Written for the 'dreams' challenge at xoxLewrahxox's forum.
Writing Challenge #14: Dreams. Write a 100- or 500- word drabble around the theme "dreams."
500 words.
Lunch at the Pietrangelo house was a formal affair. Mrs. Pietrangelo sat opposite her husband, smiling serenely over a plate of gnocchi. Between them sat young Blaise, poking at his food listlessly.
"Please can I have some cheese, mama?"
Mrs. Pietrangelo tsked, "Blaise," she used her warning tone, "I told you no already. Don't be cattivo."
Mr. Pietrangelo said nothing, but looked distinctly guilty as he asked their house elf for the parmigiano.
Blaise sulked in his seat, sinking low and pouting.
"Blaise!" Mrs. Pietrango snapped, "Sit up!"
With a dirty look, he straitened himself.
"That's all, Brinny." Mr. Pietrangelo dismissed the elf.
He took a bite of the gnocchi.
"Mrs. Frustaglio has really outdone herself with this, don't you think so dear?"
Mrs. Pietrangelo simply smiled at him.
He coughed.
A hand reached for his throat.
He wheezed.
His eyes bulged for a moment.
He slumped.
"Mama?" Blaise sounded distinctly nervous.
"Your father's just taking a little nap, dear." Mr. Pietrangelo twitched, and Blaise jumped. "Just dreaming, sweetheart. Head on upstairs, would you?"
Blaise departed hurriedly.
"Brinny!" Mrs. Pietrangelo called.
The house elf appeared at her side with a pop.
"You called, mistress?"
"Yes Brinny. There seems to be a problem."
The elf's eyes widened.
"Oh mistress! Brinny is sorry! Brinny is to go punish herself!"
"No, no, Brinny. Not this time."
The elf stopped, regarding her mistress.
"No, Brinny. It isn't you that made the mistake. I'm certain it was the cook." Brinny nodded. "Go get her."
The elf disappeared.
A moment later, a chubby woman bustled into the room. Seeing the master of the house slumped over his food, the woman gasped. "Porca miseria!"
"Yes, Mrs. Frustaglio. I see you've noticed something is amiss."
The woman looked incapable of speech.
"It seems my husband has fallen asleep over his lunch, and is now dreaming pleasantly. But I'm concerned about why it is that he's fallen asleep so suddenly. You wouldn't be able to explain, would you?"
The woman shook her head furiously.
"No, I didn't think so." Mrs. Frustaglio could have sworn she saw her smirk. "You're dismissed."
The woman fairly flew from the room.
Mrs. Pietrangelo got up and took the bowl of cheese into her hands. She walked leisurely out of the room and into kitchen, where she dumped the cream coloured contents into the sink. They tinkled slightly as they hit the metal.
From within the sink, thin shards of glass twinkled pleasantly.
Blaise crept back downstairs, and, not seeing his mother in the dining room, padded softly to his father.
"Papa?" He whispered, poking him gently. "Papa? Wake up papa, it's too early to go to sleep. Stop dreaming papa! You have to get up!" He gave the man a gentle shove.
Scowling, Blaise sat down on his chair and watched him sulkily.
"It's not fair!" Blaise snapped at his sleeping father. "How are you supposed to play with me if you're asleep?"
He gave another shove, but his father's eyes didn't open.
Cattivo - Bad, naughty.
Porca miseria - oh damn!
Well, I suppose you ought to know, the idea of 'murder by shards of glass in the cheese' isn't entirely my idea. I was inspired by a story I heard my grandmother telling when I was young, about a woman who didn't particularly like her husband, and decided to dispose of him over dinner - by way of glass in the cheese. Fun times.
Review, please!