Rosalynn Bradely sat on her villa gazebo, watching her illegitimate son Selim play with a toy train. He would push the train around him in circles, excitedly saying "choo-choo" every few seconds. The mother sighed. She knew that she had caught much negative criticism for attempting to raise a homunculus child. But, it was her son after all, and she couldn't simply let him go. So far, Selim had grown up as a perfectly typical child would. Despite becoming unusually tall, his development had been perfectly natural. His personality was sweet and naïve, nothing like the homunculus that he once was. The most pride he took in anything nowadays was pleasing his mother. Ms. Bradely had zoned out when little Selim began tugging at her blouse. "Mommy, the bearded man is here to see you," he said happily. She looked up to see Fuhrer Grumman smiling at her.
"Oh, good afternoon, Fuhrer. What brings you here?" Ms. Bradely asked.
"Well, it is the Presidential estate. I do live here now, after all," Grumman chuckled.
"Yes…." Ms. Bradely said, still unaccustomed to the absence of her husband.
Grumman sat down. He gazed at Selim for quite some time before saying anything. "So, um… Rosalynn…. Has Selim been acting normal lately?" he cautiously questioned.
"I wish you would stop asking such things, Fuhrer. My little Selim is perfectly normal," Ms. Bradely responded.
"Yes, but we can't be too careful, ma'am. Those of his race nearly led to the death of this nation," Grumman responded.
"Don't speak about Selim as though he was a monster!" Ms. Bradely stated, clearly perturbed.
"Sorry, Rosalynn… but you know the risks," Grumman said sadly.
"Risks aside, Selim is my son. I will treat him and raise him as such, Fuhrer," Ms. Bradely said.
Selim had heard the exasperated cry of his mother, and had wandered over to investigate the conflict. "Are you okay, mommy?" he questioned.
"Yes, dear, mommy's fine," Ms. Bradely said in a caring and warm tone.
"Okay! Play nice!" Selim said with a direct look at Grumman before he walked away.
"Optimistic little tyke, isn't he?" Grumman asked.
"Yes, the energy that boy has is sometimes unbearable," Ms. Bradely said with a chuckle.
"Well… I must be back to work. Even with Roy's help, the office of Fuhrer is busy, busy, busy. If Selim exhibits any… unusual traits or habits, you know to report to me immediately. Have a nice afternoon, madam," Grumman said.
"I will make sure of it. Goodbye, Fuhrer," Ms. Bradely responded.
As Grumman began to leave, Selim ran over to him and said, "Bye-bye, sir!"
Grumman stood still for a second, then smiled. "Bye, Selim," he said while patting him on the head. As he walked away, he whispered to himself, "Such a mad world…." Grumman headed back to his office, realizing that Selim probably did not understand what the thousands of voices were that clawed at his mind at all times, invading his dreams. But, as some point, he would know something was not right and would begin to question. Meanwhile though, Selim played with his tiny toy train, blissfully unaware of what he was and of the terrifying sins he had committed. As far as he knew, he was merely running around the track of day-to-day life in a mad, mad world….
Children waiting for the day they feel good,
Happy birthday, happy birthday,
And I feel the way that every child should,
Sit and listen, sit and listen….