THICKER THAN WATER
Part III
Baloo returned dejectedly to the Sea Duck. A cold rain was whipping down, and he had to keep a hand on his pilot's cap to keep it from blowing away. Now he remembered why he hated Grimscape Island so much - the rain never seemed to stop.
He settled into the pilot's seat of the Sea Duck and closed his eyes. The trip to Grimscape had been a waste of time. No one reported having seen the boy, and most of the shipping offices were closed for the day. His choices now were grim - waste an entire night here and hope he could find someone in the morning who had seen Kit, or take off now, without any clear idea of where to go.
The big bear balled his hands into fists, frustrated. He longed for nothing more than to be able to throw his arms around Kit and protect him. Yet he was helpless - that same helpless feeling he'd had when Kit suffered through his sleepless nights, racked by nightmares of a past Baloo was powerless to change. This was even worse. At least he COULD throw his arms around the boy, then, for all the good it did - now both were denied even that small comfort.
With a sigh, he picked up the microphone. "Come in, Higher for Hire, come in. This is the Sea Duck. Come in, Higher for Hire."
"Baloo?" Rebecca's voice crackled sleepily from the speaker. "Where are you?"
"I'm on Grimscape, Becky. It was a dead end. If Kit was here I can't find anybody who saw him. I'm takin' off."
"Where are you going?"
"I dunno, Becky, but I gotta get off this rock. Baloo out."
The sun broke through the low clouds on the horizon in the October sky and shed a little light, if not much warmth, on Port Wallaby. On one side of the bay, vast stands of tall, gleaming buildings stood, reflecting the early morning sun off of their glass and steel facades - products of the new wave of skyscraper architecture. On the other side, a series of docks stretched off into the distance, interspersed with hulking old buildings in various states of disrepair.
Kit Cloudkicker hugged his jersey tightly around him and shivered. He walked along the causeway that fronted the bay, casting occasional glances at the city around him. Not much had changed in two years - perhaps a few more glittering buildings strained towards the sky, creating more urban canyons which blocked out the sun and channeled the bitter autumn wind. Men and women in expensive topcoats and furs scurried through the canyons, their destinations in the centrally heated offices that the skyscrapers held. There was no place for Kit in that world -the city of Port Wallaby was very careful to separate it's different universes, as though an entire ocean lay between them. Kit was headed for the docks.
Kit had slept at the airfield, inside an old hanger that he had found unlocked. He rose early, slipped out and headed for the waterfront - the grey world that fronted the harbor on the opposite side. Perhaps he could find some odd jobs there, working with some of the cargo firms or fisheries, and scrape together enough money to go somewhere else, anywhere else, and have a semblance of a life. Or perhaps this was as good a place as any to finally confront his past, once and for all.
He stopped to look back at the towering visage of the downtown. It had none of the vivid, colorful flair of the Cape Suzette skyline. It fit Port Wallaby - it was cold, unfeeling and ruthless in appearance. Yes, Kit thought, this was as good a place as any.....
"No Becky, nothing. I'm about 15 miles out of Cape Filbert, I'm gonna try heading north for a bit, check out some of the ports up here." Baloo shouted into the radio, struggling to be heard over the static.
The radio buzzed for a few moments. "-that you can do! Why..............-if I hear anything!" Rebecca's voice cut in and out, barely audible. Baloo looked around him - terrible weather all about. It matched his mood.
A voice - a male voice - broke through the static on the radio. "-ing for Baloo." the voice said. "I repeat -I'm trying to contact Baloo, on the Sea Duck. If anyone can-"
Baloo snapped to attention immediately and grabbed the mike. "This is Baloo! I repeat, this is the Sea Duck! Can you copy? Over."
"I copy." the man said.
"Who is this?" Baloo shouted, the wind and rain buffeting his plane.
"This is Rudder, on board the Albatross. I have some information that I think you'll want to hear..."
The weather was getting worse as Kit walked along the docks - rain was starting to fall harder, and the bitter wind was picking up, trash and paper tossed about through the air. He had bought a hot dog from a street vendor and was forcing himself to eat it, although the taste was truly vile -it was his first meal of the day. Most of the fisheries and cargo services were shut down due to the storm, and their owners were not in a friendly mood. Kit decided to abandon his plan of looking for work and seek some shelter from the weather.
He gulped down the last of the hot dog and scurried toward a row of buildings opposite the waterfront. A few scraggly faces stared at him as they too scurried for cover - faces he recognized from his time on these same streets. They belonged to different people, but the faces hadn't changed at all.
A bolt of lightning lit up the skyline briefly, followed moments later by a loud clap of thunder that rolled across the bay and shook the windows of the old buildings on the docks. Kit found an abandoned row house and climbed through a broken window.
He found himself in a decrepit room, the walls largely collapsed and the ceiling ridden with holes. He was sopping wet - he sat down against one of the rotting walls and water collected in a pool around him. He shivered, from the cold and sheer loneliness. From the upper floors, rainwater was seeping down through the holes in the ceiling and dripping noisily to the floor. A rat scurried across the floor and disappeared.
The cub took a deep breath, closed his eyes and shivered again. He opened his eyes and slowly surveyed the room around him. He covered his face with his hands and began, silently, to cry.
Baloo could hardly believe his ears. "Go ahead!" he shouted at the radio. "I hear you! What information have you got?"
"Mr. - Baloo. You're the fella that's looking for Kit Cloudkicker, that right?"
"Yeah!" the big bear shouted. "D'you know where he is?"
"I have to ask you, Baloo." the voice said in a cautious tone. "What do you want with Kit?"
"What's it to you?" Baloo yelled angrily. "Listen, if you know where he is-"
"Look! I gotta know why you want to find Kit. We go back a long ways, Baloo."
A long ways? Who was this guy? "Look, Mister - Mister - "
"Rudder."
"Look, Rudder... I don't know who you are. But Kit's my kid. I been looking after him for the last year and he's in some kind of danger. D'you know where he is or not?"
Rudder continued, strangely hesitant. "Baloo, the thing is, we have a kind of code, you know? Travelers, I mean. Some people call us hobos. We don't ask too much and we don't tell anything we ask. Kit's a good kid and I wouldn't want to rat him out. Only... Kid's had it pretty rough his whole life, ya know? If he's got a shot at somethin' better..."
"What?" Baloo shouted, desperate for the man to feed him information.
"Look, usually I wouldn't think of tellin' you anything, but... I picked the kid up on Grimscape Island. I'd heard Kit hooked up with you a while back. And when I mentioned you to the kid, he got kind of a funny look. Almost like he was gonna cry, you know? And, I kinda got the feelin' that he was in trouble. He's a tough kid and he didn't wanna tell me, but somethin's wrong, the more I thought about it the more I knew it. I just figured it would better if you knew."
"Where is he? I'll go after him right now!"
"I dropped him in Port Wallaby yesterday. I offered to let him tag along with me, but he didn't want to, said he had to-"
"Port Wallaby?" Baloo asked, a sinking feeling in his stomach. Why would Kit go back there, now, of all times and places? "I never been there, Rudder! I'm somewhere north of the Filbert Islands, maybe fifty miles. Weather's terrible here. Where the heck is Port Wallaby?"
"You're only about two hours flight away, Baloo. Look on your Usland aviation map 27-12, it's almost due north of your current position."
Baloo frantically searched for the map. 27-12, where was it? Of all the times not to have his navigator... "Listen, Rudder. Thanks for everything. I'm gonna head straight there and see if I can track down the kid."
"Yeah, good luck Baloo. Try the docks, that's where he'll probably end up. Listen - take good care of Kit, Baloo, or I'll come lookin' for ya myself and kick your tail! You got that?"
Baloo smiled slightly. "Got it Rudder. Baloo out."
Kit wasn't sure how long he had been asleep, but when he opened his eyes the room was dark. He could hear the rain pelting the roof far above him, and the drips as they found their way to the floor. But something else had woken him....
There it was again! A movement, not a rat but something much larger. "Well, what have we here?" a voice said from across the room.
Kit looked over and saw three pairs of eyes shining in the dark. As his eyes adjusted to the dim he could make out their bodies as well - three young lions, perhaps in their teens. They slowly advanced on him.
"Who the Hell are you?" one said disdainfully.
"Yeah, this is our turf, midget. Anybody who trespasses is gonna get hurt!"
Kit had seen their kind before - street punks, who improved their standard of living slightly by abusing those even more helpless than they were. He stood. "Sorry guys." he said, no fear in his voice. "I didn't know - I'm new in town. I'll just get out-"
"I don't think so." the largest cub said, blocking Kit's path. "I think we'd better teach you not to make the same mistake again."
Kit had evaded far more serious attackers than these before. In a blindingly quick movement, he shot under the lion's arms and across the room and leapt through the window where he had entered. One of the lions started to give chase.
"Forget him!" the leader snarled. "He's not worth chasing on a night like this. If we see him around we'll make sure he remembers us."
Kit ran through the rain for a few moments, then stopped, hearing no pursuers. He bent, hands on knees, and caught his breath. The rain continued to pelt down steadily. He looked around him. He was at the waterfront, and could just make out the hulking form of the cannery in the darkness.
He was exhausted. His body demanded sleep. The cub considered just dropping to the sand and lying down, but the rain was incessant. He took a few deep breaths, coughed up rainwater. He strode towards the inky bay, and stopped. There was no other way. He was going to have to sleep under the pier.
He took a few steps out. The pier was even more rotted away than it had been three years before - there were large gaps where the rainwater pelted through. In the dim light he could make out a few huddled forms, here and there. He closed his eyes, but that was worse - the stench was as awful as he remembered it, and was his only sensation. He felt as though he had never left.
With a sigh, he opened his eyes and located a relatively dry patch of sand. He shuffled over to it, lay down, and fell almost immediately into a dreamless sleep.
Baloo wrestled the Sea Duck through the rain and looked desperately for the Port Wallaby airfield. It had been a struggle even finding the city - Baloo was never great with maps to begin with. After finally finding the map Rudder had told him to use, he'd headed for Port Wallaby as best he could, only to find that he was more than thirty miles off course. He circled back and finally found the city, but in the fog and steady rain the airfield lights were invisible.
Finally, he gave up and decided he'd just land the plane on the bay itself. He looped around and came in low, looking for a suitable spot. There was a long line of docks along the shore - similar to what Baloo had seen in countless other ports around the Pacific. That would be where the cargo firms and shippers were - they and the pier that Kit had told him about those few days that seemed like years ago.
He splashed the Sea Duck down and skimmed the surface of the water. After a moment he found what he was looking for - an unoccupied dock - a little dilapidated, but adequate under the circumstances. He brought the yellow seaplane to a stop and climbed out onto the dock.
The rain was spitting down - lighter now, but still an annoyance. The air was chill and stank of dead fish and sewage. He looked out across the water, and saw the lights of the skyline glimmering through the mist. No help there. He turned, faced the other way. The bay curved, the small docks and outbuildings dotting the shore. Perhaps a quarter mile down he saw a large building.
The cannery. And behind that, a barely visible line stretching out into the water. The pier. He jogged to the end of the small dock and began running along the causeway that lined the water.
At first, Kit thought he was dreaming again. The sense of rousing from sleep, the first sensation the rotten stench in the air, the second the sight of two eyes shining in the dark. Then he opened his eyes fully and realized he was not asleep - he was not leaning on the old bobcat, and the eyes were not those of the croc. He sat bolt upright.
"So, my boy. You have led me on the merry chase, yes-no?"
Karnage. Kit was not surprised, somehow. He had known on some level that it was going to happen. He had been right to leave Cape Suzette - at least he knew that now. At least I won't have to spend another night in this hell, he thought to himself.
Baloo paused for breath - it was the most running he had done in years. He spotted three young lions clustered outside one of the buildings across the causeway. He jogged over to them. "Hey! I'm lookin' for a brown bearcub, about thirteen years old. Seen 'im?"
The largest lion laughed. "Hey Fatso, where's the fire? You look like you could use a nap!"
Baloo grabbed the youngster by the front of his jacket and lifted him off the ground. "Listen, Ace!" he growled in the cub's face. "I asked you a question and I want an answer! Have you seen that kid or not?"
"Yeah, yeah, take it easy!" the cub stammered as the two smaller cubs looked on in astonishment. "He-he headed towards the cannery awhile back, I ain't seen him since!"
"Thanks a lot." Baloo snarled and roughly dropped the boy, turning to head towards the cannery.
"Man, everybody's lookin' for that kid tonight!" one of the lions said behind him.
Baloo turned and stared at the boy. "WHAT did you say?"
The red wolf flashed his teeth at the cub as the light rain pittered down on the wooden planks over their heads. "So, boy - I could have kill you where you sleep, yes?" he said, his breath visible in the chill night.
"Why didn't you?" the boy asked in a disinterested tone.
"Why, what fun would tha' be, little one? You would never even have seen the blow coming! What way is that for a noble buccaneer to dispatch a foe?"
"What do you want, Karnage?" Kit asked, standing. "I'm tired - it's been a long day. Let's get to the point."
Karnage was taken aback by the reply. "Why, only you dead, boy - only you dead."
Kit's eyes darted around, surveying his options. Karnage blocked his way out to the street. Kit could see now as his eyesight adjusted that the pirate had a small sword strapped to his belt. His only other option was to retreat, towards the water. Kit felt that he had run from Karnage long enough. That wasn't going to be his choice.
Karnage placed his paw on the hilt of the sword. "Well, boy? Have you nothing to say before I extinguish your miserable existence?"
"Only that I'm sorry that I ever followed you - that I ever called you Captain. I disgraced every friend I ever had the second I stepped on your ship. It would have been better - for everybody - if you'd killed me right then." The pirate slapped Kit backhanded across the jaw, causing a trickle of blood to flow from the cub's mouth. The boy steadied himself and stared disdainfully at the wolf.
"Well, boy-" Karnage sneered toothily, "It is never too late to right a wrong, yes-no?" He placed a hand on the sword. "I owe you no honorable death, Cloudkicker - I shall make it nice and slow so that we may both enjoy it, yes? Excellamundo!"
The boy knelt, head down, as if preparing for the blow. In a flash he uncoiled, hurling a handful of sand in the pirate's face. Karnage sputtered back a stride. Kit darted under Karnage's sword arm, but the pirate reached a leg out and tripped him up. Kit landed on his back, and Karnage, coughing, placed a boot on the boy's chest and pressed down, hard. The cub screamed in pain, as the few others under the pier looked on dispassionately.
"Well done, puny one! It is good that you should fight for your life, no? It is so much more sporting. Now perhaps you will grovel for it, yes?"
Teeth clenched, eyes clasped shut in agony, the boy forced air into his lungs. "Never." he whispered.
Karnage looked disappointed. "Very well then. It appears our game has been played to the final move. Now it is checkmate, yes-no?" He reached for his sword.
"STOP!" a voice bellowed from behind Kit. The wolf looked up, keeping his foot on the cub's chest, relaxing the pressure slightly. Kit tried to turn his head, but was unable to see what was happening.
"I am no' believing this!" Karnage cried. "The fat furry pilot?"
"Noooooooo!" Kit wailed, his voice filled with despair.
"This ain't funny anymore, Karnage." the bear snarled. "I've played with you enough. Now you've pushed me too far." He advanced on the wolf.
Something in the bear's manner clearly disquieted Karnage. He stepped off of Kit's chest, took a step backward, hand on the sword. "So kind of you to join us, Baloo. Now I can have two for the pricing of one, yes?" he said mockingly.
"I'm tired of your silly talk, I'm tired of your attitude, and I'm tired of YOU!" the bear growled. With astonishing speed he sprinted at the pirate and leapt in the air. Karnage had only time to raise the sword before the bear landed on him and crushed him to the sand.
Kit rolled over onto his side, the agony in his chest receding slightly. He wheezed, trying to draw air into his lungs, tears rolling down his cheeks.
The bear and the wolf wrestled, and rolled over as one towards the water. They stopped, the bear on top, waves of sea water rushing over them. Karnage freed his right paw and brought his sword back, growling, but Baloo grabbed his wrist, the two locked in a tug of war, the bears strength gradually winning out. Finally, the bear leaned over and savagely bit Karnage on the hand, prompting a scream of agony from the pirate, who dropped the sword.
Baloo snatched the sword and backhanded the pirate on the cheek with the hilt. He stood, raised the sword, and stared down at the wolf, who braced for the blow as Kit watched, panting, propped up on one elbow a few yards away.
Baloo stood, breathing heavily, then took a step back. With a grunt of exertion, he heaved the sword like a discus, far out into the water, where it splashed and sank. He grabbed the pirate by the scruff of his shirt with both hands and lifted him to his feet. "Now it's just you and me, Karny. And I'm in a real bad mood." He reared back and viciously punched the pirate in the jaw, causing the wolf to stagger back several paces and fall, stunned, with a splash. Baloo stepped after him.
As the pirate tried to crawl away, Baloo grasped him by the collar, pulled him upright and punched him in the stomach. Karnage doubled over in pain. "Now you listen, Karnage, and you listen good. I don't give a damn what you do to the other pathetic thieves you call pirates. I don't care about your pirate empire, or your army, or anything else. You kin play your games out there and no interference from me. But I've had it with you makin' life tough for my kid. When you attack him, you attack me. And I am NOT someone you want angry, Karnage. Believe me." He brought his elbow down on the back of Karnage's neck, and the pirate fell, bleeding and nearly unconscious, to the surf.
"I don't expect to see you in Cape Suzette again, Karny. I don't expect you to bother Kit Cloudkicker ever again. From now on that boy is off limits. If you decide to cross me again, I'll make sure you remember the next time a lot longer than this one."
Panting, the bear stepped back, as Karnage tried to pull himself up onto his knees. "Oh, I almost forgot, Karny. Mr. Shere Khan asked me to give you something." He reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope. "I don't know what he says in here, Mr. Karnage, but I can tell you this. That is one angry tiger. I think he may be almost as angry as I am, and I don't have five thousand military-trained panthers working for me. You crossed the wrong guy there, Karny. I'd think real careful about gettin' anywhere near him again."
As Karnage managed to prop himself on his elbows, Baloo kicked him across the face. The wolf fell back, unconscious. Baloo bent over and stuffed Khan's letter into Karnage's pocket.
He turned and looked back for Kit.
The cub stood, stunned, a thin trail of blood snaking down his chin. He had never seen that kind of anger or aggression from the big bear before - nothing even close. Both bears stood, panting, staring at each other for a moment. Then Baloo walked over to the cub and pulled his head to his chest, and they stood, for a short while, saying nothing. They turned, and walked out from under the pier and towards the Sea Duck.
They walked in silence, exhausted and in pain. After a few moments they reached the dock where Baloo had landed the yellow seaplane, and he led Kit out on the water. They entered the cockpit and both bears strapped in, saying nothing. Baloo gunned the engines and turned the plane out towards open water. The rain had stopped, and a few stars were peeking out from behind the cloudy sky.
The Duck soared into the air, and Baloo, not even checking his heading, turned it in a generally southerly direction. They flew in silence for a few moments, Kit looking down as the lights of Port Wallaby slowly faded into the distance. He unbuckled, stepped over to Baloo's chair and wordlessly buried his face in the pilot's chest, sobbing quietly. The bear wrapped his arm around the cub, and they flew southward, saying nothing.
Finally, after they had held that pose for so long that Baloo was certain Kit was asleep, the boy shifted, and peered up at Baloo's face. "Why do you keep coming back?" he rasped, sounding angry. Baloo reached for his handkerchief and wiped the blood off of the cub's face.
Kit pushed himself away and sat on the armrest of the navigator's seat. "Karnage could've killed you! It was _me_ he was after! Don't you understand? It's always me! Why do you always find me? It would have been better if - if you'd just let it happen."
"Naw, YOU don't understand, Kid!" It was Baloo's turn to be angry now. "Why can't you get it through your stubborn head? I don't CARE! I don't care about Karnage, I don't care about air pirates, or anything else! I care about you! I ain't leaving! Why can't you get that through your thick skull, L'il. Britches? I ain't leaving! You hear me? You're stuck with me!"
Kit began sobbing again, loudly this time. "But Baloo-"
But NUTHIN'!" the pilot roared, smashing his fist down on the console. "I can't change anything that's already happened. I wish I could, but I can't - and neither can you. All I can control is the present, and I mean to make sure I do. I'm always gonna be there, Kid, from now on - and nobody's gonna stop me. Not Karnage, not Shere Khan, not some snot-nosed government agency, and not you either Kid! Whatever you think you did, whatever punishment you think you deserve, I don't care. It just don't matter. I can't make you forgive yerself for stuff that ain't your fault. All I can do is be around, every time you're in trouble. Every time you need me. You're stuck with me, L'il Britches."
Baloo huffed, winded after his uncharacteristic show of anger. Kit sniffled a few times, and wiped his eyes. He sat back in his chair and strapped back in. "H-how'd you find me?" the boy snuffled.
"Yer pal Rudder told me where you were. He did it for your own good, Kid. He's a good friend."
Kit smiled weakly. "He sold me out! That's a violation of the code. I'll have to chew him out, next time I see him."
They flew in silence for a few minutes. Kit drew his legs up and curled himself into a ball on the seat. "I'm so tired, Papa Bear. I gotta sleep for a while. Can you find Cape Suzette without my help?"
Baloo glanced over and grinned. "Sure can, Kid. Get yerself some shuteye."
"Wake me when we're home." the cub mumbled, nearly surrendered to sleep.
"Sure will Kid, sure will." Baloo said softly. He waited until the boy was sound asleep and picked up the radio. "Come in Higher for Hire. Come in. This is the Sea Duck."
"Baloo?" Rebecca's tired-sounding voice crackled across the airwaves. "What's happening? Where are you?"
"Mission accomplished, Beckers." the pilot answered, smiling. "See ya in a few hours."
Rebecca was asleep in the big chair at Higher for Hire when the roar of the Sea Duck's engines cut through the early morning quiet. She shook her head, trying to get the cobwebs out, and stepped out into the bright sunrise just as the engines cut and Baloo popped open the cockpit door. Wildcat peeked his head out from the shed and smiled.
Baloo stepped wearily out onto the dock, and reached back to help a very sleepy Kit down. Bear and cub walked towards the buildings, and Rebecca greeted each with a hug. Both bears were exhausted, and neither said much as they walked into the building.
Rebecca grabbed Kit by the shoulders and spun him round gently, and leaned over to face him eye to eye, a task, she noticed, that seemed to be getting easier with each passing week.
"Don't you EVER do anything like this again, young man!" She said quietly, desperately, a tear in her eye.
Kit said nothing, but hugged her tightly to him for a long moment.
"You look awful!" she half laughed as they separated.
"Thanks a lot!" he said sleepily.
"And as for you, Baloo..." she wrapped her arms around the pilot's neck and kissed him on the forehead. "I knew you'd bring him back." she whispered.
Kit started up the stairs. "I gotta sleep some more guys, I'm dead."
"Oh Kit, Molly's sleeping in your bed, you'll have to share." Rebecca called after him.
"No problem!" the cub called back down. "I could sleep on a pile of rocks in a thunderstorm right now!"
"Yeah, me too Beckers, I'm beat!" Baloo said, starting after the boy. Rebecca put a hand on his arm, and he waited.
"Night!" Kit called as he entered the bedroom.
An exhausted Baloo looked back questioningly at Rebecca. "What about Karnage?" she asked.
"I don't think we'll see him around here again, Becky. Not if he's got a shred o' brain in his head."
"Thank God for that, Baloo. I only hope you're right. And Baloo - I thought you'd want to see this." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a telegram.
Kit pulled the shade down, as the light of the early morning was beginning to creep into the bedroom. He slipped out of his jersey and fell back on the bed, exhausted. Molly lay on the bed, clutching Lucy tightly to her chest.
"Kit?" she mumbled sleepily.
"Hi Pigtails." he said, without looking up.
Molly propped herself up on one elbow and looked at him. "Where did you go?" she asked accusingly.
"I went on a little trip, Kiddo."
"You made Mommy and Baloo worry about you! You shouldn't have gone."
Kit rolled his head over and stared at the yellow cub. "I know Molly. I'm sorry I made you worry. I was thinking too much about myself."
The girl seemed satisfied with that answer. "Well, I'm glad your back!" she said, giving him a hug.
"Me too, Kiddo." he answered, hugging her back. "Me too." Within a moment, he was asleep.
"Why Louie's? Why today?" Kit asked, as the Sea Duck winged over the blue Pacific towards the ape's place. He wore Baloo's dusty old bomber jacket over his jersey.
"Hey, Kiddo. We been back three days, catchin' up on deliveries. I just thought we oughta let our hair down a little - you know, relax."
"I guess." the cub said, closing his eyes and taking in the feeling of the Duck's engines as the vibrations moved through his body, the drone soothed his ears. He looked over at Baloo. Everything felt perfect. He'd never thought he'd be in this seat again.
"Thought you were gonna sleep for a week when we got back, L'il Britches!" Baloo teased as Louie's Place appeared on the horizon.
"Hey, YOU try sleeping on flour sacks and under piers for a few days and see how well YOU like it!" the cub shot back.
"Not me. No sir, you'll never catch ol' Baloo more'n a few feet from a cozy bed, that's my motto!"
Baloo eased the plane down to the water and parked her at the floating pier. He disembarked and helped the boy down from the cockpit. He grabbed Kit by the hand and led him towards the front door as Louie's simian helpers descended on the Sea Duck.
"What's yer hurry, Papa Bear?" Kit asked as the big bear hurried him along the pier. Baloo sure seemed wound up today...
"Just hongry, L'il Britches. Ain't eaten for almost an hour. Let's get on in!"
Baloo opened the bamboo door and gently shoved Kit in ahead of him. "What are-"
"SURPRISE!" a bevy of voices shouted as the boy appeared.
Kit's jaw dropped. "What - what's going on? Baloo?" Kit looked around the club - Rebecca, Wildcat, Molly, and a host of other familiar faces smiled cheerily at him. There was Wiley Pole, and Buzz.-
"Surprised, Kid?" Baloo wrapped an arm around Kit tightly and half carried him to the bar, where Louie stood grinning at them.
"Well - yeah! But- but what's all this for? It's not my birthday..."
"Only THIS, kid..." Baloo pulled a slip of paper out of his pocket and handed it to the boy.
"What-what is it?"
G'won, Britches. Read it, so's ever'body can hear!":
Hands shaking, Kit read the telegram in front of him:
Dear Mr. Baloo: This telegram is to notify you that as of October 22nd, 1938 you have officially been granted legal custody of the minor male Kit Cloudkicker. He is officially your son in the eyes of the Government in all matters of legal and official standing, bearing with it all of the responsibilities and duties so entailed by law.
Congratulations to you both. The Cape Suzette Department of Child Welfare wishes the utmost happiness to you and your son in the future.
Sincerely,
Hugo Bossy
Child Custody Specialist
"Cape Suzette - We care about our kids"
Kit dropped the telegram to the floor in shock, as silence gripped the boisterous group of friends in the room. The cub reached out for Baloo, who grabbed his hand. The boy pulled himself into Baloo's arms and the two embraced, as the crowd in the room wildly cheered.
"Man, it's enough to make an old ape cry!" Louie shouted. A monkey swung across the bar on a rope, unfurling a banner which read "Congrats, Father and Son!" behind him.
Kit held Baloo tightly for a long moment. Finally he looked up. "Why -why didn't you tell me?" he asked.
"Hey, after that wild goose chase you led me on, kid, I figgered you had it comin'! Besides-" he gestured around the room, "I wanted to share this with everybody."
Rebecca walked over to Kit and enveloped him in a hug. "Kit, I'm so happy for you! Now you never have to worry about having a home again."
"I wasn't worried!" he smiled up at her through a stray tear. "Not as long as you were around."
Louie climbed up on the bar. "Man, I never thought I'd see the day you'd be a Daddy, Big Daddy!" he laughed at Baloo. "Now I done seen everythin'! How bout a speech from the new Papa?"
"Speech! Speech!" the crowd chanted.
Baloo waved Louie off, but the crowd kept chanting, so he finally relented. He waved for silence. "You guys know, I ain't much of a talker-"
"HA!" Rebecca yelled. A huge roar of laughter erupted from the group.
"Awright Beckers, maybe I am." Baloo laughed. "But I ain't much of a talker when it comes to feelings, and stuff... but I feel like I aged ten years since I met this boy!" he said, gesturing at Kit, prompting a chuckle from the crowd and an embarrassed smile from the boy. "He ain't made it easy for me. But I've had the best year o' my life. Kit's the best thing that ever happened to this sorry ol' bear. He's the best navigator, the best friend, and the best son a guy could ever have. Here's to Kit Cloudkicker!" he said, raising his glass.
"Kit Cloudkicker!" the crowd shouted. The bear and cub hugged.
"Now you, Shortstop!" Louie yelled. "Speech!"
"Speech! Speech!" the crowd yelled again. Baloo lifted the very embarrassed cub onto the bar and waved the crowd to silence.
"Uh... I kinda don't know what to say..." Kit stammered. He glanced into the crowd and caught Rebecca's eye, and she smiled reassuringly. "Well... I guess I just wanna say... thanks, everybody, for throwing this neat party, an' everything. I'm sorry - I'm sorry I haven't been a little bit easier to be around, all the time...
I guess I just wanna say Baloo believed in me, and nobody ever did that before. If I'm anything better today than I was when I was a street rat, it's because of Baloo. I never - I never really wanted anything, since that first day I dropped by Louie's-" the crowd laughed at that - "except to be with Baloo, forever - for him to be my family. My Dad. And Rebecca, Molly, Wildcat - I love all of you guys. I never thought I'd ever have a home, and you guys made it a home for me, right from the start."
He turned to Baloo. "This is the best day of my life, Papa Bear. I don't know why I'm here today, but I'm glad I am. You're the best. The best pilot, the best friend, and the best - Papa Bear in the world. Always, Baloo!" He raised his glass.
"Baloo!" the crowd shouted, raising their glasses. Baloo helped Kit down off of the bar and they embraced again, to another round of applause. Louie raised his hand and the band started playing.
The crown began to mill about and offer congratulations, handshakes and hugs to the father and son. A cake was brought out - a huge airplane-shaped pastry with yellow frosting - and Baloo and Kit cut the first piece to great applause. Rebecca began handing out slices to the crowd.
"Hey, Cuz!" Louie tapped Baloo, on the shoulder. "It's yer party! I think you cats oughta favor us with a song, whaddaya say everybody?" The milling crowd cheered wildly.
"Whaddaya say Kid - wanna join yer ol' man and belt out a tune?" Baloo smiled down at Kit.
"S-sing?" Kit stammered. "I don't think so..."
"C'mon, Sonny Jim!" Louie goaded. "How many times do ya become a son in yer life? Get up there! Ol' Louie'll help ya along!"
Baloo smiled expectantly at Kit, who looked around helplessly. Finally he shook his head resignedly "'I'm Gone?'" he asked Baloo.
"_We're_ Gone!" the big bear answered. The bear and cub strode through the parted crowd to the stage. Baloo leapt up and lifted the boy after him. Baloo gestured to the band. "Maestro?"
The band began a rollicking Caribbean beat. Baloo danced wildly around the stage as Kit smiled embarrassedly. Finally, the boy began moving his feet and the bears started to sing.
"When life down here's, a thunder-head, we take off! For the air...
We soar above, the madding crowd, with-out a single care,
Oh we're not ones, to stick a-round, when trouble starts to brew.."
"So see you, later, Navigator!" Louie belted out.
"We know just what to do!
We're gone!"
"They're gonna fly!"
"We're gone!"
"Adios, bye-bye!"
"Don't trouble us with troubles, man - we're gone!"
"Oh yeah, they're gone!"
"We're gone!"
"Wait a minute!"
"We're gone!"
"Just a minute!"
"We love to be a-bove it all, we're gone!"
"Ooh-ooh, they're gone!"
The two bears and the ape danced wildly as the band continued to play.
"Lay it on me jack!" Baloo shouted.
"Take the wing, Bing!" Louie sang.
"Pull the chock, jock!" Kit wailed.
Baloo and Kit linked arms on stage for the grand finale.
"We started out, both on our own, a pretty lonely pair!
And then one day, we both lucked out, and found someone to care!
Now just you try, to split us up, we're partners through and through..."
"Now he's your Pater, Navigator!"
"We both know what to do!
"We're gone!"
"They're gonna fly!"
"Solid gone!"
"Adios, bye-bye!"
"We're partners through and through it all,
Winter, summer spring or fall,
Together, man, We'll have a ball, we're gone, gone, gone!"
The crowd erupted into wild applause. Louie laughed uproariously and slapped the two bears hands. "Oh man, Cuz, that was great! You keep that boy hangin' round here, Big Daddy, I'm gonna teach him to walk like me, talk like me..."
"That's my boy!" Baloo yelled, giving Louie a hug. Kit jumped off the stage and did a little jig with Rebecca as the band continued to play.
The party had settled into a sort of sustained frenzy a while later, and Baloo and Kit found themselves seated at a table by themselves. Baloo took a slurp of his drink and eyed Kit cagily. "Say, L'il Britches - howzabout a sip of my Vesuvius Rum Punch?"
"Baloo!" Rebecca admonished from the next table.
"Hey, Becky! Can't a guy let his son take a sip o' rum on a special day like this?"
"Gee Baloo, can I really?" Kit asked with a slight blush.
"Sure Kiddo, go ahead. Just this once." The big bear offered his glass to Kit, who tentatively raised it to his lips and took a small sip. This was followed by a bout of feverish spluttering and coughing, leaving most of the drink on Baloo's shirt.
"Serves you right." Rebecca muttered from the next table.
Baloo looked down at his shirt and sighed. "Here I was, thinkin' I could adopt a thirteen year-old and avoid the whole spitup thing... Just don't expect me to feed ya' at three A.M., L'il Britches!"
"Sorry Baloo." the cub coughed.
"Don't worry 'bout it Kiddo!" Baloo laughed, clapping the boy on the shoulder.
Kit looked up at Baloo. "Who would've believed it Baloo? You and me -father and son. Talk about a couple of misfits!"
"Oh, I dunno Kid. Way I see it, we're perfect for each other. You had to grow up when you shouldnt've had to. I never did grow up, even when I should have. Perfect fit." He smiled and grabbed Kit's paw. "It's OK to be a kid now, L'il Britches. Let me be the grown-up, OK? Do we have a deal?"
Kit looked long and hard into Baloo's eyes. "Wellll.... OK. Deal!" He reached across the table and playfully cuffed Baloo on the neck. "I'm gonna go ahead and stick with Papa Bear, if it's OK by you, Baloo."
"Sure Kid - never thoughta myself as "Dad" anyways!" He raised his glass. "To the future!"
"To the future!" Kit echoed, glass raised.
"Hey, we can't forget about presents!" Rebecca called out.
"Presents?" Kit asked.
"Sure! It's a party isn't it? Who's got a present? Wildcat?"
Wildcat stepped over. "Oh yeah, man. It's not, like, a party without presents, man! Happy Birthday guys!" he handed Baloo a box.
"Uh, Wildcat-" Kit began.
"Don't bother, Kiddo." Baloo said, ripping the paper off the box. Inside was a scale replica of the Sea Duck, perhaps a foot in length, made entirely from scrap metal. "Wildcat, this is really neat!" Kit said, grabbing the plane from Baloo.
"Yeah man, I made it in my workshop, from all the leftover pieces when I rebuilt the engines last week man."
"Leftover pieces?" Baloo asked worriedly.
"My turn!" Louie shouted. He handed a box to the cub, who ripped off the paper. Inside were two floral print shirts, one Baloo-sized and one Kit-sized - each an identical replica of the one Louie was wearing. The two bears laughed uproariously.
"Yeah Cuz, I figgered if you boys was gonna be partyin' together at Louie's as father and son, you may as well look da part, jack! And dat's some serious style, man!"
"Thanks, ol' buddy!" Baloo yelled, clapping the orangutan on the back..
"Yeah, thanks Louie!"
"Last but not least...." Rebecca said, bringing out two boxes.
"Miz Cunningham! From you?"
"Sure, Kit. I couldn't let this night go by without a little something to show you boys how I feel. Here Baloo, you first!" she handed the big bear a small package.
He ripped the paper off and opened the box. Inside was a book. "'The Single Father's Guide to Coping With a Teenager'. Pretty neat Beckers!" The room erupted in laughter as Kit's face erupted in red.
"Now you, young man. This is from Molly and myself." Rebecca said and handed Kit a box. He slipped the paper off and opened the box. He stared down, speechless.
"I helped!" Molly yelled.
"Watcha got, L'il Cuz?" Louie asked
"Oh, Miz Cunningham!" Kit whispered, pulling a green sweater from the box.
"I knitted that over the last few days. I had the time on my hands... It's a little big for you now, but you'll grow into it...."
"Oh, Miz Cunningham..."
"Look at the elbow." Baloo said with a smile.
Kit grabbed the sleeve. On the elbow was a section of yellow wool, where the patch had been on his old sweater. It was knitted into the pattern. "I know its not your old sweater, but I hope-" she was interrupted as the cub enveloped her in a hug.
"Thank you!" he whispered in her ear.
"Just think of it as my two arms to hold you, and keep you safe and warm. If I'm not around to give you a hug."
"What a night, huh Beckers?" Baloo said, sitting at the bar, Kit snuggled up against him in his new sweater. Louie was busily preparing drinks with a song, and Molly had fallen asleep on Wildcat's lap.
"I'll never forget it, Baloo."
Baloo smiled down at Kit and tweaked his nose. "Happy?"
"Couldn't be happier." the cub said softly, tweaking Baloo's nose in reply.
Baloo slapped himself on the forehead. "Dang! I almost forgot. I didn't give you MY present, L'il Britches!"
Kit sat up. "Present? But - I didn't give you anything!"
"Sure ya did!" Baloo said with a smile. Rebecca stood and leaned over Baloo's shoulder, grinning expectantly. The pilot took an envelope out of his pocket and handed it to Kit. "One more surprise."
Kit opened the envelope. "What is it, Papa Bear?"
"Read it!" He said, grinning at Rebecca.
Kit unfolded the letter and began to read. "This certificate entitles the bearer, Kit Cloudkicker, to unlimited free flying lessons in the Sea Duck, provided all of said lessons are in the accompany of Mr. Baloo, ace pilot of the skies - starting tomorrow!" Kit looked up, stunned, a stupefied grin on his face. "I don't - how - "
Baloo laughed - a laugh that seemed to fill the entire place with warmth and joy. He draped an arm around Kit's shoulder. "Well ya see, L'il Britches, it's like this..."
The band played on, and the laughter and music spilled out into the crystal clear South Pacific night. The party at Louie's Place was going to run late into the evening.
