Chapter 7: Coping
MEANWHILE, BACK IN THE SMURF VILLAGE
For the past two weeks, the smurfs did what they could to repair the village and the Smurf Dam regardless of the fact they had lost Hefty. Many of them found it very difficult to cope with this fact. This had defiantly changed the once active, happy community into a sad, mourning place.
One day, Handy watched as Smurfette and some of the other smurfs took the time to finish cleaning Hefty's house. Anger started boiling up inside of him. He did not like the idea of other smurfs going into his best friend's home without his permission. Without hesitation, Handy storms up to the open door of the house and stomped his foot to get everyone's attention.
"What do you smurfs think you are doing in here?" He spat in a furious tone.
"We are cleaning out Hefty's home." Harmony stated the obvious.
"Why?" Handy threw his arms up in the air.
"Well, uh…" Harmony tried to think of a reason, but no idea would come to him.
"It just helps the healing, Handy." Smurfette piped up as she drains a wet cloth in a soapy filled bucket.
"Have all of you gone insane?" Cried out the carpenter smurf. "Hefty is gone! Do you hear me? He's not coming back. Somehow I don't think cleaning his house up is not going to make much of a difference."
"How can you say that?" Smurfette called back, practically in tears over what Handy just said. "You were Hefty's best friend. If anyone would understand how important this is to the rest of us, you certainly should."
"The only thing I understand Smurfette is that you are trespassing in another smurf's home without permission. Now all of you get out!" Handy demands, pointing to the only exit of the house.
"But Handy, we haven't finished cleaning up yet." Greedy pleaded.
"I said Get Out!" Screamed Handy.
As soon as he made sure every smurf was out of the house, Handy grabbed a few 2x4's, his hammer, and a handful of nails. In order to insure no other smurf would enter into Hefty's home, Handy began to hammer down the 2x4's on the door, and windows.
Smurfette watches him with sadness in her eyes. She understands how Handy was feeling, but that should not be a good reason for him to lash out on the other smurfs who were just trying to do something positive during this rough time.
OoOoOoOoOoOo
Papa Smurf stares blankly at one of his spell books. Images of the haunting night lingered. Over and over again he watched Hefty's body being dragged along with the Dam in the currents of rushing water. He knew the struggle that his little smurfs are going through, but for some reason he is also finding it hard to cope with the reality of this just yet.
Grandpa Smurf does what he can to help, but he is finding it difficult to keep up with the daily things Papa Smurf usually dealt with. Papa Smurf knew he had to pull himself out of this funk, but there was one thing he hated most and that was losing one of his little smurfs. He sat there for minutes pondering on what he was going to do next.
"Papa Smurf, Papa Smurf." Smurfette's soft voice broke his concentrating thoughts. He looked up to see the blond smurfette entering his home.
"What is it, Smurfette?" He said calmly.
"Oh, Papa Smurf, you have to talk to Handy. I don't think he is taking the loss of Hefty too well. The other smurfs and I were just trying to clean out Hefty's home when he came along, and not only did he kick us out, but now he's boarding up the door and windows." She whined.
Figuring that this was a good wake up call for him, Papa Smurf stood up. "All right, I'll have a word with him."
"Oh thank you Papa Smurf." Smurfette cooed. "You know, I'm getting together with some of the other smurfs up at the field beside Farmer's garden later. We are going to talk about our feelings in hopes that it would help us feel better about all of this. We would like it if you and Handy would join us." She offered before leaving Papa Smurf's house.
"That sounds like a good idea. I'll do what I can." Papa Smurf nodded.
OoOoOoOoOoOo
MEANWHILE, BY THE BEACHA smurf with a droopy hat wonders up towards the beach. He looked around as if he was trying to find something, or someone. Clumsy had searched under every rock and around every tree, but still he couldn't seem to find what or who he is looking for. With one more attempt of desperation, he took in a deep breath and brought his hands up around his mouth.
"Brainy!" He called out. "Brainy, where are you?"
"No need to yell, Clumsy. I'm over here." Responded a calm quiet voice from the other side of a nearby bush.
Immediately, Clumsy poked his head through the leaves of the bush and saw his best friend sitting beside the statue Painter made in honor of the strongest smurf of the village.
"Gosh, Brainy. How long have you been sitting here?" Clumsy asked.
"Oh, a while, I suppose." Answered Brainy with a pouty look on his face.
"I was wondering if you would like to join me and some of the other smurfs. We are going to sit in the field by Farmer's garden and talk about our feelings on what happened that stormy night." Clumsy explained.
"No thanks Clumsy."
"But Brainy. This could really help us deal with not having Hefty around anymore." Clumsy pleaded as he stepped through the bush and sat beside Brainy.
"I don't know. I just don't feel like being around anyone right now."
"Golly, I always thought it was a good idea to be around loved ones during times like these."
Brainy raises his head up and looked at Clumsy with one eyebrow raised. "Who told you that?"
"You did." Clumsy giggled. "Remember, it was a while ago, but I remember."
"Gee, I-I really said that?" Brainy drew his attention onto the sandy beach with a baffled look on his face.
"Are you sure you don't want to join us in the field, Brainy? I bet the others will be glad to see you there too." Clumsy asked in one last desperate attempt.
Before responding, Brainy took in a deep breath and let out a long sigh. "Ok Clumsy. Lets go join the other smurfs."
"Oh, I'm so glad to hear you say that!" Cheered Clumsy as he jumped up and reached over to help Brainy up from the ground. When Clumsy pulled back he failed to see a rock sitting behind him. "The other smurfs will be… Whoa, whoa… Oof!" As he stepped back, Clumsy tripped over the rock, taking Brainy with him.
With a bashful giggle, Clumsy sheepishly looks over to Brainy whom is sitting up and dusting off the sand on his arms and face. "Uh, sorry."
Brainy straightened the glasses on his face and gave Clumsy an annoyed look. His features then softened with a small reassuring smile. "It's ok, Clumsy. Here, let me help you up."
Brainy stands up and takes Clumsy's hand before helping him to his feet.
"Gee thanks Brainy." Clumsy said as he walked beside Brainy as they left the beach.
"Don't mention it. What are friends for?"
OoOoOoOoOoOo
Papa Smurf walked up to Hefty's house where Handy was still hammering up the last board over one of the windows. The bearded smurf shakes his head, realizing how serious the situation was.
"Handy? I was wondering if you would like to talk." Papa Smurf started.
"About what, Papa Smurf?" Handy knew what the answer was already, but decided to ask the question anyway.
"About what happened two weeks ago, and why you are now boarding up Hefty's house?" The village elder addressed.
"Oh that." Handy hung his head in both grief and guilt. "Guess I have an issue with every smurf going into Hefty's home without him here to give the 'ok'." He said as he dropped his hammer into his toolbox.
"Something tells me that there is more that is on your mind then some of the smurfs going into Hefty's home." Papa Smurf said, attempting to get Handy explain more of his feelings.
For a moment Handy didn't say anything. He stood there letting his face get tense as he fought the tears forming in his eyes. Finally with a deep breath, Handy faces Papa Smurf.
"I was right there, Papa Smurf. I could have ran out and grabbed him." The carpenter smurf blurted. "But all I did was stand there and let the river take both him and the Smurf Dam away."
"Hush now, my little smurf. There is no sense in beating yourself up over this. It wasn't your fault." Papa Smurf counseled as he placed his hand on the young smurf's shoulder.
"But Papa Smurf. If the roles were reversed, Hefty would have just ran up and grabbed me without even thinking twice about it." Handy pointed out.
"Maybe so, but what if you did go out in order to grab Hefty? What if you both didn't make it to land? Then the village would be minus two smurfs instead of one. Somehow I doubt Hefty would have wanted that to happen. The village needs you Handy. It is time that we let go of what happened that night, and allow life here to continue. It will be harder without Hefty, but we have to try. Even I am having problems dealing with this. That is why I need the strength of all my little smurfs behind me."
Handy listened to every word Papa Smurf spoke. His speech touched him so much that he allowed the tears to fall freely down his face. Papa Smurf took this moment to pull him in for a hug.
"In time we will heal, Handy, but in the meantime we need to reflect and let go. Smurfette and the others are getting together in order to talk about their feelings. They are asking that you and I would come join them. What do you say?"
After thinking about it for a moment, Handy slowly nodded his head to say 'yes'.
"Alright, lets go then." Papa Smurf said as he guided Handy over to the field with his arm over his shoulder. They just made it to the field as Poet Smurf starts to express his feelings in a poem that he just recently wrote.
Whenever there was a Smurf in jeopardy
There would be one Smurf to count on,
And that Smurf was Hefty.
His muscles, like his heart, was strong
Nothing kept him from doing his job
Not even a distance long.
Even now that he is gone from our sight
Never will he be gone from our minds
The Smurf with all the might.
Poet Smurf finished his poem and lowered his head in grief.
"Oh, boo-hoo-hoo. That was beautiful, Poet." Wept Smurfette.
"Yeah, I bet Hefty would have loved it too." Mentioned Greedy.
The other smurfs all nodded their heads in agreement. Poet smiled at that comment and nodded his head as well. Papa Smurf looked around and saw that quit a few smurfs had indeed joined this group, including Grandpa Smurf and the smurflings.
"Indeed," Papa Smurf spoke up. "Thank you for sharing that poem with us."
"It…wasn't easy to say this poem, Papa Smurf." Poet admitted, fighting back his tears.
"I understand. I'm sure we are all having problems in dealing with this great loss. Even I am having troubles coping with it." Papa Smurf again spoke with honesty.
Brainy lifted his head up from the ground to peer over at his mentor. Hearing that from Papa Smurf caused him to feel concern for the village elder.
"I'm glad you've all decided to have this meeting in order to share your feelings here today. In fact I bet we can all benefit in having more of these kinds of meetings in the future." Papa Smurf continued. "Would anyone else like to share a few words or memories?"
For a moment everyone was silent once more. Either they had troubles thinking of something they wanted to say, or they were too emotional to say them. Baby Smurf crawled out into the middle of the circle and begins to shake his rattle as he made cooing noises.
"He was defiantly a true-blue friend." Snappy finally said, breaking the ice.
"Yes, and helpful too." Greedy added.
"At times he could be quite affectionate." Smurfette chimed.
"You mean like how he tends to give everyone suffocating bear hugs on 'Hug a Smurf Day'." Brainy commented, still feeling the effects of Hefty's usual one arm squeeze around his ribcage. Many of the smurfs start to chuckle as they too knew how Brainy felt about those hugs.
"I think the only smurf he was actually gentle with was Baby." Smurfette smiles as she lifted Baby up onto her lap. Everyone nodded knowing that Baby always had that effect on everyone, even Grouchy.
"I hate not having Hefty around anymore." Grouchy grumbled with an unusually sadder expression on his face.
"We all do, Grouchy." Papa Smurf said. "This meeting is only but a first step in the healing process for all of us. In time we should all feel better, and be able to cope with this loss." Everyone started nodding their heads, some were still wiping their faces from the running tears.
"Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm feeling a little bit hungry now." Greedy piped up. Some of the smurfs start giggling over his comment.
"That sounds like a good idea, Greedy. Lets all go back to the village and have some dinner." Papa Smurf suggested. The others all nodded in agreement. Everyone began to get up to follow the smurf elder back, except Handy Smurf.
"Aren't you coming Handy?" Smurfette asked when she turns to see the carpenter smurf still standing in the field.
"In a minute. There is one thing I have to do first." Handy said before heading to the beach.
OoOoOoOoOoOo
Handy walked up to the shore where the statue of Hefty stood solid, staring out at the ocean. The carpenter smurf doesn't say anything at first. He just looks up and admired the great details Painter Smurf did on the facial expression. It made Handy miss his friend even more. He let out a deep sigh before placing his hand on the statue's foot.
"Hey there, old friend." Handy said as if the statue could respond. "Boy, you have no idea how much I miss you. The other smurfs miss you too, but at least they are starting to finally cope with the emotion of loosing you. I, on the other hand, am finding it harder. Each day should get better though. Especially if I join in more group talks with Smurfette and the others. That should help a lot."
Handy pauses to catch a stray tear that attempted to run down his cheek. With a sniffle, he continues.
"I hope wherever you are now, you are happy. But, it's like what Papa Smurf said we have to move on. The village needs me, and even though you are gone we can't let that stop life from continuing. I actually just came by here to say goodbye. You will always be missed," again Handy took a deep breath, "but you will never be forgotten."
Before leaving the shore, Handy stepped up and wraps his arms as best as he can around the statue's waist. Feeling better now that he could say goodbye to his friend, he knew that things could only get better from now on.