Ch 3 Oh, Now Why the Concern?

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OH, NOW WHY THE CONCERN?

Chapter 3: It's All for the Better

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She didn't see Jareth as she rushed her wet-haired brother from the house, his backpack slung over one shoulder. Nor did she spot any goblins or chickens lurking and later, when she allowed the time to contemplate, she wasn't sure how she felt about that. One the hand-relief that he took her seriously, on the other-oddly disappointed, but that was absurd. Why on earth would disappointment figure in Jareth's absence?

"Where's Jareth?" Sarah heard thwarted plans in Toby's young voice.

"He's gone," she said ushering out the front door.

"Gone?" Toby's eyes widened and he glared up at her as they jogged to the car. "What did you do, Sarah?"

"What was best, now buckle up."

"Best?" He repeated unable to believe his sister's cold-blooded attitude. The snap of his seatbelt echoed from the back seat. "What'd ya mean best? Did you yell at him, kick him out?" He asked his voice rising in alarm.

"Toby," she said as she backed out of the gravel driveway, "I appreciate what you were trying to do, but we can't have the Goblin King involved in our lives."

"Why not?"

"He's...well, he's dangerous." Sarah met his upset blue eyes in the rear view mirror; saw that his arms were crossed over his chest and that his lower lip stuck out much like her's used to at the same age. She resisted the urge to laugh.

"You're wrong."

"Toby..."

"You're wrong! He wouldn't hurt me or you. He was being nice and now he's gone forever."

"I seriously doubt that." She mumbled to herself checking the mirror again to be sure Toby didn't hear her response, he didn't seem to.

The car ride to Toby's school lasted approximately five more uncomfortable minutes since neither of them spoke after his heated outburst. Sarah wanted to speak but he looked so miserable nothing of comfort came to mind and she realized that Toby's logic was partially correct. It was her fault. She insisted Jareth leave before she returned from dropping Toby off, she just didn't actually believe he'd comply with her demand and especially not so quickly.

'No, I refuse to feel guilty about his. Jareth is trouble, it really is best that he's gone,' Sarah told herself...so why did that thought make her feel so bad anyway?

Arriving at his school, Sarah parked and walked her sullen, foot-scuffing brother into the building. He was almost an hour late, fifth time this semester and Sarah knew he would catch hell from his teacher. First thing to do: check in with the front office since morning attendance was already passed. Toby's glower burned her back while she chatted with the receptionist, still mad at her...well so be it. Sarah tugged Toby's sleeve and he wordlessly followed her from the school office and smack into an older woman with silver hair.

"Pardon me!"

"Excuse me!"

"Oh, you must be Toby's sister, Sarah." The woman said with a thin smile.

"Yes, have we met?" Sarah felt Toby move behind her and hang onto her jeans.

"No, no, I'm Ms. Beanigh, the new school counselor. Toby hasn't told you about me?"

Sarah looked over her shoulder to see Toby glued to her backside, "No...He hasn't." What was this new development?

"No matter, I won't keep you from class." Ms. Beanigh stepped aside.

"Thank you," Sarah said then added as they passed, "Ms. Beanigh, that's an unusual name."

The counselor laughed pleasantly, "Oh, yes, I'm Irish from my grandfather's side."

"Interesting," Sarah said drily as she passed the older woman, Toby still keeping to the opposite of Sarah from Ms. Beanigh. Why the hiding?

"Oh, and Ms. Williams, don't forget Parent-Teacher night is tonight at 7pm."

"It is?"

"Yes, I would very much like to speak with you tonight."

"Right, I'll see you tonight then, Ms. Beanigh." They walked quickly away from the counselor and once they turned the corner of the next hallway, Sarah spoke.

"How long has she been here?"

His wide, anxious eyes looked up at hers, "Not long, a couple of weeks maybe."

"Has she talked to you often?"

He shivered, "I got called into her office twice. She wanted me to talk about Mom and Dad." Not liking the waver in his voice, Sarah ceased walking and made Toby face her.

"Toby, why haven't you told me this before?"

"I don't know," he said, shrugging and dropping his head. She watched his nervous twitching and wondered how long she'd been oblivious to his plight.

'How long have you been oblivious to a lot of things, Sarah?' she asked herself not wanting to know the answer; then told her brother in a much subdued voice as she placed a comforting hand on his upper back:

"From now on you tell me whenever she talks to you, I don't like her. Come on, squirt, let's get you to class." He nodded but refused to look up and that's how he left his sister's presence a few minutes later at the door of his class.

By the time Sarah got back home she half hoped Jareth and his goblin horde would be waiting for her, if for no other reason than to give Toby a reason to perk up after school. But...no Goblin King and no goblins, not even a chicken feather drifted in the air. Everything appeared back where it belonged just as if he never visited and taunted her last night or this morning.

'I've done the right thing. Goblin Kings are not of the good.' She reminded herself...again, but for some reason that idea didn't want to stick; especially when faint memories of a sincere sounding Jareth allowing her to cry herself to sleep on his chest filtered up through her mind. For the first time in months, thoughts other those revolving around money, bills, the accident, and...Them...her dominated her consciousness. And wasn't that a kick in the head? Figures Jareth would be able to trump such mortal concerns.

Sarah entered her bathroom and shed her clothes for a hot shower, the one interrupted earlier by her realization of Toby's lateness. As she turned on the water faucet and adjusted the temperature she noticed a few changes: the water became hot immediately, the faucet wasn't loose any longer, and the water pressure used to be weak but now was...well, perfect.

"Oh, crap...Jareth, what'd you do..."

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Afternoon recess usually kept Toby entertained, distracted but not today. This afternoon he didn't feel like playing ball or tag, instead he sat on a bench apart from his friends and schoolmates, sulking and thinking about the Goblin King.

"It's not fair," he kicked a stone; "I'm the one who wished him here," kicking another stone which skittered across the asphalt, "Sarah thinks she can just tell everybody what to do." He moved his foot forward again to launch another stone but his toes connected with a clear round object. Leaning down he picked it up; it was one the glass balls like Jareth made. Toby's head snapped up and he rapidly scanned the playground: kids, teachers, more kids, trees...where was he?

An idea blossomed; Toby placed the sphere back on the ground and smiled when it immediately took off rolling away from him towards the trees which lie at the far edge of the property. The ball bounced and jumped over protrusions, picking up speed along the way. Before it got too far ahead, Toby checked his teacher's location—not watching him—and followed it to a small copse of trees.

"Jareth?" He called out softly.

"Tobias," the Goblin King strolled into sight with a grin, one hand juggling a pyramid of balanced crystals. "Why so glum?"

"You're here! You didn't leave!" Toby ran to him throwing his arms around Jareth's torso. Jareth barely managed to vanish the crystals in his palm before Toby's bodily assault.

"Well, of course, why ever would I do such a thing?"

"Sarah said you were gone." Jareth' brocade waistcoat muffled Toby's shrill voice. He rested his gloved hands on the boy's shoulders.

"Nonsense, as you can see I've not gone and I haven't any plans to do so."

"But she said it was best..."

"Your sister means well, but is a bit confused presently on what is best." He patted Toby's head.

"You promised you'd help her."

"And I shall," he stepped back and manifested his swagger stick which he twirled dramatically, "but things of this nature take time, my boy, you must trust me."

"I do...I think, I mean...sorry."

"Ah-ah," the King clasped him under the chin lightly and brought his head up; the leather felt warm on his skin, "never apologize for trusting your instincts, Tobias. You are uncertain about me. You are right to be so. However, I will do as you've asked me, but all good things take time."

"Okay, that makes sense, I guess..."

Jareth laughed releasing Toby's chin, "Now then, sit and tell me about your schooling today and I'll see that it's complete." The Goblin King manifested two wooden stools with a wave of his hand and Toby made himself comfortable with a broad smile.

"What do you know about geography, Jareth?"

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Working double shifts at the restaurant were her routine now. Wake up, get Toby to school, housework, clean up, off to work the lunch and dinner shifts, pick Toby up from neighbor's late that night, eat, clean up again, go to bed...lather, rinse, repeat ad nauseam. At least twice a week and on special occasions, like Parent-Teacher Night, Sarah asked off early of the dinner shift and two days a week she only worked one shift. She'd wanted to take off full days but couldn't afford it, not while Karen still needed full-time care.

'No... Don't think about that right now...you're not due to visit again for almost a week. Think about it then.' That was Sarah's mantra, 'Don't think about that right now.' It kept her going, kept her functional, kept her sane. Denial was a potent drug, but during her flashes of rationality she feared how much longer her addiction might hold out.

She ended the day lying on the living room couch. Sarah begged off early from her dinner shift, picked up Toby from her neighbor, old Mrs. Bannister, then told him she needed to rest for a few minutes...just a few...before she made dinner and took him to Parent-Teacher Night.

"And you say she's been asleep for over an hour?" Jareth asked Toby as they stood in contemplation over the delicately snoring Sarah.

"Uh-huh, she's supposed to take me to Parent-Teacher night and we're already gonna be late."

"I see." Jareth pursed his lips thoughtfully, his stick lightly slapping his thigh.

"You didn't put another spell on her, did you?"

"Indeed not!"

"Then what's wrong with her?"

Jareth crouched down peering closer into Sarah's relaxed face as he glided one leather-clad fingertip over her cheek, she never stirred. "I suspect she's quite beyond exhaustion, my boy."

"She's tired?"

"Very much so."

"But what about..."

"Leave it to me, Tobias."

"You? What are you going to do, Jareth?"

"Why..." he stood again, his gaze lingering on Sarah then he smirked, "I'm going to be your guardian tonight."

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