My Favorite Son
Disclaimer: I don't own any adolescent transformed shadow warrior chelonians.
Chapter Four- Michelangelo
Mike sighed admittedly he had never kept his bedroom all that clean but he was now missing one of his favorite comics and he knew it had to be buried somewhere in his room.
So he had started the rather unpleasant task of cleaning it up in hopes of finding the comic in question. He had already been at it for well over an hour and was only now left with one other place to look and that was under his bed where he happened to shove a lot of junk.
So he hauled out what was under the bed with a wearied groan and began to rummage through it.
While sorting through the many bits and pieces he had shoved under his bed at one time or another to save himself from cleaning when he could be doing something far more enjoyable then cleaning, he came across an envelope and was about to throw it into the garbage when he noticed the writing on it.
Good thing he had noticed it!
This was the last thing Splinter had left for him and he hadn't even looked at it as of yet. He tossed it onto his bed to read when he was done with the chore at hand.
Once he had found his missing comic he determinedly pushed the remaining junk back under his bed declaring cleaning was finished for the day and it was now time to do some serious reading.
He got up and jumped onto the bed when he noticed the letter. He picked it up it was five and a half weeks since his father had died but he felt that he ought to read the letter first so he slid open the envelope.
Michelangelo,
You my son almost equaled Raphael when it came to getting into mischief and wreaking havoc. Unlike Raphael you were able to sweet talk or joke your way out of a great deal more then he was ever capable of.
Whenever the two of you got together you were sure to be into or up to no good in no time at all. What one of you wouldn't think of the other one would and through just a little of ' I dare you to do it' sooner or later one of you would forego common sense and plunge right in to prove yourself to the other.
Not that you needed any added incentive or encouragement my son for even on your own you were a handful.
You had a boundless, unending supply of energy and I would often wish that you could give me just a bit of it so that I could manage to keep up with you and keep track of everything you got into.
You could wear me down and out far faster then any of your brothers. Raphael may have had his troublesome points but even he was no match for you.
Michelangelo, you were a hyper child and it often seemed to me that you were quite capable of being everywhere at once.
I could catch you climbing onto the counters to snatch a treat I was saving for all of you later and no sooner had I put you down then you would be off again. This time to try and entice Donatello into playing tag by stealing something he was working on and needed and running around the lair forcing your brother to give chase to retrieve it. Or perhaps off in some corner of the lair getting into some mischief that Leonardo was sure to inform me of.
How I often wished that you would apply just a bit of that enthusiasm to your ninjitsu lessons my son. Often instead of paying attention you would complain with how bored you were.
Or more often then not you would draw attention to yourself by telling jokes. Ever the class clown you did your best to ensure that lessons with you were always interesting for everyone involved.
I was often forced to give you a gentle rap with my walking stick to help you to focus and pay attention. You never took any offense to these gentle reminders and you nor did you change from what you are.
I recall one lesson where I set you all to some katas and had to leave the dojo for a minute or two when I returned I caught you doing an impersonation of me.
Impertinent child! I was torn between laughing and disciplining you for such disrespect towards me.
Raphael was much amused by your impersonation and Leonardo typically was of course displeased with your actions.
You could make me laugh and that was the problem Michelangelo in making me laugh I could not turn around and discipline you for your misbehavior you seemed quite aware of this fact and often seemed to use it when I had caught you in the act of some mischief.
Of course if laughter didn't work you had the skills and the charm to be a powerful negotiator my son. You would put on the most sorrowful expression and you would talk your way out of or down on punishment whenever you thought you could without making me angrier with you.
Being able to talk yourself out of trouble can be a good trait my son, and your child like innocent charm only makes you all the more believable.
I admit Michelangelo that you did provide me with a great deal of frustration and headaches but you also gave me much enjoyment and pleasure. You made me laugh often, far more often then I think even you are aware of.
Many times after you had pulled off some joke or prank I would manage to discipline you and then I would go off by myself and laugh in private over what you had pulled off this time. I could not let you think that I approved of your actions especially when I had to discipline you for laughter is a form of approval to a child.
I have something to tell you that I ask that you keep to yourself.
You were always my favorite son, Michelangelo for you were my child of laughter and optimism.
Nothing would ever get you down and keep you down. You looked for every silver lining on all the grey clouds that passed through your life and you were able to make the best of any situation you found yourself in.
I only hope that you manage to hold onto these traits as long as you live and not lose them somewhere along the way.
I know in battles when the others might be getting wearied or all odds seem against the four of you that you have rallied your brothers with only a joke or some silly comment lightening the mood and allowing them the chance to fight onward.
It is said that laughter has healing powers and if that is so then you are the best doctor I know of because you have held so strongly to making others laugh with you.
You my son are childlike even now as you enter your late teens and near true adult hood you have not let go of your child like ways you have somehow managed to stay youthful, innocent and carefree in spite of the fact that you also managed to become quite mature and serious when a situation calls for it.
I also know you have never shirked your responsibilities to your family whenever, however we needed you, you were there to lend a hand these things tell me that you are not as young as you sometimes act.
I have often overheard one of your brothers telling you to ' grow up and act your age!' instead of playing the family clown.
I don't think they realize Michelangelo that in truly giving up the joking and fooling around that you do for acting mature and responsible would be making you lose the best part of what makes you. YOU! I would not want you to lose the best part of who you are to satisfy others for that part makes you unique and special from your brothers.
In some ways that is also the part, which helps you, handle Raphael when he is more sullen and bitter. You have helped bring balance to him and have calmed him down when the rest of us could do nothing. True Raphael did not always accept you during those times but you never took his insults or abuse of you personally or to heart. You would shrug them off accepting easily that it was just a part of your brother's nature.
You were always creative Michelangelo striving to never do the same thing twice if you could only do it once and when you combined your creativity with your natural cooking talents then the whole family could benefit and enjoy your creativity.
You were sensitive, and gentle meaning no harm to anyone desiring only to live in peace and enjoy your life and often as we struggled to get by you would see others struggling and in just as bad of shape if not worse then us and if you could you would find some way to help them.
You were also the one to bring home many stray and abandoned animals longing to keep each one but I could not allow that we could not manage a pet and I feared if I allowed one that you would soon have us overrun.
Though after many years I did finally permit you to keep Klunk.
Michelangelo you were ever the most trusting refusing to see the bad in others, or hoping that the best inside of them would win out.
You are ever quick to defend any of your brothers if ever one of them says something against another, which is unwarranted.
Gentle, good natured and full of laughter I have no doubt in my mind that you will continue to bring much joy and happiness to those who know you.
Never let go of the child with in my son for that child brings much pleasure and enjoyment to the entire family weather they are willing to admit to it or not. I know you will never fail in life as long as you continue to hope for the best and believe in yourself.
Splinter.
Mike chuckled softly. He knew that it was true, including the part of all the trouble he got himself in and out of as a child.
Personally he liked knowing that he had made his father's life a little more enjoyable and that Splinter didn't want him to change those things meant far more to him then anything else ever could.
The End
