Lost and Found in Labyrinth

“Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the Goblin City to take back the child you have stolen, for my will is as strong as yours and my kingdom as great. You have no power over me!” Jim Henson

As a girl growing up in the 1980s with a little sister, divorcing parents, and new step-parents on the horizon, Labyrinth was the best place to escape. As an attention-craving teen, I whole-heartedly commiserated with the character of Sarah. How dare they just assume that I would babysit my little sister without notice? I mean, I have a life! Well, at least I did as I left “this awful place” and disappeared into the imaginary world created by Jim Henson.

As much as my little sister occasionally got on my nerves – and I may or may not have wished the goblins to take her away – she was actually quite loved. So if my hasty wish came true, I’d like to think that I would have faced the dreaded Labyrinth to get her back. At only five years my junior, we did have a lot more in common than Sarah and her baby brother Toby. And folks, let’s be honest. I’d have followed Jareth and his crystal to the pits of Hell. After all, I was not an ordinary girl.

Did I want it?

Oh, yes, I did.

After my parent’s divorce, my family split up and we ended up moving around quite a bit. As an awkward, quiet redhead, this meant that lifelong friends were left behind and new ones were hard to find. Cue my new friend, Hoggle.

Thanks for showing me the entrance, dude, but why did you leave me hanging?

Luckily, the worm tells me how to navigate the wall. Oh, how I wish I had time to meet the missus. That’s always been a regret of mine.

Now for a challenge – the four guards! Since I pride myself on my intelligence, the riddle isn’t that hard to solve. But, I take a wrong step and fall into a tunnel of “helping” hands.

Do I want to go up or down?

Well, since I’ve already been up, let’s try going down.

Oh, there you are, Hoggle!

With a little bribery – you like my bracelet? - my new friend decides to help lead me out of the maze. Jareth, however, doesn’t appreciate the dwarf helping me or –let’s be real – my cockiness. It is a close call, but we manage to escape the cleaners.

The next character we meet is the Wiseman with a bird growing out of his head. I give him a ring after he gives me his sage advice and falls asleep.

Sometimes the way forward is the way back. Very cryptic, but okay.

And after telling Hoggle that he was my only friend in this place, he responds by saying he’s never had a friend. But our brief love-fest is interrupted by a roar of pain. Enter Ludo, a giant, shaggy-haired creature tormented by bully guards with biting monsters on sticks.

Hell, no.

Doubtful there’s a redhead that hasn’t been bullied once or twice, so this isn’t happening to a fellow ginger on my watch. A few rocks will suffice to make them abandon the gentle beast.

Ludo, please join me on my quest.

But after some talking door knockers and a forest, I find myself alone again. Well, actually not for long, as I find some dancing fire creatures that want to remove my head. I escape with the help of my fair-weather friend, Hoggle. But after a thank-you smooch, we find ourselves in the Bog of Eternal Stench. And look at that – Ludo’s back too! We make it to a bridge guarded by Sir Didymus on a sheepdog. He can’t let us pass without his permission, but –whew – he gives us his permission. With that and Ludo’s help calling up some rocks to step on, we’re made in the shade.

So hungry…

Why have you been hiding that mouth-watering peach, Hoggle?

Thank you…so yummy, but why am I so tired? Hoggle? Where’d you get that peach?

Okay, here’s the real deal. This is where Sarah and I break our bond. Now, I know I have a sibling to rescue…but a masquerade ball in a bubble with no other than that sexy Jareth?

Let the world fall down.

You may think badly of me, but I would have let him place the sky in my eyes and the moon in my heart well after the thirteenth hour.

The next challenge is the Junk Lady. No, this is not real. It’s just a dream. As much as I like my little bunny rabbit, I’ve got things to do. Oh, and I have friends to help. Real friends, like Hoggle, Ludo, and Sir Didymus to help me on my journey to find Toby.

And I see Toby.

There, in the Escher Room, a vast room of disorienting stairways. Serenade me, Jareth. You turn my world around too, you precious thing. But I digress….there’s Toby.

Sarah is apparently stronger than me, because I have to admit that Jareth does hold some power over me.

I do, however, draw the line at letting you rule me and doing what you say.

But I leave this world stronger. I leave this world with my sibling. I leave this world with real friends. And, most importantly, I leave this world as a victor.

Sometimes – just sometimes – I’d still love to join that worm for a cup of tea.

"And remember, fair maiden, should you need us..."

"Yes, should you need us, for any reason at all..."