The William's Way

DISCLAIMER
: Anything taken from "Labyrinth" are strictly Jim Henson's and therefore are certainly not my own.

There was no more time to waste. Already she had wasted several days trying to contact her friends through the mirror portal. It was now time to get to work.

Over the next few months, Sarah traded in all her dreams for a new one: the safety of Toby. It wasn't rocket science to figure out that Jareth would use "her weakness"
against her. But little did Jareth know that that was the flaw in Jareth's strategy. Really, it was quite the opposite. Her so-called, "weakness" was really her strength: her brother and his welfare. She only hoped that he would a) be so blinded by his anger that he wouldn't be able to even contemplate an alternative or b) simply let her off the hook and leave her a lone. Although "b" was a much nicer concept, Sarah wouldn't hold her breath. Call it whatever you will but her intuition told her that she must prepare.

Toby. It all started with him and must end with him. Poor Kid. He, who is just happened to be the accidental bystander. Used by all as a tool, as leverage.

First used by Karenas a reason for going out with only her husband; stating that she needed some time to be herself other than "Mother". Used again by Sarah as a reason for her lack of "me" time. And finally, used by Jareth twice. The first time was as a ultimatum forSarah to run the Labyrinth and the second time, she knew that Jareth would use him again against her- but this time to hurt her not teach her.

Her Dad and Karen weren't mystified by her sudden changes. They figured that they'd just chalk it up to the realization of adulthood looming on the horizon and count their blessings.
In fact, as they recalled, there was a short period of time when all Sarah did was stay at home and openly volunteered to take care of Toby every waking moment. Those moments when she wasn't watching Toby, she'd hide away in her room staring at her vanity mirror and brood. When this was a little too much for Karen, she insisted to her husband that this wasn't healthy. Upon hearing her step-mother listing these new grievances against Sarah, Sarah knew that the wait was over. She stayed up all night brainstorming, planning, and projecting.

Come morning, she had a game plan and it was time to put them into motion. As soon as her parents came down stairs for breakfast, she asked for an audience in the living room. Thinking this would be another set of theatrics; Dad and Karen braced themselves and reluctantly agreed. After all, it was time for another "it's not fair" outburst. But they were relatively surprised by what Sarah had in store for them. Sitting across from them and gauging from their closed expressions, Sarah knew that she had to deliver her propositions carefully. Making sure that she sat straight and tall and checking to see that she had their attention, she began to speak.

First, she apologized of being so childish in the past and has become enlightened in more ways than one and that change is in order. She explained why her reluctance in respecting Karen was due to the lack of civilized conversation (that didn't revolve around Toby or her acting) and was willing to get to know her starting with helping her redecoration and deciding over the plans for remodeling some of the house. Sensing that this was reasonable, Karen nodded at this explanation and solution and gave Sarah a small smile to continue. In the year that Karen had been married to Sarah's father, Sarah had shown no interest in her business as an interior decorator, this attempt to get to know each other was a good step.

Noting Karen's smile, Sarah mentally ran down the list in her head and put a small check mark down next to "House".

Next, Sarah insisted that they allow her to keep a schedule so she can go and learn other things. Another contribution to her "whining" was due to boredom. They rarely let her out of the house and when they did, it was only long enough to run to the park. So she gave them a proposition. She would watch Toby every Saturday evenings and help with the chores with no complaints, if she could start taking some lessons or classes of her choice. Quickly she added that this would look better on her college application if there were some extra curricular activities, giving them a winning smile. Amaized by her grownup approach and reasoning, Dad and Karen also agreed.

Check. Two down, now just a few more to go-

"Speaking of college," Sarah continued in her most serious voice and leaning in a bit closer to the two members of her family sitting before her. "I am going to need a tutor. Two in fact." Before they could ask her why she needed two instructors and object to the idea, Sarah continued firmly. "Two tutors.
One to augment my studies and the second one for acting."

"Now," she hurried to explain, "You know that my grades are average and a tutor would help in raising them and make me marketable. Everything I ask is an investment in my future and it's not like money's a problem," she waved with her hand. "I am well aware that you do not wish me to be an actress like my mother. And quite frankly, let me tell you that I don't. It just seemed like it but really, did you ever ask me if that's what I really wanted to do? A private acting coach will help me master my expressions so it won't be so easy to read me like a book. You always said yourself, Dad, that this is still a man's world and I've got a lot to do if I want to do well in it. This tutor is necessary. Lessons could be held here at the house instead of me wasting time hoping to get some notice and tutelage by those in the school. I've observed that the whole year is spent on one or two productions and that you read the same lines and act the same way everyday. Private lessons will allow us to work on techniques and many things that will help me deliver myself in the right capacity."

"I don't know about this, Sarah, but this seems a bit much," said Mr. Williams with a frown. "Maybe we'll start some of the things but not all.".

"But Dad," Sarah came back with a rebuttal. "But Dad, look-I already have a tentative schedule" as she withdrew from her pocket the proposition she worked all night over and had fine tuned it over by doing research on the internet. She handed the schedule over to her father with a flourish. It's going to take a while to get all her theatrics out of her system, Sarah noted.

Mr. Williams was very impressed. Never has he seen his daughter so organized, so down to earth! Looking to his wife, he chuckled to note that she was sporting a perplexed expression. He could tell that she was pleased but was definitely trying to figure out how this came about. Ah, that is why he is the lawyer and she the decorator. She pays attention to detail, he as a lawyer does too but pieces it all together to get the big picture. And the big picture was this: His little girl was finally growing up and making a point to become less than average. He was getting worried for a bit there, she was making him sweat a little with her showing no real initiative by the time she was a Junior in high school. Mr. Williams relaxed. Sarah is finally living up to her family name: Williams after apparently finding (by the evidence of her proposition and delivery)
both her Will and her Way. Well then, let her be off to the races.

Sarah was holding her breath. She was confident that they would say "yes" but there is always that small possibility...

"We'll check with both the potential tutors and organizations you listed that you want to take your lessons from, first. But, other than that, I don't see any reasons why you shouldn't based on the reasons you gave. However, if your grades drop lower than what it is presently or you don't hold up your end of the bargain by not sitting for Toby or doing some chores around the house, then our agreement is null and void," sternly stated Mr. Williams.

"Agreed, Dad. I promise" Sarah solemnly vowed.

Check, check. All accounted for, Sarah thought with a smile as she ran upstairs to finish getting ready for school. After all, she was a daughter to a lawyer and an actress and stepdaughter to a marketer who is quite fond of nicely wrapped packages.

Sarah's Dad walked away from this little tete-a-tete, he shook his head in wonder. When did this all come about? It's a positive change but the only thing bothering him was the only part of her argument that had a hole. Sure, she said that she didn't want to become an actress but what exactly did she want to do with her life? She never said. Oh well, he'll just have to ask her later but now he had better get to work. He has a new client coming in that promised a big recognition on behalf of the firm in they won the case.