Renideo

[InThePooPoo]

A farmer's daughter walked home alone from school every day. She walked a long way,
but did not seem bothered by the distance.
No, in fact, she walked rather slowly to her destination every time. 
Nobody else lived where she lived that went to the school, so she never had a walking companion.
Until one day, she made a friend! A friend that was willing to accompany her on her walk.

That friend walked with her all the way home to her family's farm, 
where they were known for growing Poppylus flowers!
It was a bountiful farm, and the house on that farm was quite large and impressive.
When the Girl's Friend saw, they were excited to meet her parents!

"Who is this that you've brought here?" Inquired the Girl's Father,
a disheveled man of advanced age.
"This is my friend," the Girl replied,
"He came with me on my walk so I wouldn't be lonely!"

Upon hearing her words, the Girl's father flew into a rage,
and struck the Girl.

"You know better than to bring those city hooligans to our home!"
The Girl's Father struck her again.
"They'll steal from us, and we'll starve if we can't take our produce to market!"
And again, he struck her, and she fell to the ground.

The Girl's companion fled as she cried,
and the next day, she would walk home alone once more.

When she got home, she looked upon her father with apprehension,
fear, and a slight hint of anger.  
Once more the Girl's Father flew into a rage,

"How dare you look at me like I am some sort of monster?" 

he scolded her. 

"I am your father!
I provide for you everything you have!
Your food, your shelter, your clothing..."

Then, he struck her once more, this time, causing her to fall backwards,
and she hit her head on an end table.

"When you look at me,
you should be reminded of all of the things I give you!"

He loomed over her like a watchtower, with eyes of spite 
glaring down upon her fearful form.

"You owe me a smile when you enter my home,
without me, you would be living in an alleyway,
in a box!

I never want to see such a disgusting look
on the face of my daughter ever again.

All the work I put in for you, 
for this family,
so you can live a resplendent life at the cost of
breaking my body.

The least you can do is shine back."

[InThePooPoo]

So she smiled.
The Girl smiled through everything, it was her resolution,
foisted upon her by her father through his strong reinforcement.

Whether he lay hands upon her, or her mother,
she smiled.

Though she was forced to spurn the suggestion
of would be friends that wanted to walk with her
across the lonely plains all the way to the farmhouse 
of her family and every day find herself alone
to face them,
she smiled.

One day, however, 
it all became too much for the Girl to bear.
One blow that she'd need to explain away to her
teachers too many.

One accusation of ingratitude too far.
One night without sleep, hearing the pleas of her mother
for forgiveness.

Whatever it was, 

it all came to a breaking point, 
one night she would stand over her father's bed,
unable to contain her emotions any longer,
and yet...

She... smiled...

My home... consumed with flames, my life's work...

My wife... my... livestock...

Even my arms and legs...

my ability to speak,

to hear...

She took everything away from me...

That girl... that demon.

She was not even our child...

and now I have to spend every waking moment...

Seeing that... accursed smile.

Won't you just let me die already?

Please... just kill me.

Put an end to this hell.