Part Two - Got To Get You Into My Life
By
Carolyne Smythe
A week later after the serious chat between Reed and Marilyn, a phone rang in the kitchen where they were eating dinner with their three friends.
"I wonder who that could be calling during dinner time?" Sue asked in between bites.
"Well let's find out, shall we?" Reed said as he got up from his chair, took one long stride, and picked up the phone.
"Fantastic Five Inc., this is Dr. Reed Richards, may I ask who is calling?"
"Good evening sir, I'm terribly sorry if I have bothered you at a very inconvenient time; seeing as most Americans eat dinner at right about this time." A thick accented voice sounded on the earpiece.
"May I ask who this is?" Reed asked.
"Oh please forgive me for not introducing myself, I am Drake Witshire, from London, England. It has come to my attention that the young girl on your team named Marilyn is really of my blood. My intention is to claim her, and raise her in my London home."
Reed looked at Mary, who was chewing on a piece of pork chop, then focused more on the person who called.
"Marilyn has never told us about having an uncle named Drake. Before we discuss this issue of you claiming her any further, how can we be assured you are who you say you are?"
There was silence on the other end of the line for a moment, then Drake responded. "I see that you truly care for my niece. That makes me very happy, Dr. Richards. I shall be happy to provide you with the appropriate documentation."
"Would you submit to a DNA Verification scan?" Reed asked.
"DNA Verification? Oh, yes, that would tell you if I am a so called 'super-villain' in disguise. Certainly." Drake answered. "But you are no doubt curious about the history of my search for Marilyn. I am afraid that here in England, I never heard much about how the Witshire clan has gotten along since her father and aunt decided to move to America. Not until recently anyway. I was very saddened to hear about Marilyn's father's unfortunate death, but not surprised. Here in England, he was a very chronic drinker. It seemed like he was at the point where he could not live without that sip of ale or brandy before he moved to America."
"I see..." Reed said in a shocked voice.
Drake continued. "At any rate, the last Marilyn's aunt told me she had heard about the child was that she was taken to the orphanage in Central City, California. And, that was the last time I ever spoke to my sister, for a bus ran over her three days after. I contacted the orphanage, and found out a very prominent scientist by the name of Dr. Reed Richards had adopted my niece."
Reed heard Drake choke back tears as he continued.
"You have no idea what it will mean to me to finally be able to see, and claim this dear girl. I only wish to provide her with whatever I can...to make up for the failures of her real parents. I have heard of the accomplishments of you, her, and the other members of your team, the Fantastic Five. No doubt you have taken excellent care of her."
"Why yes, I have taken wonderful care of her. But, Mr. Drake, as much as I sympathize with you. I must say that we would be hesitant to let Marilyn go. We love her as much as anyone possibly could, even though we are not of the same blood. How can we simply let her go, without a fight? As I said, we love her very much."
"Dr. Richards, do you really?"
Drake asked.
"I offer her the best that life has to offer. I am a very weathly man. I can provide her with the best education, social contacts, and a most comfortable life. You...and it pains me to put it so bluntly... you offer her a life of hardship, and most probably a violent death at the hands of the criminals that so often enter your lives."
"I wouldn't necessarily agree that..." Reed started.
"Oh?" Drake interrupted. "What of the recent battle with the supremely powerful Doctor Doom? What if that lucky shot of hers had missed? What would have happened to her if Doctor Doom, probably the most powerful and intelligent person on earth, had really been able to unleash his full power on her.?"
Reed paused. "You have a point, Drake. I cannot argue with your logic. But I do not relish trying to explain it to my dear Mary."
"I am sure you will break it to her in a gentle way." Drake said. "You obviously love her as much as you say. And you are most assuredly a man of high character, and intelligence. I wish Marilyn's real parents had been of your caliber."
"Thank you for the kind words. I must say, I have heard of families who have been through quite a lot, but yours has had quite a rough go of it over the years." Reed pensively said.
"May I speak to the child now? Or is it an inconvenient time?"
Reed looked back at Mary, who was quite unaware of the phone conversation, as she started to devour her dessert.
"Why don't you call back in a hour or two? Before then, I will tell of the circumstances, and then she'll be ready to talk to you." Reed replied.
"I understand. She is so used to living with you and the others. But, I am sure she will be delighted to learn she is to live in England."
"Yes. I am sure once she is over the shock that she will be delighted. By the way, would you mind if I told her she could keep in touch with us over the phone whenever she needs someone to talk to?" asked Reed.
"I would not mind at all. I am more than grateful towards all four of you for taking such good care of her. I must go now, but I will call back in another hour to talk with her." Drake said.
"Alright then, it was a pleasure talking with you, Drake. I'll talk to you again in an hour." Reed hung up the phone. He then peered at Mary for a third time, and sighed, for he knew what he was about to tell her, while in a way was such great news... would break her heart.
By
Carolyne Smythe
A week later after the serious chat between Reed and Marilyn, a phone rang in the kitchen where they were eating dinner with their three friends.
"I wonder who that could be calling during dinner time?" Sue asked in between bites.
"Well let's find out, shall we?" Reed said as he got up from his chair, took one long stride, and picked up the phone.
"Fantastic Five Inc., this is Dr. Reed Richards, may I ask who is calling?"
"Good evening sir, I'm terribly sorry if I have bothered you at a very inconvenient time; seeing as most Americans eat dinner at right about this time." A thick accented voice sounded on the earpiece.
"May I ask who this is?" Reed asked.
"Oh please forgive me for not introducing myself, I am Drake Witshire, from London, England. It has come to my attention that the young girl on your team named Marilyn is really of my blood. My intention is to claim her, and raise her in my London home."
Reed looked at Mary, who was chewing on a piece of pork chop, then focused more on the person who called.
"Marilyn has never told us about having an uncle named Drake. Before we discuss this issue of you claiming her any further, how can we be assured you are who you say you are?"
There was silence on the other end of the line for a moment, then Drake responded. "I see that you truly care for my niece. That makes me very happy, Dr. Richards. I shall be happy to provide you with the appropriate documentation."
"Would you submit to a DNA Verification scan?" Reed asked.
"DNA Verification? Oh, yes, that would tell you if I am a so called 'super-villain' in disguise. Certainly." Drake answered. "But you are no doubt curious about the history of my search for Marilyn. I am afraid that here in England, I never heard much about how the Witshire clan has gotten along since her father and aunt decided to move to America. Not until recently anyway. I was very saddened to hear about Marilyn's father's unfortunate death, but not surprised. Here in England, he was a very chronic drinker. It seemed like he was at the point where he could not live without that sip of ale or brandy before he moved to America."
"I see..." Reed said in a shocked voice.
Drake continued. "At any rate, the last Marilyn's aunt told me she had heard about the child was that she was taken to the orphanage in Central City, California. And, that was the last time I ever spoke to my sister, for a bus ran over her three days after. I contacted the orphanage, and found out a very prominent scientist by the name of Dr. Reed Richards had adopted my niece."
Reed heard Drake choke back tears as he continued.
"You have no idea what it will mean to me to finally be able to see, and claim this dear girl. I only wish to provide her with whatever I can...to make up for the failures of her real parents. I have heard of the accomplishments of you, her, and the other members of your team, the Fantastic Five. No doubt you have taken excellent care of her."
"Why yes, I have taken wonderful care of her. But, Mr. Drake, as much as I sympathize with you. I must say that we would be hesitant to let Marilyn go. We love her as much as anyone possibly could, even though we are not of the same blood. How can we simply let her go, without a fight? As I said, we love her very much."
"Dr. Richards, do you really?"
Drake asked.
"I offer her the best that life has to offer. I am a very weathly man. I can provide her with the best education, social contacts, and a most comfortable life. You...and it pains me to put it so bluntly... you offer her a life of hardship, and most probably a violent death at the hands of the criminals that so often enter your lives."
"I wouldn't necessarily agree that..." Reed started.
"Oh?" Drake interrupted. "What of the recent battle with the supremely powerful Doctor Doom? What if that lucky shot of hers had missed? What would have happened to her if Doctor Doom, probably the most powerful and intelligent person on earth, had really been able to unleash his full power on her.?"
Reed paused. "You have a point, Drake. I cannot argue with your logic. But I do not relish trying to explain it to my dear Mary."
"I am sure you will break it to her in a gentle way." Drake said. "You obviously love her as much as you say. And you are most assuredly a man of high character, and intelligence. I wish Marilyn's real parents had been of your caliber."
"Thank you for the kind words. I must say, I have heard of families who have been through quite a lot, but yours has had quite a rough go of it over the years." Reed pensively said.
"May I speak to the child now? Or is it an inconvenient time?"
Reed looked back at Mary, who was quite unaware of the phone conversation, as she started to devour her dessert.
"Why don't you call back in a hour or two? Before then, I will tell of the circumstances, and then she'll be ready to talk to you." Reed replied.
"I understand. She is so used to living with you and the others. But, I am sure she will be delighted to learn she is to live in England."
"Yes. I am sure once she is over the shock that she will be delighted. By the way, would you mind if I told her she could keep in touch with us over the phone whenever she needs someone to talk to?" asked Reed.
"I would not mind at all. I am more than grateful towards all four of you for taking such good care of her. I must go now, but I will call back in another hour to talk with her." Drake said.
"Alright then, it was a pleasure talking with you, Drake. I'll talk to you again in an hour." Reed hung up the phone. He then peered at Mary for a third time, and sighed, for he knew what he was about to tell her, while in a way was such great news... would break her heart.