29 November 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2936: a fear of buttons

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“See, I don't have a fear of buttons, see, because, buttons are my friends, but, see, I do have a fear of zippers, see, because, they tried to kill me when I was much younger, and, see, I know I am five and not three now, but I still don't trust them.”

Five-year-old Lil' Robert Ludlow was talking to ten-year-old Glendella Ludlow his cousin and new adopted sibling about facts of life in her new Ludlow home: most people had buttons and not zippers except her because she had brought some clothes with her.

“What happened to you?” Glendella said. “Oh, Rob!”

“I'm not sure, but Grandma is still talking about how they found me all zipped up in my pajamas, and I was just yelling because, see, the thing was eating my hair too and I was fighting as hard as I could, but, see, sometimes you just need help!”

She gave him a big hug because she could see he was trying not to cry; that was a hard memory for him.

“All buttons for you!” she said. “Now, where I'm from, it was zippers all the time because they are easy when they work, but now I gotta wonder whether Bad Grandma was thinking about her getting done or my safety.”

“Well, no, see, because, most people don't know zippers are like this,” Lil' Robert said. “They kinda sneak up on folks, but, see, you were having a hard time so God made them not bother you just like He had me rescued.”

“The thing about a zipper is that they can get off track so easy,” Glendella said. “You gotta buy expensive high-class zippers to be safe at all.”

“Well, get me some expensive high-class buttons, see, because, I can just work them one at a time,” Lil' Robert said.

“Yeah, buttons are easy to get along with that way,” Glendella said. “But pullovers are really the thing.”

“Yep,” Lil' Robert said, “because, see, there's options. You can put your head in the head hole, but, see, if you really wanna be different, you can step into the head hole and pull it up that way, or put your head in the arm hole so you can give one arm more room and not have to wear a scarf in the cold.”

Glendella considered this with a smile.

“You've tried all that?” she said.

“Yes!” Lil' Robert said. “I've really been having fun since getting to live with Papa and Grandma! They let me try stuff, and they keep me safe from zippers!”

“It's great to grow up where you are actually loved,” Glendella said.

“Yeah, it is, and now you are here, and, see, you are actually loved,” Lil' Robert said, and kissed away the tear that had slipped out of Glendella's eye. “And you're staying – you're one of us now, see, because, we aren't letting any zippers or anything bother you or take you away. We're not going for it. We got you!”

Mrs. Thalia Ludlow came in then and embraced both children in warm reassurance.