The Return of the Goblin King

Family Gatherings:

Two weeks had passed since the disappearance of poor young Joseph. Search parties were held, new broke out and Sarah was living in sheer worry for her friend. Meanwhile, upon a cloudy day, a 14 year-old Bastian Balthazar Bux was at the bookstore with his boss and friend, Mr. Coreander.

"No way, Bastian,"the old bookseller began, "you're not taking the book with you!"

"But, Mr. Coreander, it was two years ago."

"Yeah and folks are still talking about you riding a hairy, white dragon."

"And those same folks are still saying that it never happened!"

"Look, Bastian, for the last time I said 'No'!"

The old store owner went to his desk disgruntled as Bastian leaned on one of the shelves. With a frustrated sigh, the lad then asked, "Then what else can I do when I'm with my cousin?"

The man just looked at him in annoyance. "Well gee,", he mocked a hopeless sigh, "I don't know. How about talking?"

Even as the bookseller rolled his eyes, Bastian, being a kid with ambition, still refused to give up, "Try telling her that; all she does is look at that stupid Labyrinth play book."

Mr.Coreander paused as he thought. He slowly gazed at The Neverending Story and then back at Bastian. "Fine.", the old man sighed begrudgingly, "But if I hear anything about creatures running around town with you..."

"Don't worry, I promise not to go too insane with it.", Bastian smiled as he was given the enchanted book by its keeper. And with that, Bastian dashed out of the place with joy. All while Mr. Coreander was quite concerned.

"What have I just done?", he contemplated while returning to his work. Along with the anxiety of what was to come next.

....

Moments later, Mr.Bux had found Bastian at the front porch with the book as he waits. "Don't worry, son.", Mr.Bux said to his son, "Your aunt Linda will be here soon."

"I wish I didn't have to go.", grumbled the teen with his father's reply, "Bastian, I know aunt Linda and cousin Sarah could both be a handful but it's only for one weekend to celebrate your aunt and mom's birthday."

"But why can't you come, dad?"

"I wish I could but...I..I have work to do."

Bastian mumbled under his breath, "As usual."

"What?"

"Nothing."

"And besides, son, you won't be alone with them; you remember aunt Linda's boyfriend, Jeremy, don't you?"

"Yeah.", the boy exhaled at his dad's failed attempt to cheer him up. It wasn't that Bastian hated Jeremy, it was just that, Bastian had always found himself on the sidelines as Sarah would bound with Jeremy more and more. And the fact that the young Bux boy was quieter wasn't so much helping the chap.

Anyway, a car pulled over at the Bux's driveway with Linda and Sarah coming out of it once the vehicle parked. "Long time no see my good ol' brother-in-law.", chuckled Linda as she embraced Mr.Bux along with her nephew.

"Hi, Bastian.", Sarah greeted in a quiet, friendly manner. Yet, despite how she spoke, her cousin coldly gave her a "Hey."

"So, are you ready to go?", Linda inquired the boy as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. But Bastian just replied with a solemn, "Yeah.", as he got into the car with Sarah. And with that, Linda got in as well while saying goodbye to her fellow in-law.

"Have fun, son.", Mr.Bux said with encouragement. But the lad was still uncertain of the future.

.....

Moments followed and the three relatives were still riding the roads. All was silent with the exception of Laura Branigan's Imagination playing on the radio. This was so until Linda made the attempt to break the ice.

"So, Bastian,", she spoke, "how's school coming along?"

"Fine.", the boy answered with only his eyes at the window. Sarah knew from just looking at him that he didn't want to be with them. And when seeing this, she joined her mother's attempts to get through to him. "Are you excited to see Jeremy?", she asked him nicely. However, a stoic Bastian just shrugged with Linda adding, "He's back at the house with his daughter, Dinah."

"He has a daughter, aunt Linda?"

"Uh-huh. But the reason you barely see her is 'cause her and her mom, Maria, live in Europe. Maria's a fashion designer who's now in town with Dinah to make costumes for the play Jeremy and I are going to be playing. Giving Dinah a chance to see him."

"You'll like her, Bastian.", Sarah smiled, "She's really nice."

"Will she like me?", inquired the boy who found himself being hugged by Sarah. "Of course she will.", the dear cousin chuckled. Yet, once the three got there, they could only see via the car windows to witness Jeremy outside of the door, saying goodbye to Dinah and Maria and even not just the former but the latter person. But it was only a platonic peck on the cheek. Still, Linda was filled with inner rage as both Sarah and Bastian grew nervous as they saw a reddening face.

"Mom?". spoke Sarah, "Are you ok?"

"Of course, darling, I'm just fine. Now, let's just go in, alright?"

The three got out of the car as the taxi Maria and Dinah were in drove away. Having noticed his other family, Jeremy went to embrace them.

"Bastian! Sarah!", he grinned as he hugged them, "Great to see you two again!"

"Same with you, Jeremy.", Sarah gave an anxious smile as she took a quick glance at her mother.

"Well, come on in. The pizza's here just waiting to be eaten.", Jeremy gleefully said as he led the trio inside.

Later that evening, everyone was at the table eating. Silence was the noise of the room until Sarah began to speak. "So...uh...Jeremy,"she started, "have you gotten those tickets for us to see Cats?"

"I tried, Sarah, but they were sold out. But I did manage to get tickets for us to see 'Pinocchio'. You do like that one, don't you?"

"I'd love to see Pinocchio. And besides, we could always see the Rum Tum Tugger some other time. Besides, I'd adored the fairy with the turquoise hair as a kid.", the teen then turns to her cousin, "You had liked her too, didn't you, Bastian?"

"When I was little."

"At least she wasn't here, was she?", Linda muttered. Having heard that, Jeremy turned to Sarah. "I should talk to her, should I?", he asked her who nodded, "Yeah. Bastian and I will be in my room."

Once the young Bux heard that he sighed for he did not desire to be alone with his cousin. But he had little to no choice as Sarah led him out of the dining room and upstairs to her domain. Leaving poor Jeremy right in the lion's den.