Part Five - Hello, Goodbye
By
Carolyne Smythe
"Mary are you coming down for your final breakfast with us, or not?" Sue said on the Baxter Building's intercom system in the dining room.
Seconds later, a very quiet, almost murmuring voice sounded.
"Yes Sue, give me a few more minutes." As Mary walked away from the intercom speaker in her room, she sighed and looked at her reflection in the mirror on the vanity.
She saw staring back at her a young girl, almost 14, with medium brown, wavy hair, brown eyes, and wearing a sky blue dress, silver heart locket, and a frown on her face.
"In a couple of hours, I will be Marilyn Witshire again. The glory days of being a proud member of the Richards clan are almost gone. Gee, I don't feel well..." she brooded.
Then, she prodded on down from her room to the dining room. Mary arrived to four rather emotionless faces staring back at her, the faces of people she did not want to leave behind.
"Suzie went ta alota trouble fixin' this for ya kid. It's ya favorite, French Toast!" Ben exclaimed as Mary passed through the dining room's threshold.
As she sat down at her place between Reed and Ben, she stared at her breakfast, looked up at Sue, and said,
"Sue, it was very kind of you to fix this for my last meal with all of you, but you really shouldn't have. I am not hungry."
The sounds of chewing and drinking stopped. A clink sounded from Ben dropping his fork.
Johnny looked at the girl and said,
"Mary, you must eat something! For all you know, this might be the only decent meal you'll have before getting on the plane back to London. And, you know how most airline food is."
Mary looked into the eyes of her stepfather, who was about to say something, but held back due to Johnny stealing it. Johnny continued on.
"I don't know what you're so bummed out about Mary! I would die to be able to go to England! Besides, Reed told us that you will be able to keep in touch with us!"
Mary was a quiet for a couple of minutes. Then, she spoke.
"Johnny, maybe you would like to go and visit England. That is different from LIVING there. But, that is not the point of why I feel like I do. I feel the way I do because of two reasons. One, Uncle Drake may have sounded like a real sweet, caring man on the phone. But, the minute I go out the door with him, he may turn around, and throw me into the New York City Orphanage. And friends, after my experience in Central City's orphanage, I don't ever want to think about what Manhattan's orphanage is like. And two, you don't realize how much I'm going to miss all of you. Yes, we'll keep in touch. But it won't ever be the same around here without me, or in Drake's home in London without all of you."
It was silent for a few moments in the dining room. Then, Reed began to talk.
"Mary, if Drake did not give a care in the world for you, he would have never searched for you like he did. Nor would he have called us on the phone. And if make you feel better, I promise we will visit you at least every other month, maybe even more."
"Well, now that you mentioned that, I guess I will eat a little something." Mary responded.
And, she dug into her French Toast. As soon as she finished that, she had a cup of coffee. Just as she was to take a final sip, an alarm sounded, alerting the Fantastic Five to a visitor in the lobby of the Baxter Building. Reed got out of his seat, and hustled to see who it was. He stretched an arm out, and pressed the button to reveal who waited below on the monitor. A middle-aged, well-groomed man stared back at Reed from the screen.
"It is I, Marilyn's Uncle Drake! Is the young girl ready?" A British accented voice announced.
"I will be down to bring you up into our headquarters Drake." Reed replied, then turned the monitor off.
"Mary, your Uncle Drake's here! Come out into the living room now so you can meet him!" Reed shouted.
Mary advanced into the living room, and took a seat on the sofa. Reed walked onto the elevator, and headed down. A minute later, he came back with a visitor, Drake. He wore a dark green sportscoat with brown pants, and had a gold pocketwatch with a chain that protruded from his pocket to a clip that was attached to his black belt. His hair was a dark brown with a few streaks of grey on the sides, and his face as slightly wrinkled, like Reed's. He took a seat right beside Mary. "Ahhhh, so there is the little one who is my niece! Such a beautiful young lass you are!" Drake said as he stroked Mary's hair.
"We will do so much together you and me. You shall get to see sights most people only dream about seeing!"
Feigning excitement, Mary asked. "Will we get to see Stonehenge?"
.
"Oh, Stonehenge will just be the beginning Marilyn!" Drake replied. "There is more to England than just places to see. The taste of England is something to experience. Besides the world famous teas and scones, you are truly in for a treat when it comes to sampling the cheeses. Have you ever tried Stilton, it is so scrumptious! Not to mention the outstanding Shepherd's Pie that my maid and cook can fix."
"You have a maid? You mean you don't live in a flat?" Mary interrogated.
"Yes indeed my niece. Besides the food and sights, you'll get to experience the extravagant mansion I call home. You see, I don't live in the heart of London, I live on the outskirts. There, the air is cleaner, sweeter, and fresher than the smog filled air of downtown London.
Reed looked over at Drake and said.
"I think now would be a good time for you and I to go to my lab. I have the DNA Verifier ready, and Susan can look over your documentation while I scan you."
The three excused themselves and went into Reed's lab, leaving Mary alone with Johnny and Ben.
"Man, you got it mucho better than we ever will have here!" Johnny jested.
Mary, unusually perturbed by a comment she normally would have played along with elbowed Johnny in the ribs.
"Ow! Why did you go and do that?!"
"Johnny, I may be crazy, but doesn't that voice somehow sound familiar?" Mary replied.
"Not really, unless you've been watching too much Monty Python or Dr. Who. Still, that doesn't answer my question. Why did you elbow me in the ribs?" Johnny answered back.
"Johnny, if he is who I'm afraid he is, this is no time to kid around."
"Well, Mary who do you really think it is?"
Mary told him. Johnny responded,
"Mary! This cannot be Doom! Talk about having paranoia for breakfast! Think about it, if he was Doom, would he be this friendly and willing to talk to Reed? No, I don't think so."
"I suppose you are right. And, he wouldn't be sweet with me like he has been if he was Doom." Mary said.
Ben leaned in close to her and said,
"Listen, kid. Even if Reed's doohikey proves that this joker's who he says he is...you just say the word, and I bounce him outta here before he can say 'Aunt Petunia'"
Mary kissed her friend on the cheek.
"No, it seems that Father thinks I should go with him. And I must respect his wishes, even if I would rather not."
Eventually, Reed, Drake, and Sue returned. Drake was smiling, but Reed and Sue looked very sad.
"Mary...he checks out." Sue said quietly.
It was time for the farewells to be exchanged. Mary received a hug from all her friends.
"You'll be missed kid." Said the Thing.
"Things sure won't be the same here without you Mary." Johnny told her.
Sue hugged her and said. "I am sure you will have a splendid time in England, and don't worry, Reed
and I will visit you often."
Finally, Mary approached the one she had so willingly called "Father", but could not anymore for starting then, he was no longer her guardian.
"Well, Fa... I mean Sir; it was nice living with you. What else can I say, but you have been just like a father to me. I will miss you."
Reed was silent for a moment. He did not know what to say. For right then, he was losing one of the best, and youngest friends he ever had.
"Mary, I will miss you too. But, like Sue said, I will visit you. You enjoy England, be sure to write to us, and feel free to give us a call if you want someone to talk to. Speaking of communication, I've been meaning to give this to you."
Reed handed Mary a metallic blue, white, and silver communicator.
"If you ever need our help, give us a call on that. Now, have a lovely time in England. And, we'll eventually come visit you!"
With that said, Reed blew a kiss out at Mary as the elevator doors closed. It was right after she left, the then Fantastic Four realized how much they were going to miss their youngest member.
"Reed, now I'm starting to understand how she felt." Sue said. "Letters and phone calls will be a pleasure to receive from her, but won't be the same."
"Thiz place iz too quiet already." Ben lamented
"You know something guys," Johnny sadly added, "I thought I would not miss her wisecracks. But, life won't be the same here without her and them."
Reed could only respond with a nod to his companions' comments. For even though he would not admit to it, he knew that he would miss her most of all.
By
Carolyne Smythe
"Mary are you coming down for your final breakfast with us, or not?" Sue said on the Baxter Building's intercom system in the dining room.
Seconds later, a very quiet, almost murmuring voice sounded.
"Yes Sue, give me a few more minutes." As Mary walked away from the intercom speaker in her room, she sighed and looked at her reflection in the mirror on the vanity.
She saw staring back at her a young girl, almost 14, with medium brown, wavy hair, brown eyes, and wearing a sky blue dress, silver heart locket, and a frown on her face.
"In a couple of hours, I will be Marilyn Witshire again. The glory days of being a proud member of the Richards clan are almost gone. Gee, I don't feel well..." she brooded.
Then, she prodded on down from her room to the dining room. Mary arrived to four rather emotionless faces staring back at her, the faces of people she did not want to leave behind.
"Suzie went ta alota trouble fixin' this for ya kid. It's ya favorite, French Toast!" Ben exclaimed as Mary passed through the dining room's threshold.
As she sat down at her place between Reed and Ben, she stared at her breakfast, looked up at Sue, and said,
"Sue, it was very kind of you to fix this for my last meal with all of you, but you really shouldn't have. I am not hungry."
The sounds of chewing and drinking stopped. A clink sounded from Ben dropping his fork.
Johnny looked at the girl and said,
"Mary, you must eat something! For all you know, this might be the only decent meal you'll have before getting on the plane back to London. And, you know how most airline food is."
Mary looked into the eyes of her stepfather, who was about to say something, but held back due to Johnny stealing it. Johnny continued on.
"I don't know what you're so bummed out about Mary! I would die to be able to go to England! Besides, Reed told us that you will be able to keep in touch with us!"
Mary was a quiet for a couple of minutes. Then, she spoke.
"Johnny, maybe you would like to go and visit England. That is different from LIVING there. But, that is not the point of why I feel like I do. I feel the way I do because of two reasons. One, Uncle Drake may have sounded like a real sweet, caring man on the phone. But, the minute I go out the door with him, he may turn around, and throw me into the New York City Orphanage. And friends, after my experience in Central City's orphanage, I don't ever want to think about what Manhattan's orphanage is like. And two, you don't realize how much I'm going to miss all of you. Yes, we'll keep in touch. But it won't ever be the same around here without me, or in Drake's home in London without all of you."
It was silent for a few moments in the dining room. Then, Reed began to talk.
"Mary, if Drake did not give a care in the world for you, he would have never searched for you like he did. Nor would he have called us on the phone. And if make you feel better, I promise we will visit you at least every other month, maybe even more."
"Well, now that you mentioned that, I guess I will eat a little something." Mary responded.
And, she dug into her French Toast. As soon as she finished that, she had a cup of coffee. Just as she was to take a final sip, an alarm sounded, alerting the Fantastic Five to a visitor in the lobby of the Baxter Building. Reed got out of his seat, and hustled to see who it was. He stretched an arm out, and pressed the button to reveal who waited below on the monitor. A middle-aged, well-groomed man stared back at Reed from the screen.
"It is I, Marilyn's Uncle Drake! Is the young girl ready?" A British accented voice announced.
"I will be down to bring you up into our headquarters Drake." Reed replied, then turned the monitor off.
"Mary, your Uncle Drake's here! Come out into the living room now so you can meet him!" Reed shouted.
Mary advanced into the living room, and took a seat on the sofa. Reed walked onto the elevator, and headed down. A minute later, he came back with a visitor, Drake. He wore a dark green sportscoat with brown pants, and had a gold pocketwatch with a chain that protruded from his pocket to a clip that was attached to his black belt. His hair was a dark brown with a few streaks of grey on the sides, and his face as slightly wrinkled, like Reed's. He took a seat right beside Mary. "Ahhhh, so there is the little one who is my niece! Such a beautiful young lass you are!" Drake said as he stroked Mary's hair.
"We will do so much together you and me. You shall get to see sights most people only dream about seeing!"
Feigning excitement, Mary asked. "Will we get to see Stonehenge?"
.
"Oh, Stonehenge will just be the beginning Marilyn!" Drake replied. "There is more to England than just places to see. The taste of England is something to experience. Besides the world famous teas and scones, you are truly in for a treat when it comes to sampling the cheeses. Have you ever tried Stilton, it is so scrumptious! Not to mention the outstanding Shepherd's Pie that my maid and cook can fix."
"You have a maid? You mean you don't live in a flat?" Mary interrogated.
"Yes indeed my niece. Besides the food and sights, you'll get to experience the extravagant mansion I call home. You see, I don't live in the heart of London, I live on the outskirts. There, the air is cleaner, sweeter, and fresher than the smog filled air of downtown London.
Reed looked over at Drake and said.
"I think now would be a good time for you and I to go to my lab. I have the DNA Verifier ready, and Susan can look over your documentation while I scan you."
The three excused themselves and went into Reed's lab, leaving Mary alone with Johnny and Ben.
"Man, you got it mucho better than we ever will have here!" Johnny jested.
Mary, unusually perturbed by a comment she normally would have played along with elbowed Johnny in the ribs.
"Ow! Why did you go and do that?!"
"Johnny, I may be crazy, but doesn't that voice somehow sound familiar?" Mary replied.
"Not really, unless you've been watching too much Monty Python or Dr. Who. Still, that doesn't answer my question. Why did you elbow me in the ribs?" Johnny answered back.
"Johnny, if he is who I'm afraid he is, this is no time to kid around."
"Well, Mary who do you really think it is?"
Mary told him. Johnny responded,
"Mary! This cannot be Doom! Talk about having paranoia for breakfast! Think about it, if he was Doom, would he be this friendly and willing to talk to Reed? No, I don't think so."
"I suppose you are right. And, he wouldn't be sweet with me like he has been if he was Doom." Mary said.
Ben leaned in close to her and said,
"Listen, kid. Even if Reed's doohikey proves that this joker's who he says he is...you just say the word, and I bounce him outta here before he can say 'Aunt Petunia'"
Mary kissed her friend on the cheek.
"No, it seems that Father thinks I should go with him. And I must respect his wishes, even if I would rather not."
Eventually, Reed, Drake, and Sue returned. Drake was smiling, but Reed and Sue looked very sad.
"Mary...he checks out." Sue said quietly.
It was time for the farewells to be exchanged. Mary received a hug from all her friends.
"You'll be missed kid." Said the Thing.
"Things sure won't be the same here without you Mary." Johnny told her.
Sue hugged her and said. "I am sure you will have a splendid time in England, and don't worry, Reed
and I will visit you often."
Finally, Mary approached the one she had so willingly called "Father", but could not anymore for starting then, he was no longer her guardian.
"Well, Fa... I mean Sir; it was nice living with you. What else can I say, but you have been just like a father to me. I will miss you."
Reed was silent for a moment. He did not know what to say. For right then, he was losing one of the best, and youngest friends he ever had.
"Mary, I will miss you too. But, like Sue said, I will visit you. You enjoy England, be sure to write to us, and feel free to give us a call if you want someone to talk to. Speaking of communication, I've been meaning to give this to you."
Reed handed Mary a metallic blue, white, and silver communicator.
"If you ever need our help, give us a call on that. Now, have a lovely time in England. And, we'll eventually come visit you!"
With that said, Reed blew a kiss out at Mary as the elevator doors closed. It was right after she left, the then Fantastic Four realized how much they were going to miss their youngest member.
"Reed, now I'm starting to understand how she felt." Sue said. "Letters and phone calls will be a pleasure to receive from her, but won't be the same."
"Thiz place iz too quiet already." Ben lamented
"You know something guys," Johnny sadly added, "I thought I would not miss her wisecracks. But, life won't be the same here without her and them."
Reed could only respond with a nod to his companions' comments. For even though he would not admit to it, he knew that he would miss her most of all.