

“What would you like to do next?” he asked after several minutes. But Alicia didn’t respond. Jerry raised an eyebrow before bending down to take a closer look. Alicia’s eyes were closed and a peaceful expression rested on her face. Her tiny back rose and fell rhythmically with her soft breaths and she occasionally made a happy little murmur when she exhaled. Jerry smiled as he gently put down her tiny limb, brushing her one last time with the side of his finger, feeling the contours of her tiny body beneath her dress.

“I’ll join you,” he said, yawning as he sat back and closed his eyes. Eventually, the rocking of the chair began to slow before halting altogether as Jerry also slipped away to dream with his wife on this beautiful, summer afternoon.