Winds of Change-A Monsters, Inc. fanfic
Chapter 6
"How do you feel this morning, Randy?" Vanessie greeted this morning. She was early to work again, and Randall, too, came at the same time as yesterday, just a few minutes later than her. The laugh floor occupied two other assistants as well, minding their own business.
"I feel a bit tense," Randall said honestly with a half-grin. "But I think I can do this."
"Great. I know it's early, but I wish you luck." Vanessie winked.
"Thanks. I need all the encouragement I can get."
Randall took a chair and sat next to Vanessie. He noticed when he came in that she was working on something, but looking at her now, she wasn't doing any paperwork. He loomed his head over enough to not have her notice and cocked his head to the side to get an even better look.
Vanessie was drawing something. It looked interesting, but he could not make it out.
"Enjoy what you see?" he heard Vanessie say.
Randall leaned back to his chair and asked, "How did you know I was looking."
"Us artists have an extra sense of people watching us while we work."
Randall chuckled. "So you're an artist?"
She nodded with a smirk. "I started when I was three. I've been doing it for so long."
"I bet you have. And your parents; what did they think of it?"
"They bragged about me constantly." she grinned. "They supported me their whole lives."
"I can see why." Randall said as he got a clear view of her work. She was drawing a cat. It was a bit plump, black and very fuzzy. "You like cats?"
"I want one so bad." she pouted. "I remember wanting one when I was little. I got over it until the girl Alani reminded me how much I wanted one."
"Ah," Randall said. He looked at her drawing some more, appreciating the skill. "You're really good."
"Thanks."
"Shouldn't you work somewhere else for this skill? I mean, not that I don't enjoy your company here, or..."
"I wanted to but—"
"Oh, right..." Randall said, now feeling stupid. "Sorry."
"It's alright," she said. "Anyway, as for you helping me out do you think we could plan to go somewhere this weekend?"
"Wait," Randall said with astonished eyes. "This weekend?"
"Yeah. Why, are you busy?"
"Oh, no. It just that... I hardly ever went out with anyone much." He replied. "But yeah, I could go with you this weekend."
"Great." Vanessie beamed. "Now that that's settled, all you have to be concerned with now is making kids laugh."
After being inspired by Vanessie, Randall was sure that he has a slightly better chance of making kids laugh now. He was certain of it. "Yeah, I'll do my best."
The two chatted for a while, as the early morning passed and the Laugh Floor was close to being filled with its employees. Vanessie had a music player with her hooked to a speaker while they spoke to each other, playing electronic house music: her personal favorite.
When it was five minutes before to begin, Randall began to feel uneasy. He wondered if he didn't look frightening today for the kids. He didn't want to make them feel intimidated.
"Are you okay, Randy?" Vanessie asked kindly.
"Yeah," he said. "I'm just a little anxious."
"Don't you worry, Randy. Here, think of this: kids are the easiest people you can be friends with. It's the truth. You just have to give them a good impression."
Randall touched his scar.
"Disregard the scar now, Randall. If you ignore it, they will, too. If they're curious, just say the general truth: you had an accident." Vanessie said.
Then Vanessie saw an unsure look on her partner's face looking away. She touched his shoulder. "Randy," she said softly. He faced her, looking into her truthful brown eyes. "I know you can do this. I have faith in you."
He felt a flush after she said that to him. It was so honest, so hopeful; he believed it so much. He nodded and told her with a bit of a smile, "Thanks."
"You're welcome. Now get ready. You're almost on, superstar." she told him.
As the countdown went on, both Randall and Vanessie got their earpieces on and Vanessie got her monitor ready. She looked at Randall, standing a few feet before his door. Looking at his stance, she covered the reciever and she whispered to herself, "Good luck, Randy."
After the siren blared, Randall breathed deeply, exhaled and scurried to his door, being so careful that he shut the door without a sound.
"Nice work on the entrance," Vanessie complimented. "But you now have to come up with something to approach this kid."
"I will," Randall whispered. "Trust me."
The lizard looked at the kid's bed and saw a bump on it. It was a girl who looked to be eight. She had dark hair with very light skin and had on a red onesie. Her room looked a little more like a boy's room with posters of science fiction and fantasy. He figured that this girl is a tomboy. Randall struggled to come up with something to wake her up without startling her.
"You need help?" he heard Vanessie on the receiver.
"Yeah, desperately."
He heard her laugh on the other end. "Don't worry. Seeing the room you're in, you haven't noticed this kid's drawings of mythical creatures taped to the walls."
Randall looked up to the walls and did happen to see doodles of mythical creatures. They were drawn by colored pencils and they were barely recognized to be a creature at all. Randall guessed on most of them.
"How does this help me?" he asked in a hushed tone.
"Just look at most of those drawings," Vanessie said. Randall looked again. "What do they all have in common?"
He looked at them hard and saw the scribble scrabble of them, all multicolored and indistinguishable to his eye. "I'm sorry, I don't get it."
"Dude," Vanessie scoffed. "The huge wings? The long necks? The boldness in those drawings?"
Randall gave up thinking and waited for Vanessie to answer. Then he heard a long sigh.
"Really, Randy?" Vanessie said in the other end, blowing her crimson bangs off her eyes in disbelief. "This girl loves dragons to death."
"Oh, I knew that." Randall said sarcastically.
"You should have. I was thinking it would be straight out for you." she chuckled.
"I'm sorry, Vanessie, but I don't have the analytical skills that you have."
"This is getting off-topic. You have to make this kid laugh, pronto."
"Okay, but—"
"RANDALL FREEZE." Vanessie said in an alarmed voice. Randall did as commanded and at once saw his own shadow in front of him and a circle of light surrounding the shadow. He then heard a quiet gasp.
"Whooooa..." Randall heard a voice say in the room.
"The girl kind of woke up at your rambling..." Vanessie said in the earpiece.
"Oh, really? I didn't notice." Randall whispered.
"Just remember, Randy, give her a good impression. You're already doing a lot just being a huge reptile." she told him. "Now turn around and face her."
He turned his head and the only thing he saw was the bright flashlight pointing at him. He lifted his arm over his face to shield himself. He couldn't see the little girl at all. He crouched a bit to see if he could get a better look at her, but it didn't do any help.
Until he heard her say, "Where are your wings?"
Randall's breath caught. She thinks that he is a dragon. Thankfully, the girl shut off the flashlight and all Randall could see was darkness until his eyes adjusted to the darkness. The only light in the room now was the moonlight spilling through the curtains.
"Umm, I never had any?" Randall said, confused.
"Just play along. I can tell that she likes you already." Vanessie saidin the earpiece.
"Oh, you must be those wingless dragons." the girl said with a grin showing off a missing space in her front teeth, then laughed. "Wow, this is awesome."
"Right," Randall said, half-smiling. It was so odd to him, but great to see that this young girl who would normally be scared of him being a huge reptile, now so excited to see him in her presence. Then he remembered Vanessie's words, "kids are the easiest people you can be friends with".
"Do you have any special powers?" the girl asked eagerly.
"Oh, yeah." Randall heard Vanessie say. "This is your big shot. You definitely got this."
Randall chuckled at the voice in his head and smiled at the girl. "I do have something, but it's not that special."
"Do it!" the girl whispered excitedly.
In a second, Randall "disappeared" from the room and the girl gasped in amazement, frantically looking around for him, giggling. He chuckled again at her and reappeared before her eyes, his body on the wall.
"Here I am," he grinned. He slipped off the wall and stood before the girl, his skin now identical to the wall he camouflaged with.
"Wow!" the girl said happily. "You're really cool!"
Randall repeated those words in his head. 'You're really cool'. Never had he thought of a kid to say that about him. Before this moment he wondered how children depicted him for so long: a scary huge lizard that just wants to traumatize their little minds. But now, he is considered 'cool' by this girl. He smiled brightly at her then.
Outside, Vanessie smiled as well, seeing how happy Randall was with this girl.
"Well," Randall began. "I shouldn't be the only cool one here." he walked up to the girl, now sitting down patiently. "I never saw a girl who's interested in boyish things. What's your name, pipsqueak?"
"It's Katie," she said, still grinning.
"That's a pretty name," Randall laughed softly. "You know you're cool, too?"
"I am?" she asked in a questioning voice. "But... I'm bullied at my school. I don't think I'm cool."
Randall's expression changed to concern. "Why are you bullied?"
Katie hesitated for a moment before she worked up the nerve to answer. "Well, the girls at my school think that I'm weird because I like boy stuff. And the boys think that's weird, too. They don't want a girl in their groups."
Randall thought about what to say and Vanessie stared through the monitor to hear what it'll be. He then told Katie, "I used to feel that. I've had my share of bullies, and it does get you down. In fact, I'm one of the very few reptiles of where I come from."
"Really?"
"It's true. I had my brother and my mom, and there were a few more reptiles here and there, but there's not many of us."
"Wow," Katie sighed. "That's sad. I love reptiles."
Randall smiled again. "You know, a very smart monster taught me something special. It's that... People shouldn't judge you for what you're not, or else you become that person. I know I learned that, Katie."
Vanessie listened close to what he said and her mouth curved into a smile, thinking that smart monster he mentioned was her.
"Just because the kids at school think you're weird doesn't mean you are. They're just..." Randall stopped. "Trying to make themselves look better than you. But you know what I see, pipsqueak?"
She nodded, waiting.
"I see a fiery and excitable girl here, who is tougher than the kids at school." he grinned.
"Tougher," Katie thought. "So I can beat them up?"
"No! No!" Randall said urgently, chuckling inbetween. He could hear Vanessie giggle in the earpiece. "That's not what I meant! What I mean is that toughness in you; it can keep you strong on the inside. It can block what those kids say about you." he stopped and said, "See this scar?"
Vanessie blinked as he showed Katie the scar below his eye. Katie nodded.
"I got this ugly mark because of... A series of stupid decisions—"
"You said a bad word."
Randall chuckled again, making Katie laugh softly back. "Sorry; a series of really dumb decisions I made in my life. You don't want something like this, do you?"
Katie shook her head unhesitantly.
"Then could you do a fellow dragon a favor?"
"Yeah,"
"Promise me that you'll make smart choices. Don't be like how I was. You'll regret it." Randall paused for two seconds, then continued, "I don't know how to say this without making it sound cheesy, but... Be true to yourself, pipsqueak."
"I promise," she said, twisting her pinkie into one of Randall's, startling him a bit, but he felt a flush of redemption then, having this girl accept him so easily.
"This is sweet, Randy." he heard Vanessie say. "Awesome."
Randall smiled at the sound of Vanessie's voice, glad that he heard it at this moment. "Well, Katie, I have to go."
"Already? Why?" Katie asked eagerly.
"Well, Katie, we have different lives. I have mine to make better, and you have yours to make, too." Randall said with a sad sigh. "But I promise that I'll come back again."
Katie then made a gesture by twisting her pinkie again in the air, and Randall knew that she wanted a pinkie promise. He did the same back to her. He laid his hand on the doorknob.
"Wait!" Katie said in a desperate tone. "What's your name?"
Randall turned and looked at her with his light green eyes and gave her one last smile. "Randall. Randall Boggs."
"Bye bye, Randall." Katie said.
"Bye," the last she saw of Katie was her getting herself back into bed. He hoped that she would take his advice, but he knew how smart she was. Kids were not stupid after all. They had feelings; sensitive feelings and thoughts. They took many things seriously than most adults do. It was a remarkable thing, he thought. Now he knew the connection Sulley with the girl he called "Boo" and Vanessie with Alani. It's the feeling of being a role model to those kids and being their light. He never thought of being someone else's light, but now realizing it, he felt happy he meant to much to a little girl like Katie. He wished he could see her again soon.
Vanessie saw Randall come out of the door with a face of relief and contentment. She smiled at him.
"How did I do?" Randall asked her.
Vanessie breathed deeply in and out and told him honestly, "You did great. I can see you got through to her. And she got through to you."
"She did."
"Well, there are more canisters and more kids to make laugh. Still, you look like Katie'll be your favorite of all." Vanessie grinned.
"Yeah," Randall said. She said that truly. He was his first kid to make laugh and probably the best moment of work he'll remember from now on. Katie had potential in life and she could be someone valuable someday. Kids could be valuable someday. They have a lot to go through in life. "I'm starting to like this."
"That's the spirit, Randy." Vanessie nudged him with a grin. "Your next door is coming. Do your stuff."
As much as Randall wanted to linger with the rest of the kids he visited like Vanessie did, he made it worth the time he had in that session. Through that time, Vanessie looked at him through her monitor, smiling and giggling at Randall's attempts. She knew that he was having a great time feeling redeemed with those children. In many ways, they reminded him of Katie with her witty nature and sweet disposition.
By the end of the day, he filled twelve canisters. He was amazed at how much he did.
"Nice job, Randy." Vanessie complimented. "Keep this up, and you could probably surpass Wazowski."
Randall heard footsteps approaching and found Wazowski coming up to them. "Speak of the devil."
Vanessie shushed him, punched his arm and whispered in a forced tone, "¡Cállate! Be nice!"
Mike came over and saw all the filled canisters. He blew a soft whistle and said, "Wow, Randall," he said with his lips pursed in a somewhat pompous way. "I have to say, you made an improvement."
Randall felt a bit odd, usually used to Wazowski's insults. "Yeah... Thanks."
"Just wait, Mike," Vanessie cut in. "Maybe someday, Randy could be as good as you."
"Randy?" Mike said, grinning, and shrugged Randall as he said in a low voice. "You have a pet name, do you?"
"It's not like that." Randall said, looking at Vanessie if she noticed their conversation.
"Okay, but if you need any advice, rookie, you know Mike 'the Loveboat' Wazowski." the eyeball said.
Randall gave Mike an awkward look before he left.
Vanessie came to Randall again with her paperwork and noticed his expression."I told you to be nice."
"I did," Randall said in a distressed tone. "It's just that he's still annoying to me."
"Oh," Vanessie laughed. "Well, it's time to clock out."
"I'll walk you out."
After Vanessie turned in her paperwork to Roz and was about to leave the company with Randall escorting her until the lady she met a few weeks ago stopped her. It was Celia.
"Hi, Vanessie." she said in her honey voice.
"Oh, hey," Vanessie said. "How are you?"
"Great. Just great." Celia said. "Anyway, where do you get your hair done?"
"My hair? Oh, from a salon close by. But," Vanessie looked at Celia's headful of purple snakes. "I think I remember that the dye is safe on animals, but I can't be sure."
"Oh, thank you," Celia smiled. She looked over Vanessie and saw Randall waiting, looking away eagerly. "He's your friend?"
"Yeah," Vanessie said. "Trust me, he's not all that bad."
"I see,"
"Shmoopsie-poo!" Mike exclaimed lovingly. "There you are!"
"Googly-bear!" she cried. "I missed you today!"
Mike swept her off her tentacles and they started sweet-talking to each other. Vanessie thought this was her cue to leave already and started to walk towards the barely-patient Randall. "I think I'm ready to go."
"Thanks," the lizard said. "Another minute and I would've puked."
They started walking and Vanessie said, "But they're cute."
Randall chuckled. He did have to admit that Celia and Wazowski were perfect for each other, but not cute since he remembered the constant make-outs during work they had before he lived in the bayou. But then he also remembered that most girls were romantics, and Vanessie was no exception. He just wondered how much of a romantic she was.
"You ever been in that kind of thing?" she asked him.
He knew what she meant by "thing". "No. You?"
"Nah," Vanessie said with a laugh. "Remember, since my mother was gone, I was never social. Besides, I don't know if anyone would be interested in me." She looked back at Mike and Celia and said, "They look very much interested in each other."
"You're not worried about finding... Someone interested in you?" Randall asked rather timidly.
"I used to; years ago. But not anymore. I have my own life to make, and I let time do its work on something like that." she smiled. "Besides, I got a reliable friend like you, anyway."
Randall smiled back at her, looking into her brown eyes again, so vibrant and rich in the evening that he swore he saw the sun in them. Her hair also looked magenta in the light of the setting sun as it blew softly in the autumn air, her bangs covering her right eye a bit. He wished he had the guts to make a gesture of brushing her bangs over her eyes, but he was too insecure for such a gesture like that. he never thought he could be tender with her, as if he would mess up if he tried.
"You're a good friend, too." he said. "Well, you're on your way, then?"
"Yeah, to my next job. I guess I'll see you tomorrow, Randy." she said, giving him a light punch once more. "Bye."
He loved how her humor and spunkiness would make even a goodbye seem pleasant. He rubbed his arm where she punched and grinned at her, "You, too. Bye."
Vanessie sent him one last charming smile for the day, feeling another flush of warmth before she looked on in front of her. He then looked at the rhythmic way her hips swayed when she walked and her slender waist. As soon as he realized what he was doing, he looked away and shook the thoughts from his head. But when he walked home, he did grin at the memory.