FINAL WISHES
By Gary Curtis
Powerpuff Girls created by Craig McCracken and all related characters owned by Cartoon Network
THREE
Photographs. Photographs and more photographs. Some great ones that brought back happy memories, but not what Buttercup wanted to see.
"Fooey. I guess we aren't gonna find it. All the rest of these sound like science stuff and I don't feel like looking through all of 'em. Except for 'Top Secret', and that one, maybe we should keep out of."
Blossom agreed. Bubbles wasn't that disappointed. "Will you show me how to draw now?"
"Wait, Bubbles." Blossom said, thinking. "I know I saw documents some other place once. They weren't all spread out on a page like this where you saw the folders and everything. They were in like some kind of list..."
Buttercup's eyes grew larger. "Hey, yeah! Thanks, Blossom! Ms. Bellum did this for like a shortcut!"
She went to 'Start' and then 'Documents'. They noted that it did not say 'My' in front of it.
"It's different!" Blossom exclaimed. What they were looking at, and didn't know, were the temporary files, the ones viewed most recently. Individual files within folders. He had forgotten to clear them out. Among them was one they hadn't seen before, 'Professor's_Journal'.
"Bingo!" But when Buttercup clicked on it, they saw that the file could not be found and that the nearest thing to it was 'C/MyDocuments/Top Secret/PJ'. Did the user want to go there?
"Aw, that's it." she said. "That's the diary. He changed the name I bet just before he left!"
"That means he suspected we might be snooping around, Buttercup." Blossom frowned slightly. "And that's what we're doing. Forget it."
It was too late, the file was open; and she leaned forward in spite of herself. So did Bubbles.
"That doesn't look like any diary or journal. It looks like a letter!"
"Whoa..." Buttercup breathed. "No wonder it's top secret. Look!"
At the top were the words. 'To Be Opened Upon My Death'. Below that was the opening to a standard business letter.
The words set them all on edge. "What's this?" Blossom said. "Opened? That goes on an envelope! He's writing this letter to somebody and he didn't send it yet!"
"The Professor's gonna die?" Bubbles shrieked.
"Take it easy, Bubbles, it's prolly his will. Everybody's 'sposed to have one, everybody really old like he is, anyway."
"It's to some lady lawyer." Blossom said. "You're right, Buttercup. Let's see what's in his will!"
Together, they began to read:
'
N. Olive Burl, Esq.
1947 Capitol Ave.
Townsville USA
Dear Ms. Burl;
In the accompanying envelope you will find my Last Will and Testament. I prepared it myself using the approved form for this state and it was duly and properly witnessed by Sara Bellum, who I'm sure you will agree is as standout a citizen as we have. She is truly an asset to this community.
As Trustee, you will see to it that my wishes are carried out in full in regard to the care and continued wellbeing of my beloved children. The trust accounts established in their names should provide everything they will need into adulthood and beyond, including an education at the university of their choosing. Upon reaching the ages of twenty-one, these accounts will be turned over to their full control. As you know, I have left them very well-off financially. It, in large part, is the very reason you are now reading this letter.'
Bubbles sniffled. "Oh, I don't like this! I don't wanna think about growing up without him!"
"There, there, Bubbles." Blossom wrapped her arms around her sister. Though she knew better, she also was saddened by the symbolism of the contents. There would someday come a time..."This is just something he hasta do legally to make sure we're taken care of, just in case. Nothing's gonna happen to him."
"Yeah, Bubbles." Buttercup agreed. "He must have lots of insurance, then. We're doin' OK but we ain't rich enough to have the kind of money he makes it sound like."
"I just noticed something." Blossom interjected. "There's no date. That means he didn't send it yet. He's only working on it."
Bubbles sniffed one more time and wiped her eyes on her dress. "OK, I feel better now. Girls, it looks like we did find what we wanted to see. He really loves us a whole lot if he's thinkin' about our future like this."
Blossom wiped away a few tears herself. "Uh huh."
Buttercup agreed, too, but was a bit less sentimental and more practical than her sisters. "I'd like to know what that will says. If he ain't done with it yet, maybe it's in here somewhere!"
Her sisters nodded and they all read on:
'Matters surrounding the trusts you are already familiar with, of course. The real purpose of this letter is to provide you with as much information as possible to assist the appropriate authorities.'
They traded quick glances with one another. What 'authorities' was he talking about?
'You see, I have always known that my misguided actions of the past would someday lead to this heartache I have caused my girls. For myself, there can and should be no sympathy, though I know they will grieve. They deserved far better than they got from me.'
The mood in the lab changed suddenly. Bubbles wailed out loud and tears sprang to Buttercup's eyes. "Professor, no! Blossom, what's he talking about?"
Blossom trembled. "I-I don't know, Buttercup! Something bad happened that we don't know about!"
Bubbles cried, "We gotta help him!"
Blossom tried to remain calm. "Girls, we can't just run off until we know more. Let's read the rest of this and then talk to him."
Buttercup blurted out, "He won't tell us anything, Blossom! If he would, he would've!"
Blossom felt cold. "It's really bad, then. He's willing to die to protect us. Keep reading, girls. It's hard, but we have to."
'When I saw things beginning to get out of control, I tried to stop it. It's too late for me now, but I pray that there may still be hope for my kids. Forces too powerful for me to stand against saw to my premature end, and as I have stated, the information here may lead you to assist the authorities in bringing those responsible to justice. I knew the face(s) of the person(s) directly responsible at my moment of death, but of course I can't tell you now who that is. But I can and will give you the identity of the one individual who is my true murderer."