Rabbit Hole Carnival: Traces

“I like your new mat too, Inky.” Renee replied, in her pajamas. Fuzzy, little blue with waves, fish, and other sea related designs on them. Yawning as she heard a knock on the door. “I’m decent.”

“In the new PJs too I see.” Nick replied as soon as he opened the door.

“Mhmm.” Renee said. “Need help with a last minute customer or something?”

“That, and they made me think maybe you need some.” Nick said.

“What do ya mean?” Renee tilted her head.

“Well they came to celebrate with their friends.” Nick said. “I need two Shocking Apple, and she needs a talk.”

“Okay, but I’m taking Inky down.” Renee replied.

“Happy shared birthday!” four of the girls said as Renee walked downstairs.

“Are those your presents?” One of the girls asked.

“The PJs are.” Renee replied. “Inky is… well, he is a present, but from a long time ago. Back when I was really little. A friend got him a mat for my nightstand. It’s got an anchor border, and a nice picture of a rocky shoreline.”

“Aww.” The quiet girl replied. “That’s adorable. Got some pretty good friends.”

“Seems like another thing we share.” Renee said. “Who ordered the Shocking Apples?”

“Samantha and The Birthday Girl, Emma.” Mel replied. “I’m Melody, That’s Sasha, and that’s Ann.”

“Renee, and I assume Daddy already introduced himself.” Renee said.

“Daddy?” Emma asked. “Aren’t you his niece?”

“Is it me or is that fact coming up a lot more this year?” Renee asked.

“It’s definitely not just you.” Nick replied. “But help me make the drinks first.”

“So yes, technically I'm his niece.” Renee said as serve the two drinks. “But Mike spent most of life being an abusive trash heap that mom is too far gone to stop supporting so I ended hiding out here just before I turned 18, and I’ve been here ever since.”

“See?” Ann asked. “She’s clearly never felt bad about leaving a bad environment behind.”

“One of those nights, huh?” Renee asked, staring straight at Emma. “If you need to down it with another drink just let me know.”

“I always feel so stupid.” Emma replied. “I know I don’t have anything to feel bad about, but it still gets to me.”

“Yeah me too sometimes.” Renee said. “I keep feeling like I or Adam, my brother, must have done something, or I could’ve done something. Even if I can never know what.”

“Why?” Melody replied. “He must have been awful if you ran to a bar. No offense.”

“None taken.” Nick said. “I was just as surprised she showed up at my door in the middle of the night as anyone. Bedrooms being upstairs or otherwise.”

“It just… get to you sometimes more with mom for me to be perfectly honest.” Renee replied. “She pretty much either watched or sometimes engaged in pushing me way too hard.”

“Anything we can do to help?” Sasha asked.

“Well, Renee is always insistent that just being around and ‘putting up with her helps.” Nick replied.

“It reminds me that a lot of people are still here, and will be standing by me.” Renee said, side hugging Nick. “And that gives a good place to anchor myself, and at least remember that I must be doing a few things right.”

“It’s also just nice to… umm…” Emma said.

“Have a group of friends, and place that you like.” Renee finished.

“Yeah.” Emma replied