Stave Five Part Two: An Unexpected Visitor

Little Louis Simmington was just finishing his breakfast when his nurse came into the room and told him the news: a surprise visitor was coming. The boy tried everything he knew to get her to tell him who it was, but the nurse insisted it was a surprise. Louis was practically bouncing in his wheel chair with excitement as the nurse wheeled him into the playroom with the other children who were well enough to get out of bed.

"Hey, Louis!" called his best friend, Timmy, as Louis entered the playroom.

"Hey, Timmy!" replied Louis with a bright smile. "Merry Christmas!"

"You too!" beamed Timmy as he struggled against the cast on his leg to approach Louis, leaning heavily on his crutches. "Do you have any idea who's coming to visit us?"

"No clue! The grown-ups are really excited, but they won't tell me anything."

"Do you think Jill or Ashley might know?" asked Timmy. Just then, two little girls, one with no hair due to cancer, the other with half her face pink and wrinkled from a still-healing burn wound, ran up to them."

"Hey, Timmy! Hey, Louis!" cried Jill, hugging the two boys. "Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas, Jill!" the boys replied.

"So do you guys know who the visitor is?" Ashley struggled to ask; speaking was a little hard for her, since part of her mouth was twisted in her scar.

"We were just wondering if you knew!" answered Timmy.

"I think we're gonna find out!" exclaimed Jill, pointing toward the doors. "I think he's here!"

All the children turned to the opaque glass doors at her cry, and they were instantly silent as they saw shadows moved on the other side. Two of the shadows were easily recognizable as doctors, but the third one was much harder. It was much, much larger than the two doctors, and all Little Louis could make out was a wide tail coat and spiky hair. The boy though he recognized the shadow, but he wouldn't dare let his hopes get up that high. No way could he be that lucky…

The doors opened, and Drs. Coleman and Hastings entered the playroom, both grinning from ear-to-ear. "Hey, kids!" greeted Dr. Coleman. "I'm sure all of you are aware that a guest has come to visit you for Christmas this year, and let me tell you, you are all in for a real treat! Dr. Hastings and I are very honored to introduce to you…"

Just then, the doors were thrown open and the mystery guest strode in. He wore a long, silvery-white coat with a long tail and spikes on the shoulders, white motorcycle pants, and motorcycle boots, and he had a square jaw and spiky yellow hair with two long, thin braids on the sides. His eyes were a shocking, vibrant shade of violet, and they twinkled as he smiled.

"Hello, kids. My name is Jack Atlas."

There was a collected gasp followed by eccentric screams and cheers as the children who were most able got up and swarmed around the champion, reaching up with eager hands to touch him, to hug him, to shake his hand, to hold onto some part of their hero. Jack accepted them al joyously, laughing with them as he patted their heads, gave them high-fives, and wrapped his large hands around their little fingers. Jack Atlas was like a giant to the children, not only because of his size, but because of his fame and skill in dueling. Little Louis was frozen to his wheelchair, stunned and excited to an overwhelming capacity. The poor boy had no idea whether to laugh or scream or cry from joy, whether he should wheel as fast as he could toward the champion or toward the door. The Master of Faster, the ruler of the duel, Louis's number one greatest idol, JACK ATLAS, was here in New Domino Children's Hospital to visit them! The poor boy could hardly believe this was really happening!

Louis watched, wide-eyed and slack-jawed, as Jack made his way around the room, meeting and learning the names of every child there. When Louis was the only child left, Jack turned his eyes onto him. Louis though he saw an especially wide, bright grin appear on the champion's face as those violet eyes meet his own green ones, but Louis figured he was probably kidding himself. Jack strode across the room to kneel before the little boy, gently taking his small hands into his own.

"Hello, Little Louis," Jack greeted warmly. "Merry Christmas."

"Y-you know m-my name?" Louis whispered in amazement.

Jack's grin, if possible, got even wider. "I know you aunt; Mina is my personal secretary. I must say that I am very honored and pleased to finally meet you."

Louis could hardly speak. Jack Atlas was happy to meet him? "T-t-the p-pleasure is all mine, Mr. Atlas!"

Jack laughed heartily. "You can call me Jack, Little Louis."

"Mr. Atlas has offered us a very generous Christmas gift, kids," said Dr. Hastings, and even the children could detect the note of incredulity in the doctor's tone. "One yen of every ticket sold at his next match will be donated to our hospital!"

Little Louis was still too young to understand the insane amount of money that truly was, but by his few math skills and the amazed looks of the adults and older children in the room, he knew it had to be a lot. Jack stood as the children clapped and cheered, a proud, wondrous smile on his face. Louis didn't think he had ever seen the champion look so happy on TV.

Jack spent the rest of the morning in the play room with the kids. He left at lunch time to visit the children who were too sick to leave their rooms, but then he came back, as bright and cheerful as he was when he first arrived. During those hours he stayed in the hospital, Jack chatted and played with the children, helping them build towers out of Legos and blocks, coloring pictures, watching Christmas specials, reading stories and playing dolls. He showed the kids his deck and even played friendly ground duels with the older children who had decks, often letting his opponents win. He gave every child his absolute attention, making certain that no one felt left out, but Louis rather thought the champion was paying special attention to him. Then again, he could still be kidding himself. Either way, Little Louis was sure that this Christmas was the best he had ever had!

All too soon, however, Jack decided that he needed to go. Many of the children groaned, but they didn't complain; they all understood that a champion such as he must have a lot to do. Little Louis hung his head and stared at his hands, trying not to cry. He didn't want the champion to leave. Jack's visit had brought him more happiness and cheer than he had felt in a long time. Why did all the greatest things in life have to be over so soon?

Suddenly, a large shadow passed over Little Louis. The boy looked up to see Jack kneeling in front of him again, a sad smile on his face.

"Don't be sad, Little Louis," Jack said softly, tipping the boy's chin up. "I'm sure I'll be seeing you again soon. When you're well enough, you can even come and visit me with your aunt! Doesn't that sound fun?"

Louis gave him a water smile. "Yeah. But… but what if I don't get better for a long time?"

"You will get better," Jack promised him. Louis was surprised but the sudden fierceness in the champion's voice as his green eyes locked on violet ones again. He could see the loyalty and determination in the champion's eyes, though he did not quite understand what they were. Jack patted the boy's head and added, "I will personally make sure of that."

Little Louis nodded, his lip quivering as tears slid down his cheeks. He had never shown it, but the little boy knew that his condition was getting worse. The doctors' smiles and the assurances of his family weren't fooling him. In fact, it was only his faith in the doctors and his love for his family that kept him believing he would ever leave this hospital, although even that hope was starting to dim. But now, he also had Jack's promise to hold to, and he believed with all the trust of an innocent child that Jack would keep his promise. Louis leaned forward and threw his arms around the champion's neck, and Jack was dismayed at how week the little boy's grasp was; he seemed so fragile, the champion was afraid he would snap the boy in half if he hugged him back. He did anyway, gently folding the boy into his arms, patting his blue hair comfortingly. That embrace was by far Louis's favorite Christmas present.

Before Jack left, the children gathered around him in a group and one of the doctor's snapped a photo. Jack was sitting in the front of the group, surrounded by all of the children, with Little Louis sitting on his knee and beaming with a smile as bright as an angel's. Jack wrote a Christmas message on the photo and signed it as soon as the doctors printed it off, and the children cheered as the photo was framed and hung on the wall in the play room.

As Jack headed out the door, he turned, raised a hand, and said, "It was a pleasure meeting all of you. Merry Christmas, children!"

"Merry Christmas, Jack!" the children cheered.

"God bless us!" chimed Little Louis. "Everyone!"

Life is full of sweet surprises
Every day's a gift
The sun comes up and I can feel it lift my spirit
Fills me up with laughter, fills me up with song
I look into the eyes of love and know that I belong…

Bless us all with playful years
With noisy games and joyful tears
We reach for you and we stand tall
And in our prayers and dreams
We ask you bless us all

~ "Bless Us All" from A Muppet Christmas Carol