This story begins right after Gobo leaves the Great Hall at the end of the episode "Catch the Tail by the Tiger." All rights to the characters of Fraggle Rock belong to the Jim Henson Company; the episode this is based on was written by David Young.
If Time and Outer Space Divide Us
Chapter One
Gobo regretfully turned and started down the tunnel towards Outer Space. I'm so scared, he thought to himself. And now that all my friends know I'm scared, they'll be even more worried about me. Oh, if only Uncle Matt would send me a postcard; I could avoid this whole thing.
Unfortunately, when Gobo peeked out the hole in the wall, he saw no telltale corner poking out of the wastebasket. He would have to journey into Outer Space to find his uncle Matt completely alone.
Gobo retreated and sighed. What was he getting himself into?
After Gobo left, Wembley gave Red Gobo's parting gift: a prize for honorable mention in a pie-eating contest. Red stared at the sash. Gobo gave me his only prize. I can't believe he would give me something so special. I wonder why he couldn't give it to me himself? She stared off in the direction Gobo had headed.
As soon as Wembley, Boober, and Mokey had left the Great Hall, Red quickly scampered down the tunnel. If she hurried, she could catch Gobo before he left. She had some questions to ask him.
Gobo took a deep breath, trying to calm his jumpy nerves. Boy, if Red saw me now, she'd tell me I was being a big baby. He smiled a little. Red was his biggest rival, but she was a great friend, too. Sometimes Gobo thought he might have what the older Fraggles called a "crush" on Red, but he wasn't sure. He thought she was pretty, fun, and exciting, though he was confident that she didn't admire him in the same way. Red was too much of a tomboy to think about him like that.
As if she had been summoned, Red suddenly came barreling down the tunnel towards him.
"Red!" Gobo exclaimed, pleased and a little confused at her presence. "What are you doing here? I was just about to head out to find Uncle Matt."
Despite being out of breath, Red immediately asked, "Why did you give me your pie-eating prize, Gobo? And why did you have Wembley give it to me instead of doing it yourself?" She looked straight into his eyes, unaware that he could detect a hint of fear and, strangely, hopefulness in her own expression.
Gobo felt bashful. "Well, uh, you're always competing with me, so I thought you would like it. You know, since you like to win stuff."
Gobo cringed inwardly as he replayed that comment in his mind. That sure sounded dumb. "I gave it to Wembley to give to you, becauseā¦" Gobo paused. There was no safe excuse he could give. He had to tell her the truth. "Because it would seem too much like a final goodbye, and I don't want to say goodbye to you, Red."
Red felt her face get hot. Am I really blushing? Because of something Gobo said? Since when do I get all mushy about Gobo? Trying to sound like her usual self, Red responded, "We'll all miss you, Gobo."
"Yeah," he answered, sounding disappointed. He meant to ignore the implications of her statement, but found himself blurting, "But will you miss me?"
As soon as he said it, he wished he hadn't. Great. Now I've scared her away for sure. She can't stand anything mushy.
Red hesitated. Seeing her reluctance to answer and mistaking it for negation, Gobo said, a little resentfully, "Never mind, it doesn't matter. I'll see you, Red." He moved to prepare for the long dash across the workshop floor.
"Wait!" Red cried, grabbing the back of his jacket and making him face her. "It does matter, Gobo! As a matter of fact, I'll miss you a lot!"
Gobo was pleasantly shocked. The shock only multiplied when Red concluded her outburst with a tight hug. He returned the embrace, momentarily forgetting his anxiety about going into Outer Space and his concern for Uncle Matt.
Eventually, Red pulled back, looking a little embarrassed, but at the same time vaguely triumphant. Gobo sensed her barriers were down and took the opportunity to say, "You could come with me."
Red recoiled in surprise, and shook her head. "I couldn't, Gobo. I mean, I wouldn't mind your company, but I can't leave Fraggle Rock. I'm not meant to be an explorer. My place is here."
"Please, Red?" Gobo practically pleaded. "I feel so much braver when you're with me."
It was true; her constant competition with him always egged him on, just to prove her accusations of fear or inability wrong. But he knew already that she wouldn't change her mind. Red was nothing if not stubborn, and he knew how truly afraid she was of Outer Space. The sorrowful shake of her head confirmed his suspicions.
Gobo heard Doc, the Silly Creature, tell Sprocket, the hairy beast, that they were going to the grocery store. The two departed, leaving the workshop deserted and providing an easy exit for Gobo. He turned once again to Red.
Red knew that Gobo would really leave this time. She tried to remain calm, but something inside of her was making her feel a kind of desperation, as if she would never see Gobo again. Much to Gobo's, and Red's, surprise, she planted a sweet little kiss on his orange cheek.
"Goodbye, Gobo," she said almost wistfully.
Gobo's stomach did a flip when she kissed him. Oh, how girly, he thought to himself, but he still was thrilled that she seemed to like him, just as he definitely liked her.
As was always the way with them, Gobo just had to one-up her. Her eyes widened as he leaned forward and gave her a peck right on the lips. "Goodbye, Red."
He promptly turned and ventured out the hole, unwilling to prolong the already emotional parting. If he waited too long, he would lose his nerve completely, and then Uncle Matt would surely get into deep trouble without his help.
As Gobo hopped through Sprocket's doggie door and into true Outer Space, he thought, I'll be back, Red. And when I return, I'm going to let you know how much I really care about you.
