Prompt and Circumstance

Happy (?) Birthday

'birthday' (May 27-29, 2016)

They're NOT going anywhere without me. Not 'til morning, at least. There's some would give serious consideration to killing me if they knew. Not going to think about that. It's up to me alone to keep them safe now I know the peril awaiting them any moment I relax my vigil.

My head moves. Small, almost imperceptible nods, as unwelcome images flood my mind; a kaleidoscope of my humiliation, and frustration, and a deep, unforgiving anger flaring again as I relive the moments.
They tried everything to take them away - trickery, bribery, ridicule - every mental ruse in the book, thankfully stopping short of physical violence. They know better than to cross that line. My protectors and the punishment they can mete out have stopped them... so far.

Earlier, while the celebrations were peaking, we all enjoyed ourselves with gusto, with no premonition of the danger about to engulf me and mine. Filled with happiness and appreciation of each other, it was a day when you felt nothing could go wrong.

Except... I didn't suspect thugs hid beneath the smiling faces of two particularly smooth operators. In other circumstances I may have admired their misleading cheer, their seeming approval and good wishes. But not this time. Not once they made their move, having ensured there were no witnesses.

They hijacked us, and their superior strength thwarted and finally overpowered all resistance. Then came the humiliation when we were helpless - the taunting, the attempts to extract information and force unrealistic promises about my future at the mercy of their hands.

"Or else, THESE..." and they pointed at my new best friends as they said in chilling tones, "will suffer like you cannot begin to imagine."

Ohh but I can. I CAN imagine... only too well. This is not the first time they've held me to ransom, and I don't expect it to be the last. Until now, my guardians have kept me from harm at the hands of these two, but a hasty look around convinces me we are on our own this time.

I strain, I squirm anxiously. Tears of frustration and anger spring to my eyes, and strangely, our captors show the first sign of concern, and hastily remove the rag tied around my mouth.

"We don't want her to choke, do we?" says one.

And the other agrees, and suddenly there's fear in his eyes."Oh no... no! We definitely don't want to hurt her."

What? They don't want to hurt me? They care?

Only a bit, it turns out. They still leave me stranded in the big old white wicker baby's pram, baby cap tied ridiculously atop my head, lacy white ribbon under my chin - in the middle of a large expanse of muddy water.

And why don't I just lever myself out of this predicament on this, my 9th birthday? My legs dangling clumsily out of each side of the pram are certainly long enough. But it's what's on the end of them that's making escape impossible.The best of my presents - dazzlingly white tennis shoes. The ones I've longed for - not just little short ones, but with serious lacing, criss-crossing a huge number of eyelets. The ones that are going to make me a Wimbledon champion within the decade.

Slosh through muddy water with them? How come big brothers can think up the most diabolical plans? And why? What have I ever done to them?

Oh well...mmm... there was that time... uhr yesterday? But I'm only a kid—

"What do you two think you're doing to our birthday girl?" I hear Mum's angry voice somewhere behind me, and then Dad's big hands are lifting me clear. I won't be taking these darlings off again in a hurry, now I know the dangers they face without me. But I won't mention my plan to Mum and Dad. They just want me to have a happy birthday.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I swallow hard as I snuggle deeper beneath the bed-covers, desperately pretending my new beauties aren't deadly uncomfortable beneath the covers. Hmm... concentrate on the next dream, instead. A new tennis racquet... that wooden ultra-ultra-lightweight one with the kid leather handle. Christmas is only nine months away...