Rabbit Hole Carnival: Humble Beginnings

I wanna start this post by thanking everyone. The blog feels like it kicked off a bit lately looking at the number, and a lot of my discord friends have been reading more than I seem to have thought. Which is encouraging since I wanna make writing into a career one day. It’s not at all required, and I'll be carrying with this pet project the same as normal, but if you wanna support a little and give a bit there is now a Ko-Fi on top right. If you can’t give right now I totally understand, and thank you for the support either way. Onward to our latest story!

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Nick awoke to a very loud pounding on his door. “What? At this hour?” Nick got up, and rubbed his eyes before opening the door as he spoke. “I’m afraid we’re— Renee?”

Nick’s niece stood before him sniffling. “Hi, uncle Nick… I… I”

“Inside.” Nick replied. “You can sleep here tonight.”

Renee simply walked inside, and Nick locked the door more securely than he did most nights. Walking upstairs to show Renee her bedroom, but she was fast asleep on a couch. He stared for a few seconds at the bruise on her cheek before going back to bed himself
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“Really officer, it’s quite alright” Nicolas said. “I’m just glad someone was watching out for her last night.”

“I’m really sorry about the trouble.” Renee said. “I wasn’t thinking straight.” 

“Miss Renee, was it?” The officer tipped his hat. “I think you were thinking straighter than most people ever would.”

“Sir?” Renee spoke, just as the officer was about to walk out the door. He turn around right after she spoke. “Is it alright if I just stay here?”

 Nick put a hand on her shoulder “Her 18th birthday is next week. Surely that—”

The officer held his hand in the air. “I’m not legally required to bring her back until her parents request it. I was here to check up the report of a concerned citizen, nothing more.

Renee smiled, and stood a little taller. For one of the few times in its life the Rabbit Hole Carnival got a bit popular. Everyone simply had to see the new girl working their part time. On her time off Renee studied the drink menu intensely.

Nick walked downstairs one night to Renee with a ton of ingredients spread out on the bar table. “Don’t you have a test tomorrow?”

Renee held up a paper. “I had it today, and aced it.” She wiped the hair out of her face. “I wanna graduate, and be done with it anyways.”

“Oh come now a girl like you must have a ton of friends you like…” The look on Renee’s face told Nick to stop talking. “You’re in your last year after this summer?”

“Yeah?” Renee tilted head. “Why?”

“Are you looking forward to it at all?” Nick asked. “I get school isn’t the best, but is there anything at all you’re looking forward to about it.”

“School is just home, but the people who bully me aren’t dad.” Renee replied. “And don’t just get to randomly hit me.”

“Finish up this year, and give 5 of those tickets I keep giving you and I’ll figure out homeschooling you. Here, where your actual home is.”

Renee’s eyes turn to Nick and widen. Without even looking she opened a draw and counted out 5 tickets before handing them over.

Nick chuckled. “Alright then.”

Renee turned in less tickets for the next couple years. Nicolas was starting to wonder if he had given out too few. Right up until a stack of them flew right into his face as he was bringing home a cake. “That better be cherry flavored frosting.”

“The birthday girl’s favorite.” Nick replied as set the box down and looked at the stack. “How many is this?”

“20” Renee replied. “And I wanna use them to work here.”

“How long did it take to save all these up?” Nick asked.

“8 months, and I have another 10, because I wanna add a drink to the menu too.” Renee replied. “Once I get to taste it myself anyways.”

“And does this drink of yours have a name?” Nick said

“Well it’s apple cider with a bit of a punch.” Renee said. “So I was thinking I’d call it Shocking Apple.”

Renee spent her next year working away on the drink. Listening to every compliment and most of the complaints. Until she was old enough to drink it herself. After trying a few different combinations she still wasn’t happy “Daddy, what’s wrong with it?”

Nick took a swig, cough, and held a hand up. “Try your original idea, and taste it yourself.”

Renee mixed up her original recipe, and took a swig before smiling. “Perfect.”