.
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That Day
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Jareth stared at Sarah staring at him. Their enforced cozy positions in her car separated only by her center console, and her blatant attempt to wallflower her torso to her drivers' side door.
"Why, Sarah," his honey voice taunted, "whatever is the matter?" Jareth blinked his eyes slowly, almost lazily, and rested one leather-clad hand on the vinyl protrusion dividing them. A faint dusting of glitter drifted down upon the sun-faded, grayish upholstery as he leaned towards her. She grit her teeth; she'd have to dust devil that up tomorrow! Focusing on his sparkling litter distracted her from the heat raging through her veins and other...more private areas.
"You're not...um...," Sarah audibly swallowed, "Where are you...um...staying tonight?" Pinned by Jareth's intense gaze, she didn't hear the unsnapping of Toby's seat belt, or see him slither closer to the middle of the front seats to gain a better vantage point of his currently two favorite adults interacting in the most fascinating manner. He didn't totally get what was happening—he was, afterall, only nine— but he did understand that
something very, very interesting occurred and he planned on witnessing as much as possible.
Jareth smirked delicately, his tongue curling slightly at the tip of his canines, "Are you requesting my presence in your lovely home this evening?"
"
What?"
"No?" He repeated quickly; his expression mockingly perplexed.
Sarah shoved her body impossibly closer to her door. Why did he have to lean to close? "I..uh...just wondered because...you're a guest...now...I suppose."
"Yes, then?" He perked up.
"Can he stay, sis? Can he?" Toby chimed in, jumping up from his squatted position, his head nearly striking the low car ceiling of Sarah's ecno-box.
"No! That's not...no!"
"But...that's not fair!"
"Toby," Sarah said with a deep breath, striving for patience. "I've agreed he can visit, don't push it." Observing her tenuous nerves, Jareth took pity on how far both he and Tobias tried her tolerance beyond its rational limits. Physically and linguistically backing off, he interjected in a firm tone:
"Your sister is correct, Tobias. Besides," he twisted one hand dramatically, "distance is no trial to me, and I would be remiss to leave my kingdom unattended for too lengthy a time. Goblins you know...always up to mischief," he tapped the side of his nose in a knowing manner at Toby, "can't be negligent as their guardian."
Her brother's shoulders slumped a bit, but he nodded, "Yeah, okay."
"Shall we, my dear?" His majesty waved a hand and both doors popped open. Sarah barely caught her weight preventing herself from falling backward from her car to the gravel driveway, then glared at Jareth and mumbled 'thank you.' The soft glow of their porch light competed with the streetlights illuminating the front yard and drive. It made Jareth's hair glimmer ethereally as he stepped out. He spotted her over the roof of her car and winked.
"Gratitude...that's a wonderful look on you, Sarah."
"Yeah, well..."she looked over her shoulder as she walked up to the porch, "don't get spoiled, Goblin King." Unfortunately as soon as she spoke, her hand grasped the lower newel post of the porch steps; the one that always wiggled its way loose. Only this time it didn't move, didn't shift a millimeter. It even looked suspiciously freshly painted. Sarah turned around, sighed.
"Tell me you didn't."
"Very well," he said strolling passed her, up the stairs, and through their front door which granted him entry without the indignity of a house key.
"Cool, Sarah," said Toby as he bounded up behind his highness, "The thingy's not busted anymore. When did you fix it?"
"I didn't," she muttered to herself; Toby already halfway through the door calling Jareth's name, asking if he'd like to play a game or watch TV; completely disregarding the conversation and decision made minutes ago.
Damn it! Nosy, busy -body Goblin King going around fixing things in their house, making a general nuisance of himself while she ends up experiencing niggling guilt for ungratefulness; not to mention the inappropriate feelings of lustiness inspired by said Goblin King's physical nearness.
'
I so don't need this right now. I've got enough dealing with a crappy, Nowheresville job, check-to-check living, and Karen...God...Karen. What am I going to do about her? Why do I have to make this decision? Why is this—" "Sarah." A loud smack near her face brought her crashing from her painful circular musings. Jareth's swagger stick held the front door open where he'd impacted it above her head in order stop her closing it behind her.
"What the hell are—"
"I'd prefer you not flatten my loyal goblins with your door. They are resilient, but hardly indestructible and they do feel pain." His lips a thin line bordering on a scowl, he appeared rather disapproving; not at all his usual mischievous mien. Looking down she saw nothing.
"But?"
"They're cloaked, as they were for the educational colloquium."
"The wha—oh, you mean parent-teacher night."
"Yes, of course, what else would I refer to?"
"Nevermind." Her hands raised in temporary defeat, Sarah stepped aside to allow the invisible goblins to parade inside their home.
"Saa-rah," Toby sing-sang from the living room."
"Yeah?" She hastily sidled from Jareth who followed, the door automatically shutting and locking of its own accord.
"Can we watch a movie?" He clutched a video to his chest, likely his favorite one: 'The Lion King'.
"Tobes, it's late."
"But tomorrow's Saturday," the wheedling whine in his voice bordered annoying except his eyes expressed kicked-puppy mated with abandoned-kitten.
"Toby..."
"Pluuueeezzzeee, Saarraah, pretty pluuuezze with sugar on top?" And now with the lower lip pout. Oh, come on...
"Perhaps I may be of assistance?" Jareth's silken smooth voice interrupted. Sarah swiveled her head around, her arms automatically armoring criss-cross the bosom of her chest.
"You going to zap him with a sleeping crystal?" she said sarcastically. Ignoring her display of aggression, Jareth merely smiled pleasantly and laughed.
"Don't be preposterous, although if you have need of one…" he said, his voice trailing off suggestively. Was he leering at her?
"Oh, no…" her hand came up reflexively in the universally position of 'stop in the name of love' or 'talk to the hand' depending upon one's generation.
"Well, then…" he snapped his fingers and several goblins became visible, "may I have your
permission to entertain Tobias whilst you recuperate?"
"Oh, yes please!" Toby exclaimed, hopping on his toes. '
Where did the boy get his energy?' Sarah wondered as she felt Jareth spring her own trap on her.
She couldn't very well refuse him now, not after granting him the right to ask permission this evening.
'Crap...of course...as much as she loved her brother, it would be nice to have a night off.' "Kingy, what a movie?" Skittle asked, his bug eyes goggling up at his king.
"He'll love it, Sarah!" Toby grabbed Jareth's wrist, tugging him toward the living room, "You'll love it, I promise! It's the best movie, EVER!" Watching her brother drag the Goblin King through their house nearly made every second of Jareth's disruptive presence worth it. His feathery brows racketed up and his lips twitched against the desire to sneer derisively at Toby's manhandling; Sarah chuckled. He may adore Toby, however, no one but Sarah got away with dragging the Goblin King it seemed...
interesting...
"What a movie, what a movie, what a movie?" Lub and numerous other goblins repeated, loudly, hopping up and down. Their gravelly voices quite grated on his nerves occasionally.
"Shut up!" he snapped, his opposite hand flying to the bridge of his nose. Every goblin hushed allowing Toby to rapidly explain a movie to them amid ooh's and aah's.
Following the parade of insanity, Sarah said to Jareth, "You
want to watch 'The Lion King'?"
He shrugged, the gesture somehow appearing elegant from him, "Entertainment about a king cannot be without value, and it is Tobias's favorite."
"
Right…" she drawled, considering her options and the sweet thought of revenge crystallized, "You know what, I think you two having a male bonding night is a
great idea." She said cheerfully then backed toward the kitchen, "In fact…I'll even whip up some snacks for you guys."
"Awesome!" Toby said, a broad grin splitting his face. He'd already directed Jareth to the center of the couch and moved to turn on their small home theater.
Sarah worked in the kitchen quickly, popping microwave popcorn (extra butter, nothing but the best for the king), pretzels, plain m & m's, and ice-cold, foamy root beers. She arranged the selection of sweet and salty, hot and cold, snacks in bowls and mugs and placed it all on a large, rarely used serving tray. With a saccharin smile, she promenaded into the living room, and presented the junk food mini-buffet to the boys currently lounging on the couch amid several goblins. Their eyes glued to the beginning credits rolling.
"Snacks for everybody!"
"WOW, sis!" Toby leapt from the couch, eyes agog, "thanks!" He scrambled around the coffee table and hugged her just after she settled the tray down safely. Returning the hug, she patted his back. The goblins' multiple indrawn gasps of awed surprise left her in no doubt as to whom would be eating the 'lion's' share of the snacks tonight.
"Nothing but the best for my boys," she said looking up to lock gazes with Jareth who, for once, either chewed his tongue or found no reply. His impassivity left her clueless so she smiled genuinely, assuming it safest. "Enjoy the movie, Toby, Jareth. I'm going to bed." She ruffled Toby's hair, "Don't stay up too late, squirt."
"I won't, thanks again, Sarah!" he repeated with equal fervor and raced back to Jareth's side. As she walked away, she glanced over her shoulder to marvel again at the incredulous sight on the couch: Jareth, the Goblin King, in all his tight, black leather trousered glory. His puffy, white silk shirt left more glitter on her upholstery while his feathery, gravity-defying, platinum hair remained aglow in the faintest of lighting. And snuggled to his side, with Jareth's arm thrown casually around him, and yet so obviously protective, sat her brother. Whom Sarah realized, as she reached the bottom of the stairs and started her slow climb, looked almost
content. He hadn't looked anywhere near content since…that Day; hell neither of them looked nor felt an emotion even masquerading as happiness since then.
The Day their lives changed. The Day their father died, and the Day Karen became less than herself but still their shared mother. Since her labyrinth adventure, Sarah gradually accepted Karen as her mom because her own, Linda, didn't care to participate in her life except for birthday and Christmas cards with a bit of cash tossed in. Like money absolved her of her motherly obligations and sins. No, Karen was her mom if not her real mother. But now…now she just was.
She had planned on showering before bed, but now the intimidation factor of that much effort just seemed like work. Instead she peeled her clothes off en route, and crawled under her covers to face plant herself into bed. Crying softly, Sarah tried to avoid thinking about that Day. Denial only works for so long, however, and memories crashed, drowning her, suffocating.
It was supposed to be a celebration. Her junior year of college, Sarah's debate team traveled out of town for their year- end competition; her parents joined her, leaving Toby with Mrs. Bannister. After months of preparation and intense opposition with rival colleges, they were declared champions. That same night a huge, impromptu party was thrown by the college in the hotel's lobby atrium with the fourth floor open air walkway.
Unfortunately the hotel was less than a year old, and corners had been cut during construction, as well as miscalculations in the walkway weight distribution. Too many students, spectators, and random party crashers decided the walkway a cool place to dance and observe the crowds below. Too many until it was too late.
With perfect, horrific clarity, Sarah replayed the scene in her memory. The shrieking crack of the steel surprising everyone, how people's heads pivoted, searching for the source. The sudden, sharp downward jerking shifts of the walkway...once, twice then a complete shearing break as it fell. Its full length from end to end of the atrium tearing from its mounts; ragged metal skeleton exposed.
Having left the ladies room moments earlier, Sarah stood frozen a few hundred feet away, watching the tragedy in slow motion. Her mind recorded each second in a forever photo album of terror. Oh God! Her parents! Their table lay directly below the descending walkway's trajectory. She'd been sitting with them minutes ago with a few other friends.
Unable to see them, Sarah remembered shoving through the crowd. Screams, shocked gasps, and cries of 'Oh God, no!' bouncing off her ears as if protected by a layer of nerf. She could reach them in time, she had to! Why she believed she could beat the split second drop of the walkway, Sarah still didn't understand, but she had to try. Looking back, she realized she never thought to say 'I wish' or call for Jareth. Her mouth and vocal cords stuck in neutral.
Hours passed before emergency workers cleared enough debris, and the other dead and dying to reach her parents. Hours of agonizing waiting in which Sarah personally dug and clawed through the bits of metal and plaster whenever rescue workers allowed that it was safe enough for civilians.
Her fingernails ripped to bloody nubs, and her face streaked in dirt and tears; Sarah didn't want to remember standing over her parents huddled together. Her father, Robert, had thrown himself over his wife, Karen, in an obviously desperate attempt to save her. His broken, pummeled, and very dead body covered Karen utterly except for her feet and lower legs. It wasn't enough. The massive weight of the walkway coupled with the length of time they were buried slowly asphyxiated Karen until her heart rate beat so slow as to be barely detectable.
The paramedics successfully resuscitated Karen, if by success one measured life by strong, normal heart rate and blood pressure alone. With the low level of oxygen and the gradual buildup of carbon dioxide, Karen's brain suffered anoxic injury. Other traumatic damage of various fractures and internal bleeding were treated, but ultimately her brain damage determined her fate: her ability to breathe, or not to breathe voluntarily. Robert's selfless bravery come to naught leaving his children with mounting medical bills and the stress of facing the ethical and personal morass of deciding Karen's fate...to ventilate or to not ventilate...
