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Chapter 4
It was less than a year before the day of the Powerpuff's creation. At the time, Utonium was one of several scientists primarily responsible for a new substance that was under investigation at the centre, the mysterious liquid known as "Chemical X". Engrossed in his research, Utonium would often spend late hours at work or in his newly built basement laboratory, conducting experiments and recording his findings. One evening, as he was attempting an especially delicate procedure, the phone began ringing. He ignored it at first, but after about 20 rings he finally gave in and picked up.
"Yes?" he asked impatiently.
"Johnny? Is that you?" a thin, wavering voice on the other end of the line asked.
"Oh, hello, Mother! Sorry I took so long to answer the phone. I'm pretty busy with work right now, you know!"
"Oh yes, you're a good boy! Always working so hard! Why, I was just talking to Jenny down at the hairstyling place; you know, where I go every month to get my hair done; and she was asking about you. I told her about that new paper you had published on Chemical Y or whatever it's called, and she told me about how her son is taking Biology at Citiesville University. You knew that she had a son, didn't you? Well, anyway-"
Utonium sighed inwardly. His mother always seemed to call at the most inopportune times, and to tell him about every mundane occurrence that happened in her life. His eyes drifted back to the notes he'd written regarding his most recent experiment until a change in the tone of her voice brought him back.
"Do you think you'll be coming home for Thanksgiving, dear? You promised you would!"
"Gee Mom, I don't know. I've got a lot of research still to do." Utonium twirled the phone cord impatiently.
"Oh Johnny, It's been such a long time. You work so hard - surely you can make a little time to come and see me? I'm making my homemade cranberry sauce, I know how you always loved that when you were a boy!"
"I still love it, Mother! But I'm afraid I really can't take any time off right now. Maybe you can freeze some of it for me, for the next time I make it down."
"Well, alright, I know how important your work is." His mother sounded disappointed.
"Don't worry, Mom, I'll be sure to make it back home soon. By Christmas for sure!"
Her voice brightened. "That would be wonderful! Well, I mustn't keep you from your research! It's been nice talking to you, Johnny."
"Yes Mom, you too!" he replied, and hung up the phone, his mind already back on his work.
His mother, never in the best of health, had died the day after Thanksgiving of a stroke.
Utonium had taken time off work then; her only living relative, he had flown up North to his childhood home and made the funeral arrangements. He found the frozen cranberry sauce in the basement freezer, but couldn't bring himself to eat it. He stayed only a few days before heading back to Townsville, where he attempted to lose himself in his work. In July of the next summer, he created the Powerpuff Girls, who helped to ward off the loneliness that had taken over his life.
"I really have to make an effort to spend more time with the girls," he thought. He started up the car, and headed back to Pokey Oaks.
****
"Girls, I'm home!" The Professor managed to open the front door despite the armload of junk food he had bought to share with his daughters. He headed into the living room, expecting to see the girls engrossed in their new Puppet Pals video. The room was deserted.
"Girls?" Dropping the food on the coffee table, Utonium headed up to the Powerpuff's bedroom and looked around, but to no avail.
"Blossom - Buttercup - Bubbles - Girls!" the panic grew in the Professor's voice as he went from room to room, hunting for his children in vain. An uneasy thought as to their possible location kept coming into his mind, but he pushed it back and concentrated on his search.
He had exhausted all of the areas the Powerpuffs frequented - the house, the yard, Robin's house, the park, the Mayor's office: the girls were nowhere to be found.
Finally, he knew what he had to do. Donning his powersuit, he headed over to Mojo Jojo's observatory at top speed. One well placed kick and he burst through Mojo's reinforced steel door.
"Girls!" Utonium ran into the main room of the lair quickly, hoping to take Mojo by surprise if he was up to anything. The demented simian was nowhere in sight. The Professor was not much relieved, however; his earlier fears were confirmed. In the middle of the room, the Powerpuff Girls sat around a small lump of brownish-grey stone, each with one hand placed on it. They did not notice their father's arrival. They seemed to be in a trance, their eyes vacant.
Chapter 4
It was less than a year before the day of the Powerpuff's creation. At the time, Utonium was one of several scientists primarily responsible for a new substance that was under investigation at the centre, the mysterious liquid known as "Chemical X". Engrossed in his research, Utonium would often spend late hours at work or in his newly built basement laboratory, conducting experiments and recording his findings. One evening, as he was attempting an especially delicate procedure, the phone began ringing. He ignored it at first, but after about 20 rings he finally gave in and picked up.
"Yes?" he asked impatiently.
"Johnny? Is that you?" a thin, wavering voice on the other end of the line asked.
"Oh, hello, Mother! Sorry I took so long to answer the phone. I'm pretty busy with work right now, you know!"
"Oh yes, you're a good boy! Always working so hard! Why, I was just talking to Jenny down at the hairstyling place; you know, where I go every month to get my hair done; and she was asking about you. I told her about that new paper you had published on Chemical Y or whatever it's called, and she told me about how her son is taking Biology at Citiesville University. You knew that she had a son, didn't you? Well, anyway-"
Utonium sighed inwardly. His mother always seemed to call at the most inopportune times, and to tell him about every mundane occurrence that happened in her life. His eyes drifted back to the notes he'd written regarding his most recent experiment until a change in the tone of her voice brought him back.
"Do you think you'll be coming home for Thanksgiving, dear? You promised you would!"
"Gee Mom, I don't know. I've got a lot of research still to do." Utonium twirled the phone cord impatiently.
"Oh Johnny, It's been such a long time. You work so hard - surely you can make a little time to come and see me? I'm making my homemade cranberry sauce, I know how you always loved that when you were a boy!"
"I still love it, Mother! But I'm afraid I really can't take any time off right now. Maybe you can freeze some of it for me, for the next time I make it down."
"Well, alright, I know how important your work is." His mother sounded disappointed.
"Don't worry, Mom, I'll be sure to make it back home soon. By Christmas for sure!"
Her voice brightened. "That would be wonderful! Well, I mustn't keep you from your research! It's been nice talking to you, Johnny."
"Yes Mom, you too!" he replied, and hung up the phone, his mind already back on his work.
His mother, never in the best of health, had died the day after Thanksgiving of a stroke.
Utonium had taken time off work then; her only living relative, he had flown up North to his childhood home and made the funeral arrangements. He found the frozen cranberry sauce in the basement freezer, but couldn't bring himself to eat it. He stayed only a few days before heading back to Townsville, where he attempted to lose himself in his work. In July of the next summer, he created the Powerpuff Girls, who helped to ward off the loneliness that had taken over his life.
"I really have to make an effort to spend more time with the girls," he thought. He started up the car, and headed back to Pokey Oaks.
****
"Girls, I'm home!" The Professor managed to open the front door despite the armload of junk food he had bought to share with his daughters. He headed into the living room, expecting to see the girls engrossed in their new Puppet Pals video. The room was deserted.
"Girls?" Dropping the food on the coffee table, Utonium headed up to the Powerpuff's bedroom and looked around, but to no avail.
"Blossom - Buttercup - Bubbles - Girls!" the panic grew in the Professor's voice as he went from room to room, hunting for his children in vain. An uneasy thought as to their possible location kept coming into his mind, but he pushed it back and concentrated on his search.
He had exhausted all of the areas the Powerpuffs frequented - the house, the yard, Robin's house, the park, the Mayor's office: the girls were nowhere to be found.
Finally, he knew what he had to do. Donning his powersuit, he headed over to Mojo Jojo's observatory at top speed. One well placed kick and he burst through Mojo's reinforced steel door.
"Girls!" Utonium ran into the main room of the lair quickly, hoping to take Mojo by surprise if he was up to anything. The demented simian was nowhere in sight. The Professor was not much relieved, however; his earlier fears were confirmed. In the middle of the room, the Powerpuff Girls sat around a small lump of brownish-grey stone, each with one hand placed on it. They did not notice their father's arrival. They seemed to be in a trance, their eyes vacant.