Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters. They are property of Marc Brown and PBS.
A/N: garfieldjk, this story does mostly revolve around Ratburn and Rubella. Other characters are just to emphasize them and the way thier relationsip is going. I wasn't sure, horsefly, but someone told me he was still in third. Thanks for the assessment, foxer, but when I was young I had an Enlish teacher who was around 24, and who was quite strict. I don't know why he and his sister are so different. They just are. It happens. My brother and I are nothing alike. He's an outgoing gothic who favors Dungeons and Dragons, and I'm an artistic goody two shoes who favors Harry Potter. It just happens. Ratburn is strict maybe because that school teacher he had, Mr. uh....hm. Beautiful Mind, help me out. What was Ratburn's old school teacher's name? Oh, anyway, thanks for all the reviews. I can't believe so many people are actually reading this.
LEARNING TO BREATHE
by Lina Shay
Chapter Five: What She Knows
The street lights lit the small fair. Ratburn watched the jittering people with interest. He also scanned the food stands for a delicious marble cake, not so much to satisfy his sweet tooth as to satisfy his need to see Rubella. There was no sign of her in the food area. So, he continued on.
"Excuse me, Mr. Ratburn," Muffy Crosswire said as her and Jenna ran passed him.
Ratburn tried his best to keep out of their way. Then he found himself looking straight at a large purple sign. In glittering silver letters, it said : Clairvoyant Rubella tells all for $5
What did he need his fortune read for? It was a complete waist of money and time. Still, he longed to see Rubella. He didn't claim to understand this feeling that came over him whenever she was near, but he liked it.
Ratburn quickly glanced about to see if any person was witnessing. When he saw it was all clear, Ratburn pushed the scarf curtain aside. He was met with the overwhelming aroma of vanilla. Rubella sat at a small table, the light from her crystal ball caressing her face in an alluring manner. Her light chestnut eyes glanced up at him and a light smile played at her lips. For a second, Ratburn forgot how to breathe. He was suffocating and drowning at once.
"Have a seat, Mr. Ratburn," Rubella whispered mistily.
Ratburn made his way to the chair opposite her and lowered himself into it, not taking his eyes away from her. She gave him a smile, then glanced down at the ball with blue lightening wiggling around inside it. Rubella gently touched the ball, the blue lightening following her fingers. Ratburn had seen a ball much like that one in an exploratorium, but it had not had the effects that this one had. Ratburn was in awe, more of Rubella than the electric ball.
"I see dancing," Rubella whispered. "You will love deeply but you're...afraid. You feel ashamed." Rubella glanced up at him with eyes of worry, "The world can't be your master, Mr. Ratburn. The object of your desire is worth fighting for. Never let it go, and it will never leave you lonely."
Ratburn felt his hands trembling against his knees. Did she know? Did Rubella know that he cared for her? Had Catharine Frensky told her that she saw Ratburn at the mall? But if she did know, then she was telling him that she cared too, and she wanted to be with him. Sweat gathered on his forehead as Rubella's stare intensified.
"Ratburn," she whispered, leaning toward him.
Ratburn leaned close in return.
A small smile graced her lips as she said ever so softly, "That'll be five dollars."
"Oh!" Ratburn exclaimed loudly, jumping to his feet. He quickly pulled a five dollar bill out of his pocket and set it on the table. Rubella snatched it, humming mystically to herself.
Ratburn took one last look at her in the light of her magic ball. He had to remember that one acquires air through breathing in. Rubella looked up at him in confusion. Quickly, Ratburn turned and fled the tent, almost hitting into her sign on the way out. His heart was pounding. Did she know or didn't she? He really didn't know what to think.
"Nigil," called Mr. Haney as he walked up. "Shouldn't you be setting up for the puppet show."
"Yes, indeed," Ratburn muttered.
"You're out of breath, Nigil," Mr. Haney observed. "You aren't nervous, are you?"
"I should say not," Ratburn said resolutely.
"Good, get ready," Mr. Haney instructed as he walked off.
Nervous? What a laugh that was? Ratburn had been doing puppet shows since college. He had never been nervous. Ratburn glanced at Rubella's tent. Today might be the exception. Would Rubella be watching the play, the one he had written? What would she think?
*************
Children and adults alike gathered by Ratburn's little marionette stand. His hands were shaking as he watched for Rubella. It was time to begin and she wasn't there. Ratburn let out a breath. It would be all right. She wouldn't see.
Ratburn dropped down the little sign: "The Princess and the Pauper"
He pulled the sign back up. Next came out the pauper, a crude representation of himself. With this, he began the narration, "Once there was a pauper in a kingdom far away. He was a fine lad who spent his time enjoying storytelling."
A few more various characters dropped idly to the stage, staring at the pauper. The pauper stood making arm gestures and things as if he was actually telling a story.
"He told stories of dragons and knights. He told about damsels in distress and evil witches."
Ratburn took away the extra characters.
"But this pauper was lonely. Though the townspeople adored him for his stories, there was no one person in particular who just adored him."
Around this time, Ratburn spotted Rubella enter the audience. His hands began shaking and he couldn't hold the pauper straight. The people in the crowd began whispering to each other in confusion. Ratburn had to continue, even if Rubella was watching.
"Wa-Um-One day, the...um," Ratburn couldn't remember the story. "The Pauper, he was walking...No, no, he wasn't walking."
Ratburn took a deep breath. He could do this.
"The pauper was telling a story, when a young madden came along."
Added to the stage was the likeness of Rubella in the white dress. Ratburn looked for Rubella's response to this. She just watched the marionettes with odd interest. Ratburn wondered what this meant.
Ratburn continued, "She heard his story and thought him well at telling. The young madden invited the pauper to a dinner at her house. She hoped that he would tell a story for her guests. Awed by her great beauty, the pauper instantly loved her and so was unable to refuse her."
Ratburn pulled a string which changed the background from a country setting to a castle setting.
"The pauper was quite surprised to see that this madden lived at the castle. Even more so when he found out that she herself was the princess. Knowing this made him frightened. What would a beautiful princess want with a simple pauper?"
Ratburn added royal guests to the stage.
"The pauper told a story that delighted the princess's guests and so the princess was delighted. After her guests had left, the pauper made to leave himself. After all, he did not belong in a castle."
Ratburn pulled the royal guests off the stage.
"The princess called to the pauper and so he waited. She told him that she admired his storytelling. The pauper couldn't hold it back. He told her he loved..."
Ratburn stopped, glancing out at Rubella. She still watched with interest. But she didn't get what he was saying. She didn't understand that the story was about her and him. Ratburn let out a sigh. He couldn't do the ending he had written.
"He told her he loved telling stories to her guests and would come back if ever she needed an entertainer. Then the pauper left. He went back to his country town and continued to tell stories to the children. He still thought of that princess, though. She appeared in his storied now and then. And he always wondered what might have happened if had told the princess that he cared for her. But it would have never worked. After all, who had ever heard of a Princess and a Pauper?"
He put out the "The End" sign and sat behind his marionette stage. Mr. Haney came over and looked down at him.
"That was splendid, Nigil," Mr. Haney told him. "If you don't mind a little constructive criticism, you pause a few times in not the best places, and it would have been better if the two had gotten together."
"Yes, it would have," Ratburn muttered to himself.
"I disagree," came an enchanting voice.
Ratburn stood up instantly after seeing Rubella.
"I liked the sad ending," Rubella commented. "It's more like it would've actually turned out."
"I never was much for realism," Mr. Haney announced as he walked away.
Ratburn was again alone with Rubella. He put his hands behind his back, trying to think of something to say.
"Prunella is doing quite well at the talent show practices," Ratburn said.
"Glad you gave her a solo, aren't you?" Rubella asked, smiling at him.
"Indeed," Ratburn said, trying to smile but failing.
"It was a really good play," Rubella told him before walking off.
Ratburn watched her and wondered if she would feel the same about the original ending.
A/N: garfieldjk, this story does mostly revolve around Ratburn and Rubella. Other characters are just to emphasize them and the way thier relationsip is going. I wasn't sure, horsefly, but someone told me he was still in third. Thanks for the assessment, foxer, but when I was young I had an Enlish teacher who was around 24, and who was quite strict. I don't know why he and his sister are so different. They just are. It happens. My brother and I are nothing alike. He's an outgoing gothic who favors Dungeons and Dragons, and I'm an artistic goody two shoes who favors Harry Potter. It just happens. Ratburn is strict maybe because that school teacher he had, Mr. uh....hm. Beautiful Mind, help me out. What was Ratburn's old school teacher's name? Oh, anyway, thanks for all the reviews. I can't believe so many people are actually reading this.
LEARNING TO BREATHE
by Lina Shay
Chapter Five: What She Knows
The street lights lit the small fair. Ratburn watched the jittering people with interest. He also scanned the food stands for a delicious marble cake, not so much to satisfy his sweet tooth as to satisfy his need to see Rubella. There was no sign of her in the food area. So, he continued on.
"Excuse me, Mr. Ratburn," Muffy Crosswire said as her and Jenna ran passed him.
Ratburn tried his best to keep out of their way. Then he found himself looking straight at a large purple sign. In glittering silver letters, it said : Clairvoyant Rubella tells all for $5
What did he need his fortune read for? It was a complete waist of money and time. Still, he longed to see Rubella. He didn't claim to understand this feeling that came over him whenever she was near, but he liked it.
Ratburn quickly glanced about to see if any person was witnessing. When he saw it was all clear, Ratburn pushed the scarf curtain aside. He was met with the overwhelming aroma of vanilla. Rubella sat at a small table, the light from her crystal ball caressing her face in an alluring manner. Her light chestnut eyes glanced up at him and a light smile played at her lips. For a second, Ratburn forgot how to breathe. He was suffocating and drowning at once.
"Have a seat, Mr. Ratburn," Rubella whispered mistily.
Ratburn made his way to the chair opposite her and lowered himself into it, not taking his eyes away from her. She gave him a smile, then glanced down at the ball with blue lightening wiggling around inside it. Rubella gently touched the ball, the blue lightening following her fingers. Ratburn had seen a ball much like that one in an exploratorium, but it had not had the effects that this one had. Ratburn was in awe, more of Rubella than the electric ball.
"I see dancing," Rubella whispered. "You will love deeply but you're...afraid. You feel ashamed." Rubella glanced up at him with eyes of worry, "The world can't be your master, Mr. Ratburn. The object of your desire is worth fighting for. Never let it go, and it will never leave you lonely."
Ratburn felt his hands trembling against his knees. Did she know? Did Rubella know that he cared for her? Had Catharine Frensky told her that she saw Ratburn at the mall? But if she did know, then she was telling him that she cared too, and she wanted to be with him. Sweat gathered on his forehead as Rubella's stare intensified.
"Ratburn," she whispered, leaning toward him.
Ratburn leaned close in return.
A small smile graced her lips as she said ever so softly, "That'll be five dollars."
"Oh!" Ratburn exclaimed loudly, jumping to his feet. He quickly pulled a five dollar bill out of his pocket and set it on the table. Rubella snatched it, humming mystically to herself.
Ratburn took one last look at her in the light of her magic ball. He had to remember that one acquires air through breathing in. Rubella looked up at him in confusion. Quickly, Ratburn turned and fled the tent, almost hitting into her sign on the way out. His heart was pounding. Did she know or didn't she? He really didn't know what to think.
"Nigil," called Mr. Haney as he walked up. "Shouldn't you be setting up for the puppet show."
"Yes, indeed," Ratburn muttered.
"You're out of breath, Nigil," Mr. Haney observed. "You aren't nervous, are you?"
"I should say not," Ratburn said resolutely.
"Good, get ready," Mr. Haney instructed as he walked off.
Nervous? What a laugh that was? Ratburn had been doing puppet shows since college. He had never been nervous. Ratburn glanced at Rubella's tent. Today might be the exception. Would Rubella be watching the play, the one he had written? What would she think?
*************
Children and adults alike gathered by Ratburn's little marionette stand. His hands were shaking as he watched for Rubella. It was time to begin and she wasn't there. Ratburn let out a breath. It would be all right. She wouldn't see.
Ratburn dropped down the little sign: "The Princess and the Pauper"
He pulled the sign back up. Next came out the pauper, a crude representation of himself. With this, he began the narration, "Once there was a pauper in a kingdom far away. He was a fine lad who spent his time enjoying storytelling."
A few more various characters dropped idly to the stage, staring at the pauper. The pauper stood making arm gestures and things as if he was actually telling a story.
"He told stories of dragons and knights. He told about damsels in distress and evil witches."
Ratburn took away the extra characters.
"But this pauper was lonely. Though the townspeople adored him for his stories, there was no one person in particular who just adored him."
Around this time, Ratburn spotted Rubella enter the audience. His hands began shaking and he couldn't hold the pauper straight. The people in the crowd began whispering to each other in confusion. Ratburn had to continue, even if Rubella was watching.
"Wa-Um-One day, the...um," Ratburn couldn't remember the story. "The Pauper, he was walking...No, no, he wasn't walking."
Ratburn took a deep breath. He could do this.
"The pauper was telling a story, when a young madden came along."
Added to the stage was the likeness of Rubella in the white dress. Ratburn looked for Rubella's response to this. She just watched the marionettes with odd interest. Ratburn wondered what this meant.
Ratburn continued, "She heard his story and thought him well at telling. The young madden invited the pauper to a dinner at her house. She hoped that he would tell a story for her guests. Awed by her great beauty, the pauper instantly loved her and so was unable to refuse her."
Ratburn pulled a string which changed the background from a country setting to a castle setting.
"The pauper was quite surprised to see that this madden lived at the castle. Even more so when he found out that she herself was the princess. Knowing this made him frightened. What would a beautiful princess want with a simple pauper?"
Ratburn added royal guests to the stage.
"The pauper told a story that delighted the princess's guests and so the princess was delighted. After her guests had left, the pauper made to leave himself. After all, he did not belong in a castle."
Ratburn pulled the royal guests off the stage.
"The princess called to the pauper and so he waited. She told him that she admired his storytelling. The pauper couldn't hold it back. He told her he loved..."
Ratburn stopped, glancing out at Rubella. She still watched with interest. But she didn't get what he was saying. She didn't understand that the story was about her and him. Ratburn let out a sigh. He couldn't do the ending he had written.
"He told her he loved telling stories to her guests and would come back if ever she needed an entertainer. Then the pauper left. He went back to his country town and continued to tell stories to the children. He still thought of that princess, though. She appeared in his storied now and then. And he always wondered what might have happened if had told the princess that he cared for her. But it would have never worked. After all, who had ever heard of a Princess and a Pauper?"
He put out the "The End" sign and sat behind his marionette stage. Mr. Haney came over and looked down at him.
"That was splendid, Nigil," Mr. Haney told him. "If you don't mind a little constructive criticism, you pause a few times in not the best places, and it would have been better if the two had gotten together."
"Yes, it would have," Ratburn muttered to himself.
"I disagree," came an enchanting voice.
Ratburn stood up instantly after seeing Rubella.
"I liked the sad ending," Rubella commented. "It's more like it would've actually turned out."
"I never was much for realism," Mr. Haney announced as he walked away.
Ratburn was again alone with Rubella. He put his hands behind his back, trying to think of something to say.
"Prunella is doing quite well at the talent show practices," Ratburn said.
"Glad you gave her a solo, aren't you?" Rubella asked, smiling at him.
"Indeed," Ratburn said, trying to smile but failing.
"It was a really good play," Rubella told him before walking off.
Ratburn watched her and wondered if she would feel the same about the original ending.