Chapter 10 - Disaster!
******
The evening went surprisingly well compared to all the other family get-togethers the
aliens had been to. Trin's dad had a nasty habit of getting drunk and dancing to theme
tune to Star Trek. Unfortunately it did have its drawbacks because she was stuck
talking to Sarah's stepmother and all she did was complain. Eventually she lost her rag
with the woman and adjusted an icy grin.
"So how does it feel to be a grandparent?" she said snidely, obviously hitting a nerve
and the angry little woman stormed off. Toby had been vying for her attention all day
and eagerly told her about his German pen friend, Hans and how he had taken 'Bogies'
to an international level. Cute kid. Thomas had curled up into ball on the floor and
fallen asleep.
"Who's your weird friend?" asked Toby.
"Oh, that's Thomas. He's from another galaxy, you know."
"He doesn't do much." said the young boy.
"Things aren't always what they seem, Tobes. I thought he was a house pet for years
but it turns out he's more intelligent that everyone here put together."
She was interrupted when a large ball of fire emitted from Caradoc's crib that had
been given pride of place at the centre of the room. The flaming projectile hit Trin
square in the backside and the baby chuckled gleefully.
"He cast his first spell, that's so cute!" cried Sarah.
"No need to guess who that kid's father is." Hilarity mumbled in Toby's ear which
made him giggle.
"OW!" Trin shouted, trying to stop his trousers from smouldering. Another fireball.
"Hils, help!"
Hilarity approached the crib cautiously. "Now that was naughty, wasn't it?" she said
firmly "We don't set fire to uncle Trin." she quickly ducked when another fireball flew
out from the cradle. She could smell burning hair. Funny, you never appreciate
eyebrows until they're gone, she thought. The baby continued to chuckle, delightedly.
"Oh! Damn that child to Hell!" Trin yelled angrily. He was about to complain more
when he realised that everyone was looking at him in shocked silence. A menacing
black cloud began to seep through the flagstones and the cradle was surrounded by a
circle of flame. When the fire had died down everyone caught a glimpse of Caradoc
being carried away by a man who looked suspiciously like Ozzy Osbourne. Sarah
screamed and fell to the floor. The various Goblins who had been serving drinks
rushed around in a panic.
"Um, what just happened?" said Hilarity nervously. Jareth hadn't moved through all of
this but suddenly he sprung into action and grabbed Trin by the collar and shook him
violently.
"HOW DARE YOU!!!" he yelled "YOU JUST SENT MY ONLY SON TO THE
LAND OF THE DEAD YOU FISH BRAINED PRAT!"
"Steady on!" cried Hilarity "Let's just be civil about this."
"Damn you to Hell!" Jareth shouted, still concentrating on Trin and the youth
disappeared in the same cloud of black smoke. A few cinders smouldered on the floor
where Trin had been standing...
******
The evening went surprisingly well compared to all the other family get-togethers the
aliens had been to. Trin's dad had a nasty habit of getting drunk and dancing to theme
tune to Star Trek. Unfortunately it did have its drawbacks because she was stuck
talking to Sarah's stepmother and all she did was complain. Eventually she lost her rag
with the woman and adjusted an icy grin.
"So how does it feel to be a grandparent?" she said snidely, obviously hitting a nerve
and the angry little woman stormed off. Toby had been vying for her attention all day
and eagerly told her about his German pen friend, Hans and how he had taken 'Bogies'
to an international level. Cute kid. Thomas had curled up into ball on the floor and
fallen asleep.
"Who's your weird friend?" asked Toby.
"Oh, that's Thomas. He's from another galaxy, you know."
"He doesn't do much." said the young boy.
"Things aren't always what they seem, Tobes. I thought he was a house pet for years
but it turns out he's more intelligent that everyone here put together."
She was interrupted when a large ball of fire emitted from Caradoc's crib that had
been given pride of place at the centre of the room. The flaming projectile hit Trin
square in the backside and the baby chuckled gleefully.
"He cast his first spell, that's so cute!" cried Sarah.
"No need to guess who that kid's father is." Hilarity mumbled in Toby's ear which
made him giggle.
"OW!" Trin shouted, trying to stop his trousers from smouldering. Another fireball.
"Hils, help!"
Hilarity approached the crib cautiously. "Now that was naughty, wasn't it?" she said
firmly "We don't set fire to uncle Trin." she quickly ducked when another fireball flew
out from the cradle. She could smell burning hair. Funny, you never appreciate
eyebrows until they're gone, she thought. The baby continued to chuckle, delightedly.
"Oh! Damn that child to Hell!" Trin yelled angrily. He was about to complain more
when he realised that everyone was looking at him in shocked silence. A menacing
black cloud began to seep through the flagstones and the cradle was surrounded by a
circle of flame. When the fire had died down everyone caught a glimpse of Caradoc
being carried away by a man who looked suspiciously like Ozzy Osbourne. Sarah
screamed and fell to the floor. The various Goblins who had been serving drinks
rushed around in a panic.
"Um, what just happened?" said Hilarity nervously. Jareth hadn't moved through all of
this but suddenly he sprung into action and grabbed Trin by the collar and shook him
violently.
"HOW DARE YOU!!!" he yelled "YOU JUST SENT MY ONLY SON TO THE
LAND OF THE DEAD YOU FISH BRAINED PRAT!"
"Steady on!" cried Hilarity "Let's just be civil about this."
"Damn you to Hell!" Jareth shouted, still concentrating on Trin and the youth
disappeared in the same cloud of black smoke. A few cinders smouldered on the floor
where Trin had been standing...
