Elica awoke to an all too familiar issue; once again, her incessant tossing and turning in her sleep had turned her hair into a disheveled, knotted mess. As such, much to her dismay, her day started again, brush in hand.

"Mom"- she shouted as forced the brush through her hair's deep red curls -"come help me with my hair!"

"I'll be there in a minute, please try not to rip it all out in the meantime," her mother's soft voice called back.

She continued to fight with her hair as she waited. "If I had it my way, I would't even bother with up keeping my hair," she grumbled to herself as she muscled her way through another knot.

"What was that?"

Elica jumped at her mother's sudden words. "I have no idea what you're talking about, but don't scare me like that," she replied as she sheepishly turned to face her mother in the door, hoping she hadn't heard her comment.

The woman chuckled to herself as she walked to her daughter, "you called for me after all, it should not have been a surprise that I came."

"Ah, whatever, lets just hurry and get this done so I can get going."

Her mother gently took the brush from her hand, "You know, you really must take more time to tend to your hair."-

Oh great, she heard me Elica thought as she prepared for the speech she'd heard hundreds of times.

-"You were blessed by the sun with its kiss, proof that this world adores you. It is an incredibly rare gift, you need to treasure it, take care of it, honor it."

"yeah, yeah, I know. You don't need to tell me this every time."

"I would hope you know, there is no telling how many times I have repeated myself on this topic, but you never seem to embrace it. I will not be able to be to do this every morning for you. I am sure you know of some fine young men that are just waiting for the right time to take you away from me."

"No marriage candidates that I can think of."

"Oh I am sure they just have not revealed themselves yet then. Sure, you may not be what one would call delicate, but, on top of your hair, your face and features really are quite lovely, I am positive somebody is just dying to be with you."

The girl let out a sigh, "Are we done here?"

"Just finishing up, but there is no reason to get upset," she said as she pulled the brush away. "There, it looks beautiful."

She could feel her mother's eyes examining her handiwork as she stood up. "Okay then, I'll be off now."

"Do eat something before you leave though, you need to eat well to look your best!"

"You really don't need to remind me to eat," she replied as she reached the door, turning to wave before she headed off.

"I just want what is best for you," she said, a small smile appearing on her face as she returned a small wave. "Off now, before you end up being late."

"I'll be fine, I have plenty of time," she called back as she walked away.

She tore a piece of bread off of the loaf on the table as she walked to the door, chuckling to herself knowing how her mother would chide her later for being so, "improper."