The (Short) Story of the Evil Umbrellas [Completed]

The Toothpick Meisters

A toothpick. A big, beautiful, glorious toothpick. Bargain brand, end covered in not-quite-baked-yet-batter, it was undeniably the real deal. Shocked at the carelessness of the Things, Reckie 3 actually pinched herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming. She turned to 11 next to her.

"Did you see it? It's a toothpick!"

Wistful 11 smiled at her absently, clearly caught up in the reminisces of youth that the word "toothpick" were wont to give her. Her name did not come for no reason. Even if she had next to none of the invisibility-granting magic of the rest of the Toothpick Meisters, she was well known for the almost preternatural grasp she had on her memories.

She had never stopped telling Reckie about their people: the cupboard-dwelling Toothpick Meisters, who hunted for whatever they could to eat and kept themselves invisible from the humans by using their magic. She also didn't hesitate from telling Reckie how much better things used to be, when the higher numbers gave food to everyone - and no one ever had to worry about starving.

Reckie waited patiently as Auntie Wist pulled herself out of whatever memory she was stuck in, and realised that there had been more words in Reck's sentence than "toothpick".

"Why, of course I saw it sweetie. But you're a big girl now, and you should know that there's a reason why we can't take those toothpicks. If you want to be number 1 some day, you're going to need to take some responsibility instead of grabbing everything you see."

"But I don't just grab everything I see Auntie!" Reckie couldn't help firing back at her aunt, it was an instinct she always blamed on the Little Monster living in her stomach. It was like everytime she started speaking, she couldn't stop until she'd finished whatever it was she'd set out to say. "And what makes you think that I want to be number 1 some day? Number ones always seem so unhappy, and you seem much happier as a number 11!"

"Now, see here Reckless! Being considered as number 1 is a great honour, and you should do everything in your power to keep it. Keeping us invisible from the humans is an important duty." Reckie looked up, confused. Her Auntie almost never shouted. " As a number 1, you may not be in action much, but you will always be provided for. Something number 11s like myself don't get the privilege of counting on!"

Reckie appropriately hung her head before apologizing, "Sorry Auntie. I just can't imagine myself having to sit behind a desk all day, only getting out to strengthen a single spell."

"Well, then I suggest you either find a way or a compromise Reckie. And don't think I don't know that you're trying to make me so angry or flustered that I shan't talk to you all day so that you can go and steal that toothpick either. You best be focusing on your future Reckie, there's only a year left 'fore you're going to start getting offers."

"I understand Auntie."

But Auntie just shook her head. "You don't child, but someday you will."

***

"What if you went outside of the house?" Reckie asked desperately, pulling at her Auntie's dress as if she was still just a little one. Her Auntie's declaration that she was too old to work, and she had never had enough to save for retirement shocked her.

She knew that her own family, or any other family in their stacks for that matter, didn't have enough to feed an extra Meister. And if no one could provide for her, and she could no longer work... 

"This house is all I've ever known." Auntie pulled her scrap-of-fabric closer around herself, smiling at the ground right next to where Reckie stood. It was a few moments before either of them spoke again. "What if the humans see me Reckie?"

"No humans would see you if you were being smart." Reckie continued to protest. "I'll go with you!"

Her auntie sighed, and looked at Reckie like that would be all that she wished for in the world, but it was not to be. Which was how she had looked at almost everything for as long as Reckie could remember, but even more than normal in that moment. "Your parents would never allow that, Reckie."