So, did you all enjoy the new episode? Because I did! ;) Speaking of which, now with more new episodes on the way I thought of somehow referring to them in my story. What do you think? Shall I do this? Let me know via PM or review.
Chapter 07: Growing Up A Little
With a sigh Leo slumped face-down on his bed like he had done so often since he had had to take over Donnie's cleaning duty. And now April had adopted this as well. Sure, he only had to clean the kitchen in her aunt's apartment once, but who knew when he would need April's help again? And maybe next time he had to clean more than just the kitchen.
Why did it always have to be cleaning? He even was having nightmares about cleaning now! And there were still three more weeks to go until he had fulfilled his and Donnie's deal. Donnie may have stopped making extra big messes now, but it was still a lot of work.
Leo had even thought of somehow tricking Mikey into taking over his own cleaning duty so he had a bit less to do. But then he had decided against it. It just wouldn't be fair. And he knew better now. Next time, he wouldn't be tricked by Donnie so easily.
He rolled on his back and took Madelyn's latest letter out of the drawer of his bedside table which April had brought this morning.
This sure would cheer him up a bit, he thought while he started reading.
Dear Mr. Turtle,
I am so sorry that I missed you! Next time, you have to wake me up!
The photographs are so beautiful! Mrs. Sparkling Hair just loves the roses-photographs, but I love the tulips-ones even more! And Mrs. Sparkling Hair said that she is okay with the photographs instead of real roses. Maybe you should bring her some new photographs next time. And I would be happy if you could bring some new tulip-photographs for me. And could you please tell your friend that Mrs. Sparkling Hair and I really love her photographs?
I understand why you can't bring real roses. Mrs. Sparkling Hair understands it too. But I really hope I can introduce you to Daddy one day. I don't think he believes that you are real.
I like Sweetie Smile, but I think sometimes she is really stupid. I wish she would be more serious from time to time. But her smile-smile-smile-attitude cheers me up when I feel sad.
What is your favorite 'Unicornia'-episode so far? Have you watched the one with evil unicorn-sorcerer yet?
And guess what? I persuaded Daddy to let me visit this friend of mine who lives just across the street, alone! He watched from the front door how I crossed the street, but I really crossed the street alone! And when I went home I called Daddy and he awaited me at our front door again. But again, I crossed the street alone! I wasn't afraid, but smiled all the time. I feel so grown up now! Thank you so much for your advice, Mr. Turtle! I knew I was ready for this! And it turned out I really was!
Maybe now I can persuade Daddy that I am old enough to watch 'Space Heroes' and 'Super Robo Mecha Force Five!'.
Do you go to school, Mr. Turtle? Is there a special school for talking turtles like you? And what's your favorite subject? I like school because I meet my friends there, and my favorite subject is mathematics. I am really good at it.
Okay, it will be hard, but I will wait until next week. I can't wait to see you again!
Yours,
Madelyn
Leo put Madelyn's letter away, thinking about what the little girl had written. New photographs? So he had to ask April for some. And this surely meant more cleaning to do for him. He choked a sigh. By the end of this month he was going to be a cleaning-expert.
He took his laptop on his lap, turned it on and plugged his earphones in. He needed to catch up on Unicornia. He still hadn't watched the first season. There were ten more episodes left. All this cleaning duty had kept him from watching the show. And he still had to keep it secret from his brothers that he was the pen pal of a little girl and that this little girl somehow had forced him to watch a cartoon about colorful unicorns. He did feel a bit better now after reading Madelyn's letter, but he still wasn't in a good mood now that he has realized that maybe he would have to do even more cleaning in the near future. So it was up to Sweetie Smile to cheer him up completely.
Mr. Dearing and Madelyn were on their way home. Mr. Dearing had just picked up his little girl from school and now they were walking hand in hand down the street.
They walked past a little shop, and Madelyn stopped immediately, tearing at her father's arm and so forcing him to stop as well.
"Daddy, Daddy, look!" she cried out and pointed at a DVD-box in the dressing window. "It's the first season of 'Space Heroes'! Can I have it?"
Her father frowned. "But Madelyn, we talked about this before. This is no show for a little girl!"
"But Daddy, it's Mr. Turtle's favorite TV show and I want to be able to talk about this with him. And now that I am old enough to visit Kathy alone, don't you think I am old enough to watch this? Other girls in my class watch it too." Madelyn gave her father a puppy-eyed look. "Please, Daddy, please, please, pleeeeeeease!"
Mr. Dearing did his best to stay strong, but when he looked into Madelyn's eyes, he could feel his resistance crumbling down.
He took a deep breath. "Okay," he mumbled.
And then he flinched at Madelyn's deafening outcry of joy.
The next day April just had made herself comfortable in the living room and was looking forward to a nice, quiet evening because her aunt was working overtime today, when there was a knock at the door. She frowned. Who could that be?
She got up and glanced through the door viewer, and then opened the door as she saw Mr. Dearing outside.
"Mr. Dearing," she said with a smile. "What can I do for you?"
"Hello, April," Mr. Dearing greeted her. "Nothing, really, I'm just here to give you this."
And with that he handed April a box.
The teenage girl took it and looked at the label.
"A photographic printer?" April asked surprised.
"I…I hope you don't have one already," Mr. Dearing said. "Madelyn showed me your photographs, and they were so beautiful that I thought maybe I could contribute to your photographer's equipment. But if you already have a printer, you can always exchange it."
"No, no, that's awesome," April replied. "I don't have a photographic printer, so that's great. Thank you so, so much!"
"No, I thank you," Mr. Dearing retorted. "You are doing so much for my little girl, this is the least I can do." A smile appeared on his face. "Is it true that you even watch 'Unicornia' now? Madelyn mentioned it a few days ago."
Unicornia? April wracked her brain until she finally remembered where she had heard of this before. It was this TV show for little girls.
"Y…yes," she stammered. "It's a cute show."
Mr. Dearing's smile deepened. "I didn't think this was a show for a teenage girl."
"I…I have unusual taste," April stated.
"I can imagine," Mr. Dearing chuckled. "Considering the fact that you like 'Space Heroes', that is."
April laughed insecurely. "Yeah…that."
They stood there for a moment in silence, until April's eyes widened in shock.
"Oh my god, where are my manners?" she burst out. "Don't you want to come in?"
"No, thank you, April, I just wanted to bring you this printer. I am on my way to pick Madelyn up from after school-care, so actually I don't have much time," Mr. Dearing replied.
"Okay, then just give me a second." And with that April disappeared inside the apartment, and when she came back, she handed Mr. Dearing the familiar green envelope.
"Here you go," she said with a smile.
"Thank you, April," Mr. Dearing replied as he took the letter. "Oh, and don't forget to give me some of your photographs. I still want to show them to our editor. If they are as beautiful as your flower-photographs are, I bet he wants to present them in the magazine."
"Oh, wow, that would be awesome!" April burst out. "Thank you so much, Mr. Dearing!"
"You're welcome. See you soon!"
"Bye, Mr. Dearing!"
When Leo arrived at April's this night after their patrol, his human friend was already awaiting him sitting on her window bench.
"You wanted to see me, April?" Leo asked cautiously. He hoped she hadn't come up with more cleaning duty for him.
"Yes, I actually wanted to thank you," April said.
"Thank me? What for?" Leo asked surprised.
"Because without you I would never have realized how much fun photographing is," April explained. "And it turned out that I am quite good. So thanks for that, Leo." She gave the mutant turtle a little smile which Leo returned.
"So, I don't have to do any cleaning for you again?" Leo asked. "Because I might need some more flower-photographs from you."
April's smile turned into a grin, a devilish grin. "Well, Leo, I didn't say that."
When Leo heard that, his face just fell.
He remembered Madelyn had asked him to tell April how beautiful she thought her photographs were, but there was no way he would tell her this now.
Madelyn was sitting in her cave again, but this time she had taken Mrs. Sparkling Hair with her which was now seated beside her. The little girl just couldn't have taken it any longer how reproachful the doll had been looking at her and had decided to let her inside her cave just this time to show her what she was doing in there.
She yanked the letter open, but before she started reading she took Mrs. Sparkling Hair and placed her on her lap so that the doll could have a better look at the letter. Then she started reading.
Dear Madelyn,
Oh no, you are a little girl and you need your sleep. I'll just make sure to show up earlier on my visit next week.
Let's wait with the introducing, okay? I don't think your father is ready for that now.
Speaking of being ready, I am really proud of you. Persuading your father to allow you to let you go to your friend all by yourself really is something. And he might not admit it, but I bet he is proud of you too. Looks like you have grown up a little.
You are right about Sweetie Smile. She cheered me up when I was feeling a bit sad yesterday.
And yes, I have watched the episode with the evil sorcerer. And I think this is my favorite episode so far. It was exciting, and I liked Tallulah Twinkle's plan to defeat the sorcerer very much. It was well-thought-out. I think she is a good leader. She tries her best to keep her teammates out of danger and still come up with great plans to defeat their enemies. This is what a true leader has to accomplish.
Fingers crossed that your father allows you to watch 'Space Heroes' and 'Super Robo Mecha Force Five!'! Then we would have more awesome TV shows to talk about.
No, unfortunately there is no special school for talking turtles. There are just a few of us, so my brothers and I were home-schooled. And our education differs a bit from what you might know because we were trained to be ninjas. But I guess you could say physical education is my favorite subject.
I can't wait to see you again as well, Madelyn! I am doing my best that we can finally meet face-to-face next week.
Yours,
Mr. Turtle
With a smile Madelyn took the letter away and grabbed her letter paper and pen. She couldn't wait to tell Mr. Turtle that her father had bought her the first season of "Space Heroes"!
But before she started writing she smiled down at her doll.
"See, Mrs. Sparkling Hair?" she said. "I told you Mr. Turtle writes the most beautiful letters in the world. Now what should we answer him? Do you have an idea?"
It seemed to Madelyn as if Mrs. Sparkling Hair had nodded.
"Really? Well, then tell me more about it."
