literature

The Magician's Rings -Prelude

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To the residents of Ashley Drive it's a perfect start to a summer weekend.  Children are out playing various games.  The birds chirp in the morning sunshine.

"Thomas!  Thomas where are you?"  In the darkness the voice sounds a little muffled.  The quiet was better.  If only it could remain quiet a little longer.

"Come on Thomas, this isn't the time!  Thomas, stop hiding and come out."  The voice sounds a little more worried, maybe this will work.  The sounds of footsteps approaching, and finally, slowly blinding daylight pushes away the darkness.

"Oh Thomas."

Sitting on the floor, a brown haired head is turned towards the back wall of the closet.  Hands trying to block away the sharp stinging light from eyes adjusted to the black emptiness that enveloped them only moments before.

"Thomas we've talked about this."  Thomas, for that is who is sitting on the floor, slowly turns his head, blinking in the sunlight, silent tears running down his freckled cheeks.  The daylight accentuates his copper highlights, pale skin looking splotchy in the boy's sadness.

"I don't want to go mom!"  Blue eyes blink as more tears begin to flow.

"I want to stay here with dad!  I'm going to miss all my friends.  I don't want to go!  Please don't make me."

Thomas' mother, Shauna, is the definition of pretty.  Of average height and a slim build, her shoulder length black hair frames a face which is immediately likable.  A button nose and almond shaped brown eyes are beautiful but a slightly long face and lips too thin prevent her from being a beauty queen.  Those eyes moisten now with unshed tears at Thomas' sadness.  Shauna slowly crouches down to meet her son's sullen gaze, sympathy clearly etched on her face.  Her hands reach out to slowly caress the sides of her son's face and gently thumb away tears.

"Oh honey.  I know it's hard to leave all your friends, I really do.  You'll see them in a couple of months though, it's not like we're going away forever.  And you know your father's work keeps him busy.  He has lots to do before his business trip, and when that's done he'll come meet us for the rest of our vacation.  We've gone over this many times.  I'm sure you'll have fun.  Come on now, we have to leave soon."  A small smile, then an outstretched hand is offered.

Thomas lets himself be pulled to his feet and led to the bedroom's doorway.  He looks back over his shoulder into his room.  The nearly square room is not large, but a comfortable size with a small bed, a dresser and nightstand.  Posters on the walls sporting the hockey sensation Joe Thornhold.  It's a typical room most boys of the same age, from a middle income family, could be expected to have, but to Thomas it seems like he's walking away from everything he has, as if it's the last time he'll ever see his belongings again.  He's certain he's never seen it this clean before.  His favourite items are nowhere to be seen of course, packed away for the long trip.   It's the end of the world, at least for 10 year old Thomas, it may as well be.  Going away for two months seems like so long, an eternity.  The entire summer holidays lost!  What will happen to his friends?  Will they even want to play with him again when he gets back?  And school will be starting almost as soon as he gets back!  It isn't fair.  Why did his parents have to do this?  With a final sullen deep breath, he lets his mother lead him down the stairs to where numerous suitcases wait by the front door.

"Oh you found him.  Let me guess, he was crying again wasn't he?  Where you crying Tom-Tom?  Did mommy make it all better?"

"Shut up Margarine!"

"I told you to stop calling me that!"

"I will when you stop calling me Tom-Tom."

"Little baby Tom-Tom crying in a tree…"

"ENOUGH!" Shauna's peel cuts through any further attacks from either side.

"Marjorie, stop picking on your brother.  I don't need you two fighting all the way there.  And for the tenth time, go wipe off that make up; you're thirteen, not eighteen.  If you can't wear a decent amount you won't wear any, now get going."

"But mooom…"

"Move it missy."

"Fine!  I'll go looking ugly!"

Thomas watches his sister storm up the stairs to her bathroom with a bit of a satisfied smile.  He considers it her bathroom despite the fact that they share it.  Since discovering make-up, Marjorie practically lives there since she can lock the door and not be bothered by their mom.

"As for you young man.  Make sure you're not forgetting anything, and don't you go hiding on me again.  The taxi should be here soon.  And stop calling your sister names."

"She started it!"

"Don't."  One simple word and an upraised index finger.  Marjorie and Thomas both knew they were close to trouble when that happened.  Even dad knew it.  Especially dad.  With a resigned sigh, Thomas began going through his bags as his mom went off on another last minute check of something or other.  The important ones at least.  Who cared about clothes?  MP3 player, check.  Nintendo DS, check.  Books, check.  Camera, check.  Spare batteries, check.  More spare batteries, he wasn't going to chance running out on the trip there.  Check.  As he finished his inventory Marjorie came back down the stairs, shoulders slumped and feet dragging.  Her face had that red hue from scrubbing with a face cloth.  As she reached the main level Marjorie glared at her brother promising pain and possibly death if she could find a way.  Thomas was sure that only an older sister could possibly pass off that look and make it seem like death would be preferable to any forthcoming pain.

He was not looking forward to this trip but Thomas had no intention of worrying about Marjorie's retribution every waking moment.  Taking a deep breath he took two steps toward his sister's back and put out his right hand.

"Truce?"  Marjorie slowly turned her head so her left eye peaked over left shoulder at the peace offering.  The look of disdain continued as she further turned her head to look at Thomas.  Eyeing one another for a few moments Thomas' uncertain grin is met with a sound of exasperation and rolling of the eyes by Marjorie.

"Fine, twirp.  You better not be a pain or you'll regret it."  Standing up, Marjorie slaps Thomas' hand away and looks out the open front door at hearing the sound of a honking car.

"Mooooom!  The taxi's here!"
I'm keeping what this is about to myself for a little bit, but I'll say it is a bit of fan fiction. I've been sitting on this for a long time. I really should get back to it.

Please feel free to critique. No subscription means I can't request it.
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