Part Four

Reconstruction

The sky was slowly shifting from the deepest blue to an enticing blend of gold and pink as the Gargoyles crept outside their lair to the open rooftop.

            Broadway, who'd stopped crying after eating 12 chocolate snowmen, took his place silently with what little bit of dignity he'd retained.

            Hudson looked around, taking the next place.

            "Aye – it's nearly mornin', lads!  Why didna someone tell me?"

            Elisa looked at them and shook her head.

            Lexington blinked at her, taking the next space very carefully so as not to fall off again.

            "Promise you'll try to glue everything on as straight as possible?"

            She smiled and put her hands on his shoulders.

            "Lex, I'll do my best.  I promise you that."

            He sighed and tried to look brave.

            She moved on to Brooklyn, who was regarding his companions with rigid concern.

            "Elisa . . . you know this may not work?  We may be stuck like this forever?"

            "And what if you are?"

            He sighed deeply.

            "I don't know.  I don't know how we'll function.  I mean – Lex could adjust to a new balance, Goliath could get dentures, and Broadway could get some shoes.  Hudson could learn sign language.  What about me?  I'm missing a stinking hand!"

            "Brooklyn," Elisa said gravely, "even without your right hand, you'll always be Goliath's right hand man.  Er – Gargoyle."

            He sniffled.

            "Well . . . whether or not it works, thanks for helping."

            "Any time, Brooklyn.  Although I still refuse to ever be seen purchasing Fluffer Nutter."

            "Can't say that I blame you."

            Elisa blinked and moved on to Goliath, who was bundled up in a tight ball, hiding his face.

            "Goliath – you need to turn to stone with your mouth open.  Otherwise, I won't be able to glue your teeth back in."

            He glowered at her darkly.

            "Really, Goliath!  This is the only way!  If you don't open your mouth, you'll never have teeth again!!"

            He whimpered faintly and looked over at the horizon.

            The sun peaked over the skyline.

            And he opened his mouth just as he froze into stone.

            Elisa sighed, looking at the stone teeth she held in her hand.

            " . . . this is actually pretty disgusting . . . "

            And so, when the following night came and the sun dropped over the edge of visibility, the five Gargoyles were waiting, each restored to his former glory with the aid of a human and a tiny bottle of Krazy Glue.

            Each broke through his stone prison, but none let out the customary waking roar.  All were too concerned about what state they'd wake up in . . .

            Brooklyn didn't dare look at first, but after a few seconds of suspense, he gritted his teeth and raised his arms . . .

            . . . to find both hands happily attached and healthy!

            "WEEEEEEE!!" he whooped, leaping from the tower and performing a series of ecstatic aerial loops before crashing into a Whiz Bang.

            "My tail!" Lexington exclaimed, joyful.

            "My toes!" Broadway sang, ecstatic.

            "Aye, lads – ye've finally decided to start talkin' again, eh?"

            Elisa, standing in the shadows all this time, strode forward and looked up at Goliath.

            "Well?"

            He looked back down at her and smiled.

            Showing all his teeth in their proper places.

The End