New Page 1

"Ready or not," Emily called out, "Here I come!"

She opened her eyes and looked around. Emily pushed her curly red hair out of her face and she looked under her bed. Seeing that he wasn't there, she knew that there was only one other place he could be. She walked to the closet and pulled open the door.

"I found…" She started to say but stopped when she realized that the closet was empty. He wasn't there.

Emily frowned. She hadn't heard him leave the room. Then she heard him move.

Emily looked up and saw Vince sitting on the ceiling, looking down at her.

"No fair!" She called out to him, "You know I can't hide up there."

"You never said that before," Vince called down to her, "You said we could hide anywhere in the house."

"I meant anywhere in the house where I can hide too!" Emily pouted.

"You should have said that before we began."

"Come down!" Emily smiled, "I found you so now it's my turn to hide."

"I'll come down when I feel… Ah!" Vince screamed and fell down off of the ceiling.

"Vince!" Emily ran over to Vince's prone body, "Vince!"

~~

"Mommy?" Emily walked into the kitchen, her 'My Little Pony' lunch kit in her hands.

Nora Roth turned to look at her daughter. "Yes?"

"Vince and I need to go somewhere." She said, her little brown eyes looking sadly up at her mother. "Vince needs to see an old friend."

"Oh," Nora swivelled her chair around to face Emily. "And who is this old friend?"

"His name is Merton," Emily pointed to the space beside her, "Merton is the one who created Vince. And now Merton is sick and might die."

"Die?" Nora was a little bit shocked. She would have to find out what sort of stories Earl, Emily's grandfather, had been reading to Emily.

Emily nodded, "They had a fight a long, long time ago, before I was born. And Vince left because of it. And now that Merton is dying, Vince wants to tell Merton that Vince doesn't hate Merton for locking him away in a chest." She turned to face the empty space, "Am I right?" Emily must have received some response from the space because the smiled at it.

Nora had become used to Emily talking to her 'friend' Vince. He had shown up about a year ago after they were playing in the park and the other kids wouldn't play with Emily. Since then, she had just played with Vince, no matter how hard Nora tried to get Emily to play with kids her own age.

"Where is this Merton?" Nora asked.

"In Pleasantville."

"Pleasantville?" Nora knew of the town. It was about an hour away from New Scarborough but Emily had never been there. "Emily, where did you hear about Pleasantville?"

"From Vince." Emily sighed in exasperation. "Vince's old friends are coming to pick us up in an hour. But can I have some snacks to take with me and Vince? And some fruit punch?"

Nora smiled, understanding what Emily really wanted. "Well all right," Nora said, "But if Vince's friends don't show up, you've got to give the treats back."

"Ok." Emily walked out of the room, swinging her lunch kit.

Nora pursed her head. She had heard the name Merton before but couldn't remember where. Then she saw the newspaper on the table and relaxed.

It was obvious that Emily had taken the name from the newspaper headline. "Local Man Merton Dingle Fatally Injured In Crash."

~~

"Are you sure that they're coming?" Emily was getting worried. Vince sat beside her, idly running his figures though her hair.

"It's ok." He replied, "I talked to Anna and she's just picking up Jeff and Danny from the airport."

A sudden BEEP BEEP noise from outside startled Emily. But Vince was already at the door.

"Lets go!" Vince opened the door and gestured to Emily. Emily picked up her lunch kit and ran to Vince. Vince picked her up with his right arm while he shut the door with his left one.

Nora looked up, startled by the sound of the horn. "Emily?"

~~

Anna reached over and opened the front passenger door for Vince. He hopped in, a little red headed girl in his arms.

"Hey Vince!" Anna smiled, "How are you doing?"

"Not so good," Vince slammed the door and put the seatbelt around him and the kid. "I can fell myself fading."

"Wait a minute," Danny leaned towards Vince, "You're not speaking in third person anymore?"

"I made him stop," The little girl spoke for the first time, "Vince talked all funny and it was confusing. But it took a long time. He only stopped talking right...um..." The girl turned to Vince. "How long ago?"

"Three months." Vince ruffled her hair, "And even now I slip every once in a while."

"You taught Vince in nine months what I never accomplished in eight years?" Anna shook her head, "What's your name anyway?"

"Emily." She suddenly turned and pointed to the woman running out of the house they were in front of, "And that's my mom."

"Oh crap!" Anna shifted out of park and into first gear. "We better get out of here."

"That would be suggestedddddddd!" Jeff yelled in surprise as the truck shot forward.

~~

Vince entered the room quietly. The only sound was the beep from Merton's heart monitor. There was a chair beside Merton's bed and Tommy was sitting in it. Vince could see tear's flowing down Tommy's face but Vince didn't care about him.

He only cared about Merton.

Merton was older than Vince remembered. The last time Vince had seen Merton was just before Merton shut the chest lid on Vince for the second time. After that, Vince ran away from Pleasantville, desperate to be far away from Merton. Vince regretted that decision sometimes in the early morning hours.

Merton's once black hair was shot with streaks of gray rising from his temples. Wrinkles from smiling and frowning had marred the smooth skin on Merton's face. He was stronger now, muscles evident under the flimsy hospital gown that he wore. But, most noticeably, Merton's expression had changed. The smile of wonder that had always graced Merton's sleeping face was gone, replaced by a look of sadness. Vince stepped closer, desperate to touch Merton.

And that's when Tommy finally noticed Vince.

"What are you doing here?" He hissed, rising out of his chair. Vince could see a few scratches along Tommy's face and Tommy's eyes flashed yellow.

"Still wolf-boy I see?" Vince smiled slightly, "I didn't bring any milk-bones for the puppy though."

"I'm not a puppy any longer," Tommy walked towards Vince, "And I'm not going to let you hurt Merton!"

"Hurt him?" Vince was surprised and his tone of voice must have revealed the same because Tommy backed off a bit, "I could never hurt Merton. It's not within me."

"Last time I saw you it sure looked like you were going to hurt Merton." Tommy growled, " As I recall, you were planning to lock him in that chest for ten years."

"No," Vince rolled his eyes, "I was just going to put him there until he returned to his senses and remembered all the fun that we had. All Merton wanted to do was to get rid of me. If someone was aiming a gun at you, you'd do what was needed to make them stop. I forgave him long ago for locking me in a chest."

"Then why now?" Tommy said, "Why after forty years have you come back here?"

"Because Merton's going to die." Both Vince and Tommy turned to look at Emily.

"He's not going to," Tommy insisted, "Merton's been though worse than this. He's been locked in stone, fattened by giant spiders, almost killed by a voodoo doctor and every time he's come out stronger."

"I'm fading." Vince said, "Emily saw me do it. She said that I began to flicker in and out of reality. Even now, I can feel my grip slipping away. Merton made me and as long as Merton lives, so do I. And when Merton dies..." Vince trailed off.

"You're lying." Tommy was furious, "You're just saying because you're still angry at him!"

"He got over that a long time ago." Danny entered the room, followed by Jeff and Anna. He shook his head. Vince suddenly remembered the first time he had seen Danny sitting at the restaurant, bored by the clown that was trying to entertain him. Vince could still remember how he punched the clown and sent it flying though the air. It had been a wonderful feeling with Danny had laughed, one that Vince had never forgotten.

"Who are you?" Tommy looked at the two adults, the teenager and the little girl.

"I'm Danny and this is Anna and that's Jeff and this is Emily," Danny pointed to everyone in turn, "And we're Vince's friends."

"You?"

"After Vince left Pleasantville, he became friends with me." Danny smiled, "And when I was ten and didn't need Vince anymore, he met Anna."

"Vince stayed with me until I was thirteen," Anna shrugged, "At that time, I met my first boyfriend and I knew that Vince would be better off with another kid. So I introduced him to Jeff who was five at the time. Vince and I kept in contact though e-mail."

"I had Vince up until last year," The lanky thirteen year old smiled, "And that's when he met Emily."

"I was in the park," The small five year old said, "And no one else would play with me. But Vince wanted to play with me. And we've been friends since."

Vince turned to speak to Tommy when a surge of pain ran though Vince. Screaming, he dropped to his knees and felt himself fade. A gasp of surprise alerted Vince to the group gathered around him.

"Vince!" Emily screamed in terror. Anna held Emily back but Vince could see the look of shock on her face as well.

When the pain subsided, Vince shakily stood up.

"You…" Tommy started to say but paused.

"I disappeared." Vince nodded, "I know. It happened first yesterday when Emily and I were playing hide and go seek, even before I knew about the accident. It's happened three more times this morning. I keep fading more as Merton slowly dies."

"We've got to do something to stop it!" Tommy was beginning to panic. "There must be something we can do."

"There's nothing to be done." Vince said sadly. "It's Merton's time. And it's mine as well." Vince walked over to Merton and touched the side of Merton's face. "I never thought it would come like this but…"

"But it can't be time!" Tommy shouted, tears running down his face, "We haven't had time to do so many things!"

"Consider yourself lucky," Vince shot back, "You've had Merton for almost thirty years. I only had him for three."

The anger disappeared out of Tommy's shoulders and he sat down in the chair, his shoulders slumped. "I…" Tommy took a deep breath, "I just never got to tell him everything. How much his friendship meant to me." He looked up at Vince, "He's been the only friend who's stuck beside me for so long. Everyone else left. All except him." Tommy gestured helplessly to Merton.

"I know." Vince sighed, "I can understand."

Tommy looked up at Vince, "You know. I think you can."

"Could I…" Vince paused, uncertain of how to say it, "Could I spend? I mean…"

"I understand." Tommy turned to Merton and grasped Merton's hand. "I guess that this is goodbye Merton. I only wish that it were me there instead of you. You've been the best friend I could ever have. I only hope that I was the same." Tommy stood up and walked out of the room.

Vince turned towards his four friends. Emily was trying to keep from crying and she clung onto Anna's leg. Danny and Jeff were talking quietly to once another.

"I guess you'd like us to go to." Anna looked straight at Vince.

"Not just yet." Vince walked up to Danny, "I have to say goodbye first."

"Vince…" Danny began to say. Vince pulled him into a hug and patted Danny on the back.

"I love you Danny," Vince said quietly, "You were the first after Merton. And I'll always remember how we first met."

"When you punched that stupid clown," Danny's voice was chocked with sobs, "And you played tag with me."

"And the fort in the woods?" Danny nodded as he remembered, "I always had fun."

"Me too." Danny smiled though his tears, "I've always loved you."

They let go of each other and Vince turned to Anna who gratefully sank into his embrace.

"You were the first girl friend I ever had." Vince smiled at Anna and tapped her noise. "And you were the first person I played dress-up with. And the first that ever hit me."

"I told you not call me freckle-face anymore." Anna suddenly looked sad, "I never meant it…"

"I know," Vince touched Anna's cheek, "I always knew when you didn't mean it."

"I love you." She gave him a serious look, "I always meant that."

"I love you too." They too separated and Vince turned to face Jeff.

"Am I too old for a hug?" Jeff asked.

"Never," Vince said as he pulled Jeff close, "Never, ever too old. Remember that."

"I will." Jeff nodded, tears staining his cheeks, "Just like not to stick my tongue up against steel in the winter time."

"And we had to get the teacher," Vince smiled, "But she couldn't see me so I had to trip her to get her attention."

"But she still didn't see so you had to drag her towards me," Danny laughed quietly, "And after that she wouldn't come near me."

They chuckled for a moment when Danny stopped laughing. "I love you Vince."

"I love you too," Vince ran his hand though Jeff's hair, "I'll always love you."

Then, Vince turned to Emily. Before he could say a thing, she flung herself at him and wrapped her arms around his legs. Vince bent down and picked her up.

"It's not fair!" Emily wailed, burying her head in Vince's shoulder, "I barely got to know you at all!"

"Shhhh," Vince rocked her back and forth, "I know it's not fair. Life is cruel sometimes. But sometimes it's wonderful and beautiful. But you have to have one to have the other."

"But I love you!" Emily sobbed, "Isn't love enough?"

"Sometimes it's not," Vince said, "But… sometimes it's all you need. I love you Emily."

"I love you," Emily let herself be handed to Anna. "I'll never forget! Never ever!"

"I know." Vince smiled at Emily, smiled at Anna and Jeff and Danny. "I promise you. I'll never forget anyone."

"We should go now," Anna rocked Emily in the same way that Vince had, "I pray that where ever you go, you're happy."

"Thank you." Vince watched as they left.

Then, he walked to Merton's bed and sat on it. Gently, he maneuvered Merton's head onto Vince' lap. Vince could feel Merton's heartbeat; feel the blood racing though his frail body.

Then he began to sing.

"I'll love you forever. I'll love you for always. All long as we're living, my Merton you'll be."

Vince ran his fingers though Melton's long hair, "I wonder if you know how much I love you. I never stopped, even when you locked me away. I love the others but… you made me. I was made to love you and that's all I know how to do. I can only hope that you know that. I wish that we had more time but sometimes it just doesn't work that way…"

Pain rocked though Vince again as Merton began to die but Vince was prepared this time and he didn't scream. The room went blurry and then began to darken.

Something began to pull on Vince, a force that Vince couldn't see. It became too much for Vince and he let go. As Vince felt himself disappear he called out once more.

Let my last word be of him, Vince though, let my last thought be with him.

"Merton!"