Madison and The Monsters

1. Dinner

"They are real though, they really are!" Madison said. Most people she told the truth to, she expected wouldn't believe her. She had been certain that her mum would though. Her mum, the most open minded person she knew. When her dad had gotten mad at Andrew for wearing nail polish her mum persuaded him to leave Andrew be. So Madison assumed her mum would be open to the thought of creatures she couldn't see.

Yet her expectations were proven to be incorrect. Her mum didn't believe her. This gave Madison an incredible shock, how could her mum not believe her? This was the woman who told her stories that were even more unlikely. The experience certainly caused frustration too, the frustration you feel when you know something, but no one believes you.

"Playing pretend is fun, but you must know when to stop! You broke the mirror in the school bathroom, pushing Carson off the swing, pulling Amelia's hair, and running into oncoming traffic. You did all this because of monsters? For goodness sake Madison, you're twelve years old!" Claire Fisher said.

"If I hadn't broken the mirror Prince Noir would have gotten through, he would have hurt Carson and Amelia if I didn't get them out of the way and he chased me onto the road!" Madison said.

"They are figments of your imagination," her mum said as though it was common sense.

"No!" Madison said in a voice that was practically a whine.

"Ugh, you know your teacher suggested taking you to a psychiatrist, I'm seriously considering that as an option," Claire said.

"Taking me to a what?" Madison asked.

"They help with brain problems," her mum said as she pushed her shoulder length strands of blond hair away from her pale blue eyes.

"I don't have problems!" Madison said, raising her voice a little.

"Are the monsters real?" Her mum asked.

"Yes," Madison said as she pushed her peas around.

"I'm calling him after dinner," Claire said.

"I thought you were just considering it?" Madison said looking shocked.

"I have decided," her mum said simply.

"Mum!" Madison said, almost yelling.

"Madison." Her mum said giving her the look that told her to stop, "and eat your peas."

"But," Madison said, she knew there was no arguing so she stopped. The dinner table was quiet for the longest time. Each silently ate the meal in front of them. The two would let their pale blue and almost identical eyes meet on occasion. Both were shocked by a knock on the door towards the end of the meal. Claire Fisher got up to see who it could possibly be as neither of them was particularly social.

Before she even opened the door she knew it was her son by his whistling. She opened it quickly to see her fifteen year old son standing there. He was supposed to be at his friend's home yet he was standing on the porch soaked by the rain.

"Andrew why are you here?" She asked.

"Nice to see you as well," he said with a sarcastic tone.

"Sorry, why aren't you at Nathan's house?" She asked again with a more, specific nature.

"He just wanted me over for a bit, so his parents would think I was there and wouldn't go upstairs. All because he wanted to have his girlfriend over secretly," Andrew said.

"Oh, have you eaten?" She asked.

"No," he said.

"Let me get you a plate, go sit at the table," she said as she went to the kitchen.

He sat down across from his younger sister. They certainly did look related. They both had dark brown hair of the same shade, delicate features and a lanky body, though Andrew had green eyes not blue. Supposedly his dad had looked almost the same as a teen.

"What's up Maddi?" He asked as he slid into his chair.

"Mum is calling a psychiatrist after dinner because I'm 'crazy'," she said.

"Because of Prince Noir and Grundwasser I assume," he asked.

"Yep," she said and nodded.

"It could be a good idea," he whispered.

"I thought you believed me!" She said glaring at him.

"I'm on the fence at the moment," he reminded her.

"On Monday walk me home and maybe Grundwasser will introduce himself," she said.

"Alright, I will," he said.

"Don't try to change mum's mind though, I don't think it would end with a positive result," she said in a very serious nature.

"Fine, but if you change your mind you have to tell me," he said.

She nodded and began to push her peas around. Her older brother unlike many older brothers was very close with her. He reached across the table taking what was left of the peas, and stuffed them in his mouth before their mum came back. She knew though that this action meant she was in debt, but she didn't particularly care. When their mum came back she obliviously told her daughter to rinse her to plate and practice guitar.

After the rest of the family finished dinner her mum grabbed the phone and phone book. Andrew and Madison went up to the attic ready to listen in on the conversation.

As soon as the phone said in use he picked it up and put his finger over his mouth to signal silence.