Chapter 24/1 – The Day of the "New Name"
It was a spring Saturday morning, the air smelling of lilac and freshly baked bread.
Lysithea was in the kitchen helping Graciela take cookies out of the oven when Joker and Harley appeared at the door with the faces of people who had planned the heist of the century.
— Mommy Lys, today is a SPE-CI-AL day — Harley announced, stretching every syllable.
— Really? — Lysithea raised an eyebrow, already used to it.
— Yes! — Joker clapped his hands. — Today you don't have a normal name. Each of us is going to call you something different all day long. And you have to answer!
Lysithea laughed.
— And if I forget?
— Penalty of one hug per mistake — Harley finished, dead serious.
The day went like this:
06:30 – Joker woke her with a kiss on the forehead:
— Good morning, Mommy Star! Today you shine brighter than the sun.
Lysithea almost dropped the water jug.
07:15 – Rina jumped into her lap at breakfast:
— Lys-sweetie! Pass the honey, please!
Lysithea handed over the whole jar and got a sticky honey kiss on the cheek.
09:00 – Marina, still in pajamas, hugged her legs:
— Mommy-steam, look! I made a little cloud in the shape of a heart for you!
And she released warm steam that truly formed a perfect heart in the air.
11:20 – Astrid, after lifting the entire table with one hand just to impress:
— Lys-strong, hold my teddy bear while I show you I can lift you too!
(She did. Lysithea screamed with laughter in the air.)
14:00 – Sylvara picked a flower that only blooms at noon and tucked it behind her ear:
— Lys-flower, you're the prettiest flower in the whole garden.
16:30 – Lirien, shyly, handed her a folded piece of paper:
— Lys-moon… I wrote a song for you. Can I sing it later?
Lysithea tucked the paper into her habit pocket as if it were gold.
19:00 – Kuroe, with her mysterious smile, whispered as she passed by:
— Lys-chaos… thank you for loving even the messy parts of us.
Lysithea felt her heart skip a beat.
And finally, at bedtime, Joker and Harley arrived hand in hand, eyes sparkling.
— Our name for you today is… — they started together.
— …Mommy Forever.
And they both jumped into her lap at the same time.
Lysithea cried. She cried for real, hugging them both tightly.
— You won the day, my loves. All of you.
Chapter 24/2 – The Box of Living Memories
Lysithea created a magical box that stores "moments."
The children started tossing little things inside:
- a strand of hair from each of them
- a pebble from the river
- Astrid's baby tooth
- the first flower Sylvara made sing
- a piece of Joker's first burned drawing
- a tear of happiness from Harley preserved in a tiny vial
The box replays the moment as light when opened.
Lysithea opens it alone sometimes and cries happily.
Chapter 24/3 – The Grimace Championship in the Mirror
Official tournament with a trophy (a giant cookie).
Winner: Harley with the "cute demonic clown" grimace.
Runner-up: Joker with "smile of someone who hid a frog in your bed."
Lysithea was the judge and gave everyone a 10 "because every grimace is beautiful."