Rabbit Hole Carnival: Where the Heart is

Renee tilted her head at the comment. “I live here? And have for years?”

“Really?” Benjamin replied. “I’ve never seen you…”

“Is this your usual time?” Renee asked.

“What? Ben also asked.

“Is this usually the time you come?” Renee asked again.

“Yeah. It is sometimes the only time I can.” Ben replied.

“Well that explains at least one thing.” Renee said. “I’m usually out restocking our supplies at this hour. Daddy insisted he do it today. Though that just raises further questions.”

“Such as?” Ben asked.

“Well he’s never had such a problem with me always getting the supplies before today.” Renee replied. “And he was very insistent that I need to meet the customers that come during this time, and I’m 100% sure it was plural.”

“But… I’m the only one that comes during these hours?” Ben said. “Never seen anyone else.”

“Exactly.” Renee nodded. “That's why I usually go shopping around this time. No one comes here, or so I thought, I suppose.” She adjusted some clothing and got the hair out of her face. “Well, we'll just have to figure this out together. So welcome to the Rabbit Hole Carnival, what drink will be your festival?”

 “Oh. I— I don’t usually get anything. Nick just lets me stay here for a bit.”

“Getting somewhere already.” Renee giggled. “”Escaping for a while then? Well, this one is on the house, so do you want something solid, sweet, spicy, or do you just wanna be surprised?”

“Really I shouldn’t. It would only make things worse.” Ben replied, but Renee just walked back behind the counter and planted a drink down in front of him.

“Drink it.” Renee said. “I didn’t put as much alcohol in as normal. Just enough to calm your nerves.” Renee watched him as he just looked at it a little nervous. “Either you drink it, or tell me what you come to a bar for. Preferably both.” And then grabbed his arm as he got up to leave. “That’s not an option.”

Ben sighs as Renee spoke at first, and attempted to decide it was better to just come back when Nick was here, and get and leave. Throwing his shoulders back as Renee grabbed him. “Not everyone has a loving dad, okay?!” he started stomping away.

Renee just closed her eyes, and smirked a bit. “Uncle.” (So this is why) she thought.

Ben froze. There were several seconds of silence before he turned back around. “What?”

“Nick is my uncle.” Renee replied with her arms behind her back “Not actually my dad. I’ve been hiding out here since I was a week away from being 18.” She spoke one more time as Ben opened his mouth. “Don’t apologize, Benji. I get it… a little too well.”

Ben closed his mouth, and thought for a moment. “I’d like to be surprised.”

Renee looked rather proud as she pointed to the drink. “Normal amount of alcohol?” She took the drink back as Benjamin nodded, and set another one down where he chose to sit. “What are you in for, Benji?”

“I still don’t know that.” Ben replied.

“What do you know?” Renee asked. “Daddy always had his reasons. I don’t always know them myself, but I can’t think of a time that I didn’t agree with them.”

“Well,” Ben paused. “Let me think.” He took a swig as Renee waited patiently. “Family has never been kind to me, and I know talked to Nick about that. And last time we talked I talk about snapping at a friend just before I had to leave, and then—”

“And then he told you make sure you come back, same time next week,” Renee interrupted. “So he could know exactly how to plan around things.” Renee grabbed the empty glass, and came back with another filled one. “What did you snap at them about?”

“They said I didn’t have to look after my parents anymore.” Ben replied. “That they had a place and plan as long as I kept my job. Why you’re suppose to help with that I don’t know.”

“I do.” Renee replied. “Some things you just can’t fix, Benji, and there will probably always be nights where you blame yourself for that. Where you think it was your fault, and you should've done better. You could’ve fixed it. You could’ve changed it, if you had only behaved. Blah, blah, blah.” Renee leaned in. “Go tell whoever this friend of yours you wanna move in. Don’t even bother mentioning your snapping. Don’t say you’re sorry. In every sense of the words. Just. Go”

Ben finished his drink, and stormed out the door. About an hour later Nicholas came back with supplies. Neither of them spoke as they put stuff away.

“Still hard for you to bring out the questions, huh?” Renee said, once they were done. “ I handled it. Same as I always do.”

Several weeks later. Nick was serving drinks at the bar. “So… How’s he doing?”

“Benji is doing fine!” Renee shouted from the backroom. “Did he land that new job?!”

“Yes I did!” Ben replied as he walked in.

“Benji!” Renee said as she walked out. “Welcome to Rabbit Hole Carnival. What drink will be your festival?”

The last of the customers shuffled out, and Nicholas started cleaning up. “For the record, I never doubted you could convince him.”

“There is one thing I have yet to figure out.” Renee Replied. “Why didn’t you do that sooner?”

“Don’t you think you’ve been through enough?” Nick asked. “I only sent him to you, because I didn’t know how to get through to him.”

“”Yeah well, send more to me next time.” Renee said. “I may have been through more than enough, but that just makes me more determined to make sure no one else has to be.”