The Bunny Institute

The Offer

Ok, maybe it was a joke. Rose thought, her elbow slipping down the table, towards the two women laughing like hyenas at the other end. Not to say that the second joke hadn't been scary, heck, she would have screamed if it hadn't been for the knife that had been at her throat. Or, as it later turned out, the rubber knife that had been at her throat. She glanced at it in disgust, then chucked it over her shoulder. It hit something with a loud clattering, and Rose winced, that was probably going to be something delicate. And incredibly expensive. Ouch.

Rose turned her eyes to Mrs Tuppence and her mother, who were sitting opposite her. They weren't laughing like hyenas anymore, it was closer to snorting occasionally, like little piglets. "Are you done yet?" Rose asked, her mouth down turned at being the object of the joke. It was funny when other people were the object of the joke, but not when she was. When she was the object of the joke it was annoying. "not quite..." Mrs Tuppence held up her hand, gave a last giggle, then stopped laughing. "Well, you already know about my offer, dear, so I have nothing more to say." She smiled at Rose sweetly, so sweetly that it was sickly.

Rose turned to her mother, "Mum..." she began, "You are going." Rose's mother said simply, "That is my final word on the matter." Then she returned to her tea. "Your bags are all packed and upstairs on your bed." She added, staring deep into the brown liquid. "Oh, thanks for the help mum. You were really on my side and everything..." Rose grumbled as she stomped up the stairs. The further she stomped, the whiter her face became, as the truth came crashing down upon her head. By the time she reached her room she was a shivering mess, she was going to leave her home! All her friends! And her secret school crush!

Rose charged downstairs. "I want a week!" She hollered defiantly into the room, slowing her pace and straightening her shoulders to seem more grown-up. As it turned out there wasn't a point, when she walked in the two adults were playing twister, in the most uncomfertable positions. "Penelope, can you reach the spinner?!" Cried out Rose's mum, sounding strained. Mrs T looked up. "Oh, sure dear, can you pass me the spinner please?" Rose picked up the little piece of cardboard, and waggled it tantalisingly above their heads. "Promise I get to stay one more week..." Rose stated, "And you get the spinner!" She finished with a flourish. "Spinneeeeer" Mrs T floundered, stuck in place by her determination to win. "OK.." She pouted, and Rose triumphantly raised the disk above her head and placed it solemly in front of Mrs T. "Games on!" She laughed as she swaggered out of the room. She had another week!