Alphabetical mishaps: B


Disclaimer: It is the utterly brilliant Louisa May Alcott who had first scribbled this positively delightful cast on paper, and thus she is the holder of all the money, not me. Because if it WAS me, I would've been in Japan, in a voca-concert, not here. nope.

A/N: Here is the next drabble in the series! And it's dedicated to the reviewers of the last chapter. Sadly no one tried to guess the word for 'B'. I was really looking forward to having a little competition.

B is for Bats

The March sisters were cramped in the china closet, shivering in fear; which was quite evident, for even if outside of the room, one could clearly hear Amy's teeth chatter, Meg, very quickly and incoherently mutter and Beth's feet make little thumping noises.

Mrs March was out and the three dear faces were pale with fear, and could be faintly outlined in the darkness of the closet. What totally overwhelmed the trio's expressions of fear was the sound of Jo's running and her cries and threats against the monster in question that made them all so miserable.

Dragons? Thieves? Poltergeists? Horrid serial killer circus clowns?

'COME HERE YOU CONFOUNDED FLYING RODENT!' Jo shouted at the top of her gradually breaking voice.

The monster in question was a black, flying, demonic animal . Or as it is more commonly known, the Bat. And a far more formidable foe it was, too.

After a few cries and thwacks they heard from outside the closet, Meg, in a very quiet voice asked, 'Do you think it's gone now?'

Amy, between her chattering teeth, managed to say, 'I-I t-think so...' And clutched her own arm tighter.

Beth, very unlike herself, opened the closet door by a trifle, and called out the name of her harum-scarum elder sister. Just she was to call her again, Jo flung open the door; the girls all tumbling over one another, and landing on the floor.

Meg was the first to recover a decent posture again, and with as much ladylike grace she could muster, she caught Jo's hands in a desperate manner and shook them violently.

'Oh, Jo! I thought it would kill us for a minute there!'

'And drink our blood!' Amy added with a look of horror and disgust on her face.

'And turn us into bats...' Beth muttered with a look of anxiety as she checked her uncovered arms. 'You did get rid of it, right Jo?'

Jo looked at them with the most motherly look she could manage,' Now now,' She said with in a calm tone, but she failed to hide the breathlessness in her voice, and the quick rises of her chest, 'We shall sit down and have cold water until we are calm and decent.' She dusted her dress. 'Meg, you should be more sensible than to knock over the entire dinner table.' Meg shamefully looked at the mess caused by her tantrum. 'Amy, Beth, I have my doubts on what you know about bats outside those confounded horror tales you read.' Jo looked at the children with a disapproving glance and they shrank, mostly to please Jo, for she was all but motherly in her way of speaking.

Jo sat down in her corner and told Amy to go fetch the pitcher of cool water from the refrigerator, and she obliged happily. Meg and Beth sat down with their heads hanging low as they eyed the mess they caused.

The silence was broken by a jolly voice from the backyard.

'What ho, my dear fellow!' Laurie smiled at Jo from Ellen the apple tree, something clutched in his hand and his eyes mischievously shining. He hopped down from the tree and entered the disheveled home as Jo opened the gate. 'It looks like someone slayed a dragon in here.' He remarked, smiling cheekily. 'What happened?'

'The girls saw a bat, but I got rid of it.' Jo said triumphantly. Meg and Beth quietly set the table proper and sat back down their faces still flushed and red from embarrassment. Amy had returned with the pitcher of cold water, and all seemed to go well.

Until she dropped the pitcher and cried out in horror.

'J-Jo! It's behind you!' Amy cried a cry of true fear and concern, then she turned on her heels, ran towards the closet, turned over a vase and slammed it shut. Beth ran in another direction, almost slipping on the water on the floor, and Meg nearly disgraced herself by fainting.

Jo sighed, hitched her skirt near her narrow knees, and ran behind the bat with a broom in her hand, crying out the most ungraceful remarks. Laurie smiled to himself and joined her as well, only he'd never tell Jo that he was the one who released the bats. Because it was grand fun, and a flustered Jo is always lovely to watch.

I hated this one, it was like WAY OOC. Gah, NAPLAN practice really has it's tolls on you. Ah well, if you believe it worthy, or funny, OH JUST GIVE ME A REVIEW, I LIVE ON THOSE SNIPPETS.

The hint for the next word? It's a very popular American snack, and requires baking. And we all know Jo and baking don't go together.

Until our next chapter, my dear reader!