Running a few minutes behind today I’m afraid. I hit that snooze button one time too many this morning. But soon there will be coffee and all will be well. I can already smell the scent of if snaking through the house. Oh how fabulous. So let’s get started with the morning prompt while it brews. Ready? excellent.
I’m not entirely sure where this one is going, but I like the beginning. It feels almost like a Cinderella tail turned on its head. And you know how much I like twisting up fairy tales. I think Writing Curse was one of my favorite endeavors actually. Of course it was still fantasy and not modern day, but still this sort of has the same vibe coming off of it.
Thursday, April 7th: He held the book over her head, taunting her with his possession of it.
He held the book over her head, taunting her with his possession of it. It was as though they were all kids again. She reached for it and he jerked it away dancing just out of reach.
“What’s the matter Janie, can’t you reach it?”
Unable to help herself she stepped forward reaching for it. Again he danced out of reach. His eyes were filled with malicious laughter. She knew even now if she said anything to their parents his gestures would be seen as teasing, general horse play. A bit of fun. She knew it wasn’t none of her step brother’s pranks were.
She also knew better than to look at his brothers for help. She could see them lounging on the couches around the room watching. Some might have been amused and some bored, but none of the other three would help her.
Deciding she didn’t want to play and that this needed to end quickly, she kicked out unexpectedly, her booted foot connecting sharply with his him. He yowled and dropped the book., She caught it and walked away, holding it tightly to her chest.
She didn’t smile or look at any of the others as she walked back across the room and settled herself in her own seat. She had been gone a while. Things changed in her absence. She changed in her absence. Never would she have met her step-brother’s taunting with violent action before she left. She would have whined and complained until the adults came in and told her not to whine and told Thomas it was time to stop playing. Then he would hand her book back with a mock bow.
But she was not a kid anymore and had no intention of playing along with his games. She also had no intention of staying any longer than she needed to, In fact she wasn’t sure why she had been called home. Once she left, there were cards and presents sent on birthdays and holidays. After leaving for college she justified not returning. An internship opportunity over winter break, spring break with friends, summer break working to gain experience in her field before graduation. She went through undergrad and grad school without actually returning to this house. She even managed a full time job in her field right out of college due to those working summers, proving they were worth more than just skipping home based holidays and had settled into her adult life with barely a glance back.
There was no reason given, just the firm request from her father that she return home. He had worked with her schedule, merely telling her the duration of the time she needed to be here, but being flexible with the dates so she couldn’t use her work schedule. It was the first time he had ever done so. While she couldn’t tolerate her four step-brothers and was on civil but distant terms with her step mother, she did love her father and given his request, she worried over health concerns and other issues that might have arisen.
Jane settled with her book and looked around. It seemed not much had changed in her absence. Her step brothers lounged around the room, looking a little older but still stylishly dressed and at their ease. Jane had never felt at ease in this house. They were older than her so she knew they had to have done something with their lives outside of this room, but looking at them it seemed as though everything looked exactly a it had when she walked out. She found it mildly disconcerting.
Ten til Midnight 