The next day, Kermit walked around the studios. He held the photo of Walter's father in his hand, looking at the writing. As soon as he saw Walter, he was gonna give it to him. Judging by how he sounded on the phone the other day, this photo clearly meant a lot to the boy. He must have been close with his father.
However, the frog was unsure how to approach this. By the looks of it, he had the feeling Walter's father wasn't alive anymore. That made sense as to why this photo message meant so much to him. The amphibian felt sort of guilty. Walter has been a part of this family for a while, and they hadn't gotten to know all this personal stuff about him. Even though Walter never brought it up. But, how do you casually bring up something like that?
Kermit went backstage of the studios, where a few of the Muppets were. Swedish Chef was there with the chickens, Gonzo was chatting with Fozzie and Scooter, and part of the Electric Mayhem band was tuning their instruments.
The frog walked up to the band, and saw that a few of them were missing.
"Morning, guys." The frog said. "Where's Floyd and Animal?"
"Animal is like, having a break down!" Janice said, nervously. "Floyd chased after him!" Kermit swallowed.
"Oh no. What is it now...?" He asked, also getting nervous.
"Lost his drum sticks." Dr. Teeth said, testing his keyboard. "His favourite ones."
The frog shuttered a bit, knowing all too well that things ended badly when Animal was mad. Especially when his drum sticks were missing.
"Well, you all know the drill." Kermit advised. "No direct eye contact. I'll have to thank Floyd for trying to keep him calm, later."
"I think we'll all have to thank Floyd, later..." Zoot said, setting up his saxophone.
At that moment, Walter entered. Gonzo, Fozzie, and Scooter noticed. They went up to him to talk.
"Walter, keep an eye out." Gonzo warned the younger Muppet. "Animal is on an anger heist."
"Uh oh...what happened?" Walter willingly asked.
"His drumsticks are missing." Fozzie said.
Walter cringed. "That can't be good..."
"Nope." Scooter agreed. "Just don't get involved, and stay out of his path of rage. And if you find his drumsticks, let him know where they are. Don't try to give them to him, yourself."
Walter nodded. "Thanks. If I didn't know that, I'd probably be teared to pieces." The other three shuttered. As much as everyone adored Animal, it was frightening when he was mad. They had tried to convince him on continuing his anger management courses, because it seemed to have helped before.
When Kermit saw Walter talking with them, he walked over. He held the photo in his hand, careful not to ruing the edges or anything.
"Hey, guys." Kermit said. The frog didn't know how to give Walter's personal belonging back, with the other three watching. He stood there awkwardly for a moment.
"Hey." Walter responded. "Do you...have it...?" Kermit looked up, surprised that the boy didn't mind getting it back in front of the three that stood there.
"Have what?" Fozzie asked.
Neither of them responded and just stood there quietly. Kermit nodded, when he noticed the he was just staring.
"Yea, it's right here." The frog said, showing it to him. "Hope I didn't ruin it."
Walter smiled and shook his head as he reached his hand out to take it. "Don't worry, it's-"
Before Walter could take his precious photo back, Miss Piggy entered through the back door of the theatre.
"My, it's windy out there!" She said, as her vintage scarf blew in her face. The wind was so sudden and strong, that the little photo flew right out of Kermit's hand. Walter and Kermit both shot their heads to where it blew, gasping.
"No, no, no!" Walter stammered, going after it. Kermit followed behind, also frantic. The photo rose high up in the air, but thankfully didn't leave the room. It swiftly floated down, and landed in the pages of the newspaper that Zoot was reading.
"Phew..." Walter sighed, feeling his heart beat a bit too fast. That was close. Before Walter could walk up to Zoot, a freaked out Floyd came running in.
"Red alert! We've got a chaotic Animal coming this way!" The bass player yelled.
"You couldn't calm him down?" Fozzie asked, nervously. Floyd rapidly shook his head.
"I tried everything!" Floyd said. "I even let him eat the garbage!"
"ARGH!" Animal's yell came from around the corner, and startled those who were in the room.
"Okay, everyone just stay calm!" Kermit advised. "No direct eye contact!" Many of the Muppets ducked under some chairs and prop tables, shaking as they heard Animal approaching. Walter and Kermit stayed in place however, standing guard of the crazy Muppet.
"NO DRUMSTICKS! NO DRUMSTICKS!" Animal raged loudly, knocking over a bunch of props.
"Someone give him something to tear up!" Dr. Teeth yelled over Animal's loud sounds of anger.
"What do we use!?" Janice said, hiding behind a chair. Dr. Teeth looked towards where Zoot was.
"Zoot, the newspaper!" He yelled. Zoot nodded, and grabbed the newspaper he was previously reading. The saxophone player got ready to throw it, and Walter felt his stomach drop through the floor.
"Wait! Zoot, no!" Walter called out, already watching the newspaper fly through the air. Animal caught it with his flailing hands and tore it apart like a paper shredder. Little pieces of paper flew around the space like confetti, and Walter watched with fear.
As soon as the newspaper was completely torn to shreds, Animal went running out of the room.
"Drumsticks missing!" His voice echoed from the other room. The others all came out from hiding cautiously, feeling relieved. Except for Walter. Without thinking twice, the boy ran to the paper shreds, landing on his knees. He started to bat through them like crazy.
"No, no!" Walter said, still looking through the pile with fear. His motions were fast, and disturbed. Those who were in the room looked at him with shock and confusion. Except for Kermit, who also feared the possibility.
"Walter, what is it?" Fozzie asked, watching the boy's fast movements.
"Where is it, where is it!?" Walter said, shakiness in his voice. His tone worried everyone. They've never heard him so frantic, before. After a few moments, Walter's movement stopped. They looked at him with silence, waiting for him to do something else. Walter shakily put his hand out and picked up a few teared up pieces.
The young Muppet looked at the shredded pieces in his hands. It wasn't part of the newspaper, however. Walter looked down at the remains of his father's photo. It was no longer visible, and neither was the message.
Fozzie looked towards Kermit. "He must really care about the Los Angeles Times." The frog shook his head, still looking at Walter.
"No, that's not what's going on, Fozzie..."
"Walter, are you okay...?" Gonzo spoke up.
"That...that was all I had left of him..." Walter spoke really quietly that no one could hear him. However, they did hear the pain in his voice.
"Sorry...?" Piggy gently spoke, trying not alarm him. Kermit slowly went up to Walter and put his hand on his shoulder. As soon as he did so though, the boy shot up and ran.
"N-no!" His shaky voice said, as he ran out the back door of the theatre. The few Muppets watched as he ran away with a hurt expression on his face, feeling sad towards him. Even though many didn't know why he was hurt.
"Walter, wait!" Kermit called out, chasing after him out the door. Fozzie and Gonzo immediately followed Kermit, going after Walter.
When the four had gone, Piggy looked towards the rest.
"What happened...?" She asked, concern in her voice.
"I think Animal teared up something that belonged to Walter." Scooter guessed. "Whatever it is, it sure means a lot to him..."
Meanwhile outside, Kermit, Gonzo, and Fozzie ran after Walter through the studios. Walter managed to make some fast turns around some corners, losing the trio that was chasing him. The three slowed down their pace, looking for the boy more cautiously.
"Walter!" Fozzie called out. "Where are you!?"
"Walter! Please, we can talk about this!" Kermit said, as they turned another corner.
"Kermit, what happened?" Gonzo asked. Kermit sighed, knowing he couldn't hide what it was.
"Animal ripped up a photo that belonged to Walter...of his father." Kermit explained. "I'm pretty sure he died in the Marines...so that photo probably meant a lot to him..."
Fozzie played with his scarf, uncomfortably. "Poor Walter..."
"What are we gonna do...?" Gonzo asked, still looking at Kermit. The frog couldn't say that he knew, because he honestly didn't.
"I don't know, guys." He said, defeated. "It's not like we can change what just happened, it was a mistake..."
When the three Muppets turned around another corner, they stopped. They saw Walter sitting cross legged against the parked Electric Mayhem bus. He looked down at the shredded pieces of the photo in his hands, hurt was written all over his face.
Kermit tried to walk over, but Fozzie stopped him.
"Wait, Kermit. What do we say...?" The bear asked. Kermit didn't answer, not knowing.
"Guess we'll figure it out..." Gonzo replied.
Walter sat there, his eyes glued to the paper shreds. His head ached, with confusion and sadness. It was disrupted when he felt three familiar Muppets sit down next to him, also leaning against the bus. He couldn't lift his gaze, though. He felt too upset and embarrassed. The boy didn't say anything, he just looked at the wrecked photo.
The other three didn't say anything either and just sat there quietly. Almost as though they were trying to let him know they were there to comfort him, but not bombard him. Walter fiddled with the photo pieces in his hands, remembering how it was in perfect condition moments before. He barely even got it back from Kermit, before it was blown out of the frog's hand from he wind.
It felt like long minutes before Kermit was the first to speak.
"Walter, we're sorry..." He said. Walter still looked a the pieces and didn't respond.
Gonzo swallowed. "Can we ask when he...?"
Walter sighed, and finally spoke. "I was only eighteen." He played with the pieces in his hand. "Barely even started college..."
The others merely responded by nodding and kept their gazes down.
"What did he do in the army?" Fozzie asked.
Walter cleared his throat. "He was a lieutenant." The boy smiled, thinking of him. "I remember when was eight I always tried to steal his hat."
The other three chuckled a bit at the thought of Walter as a little boy.
"Sounds like something you'd do..." Kermit smiled.
Walter sighed before continuing. "I got the photo message a few months before he..." Walter drifted off, not really wanting to say it. "In the letter it came with he told me that he didn't have a photo of the both of us, so it would have to just be him..."
"Well, that's better than nothing." Fozzie shrugged. "But, now I guess it really is nothing..."
Kermit looked at the bear. "Fozzie..."
"No, no it's okay." Walter said, defending the bear. "He's right."
"Are...are you sure there isn't anything else he left behind...?" Gonzo asked, trying to lift his spirit.
"Well..." Walter started. "He left behind his old truck that my brother and I used for our window washing business. But, Gary sold it..."
"Why?"
"He got a new job as a technician." Walter explained. "It has better pay. I think they need that with their wedding coming soon. So in the end, selling the truck would have probably been the best decision."
They all nodded. "Was that the only photo of him?" Kermit asked.
"No, I have a framed one. But, it doesn't have the same meaning. I know that sounds critical-"
"No, we get it." Kermit reassured him. "There's some things Jim left behind, that can't live up to anything else."
Walter nodded, remembering how the Muppets went through the loss of Jim Henson. Guess he wasn't the only one who had lost family.
Kermit leaned back against the side of the bus, and sighed.
"You look a lot like your father..." The frog said. "Don't know if anyone has told you that."
Walter smirked. "You'd be surprised."
The four sat there, the tension now a bit more relaxed. Walter had to admit, he surprisingly felt more comforted.
"Gonzo, Fozzie?" Kermit asked. "Can I talk to Walter for a second?" Walter looked up at the frog, surprised.
"Uh, yeah sure Kermit." Fozzie said. The two got up.
"We'll see you guys back in the theatre." Gonzo said, as they walked away.
As soon as they were gone, Kermit looked at Walter. He didn't look back.
"Walter, I-"
"Look Kermit, if you're planning to give me a life lesson on losing my dad, I'm sorry I just really would rather not..." Walter said. The frog was taken back by this. That was unexpected, and not the Walter he knew.
"I just want to make sure you're okay..." The frog said.
"Don't worry, it's not your job." Walter responded, bitterly. He stood up from the side of the bus.
"Yes it is." Kermit said, also standing up.
Walter looked back at Kermit, and sighed. "Since when?"
"Since you became a part of this family." Kermit said. "And you are the youngest, after all..."
"What does that have to do with this?" Walter said.
"We just want to make sure you feel supported, okay?" Kermit exasperated, a bit impatient with the younger Muppet.
Walter took a breath, trying not to be upset with Kermit. He'd never thought that he would actually be disagreeing with him.
"Kermit, you don't always have to solve my problems." Walter said, calmly. "To be honest, I've never fully recovered from my dad dying. Right now, I don't need advice. I appreciate it, but I really don't."
"We never really recover from these things." Kermit said. "That's why it's better to handle it, together..."
Walter shook his head. "Sorry, I'd just rather not." The boy began to walk away, until the frog grabbed him by his arm.
"Walter, you can't ignore this. I can help. I should help-"
"No, you shouldn't!" Walter said, sternly. "You're not my dad."
After saying that, Walter walked away from the frog. Kermit felt his throat dry up, feeling a bit hurt. No, he wasn't Walter's dad. But, the boy had lost his father when he was eighteen. Eighteen. It's not like he had one left. Besides the bit of family Walter had back in Smalltown, the Muppets were also Walter's family now. Kermit wanted to live up to that.
"You're right." The amphibian said to himself. "I guess I'm not your dad..."