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rainbowfic2015-10-30 02:18 pm
kay_brooke) wrote in rainbowfic2015-10-30 02:18 pm
Antique Brass #20, Nacre #8, Rainbow #4
Name: kay_brooke
Story: The Prime
Colors: Antique Brass #20 (Hey, Big Brother's watching. / Yes, yes, and so can Little Sister), Nacre #8 (hide in plain sight), Rainbow #4 (bent)
Styles/Supplies: Canvas
Word Count: 1,437
Rating/Warnings: PG-13; no standard warnings apply.
Summary: Tabitha spends Thanksgiving with her family.
Note: Constructive criticism is welcome, either through comments or PM.
Tabitha had five texts waiting for her when she got out of work.
She was pretty sure what they were about, so she ignored them, got into her car, and took a deep breath, mentally preparing herself for the hour drive to her parents’ house. She was tired. She was still in her work clothes and all she wanted to do was change and take a nap. But she was expected, and judging by the texts, people were already impatient.
They’ll just have to wait, she thought as she pulled out of the parking lot. I told them this might happen.
What she did not expect, an hour later when she pulled into her parents’ driveway, was the sorrowful look on her mom’s face.
It was just a quick hug, and then, “I’m sorry, we ate without you.”
“Thanks,” Tabitha muttered, hanging up her coat.
“Well, what were we supposed to do?” called Ellie from the living room, where of course she had been listening in. “The kids were starving.”
“Your girls are hardly in danger of wasting away,” said Paul.
“Excuse me?” As Tabitha walked into the living room, Ellie turned on their younger brother. “What exactly are you implying about my kids?”
“Paul,” said Tabitha’s mom, warning in her voice.
“Fine, sorry.” Paul was slouched down in their dad’s recliner, legs and arms crossed, gaze fixed on a football game on the TV. His shirt looked designer, Tabitha couldn’t help but notice. His trousers were fitted, and the boots were definitely not a cheap brand. She frowned at him.
“What?” he said.
“Happy Thanksgiving,” said Tabitha. “I’m glad everyone missed me.”
Ellie glowered. “You were supposed to be here two hours ago. The food would have gotten cold if we waited.”
Tabitha gritted her teeth. “I got held over at work.”
“For two hours? On Thanksgiving?”
Tabitha turned to her mom, because that, right there, was the reason she wished she was at home napping. She always ended up being the one who had done something wrong in the eyes of someone in her family.
“She has to do what she has to do, Ellie,” said their mom. She smiled at Tabitha. “I saved you a plate. Just stick it in the microwave.”
“I’m just saying, what the hell kind of place makes you work overtime on a holiday?” Ellie’s griping trailed Tabitha into the kitchen, where her dad and her brother Brian were doing the dishes. She wasn’t even hungry, but she wouldn’t get away with not eating, not with her mom hovering anxiously around the kitchen door, watching her. So she dutifully retrieved the plate from the fridge and went to the microwave.
“Hey, pumpkin,” said her dad cheerfully, drying off a dish Brian handed him. “How’s it going? Sorry we had to eat without you.”
“That’s okay. Sorry I was late.” Her dad was the only one who never made her feel guilty or inadequate, and just his presence and his voice calmed the sick feeling that had been crawling up her stomach since she’d left work. Maybe she could stand to eat something. She hadn’t even had time to manage a snack the whole day. “Where’s everyone else?”
“Scott’s downstairs with the kids,” said her dad. “Derek...come to think of it, I haven’t seen Derek since we ate. I hope he didn’t leave already.”
“He’s in the study,” said Brian, handing over another dish. “I think he got sick of everyone.”
Tabitha gave her brother a wry smile, but she felt some sympathy for her other brother. She’d been there two minutes and already she was sick of everyone. She and her five siblings had grown up in much smaller houses than this one, but there was something about getting together for the holidays that just felt so cramped. It was more pressure, when she already had more than enough of that in her life.
“So, have you met a guy yet?” was the first thing Ellie said to Tabitha when she walked back into the living room, warm plate in one hand.
Tabitha scowled. “Oh, look, I forgot the silverware.”
But there was no getting away from her sister’s judgment, who waited for her to come back out before saying, “You do want kids, right?”
“Someday.” Tabitha shoved a roll into her mouth, hoping Ellie would get the hint.
She didn’t. “I’m just saying, you’re running out of time. Pretty soon you’ll be too old and then where will you be?”
Tabitha swallowed. “I’m not even thirty yet!”
“Nearly thirty,” Ellie corrected. “And you’re still saying ‘someday’ about kids.”
“Well, not all of us get to be teenage mothers,” Tabitha snapped, because she was more than tired of Ellie’s bullshit. There was a reason her only sister was the family member she tended to interact with the least.
“Why do you do this?” Ellie asked, a good dose of hurt slathered over her words. “Why do you have to judge me all the time?”
“But it’s okay for you to judge me?”
“I’m just trying to give you some advice--”
“Girls,” said their mom wearily. “Please, it’s Thanksgiving. Can we not fight?”
Tabitha stood up, still holding her plate. “I think I’ll eat in the kitchen.”
“Whatever you do, could you do it a little quieter?” said Paul. “I’m trying to watch the game here.”
Tabitha marched into the kitchen and set her plate on the table, taking a moment for a few deep breaths.
“What’s going on?” her dad asked. The dishes seemed to be done; he was alone in the kitchen, Brian nowhere in sight.
“I’m just not very hungry,” said Tabitha, even as she picked up a deviled egg.
“Don’t let your sister get to you,” he said, coming over and placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “You live your life the way you want. Though I do wish you worked a little less. It’s criminal your company was even open on Thanksgiving.”
“It may be criminal, but it’s reality,” said Tabitha. “I haven’t been able to find anything better, and I need to pay my bills.”
“Have you given any thought about going back to school?” her dad asked carefully. “I say this not to pressure you, but because you mentioned it would be something you’d like to do.”
Tabitha sighed. It was tempting, if only to defer her crippling student loans for a few years. But she’d only be pushing the problem down the road, and with another several years’ worth of interest, the problem would be even worse. And there was no guarantee a higher degree would equal a better job. “I don’t know. I’m working flat out as it is and taking every bit of overtime I can get, and even with that I’m barely paying my bills. How could I fit in even part time schoolwork?”
“You could always quit your job,” said her dad. “Move back in with us while you go to school. Rent free, I promise.” He gave her a silly smile.
Tabitha could never stay in a bad mood when she was talking to her dad, and she laughed at his expression. “Then I’d never hear the end of it from Ellie. How am I supposed to find a husband and have a million babies when I’m a loser who still lives with her parents?”
“Ellie’s life isn’t yours, and it doesn’t need to be,” said her dad, sobering. “Seriously, Tabby, I want you to know that your mom and I will help you in any way we can.”
“I know,” said Tabitha. “But Ellie is right about one thing. I’m nearly thirty. I need to stand on my own two feet.”
“Do you remember that year we lived with your grandparents?” her dad asked. “I lost my job and then we lost the house--”
“I remember, yeah,” said Tabitha.
“Well, your mom and I were older than thirty, and needing help didn’t mean we were failures. It was just a temporary setback.”
“That was different,” Tabitha argued. “You guys had five young kids and Mom was pregnant with Scott. I have a cat. That’s the only other living creature besides myself I need to provide for, and I’m barely managing that.”
“It was also a different world these days,” said her dad.
“I suppose,” said Tabitha.
“I just want you to know that we’re here for you,” said her dad. “That’s our job. If you really want to go back to school, we can talk about making that happen.”
“I’ll think about it,” said Tabitha.
kay_brookeStory: The Prime
Colors: Antique Brass #20 (Hey, Big Brother's watching. / Yes, yes, and so can Little Sister), Nacre #8 (hide in plain sight), Rainbow #4 (bent)
Styles/Supplies: Canvas
Word Count: 1,437
Rating/Warnings: PG-13; no standard warnings apply.
Summary: Tabitha spends Thanksgiving with her family.
Note: Constructive criticism is welcome, either through comments or PM.
Tabitha had five texts waiting for her when she got out of work.
She was pretty sure what they were about, so she ignored them, got into her car, and took a deep breath, mentally preparing herself for the hour drive to her parents’ house. She was tired. She was still in her work clothes and all she wanted to do was change and take a nap. But she was expected, and judging by the texts, people were already impatient.
They’ll just have to wait, she thought as she pulled out of the parking lot. I told them this might happen.
What she did not expect, an hour later when she pulled into her parents’ driveway, was the sorrowful look on her mom’s face.
It was just a quick hug, and then, “I’m sorry, we ate without you.”
“Thanks,” Tabitha muttered, hanging up her coat.
“Well, what were we supposed to do?” called Ellie from the living room, where of course she had been listening in. “The kids were starving.”
“Your girls are hardly in danger of wasting away,” said Paul.
“Excuse me?” As Tabitha walked into the living room, Ellie turned on their younger brother. “What exactly are you implying about my kids?”
“Paul,” said Tabitha’s mom, warning in her voice.
“Fine, sorry.” Paul was slouched down in their dad’s recliner, legs and arms crossed, gaze fixed on a football game on the TV. His shirt looked designer, Tabitha couldn’t help but notice. His trousers were fitted, and the boots were definitely not a cheap brand. She frowned at him.
“What?” he said.
“Happy Thanksgiving,” said Tabitha. “I’m glad everyone missed me.”
Ellie glowered. “You were supposed to be here two hours ago. The food would have gotten cold if we waited.”
Tabitha gritted her teeth. “I got held over at work.”
“For two hours? On Thanksgiving?”
Tabitha turned to her mom, because that, right there, was the reason she wished she was at home napping. She always ended up being the one who had done something wrong in the eyes of someone in her family.
“She has to do what she has to do, Ellie,” said their mom. She smiled at Tabitha. “I saved you a plate. Just stick it in the microwave.”
“I’m just saying, what the hell kind of place makes you work overtime on a holiday?” Ellie’s griping trailed Tabitha into the kitchen, where her dad and her brother Brian were doing the dishes. She wasn’t even hungry, but she wouldn’t get away with not eating, not with her mom hovering anxiously around the kitchen door, watching her. So she dutifully retrieved the plate from the fridge and went to the microwave.
“Hey, pumpkin,” said her dad cheerfully, drying off a dish Brian handed him. “How’s it going? Sorry we had to eat without you.”
“That’s okay. Sorry I was late.” Her dad was the only one who never made her feel guilty or inadequate, and just his presence and his voice calmed the sick feeling that had been crawling up her stomach since she’d left work. Maybe she could stand to eat something. She hadn’t even had time to manage a snack the whole day. “Where’s everyone else?”
“Scott’s downstairs with the kids,” said her dad. “Derek...come to think of it, I haven’t seen Derek since we ate. I hope he didn’t leave already.”
“He’s in the study,” said Brian, handing over another dish. “I think he got sick of everyone.”
Tabitha gave her brother a wry smile, but she felt some sympathy for her other brother. She’d been there two minutes and already she was sick of everyone. She and her five siblings had grown up in much smaller houses than this one, but there was something about getting together for the holidays that just felt so cramped. It was more pressure, when she already had more than enough of that in her life.
“So, have you met a guy yet?” was the first thing Ellie said to Tabitha when she walked back into the living room, warm plate in one hand.
Tabitha scowled. “Oh, look, I forgot the silverware.”
But there was no getting away from her sister’s judgment, who waited for her to come back out before saying, “You do want kids, right?”
“Someday.” Tabitha shoved a roll into her mouth, hoping Ellie would get the hint.
She didn’t. “I’m just saying, you’re running out of time. Pretty soon you’ll be too old and then where will you be?”
Tabitha swallowed. “I’m not even thirty yet!”
“Nearly thirty,” Ellie corrected. “And you’re still saying ‘someday’ about kids.”
“Well, not all of us get to be teenage mothers,” Tabitha snapped, because she was more than tired of Ellie’s bullshit. There was a reason her only sister was the family member she tended to interact with the least.
“Why do you do this?” Ellie asked, a good dose of hurt slathered over her words. “Why do you have to judge me all the time?”
“But it’s okay for you to judge me?”
“I’m just trying to give you some advice--”
“Girls,” said their mom wearily. “Please, it’s Thanksgiving. Can we not fight?”
Tabitha stood up, still holding her plate. “I think I’ll eat in the kitchen.”
“Whatever you do, could you do it a little quieter?” said Paul. “I’m trying to watch the game here.”
Tabitha marched into the kitchen and set her plate on the table, taking a moment for a few deep breaths.
“What’s going on?” her dad asked. The dishes seemed to be done; he was alone in the kitchen, Brian nowhere in sight.
“I’m just not very hungry,” said Tabitha, even as she picked up a deviled egg.
“Don’t let your sister get to you,” he said, coming over and placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “You live your life the way you want. Though I do wish you worked a little less. It’s criminal your company was even open on Thanksgiving.”
“It may be criminal, but it’s reality,” said Tabitha. “I haven’t been able to find anything better, and I need to pay my bills.”
“Have you given any thought about going back to school?” her dad asked carefully. “I say this not to pressure you, but because you mentioned it would be something you’d like to do.”
Tabitha sighed. It was tempting, if only to defer her crippling student loans for a few years. But she’d only be pushing the problem down the road, and with another several years’ worth of interest, the problem would be even worse. And there was no guarantee a higher degree would equal a better job. “I don’t know. I’m working flat out as it is and taking every bit of overtime I can get, and even with that I’m barely paying my bills. How could I fit in even part time schoolwork?”
“You could always quit your job,” said her dad. “Move back in with us while you go to school. Rent free, I promise.” He gave her a silly smile.
Tabitha could never stay in a bad mood when she was talking to her dad, and she laughed at his expression. “Then I’d never hear the end of it from Ellie. How am I supposed to find a husband and have a million babies when I’m a loser who still lives with her parents?”
“Ellie’s life isn’t yours, and it doesn’t need to be,” said her dad, sobering. “Seriously, Tabby, I want you to know that your mom and I will help you in any way we can.”
“I know,” said Tabitha. “But Ellie is right about one thing. I’m nearly thirty. I need to stand on my own two feet.”
“Do you remember that year we lived with your grandparents?” her dad asked. “I lost my job and then we lost the house--”
“I remember, yeah,” said Tabitha.
“Well, your mom and I were older than thirty, and needing help didn’t mean we were failures. It was just a temporary setback.”
“That was different,” Tabitha argued. “You guys had five young kids and Mom was pregnant with Scott. I have a cat. That’s the only other living creature besides myself I need to provide for, and I’m barely managing that.”
“It was also a different world these days,” said her dad.
“I suppose,” said Tabitha.
“I just want you to know that we’re here for you,” said her dad. “That’s our job. If you really want to go back to school, we can talk about making that happen.”
“I’ll think about it,” said Tabitha.