The Roads We Didn't Choose

Sarah sat at one of the long tables. It had been a long day, and she would be glad to get some sleep tonight. She started picking up the various knick-knacks left on the table and putting them into a cardboard box.

" Sarah! Sarah! Look what I found! " Shouted Toby as he came tearing out of the house.

" Woah, slow down before you fall."

" Look!" He exclaimed, as he ran up to her.

In his hand was an old book that she had thought she lost years and years ago. The cover was so worn that it had a hole in the front. She opened the book and many of the pages had tape on them, and they were old and yellowed. The book had been a gift from her grandmother, and according to her, had been passed down from her grandmother ( Sarahs great-grandmother).

" Where did you find this?" She asked in wonder.

" I was in the attic with daddy. He was putting boxes away, and he said I could look for spiders while he was in there. I found it all the way back in the corner."

" Did you find any good spiders?"

" Nope, but I found a dead mouse."

" Eeew, you didn't keep it did you?" Toby loved all things gross. He especially loved bugs.

" No, daddy said I couldn't. " he started to giggle, " I showed it to mommy, and she screamed and broke a dish."

Sarah started to laugh, she had also been on the recieving end of Toby's little discoveries. One night she had gone to take a shower and found three frogs in the bathtub taking their own bath.

" So will you read me a story tonight?" He asked.

" Only after you have your bath."

" A bath!?! What am I in trouble for?"

" You're not in trouble, but you are filthy."

" Ok." He sighed.

" Hey, it's just a bath, it's not so bad. Just think, after the bath it'll be story time."

" I know, but I work so hard to get dirty." and with that he walked back into the house.

' Where do little kids come up with the stuff they say.' She thought to herself.

She finished putting the rest of the items on the table in the box and carried it into the garage and put it away.

Landing in a grassy spot a few miles from Sarahs house was a white barn owl. When it landed it changed shape and became the Goblin King. He threw the small red book that he had taken from one of the tables on the lawn onto the ground.

" How dare she!?" he questioned to no one in particular. " Letting him kiss her hand...she doesn't even know where his lips have been!"

Jareth started to pace. He had until 8 pm tomorrow to come up with a plan to either ruin the evening or to make Sarah realize how much he felt for her, and that she belonged to him.

He remembered something that she had said earlier, she had called him handsome. Well that was something, maybe enough to help him get rid of that...that...thing, that called itself Cale. If he could somehow speak to her, make her see that she belonged to him.

Jareth paced and thought for hours. When he looked finally noticed his surroundings the stars were out. " Damn," he said out loud. He quickly changed forms and took off toward Sarahs home.

' If she must sleep, then she must dream,' he thought, and flew away into the night.

" Sarah! I'm clean, and in my bed!" Toby called into the hall.

Sarah was in her room leafing through the book Toby had found earlier. Some of those stories she hadn't thought of in years. She stopped on a story that she thought Toby would like. It was called ' The Enchanted Dragon', this used to be one of her favorites. She was sure that he would like it. The story was full of dragons and elves, kings and witches. He would love it.

" I'm coming." she yelled back, and went to his room.

Outside an owl landed just as she left her room.

' Yes Sarah, you are coming. Coming to me, you've just not realized it.'