This post is in reply to this week's Indie Ink Writing Challenge - Week 3
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She woke up all groggy. It felt like a weekend morning. Sort of like the time when she wanted to pull the sheets on her and go back to sleep. Only that she saw what she assumed was a Mickey Mouse standing right in front of her. Wait is that Minnie? Or Mickey Mouse? She rubbed her eyes a little unwillingly. She always thought rubbing her eyes made her sleep escape instantly. But she wanted to make sure that WASN'T Mickey Mouse. Because of a freak childhood incident, Mickey Mouse always gave her the creeps.
She rubbed her eyes twice. Sleep had long eluded her now. Instead shock had taken over. Wait. "Is this a joke?", she thought aloud. "What the....", she heard her abusive word fade away as shock took over again.
"You are a freaking mouseeeee", she heard herself shriek.
It was then that she realized. Except that it wasn't her bed that she was sleeping on. This wasn't her bedroom. Wait, what are these loose white clothes I am wearing and what's this arm band?
"You are in the World's most friendly and fun hospital!", said Mickey.
"What the...", she said. This must be her nightmare. She always knew that childhood incident was going to haunt her back. But she hadn't expected it now. Not after last night.
Slowly the reality dawned. Last night. Candle light dinner. The daisies. Romantic walk on the pavement. That important phone call. Her rushed exit after that. And then the car heading right at her at a breakneck speed. Blackout.
"Where...where am I? And why isn't anyone I know here? Why are you here? I hate you. Go away!", she yelled at Mickey.
"Everyone loves magic. That's why I am here!", said Mickey.
"You and your stupid bow. You are nothing but a stupid little mouse", she said. No sooner than 5 secs had passed after she uttered those words when she felt taken aback at her own despise for Mickey. Where did all that hatred come from? If only THAT Mickey Mouse had behaved during her Orlando trip as a kid...She tried to mask her complex feelings as Mickey kept smiling and waving a wand...
"Great, so you think you are a magician? Well genius, then tell me why I am here listening to you when my family and friends should be here!", she yelled.
She felt a sharp tab at her neck suddenly but she kept yelling at Mickey.
"Wait you aren't supposed to speak, are you? I don't remember you speaking in real life. Err..I mean movies..."
"Hot Dogs! Hot Dogs!", said Mickey
"Ehh, what?", she said.
"Those were my first spoken words on TV!", Mickey laughed. "I met Alex today. Do you remember Alex?"
"Alex who? I don't know any Alex", she said looking in disgust. Her head was throbbing now.
"Tch tch. You must be in pain. Wait, have some hot tea", said Mickey as he waved his wand and there was hot piping tea cup on the table beside.
"Wowwww. Wait. You must have tricked me. Where did you get that tea from?", she said
"From the magicland! Alex wanted me to give this to you."
Alex...Alex the kid she taught at school. Whose parents were separated. And he was put up at a foster home since none of then wanted his custody. That poor kid.
"He's a bright kid you know", she said now slurping some tea. The tea seemed to work and her head slowly seemed to settle. "Hey but how do you know Alex?", she asked.
"You like Alex among all the kids in your class. Why?", asked Mickey instead of answering her.
"Umm..I don't know. I guess I like him because he's bright despite all the hard luck he has. I guess he's the only kid who never whines. Although he's the one who has all the reasons to whine..."
"Yes and no. Because you had a friend like Alex when you were a kid yourself."
"Heyyyyy...why are we talking about this? And wait, I am looking for my family and..."
"You hate me because I hurt Austin. Austin was just like Alex. You both always played together in the tree house, at nights, when he would run away from home and guys would play backgammon...all night.."
"...till the sun rise", she choked. Suddenly her eyes welled up.
"He loved Mickey Mouse. He loved you. So much. And you hurt him! How could you do that to him? How could you?"
Mickey waved his wand and she suddenly saw her childhood play in front of her, in a crystal ball. That day at Orlando, when they had finally arrived at Disneyland. Austin was so fascinated and happy and clapping his hands at every sight of Mickey. Until the unexpected happened. She had gone away to buy some ice cream when Austin came running to her. His blood had drained from the face. His palms sweaty. "Run Kristy run!", he shouted..
She took his word and ran. And they never came back. Again. Never.
It took days before Austin confided to her about what had happened. All he said was he saw Mickey Mouse eat a young kid! "Mickey had a kid for his lunch Kristy. He eats humans!"
But now she saw what had really happened in that crystal ball. The man with the Mickey Mouse suit was hungry standing and entertaining the kids the whole day. Disneyland apparently had some kind of "Make the biggest gingerbread man contest" that day. And guess who ate the foot-sized head of the gingerbread. Mickey Mouse. Or rather the man under the suit.
She burst into laughter, holding her tummy and burying her head into the sheets. "Wait till I tell this to Austin", she said as she lifted her head back.
Only that Mickey was gone. And the hospital attendant was looking down at her, puzzled.
"You need some rest now. Also your family will be here in some time. They were here all night, last night. Here are some flowers a gentleman left for you..", he said as he pulled the window blinds and arranged the daisies by the window sill.
"Wait, Austin would never believe this, would he?", she thought. She switched on the TV and watched Mickey on the Disney Channel, smiling to herself.
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My challenge came from
transplantedx3 this week. I was challenged to "You were in a car accident. You (or your character) wake up in the hospital to find a man dressed as Mickey Mouse standing next to your bed."
Honestly, I was stumped by this topic. I NEVER watched a single Mickey Mouse cartoon in my life. And obviously I couldn't pass off being a Mickey Mouse afficianado. So I chose to start the story with a negative tone to it..
I challenged
Karla V with "You can now hear people's thoughts aloud. What are you going to do?;)"
Waiting for her post! Excited to check her story out:)
