Chapter 177

Ruby’s Very Serious Cheek Rules

Four-year-old Ruby was usually the sweetest little dumpling in daycare.

She shared her crayons.

She said “please” and “thank you.”

She even helped her classmates stack blocks when playtime ended.

But everyone in her life knew there was one very important rule.

The Cheeks.

Ruby’s soft, fluffy dumpling cheeks were apparently sacred property.

According to Ruby herself:

“Mommy can squish.”

“Mama can squish.”

“And maybe Auntie Chaeng.”

After a long pause.

“And maybe Auntie Jisoo.”

Another pause.

“But nobody else.”

Today started normally.

Ruby arrived at daycare holding Jennie’s hand while wearing her favorite duck sweater.

“Bye, Mommy!”

She gave Jennie a kiss.

Then she hugged Lisa.

“Bye, Mama!”

Lisa kissed both cheeks.

Ruby giggled happily.

Because those cheek kisses were authorized.

Very authorized.

Unfortunately, Ruby’s regular daycare teacher was sick.

So there was a substitute teacher.

Miss Hana.

She was kind.

Patient.

Sweet.

And completely unaware of Ruby’s Cheek Rules.

“Oh my goodness.”

Miss Hana crouched down.

“Aren’t you the cutest thing?”

Ruby smiled politely.

“Thank you.”

Then Miss Hana gently pinched one fluffy cheek.

“Aww.”

Ruby froze.

The entire daycare suddenly became silent.

One kid whispered.

“Oh no.”

Another kid immediately backed away.

They knew.

Miss Hana didn’t.

She smiled.

“Your cheeks are so soft!”

Pinch.

Pinch.

Ruby stared at her.

Absolutely horrified.

Like someone had just committed a crime.

A very serious crime.

Miss Hana laughed.

“You look like a little dumpling!”

Ruby’s lower lip trembled.

“No.”

“Hm?”

“No touch.”

Miss Hana immediately released her cheeks.

“Oh! Sorry, sweetheart.”

Ruby looked relieved.

For approximately three seconds.

Then she remembered what had happened.

Her cheeks had been touched.

Without permission.

By a civilian.

Her face scrunched.

Her eyes watered.

The warning signs appeared.

One daycare worker gasped.

“Oh no.”

Another whispered.

“She’s loading.”

Then-

“WAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

Full-blown tantrum.

The kind that only a four-year-old Mommy’s girl could produce.

Ruby threw herself dramatically onto the floor.

“My CHEEEEEEEEEEKS!”

Miss Hana looked horrified.

“I’m so sorry!”

“My Mommy’s cheeks!”

“Wha-“

“My Mama’s cheeks!”

The crying intensified.

“ONLY MOMMY AND MAMA!”

Now Ruby was rolling around dramatically.

Tiny duck sweater.

Tiny sneakers.

Maximum betrayal.

The daycare workers quickly tried calming her.

“Ruby, sweetheart-“

“No!”

“Miss Hana didn’t know-“

“Nooooo!”

“She said sorry.”

“My cheeks are for Mommy!”

“WAAAAAHHHH!”

Miss Hana looked seconds away from crying herself.

Two hours later.

Ruby had calmed down slightly.

Slightly.

She was still pouting.

Arms crossed.

Tiny angry dumpling.

When Jennie received the emergency call.

“What happened?”

The daycare staff looked embarrassed.

“Well…”

“It’s kind of hard to explain.”

Fifteen minutes later Jennie and Lisa arrived.

Ruby immediately spotted them.

“MOMMY!”

“MAMA!”

She sprinted toward them.

Jennie opened her arms.

Ruby crashed into her.

Then immediately buried her face in Jennie’s neck.

Still sniffling.

Lisa frowned.

“What happened to my baby?”

Ruby pointed dramatically at Miss Hana.

Everyone looked.

Miss Hana looked like she wanted the ground to swallow her.

“She touched my cheeks.”

Silence.

Lisa blinked.

“That’s why you cried?”

Ruby looked offended.

“YES.”

Jennie already knew where this was going.

Because their daughter had inherited Lisa’s dramatic tendencies.

“My baby.”

Jennie kissed one cheek.

Then the other.

“There.”

Ruby immediately relaxed.

Like magic.

Lisa laughed.

“You really are Mommy’s baby.”

Ruby nodded.

“Only Mommy and Mama.”

Miss Hana finally approached.

“I’m really sorry, Ruby.”

Ruby looked at her.

Then at Jennie.

Then at Lisa.

Then back at Miss Hana.

“…Okay.”

Everyone sighed in relief.

Then Ruby added:

“But don’t touch the cheeks.”

“I won’t.”

“Ever.”

“I promise.”

Ruby nodded.

Good.

Excellent.

Justice had been served.

On the drive home Ruby sat proudly in her car seat.

“Mommy?”

“Yes, baby?”

“You can squish my cheeks.”

Jennie laughed.

“Thank you for the permission.”

“Mama too.”

Lisa reached back at a red light and gently poked one cheek.

Ruby giggled.

Perfectly happy.

Because according to Ruby’s very strict rules…

Mommy and Mama had unlimited cheek privileges.

Everyone else?

Application denied forever.