Chapter #4part 2 by: A4L   She pressed the button hard. Scrunching up her eyes. She opened them and noticed the muffled babbling from the restaurant had faded. She peeked her head round the door way and saw life paused. Like a still on a T.V screen. Some people had stopped midway through eating and a kid who had been in the midst of jumping into the ball pool hung suspended in mid air.
She quietly returned to the kitchen feeling weak at the sight of something, that up until 20 minutes ago she would have sworn was impossible. She spoke into the machine.
"The washing up and tidying up is already done"
There was that nausea feeling again and the room seemed to swim in darkness for a second, the air became charged and then as quickly as it had appeared, it vanished leaving the room in a spotless manner. The dishes were all done, the mop and bucket was away even the microwave and fridge had been wiped down and polished. The place was gleaming.
She dropped the device in surprise and it clattered to the floor, instantly she stooped and picked it up, checked for signs of damage but it didn't seem to have a dent in it. It really looked like this was the real deal. She heart beat wildly. She could bend reality to her personal whims. The colour drained from her face. It was such a powerful thing to own
She put the digital voice recorder in her pocket and wandered out the kitchen back into the main restaurant then over to her friend's table not sure what to say. Both friends stopped chatting heatedly as Molly approached. They both looked at her and concerned expressions crossed their faces. It was Sarah who spoke.
"Molly? Are you all right? You look ill."
Molly nodded dumbfounded.
"i'm fine, really. Just need a quiet seat." She slumped down into a chair as Jennifer scoffed.
"Quiet seat. HA! You'll be lucky with all those kids running around and screaming in the play area. Its like a herd of elephants in there."
Molly looked over at the play area, wishing for the umpteenth time that she could play in there without being stared at like an oddball. Her mouth went dry as she suddenly contemplated the digital voice recorder . Would it work like that? She looked at Jennifer's black hair and Sarah's red hair. She quietly pulled the digital voice recorder up out of her pocket and pressed the red button, the whole restaurant seemed to suddenly hush as reality was paused, a small smile played on her lips as she spoke.
"It's perfectly normal for 18 year old girls to play in the play area"
There it was again, that sickening woozy feeling, the way the air seemed to grow darker, thicken, and then suddenly the room was bright again and the general background rabble of conversations had returned.
Molly looked around feeling like people must have been looking at her but no-one was. Suddenly Sarah bounced out of her chair.
"I know what'll cheer you up. 20 minutes in the ball pool. That always cheers you up. You're due for a break from work now anyway right? Come on"
Sarah grabbed Molly's hand and hauled her to her feet. Once it looked like Molly was going to follow her, Sarah broke away from her older friend and raced over to the play area, easily vaulting the soft padded fence and plunged into the ball pit squealing with glee.
Molly's heart raced into her throat. She looked around and noticed that no one was paying any attention to the fact that her 17 year old friend was shouting and laughing whilst playing in the ball pit. With a deep breath molly followed her friend and jumped into the soft balls scattering them everywhere.
Instantly Molly was in heaven. She laughed and giggled as she swam through the balls then clambered up a near by netted ladder to throw herself down a slide that plunged her right back into the large ball pool. She loved every moment of it. She had wanted to do this for months. She felt content. Happy.
Jennifer wandered over to the side of the play area, she looked skyward. She was getting too old to play in the pit but she wanted to be with her friends she she stepped beyond the barrier and eased herself into the ball pit. There were other kids of various ages in the play area and one boy decided Jennifer would be a good target. He started throwing balls at her and one ball bounced off her head.
"Hey you little bastard, what the hell do you think you're playing at"
Molly had been swimming past at the time and she was shocked by Jennifer's language.
"Jenny, you don't have to swear at him, he's just playing"
"Yeah but the little dick went and messed up my hair"
She whined, regretting getting into the ball pit in the first place. Molly wasn't impressed by the swearing. She had been enjoying her little bit of innocence here in the play area but Jennifer's potty mouth had ruined her mood. She dug deeper under the balls in the ball pit and pulled out the digital voice recorder from her pocket. She pushed the button, recognising the fact that above the surface of the balls it had suddenly gone quiet.
"18 year olds do not know how to swear"
She popped her head up over the balls and grinned at Jennifer allowing the older 18 year old to continue her rant.
"He's such a stupid poopoo doody head. I hate him!"
Jennifer turned and stuck her tongue out at the boy, who mimicked her action and ran off laughing. Jennifer folded her arms, sulking, it was then that she caught her watch seeing the time she gasped.
"Hey Molly. Isn't your shift up now? Are you coming to with us to stay over at my house tonight like we discussed?"
Molly nodded enthusiastically, she had been looking forward to the sleep over all day. Sarah clapped happily.
"YAY YAY party!"
She threw her fists up into the air excitedly, scattering balls everywhere causing Molly to laugh as the balls showered down on her. The three friends clambered out of the ball pit. Molly looked back at it wistfully. It had been such fun playing in there. A dream come true. She patted her pocket feeling the bulk of the recorder there. How much further could she take this dream?
She gathered her bags that she had brought to work with her in anticipation of the sleepover and said goodbye to her work colleagues as she followed Jennifer and Sarah out of the restaurant. Sarah and Jennifer chatted animatedly about school and the latest episodes of their favourite drama series, whilst Molly hung back a little contemplating her options. Soon though the three of them were at Jennifer's house and she pushed open the door.
"Yo MOM! I'm Home. Sarah and Molly are staying over okay!" She shouted out.
There was an excited scream from one of the rooms and a little three year old girl came piling out of the room and catapulted herself into Jennifer.
"Jenny Jenny Yoor home!!"
The girl hugged her big sisters legs happily. Molly Loved Jennifer' sister Tabitha. She was such a bubbly little thing and it always uplifted Molly to see such a happy kid. Jennifer pulled her little sister off of her.
"Awww Tabby your covered in paint! You got it all over my skirt...you...you...Stinkybutt!"
Tabby giggled and stepped back. Molly could see she was wearing a cute set of pink overalls with white flowers embroidered on the chest pocket. Molly's heart ached to wear something that adorable and without so much as a second thought she whipped the recording device from her pocket and eagerly pressed the button. She whispered in fevered anticipation, her hand trembling at the thought of the potential outfits she would hopefully suddenly find at her disposal.
"Its perfectly acceptable for 18 year old girls to wear toddler type clothing"
The sickening feeling was partially ignored by Molly's excitement. The blackness swamped in around her and faded back out and she let out a large audible squeal of delight when she looked down at herself and at her friends. Instead of her restaurant uniform Molly now wore a pair of grass green overalls with chunky multicoloured corduroy flowers and buttons stitched into them. Her long brown hair was in 2 bunches ties with yellow ribbon. Her black work shoes had been replaced by white sneakers that had velcro instead of shoe laces. Molly jumped up and down unable to contain how giddily happy she felt.
Sarah was wearing a yellow sun dress her new red hair was in a single ponytail that had a large sunflower clip in the back of her hair she wore flipflops on her feet. Jennifer had a short ruffled denim skirt on and a t-shirt that had happy cartoon characters on the front. Her hair was loose. Molly bent down and ruffled Tabby's hair. Thankful to the toddler for giving her such an awesome idea.
"Hi kiddo. How's things?"
 You have the following choice: 1. part 3 |
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