Within a sea of glimmering dresses, flashes and gazes, a shadow was passing by them all without letting them know of its presence. From under the table of Mr. Munchkin, who only understood the rhythm of those sweets, never noticed the shadow underneath to the large columns, where discussions of disastrous fashions and tales of treachery could be heard.
As the shadow neared to its target, a jolly fake laughter rang down the hallway. An itch to discover its source ran through and thus, the target was kept on hold. Hiding in the darkness of the marble statue, a scene of socialites mingling together could be seen.
"Oh, Joanne. I must say that you look quite gorgeous in this dress of yours."
"Ah, is that so?"
"Yes, Marie is right. This dress does justice to your inner radiating beauty. You look like an angel in disguise."
'Yep. An angel in disguise of a Botox filled landmine of obnoxiousness.', thought the shadow.
"Well, I wouldn't call myself an angel sent by heavens. But this dress does feel like a taste of heaven to me."
'No one called you an angel sent by heavens. Are your ears not working anymore?', thought the shadow.
"You must not keep all of the heaven to yourself now. Do tell us the name of the boutique at least."
"Yes, yes. Do tell, do tell."
'Mrs. Gold don't nudge that lady so much. You are going to put a dent in her.', thought the shadow.
"If you ladies insist so much, I will tell you after asking my husband as he is the one, who personally went out to order it from Miele's."
"Oh my, that's the reason why you are glowing like an angel in that dress. Your husband's love and dedication for you shines through it."
'Yeah, it certainly isn't the fact that she is standing directly under the light with a diamond laced shimmery silver dress on.'
"To personally go and buy a dress that brings out our inner beauty. Oh my! Such a love and devotion unparalleled to any other."
'Good thinking, lady. Better to stick with the inner beauty compliment.'
"Oh, you make me blush."
'Mrs. Jenkins, your eyes look like that of a cat on catnip.', thought the shadow while jotting down the details of their conversation in a dark brown leather-bound journal.
The ladies kept on flattering Mrs. Jenkins and she in return laughed, well tried to do as her Botox filled cheeks caused some hindrance to it. But the other ladies acted as if they didn't see how her face looked even more botched and they acted as if they didn't see Mr. Jenkins casually running behind the pillar with a blonde and brunette in tow.
With the heated confrontation of the 'loving and dedicated' husband and his 'not-so-materialistic and selfless' wife coming to a close, the shadow went back to its target once again.
The target was laying down on the white sheets on a silver platter. As a grumble could be heard, the sweet aroma called out once more with urgency. Disregarding the threat of being seen in the light, the shadow ran down towards its target. Just as the target was within reach, a wall of silver cloth came in between them.
As the shadow looked up to see the wall obstructing the way, a fair face with a stern look came into view. With a sharp intake of breath, the shadow tried to run away but a slim pale hand pulled it into a corner.
"Where were you?"
"…"
"Arvin Alexandra Dwight, look up and answer my question."
"…"
"Ha…I'll make you a blueberry cheesecake when we go back to the mansion."
"Oh, I was just roaming down the halls, Vivi.", said the shadow, ahem, Arvin with a toothy smile.
"You little chipmunk.", twisting Arvin's right ear, "Didn't I tell you to stay with the other children?! I searched the Crystal Hall twice and the Hydra garden thrice. Just a minute more and I'd have gone to file a missing person's report to the police.", whisper yelled Amelia in stern tone while her eyes held a hint of worry.
"Ow. Ow. Okay… I'm sorry, Vivi. But it was just so boring.", whined Arvin.
"Did you even try to interact with other kids?"
"I did…"
"For how long?"
"Twenty…"
"Minutes?"
"Heh…Yeah."
"They said something mean, didn't they?"
"It's, it's okay, Vivi. They are just kids."
Holding onto his shoulders, Amelia looked at him and said in a low voice, "You are also a kid, Al."
Scrunching up his little nose, he shook his head and said with a pout, "I won't always be a kid. I'll be nine on next month."
"Yeah, yeah. But you'll always be my baby bro. So, just, just try to stay in a safe place, where I can easily find you. Don't hide in the shadows. Stay in the light.", said Amelia with a tender voice while ruffling Arvin's messy black hair.
With a soft smile, Arvin's small hands held onto hers. "Okay, I promise. Always in the light and never hidden in the shadows. Waiting for your arrival."
"Okay then. Just stay near the buffet table for now. I'll be back in a few minutes."
Pulling on her hands, he said, "Vivi, remember your promise as well."
"Hehe…Okay, kiddo. I won't forget. 'A big slice of blueberry cheesecake along with …"
________________________________________________________________________
"…a glass of apple cider. Isn't that right, Arvin?"
"Yeah, Mimi. That'll be all."
Clapping her hands once, Mimi looked at her group of friends and said, "Okay then since our orders have been placed, let's move onto the agenda of today's meeting."
"To get drunk until we don't remember our names?", asked Jeremy while trying to catch the twin glasses of water that seemed to be smirking at him.
"You little…" *cough* "Are you drunk right now?", inquired Mimi while trying not to curse in this family restaurant.
"Of course not!", scoffed Jeremy. Seeing the smirking glasses, he lunged at them and fell down on the floor.
While he stumbled to get on his seat with Arvin helping him and also falling down along with him, she sighed and turned her sights towards her 'sober and not falling with a drunk' friends.
Feeling the gaze of their unofficial leader, Miele kept on twirling the napkin on her index finger and said in a low voice, "Having a cook off in the middle of the street?"
Looking at her baby's cute face made her feel happy but those words brought terror far exceeding her happiness. With a painful smile etched over her face, she said gently, "Miele, honey, don't try to do so. We will be jailed for arson. Let's try to avoid that at all costs this time around."
"Running buck naked in tomorrow's marathon?"
Hearing another suggestion that isn't helpful at all, Mimi gazed at another of her weirdos, who didn't even seem to be fazed by the words coming out of his mouth. Gritting her teeth, she said in a stern manner, "No, Sparsha. No one is running buck naked anywhere under my watch. So, throw that thought out. All of you."
As Arvin finally lifted Jeremy off the floor, the glass chasing mister started to profusely shake his head in disapproval.
"Hmph! Grizzly is no fun."
"No, I'm responsible and sane."
"Different words, same meaning.", shrugged Jeremy and knocked Arvin out on the floor with his exaggerated shoulder shrug.
Silence reigned upon the already sparse customers of the restaurant.
Miele and Sparsha slowly took out their phones and started to record.
Jeremy looked at his fallen friend with a blank confused look.
Cracking her knuckles, Mimi slowly approached the soon-to-be dead meat friend of hers.
And chaos ensued.