"Pwease!!!!" Sharon pleaded.
Sally relented. "OK, just this once though"
"Yay!" Sharon said as Sally chose a book from the shelf and sat down on the bed.
It was a well-worn copy of A Bear Called Paddington. "Why don't we read it together?" Sally suggested.
"Okay," Sharon said, excitedly.
"Mr. and Mrs Brown first met Paddington on a railway platform..." Sally started. Her voice was clear, with no hesitation.
Then it was Sharon's turn She read a lot more slowly, stumbling here and there. "There you are, he announced trium...trium..puh-huh-ant-lie..."
"Triumphantly, sweetie."
As she continued, Sharon noticed her voice was growing more high-pitched. When she finally handed the book back to Sally for her turn, the voice that came out of Sally's mouth was much lower. It sounded like a grownup's voice.
"That's enough, Sharon," Sally said firmly. "Now go to bed."
"But..." Sharon said.
"No buts," Sally said, turning out the lights and kissing the much larger woman on the forehead.
She headed out of the room, closing the door. She had work to do.
Meanwhile, in the dark, Sharon closed her eyes.
