Chapter 11 - Down In The Dumps



Nick felt the fear rise in him. He was in a trash bin! He absolutely had to get out of here! The boy called with all his might:

- FLOOOOOORE!!! HELP MEEEEE!!

But without success. He thought about trying to reach the top edge of the bin but at his size, it was way too high for him. If only the trash was fuller! Nick wondered how to get out of here, when a few minutes later, Flore got up from her chair and walked out of the room. Nick's morale dropped to the lowest level. She had abandoned him. How could she do that? He was stuck in a garbage bin, and this time he was sure, no one would see him here. Now his chances of being discovered were close to zero. He lay down, completely desperate, without the courage to attempt anything. He did not even want to hope anymore. Why had he shrunk like this? Why did he not think about taking new batteries? Why did he not just wait to go home before wanting to change the batteries of his prototype? He could only blame himself. Without really knowing why, he thought about Alizée again, and wondered what she was doing. If she thought of him. Thinking back to what she had said about him earlier, he was ashamed again. Nick lost himself in his thoughts, sometimes even managing to forget his desperate situation.

Thirty minutes later, Nick heard someone enter the room. He barely had time to recover as his environment leaned dangerously.

- Aaaaaah!

The bin tipped over and suddenly it was lying on the floor. Nick, still inside, watched the opening now in front of him. He saw the huge legs of his mother who stood in front of him. His mother had dropped the trash! It was his chance to escape! The boy got up and started running, smiling. He could not believe it! The probability that it happened was very slim. He was convinced that he was doomed to be thrown in the garbage, but no, fate offered him a chance to escape! It was then that Nick saw his mother's hand grab a rim of the trash. His smile faded.

- What ...

Natalie started then to pick up the trash.

- No! Mom, WAIT!!

Nick ran even faster, but the surface on which he was moving was becoming more and more inclined.

- MUM! STOP!!

He was finding it increasingly difficult to progress, so that he soon found himself on all fours, struggling with all his might to reach the edge of the trash. He had to get there!

- Mom, please! Let me out!!

But despite his efforts, the boy began to slide to the bottom.

- NOOOOOOOOO!

He found himself on his stomach and slid backwards as he saw the opening move away more and more. He landed again on the garbage while Natalie put the garbage bin right.

- No Mom!! - shouted the boy rolling on his side.

Nick gaped. It was not possible! He had a unique opportunity to get out of it, and he just let it go! Just because he had not been fast enough! Despair submerged him again until his mother grabbed the plastic bag from the bin. Nick raised his head sharply.

- MUM! - he said almost in a cry of joy.

She raised the bag to take it with her.

- Aaaaah!!

Nick was shaken again and his joy was short-lived. If his mother had taken the bag, she would probably throw it in the garbage! The boy got up quickly and pounded against the edge of the bag, right next to his mother's thigh.

- MUM! I BEG YOU! LOOK!!

As she went down the stairs, the rhythm of her walk made the boy lose his balance, and he tried as best he could to reach one of the edges of the bag. He did not know how he could get out of here, but he was not going to sit idly by waiting.

- MOM, WAIT! - he shouted, falling one more time among the rubbish.

As she walked down the stairs, the boy became more and more nervous. His fate rested entirely on her. On his mother who did nothing but throw out a garbage bag. Natalie reached the ground floor and the bag stabilized. Nick finally managed to grab hold of it when his mother entered the kitchen. She put the bag on the worktop and fetched a string to close it. Nick then takes his chance to escape. He climbed up the bag and came to the top rather quickly. He straddled the edge and looked around him. It was then that he spotted a rolled up cloth next to the plastic bag. It could surely cushion his fall if he went down there. A shadow suddenly covered the boy who turned his head and saw his mother had come back to stand in front of him. He tried again to get her attention:

- MOOOOOM!!

She moved her gigantic hands toward him to close the bag. This view of her shocked Nick who felt smaller than ever. The giantess was about to close her hand on him, when the boy gathered all his courage and jumped.

- Aaaaaaah!!

He slipped on the plastic bag and fell before landing on the rag. He lay down for several seconds to take the time to realize what had happened. He had succeeded! He had really escaped from the trash bag! He stood up and watched as his mother closed the bag and congratulated himself for not being inside any more. He pulled himself together quickly and ran for cover. This was not the time to risk being picked up again. He had almost reached the edge of the rag when it was suddenly pressed against it by the hand of the giantess.

- No! Mum!!

Natalie took the rag and put it on a shelf a little higher up. Nick took several seconds to understand what had happened. He stood up to look where he was and recognized the place. In front of him stood huge bottles. Some containers contained seasonings such as vinegar or herbs, and other drinks, such as Coke or iced tea. He stepped forward and passed by the olive oil that had never seemed so big to him. He then skirted a bottle of Coke to reach the edge of the shelf. He then had an overview of the kitchen, and saw his mother go away with the garbage bag. How good it was to finally see things from above! But what to do now that he was there?

It was then that he saw Flore arrive. He approached the edge of the shelf to be more visible and began to call to her. The shelf being just a little higher than eye level, he probably had a chance to be spotted! In spite of all his cries, his sister paid him absolutely no attention, and went to the fridge. She pulled out a salad bowl filled with chocolate mousse and took it to the worktop. Then she took a bowl, and began to fill it generously.

- FLOOORE! I'M RIGHT HERE!!!

She finished filling the bowl and suddenly looked up.

- YES!! FLORE!! HERE!!! - the boy shouted enthusiastically as he saw her eyes looking towards him.

She raised her arm and Nick saw her right hand moving to strike him.

- No! What …

He barely had time to wonder what she was doing as he saw her hand pass over his head and grab the bottle of Coca-Cola behind him.

- Flore! NO!!

She pulled the bottle towards her, pointing it straight at the boy. Before he could react, Nick was suddenly pushed into the air.

- AAAAAAAAH!

He then lands in a soft, light and sweet material: chocolate mousse!



To Be Continued …



Translated from French to English by jdragondawn