Snippet of My Trials of a Teenage Gorgon with Royal Egyptian Scareitage
at the Denile-Gorgon Home, Cleo DeNile sat on her bed with four tablets open. Four were held midair by helpful scarabs. The other two were in her lap. Her husband came out of their bathroom in a robe, his snakes still misty from the shower.
“Hey, that’s three more tablets than we agreed around bedtime.” Deuce Gorgon said tossing a towel on the floor.
Cleo, without looking from her tablet, said “Hey, we agreed to throw wet things in hampers. We could change now or…”
“Or talk about the Lacrowsse game. Had fun?”
“Oh my Ra no. Why can’t that ghoul stick to something indoors? Something clean and cerebral?” Cleo asked as he laid down on their bed.
Deuce stretched; his snakes yawned. “Too much energy, Babe. She’s having fun, making new friends-“
“Bruised and bloodied as if she’s under a butcher’s knife.” Cleo said, she clapped her hands and the scarabs took all her tablets away. “I did learn some interesting things while on the quad.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Toralei may be embezzling school funds to support the Screech& Debate team- just because her kittens are competitors. Hopeless. That McFlytrap nonbinary child is selling the yummy-smokey-greens we found in Cali’s sock drawer and oh! Scandal! Cali has a little crush on the rival Lacrowsse team’s captain!” Cleo said, poking Deuce’s chest with emphasis on each surprise.
“Huh.” Deuce said, chewing on his lip.
“Oh come on, that last part deserves more of a WHOA from you.”
“No, I’m in ‘whoa’. Mostly cause she always seemed to ignore the kid or push him away.”
Cleo laid back on the pillows, “That is exactly how a ghoul her age shows her feelings. Remember when I pushed you into the pool with the eels?”
“Not really. But whoa, I am so glad to be out of high school. Can’t wait for Cali to be free from the fascists and mindgames.” The gorgon said, taking off his sunglasses and rubbing his eyes.
The mummy slapped his still-hard-abbs, “Take that back. She’s gotten too tall already. I swear, I am this close (Cleo holds her fingers a hair apart) to cursing her back into a sweet little ghoul again.”
Deuce reached over to rub her back, “Awww. Cleo, Hun, please don’t.”
The mummy sighed. “Because you said please.”
The next morning Cleo walking into her breakfast nook to see Cali with holding her silver credit card.
“Good morning, darling, is there a halt on your card?” Cleo chuckled to herself, “Oh my Ra, like I’m sure.”
“Morning Cleo, and I’m borrowing yours because Stripe knows my number and wants adult money.” Cali explained as she held her face in her hand and her snakes typed in the routing numbs on her iCoffinZ.
“If Toralei wants a new dime store jewlery she should just hold a fundraiser like a respectable headmistress.” Cleo said, sipping her espresso.
“She is, this is going to a Coffin-Bean fundraiser. I’m doing my part in not going through the silly labor of pouring other creatures’ espresso.” The mutant gorgon said as she used her Mummy-family funds.
Cleo snapped the card out from her daughter’s hand, “No you don’t. Go do peasant work with your little friends. It builds character.”
“But Muuuuuuummmy, I won’t do it right.” Cali said as slouched against the window.
“Don’t ruin good posture. And you’re not an idiot so you’ll be fine.” Cleo said, watching and waiting to see her heir sit up.
Cali scoffed as she sat up. “Thanks for that, Cleo. Like you’ve ever made your own coffee.”
“Young lady, I sold mummy-mochas for the fearleading team when I was your age. Even your wicked aunt Nefera foamed milk- she poisoned all of her customers but that was her bitterness dripping into the cups instead of-“
“Okay, okay. It’s too early for a cautionary Nefera story.” Cali pushed out her chair. “May I be excused?”
Cleo didn’t like the phony way she pronounced the words but she choose the higher pyramid, “You may. You can also pour and drink your own coffee, darling.”
Cali heard the phony tone in the way Cleo said ‘darling’ but rolled it off her snakes and went to the kitchen.
Her father was still there, quickly popping out griffin-omelet-muffins from the oven.
“Hey little dude, here’s breakfast and there are some mice-oat-bars in the fridge. Put the cover back on after, you know it messes with the queen.” Deuce said, pulling off the ovenmits.
“Dad, don’t you ever get tired of bending over for that woman?” Cali asked, her waist-long purple snake hair hissed over the warm muffins.
“Keeps me limber.” The gorgon said, leaning over to kiss the top of his daughter’s head, “It’s how she shows she cares.”
“I miss working Cleo. Stupid corporate coo.” Cali said as she examined her mother’s espresso machine.
“Careful with the words, baby. I gotta go to the restaurant. Beep me later.” Deuce smelled smoke as he walked away but everyone learned to use a fire extinguisher in his home. No one but the gorgon was allowed to cook in that kitchen.
