Drabble #168: Box

[redwolf]

...we had a nice response to the drabble prompt of Drabble 167, with an entry by redwolf and comments by tojojo and redwolf

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

Box

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

Lanes

[redwolf]

Word count: 500

The gathering had broken up quite rapidly in the aftermath of a minor heiress with a penchant for plastic surgery, collecting trophy husbands and manipulating family members for entertainment, coming up hard against the wrath of a Goblin Queen. While she was under no illusions that she’d personally burned bridges with this particular branch of Irene’s family, considering the toxic behaviours on exhibit, going no contact was likely to be an easy sell to protect her family.

Sarah was particularly pleased that the scam forcing the attendees to foot the catering bill was exposed, as people didn’t just sneak out, they made a show of boxing up the wine or pastries they’d brought, quickly stripping the event of food and beverage.

While they could have joined the departing throngs and driven back, Sarah wanted to give Irene some time to commiserate with the saner family members who had also been caught up in the mess. Her plan had been to check them all into a hotel for the evening, but while she was making those arrangements, her father had gravitated to the business across the street.

When she’d gotten up that morning Sarah had not foreseen she would be watching her parents and extended family gracing a bowling alley. Despite their more formal clothing, they fit comfortably into the establishment’s age bracket, which soon saw them chatting with other groups. The Underground contingent, on the other hand, stood out dramatically. The sheer size of Eero and Gan alone was anomalous, but Jareth and Rook could never have been mistaken for locals even before their accents gave them away. They may not have found the attention a nuisance, but Sarah was affronted on their behalf.

The alley had a couple of lanes setup for bumper bowling in an effort to encourage younger family members to get involved, and this included neon markings and ultraviolet lights. It was fortunate that the interior of the establishment was providing enough of a distraction that Jareth would remain blissfully ignorant about missing a close encounter with unflattering synthetic sportswear when Sarah quietly vetoed Irene’s proposal to kit everyone out in brightly coloured uniforms.

She had to admit that for all the earlier stress it was nice to see her family relaxing. Irene may have been a little giggly, both from alcohol and relief, but it certainly didn’t impede her bowling skills. Sarah had no idea her parents bowled, but for all they were using hired equipment, they made a formidable team who were wiping the floor with the competition.

Smiling as she watched her family, Sarah quietly asked Eero and Gan to see the group were safely herded to their hotel and ascertain the respective parties were sober enough to drive home in the morning. She then went to extract Jareth and Rook from the horde of children that surrounded them. After the manner in which her day had skewed in weirdly familiar directions, all she wanted was the relative sanity of the Goblin Kingdom.

Re: Lanes

[tojojo]

"After the manner in which her day had skewed in weirdly familiar directions, all she wanted was the relative sanity of the Goblin Kingdom." <-- This really puts into perspective how crazy this party was, if the Goblin Kingdom is considered the more sane one in comparison, haha.

Re: Lanes

[redwolf]

A relaxing dinner with the parentals, it was not. I think Sarah has reached her limit of interaction with life Above for one day. 🦊🧡