The Lives of Genius
A Boy/Girl Meets World Fanfic
By Auburn Red
Chapter Twenty-Five: Minkus Ville II: Opening the Door (Stuart Minkus Age 37; Farkle Minkus Age 15)
Author's Note: The SNL and Jimmy Fallen sketches are based on my interpretations of what I think they would say about Minkus' breakdown. The books that Minkus reads during his recovery are real. Man's Search for Meaning is particularly moving.
On Tuesday morning, Eddie Giatti greeted Jessie Goloff in front of the Minkus Technologies building. "Good morning, Jessie," he said warmly.
"Good morning Eddie," Jessie said. "Good weekend?"
"You bet. Just sat back, watched the Mets game, and had conspicuous amounts of junk food," Eddie said. "If science has found a way to surgically attach myself to my recliner, I think I succeeded."
"It was great for me too," Jessie said. "My girlfriend, Andrea, and I went out for a picnic Monday. One thing was nice to not hear the name Rusty Venture, Boy Aventurer for three days!"
"Yeah I hated the show when I was a kid now I remember why," Eddie quipped. "He was so annoying! Age hasn't seem to improve him!"
Jessie laughed as she reached the Minkus Technologies door. She was about to stick her key inside when she saw that the door was already unlocked. "That's strange."
"Maybe Stuart came in early," Eddie suggested. He nodded at Stuart's nearby apartment.
Jessie shrugged and opened the door. The business partners entered the building confused. Jessie looked around, "The lights are on," she observed and nodded over at Minkus' office. "Stuart's office is open."
"Like I said he went in early," Eddie said. "I'm getting some coffee, want some?"
"What oh yeah sure," Jessie responded as Eddie entered the break room. Despite Eddie's reassurances, Jessie couldn't shake the feeling that something weird was going on. She just felt some sort of tension in the air like something had happened. Jessie crept through the office keeping an eye on the layout to see any signs that they were robbed. No everything seemed in order. Still her mind wasn't yet as ease.
Jessie gingerly approached Stuart's office and tapped on the open door. "Good morning Stuart," she said before she entered. "Eddie and I came in and we want to know if-"
She never got to finish what she said. She was stunned and frightened by the appearance of the office and Stuart Minkus kneeled on the floor. "EDDIE!" Jessie yelled.
Eddie came as soon as he heard Jessie call. "Oh my God," Eddie said looking at his business partner and friend. Stuart still kneeled on the floor crawling around. The walls were marked with numbers and diagrams. The office was a mess with papers and markings everywhere. Minkus looked like a wreck too. His clothes were rumpled. His blazer, turtleneck, and trousers hung on the chair. He was dressed in nothing but his boxer shorts and undershirt. He was unshaven. His hair was matted and greasy, and his eyes were red-rimmed and unfocused.
"Problem," Minkus said in a hyper tone like he was hypnotized. "Access cannot be maintained without the proper figures. If we tabulate these codes here and figure out x and y, a solution should preside," he continued on unaware that he was being watched.
Eddie reverted to being more business-like. After all, he was now in charge. "Jessie, call 911," he said. "And call Farkle's teacher, Mr. uh Michaels-"
"-Matthews," Jessie corrected.
"-Matthews," Eddie repeated. "He'll probably want to know what's going on."
Jessie was about to make the phone calls when she turned to Eddie. "What are you going to do?" She asked.
Eddie knelt down at Stuart's side. Stuart was unaware of the commotion around him. He mumbled, made a mark and cursed angrily. He crossed over the mark to make another one. "I'll stay with him until help arrives," Eddie said determined. Jessie nodded to make the phone calls.
Cory had written the names "Sigmund Freud" and "Carl Jung" on the smartboard. Then he wrote the words "Abnormalities" Vs. "Mental Illness."
"Now you're just making names up Matthews," Maya groaned.
"Now that would be considered abnormal behavior," Cory said. "In another time period, Maya, what you just said could have rendered you delusional. You may have been locked up, beaten, chained. Until the early 19th century, people could have paid a half-penny to see you in all your delusional glory as a form of entertainment. Now what do you have to say about that?"
"Those aren't names you just made up Matthews?" Maya guessed.
"That was how mental illness was treated until the early 20th century. Even in the early parts of the last century, treatment in mental hospitals was sometimes more painful than the illness themselves," Cory said. "People thought of the mentally ill as people who weren't like them, people who were meant to be shut away from society, to be experimented on, and sometimes to be mocked and jeered. It took people like Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung to bring the field of psychology to a new light. They realized that the potential for abnormal behavior exists in all of us. What is the neurologists' definition of a mental illness?"
Smackle raised her hand. "Excess serotonin in the brain chemicals resulting in excess or minimal fluids in certain areas like adrenaline or dopamine making neurological or psychological behaviors unpredictable. Case in point my Asperger's. I do not always get enough receptors within my emotions. Of course that's one of many theories."
Cory nodded. "Right and there are other theories. Some behaviorists believe that people are born with mental illnesses, other clinical psychologists believe past traumas result in such behavior. Most psychologists believe that it is a combination of factors how you are born and the circumstances of your life that help you deal with factors that contribute to mental illnesses. Now we all have behaviors that are considered abnormal, can you name some of them?"
"Sometimes people think I smile too much," Riley said. "They think that's weird."
"I've been to see therapists about my anger management," Lucas said.
"My counselor said that I'm a buffet or neuroses and emotions," Maya replied almost proudly.
Farkle raised his hand. "Well mine are pretty much laid out for the world to see," he indicated his arms. "I was thought weird even before then, well, and since."
"Right, we all have behavior characteristics that some may think are weird or abnormal," Cory said. "But what is the difference between being weird or unique and having a mental illness?"
"When it affects your daily life," Lucas suggested. "When you can't go outside or talk to people, or function."
"When you get fixated on certain things and you create these weird ways to get around them," Maya said. "Like washing your hands several times a day or checking your locks several hundred times."
"When you feel trapped by your emotions and feelings and you can't find any other way out of it except to hurt yourself or to hurt other people," Farkle said.
"Right those are clear signs when the abnormality becomes an illness and the person needs help," Cory replied.
Suddenly the intercom crackled, "Mr. Matthews," a voice called.
"Yes," Cory answered.
"You have a phone call from a Ms. Goloff," the voice called. "She says it's urgent."
Cory looked at his class stunned. Farkle in particularly paled with terror. "I'll be right there, Sandra. Thanks," he said. "Would you all excuse me for a minute?" He asked before he left the room.
The class was abuzz with the usual excitement that a classroom has when a teacher left. Some students even suggested implementing the 10 minute rule that if Cory didn't come back in 10 minutes, class was over. Farkle leaned over to his friends. "I have to get out of here," he said panicking.
"Farkle what's wrong?" Maya clearly concerned. "Are you having another panic attack?"
Farkle shook his head. "No, I have to get to my father! Something's wrong with him!"
"How do you know?" Lucas asked.
"Jess- Ms. Goloff is my father's business partner," Farkle said. "The call's about him!"
Cory followed Jessie into the Minkus Technologies building. By the time he arrived, there was already quite a commotion. Mike, Christine, Lonny, Ali and several other employees had arrived. Cory had arranged for a substitute teacher to take the next couple of classes for him, though he planned to be back to school by lunch. "The ambulance will be here any minute and you're his 'in case of emergency contact person' so we figured that you would tell Farkle," Jessie hurriedly explained as she dashed ahead of Cory.
"I'm glad you called me," Cory said. "I can try to be of help, though I don't know what exactly I can do for him."
Jessie led him inside the office where the employees had gathered around the front of the door. They parted to let Jessie and Cory through. Cory gasped to see Stuart Minkus kneeled on the floor, marking the walls, and mumbling to himself.
"I think he's lost his mind," Jessie said with tears in her eyes.
Cory knelt down and inched closer to his friend. Eddie stood up mechanically to give him some room. "He didn't say much to me," Eddie said hoarsely. "Mostly just talking about those figures and the upgrade. Something about accessing and opening doors, I don't know."
Cory gently touched Minkus on the shoulder as though he were a hunter approaching a wounded baby deer. Minkus looked up startled, but then looked back at the wall marking on it again.
"Minkus are you okay?" Cory asked. "Do you need help?"
"Cory," Minkus said. "Every problem has an answer right. I know, there has to be. Look at me, I'm a mindless freak again. Is the answer 7? If there is a door and it has no openings, no way of getting inside, how do you get inside?"
"If it doesn't have any openings, Minkus, it's not a door, then it's a wall," Cory said trying to find some reason in his friends' rambling. "There isn't a way in."
"There has to be Cory," Minkus said. "My child is on the other side. I can't get to him." He wrote down some more figures. "I have to find a way to access it. Everything can be upgraded, everything can be accessed, and everything can be opened. Everything has to be perfect and done right! My son is in trouble and he needs me and I can't get to him! I'm not there! He hurt himself and I'm not there! His mother and his grandfather have hurt him and I'm not there! Soon he won't even remember who I am! Why aren't I in there, Cory? Why am I out here? Why am I never in there when they need me? Where is he, Cory? Where is my son? WHERE IS HE?"
Cory jumped back at the force of Minkus' last words. A frightened voice whispered," Dad? I'm right here."
Cory stood up to see Farkle, Lucas, Maya, and Riley standing next to him. "When did you guys get here?" Cory asked partly worried for Farkle and Minkus and partly annoyed that his daughter and her friends technically cut class.
"Did you really think we weren't going to follow you?" Maya asked.
Farkle didn't listen to any of them. Instead he knelt down next to his father and put his hand on top of his father's writing hand. The marker dropped on the floor and Minkus' hand flattened against the wall. Farkle then held his father's shoulders by his other arm and whispered, "Come here, Dad."
Minkus' eyes watered as he looked at his son as if seeing him for the first time. "Farkle where are you?" Farkle then pulled his father closer as Minkus sobbed on his son's chest.
"I'm right here, Dad," Farkle said. "It's alright. Farkle's here, Farkle's here. He won't let
anyone hurt you either." Farkle looked up as the paramedics arrived and helped the father and son stand.
Farkle tensed as he remained in the waiting room. He was surrounded by Lucas, Maya, Riley, Cory, Topanga, Eddie, and Jessie. Morgan had flown up almost as soon as Farkle called her and she stood by the window with a lost terrified expression on her face. Farkle felt a sense of déjà vu wondering if this is how his father must have felt when he had attempted suicide, lost, uncertain, and shattered. If Farkle had any lingering thoughts about suicide, they were gone now when he realized that he never wanted to put his father through those emotions again.
The door opened as Dr. Leslie appeared at the door. "He's heavily sedated and he's sleeping comfortably now," she said. After being taken to the hospital, Minkus had been troubled by hallucinations and disjointed thoughts. It took the sedative to finally calm him down and relax him.
"What's wrong with him?" Farkle inquired the psychiatrist.
"Your father has been suffering from sleep deprivation and burn out," Dr. Leslie replied. "He is physically and mentally exhausted. In laymen's terms, he had a mental breakdown."
Farkle looked down at his shoes not wanting his friends and father's co-workers to see his emotions, but knowing that they registered plainly on his face. "How long do you think he's going to be like this?" Cory asked.
Dr. Leslie reasoned. "I would recommend that he remain here in the hospital for at least two or three days, then I would also recommend that he take at least another two weeks off from work so he can relax."
"May I see him?" Farkle asked.
"I would let him sleep for tonight but you may see him tomorrow morning," Dr. Leslie suggested. She returned to the front desk as the small group sat in tense silence.
"No problem," Eddie said to Farkle with false bravado. "Your dad just needs to take some time off. In the meantime, we'll take care of everything. Don't worry. We've been telling him that he needs to take a vacation anyway, right, Jess?" He nodded to Jessie.
"Yeah," Jessie agreed. "He'll be fine, Farkle. Your dad doesn't look like it, but he's tougher and stronger than anyone I know." Jessie gave the teen boy a big hug and Eddie gave him a friendly chuck on the shoulder and fist bump.
"We'd better tell everyone else," Eddie said as they left. They talked quietly but were unaware that Farkle was listening in. "I don't know who's going to tell Dr. Venture."
"I'll be happy to discuss the matter with the great Rusty Venture now," Jessie practically spat. "Driving him to this, I'd really like to do more than talk to him."
"It's not just his fault Jess, you know that," Eddie reminded her. "Stuart's always been like that. As much as he pushes us, he pushes himself twice as hard. I don't know, this time, his mind just finally pushed back."
Farkle watched Eddie and Jessie leave and barely heard Lucas get his attention until he called him again. Lucas looked up from his smartphone. "Farkle, I just talked to my Mom and she said you can stay with us as long as you need to."
Farkle shook his head. "No, tell her thanks, but I probably should be here to be with him in case he needs me." He looked through the window inside the hospital room where his father lay asleep and unmoving on the bed.
"Farkle it's not good for you to be here in the waiting room or at your home by yourself," Topanga suggested.
Cory nodded. "You should be with others right now who can help you. That's what put your father in here, building so many walls around himself and keeping everyone else out."
Riley gave her friend a hug. "He's going to be okay, Farkle and you worrying about him isn't going to change that." Morgan silently hugged the teenage boy and then squeezed his shoulder firmly to let him know that his dad was going to be fine and that she was with them.
Farkle turned to Maya. "Is he really going to be okay?" he asked knowing that Maya was the voice of reason not one to give into false hope. If his girlfriend said that his father was going to be okay, then he was.
Maya held her boyfriend's hand. "Farkle, the best thing right now for you and your dad is to wait it out. If he needs time to be somewhere, to sleep, to relax, and get better then that's what he should get and that's what you should get too. It won't do any good to him if you make yourself sick worrying about him like he is about you." Farkle nodded and kissed Maya slowly on the lips as the two held hands in comfort
Farkle pulled away as Lucas upheld his friend trying to cheer him up. "Come on, Roomie. Let's go back to your place and you can pick out any clothes and stuff that you need. Then we'll go back to my place and get some pizza and upload something action-packed and bloody from Netflix."
"Okay," Farkle nodded as his friend practically led him out of the hospital waiting room.
"We probably ought to get going too," Topanga said to Cory and Riley.
Topanga, Cory, and Riley rose. Maya was about to join them when she saw Morgan meander off to the vending machines. "Are you coming Maya?" Cory asked.
Maya held up one finger. "Yeah, just give me a sec." She said as she followed Morgan.
Morgan mechanically placed a dollar into the machine and ordered a diet soda to calm her anxiety over her boyfriend. The hospital ward was so quiet that she didn't hear Maya call her name until she jumped startled.
"Maya, you startled me," Morgan said.
"Sorry apparently, I have that effect lately," Maya said.
"Would you like something to drink?" Morgan offered.
"Sure I'll have a regular Coke," Maya suggested. Morgan accepted it and gave her niece's friend a drink.
"You know Morgan," Maya said. "You don't have to be scared every time you see me. I know why you're scared of me. I'm just saying you don't have to be."
Morgan relaxed. "I'm not scared of you, Maya. It's not your fault and I don't hold it against you at all."
"That my father raped you," Maya said. "I'd hold that against me."
Morgan tilted the teenage girl's chin up. "We can't be held accountable by what other people do. Sometimes when things like that happen, it effects a lot more people than the attacker and the victim. It effects everyone that they come in contact with. He raped me and that's something that we both will have to live with for a long time. But I think that if we live with it together, then it won't be as bad."
"I'm sorry for what he did," Maya said. Morgan didn't respond instead she hugged the blond girl closely.
Morgan pulled away. "Besides our boyfriends are father and son. You and I have to stick together to hold onto those Minkus men!" The two women laughed good-naturedly. "I should have known something was up with Stuart," she said more to herself than to Maya. "I should have recognized that 'I'm fine,' is Stuart Minkus code for 'I'm not fine! Will you please help me?'"
"Farkle's the same way," Maya said.
"See when you date a Minkus I have a feeling that you have to learn to translate the language," Morgan added knowingly.
"Like when they say 'Want to hear something interesting?' means 'I'm going to talk about quantum physics or the government of Outer Mongolia for an hour whether you are interested or not.'" Maya said.
Morgan nodded. "Or 'I'm the smartest greatest man in the world' means 'I really don't feel that smart or that great, but you think I am don't you?'" Maya and Morgan clinked their bottles in a toast and laughed.
"Maya between you and me I think guys like them need girls like us to bring them down to earth," Morgan said.
Maya agreed. "And girls like us need guys like them to help us think things a little deeper and be better people." Morgan nodded and agreed. Maya put her arm around Morgan's shoulders. "If it's any consolation, I like you way better than the former Mrs. Minkus." Morgan returned the embrace and the two joined Cory, Topanga, and Riley in leaving the hospital.
Dr. Joanna Leslie entered the hospital room. Minkus lay quietly as she approached. "Well I supposes it's unnecessary to say that you finally need individual counseling," the psychiatrist said dryly. She sat down. At first she checked Minkus' vitals and asked him questions about his daily activities and how they have changed in the last few days, then she inquired on personal matters.
Minkus at first was very reluctant, but then he began to talk. "I lied to you earlier when I said that my breakdown happened immediately after I came home. It happened almost a year later. My parents tried to keep me from my grandfather by moving him and not telling me where they sent him. They sent him to a home in Brooklyn where he was alone. They didn't tell me that he had Alzheimer's, but I knew and thought that I could take care of him single-handedly. He forgot who I was and ordered me to leave. That's when the police found me and sent me home. When I returned home, I was so furious with my parents that I said I was finished with them. We didn't speak for almost a year after that. We lived in the same house, but we were like strangers. I kept pushing myself at school, studying, making my lessons perfect, not sleeping, and barely eating. I did what I've always done: push myself in the things that I can control until I can't even control that."
"Was that the last time you saw your grandfather?" Dr. Leslie asked
Minkus shook his head. "No after my marriage, I had enough money to pay for him to move to a better retirement home in Manhattan. I took care of him there until my former wife's overspending caused his eviction. He got sent back to Philadelphia to be with my mother and that was the last I saw him alive. As a kid, he was the only person that I ever loved and I failed him twice."
"This former wife is the same woman that abused you and Farkle," Dr. Leslie asked.
Minkus nodded. "It seems every time I think I love someone they end up hurting me or they end up getting hurt."
"Like Farkle," Dr. Leslie said.
"Like Farkle," Stuart agreed. "I keep having this dream where he's in danger. He's with his mother and she's hurting him and I can't get to him. I keep going down this corridor that I think is never going to end, but when I finally get to the end, I come up to this door or wall. He's behind there and I can't reach him! I can't save my little boy!"
"And you've been trying to save him," Dr. Leslie said. "That's also why you hallucinated that image of your wife. You've been pushing yourself at work and at home, so you can save him."
"He needs me,' Minkus said. "And I need him! We're nothing without each other!" Next to the psychiatrist, Minkus began to sob.
Farkle timidly entered his father's hospital room. Minkus lay on the bed. His eyes were closed but he slowly awoke. Unlike when Farkle was in the hospital, Minkus wasn't only wearing a hospital gown. Instead he was wearing white and black striped pajamas and a white bathrobe. "Farkle, hi," he said hoarsely and slowly.
"They said I could come and see you,' Farkle said sitting on a chair next to the bed. "They told me that you needed your sleep so I didn't come last night."
"That's okay," Minkus said slowly. He was clearly still languid and medicated, but he smiled. "I'm glad you're here now."
"I was really worried and scared," Farkle said with tears in his eyes.
"I know," Minkus said. "I'm sorry. I just felt-I just felt-"Minkus couldn't articulate and couldn't push those feelings to the surface. "I don't know what I felt."
"How are you feeling now?" Farkle asked. "Tell me the truth, Dad."
Minkus sighed. "Tired, very tired." He leaned back on the bed.
"I think I know what happened," Farkle said.
"You do?" Minkus asked.
Farkle nodded. "I think you gave Jennifer so much and she never gave anything back and you think you have to be that way with me. You spent so much time taking care of me and everyone at work, and everything else that you forgot something: You forgot that as much as you need to take care of me, I need to take care of you too. You think that you always have to be strong for me but you don't. We have to be strong for each other."
"Are you saying that you want to be the father to my son?" Minkus asked.
Farkle shook his head. "I'm just saying that sometimes we have to be an equal partnership and partners rely on each other when things go wrong. They talk to one another, they share concerns and anxieties, they don't hide from each other or how they really feel. If we keep doing that, then we're left with this-"He pointed at his arms and then at the padded cell around them. "-or this. I don't want to come back here and I don't think you do either."
Minkus lowered his head. "I couldn't protect you. All of the things that happened to you, especially in the past year and at Jennifer's. You shouldn't have had to go through that and you did. It's like I could hear you call me and I couldn't save you."
"Dad, you did save me," Farkle said. "You sat with me when I was in the hospital. You got me out of the Bassett's house and took Jennifer back to court so she couldn't hurt me again. Every time that my mother made me feel worthless and unloved, you let me know that I deserved to be loved. You still do that because every day you remind me that you love me. You've saved me so many times that I can't count them all. Maybe Dad, it's time that I saved you. Let me."
Stuart's hand shook as Farkle held onto him to steady him. "Please save me, Farkle," he begged. "Remind me that I'm worth saving."
Farkle sneaked into his father's office with his friends close behind. "I don't know what you're planning on doing with this, Farkle," Lucas said.
"If I'm going to someday inherit my father's company and be the voice and face of Minkus Technologies, then I'm going to have to learn to speak to the clients. The best way to do that is to get one of them on our side while my Dad is recovering."
If there was one thing that Farkle learned living in his mother's house, it was to never let anyone even an adult force him into silence. He knew that to help his father, he had to stand up to Rusty Venture and his grandmother.
"I can't believe that your dad's client is Rusty Venture, Boy Adventurer," Riley said excited. "My Dad and Uncle Eric were fans of his!" She held up a metal lunchbox and an action figure that was still in its box. "They wanted to see if he will sign these!"
"How did you get the contact information anyway, Farkle," Maya asked her boyfriend.
"Uh well I hacked into my father's private email accounts," Farkle said sheepishly.
Maya nodded approvingly. "Alright I always knew my boyfriend had a dark side!" She kissed him.
Farkle smiled and pressed on the Skype code for the Venture Lab. Hank and Dean Venture were standing inside the lab engaging in some sort of fight.
"Loki, you can't compete with my super strength and my hammer," Hank announced.
"I don't want to be Loki this time," Dean moaned. "I always have to lose!"
"Hi guys," Farkle greeted warmly.
Hank and Dean dropped what they were doing and looked at the computer.
"Hiya Farkle," Dean called grandly.
Hank giggled. "Farkle," he laughed at the name. "Hey Farkle, got to Farkle, Farkle?"
"Yeah that was funny the uh…. first 100 times I heard it," Farkle said sarcastically. "Actually it was never funny."
Hank and Dean noticed that the three of them weren't alone. Hank winked at Riley and Maya. "So who are the pretty girls?" Hank asked and smiled. Maya rolled her eyes but Riley giggled.
"These are my friends Lucas Friar," Farkle introduced pointing at Lucas then at the girls. "Riley Matthews and Maya Hart."
Hank felt nauseous realizing that if they were Farkle's friends he just flirted with a couple of minors. "Well if it weren't illegal maybe you two and I would hit it off sometime."
Riley giggled. "The blond one thinks I'm pretty!"
"Hey hold on there," Lucas said pointing at Riley. "She's my girlfriend and-"He pointed at Maya and Farkle. "She's his girlfriend!"
"Hold on there," Hank said. "Just kidding. Anyway Deano and I have girlfriends of our own, so no worries. We're just being friendly."
"Never mind that," Farkle said. "Is your Dad around? I really need to talk to him."
Dean nodded. "Sure we can call him if you want." Farkle nodded.
Hank and Dean both held their wrist communicators near their mouths and mimed like they were going to turn them on when they turned back their heads and yelled in unison "DAAADDD!"
Rusty Venture appeared at the doorway of the lab and glowered. "Millions of dollars, countless sophisticated technologies and equipment and you still have to shout! What is it now?" He glowered at the screen and saw Farkle's face. "Oh it's you. What do you want kid?"
"I need to talk to you about my father," Farkle began.
"Yeah well make it fast, I have a little get together that I'm late for," Rusty said.
"Doc," Hatred's voice called. "Do you want me to pack the whips and chains for you?"
Farkle winced and Rusty rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Fine Hatred," he said.
Rusty then turned to Farkle. "So what is so important with your Dad that it can't wait? Don't tell me let me guess, He tried to upgrade the technologies and they blew up in his face again?" Rusty sarcastically asked.
Farkle was beginning to get annoyed with Rusty's lack of concern about his father's condition. "No," he said. "He's in the hospital."
"No more money out the wazoo?" Rusty asked quoting the Super Bowl commercial. "I knew he couldn't handle it!"
"My father had a nervous breakdown because of you," Farkle commanded. "He's sick because he tried to please you! The least you could do is give him more time to work on the upgrades instead of pressuring him."
Lucas, Riley, and Maya stepped back letting their friend take over. Rusty sniffed. "Well I might have heard something like that," he began. "Look kid, I warned him that it might be too much for him but your father insisted."
"It's his whole life," Farkle said. "You know that he would be perfect for your company because he has the same drive and the same love of science and technology that you do, Dr. Venture. Someone like Alvin Meese would just look on it as another business deal, but you and my father both are scientists, you want to see the products through. My father would kill himself to prove it, this should have shown that. But if that doesn't mean anything to you and my father is nothing more than just someone for you to step on, then maybe you don't deserve to work with him and he doesn't need your business after all."
Rusty glowered. "Well I was going to say that I would like to continue working with your dad and I hope he gets better, but after your stirring speech I think I will pull my business immediately."
Farkle drew back realizing that his hardball approach did more harm than good. "Well sir what I meant to say was-"
Rusty smiled. "I'm just messing with ya kid! As soon as your dad leaves the Laughing Academy some of my people can work with some of his so we can get us both upgraded."
"Really?" Farkle said.
"Yeah," Rusty said not wanting to show much emotion. "You got a lot of spirit, Finkle-"
"-Farkle," Farkle corrected.
"Whatever it reminds me of something my two little rugrats would do," Rusty said.
"Two little rugrats? But Hank and Dean are older than me," Farkle said.
"Daad," Behind Dr. Venture several guys dressed in butterfly costumes had grabbed Hank and Dean and dangled them over a railing,
"I wish they would just move out," Rusty sighed. "Take care of it, Brock."
"Sure thing Doc," Brock said as he sneaked up to the railing to pull Dean and Hank to safety while Rusty and Farkle talked.
"Are you sure you don't want to take care of this, Dr. Venture?" Farkle asked. Behind them Brock took a knife and engaged in martial arts combat against the Monarch's henchmen.
"Don't worry about it kid, it happens all the time," Rusty said nonchalantly.
"Really guys in butterfly costumes kidnap your sons and the big burly guy saves them?" Maya asked.
"More times than I can count Girlie" Rusty said. As one of the Butterfly henchmen had a handheld device and appeared to be taunting Brock Samson. Brock then knocked the henchman in the groin.
"Oh right in the yin yang," Lucas said.
Another butterfly henchman tried to sneak up behind Brock and he kicked him.
"Hope you like the Doors," Riley said as the henchman hit his head on the emergency door.
"Thank you Dr. Venture," Farkle said as he and Rusty ignored the fight behind them.
"It really means a lot to my father that you would do this for him."
Rusty glowered. ". You've got a good Dad, Finkle."
"-Farkle," Farkle repeated again.
"Why do you keep making that sound?" Rusty asked. "Something that not too many people have, I should know." Farkle nodded knowing that his father would have probably thought the same thing when he was younger.
Behind them Brock and the Monarch engaged in their struggle while Brock threw the henchmen over the railing.
"Uh oh, railing kill," Maya pointed out.
"Butterfly-"Riley began.
"Butter DIE kisses," Maya joked.
"You're really nice Dr. Venture," Farkle said to the super scientist.
"Well don't let it get around," Rusty glowered. "I've got a reputation of being a bastard to uphold." Brock swung Hank and Dean to safety. The butterfly henchman who fell over the railing pushed a button. Lucas motioned for the girls to duck down. Brock and the Venture brothers counted to three on their fingers. An explosion rocked the compound as Farkle ducked down in surprise. Rusty just turned around annoyed.
"Can't you think of something better to do than blow up the lab?" Rusty moaned. "Great now my insurance is going to have to pay to clean up this mess again!"
"I guess we'd better go," Farkle said. "Thanks again, Dr. Venture.
"Yeah yeah whatever," Rusty said.
"Um Dr. Venture," Riley said. "Would this be a bad time to ask if you would sign my father's action figure and my uncle's lunch box?" Upon Rusty's withering glare at the burnt lab, she gulped. "Okay, I guess so." Rusty answered by turning off the communicator.
"Well that was a fun day at the office," Maya said dryly.
"Apparently that happens so often that it's boring to them," Farkle said with a shrug. "I want to make one more phone call."
He reached over to the house phone and dialed a number. He listened to the voice mail sounding sadder and more serious than the last outgoing message: "Hi this is Nancy Minkus, I'm not in right now but if you leave your name and number I will return your message as soon as possible." Farkle winced remembering his grandmother's previous message began with "Hi this is the Minkus residence, Nancy and Tom are not in right now…" She must have changed it in the last few days.
Farkle waited for the beep and spoke into the message. "Grandma it's Farkle, I would like to talk to you. Okay, I'll make this short. You're wrong about my Dad. I don't know maybe you only see what you want to see in him. Maybe you only see a genius who can be very arrogant and acts like he knows everything and I'll grant you, you're probably right. He has flaws like everyone else. He thinks too much about things. He gets too excited about status. But not knowing how to love, that isn't one of his flaws.
He has always been there for me. He raised me himself, even when my Mom was living here. I have never felt unloved by him and if you ever really looked at or listened to him without seeing what you wanted to see, then you would know that too. He really loves me and I know he loves you and Grandpa. He just isn't always the best at showing it. In his own way, I think he was trying to get you to accept him for who he is. Well that's all I wanted to say. Good-bye Grandma, I love you." Farkle then hung up the phone.
In Philadelphia, Nancy Minkus lay on the couch and listened to the phone message. Then she reached over and unplugged the phone with tears in her eyes.
Minkus followed his friends and his son inside his apartment. He walked inside his bedroom slowly and methodically. "So what are you planning to do with your vacation Dad?" Farkle inquired. Lucas and Rachel said that Farkle could stay with them while his dad was recovering, but Farkle was persistent. He knew that he needed to protect and take care of his father like he had always done for him.
"Well first I want to check things out at the office and make sure everything is working okay," He just got out his laptop when Farkle picked it up and held onto it. Minkus reached for it but Farkle held it away from him. Minkus then took out his Smartphone but Farkle grabbed that too. "Dad, you are on vacation," Farkle said. "That means that you are not going to use your laptop, your smartphone, or even the house phone to call work!"
"But Farkle-"Minkus began.
"No buts Mister," Farkle said. "They are going to remain under lock and key until I'm convinced that you're better!" Minkus couldn't resist sulking, but Farkle wasn't about to cave. "You can have them back after the recovery."
Cory leaned over to Topanga," Wow, he's strict." He teased.
Minkus sighed. "Fine, I just wanted to check on things." He swayed back and forth, his voice droning. "Mostly, I just feel tired. I think I'll lie down for a little while." He leaned down on the bed and crawled under the covers. Farkle wrapped his father up and removed the laptop and smartphone from the room.
The next two weeks were not easy for Minkus or Farkle. The first few days, Minkus was troubled by hallucinations, anxiety attacks, and high fever. Farkle soothed his father by placing cold compresses on his forehead, talking to ease him out of the thoughts, and holding his hand when he was terrified. Once Minkus hallucinated that he was in the endless corridor and kept listening to Jennifer's taunts telling him that he was worthless, broken, and he would never find "her" son. Minkus tumbled out of bed only to be held up and placed back in bed by his son. Farkle tucked his father in like he was a small child and held onto his hand until he could be sure that he was asleep.
Farkle never left his side throughout the illness. He remembered how his Dad stuck by him in the hospital during his suicide attempt and knew that he had to do the same for him. He remembered long ago Stuart told him that that's "what daddies do: they take care of their children." As his father lay on his side, Farkle leaned over to him placing the freshly wetted compress back on his forehead and whispered, "Children take care of their daddies, too."
During the worst of the fever, Minkus dreamt that he was banging against the wall again hearing Jennifer's laughter. He kept pounding on it with his fists until he was ready to collapse. He sank down to the ground in a fetal position.
"You'll never get him, you pathetic loser," Jennifer's voice threatened.
Suddenly, he stopped when he felt something else. A hand touched his. Minkus craned his neck upwards as the hand continued to hold onto him. Minkus was confused until he saw another hand appear through the wall and hold onto him by the hair. The hands pulled Minkus to his feet and Minkus could see his son, Farkle, standing next to him. "You didn't need to save me, Dad," Farkle said. "I needed to save you." The father and son hugged as the walls disappeared around them.
Minkus sprang awake from his dream. He felt the cool chill characteristic of a fever breaking. Farkle's hand lightly touched his. He glanced over to his son, dozing off with his hand on Minkus'. Deciding not to wake his son and still feeling exhausted, Minkus fell right back to sleep.
Even though the fever, hallucinations, and nightmares had ended after that. Minkus still was too sick to go to work, Farkle decided. Minkus spent the rest of the two weeks sleeping. He was exhausted and couldn't bring himself to get out of bed. Farkle often gave his father breakfast, sometimes coffee or cereal, and on days when he was feeling particularly adventurous in cooking, pancakes or waffles and bacon, before he left for school. Minkus ate, but sometimes picked at his food not feeling much energy in eating it. Farkle came into his room at least once or twice a day after school giving him supper or a late lunch. The two talked mostly about minor issues like Farkle's day at school or things that his friends did or what Mr. Matthews said.
Minkus also watched TV, mostly old sitcoms, cartoons, or the music channels that played classical or soft rock music. Occasionally he would watch the news or regular
programming. His breakdown had apparently ended up in the gossip fodder. Comedians made jokes about how Stuart Minkus had "cracked up." (Jimmy Fallen during his Thank You Notes: "To Stuart Minkus thank you for proving that being super smart equals being super insane, something that Donald Trump will never have to worry about." Studio audience laughter. "I'll never have to worry about it either!" More studio audience laughter.) SNL had a sketch in which Minkus, played by Taran Killam, hallucinated elves in the middle of a board meeting to be knocked over on the head by guest host, Samantha Bee as "Morgennifer."(In the sketch version of Minkus' insanity, he confused his current girlfriend, Morgan, with his ex-wife, Jennifer and kept calling her by different names as she hit him.).
Commentators criticized how someone with so much fame and money could possibly have something wrong in his life to "have a nervous breakdown." Others said obviously it's a sign of weakness in the man. According to TMZ, a popular Youtube video featuring a montage of clips of Minkus to the old song, "They're Coming to Take Me Away, Haa Haa" had reached several billion hits. Minkus rolled his eyes and turned off the TV not really caring about public opinion and turned back to watch cartoons.
Minkus also spent a great deal of time reading philosophical books like the Human Comedy by William Saroyan, The Creative Process edited by Brewster Ghiselin, Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell, and Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. Frankl's book particularly touched Minkus as Frankl described his time in a concentration camp and how he chose not to let despair get to him. Two particular passages struck Minkus' heart. Frankl wrote about how in the camps he tried to find happiness in seeing a flower, or remembering a child's laugh or his wife's face. He wrote "Choose happiness." Frankl also wrote that he couldn't change the circumstances around them so he could only change the way he looked at them. For example when the Nazis burned a book Frankl had worked on, Frankl realized it gave him a chance to "Rewrite it. Make it better." Minkus highlighted those passages feeling a deep connection to his situation.
One day Minkus felt compelled to rise from his bed just to look in on his son. He found Farkle in the kitchen pulling bread from inside the oven. He was dressed in a white apron over his clothing. Minkus cleared his throat. "Hi Dad," Farkle said. "How are you feeling?"
"Okay I guess," Minkus replied. He glanced at the stove as Farkle tested some soup. A bowl of salad had already lay on the table. "Fixing supper?" he asked.
"I figured that you might need something to eat," Farkle said. He sank down across from his father, Minkus noted, in a manner similar to an overly busy housewife sitting down for the first time all day.
He then poured the soup into a bowl and handed it to his father. Minkus sipped it through a spoon.
"It's good," Minkus replied.
"Don't forget the salad, it's good for you," Farkle said handing him the bowl.
Minkus looked around the apartment. The room smelled of lemon cleanser and disinfectant. "Did you clean the house?" Minkus asked.
"Yes," Farkle said. "I also took care of the laundry." He nodded at the fresh clothing and towels that had lay in their proper spots.
Farkle put his hand on some stacks of papers. "I paid all the bills and credit card statements, so you're up to date on that. I did all the shopping so there isn't anything that we need for now. I answered your correspondence and emails. Even though I'm not permitted to upgrade the technologies, I've been keeping in touch with Eddie and Jessie at work. They have been working with some of Dr. Venture's people and they're pretty close to finally getting things working. You have an invitation to attend the Technologists Conference in Washington D.C. for July 11. I told them to make it tentative for now."
Minkus sat stunned at his son's speech as well as guilty. Farkle then reached into his pocket to glance at his smartphone. He put it back without answering.
"Who's that?" Minkus asked.
"Oh just Riley," Farkle said. "She, Lucas, and Maya wanted me to hang out with them this weekend. We're supposed to go to a movie or something, but I told them that I might be too busy."
"Have you been missing out on plans with them to do all of this?" Minkus asked.
"Yeah, well sometimes," Farkle replied. Something guarded in his voice told Minkus that it was more than "sometimes."
"Farkle, have you been missing school so you can take care of me?" Minkus inquired concerned.
"The first couple of days when you had that fever and the dreams I didn't go. But only a few times since then," Farkle said. "I've been keeping up with classes though."
"That's not what concerns me, Farkle," Minkus said. "I don't want you to give up your life to take care of me."
"Dad, I'm just trying to make things easier for you," Farkle said. "I don't want you to have to worry about anything. You've been through so much stress and I don't want you to have any of it."
"So you'd rather put it on yourself," Minkus asked. Farkle lowered his head and Minkus could see that despite his earlier seemingly cheerful façade, the teenage boy was clearly overwhelmed and exhausted by his new role as caregiver and family head.
"I promised that I would take care of you," Farkle said. "I want to give you everything that you need."
Minkus held his son's hand. "Farkle, the only thing that I need from you is for you to be
15 years old. I don't want you to feel like you have to grow up too fast, especially to nurse me or to take care of things at home. You did that enough with your mother. You don't have to do that with have already done so much, but I don't want you to do this at the expense of your own life." Farkle continued to look downward and Minkus rubbed the boy's shoulder. "I do appreciate what you have done. Just let me be the parent again."
Farkle nodded. "So you want me to be 15, can I have a car?" He teased.
Minkus laughed. "Get your driver's license next year son and then we'll talk about it."
Farkle smiled and checked his smartphone. "I guess I should answer them shouldn't I?"
"Why don't you go?" Minkus asked. "I'll be fine here. You could use the break."
"Really?" Farkle asked. Minkus nodded and Farkle took off his apron and picked up his jacket.
At the end of the two weeks, Farkle and Minkus sat together for dinner. "You're doing much better, Dad."
"I feel much better, Farkle," Minkus said. He did feel like a more whole relaxed person.
Farkle took a key and unlocked a drawer. "You've earned the right," the teenage boy said. He held out his father's laptop and smart phone. "These are for you."
Minkus pretended to cry fake tears and he kissed the electronics items. "Welcome back, fellas! I missed you!" He said jokingly. He opened his laptop and was about to open his business account when he stopped. "You know, they've handled this for two weeks," he said. "Two more days isn't going to kill anyone."
"You serious," Farkle asked.
"I trust them. I'll get back in touch with them on Monday in person when I go back to work." Minkus then put aside his laptop and smartphone. "In fact I have a better idea."
"What?" Farkle said.
Minkus grinned. "Tomorrow what say you and I go out for breakfast? Then we'll go for a drive upstate and you and I go star gazing."
Farkle smiled. "I would like that sure," he said joyfully.
"Me too," Minkus said. "I think I'm finally ready to choose happiness."
The next night, Minkus and Farkle looked out at a hill at the stars through their telescopes. They pointed out constellations, shooting stars, and other celestial objects while sitting in front of a small fire.
"Hey Urseus Minor," Minkus said getting his son's attention. "Thank you for saving me."
Farkle hugged his father. "You're welcome, Urseus Major. Thank you for saving me and for being there every day of my life."
Minkus tensed before he walked into the Minkus Technologies office. He wasn't sure what he would find there. Eddie and Jessie said that things were working fine and that they were looking forward to his return. It made him nervous to return to the scene of his breakdown. What if he couldn't produce like he had before? What if this would mark him as a failed computer scientist and businessman for life? There was only one way to find out. He had to go through that door and return. He held his breath, opened the door, and walked inside.
Minkus entered the main office but it was quiet. "Eddie, Jessie?" Minkus asked. "Guys?" He asked. He inwardly glowered. Perhaps they felt with the boss out, they shouldn't be in either.
Suddenly, he saw several people jump up excited and yell "Surprise!" He jumped startled but smiled as his business partners and employees appeared with a cake and signs that said "Welcome back, Stuart!"
"We thought that we would cheer you up when you came back," Jessie said.
"It worked thanks guys," Stuart said as Eddie handed him a large cake knife. He then cut the cake open as Jessie took pictures on her smartphone. Then they handed pieces to the coworkers.
"So how are you feeling Stuart," Christine said.
"Much better, thanks Christine," Stuart said.
"Oh I guess he doesn't need our gift after all," Lonny quipped pretending to hold the gift bag behind him.
"No, I'm curious," Stuart said. Lonny grinned as he handed the bag to his boss. Stuart looked inside at the card which had all of the employees' signatures then he picked up the gift: A wooden plaque with a brass sign saying 'World's Greatest Boss' with engraved signatures of Minkus Technologies' employees as well as from Ingrid and Elliot Iverson-Smackle.
Minkus smiled letting tears fill the corner of his eyes. "Stuart, you've been through so much for us and we just wanted to remind you how much we appreciate it," Ingrid said holding Elliot's hand.
"Thanks everybody," Stuart said. "I will treasure this."
"Hey can we come in for the free food?" the Boston accented voice of Pete White, Venture Industries/Ven Tech's technology expert entered. He smiled at Minkus. "Just kidding man! Doin' alright?" He clasped Minkus' hand as he, Billy Quizboy, Dean Venture and a few other Venture employees entered.
"Come on," Minkus said with a nod. "Enjoy yourself."
"We've been working with the Venture crowd on the updates," Eddie said.
"I know Farkle told me," Minkus said. "It must be quite an adventure."
"Well that's a word for it," Pete joked grandly. He flipped on his laptop. "And I think wait for it-"He pressed the final code. "We have access!"
Minkus looked at his employees then at the information. The technologies to both Minkus Technologies and Venture Industries had been completely updated and combined. Minkus looked around. "You guys did this all while I was out?" He asked.
"Yeah does it look alright?" Ali asked.
Minkus smiled. "It looks great, I just wish I were a part of it."
Eddie and Jessie exchanged grins and smiled. "Stuart, you actually were," Eddie said.
"I was how?" Minkus inquired.
"Well those figures and codes that you made when you were going through your breakdown," Jessie began. "The ones you put on the walls and in your laptop, most of them were right! They were just, I don't know, scattered about and repetitive, because you were all-ayah!"-She moved her hand away from her head to show insanity.
"It took forever to sift through most of that and put it together," Pete said.
Billy "Quizboy" Whelan nodded. "Once we made sense of it, it was pretty easy to figure out."
Plus, Billy and I added a few touches from our own much better more superior corner of the world," Pete boasted as he and Billy struck superhero poses at the others. The Minkus Technologies employees smirked at him.
Minkus looked from his employees to the Venture employees. The answer had been there all along and Minkus just never noticed it. "They do say genius and insanity go hand in hand," he said.
"Why don't you just be a genius and leave alone the insane part," Eddie suggested.
Minkus grinned. "I will."
Rusty Venture entered the building. "Okay, let's see what crap that we wasted time on." He glanced at the upgrade and smiled impressed. "Well, it works. I like it." He glanced at Minkus. "I can see why people keep you around. You are okay….sometimes, Kid."Minkus and Rusty clasped hands. "So are you….on occasion, Old Man," Minkus returned.
"Anyway you're sort of a good guy," Rusty said. "And you even have a good kid. That Farkle has a good head on his shoulders."
Minkus was moved. "Rusty, you called my son Farkle."
Rusty scoffed. "Oh I'm sorry, Finkle." Rusty smirked again as the two engaged in another volleying insults competition.
Minkus knocked on the Matthews' front door. Morgan appeared through the screen. She was dressed in a navy blue sweater and long floral print sky blue skirt. She complimented Minkus' blue trousers and sweater perfectly. "May I help you?" she asked.
"I want to talk to you," Minkus began.
Morgan opened the door warily. "Okay, we can talk," she said. She nodded at Farkle who stood by his father. "Did Farkle tell you, I called because I did. I did see you once but you were out of it, so I wasn't sure-"
"-Yes, he told me and thank you," Minkus said. "There's a lot that I need to discuss with you."
Amy opened the door. "Farkle, would you like to come inside and see pictures of your teacher when he was younger?"
Farkle jumped up overly enthusiastic. "Yeah, Riley and Maya would call that blackmail!" He walked into the house leaving his father and father's girlfriend alone.
Morgan and Minkus walked around the block as they talked. "You were right, Morgan, I did try to walk away," Minkus said. "It seems when things get hard, I do that. But the more I walk away, the more the things that I try to walk away from catch up to me. I pushed you away and I'm sorry that I did. I'm sorry for what I said."
"Thank you, Stuart," Morgan said. "I'm sorry for anything I've ever said too. Remember I pushed you away too after my rape and you're right. The things that you don't want to deal with become bigger the more you try to avoid them."
Minkus looked down at his hands. "I thought that I finally stopped this," he said. "They're still shaking."
Morgan held Minkus' hands firmly. "Is that better?"
Minkus' hands steadied as Morgan continued to hold on. "Yes it is," Minkus said.
"Then if you let me do this from now on, maybe they will finally stop shaking," Morgan suggested.
Minkus looked downward. "Morgan, I'm not going to ask you to marry me."
Morgan shook her head. "And I wouldn't accept it if you did. I know that there are better men out there than Dustin, and Kermit and I hope you know that there are better women out there than Jennifer. Let's be those better people for each other. Just let me inside and I will do the same for you."
"I can do that," Minkus whispered. "I love you, Morgan."
"I love you too, Stuart," Morgan said.
"It took me a long time to say it, does it bother you?" Minkus asked.
"Stuart, I would have to have been pretty stupid to have thought otherwise," Morgan answered. "Still it's nice that you said it."
Minkus and Morgan then grinned and looked in each other's eyes when a voice interrupted him. "Ah Mr. Minkus and Ms. Matthews."
Minkus and Morgan looked up to see Feeny glance at them from next door. "Hi Mr. Feeny," Minkus said as he put his arm around his girlfriend.
"Lovely June weather, perfect for lovers," Feeny hinted. He turned to Morgan. "Does this mean that it's real, Ms. Matthews?"
Morgan nodded. "Yes it does, Mr. Feeny."
"I suppose this is the point where I quote Frank Capra's masterpiece, It's a Wonderful Life," Mr. Feeny began.
"You mean 'No man is a failure who has friends?'" Minkus asked.
"No," Feeny corrected. "'Why don't you kiss her instead of talking her to death?'"
Minkus and Morgan laughed. "I think I have that taken care of, Mr. Feeny," Minkus said as he held Morgan closely and the two were lost in their kiss.
As much as Stuart enjoyed being with his girlfriend. He knew that he had one more thing to do in Philadelphia. He said good-bye to Morgan and Mr. Feeny and walked to his mother's house. Minkus heard his mother bid him to come inside. He opened the door as his mother looked up. She had lain on the couch dressed in a white nightgown and bathrobe with a sleep mask over her eyes. Minkus looked around the house to see that there was very little attempt at cleaning. Dust had collected and some photos and other items were carelessly strewn about. Minkus noticed that some bottles of light beer as well as sleeping pills were on the coffee table by his mother's side. Nancy sat up straight and removed her sleep mask when her son entered. "I am going to scream in a minute and then I am going to call the police," she warned.
Minkus held up his hand. "Just hear me out," he began. Nancy sat even straighter and waved her hand as if she didn't care and he could talk. Minkus held his breath. "I just want to say that you were right about certain things. I could have made things better. I could have at least tried to be the son that you wanted. I could have talked to you and told you how I really felt. I could have visited or called after I moved out. Instead, I was angry at you and Tom. Instead of telling you, I swallowed my anger and hatred and withdrew from you. The truth was as much as I hated you both, I hated myself more. I kept that anger inside because I felt like I had deserved it that if I couldn't measure up to your expectations then maybe I was unworthy of being loved. I tried to reach out to Grandpa and he only ended up getting hurt because of me."
"After Jennifer abused me, it only confirmed what I had suspected. Even as I climbed higher and people kept giving me all of these accolades, I couldn't see them because at home was someone who kept telling me what I believed all along: I was a worthless nothing who deserved to be hurt and was unlovable. After Farkle was born, I couldn't imagine loving anyone more than I love him, but as he grew, I felt that my love wasn't enough to keep him from being hurt. My whole life I have felt either hurt by others or have sat idly by watching those that I love get hurt. I keep swallowing that hurt and anger until I don't recognize myself and it becomes too big to hide. I don't want to swallow it anymore. I don't want to be angry anymore and I don't want to hate you two anymore." Minkus paused for emphasis. When Nancy didn't say anything, Minkus continued. "Well that's all I needed to say. I guess I'll be going."
"I only saw what I wanted to see," Nancy muttered remembering earlier words. "Stuart wait," Nancy said. Stuart turned around and faced his mother. Nancy took a deep breath. "When I found out that I was pregnant with you, I was terrified not for the reasons that most first-time parents were, financial, physical though those were important too. I was afraid to love you. Your father understood that. I never gave myself fully to him and he accepted that. He knew that I was often unable to feel things very deeply.
I was afraid to love this little…thing that was growing inside of me. What kind of a mother would I be? What if I disappoint him? What if he disappoints me? Even if we didn't disappoint each other, one day he will up and leave me and then what? I was so afraid to love you, afraid of what you would become and what we would be to each other. I was afraid of being hurt by you, so I tried to avoid being hurt. I kept looking on you objectively finding any reason to confirm my suspicions and my fears. I was so worried about being hurt and abandoned that I ignored this wonderful little boy that I brought into the world. I saw only things that I wanted to see in you, the unfeeling machine or the wife beater and I got your father to go along with it.
You say that you have been hurt by Jennifer and I believe you but you have also been loved by Farkle and…your Grandfather and if what Morgan says is true by her," Nancy sighed. "What's worse than being hurt, Stuart, is avoiding being hurt. Because even when you do, you can't avoid it forever because it's still there." Nancy looked around her home crying and in mourning for her late husband. "People are going to leave you eventually and it will still hurt. It makes it harder because all you avoided was love."
Minkus sat down next to his mother and held her hand. "Maybe it's about time we stopped avoiding and being angry with each other and started being a mother and son…Mom." Nancy nodded and sobbed as Minkus held her with tears in his eyes as well.
Nancy pulled away to dress. When she came down, she was dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. The two talked well into the evening catching each other up on their lives. Minkus mostly talked about Farkle and showed images of him on his smartphone to his mother. "I can never get over how much he looks just like you," Nancy said. "You must be proud of him."
"He makes me proud every day," Minkus said.
"I don't know where you learned it," Nancy said. "How to be the parent that you are with him."
"I guess it was easy," Minkus said. "I just let myself love him and let him change me for the better. Someone once told me that was the secret of life."
Nancy smiled as Minkus showed his mother another photo. "This was at the Feenix release party." He stopped to explain. "-That's-"
"-The portable device that you made with your new company, I know," Nancy replied.
Minkus looked at his mother quizzically. "How did you know that?"
Nancy held up a finger and walked up to the bookshelf. "I have a confession to make. Actually it was more from your father. When you were born, he vowed that he wanted to make a scrapbook of the trajectory of your football career, starting in school and so on until you won the Super Bowl and the Heisman Trophy. So he could look on your achievements and say he remembered you when."
"Well obviously that didn't work out," Minkus pointed out.
Nancy held out a book. "But he still kept the idea." She lay the book on her son's lap as he opened it.
Minkus was stunned. He could see the milestones of his career and life unfold as he flipped the pages. There was the first newspaper article that mentioned the MIMS device, the first ad that included the "Technology for Those Who Need it the Most" slogan, early articles citing Minkus International as a rising company, the engagement announcement between Stuart and Jennifer in the Tribune and Farkle's birth announcement in People, ads that showed the various technologies that Minkus had produced over the years including the Farkle phone, the video games, and others; profiles from Forbes, Wired, Scientific American, and Business World Weekly on Minkus and his successes; gossip articles from OK, People, and US weekly about the Minkus divorce and child custody battle. Minkus read a note in his father's handwriting that said "Bitch better not get my grandson!"
Also included was a Time article which profiled Minkus creating the new Minkus Technologies, helping Farkle through his difficulties, and the creation of the Feenix device. The cover story was called "Out of the Ashes." Next to the Time cover was another handwritten note that said, "Stuart Minkus Minkus Technologies MVP."
"It's like I'm seeing my whole life," Minkus said with tears in his eyes. "I didn't know that he felt this way about me."
"He did," Nancy said.
Minkus looked closely at the "MVP" note and compared it to the "Bitch" note. "He didn't write the 'MVP' note. It's not his handwriting," he looked at his mother. "You did."
Nancy looked downward. "I didn't always understand or trust you as a person, but I was always proud of what you achieved and have always admired your ability to pull yourself out of adversity."
The mother and son hugged tightly.
There was a knock at the door. Nancy looked upward to see Morgan at the door. "Come on in, Morgan," she called.
"Is all quiet here," Morgan asked as she entered.
Mother and son smiled. "Things are just fine here," Nancy smiled.
Minkus nodded. "What's Farkle doing?"
Morgan laughed. "Beating the crap out of my brother in Halo 5. Those screams you hear are Josh's from NYU living with the agony of defeat."
"I hope you favor blood over water, Morgan," Nancy teased.
"Are you kidding?" Morgan rolled her eyes. "Josh turns into a total idiot when he wins! I'm Team Farkle all the way!" Nancy and Minkus laughed.
"Oh Stuart my parents and I wanted to know if you and Farkle want to have dinner with us tonight," Morgan asked.
Minkus looked towards his mother. "Go," Nancy said. "The only thing I have in my refrigerator is a light bulb."
"Actually Nancy," Morgan said. "My parents wanted to know if you wanted to join us too."
Nancy Minkus was stunned. "Really?" she asked looking from her son to her son's girlfriend.
Morgan nodded as Minkus stood and held out his hand. "Really," he agreed. Nancy stood and took her son's hand.
Nancy looked around at the table of the photographs, photos of mostly herself and her late husband. "It's starting to look barren now," she said.
Minkus opened up a picture, a miniature version of the portrait that Maya drew of Ginsburg. "How about this?"
Nancy looked closely at the picture. "I'm not quite ready to put that up yet. Maybe someday I will be." She took the picture and put it inside the drawer.
Minkus shrugged. "Okay, how about this one?" He handed his mother a photograph of himself and Farkle sitting next to each other.
Nancy smiled. "Perfect," she placed the picture right next to one of her and Tom.
At the abuse support group meeting, Minkus explained the highlights of the past few weeks including his breakdown, recovery, the upgrade, and his reconciliation with his mother. "I think that my mother and I are finally ready to choose happiness with each other and I am ready to rewrite my life to make it better." He said.
The group applauded, particularly Katy who gave her friend a thumbs up. The counselor stood and said, "Thank you, Stuart. Why don't we take a break and we'll reconvene in 15?"
The group separated and split into small groups to have refreshments and talk. Stuart noticed that a short dark-haired man stood in the doorway. He and Katy walked towards the man at the door.
The man looked at Stuart up and down. "You're-"he said stunned amazed that he was next to someone famous.
"Here I'm just Stuart," Stuart said to him. "Are you lost?"
"This is the Adult Support Group for Abuse right?" he asked.
Stuart nodded and the man sighed relieved. "I'm just glad to know there's another guy here. I mean when Desiree-my ex-wife- well I thought I was the only one."
Stuart held the other man by the shoulder. "You're not. Trust me, we've all been there."
The man looked upwards nervously. "My kids are upstairs. I hope this won't be too much for them."
"I'm sure they'll be fine," Stuart said knowingly. "What's your name?"
The man smiled nervously. "Jason, Mars- just Jason."
Stuart walked Jason inside. "Well Jason, this is Katy and welcome to our group."
"Hi Jason," Katy said shaking his hand. Katy and Stuart led Jason through the group and introduced him to other members. Stuart finally understood Morgan's words, something good can come from trauma.
It was a month before Nancy Minkus visited her son and grandson in Manhattan. Stuart led his mother inside Topanga's Bakery. "Mom, if you want to spend the weekend at my apartment just say so."
"Oh Stuart as kind as the offer is, Eunice already agreed to put me up at her place over
Central Park," Nancy said.
Minkus smiled at the thought of his mother and his former mother-in-law in the same room together. "You once said that she was an uptight snob," he teased.
"Well I like her a lot better since she and Edward split up," Nancy replied. "Besides we have a lot to talk about."
Morgan approached her boyfriend and kissed him. "Hey you," Morgan said.
"Hello there," Minkus said as he kissed her.
Nancy and Farkle exchanged a grin. "Hi Nancy," Morgan said.
"Hi Morgan," Nancy answered. She leaned over and pretended to whisper to Stuart but spoke loud enough for Morgan to hear. "I like her, Stuart. Hold onto her."
"I intend to, Mom," Minkus said as he and Morgan held each other closely.
Nancy approached the bar to order a cappuccino and smiled at Cory and Topanga. "You two I would recognize anywhere," she said. Nancy gave the couple a hug.
"Hi Mrs. Minkus," Cory said.
"You still teasing my boy?" Nancy asked.
"Ehh, sometimes," Cory said with a grin.
"As long as you give my grandson good grades," Nancy said. "Otherwise you'll hear from me."
"Oh he earns them alright," Cory said nodding at Farkle who was engaged in a conversation with his friends and girlfriend.
"And Topanga, you're still as sharp as ever," Nancy remarked. "You always were a smart girl."
"Thanks Mrs. Minkus," Topanga said. "Coming from Stuart's mother, I will consider it a compliment."
Nancy accepted the cappuccino from Katy and looked closely at the man talking to her. "Wait a minute, I know you," she said looking closely. "You're that Hunter boy!"
Shawn held up his hands. "I plead innocent on all charges."
Nancy laughed and turned to her son. "I told you that you should make friends with them!"
"It took a while, but eventually I did," Minkus agreed.
Shawn leaned closer to Nancy. "Did you know that your son was a teacher's pet?" He asked.
Nancy nodded. "Absolutely. He's had brown on his nose since the day he was born."
"Beats being a recidivist," Minkus taunted back at his friend.
Farkle approached his father with a paper in hand. "Dad," Minkus turned towards his son. "I wanted to show you something but I needed your permission for it."
He handed the form to his father. "What is it Farkle?" He looked closely at the address on top. "Civil Courts? Is there something you'd like to share with the rest of us?"
Farkle hesitated. "Well I looked up the information online and I spoke to them on the phone, but they said since I was a minor that I would need your permission and for you to sign this consent form."
"For what Farkle?" Minkus asked.
"I want to change my name," Farkle said.
Minkus looked at the form still folded confused and hurt. "Well alright Donnie, if that's what you want-"
Farkle shook his head. "No, not my full name. I just want to change my middle name." He said. Minkus understood. Farkle's middle initial, J., was a tribute to his mother Jennifer. "I want to cut that last link."
"What do you want to change your middle name to, son?" Minkus inquired.
"Read it and find out," Farkle said.
Minkus read the form. He read the name out loud with a grin. "Farkle Malachi Ginsburg Minkus!"
"Is it okay?" Farkle asked. "May I?"
Minkus smiled gladly. "Of course it is." He signed the form with a proud flourish.
"It's a fine name, Farkle," Nancy said.
Farkle gave his grandmother a hug. "Thank you, Grandma Nancy."
Nancy shook her head. "Please call me Grandma Nonnie." Farkle's mouth dropped open with happiness and he hugged his grandmother tighter.
Minkus looked to his mother. "I was ready," she said. Minkus understood. She put up her father's picture. "After all these years, maybe it's finally time I forgave your grandfather."
Farkle looked downward. "Maybe someday I'll feel the same way about Jennifer," he said. "Maybe not today or anytime soon. But maybe someday."
Minkus gave his son's shoulder a tight squeeze. "For now son it's enough that maybe someday we'll want to."
Nonnie and Stuart watched Farkle show the paperwork to his friends as they teased him by calling him Ginsburg. "Are you going to recompose Howl now?" Smackle asked holding Zay's hand. Zay pretended to be a wolf howling at the moon. Smackle grimaced and rolled her eyes, but gave a small laugh at her boyfriend's joke.
"Don't see how I could wear out that name either," Lucas quipped as he held Riley's hand.
"You'll always be Farkle to us," Riley said "The Farkliest Farkle we know."
"Thanks guys," Farkle said.
Maya walked up to her boyfriend and smiled. "Farkle Malachi Ginsburg Minkus, I will always love you because you showed me how."
"Thank you, Maya Penelope Hart. I will always love you because you reminded me that I'm worth loving." Maya and Farkle leaned towards each other and kissed.
Stuart and Nonnie Minkus grinned at Farkle's conversation with his friends. "What's wrong, Mom?" Stuart asked.
Nonnie had a little tear in her eye. "It's just, I wish your grandfather could be here to see this," she said. "He would have loved it."
Stuart exchanged grins with his son over a secret that they shared. Over the conversation and the smell of baked goods, Minkus could faintly detect a sweet familiar odor. He could almost feel the touch of a hand on his shoulder and if he listened hard could almost make out a soft rhythmic voice calling him "Little Man." "You know something, Mom?" Stuart said. "I think he is."
Nancy nodded and smiled. Stuart Minkus looked around the bakery at his mother, his son, his friends, his girlfriend, and his son's friends and thought about his grandfather, his father, his colleagues, and everyone else he knew and cared about feeling love for them and loved by them. Surrounded by this love, Stuart Minkus felt his heart grow warm and become warmer.
The End
Author's Note: 25 chapters! My longest fanfic to date and the longest time spent on one fandom over one year between this and "Unhappy In Its Own Way," but it was well worth it! Thank you again for being such a wonderful group of loyal readers and thank you for all the reviews, reads, and raves! I am glad to see my story of the Minkus men has been so well received. I myself feel my heart grow warm and become warmer. :D