CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Edd felt someone pulling on his arm. Opening his eyes, he turned to look at whoever was trying to pull him out of bed. He thought that it might be Marie, but he certainly didn't expect to see who was actually doing so. His eyes widened as he saw who it was.
"James", Edd breathed, "is that really you?"
He was looking at his deceased brother! Ten years previously, James had died in the house fire that had left those ugly burn scars on his head. Yet he was seeing James right in front of him as the same six-year-old twin he had last seen alive all those years ago smiling at him while still pulling on his arm.
"Come on, Eddward", James was saying, "You need to get up and get dressed. Someone wants to meet us. Someone important!"
"James", Edd said, "how can it be you? You're dead! Am I dreaming?"
"Come along, Eddward", James said, "my friend will tell you everything"
As Edd got out of bed, he suddenly realized that Marie was not in the bed with him. Moreover, he was the same size as his deceased brother. He looked at himself in the mirror and gasped. He looked the same age as James. Also, he realized that the bedroom he was in looked exactly the same as the one in the house that they had lived in in the town of New Hope before the fire…
"I couldn't have traveled back in time! Am I dreaming, James? Am I dead?" he asked as he pulled on his clothes – the same clothing that his twin brother was wearing. It didn't make sense, but it seemed too vivid to be an illusion.
"Don't you remember when Dad told us once when we saw Santa at the mall that Christmas and you didn't believe that it was Santa? He said just take it all in and don't worry. Trust me, Eddward", James replied.
Edd knew at once it was his twin brother. Noone else called him 'Eddward' in that drawn-out manner. Also, the way he said 'trust me' was unique to James…
"It really is you, James", Edd breathed as he reached out and grasped James' shoulder.
"Yes, it is me Eddward", James assured him with a smile, "but don't delay getting dressed. We have to go".
Nodding, Edd finished putting on his shorts and shoes, then gave James a thumbs-up gesture. James nodded and pointed to the door.
"My friend is waiting for us. Let's go", James said, taking Edd's hand.
"Who is your friend, James? Is he downstairs in the living room?" Edd asked as he followed his brother.
"He's waiting for us at his house in the neighborhood of Make Believe", James said as he opened the bedroom door.
As the door swung open, Edd's eyes widened as he saw that it wasn't the hallway outside the bedroom, but the back yard of another house! Edd was sure he had gone mad, yet James – and the house – looked so real. It also looked familiar. What did he call it: Make Believe…?
James – holding Edd's hand – opened the back door of the house and led him in. All at once, he recognized where he was by the furnishings, and the pictures on the wall. He wanted to speak, but James put his finger over his mouth and said "Sssh!"
Leading Edd down a short flight of steps, James guided Edd to a sofa where they both sat down. Edd was acutely aware as he settled in the sofa that his – and James' – six-year-old form meant that his legs were not touching the floor. He looked at James, who gestured to his brother to watch the door.
At that moment, music started to play – from no discernible source. As James held Edd's hand, the door opened again, and Edd's eyes widened even further as the adult entering the room started to sing:
"It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day for a neighbor. Would you be mine? Could you be mine...?"
It was none other than Fred Rogers! Edd was seeing him with his deceased brother watching him from within the house of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood going through the opening song changing his suit jacket for a red cardigan and changing his shoes for sneakers!
"…Let's make the most of this beautiful day. Now we're together I might as well say: would you be my, could you be my, won't you be my neighbor? Won't you please? Won't you please? Please won't you be my neighbor?"
Edd looked around quickly. There were no cameras, no film crew. This was not a mock-up of a house interior in a studio: this was the interior of a house dressed up like the set in the show that he and his brother loved to watch together since they were toddlers! Edd was sure that he had gone mad. He knew that not only James, but Mr. Rogers was dead as the shows they had watched were reruns played after Mr. Rogers had passed away back in 2003. But they were both here – alive! - and it looked so real!
"Hello, Neighbor", Mr. Rogers said after he finished lacing his shoes, "Today, I want to take the time to introduce you to the twin brother of a dear friend of mine. James", he said, "could you introduce your brother to me?"
"Yes, Mr. Rogers", James said as he stood, "This is my twin brother Eddward. Spelled with two D's. His close friends call him Double-Dee".
Ed was surprised at James' comment as that nickname wasn't bestowed on him until after he had met Ed and Eddy… which was after James had passed away! But before he could ask James how he knew that, Mr. Rogers started to speak.
"Please come on over so that I can make your acquaintance, Eddward", Mr. Rogers said with a smile and a gesture.
Nodding, Edd stood up and walked on over to Mr. Rogers with his hand outstretched for a handshake. Instead, Mr. Rogers stood and went over to Edd, kneeling, then hugged him. After a few seconds, Mr. Rogers broke the hug.
"James has told me all about you, Eddward", Mr. Rogers said in his gentle voice, "I feel that I have known you for as long as I have known James. Can I call you Double-Dee?" Edd nodded, but he had to ask…
"I don't know what is happening, Mr. Rogers", Eddward stammered out, "Didn't you pass away back in 2003? My brother died in a fire ten years ago. Yet you both are here in front of me alive and well. What is happening to me?"
"Double-Dee, do you remember the show when I talked to you about the death of my dog?" Edd nodded. Mr. Rogers continued: "I had said to my father that I didn't want my dog to be buried because of my wanting to pretend that he was still alive. My father said it had to be done. Later, I realized that the physical part of my dog had died, but the memories will live forever, and if the memories remain, what is not physical lives on in the minds of those who love them", Mr. Rogers explained.
At that, Mr. Rogers gestured to the door he had walked in, and a small dog trotted in. Mr. Rogers petted the dog, then it barked and went back outside the house, wagging its tail as it did so.
"Eddward", James said next, "My physical part died in that fire, but I still live on in your memories. I know of all the times that you visited my grave and spoke to me. I'm sorry I could not reply to you then, but now I can. Thank you, Brother!"
With that, James put his left hand on Edd's right shoulder. Edd burst into tears. Mr. Rogers hugged Edd and held the hug until he could settle down some. He then gently let go of Edd with one hand so that he could add James to the hug.
Mr. Rogers then let them both go, but still looked at them while staying kneeling. He then turned to Edd.
"The reason why you are here with your brother and I, Double-Dee", Mr. Rogers began, "is to help you with your concerns about your girlfriend Marie".
Startled, Edd blurted out, "How do you know about her, Mr. Rogers? Neither you nor James have ever met her!"
"James told me about the times you talked to him about her at the Holy Name Cemetery", Mr. Rogers replied, "and that you had taken her with you to his grave a few times".
"You're so lucky to have a person like that as your girlfriend, Eddward", James said, "I know we used to go around avoiding girls when we played back at New Hope, but those times you took her with you to see my grave, and how you confided in me about her, I could see how happy you two are together".
"I wish that you could have met her personally, James", Edd said with tears in his eyes, "It wasn't fair that you died in that fire!"
"We each have our destiny, Eddward", James answered, "My destiny was to die before reaching the age of seven in that fire and as a result not growing up with you to have a girlfriend of my own or to have a chance of a future, but even so, I did not die without a family".
"Mother, Father and I still feel the pain of losing you. We never forgot you, James", Edd said, choking up on his words.
"And that is as it should be, Double-Dee", Mr. Rogers said, "Memories are things to be cherished always. Death is really just another part of being human and we all reach that point; some sooner than others".
"Then I must be dead if I'm talking to you both", Edd theorized. Both Mr. Rogers and James shook their heads.
"It's not your time yet, Double-Dee", Mr. Rogers said, "James and I understand destiny as you currently cannot, and your own destiny has yet to be fulfilled".
"Then why am I talking to you both here if I'm not dead?", Edd asked, gesturing with a sweeping motion the interior of the house.
"As I said earlier, to talk to you about Marie", Mr. Rogers said, "James saw that you were very worried about the prospect of your making love to her and possibly hurting her in the process".
At that, Edd turned beet-red. He turned to James.
"James! How could you?!" he demanded, "that is such an intimate personal thing and certainly not to be spoken about to others. You've been spying on us, haven't you?"
"After what you had said to me the last time you were at the cemetery, I could see that you needed help, Eddward", James said apologetically, "so I asked Mr. Rogers to see what he could do. He helped us both every time we watched his show when we were little, so it seemed the logical thing to do".
"And I'm glad he did", Mr. Rogers finished, "You know, I had two sons from my marriage, and they both came about in the normal way. My wife and I were so proud of them both and I never hurt my wife in the 'process', Double-Dee".
"Seeing certain pictures however has made me see just how bad such a thing can be though, Mr. Rogers", Edd said, remembering those hard-core porn magazines of Eddy's that he had looked through some time ago, "and my Marie deserves better treatment than that. What if I ended up like the men who did those kinds of things to those ladies? I have heard that sex can be like an addictive drug and men turning into crazed animals as a result!"
"Everyone has faults, Double-Dee", Mr. Rogers answered, "and unfortunately what you have described is not uncommon in the world, but I can see that you would never be like that. Love is a natural thing; You know that. And you know that in your heart – as James and I both do – that you will always treat Marie with dignity and respect. You know the difference between love and lust and you'll always choose the former over the latter".
"I don't know if I have the courage to go through with it, Mr. Rogers", Edd said, "and with my currently occupying my six-year-old body here, I don't think I am physically capable of such actions in any case!"
"James asked me to make you look six years old again for the time we have here. When you return, you'll be back in your old body and you will remember what we said here", Mr. Rogers explained, "and as for courage, I know that that is a quality that you do not lack. Believe in yourself as James and I believe in you, Double-Dee".
"I don't know if I want to go back, Mr. Rogers", Edd pointed out, "because the prospect of my leaving James again both saddens and scares me. My parents and I missed him so much after the fire!"
"James will always be with you, Double-Dee", Mr. Rogers said, pointing to his heart. James nodded.
"When your time comes, Eddward", James said, "then we'll be together again forever. But not yet. You have your own destiny to fulfill with Marie. She loves you deeply. You need to be with her".
"What is my destiny, James?" Edd asked. James just smiled and shook his head.
"There has to be some secrets… even between brothers", James said with a smile, "but regardless, I'll always be there for you. I promise".
"It's time for us to go, James", Mr. Rogers said as he stood. He held out his hand for James to take. Edd knew that they were leaving him.
"I wish I had more time with you, James", Edd said, "Isn't there some way to stay with you both a little while longer?"
"Mr. Rogers has other people to help, Eddward", James said with a smile, "besides it's time for my nap. It's time for you to nap as well. It's been so good to talk to you again, Brother".
"James…' Edd said, but just then he felt so incredibly sleepy. He tried to stay awake, but it was a losing battle. As he drifted off, he heard Mr. Rogers speak to him one last time:
"Remember that James will always be with you. I am so glad to have met you, Double-Dee…"
"Please don't leave…" Edd blurted out as he jerked himself awake. He looked around. He was back in his hotel bedroom. It was seven o'clock in the morning. Marie was not there, and he quickly noticed that her dressing gown and slippers were also gone. But there was a note that was on the dresser in Marie's handwriting:
Oven Mitt, It's just before six o'clock and you were still sound asleep and I realized that in order not to cause any potential trouble, to get back to my bedroom before the others wake up. I'll see you at breakfast. Thank you for allowing me to sleep with you. I love you. Marie.
Edd nodded. It was probably for the best that the others didn't know that he and Marie slept together.
"What a dream though…", Edd said to himself as he got out of bed, looking at his sixteen-year-old reflection in the mirror as he did so, seeing a lipstick mark on his cheek. Evidently, Marie had given him a peck before leaving his bedroom. Thinking about that, and the vivid dream he'd just had about him, James, and Mr. Rogers in the Neighborhood of Make Believe, he took his shower… humming 'It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood' as he did so.
After he had toweled himself off and finished his other ablutions, he went over to his suitcase. He started to pick out some clothes for him to put on, but then he stiffened. He saw with his clothes James' old ski-cap: the one he had worn covering his burn scars for several years until Marie got him the custom wig. He knew that he did not pack it before departing for the UK and he certainly didn't see it when he had gone through his suitcase earlier. He sat down on the bed and after a couple of minutes of silence, looked up at the ceiling.
"Oh, James", Edd whispered, "Thank you. And thank you too, Mr. Rogers".
