Story: Middle Part 5
[[Continuity Note: What do you reckon?]]
Alf rang home from the school's phone booth after the bell rang, explaining to his mother about what the girl had told him.
"The girl from the dentist's office? Jessica? I know her parents. I must say it's quite shocking, but I suppose there's no harm in you going. They seem a decent sort."
And with permission, Alf set off toward the girl's house. Thankfully, the walk to the girl's house (he wasn't going to call her Jessica until he was absolutely certain that that was her name) was no longer than his usual walk home. In fact, it was a little shorter as it turned out hat the girl lived in the rather large house around the corner from his own. As he stared at it during his approach, he thought it seemed typical. In fact, if he'd thought about it, their house was probably the one in town that you would pick to be haunted, or inhabited by witches. Probably only because it was old and made of brick, probably from the Victorian Era if his mother's favourite paintings were anything to go by. It had a dark roof and shutters as well as a wrought iron fence and stone path leading from the street to the doorstep and veranda. Otherwise, it was extremely well kept and had the look of many people living there, if the music coming from one of the upper rooms was any indication.
The gate did not squeak as Alf opened it, and there were no black cats lounging on the veranda. The doorbell sound was a perfectly cheery and normal "ding dong". Not a grotesque "di-i-ing do-o-o-ong" as he was expecting. Or something worse like the bell pull for Lurch in the Addams Family. He heard no screeching noises and Alf wondered where he'd managed to get all these preconceptions from. They were obviously unfounded.
The door was opened by a middle aged woman with dark red hair knotted into a bun close to her neck. She was wearing a simple blue and white cotton dress, and was barefoot. There was no make-up on her face, save the redness of her lips which was surely not natural. His imagination running away with him, Alf wondered if it was supernatural.
Those red lips curled into a smile. "You must be Alfonso." And suddenly, Alf felt right at home, as though this was where he was always meant to be.
"Yes ma'am," he replied. "Though I would prefer if it you'd call me Alf."
"Of course, my dear," she replied, graciously. "But only if you'll call me Karen."
That went against what Alf had been taught and he said so.
'Karen' smiled elegantly. "Okay. I shall call you Alf if you call me Mrs Aldus. Though I dare say there are a lot of us and you might get a little confused." She invited him in after that, and began showing him around the house, introducing him to the various occupants as they came upon them.
"Our family has lived here for so long, and our house is so large that it's sort of a hub for magical people passing through. Of course the other families have their own houses, but there are only four of us in Sydney. Comparatively speaking, that's quite a few, as there are only fifteen branches of the magical family tree."
The history lesson was fascinating, and so were the people in the house. Those who lived in the house permanently were Mrs Aldus, her husband and her daughter. Then there was her husband's sister, his wife, and their two sons. Her husband's aunt lived with them, though they rarely ventured out, and her two daughters and their families. The reason why Mrs Aldus said that it would be quite confusing to call her Mrs Aldus soon became apparent. Aldus was the family name, and a powerful one at that. Anyone who married into the family took the name Aldus whether they were female or male.
And then there were the temporary boarders. For some reason, each one of them seemed to have a pet, despite the fact that no one living there permanently did. There was Markus and his pet iguana. They were from Canada. Markus had spent a great deal of his time ice fishing and was now travelling fishing in less frigid temperatures.
Alison was a woman who looked like she would have been right in place in the seventies with her flowing strawberry blonde hair and long skirts. She had a pet mouse, strangely enough. A small white one that she looked to for fashion tips, apparently. With a wiffle of its nose, it could tell her whether anything was a fashion do or don't. Apparently Jakob the mouse had liked Alf's outfit, to which he wasn't sure whether to be complimented or not, until he realised that it was his school uniform and the opinion had nothing to do with him.
And lastly there was the Magalot family. Mr and Mrs Magalot were taking their twins Bella and Sebastian on a trip around the world as part of their education. Mostly it seemed that they liked visiting whichever food production plants would let them have free samples. To say that the parents and children were rotund was putting it nicely. And any room all four of them were in suddenly seemed to suffocate Alf as though the walls were closing in on him. Not that they weren't perfectly charming people. They'd brought a menagerie with them, too. Bella and Sebastian each had a cat, and their parents carried goldfish... probably with a spell that wouldn't have the water completely spilling out of the bowls as they travelled. Besides the cats, Bella had a small budgerigar that they'd only just picked up, and Sebastian had a bald eagle. Something Alf debated the legality of.
But Alf didn't actually have the chance to meet most of the permanent dwellers in the Aldus house. Mrs Aldus swept him into a sitting room onto a soft lounge with a pile of biscuits and a cup of tea before him before sweeping her husband and daughter into the room in a similar fashion.
"I guess a little history would not be amiss at this moment," Mr Aldus began. "Though I haven't managed to tell it without sounding like a terrible braggart."
"I'll tell it," his daughter (who was almost certainly named Jessica) stated. "Since people have been known to exist, which is about fifty thousand years, the sort of people that we are, magic users, have also always existed. The first known account of a magic user was Cornucopia of Alderfield. She is also our first known ancestor. The Aldus family has been her direct line since then.
"This has led to people esteeming our family far more than they perhaps should. In fact, the family is something akin to royalty of the magical variety, though we deny that we are at all special."
Mr Aldus was right, the girl did sound like a braggart, telling it. As though everything she said to attempt to dispute that was merely said to give the impression of not being one and therefore increasing the boastful nature of the entire monologue. And because of his father's introduction, Alf didn't fault her for it.
"So," the girl continued. "The point of this brief family history is to illustrate that our family is special in the magical world, though it is for no real reason."
"And the point of telling you that," Mr Aldus interrupted. "Was to explain that our family is special, but that you are special in a very different way."
[[and I'm going to stop there to go to bed.]]
Story: Middle Part 4
[[Continuity Note: I don't know why I bother with these when I'm still writing in chronological order...]]
For Alf had never found it difficult to make friends, whereas Damien had always had other friends. Alf had, secretly, prided himself on being able to lay claim to being Damien's best friend, when everyone else were merely his friends. But now, he had nothing and no one. It was times like this that led Alf to think about how they'd become friends. And he realised that he didn't remember. He and Damien had just always been friends. It was probably because they'd lived across the street from each other forever. There was also Rock, but two years could make a lot of difference when you're young. And Rock had always been a bully.
And it was this pain that he was feeling, that his best friend had called him a liar, and belittled their friendship like that, this pain that made him do something he would regret in the lonely portions of the evening, when he was tired and not thinking so clearly. It was also this something that would made him smile on warm nights when he was surrounded by friends, thinking that if he hadn't been so terribly immature then he would certainly not be where he was, so happily.
And what was this something? Revenge.
While he'd heard that revenge was a dish best served cold, he hadn't heard anything about it being better when people knew it was you. Alf was certain that he'd have a certain quiet satisfaction in exacting his revenge. He didn't have the heart to start with Damien, though, so instead, he started the vengeance game with the first boy who'd asked him to pull a rabbit out of his hat.
Unaccustomed to the regular prank playing, as Alf had never had these sorts of feelings before, Alf was uncertain how far to take something, before it would be too much. After all, it was just a little teasing. He just needed something to occupy his lonely times now that they were more frequent than they had ever been before.
While watching said boy (Alf didn't even know what his name was) retrieve a can of soft drink from the vending machine, Alf had a great idea, though he was uncertain if he could pull it off. He distracted the boy by having his cap fly off a distance. That was the easy part done. Now, Alf had to shake the can without anyone else noticing. To achieve this, he shook it so fast that he hoped no one would notice, and that the boy wouldn't feel anything, as he was still holding onto it. He went a little too far, though, and the boy dropped the can. He didn't worry, though, and the boy just took it back to his place at the lunch table.
Alf watched with a barely concealed smirk as the boy (almost in slow motion - that's how eager Alf was) pulled up the tab and pierced the can. Immediately, the liquid erupted and covered the boy in a fine lava of soft drink. Alf wanted to pat himself on the back for a job well done as the rest of the gang laughed at their woeful companion. In fact, Alf thought that the best part would be that no one bar him would know that he had anything to do with it. Such power would certainly brought out the crazy prankster side in anyone. At least, that's how Alf dealt with it. He supposed that there were probably people who were more moral than him who still wouldn't dare. But they just didn't know the fun.
Over the next few days, Alf practiced harmless pranks on portions of the student body. A favourite hat found itself on a school roof, and when returned to its owner, was covered in fresh birds droppings. Alf had had to work pretty hard on that one, he had to get the food there so that the birds were there, and make sure that the school's handyman wasn't going to get up there before it had been nicely shat over.
Another time, two girls' hair ties mysteriously continued to fall out, leaving their long locks lasciviously laying about their shoulders. Yeah, that was funnier if you were there.
It was while Alf was following a boy, carefully unzipping his bag since he had one of those convertible bags that, if unzipped would definitely empty all his belongings onto the ground. He was so concentrated on this that he was very surprised when he suddenly fell to the ground as though his feet were stuck together, and he watched as the bag magically zipped itself up, with not help from himself. He tried to stand, and, when he looked at his feet, realised that somehow his shoelaces had been tied together.
"What?" he muttered to himself, then saw the girl from the dentist's office standing in front of him. This was not good.
"Hello," she said, calmly, smiling the evil smile of someone unaware that they were being evil.
Alf casually rotated so that he was was sitting up, shoes still knotted together. He rose carefully (and inwardly congratulated himself for not falling down). "Er, hi," he greeted, looked shamefacedly at his feet... then looking away because that was far too much shame.
"Alfonso Struthers, you've been a very naughty boy," the girl reprimanded. Alf's ears reddened as he discerned a somewhat sexual meaning that the girl had clearly not intended.
"Sorry. Just blowing off a little steam."
"I understand," she nodded. "But that's just one of those impulses that you're just going to have to control."
"I'll have to control it?" Alf queried.
"Of course. You do want to be a functioning member of magical society, do you not?"
Alf gaped somewhat like a fish, but more like one of those cartoons with the wide eyes and the jaw touching the ground. The idea that there could be anyone else with powers like him had never crossed his mind. After all, if there were, then why had he never heard about them? "Are you a functioning member of magical society, then?"
"Not at the moment, no," the girl responded. "But I will be once I'm eighteen. My parents won't trust me until then." She looked at him as though to say 'Parents, who needs them?'
"Ah," Alf nodded. And continued nodding.
"Look I know you can do magic. I had a bit of a suspicion that day you came in to see my uncle, but now I know. And my family's very interested in meeting you."
"In meeting me?" Alf's brow furrowed in confusion.
"Well it'll be difficult to explain in the two seconds we have before the bell rings but I guess I'll have to try. Magic's always run in families, which is why no one besides us knows about the existence of magic."
Alf's eyes widened. "Does that mean my parents-?"
"No," she interrupted. "And that's why my parents are interested in meeting you. We looked for any trace of any ancestor you might have had who once had magic and forsook it. But there wasn't anything."
"Oh."
"I'd like it if you came over after school," she handed him a small slip of pink paper. It had an address and a phone number written on it. "We'll be expecting you, so ring if you aren't coming."
And with that, she turned and walked away. As Alf took a step, he realised that she hadn't given him her name. The second thing he realised was that he should have untied his shoelaces before taking a step. The third thing he realised was that he wasn't falling over and that the girl must have untied them for him. Well. That was awfully generous of her.
[[end scene]]
Story: Middle Part 3
[[Continuity Note: The next day at school]]
Alf went to school the next day feeling much better about himself. He was
sharing his secret with someone, a gigantic load off his back. But for some
reason, as soon as he stepped into the school, whispers began to follow him.
Alf sat friendless and confused for most of the day, until lunch, when he
was approached by a group of teens, Damien hovering at the back of the
group.
"So, we hear you think you're some kind of magician," one of the boys spoke
before lifting his cap from his head and presenting it to Alf, upturned.
"Why don't you prove it and pull a rabbit from my hat?" The group laughed.
Alf was unmoved, and only looked past them toward Damien.
"I never said I was some sort of magician," Alf frowned.
"That's not what our mate Damo says," one of the other boys smirked.
"Then maybe you shouldn't listen to everything 'your mate Damo' tells you,"
Alf stated, standing and walking away.
And that wasn't the last of it. There were kids calling him Harry Potter,
and kids asking him to turn handkerchiefs into bouquets. And then there
were the kids who would drop their pants then blame it on him.
Alf told his parents about it, but they were only pleased that he hadn't
resorted to using his powers in any of the ways he'd previously used them
(not that the knew about him pulling down Rock's pants).
But by the end of the week, Alf was at the end of his rope. He wanted them
to have some sort of retribution. He didn't want to be teased all the time.
It was bad enough that he had no friends.
[[And I'm tired so I'll leave it there]]
Story: Middle Part 2
[[Continuity Note: Picking up where we left off again... ish]]
Over the next week, Damien refused to speak to Alf, despite any attempts Alf
made to apologise and pretend that he had been lying.
One day, while moping around in his bedroom, his parents cornered him.
"Okay, Alf," his mother began, seating herself on the bed beside her son.
"What's up?"
"We know it can't just have been missing that football game that's gotten
you so down," his father added.
Alf looked up at his parents. "I'm not sure if I should tell you. I told
Damien and he thought I was lying."
The adults exchanged a glance.
"I'm sure that anything that's gotten you this upset can't possibly be a
lie," his father reassured him, finally.
Alf drew his knees up and leant his chin on them, still uncertain.
"What's the worst that could happen? Even if we don't believe you?" his
mother asked.
Slowly, Alf nodded his head, then turned it away. He didn't want to face
them when he told his story. They were going to be so ashamed.
"What if I told you that I had magic powers?"
His parents looked at him curiously. "Like, what sort of magic powers?" his
mum asked.
"Mostly, just moving things. But you remember a week ago, when you were
late picking me up to take me to the dentist?" His mother nodded in
response. "I did something pretty awful."
His parents looked at him. Wondering what their son could have done that he
thought was so awful.
"Rock was teasing me. And I don't know what I said, but the next thing I
knew he was on me. Like, hands around my neck, choking me." His parents
looked at him, shocked.
"But we never saw anything..." his mother trailed off.
"That's because of what happened next. I don't know how it happened, but
the next thing I knew, Rock was on the ground, and my neck was perfectly
fine. Then mum pulled up, and I just... left him there."
"Oh," his mother said, covering her mouth with a hand. They could see that
Alf had beaten himself up about it enough, so chose to say nothing.
"He was okay the next day, but I was feeling really guilty. So I told him
I'd do him a favour. HIs favour was having me pull down the principal's
pants."
"So that's why you did that," his mother whispered in sudden comprehension.
Alf nodded.
"And you told us it was nothing," Mr Struthers reprimanded. "Why didn't you
tell us before?"
"Because it was so weird," Alf said. "I wasn't sure if you'd believe me.
And then I told Damien and he thought I was lying just because I didn't want
to go see that footy game."
"If you ask me, that seems mighty unreasonable of him," Alf's father stated.
And the way he said it made Alf laugh for the first time in a week.
"Good to see you're feeling better," his mother smiled.
"So," his dad began. "How about a demo of these powers?"
"A demo?"
"I just want to see what you can do."
Alf looked at his parents warily. "When I tried to show Damien it didn't
work. I don't really know how to control it."
His dad looked a little disappointed.
"I guess it can't hurt to try."
Alf concentrated on a nearby lamp, deciding to not attempt to do something
destructive for once. He reached out the invisible fingers in his mind and
switched it off. Then he managed to lift it up.
His parents looked astounded. "I didn't quite expect it to be like that,"
Mr Struthers said.
"Not that we thought you were lying," his mother said, in the tone of voice
that made you disbelieve what she was saying.
"Just, as a precaution," Alf's dad added. "I think it would probably be
best if you didn't use that power. I know there are probably a lot of good
things you could do with it, but you don't know how to use it, and I don't
want you getting into trouble of any kind."
"Promise us you won't use them, Alfie," his mother implored.
Alf nodded. "I promise."
[[End scene, so I figured I'd post it.]]
Story: Middle Part 1
[[Continuity Note: Despite the fact that this is the beginning of the
middle, we still pick up exactly where we left off. Hooray for us.]]
"I'm sorry to have to do this to you," Mr Struthers said. "But I can't let
you go to that football game with Damien anymore."
"But dad!" Alf quickly turned to look at his father. "What? But I didn't
even get the chance to do it!"
"Well this will teach you to think twice before doing something so stupid."
Alf decided that it was probably best not to tell his parents that he spent
a very long time deciding to do it.
-=-=-=-=-=-
It was not a happy Alf that met up with Damien the next day.
Damien wanted to know all about what had happened after he'd been caught.
"I'm not allowed to go to the footy anymore," Alf told his friend solemnly.
"What? But you didn't even do anything."
"I know," Alf said. "But apparently the fact that I was going to was good
enough."
"That really sucks, man," Damien frowned. "Now who am I going to get to go
with me? Now you owe me one."
"You wanna know something really strange?" Alf asked his friend.
"What?"
"Did you hear about Rock's pants falling down yesterday?"
"Yeah. But how did you?"
"I was going to the principal's office when it happened. The thing is,
though, Damien. I was the one who did it?"
"You?" Damien looked at his friend sceptically. "But everyone said it just
happened."
"It's, really odd," Alf said, looking at his friend. He was surprised to
see that Damien was looking at him with malice. "What?"
"If you didn't want to go to the game you could have just told me. You
didn't have to pretend that you wanted to go, then get grounded."
"What?" Alf was incredulous. "I do want to go to the game."
"Then why are you making this crap up? So Rock's pants fell down. Why are
you saying that you did it?"
"Because I did!" Alf yelled, calling attention to him from all over the
playground. "I have these magical powers. I'll prove it to you."
Alf stared at Damien, willing his pants to fall, too. But nothing happened.
"Yeah, right," Damien frowned. "See you around, loser," he called, before
walking away. "Have fun with your new best friend Rock."
[[mmm... lunch time.]]
