Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters. They are property of Marc Brown and PBS.
LEARNING TO BREATHE
by Lina Shay
Chapter Eleven: In Pursuit of the Truth
Rubella fluffed her hair one last time before leaving her room. She came into the living room to find Francine and Prunella sitting on the couch, watching TV. They looked at her as she entered the room.
"Where're you going?" Prunella asked, a smirk on her face.
"Just out with-" Rubella began.
"Not with my sister, of course," Francine said more to Prunella than to Rubella. "She's grounded."
"Of course not your sister," Rubella said, looking rather flustered. "I'm going out with June...to the mall."
"Oh, June, that's nice," Prunella muttered, smiling at Francine, who smiled back.
"Is something going on that I should know about?" Rubella asked, a hand on her hip.
"You tell us," Francine challenged.
Rubella raised an eyebrow, then said, "I'm leaving now."
"Have fun," Prunella smirked.
Rubella kept an eye on the two smiling girls as she headed to the door. Before she went out the door, Francine and Prunella waved at her with big grins. Rubella gave them a weird look, the closed the door behind her. The two girls jumped up and ran over to the window.
"She'll be walking today," Prunella said. "That means she'll be easier to keep up with."
"How do you know she'll be walking?" Francine asked.
"Because of the overcast," Prunella pointed out. "Rubella loves to walk in the rain."
Sure enough, Rubella looked at the sky, then passed right by her station wagon. Once she was out of sight, the two girls left the house in a sneaky pursuit. Every few minutes, Rubella would stop walking and glanced behind her. Prunella and Francine had to jump behind the closest bush or trash can to avoid being seen. When they could hear her footsteps again, they would start following her again.
"Hey, Rubella!" someone called.
Rubella stopped. Francine and Prunella got behind a picket fence and watched Rubella walk up to a blonde boy around her age.
"Oh, hey, Wes," she greeted this boy.
"You think that's him?" Prunella whispered to Francine.
"He's not a frat guy," Francine insisted. "He's too young."
Rubella stood talking to this guy for ten minutes.
"Dang, this guy is boring," Francine rolled her eyes. "All he ever talks about is cars."
"Will he ever shut up?" Prunella grumbled.
"Well, thanks, but I don't think my car needs any work," Rubella told him.
"Are you sure?" Wes asked. "A car could always use a good tune-up."
"Maybe later," Rubella said. "I am supposed to meet someone."
"Oh, sorry to keep you," Wes muttered.
"Don't worry about it," Rubella began walking away as she said it. "I'll see you Monday."
He waved to her. Rubella continued down the street. Prunella and Francine waited until Wes was no longer looking, then they snuck after Rubella. She got to a corner and took a left.
"Prunella," Francine said, grabbing her sleeve as they reached the corner.
"What is it?" Prunella demanded.
"The mall is the other way," Francine insisted. "Where is she going?"
"Looks like to the library," Prunella voiced. "That's a weird place to meet a secret boyfriend."
"No, it's perfect," Francine insisted. "No one would suspect that they're secretly dating if they meet at a library."
"That's the silliest thing I ever heard," Prunella rolled her eyes and continued off toward the library.
Francine and Prunella got to the library and pulled the door open. They snuck in, keeping a sharp eye out for Rubella.
"Let's sit over here," came Rubella's voice.
Prunella grabbed Francine and pulled her under a table. They watched as the hem of Rubella's dress and a pair of black shoes went by.
"That must be him," Prunella whispered to Francine.
They watched the shoes walk away. The further away they got, the more of them Francine and Prunella could see. They could see all of Rubella as her gentleman pulled her seat out for her, but his head was chopped off. Prunella crouched down so maybe she could see more of him, but it didn't work. She looked at Francine.
"Well, at least he's a gentleman," Prunella told her. "I guess that's always good. Why do you suppose they want to keep it a secret?"
Francine didn't answer. Her eyes just widened as she stared on. Prunella looked where she was looking and saw that it was Mr. Ratburn sitting down opposite her sister.
"I know what you're thinking," Prunella said instantly, "but it's impossible. First of all, he's not a frat guy. Secondly, gross! He's like way older than she is. He's probably just tutoring her or something."
"Why would she keep tutoring a secret?" Francine asked.
"Because she doesn't want to appear stupid," Prunella insisted.
"Where are they going?" Francine asked.
Prunella watched as Rubella and Ratburn walked into the labyrinth of books shelves.
"Should we follow them?" Francine suggested.
"I guess, but it won't be all that interesting," Prunella shrugged.
She and Francine got out from under the table and ran to follow Rubella and Ratburn.
************
"Prunella was acting so weird this morning," Rubella told Ratburn and they walked along a book shelf.
"In what manner?" Ratburn asked, his hands clasped behind his back.
"She was...smiling at me," Rubella explained. "Not in a friendly way either. It was in a creepy way. Maybe she knows something I don't. Maybe she had a premonition that I win the lottery."
"Do you honestly believe in that psychic wishwash?" Ratburn asked.
Rubella looked at him in surprise, saying, "You don't think I'm psychic?"
"Well," Ratburn muttered nervously.
"Don't you even remember my predictions?" Rubella said, hands on her hips. "First, I said something like...you're going to have great anguish and pain. Did that come true?"
"Yes, I guess," Ratburn replied.
"Then I said you would love deeply," Rubella continued as she walked down the aisle. "Did that not happen?"
"It did," Ratburn smiled.
"See, I'm psychic," Rubella declared.
"I think one more prediction should prove it," Ratburn announced.
"All right," Rubella agreed, turning to him. "What do you want me to predict? I've done your palm and a crystal ball. There's tea leaves, tarot cards, astrology...name your choice."
Ratburn thought for a moment, then said, "I suppose we should employ the assets available."
"True," Rubella shrugged. "I don't have any of my equipment with me. So, we'll just do a simple palm reading."
Rubella took his hand and gazed at it. The touch of her hand and the way her breath caress his skin reminded him of that first day. It seemed so strange how much had changed since that day when a crazy girl came into his classroom and read his palm. He smiled, watching Rubella play with his hand.
"Something is going to happen," Rubella said, wide-eyed.
"Is that all?" Ratburn joked.
She glared at him, then returned her attention to his palm.
"It doesn't look good," Rubella shook her head. "Whispers...mocking..."
Rubella bit her lips and moved his hand closer to her eyes.
"Sadness," Rubella said quietly. Suddenly, she gasped and dropped his hand instantly. "Maybe I'm not psychic after all."
"What did you see?" Ratburn asked.
Rubella smiled slightly and began to walk away. Ratburn got in front of her and grabbed her by the shoulders.
"Rubella?" Ratburn said softly, looking into her eyes.
Rubella stared up at him, worriedly. Ratburn scanned her beautiful face, leaning toward her. As his lips approached her's, Rubella closed her eyes. Just then, a scream rang out. Ratburn and Rubella instantly glanced at the source. Prunella stood there, horror-struck, with Francine beside her. Ratburn instantly let go of Rubella.
"Pruney," Rubella began, taking a step toward her sister.
Prunella shook her head, then sprinted away. Rubella ran after her. Ratburn glanced awkwardly at the wide-eyed Francine Frensky.
"Finish your math homework?" Ratburn asked.
Francine didn't move a muscle. Ratburn took a breath and felt that everything was going to change.
LEARNING TO BREATHE
by Lina Shay
Chapter Eleven: In Pursuit of the Truth
Rubella fluffed her hair one last time before leaving her room. She came into the living room to find Francine and Prunella sitting on the couch, watching TV. They looked at her as she entered the room.
"Where're you going?" Prunella asked, a smirk on her face.
"Just out with-" Rubella began.
"Not with my sister, of course," Francine said more to Prunella than to Rubella. "She's grounded."
"Of course not your sister," Rubella said, looking rather flustered. "I'm going out with June...to the mall."
"Oh, June, that's nice," Prunella muttered, smiling at Francine, who smiled back.
"Is something going on that I should know about?" Rubella asked, a hand on her hip.
"You tell us," Francine challenged.
Rubella raised an eyebrow, then said, "I'm leaving now."
"Have fun," Prunella smirked.
Rubella kept an eye on the two smiling girls as she headed to the door. Before she went out the door, Francine and Prunella waved at her with big grins. Rubella gave them a weird look, the closed the door behind her. The two girls jumped up and ran over to the window.
"She'll be walking today," Prunella said. "That means she'll be easier to keep up with."
"How do you know she'll be walking?" Francine asked.
"Because of the overcast," Prunella pointed out. "Rubella loves to walk in the rain."
Sure enough, Rubella looked at the sky, then passed right by her station wagon. Once she was out of sight, the two girls left the house in a sneaky pursuit. Every few minutes, Rubella would stop walking and glanced behind her. Prunella and Francine had to jump behind the closest bush or trash can to avoid being seen. When they could hear her footsteps again, they would start following her again.
"Hey, Rubella!" someone called.
Rubella stopped. Francine and Prunella got behind a picket fence and watched Rubella walk up to a blonde boy around her age.
"Oh, hey, Wes," she greeted this boy.
"You think that's him?" Prunella whispered to Francine.
"He's not a frat guy," Francine insisted. "He's too young."
Rubella stood talking to this guy for ten minutes.
"Dang, this guy is boring," Francine rolled her eyes. "All he ever talks about is cars."
"Will he ever shut up?" Prunella grumbled.
"Well, thanks, but I don't think my car needs any work," Rubella told him.
"Are you sure?" Wes asked. "A car could always use a good tune-up."
"Maybe later," Rubella said. "I am supposed to meet someone."
"Oh, sorry to keep you," Wes muttered.
"Don't worry about it," Rubella began walking away as she said it. "I'll see you Monday."
He waved to her. Rubella continued down the street. Prunella and Francine waited until Wes was no longer looking, then they snuck after Rubella. She got to a corner and took a left.
"Prunella," Francine said, grabbing her sleeve as they reached the corner.
"What is it?" Prunella demanded.
"The mall is the other way," Francine insisted. "Where is she going?"
"Looks like to the library," Prunella voiced. "That's a weird place to meet a secret boyfriend."
"No, it's perfect," Francine insisted. "No one would suspect that they're secretly dating if they meet at a library."
"That's the silliest thing I ever heard," Prunella rolled her eyes and continued off toward the library.
Francine and Prunella got to the library and pulled the door open. They snuck in, keeping a sharp eye out for Rubella.
"Let's sit over here," came Rubella's voice.
Prunella grabbed Francine and pulled her under a table. They watched as the hem of Rubella's dress and a pair of black shoes went by.
"That must be him," Prunella whispered to Francine.
They watched the shoes walk away. The further away they got, the more of them Francine and Prunella could see. They could see all of Rubella as her gentleman pulled her seat out for her, but his head was chopped off. Prunella crouched down so maybe she could see more of him, but it didn't work. She looked at Francine.
"Well, at least he's a gentleman," Prunella told her. "I guess that's always good. Why do you suppose they want to keep it a secret?"
Francine didn't answer. Her eyes just widened as she stared on. Prunella looked where she was looking and saw that it was Mr. Ratburn sitting down opposite her sister.
"I know what you're thinking," Prunella said instantly, "but it's impossible. First of all, he's not a frat guy. Secondly, gross! He's like way older than she is. He's probably just tutoring her or something."
"Why would she keep tutoring a secret?" Francine asked.
"Because she doesn't want to appear stupid," Prunella insisted.
"Where are they going?" Francine asked.
Prunella watched as Rubella and Ratburn walked into the labyrinth of books shelves.
"Should we follow them?" Francine suggested.
"I guess, but it won't be all that interesting," Prunella shrugged.
She and Francine got out from under the table and ran to follow Rubella and Ratburn.
************
"Prunella was acting so weird this morning," Rubella told Ratburn and they walked along a book shelf.
"In what manner?" Ratburn asked, his hands clasped behind his back.
"She was...smiling at me," Rubella explained. "Not in a friendly way either. It was in a creepy way. Maybe she knows something I don't. Maybe she had a premonition that I win the lottery."
"Do you honestly believe in that psychic wishwash?" Ratburn asked.
Rubella looked at him in surprise, saying, "You don't think I'm psychic?"
"Well," Ratburn muttered nervously.
"Don't you even remember my predictions?" Rubella said, hands on her hips. "First, I said something like...you're going to have great anguish and pain. Did that come true?"
"Yes, I guess," Ratburn replied.
"Then I said you would love deeply," Rubella continued as she walked down the aisle. "Did that not happen?"
"It did," Ratburn smiled.
"See, I'm psychic," Rubella declared.
"I think one more prediction should prove it," Ratburn announced.
"All right," Rubella agreed, turning to him. "What do you want me to predict? I've done your palm and a crystal ball. There's tea leaves, tarot cards, astrology...name your choice."
Ratburn thought for a moment, then said, "I suppose we should employ the assets available."
"True," Rubella shrugged. "I don't have any of my equipment with me. So, we'll just do a simple palm reading."
Rubella took his hand and gazed at it. The touch of her hand and the way her breath caress his skin reminded him of that first day. It seemed so strange how much had changed since that day when a crazy girl came into his classroom and read his palm. He smiled, watching Rubella play with his hand.
"Something is going to happen," Rubella said, wide-eyed.
"Is that all?" Ratburn joked.
She glared at him, then returned her attention to his palm.
"It doesn't look good," Rubella shook her head. "Whispers...mocking..."
Rubella bit her lips and moved his hand closer to her eyes.
"Sadness," Rubella said quietly. Suddenly, she gasped and dropped his hand instantly. "Maybe I'm not psychic after all."
"What did you see?" Ratburn asked.
Rubella smiled slightly and began to walk away. Ratburn got in front of her and grabbed her by the shoulders.
"Rubella?" Ratburn said softly, looking into her eyes.
Rubella stared up at him, worriedly. Ratburn scanned her beautiful face, leaning toward her. As his lips approached her's, Rubella closed her eyes. Just then, a scream rang out. Ratburn and Rubella instantly glanced at the source. Prunella stood there, horror-struck, with Francine beside her. Ratburn instantly let go of Rubella.
"Pruney," Rubella began, taking a step toward her sister.
Prunella shook her head, then sprinted away. Rubella ran after her. Ratburn glanced awkwardly at the wide-eyed Francine Frensky.
"Finish your math homework?" Ratburn asked.
Francine didn't move a muscle. Ratburn took a breath and felt that everything was going to change.