From: Stacy Barrington <palomino1975@y...>
Date: Thu Feb 20, 2003 7:45 pm
Subject: Befuddled (Chapter Three)




As Sarah awoke the next morning, reality finally
sank in.

"Oh my God," Sarah said to herself, "I had tea and
ginger snaps with Satan." She got up and looked in
the mirror on her dresser. She was not dreaming.

Maybe it wasn't so bad. The devil was really
polite, though Sarah found it odd he was a goblin.
Goblins were traditionally ugly, misshapen. 'Mr.
Zakar' was far from repulsive, but he did have wild
hair and a left eye with an over-sized pupil.

Goblins were supposed to be tricksters too, so
perhaps it made sense if the devil happened to be one.

"Seven wishes," Sarah uttered softly as she
regarded herself in the mirror. She tugged on her
dark blue nightgown. "Why would I want to sell my
soul for seven wishes?"

The silence was broken by Sarah's stepmother
screaming outside her door,
"Sarah! Get out here now or I'll drag you downstairs
like the little bitch you are!"

Sarah cringed. "That's why. I'll call Jareth after
school."


--


Sarah had on a red silk shirt, black jeans, and her
favorite tan shoes. She liked to be at least a little
stylish when going to school.

The fried eggs and bacon on her plate might as well
have been twigs and dirt. She had no appetite for
breakfast. Despite the fact Karen was a sour old bat,
Sarah actually liked her cooking, so that wasn't the
problem. She was feeling eager to speak to Jareth
again.

Boy, the devil was so handsome. How could someone
so dashing and polite be evil? He claimed he wasn't
really evil; well, he indicated it. Either way, Sarah
wanted to get to know more about him.

"Drink your coffee before it gets cold, Robert,"
Karen spat, sitting next to her husband at the kitchen
table. She had on a fireball fuchsia bathrobe that
clashed with her red hair. Robert was wearing a staid
dark brown suit by contrast.

"Sorry, dear," Robert said meekly, then obediently
sipped from his cup.

Sarah rolled her eyes. What did her father ever see
in such a pretentious nag?

"Oops, better get to work," Robert said, glancing
at his wristwatch. "Bye." He hurried out without
even acknowledging Sarah.

Toby was still upstairs in the nursery asleep. One
would think the peace and quiet would allow Sarah to
enjoy breakfast, but just the mere presence of her
stepmother made her ill.

"Your food's not there for decoration," Karen said
sardonically. "Eat, Sarah."

Sarah resented being forced to humble herself like
her father to please Karen. Deciding not to rebel,
she started to shovel the food into her mouth with her
fork.

After she gorged herself, Sarah gulped down her
orange juice and got up from the table.

"Try not to screw up at school," Karen hissed at
Sarah as she walked out of the kitchen.

Sarah grumbled and set her teeth, then left the
house to catch her bus.


--


Despite her shy nature and the fact she didn't date,
nobody really bothered Sarah at school. Then again,
nobody really befriended her, either.
Sarah's parents made a few comments about her
anti-social tendencies, but they didn't actually care.

One reason Sarah chose not to date was that the boys
at school were far from desirable. Those who weren't
pea-brained jocks were stoners or total geeks. If
Sarah ever lost her virginity, she wanted something to
actually be proud of.

Sarah decided not to wait until she got home to call
Jareth. During lunch, she went outside to a payphone
and called the number on the business card.

It rang a few times before Jareth answered, "Robin
Zakar here. Going my way?"

Sarah gulped nervously. "Hello? Jareth?"

"Sarah!" Jareth exclaimed. "How are you, love?"

"Not so good," Sarah admitted.

"Why?" Jareth asked, concerned.

"Well, I was thinking about your offer."

"I see. All right, I'll meet with you once you get
home from school."

"Fine. See you then." Sarah hung up the phone,
then realized something. How did Jareth know she was
at school?
She shrugged it off. It was Friday at lunchtime,
where else would she be?

Sarah's heart beat strongly, anticipating seeing
Jareth standing outside her house. Her parents would
be there, though. How would she speak to Jareth
without being noticed?