Alrighty. So, here's Ch. 6. x3 First off, I'd like to say that I've just listened to the song 'It's Possible' from Seussical, and I was totally inspired. 8D But still... mild language warning for this, very mild, but still present. Lawls. Enjoy! :D --
It was four o'clock the next evening, and Ned now stood in front of the Orphanage. His hand crinkled his white tie as he nervously watched the building in front of him. His thumb then graced the golden Mayoral crest, and something about the touch of the metal had gotten to him. Ned glanced to it, the object shining in the light and in return onto his vision. He squinted his eyes a bit as this occurred, but he released his grasp upon the tie and crest, and then took a deep breath.
"It shouldn't be that hard, right? Just go in, sign some papers, and you bring home another little girl," spoke Ned, courageously and with that, he headed inside.
Well, it was that hard…
Here he was, Ned McDodd – Mayor of Whoville – shrinking back under Dr. Kazoo's disapproving words. It was only he, Ned, Dr. Kazoo, Mr. Deli, and Melody within the room. Cowering in the corner was Ned. The one causing the cowering was Kazoo. On the opposite side of the room, Mr. Deli was watching, confused, and sitting on top of the filing cabinet was Melody, whose expression matched Mr. Deli's. Ned was not sure how it had gotten to this point. All he had done was go the front desk, say that he wanted to adopt, and was sent straight to Mr. Deli's office. During the confrontation between Deli and himself, Deli had sent for Dr. Kazoo along with Melody to discuss the matter. Then, after that… It got really ugly, really fast.
"A-all I wanted was to adopt Melody!" defended Ned, in an almost whimpering tone as he used his arms in order to block himself from Kazoo.
"Do you have any idea what that could do to her though? What she needs is to be here!" shouted Dr. Kazoo. He was growling now, and he was so very different then the carefree Kazoo he normally was, "You have no right fooling around like this and taking someone like Melody away – someone who needs the attention of this Orphanage!"
"B-but…" Ned stammered, he couldn't find words, and his stomach twisted in knots.
"Don't you 'but' me!" Kazoo snapped, and he loomed over Ned, he was a distinct amount taller then him, and thus, as he did this, it was as if he some carnivorous beast about to eat its prey, "Dammit, Melody can't go! Don't you get that?! She can't handle being outside these walls! Tell him, Mr. Deli!"
Deli blinked, not quite expecting to be brought so suddenly into the conversation. He glanced nervously from Kazoo to the pleading Mayor behind him, "Well, er…" he trailed off, but then regained his professional composure, "We firstly have to consider what's really right for Melody, here."
"-Which would be here," Kazoo had quickly spoken, refusing to lose this battle.
"Not necessarily, Doctor," sighed Deli and he glanced to Melody. She sat there, arching an eyebrow as she watched them all. She tapped her fingers in a melodic tone over the cabinet she set upon, as if waiting for Deli to continue, and so he did, "If anything, the Mayor here has all that we have provided for her and more."
Kazoo blinked, understanding where Deli was headed and a scowl was now written on his face, "You can't be serious, Del… How the hell do you think a boob like this is going to manage taking care of her?!"
Upon this, Ned could notice Melody had tensed and her expression had fallen. Biting his lip, he looked back to Mr. Deli, and he prayed to God that Deli would side with him.
"Mr. Mayor?" Deli began, and he took a breath watching Ned carefully.
Ned straightened and almost had done a salute to show his obedience, "Y-yes?"
"Do you have a suitable doctor to take Melody every week?" inquired Deli, his tone serious now.
Ned watched Deli for a moment, but then, he had instantly nodded in a frantic tone, "Yes."
"And do you have enough money to take care of her like she was any of your other daughters? What about treating her like she never was adopted to begin with? Can you do that?" Mr. Deli interviewed now.
Again, there was no hesitation in Ned's voice, and he pushed his way past a frustrated Kazoo, "Yes and Yes, Mr. Mel-Deli. I can take care of her! I can give her more then all that! I can give her a life outside of all this."
There was silence for a moment, and no one spoke. Then, there was a gentle thump as Melody's feet hit the floor, and all attention was drawn on her. Throughout the entire confrontation, she had not spoken a word nor budged an inched, only she watched. Now, she was standing on the ground, and beginning to wander over to Ned. Her fingers traced against the wall she walked beside, but her eyes did not leave the Mayor. They were wide and curious now, and for once, Ned did not see her eyes on his daughters' faces, but instead, his daughters' eyes along her face. Just a foot in front of him, she had stopped, and her expression was of wonder and curiosity. Her eyes spoke as if wanting and wishing for Ned to say those words again. Instead, Ned just stared at her, unsure. Through her silence, though, and all those years he had spent with the same silence that Jojo portrayed, he was able to understand.
Through her white eyes, it was as if she was speaking, 'Can you really do all that for me?'
Ned watched her for a moment, taking in her actions, thinking of a proper response. Actions speak louder then words, Ned thought to himself and he held out his hand for her to take. For once, he didn't see a hopeless diseased little Who, but instead a young girl with all the potential in the world. She seemed to hesitate for a moment, and Ned noticed this. He merely smiled reassuringly, but did not speak. Again, Melody watched his hand, but, after another pause to reflect upon his action, she had taken his hand and stood as his side, glancing back to Dr. Kazoo and Deli.
Watching this little sight unfold before him, something in Dr. Kazoo had shattered. His body tensed as he watched two, but his eyes were mostly focused upon Melody. He didn't understand why…Why she had so easily gone to Ned, without even a glance to himself. The thought made his stomach twist in knots, and he had the urge to throw up now. He was practically sick to his stomach at this point. He clutched a chair beside Mr. Deli's desk, clutching it hard in a sense of restraining himself from thrashing Ned to pieces this instant.
With a growl, he spoke from across the room, having to keep his distance from Ned, otherwise, he would probably have taken off his head right now, "Alright…Fine…Apparently, even Melody's going to side against me even if I know what's best for her… but, even if everyone's siding against me on this, let me tell you this Mr. Mayor – "
He had now released the chair and had marched across the room to Ned. His teeth were gritted and his face had gone a shade of red from the anger now engulfed him. Swiftly, he pulled Ned up by his tie, leaving him bewildered and a bit shocked.
" – Do you have any idea what you're going to be dealing with? This girl not only has progressive blindness, but along with it - tuberculosis, leukemia, severe insomnia and to top it all off – a friggin tumor in her throat! I don't care if you're Mayor or not! If you screw up once I'm coming after your ass!"
"Dr. Kazoo!!" shouted Mr. Deli now. He stormed over to the two, his expression one of severe disapproval. Hesitantly, Kazoo turned to look at Deli, having to restrain himself from continuing on with hassling Ned, as he listened to his boss, Mr. Deli, "…Put – the Mayor – down…"
It had taken all Kazoo had to fall back and obediently listen to Mr. Deli. He grumbled, annoyed, and he turned their back to them with his fists clutched at his sides.
"Forgive him, Mr. Mayor. He's been having a stressful day," Mr. Deli apologized.
Ned held a flustered expression. He was shaking with nervousness at the moment, and he could not control this. Hesitantly, he pried his vision away from Kazoo and took a wavering breath, "I-It's fine, really, I sware."
Mr. Deli briefly glanced to Kazoo, as if to check if he would indeed keep himself his check. He had sighed and glanced back to Ned, motioning for the doorway, "Then I suggest we get the paperwork started."
"Er…R-right, paperwork, yeah," Ned had nodded as he held a shaky grip on Melody's hand still. From the corner his eye, he had watched Kazoo. He too was shaking, but from what Ned had inferred, it was not from fear. No, the tremors that took hold of Kazoo's body were of rage and frustration. That was obvious. Even as Ned had left the room, he could not keep his eyes off Kazoo. Over his shoulder, he was glaring at Ned, one that would surely dispose of him if looks could kill. Ned recoiled a bit and his hand had tightened on Melody's hand, as if he were the child. With that, he departed to take care of the paperwork he had been told of, but even through this, he could not get the image of the cold eyes of Dr. Kazoo that pierced through him with beastly fury.
-- And that's it folks. And yes - I wouldn't want to upset Dr. Kazoo... o.O I felt a little devilish when writing for him... ah well.