Eerie Indiana Double Drabble: Tea Leaves

[froodle]

Lillian Bancroft took a long sip of tea, savouring the warmth and the flavour. Beside her, Harley Holmes added one more marshmallow to the towering pink and white mountain that rose high above the surface of a rapidly overflowing hot chocolate.

"Excellent structural integrity," said Lillian. "You did a good job."

Harley nodded, then reached for the catering-sized canister of whipped cream at his elbow. Lillian watched him position the nozzle directly above his mug and shifted her chair slightly to the left.

There was a click as the seal broke, and a brief hiss of compressed air before ropes of aerosolized dairy began flying in all directions. One trailing, sticky glob landed exactly where Marshall's grandmother had been sitting just a moment ago, and she smiled despite herself.

After a long, long time, the pressurized can sputtered empty. Harley, his fine blonde hair coated in white and all his teeth on show in a delighted smile, examined the vanilla-scented snowdrift in front of him. Lillian couldn't see the mug anymore. She could barely see the placemat the mug had rested on.

She looked down at her now-empty teacup where wet leaves clumped in the shape of horns, and laughed.

Ongoing Verse: Teller Family History



First Date by froodle, in which a young Edgar Teller shows off one of his earlier inventions

Breakfast Conversations, in which Syndi and Marshall are very small, and very much themselves

Under the Bed, in which Syndi has a friend over

Popcorn by froodle. Friday night is always movie night in the Teller household.

The Toll, in which a parcel arrives and there is a fee to pay

Charitable, in which there is fundraising for... something?

Door Prizes, in which here is a cake tin

Fountain, in which Marshall has an excuse, and Edgar does not agree

Belt Match, in which Algernon the Invincible saves the world

Volun-Told, in which Marshall takes preparation very seriously

Shears, in which Edgar is concerned for the contents of his garden shed

Parking, in which Marshall makes a hasty exit

The Teller Home for Displaced Youth by froodle, in which Edgar harbours some doubts about his new home town

Lawn by froodle, in which Marilyn Teller contemplaces some yardwork

Back to School, in which Marilyn visits the Eerie Mall

Distractions, in which Simon and Marshall walk home from school

Product Testing, in which Marshall and Syndi have input in the latest Things Incorporated invention

Film Festival, in which there is breakfast at Tiffanys, and much carnage

Cake Day, in which it is Marshall's birthday

Prestidigitation, in which Syndi poses as a fortune teller

Camoflage, in which Fifi has a plan to infiltrate the Teller household

Preventative Measures, in which Syndi and Marshall clash over a facemask

Gallery, in which Syndi and Marshall clash over art

Tornado Day, Revisited by froodle, in which Syndi learns exactly what it means to be Miss Tornado Day

Induction, in which the role of Miss Tornado Day comes with yet another hidden catch

Classes, in which Syndi trains for her new role

Competing Traditions, in which Dash and Marshall wait out the Easter weekend in the Teller's garage

Easter, in which Marshall receives a note

Truth in Advertising, in which Marshall is in trouble, and Radford is confused

Shampoo, in which Syndi is troubled by soapy residue

Wildlife by froodle, in which Simon and Marshall go to the beach

If You See Something, Say Something, in which Marshall is questioned by Sergeant Knight

The Party Fowl, in which Marilyn goes to some lengths to ensure Syndi keeps to curfew

The Party Fowl Cometh, in which the titular beast makes an appearance

Return of the Party Fowl, in which Syndi makes it home safely

Capability, in which there are Bigfoots

Nursemaiding, in which Syndi is much put-upon

Culinary Delights by froodle, in which Syndi's terrible cooking may or may not have been an accident

Confectionary, in which Syndi has been baking again

Pirates, in which there are pirates

Rules of War, in which there is a waterfight

Exterior, Garden, Night, in which there is camping

Camping by froodle, in which Syndi cannot sleep

Co-Defendants, in which Marshall seeks revenge

Artist in the Family by froodle, in which an immortal creature takes a liking to Syndi

Virtual Reality, in which Things Incorporated branches out into the realm of home entertainment

Dressed for the Occasion, in which Syndi's weather goddess duties require a certain look

Without Due Care and Attention by froodle, in which Syndi finally becomes mobile

Road Safety, in which Marshall does not

Typewriter, in which a familiar peacock logo makes an unwelcome reappearence

Golf Course, in which a reseeding does not go well

BBQ, in which the Tellers have a bonfire

Giveaway, in which Marshall buys a milkshake

Spa Day, in which Marshall has a gift for his sister

Prognostication Engine, in which horrorscopes are insufficiently detailed, and Marshall is cross

Hangover, in which Marshall drinks too much and makes a terrible enemy

Castle, in which there is unexpected architecture in Eerie

Concealment, in which there is a costume party

Party Guests, in which a costume party is attended

Waiting In by froodle, in which there is an ice-storm and a handyman does not arrive

Harmonic Resonance, in which Syndi's craft table is disturbed

Spoiled, in which the Tellers are menaced

Postal, in which there is gunfire, and letters

Drive, in which Edgar has a convertible, and is filled with fear

Food Aggression, in which Lisa-Marie comes to visit, and the Tellers sibling dynamics have not changed

Statistically Possible, in which Marshall has the figures

Misdirection, in which Syndi is a cunning and treacherous foe

Targeted Marketing, in which here are illuminated signs on taxis

Rare Appearance, in which there are egg rolls, and also ghosts

Brunch by froodle, in which Marilyn does not appreciate Edgar's help in the kitchen

Winter Picnic, in which there is snuggling

Corn Critters 7: Rise of the Super Crop, in which Marshall makes a grave mistake

Advent Calendar, in which Marilyn prepares for Christmas

Weaponised, in which Simon, Syndi and Marshall prepare for Christmas

Handmade by froodle, in which the Tellers receive a Christmas package from Marilyn's mother

Window Paint, in which Harley helps Eerie Elementary decorate for the season

Pantomime, in which the Tellers enjoy some traditional Christmas entertainment

Decorative, in which Eerie's wildlife get into the spirit, and Marshall is worried

Dinner Conversation, in which Marshall and Syndi revive an old argument

Poor Life Choices by froodle, in which Syndi loves her brother anyway

Public Spaces, in which there is a vampire, and Mayor Chisel appreciates municipal art

Lillian by froodle, in which Marilyn's mother has concerns

Visitor by froodle, in which Marshall's grandma comes to stay

Nap by froodle, in which Marshall has a quiet moment in the Secret Spot

Underwater, in which Lillian travels to another timeline, and has a much-overdue conversation

Cygnet, in which Lillian and Harley visit the lake

Auction, in which a clear-out is happening

Hand Me Down/Keepsake, in which the clear-out continues

Administrative, in which Things Incorporated's latest invention is very sad

Sickbed, in which Marshall has an upset stomach

War Zone, in which Marshall is sad, and Syndi is a good big sister

Salvage Rights, in which Lillian and Harley return to the lake

Housekeeping, in which there is a cult, and things get awkward

Hostage, in which Syndi is captured, and is very displeased

Hometown by froodle, in which Mars and Syndi visit New Jersey

Deterrent, in which there are pigeon spikes

Crafting, in which Syndi is about to graduate from college

Mixed Media Messages, in which there is glitter

Fresh Sheets by froodle

Product Testing, in which Things Incorporated's newest beverage is... something.

Tradition by froodle, in which Dash and Marshall decorate a Christmas tree

Civic Duty, in which the Ladies Society for the Beautification of Eerie take up their posts

The Craft, in which the Ladies encounter the all-female wolf pack from Trick 'r Treat

A Time for Giving, in which it is Christmas, and Danielle comes back

Eww... in which Simon is making bad relationship choices

Freelancing, in which Sara Sue does graphic design

At the Dinner Table, in which an invitation is extended, and Dash is suspicious

Presentation, in which the Mayor has an edict, and Simon has a plan



Ongoing Verse: Holmes Brothers



Castle, in which there is unexpected architecture in Eerie

The End by froodle, in which Simon reads Harley a bedtime story

Drains by froodle, in which clowns are evil, murderous sacks of shit, and Simon is having none of it

Bathtub, in which the Holmes' have further problems with their plumbing

Communication Difficulties, in which there are barriers to understanding

Playground, in which Simon and Harley should maybe come back another day

Dish of the Day, in which Simon and Marshall return to the playground

Stonewall, Mud Walls, in which Harley is an implacable foe

Biters, in which there is screaming

Riverbank, in which Simon encounters a kelpie

Kaleidoscope by froodle, in which Simon has cause to regret buying cheap toys at the World o' Stuff

Festival by froodle, in which Eerie's local businesses celebrate the summer

Strawberry by froodle, in which there is unauthorised hubbub in Eerie

Drive In, in which there is a movie screening

Staged, in which Harley visits a building site

Distractions, in which Simon and Marshall walk home from school

Class of '89, in which they collect Harley

Unsuitable Substitute, in which there is a changeling

Anticipation by froodle, in which Simon and Harley look forward to the Equinox

Informed Shopper, in which Simon contemplates a purchase

Infestation, in which there are pixies

BBQ, in which the Tellers hold a BBQ

Door-to-Door, in which it is Halloween and there are trick-or-treaters

Sentinel, in which it is Halloween and there is hot chocolate

The Stand, in which it is Halloween and there is a war

Dark Messiah, in which there are witches

Ruminant, in which a rescue is mounted

Good to Eat, in which Dash and Simon fill Marshall in

Gridlock, in which Harley encounters one of Eerie's many cults

Common Ground, in which one of Eerie's local youth organisations would like Harley to join them

Persuasion Tactics, in which the recruitment drive becomes aggressive

A Kings' Ransom, in which Harley goes to the beach

Competing Traditions, in which Dash and Marshall wait out the Easter weekend

Advent Calendar, in which Marilyn is making Christmas treats for all her children

Window Paint, in which Harley helps decorate his elementary school for Christmas

Pantomime, in which the Tellers enjoy some traditional Christmas entertainment

Visiting Santa, in which Marshall and Simon take Harley on a trip

The Tree, in which Harley helps Simon decorate for Christmas

KrampusNacht, in which the Holmes household has a visitor

Cygnet, in which Harley and Lillian go to the park

Tagged, in which the Bob brothers go to the park

Defacement, in which the Eerie PD investigates a terrible crime

Read the Sign, in which the city council was serious about that fountain

Salvage Rights, in which Harley and Lillian return to the lake

To Serve Birds (Right), in which Marshall and Harley bond

Sneakers by froodle, in which the latest Sky Monsters are released

Hangover, in which Marshall has a little too much to drink, and an innocent sandcastle pays the price

Brand Loyalty, in which MArshall's new shoes are a disappointment

The Hut by froodle, in which Simon takes on the forces of Eerie solo

Shattered Dreams, in which there is a space whale

They, in which Marshall leaves for college and Simon is left behind

Good Secrets Are Hard To Keep, in which Marshall submits a story to his college newspaper

Reception by froodle, in which Simon has problems with his mobile phone

Bulk Buy, in which Simon's desk tidy isn't suited for the job, but he's still better off than his office mates

Incendiary, in which Marshall reads a situation and reaches completely the wrong conclusion

Divergent, in which Dash and Harley talk

Workaday, in which Simon encounters one of Harley's old enemies

Presentation, in which Simon has a plan

Children Are Strange, in which Eerie's local Black Eyed Kids take an interest in Simon's dog