BlogFestivus, Day Six: Seasons Change

Thanks for coming back to this year’s BlogFestivus writing challenge. Nine stories that are supposed to take inspiration from the nine reindeer on Santa’s sleigh. Today is Day Six – Cupid.

Today, you get that double-dose so that I can be back on track. This is the first of today’s installments.

Previous chapters: 1 2 3 4 5

6

She was seated at the table, sipping coffee, and staring out the window at a sky piled with clouds. Clarice watched her mother silently for a few moments, putting the events of last night, the last week, straight in her mind.

As she entered the kitchen, her mom asked without moving, “How are you, sweetie?”

How am I? Are you frickin’ kidding me? You’re sneaking around with that creepy guy, and you look at him like you’re in some sort of sappy Christmas or Valentine’s Day commercial, like you should have little hearts for eyes but when he pulls out a gift, it’s not jewelry, oh no it’s some stone frickin’ tool and… and that was all before his batshit crazy mom attacked me!

Clarice recalled getting blindsided by the old woman and briefly blacking out after hitting her head, coming to as the woman reached for her. Clarice had kicked out and been able to scramble away. She’d been surprised that she’d gotten back home before her mom had returned.

“Fine.”

Her mother reminded her that it was Friday, that her science project was due

Yes, it’s finished

and that Clarice shouldn’t be late tonight because she needed help with a special solstice dinner.

“Solstice? Is Dad gonna be here?” Clarice asked.

“No, he’s gonna to be tied up.”

“Then why do I have to be here?” she implored.

“Because you’re the most important thing in the world to me,” she said, smiling.