Drabble #149: Dozen

[redwolf]

...we had a nice response to the drabble prompt of Drabble 148, with entries by jalenstrix and redwolf and comments from both.

For this prompt, we continue with our one-word/phrase drabble roots:

Dozen

Tell us all about it. Labyfic-style, of course.

Given our entries from recent months, let's continue with the suggested limit of 500 words. Though remember that shorter pieces are most definitely welcome!

Your entry should take the following format, posted as a comment on this entry:

Word count: # of words
$your_beautiful_drabble

I'll be running weekly challenges in the space around jalenstrix's monthly challenges.

You can see our current collected suggestions here.

Remember: Feedback is LOVE. So do reply to your fellow labyficcers' drabbles if so inclined. (Though be careful of concrit unless specifically okayed by the author beforehand. Authors generally write for love.)

Comments

Sinnet

[redwolf]

Word count: 500

Sarah entered the studio, grabbing her apron and donning it in a practised motion before she sat at the bench beside Bishop.

“You look troubled, darling.” He looked up from the tile he was glazing, before setting his work aside to face Sarah.

Sarah waved away his concern. “Not troubled so much as curious. I was in the gardens when something caught my eye.” She fumbled under her heavy apron and dumped a dozen small, cylindrical objects on the bench. She’d initially mistaken them for the filter tipped butts of cigarettes, which was incongruous enough, but they were actually tightly woven knots of grass dried to the colour of straw.

“The garden by the conservatory?” Sarah nodded. “Under the shrub with bright purple foliage?” Sarah nodded again and Bishop smiled in a manner that made mothers Above fear that he had plans to eat their children. “The brownies won’t go near that plant after an incident with a fire spell.”

Sarah blinked and looked at Bishop, more confused than when she arrived. “You lost me at the brownies.” She poked at the knots. “Which still doesn’t explain these.”

Bishop smiled gently, as he wiped his hands on a cloth. “We get together to relax before retiring for the evening. At this time of year, it’s usually in that garden.”

“You and Rook?”

“Many of the guardians and quite a few of the castle’s staff. It’s an always changing roster depending on mood and availability.”

Sarah raised an incredulous eyebrow. “And you just stroll about smelling the roses?”

“Of course not,” he chuckled. “We drink, talk, catch up on the day, just take a moment to unwind.” He picked up one of the knots. “You saw the ornamental grasses in the garden?” Sarah nodded. “Some of us tie knots.” He shrugged at Sarah’s baffled look. “It’s enjoyable.”

Holding up the knotted grass, Bishop pointed out the way the weave seemed to twist. “This is a twisted crown sinnet. I can see you’ve got examples that twist in different directions, Jareth and Rook would have made those. Thadie favours the crown sinnet, they’re the ones without the twist.”

While Sarah appreciated the introduction to knot tying, she was still in the dark. “They just tie them and toss them away?”

“Well, flick them into the garden, but yes.”

“Why?”

“The enjoyment is in the making,” He said as if this explained everything.

“This does not explain the brownies.”

“The knots will break down in the garden, but the brownies love them.”

Sarah decided that she didn’t need to know why the brownies were enamoured of knotted grass, they could be using it as hats or furniture for all she knew. “Why don’t they collect them from under the purple shrub?”

“Are you familiar with novelty birthday candles that don’t blow out?”

Sarah could connect the dots herself at someone’s attempt to replicate a joke having gone a bit awry. “The brownies weren’t injured?”

Bishop shook his head. “Slightly singed and greatly displeased.”