Chapter Text
Another heavy clap of thunder sent Ashley cowering under her soft green comforter. Each loud noise accompanied by a bright flash of white light sent the safety of her layers of sheets and blankets more and more over her face until now, where it was pulled over her head and she was trembling. No matter how many times her daddy had tried to explain it to her, how it was natural and there was nothing to be afraid of because there was no monster and nothing out to get her, it didn’t stop the loud sounds from being scary. All the explanations in the world wouldn’t change the fact that loud noises hurt her ears, and loud noises at night sent Ashley Graham scurrying under the covers for refuge.
She squeezed her stuffed dog plushie to her chest, as if he would protect her. Her mom had taken a different approach than her dad, and told Ashley to imagine the thunder as something else, something more fun, so Ashley chose to think about a dog barking. A really big, really scary dog that was just asking it’s human to play. The thought made her giggle, but it too was largely ineffective.
A loud boom rang out that sent a vibration through the house. Ashley felt it in her heart, like it buzzed, and that was simply too scary. Forgoing the safety of the covers, she threw them back to scamper out of her room, down the hall and to mommy and daddy’s room.
They were both asleep, somehow, despite Thor’s concert right outside their window. They looked content asleep, and for a brief moment, Ashley wondered if she should bother them or just try to suck it up and go back to sleep.
Luckily she didn’t have to make that choice, as her mom’s eyes began to flutter open as she woke up with a deep sigh. She was either a light sleeper, or her sleeping self could tell when she was being watched, because whenever Ashley came in in the middle of the night, before she even said anything, Olivia would wake up. It was like a sixth mom sense.
“Ash? Sweetie?” she asked groggily. Ashley held her arms around herself and nodded. “What’s wrong, girlie?”
Standing here, having woken up her mom, it felt kind of silly now, but Ashley told her the truth. “The storm scared me.”
Olivia sighed, an understanding smile forming on her lips. “Do you wanna sleep in bed with me and daddy tonight?” she asked gently.
Ashley slowly shook her head. “No. I’ll still be scared.”
Olivia nodded, slowly sitting up in bed. “Got it. Alright, I have an idea. Let’s go back to your room, okay?” Ashley wordlessly followed her mom’s instructions. She fiddled nervously with the long sleeves of her nightgown, pulling them slightly over the palms of her hands.
Ashley sat on the edge of her bed, her mother taking place right next to her. “Your bubbe used to do this when I couldn’t sleep,” Olivia explained. “She said it always calmed me down.” She turned Ashley so her back was facing her, and her hands gently took pieces of Ashley’s long brown hair. She began braiding, slowly weaving the locks together, her fingers brushing Ashley’s scalp soothingly.
Braiding was fun, Ashley thought. She wished she knew how to do it. Whenever she tried on her own hair it came out as uneven twists and never as pretty as her mom did it.
“Why does thunder make that sound?” Ashley asked. She could feel by the tightness that her mom was doing a french braid.
Olivia hummed. “I don’t know. Ask your father.”
“I have, but his explanation is stupid.” Olivia snorted at that.
“Hey, we’ve told you not to use that word,” she lightly chided.
“Sorry mommy.”
“It’s okay mamele.” The thunder outside decided to rear its ugly head, roaring at the mother daughter duo trying to have a moment of peace. Ashley squeaked, hiding her face in her hands. She accidentally pulled the braid out of her mother’s fingers, letting the style go loose and start to fall.
“Oh, sweetie, I’m sorry you’re scared,” her mother said, leaning closer to Ashley and hugging her from behind. Her chin rested on Ashley’s head as Ashley grabbed her mother’s arms like a vice.
“Why do scary things happen?” Ashley whimpered.
“Why? I have no idea,” Olivia answered honestly. She gently rocked Ashley, still holding her tightly, an assurance that she wasn’t going anywhere. “But I know things don’t have to be scary if you don’t let them.”
Ashley wanted to cry. “I’ve tried not being scared, mama. I’ve tried to think of the thunder as something nice or hiding under my covers or anything, but it’s still scary.” Hot tears were slipping down her cheeks now. “I’m not brave like you or daddy.”
“Oh, sweetheart.” Olivia’s voice cracked as she heard her daughter’s sniffles. She gently wiped at Ashley’s tears, but they kept coming. “Of course you’re not as brave as us, you’re our little girl. We’re supposed to be brave for you.” She placed a kiss on top of Ashley’s head. The braid was long forgotten. “You are our big brave girl, though. You’ve gone to so many public events, been in front of so many people with cameras for your daddy’s campaigning, and you do it all with a smile on your face. You’re our brave Ashley, and it’s okay if some loud thunder scares you.” Olivi gave her daughter a squeeze. “Maybe the storm is scared too and trying to be brave by making it thunder.”
Ashley sniffled and wiped away her tears. “That doesn’t make sense. Storms aren’t scared,” she said matter of factly. Olivia stifled a chuckle as she hugged her daughter to her chest.
“Oh, my smart little Ash, you’re right, you’re right.” Olivia finally released her and turned Ashley to face her. “How about I sing you a lullaby until you go to sleep or the thunder stops?”
Ashley nodded. Her mother had a nice singing voice.
Olivia tucked her daughter into bed, made sure her stuffed animals were tucked in around her like a shield, and gave Ashley another kiss on the forehead like she did every time she tucked her in. It was slightly safer here. Olivia stroked her daughter’s cheek as she sang for her.
“Shayna maidela, fine-a maidela, chut mer gut ge gaiban. Shayna maidela, fine-a maidela, zal-le haz-e laiban.”
The song repeated, over and over, until it drowned out the thunder, and Ashley drifted off to sleep, safe from the storm.