"Smurfing to a Different Beat: Ch 2"
"Hefty, for the attempted murder of Vanity Smurf, I sentence you to 350 years to exile!" Papa smurf declared, knocking the gravel on the podium.
Gasps and murmurs erupted through the crowd. How could Hefty do such a thing, and why?
"Fine…! But you'll regret this!"
"That's quite enough out of you, Hefty. I can't believe you could do such a thing. Smurfs have always learned to live in peace."
"Not when there's a smurfing 'SMURF' in the village!"
Another wave of gasps rippled through the crowd.
"Take him out of my sight!"
Grouchy and Greedy grabbed Hefty by the arms and dragged him out of the conference room.
Hefty glared at Vanity as he passed and whispered in his ear, "I'll smurf you, Vanity… when you least expect it."
Vanity gasped, burying his face in to Brainy's chest.
In the week that followed Hefty's exile Vanity had to put up with smurfs strange looks and murmurings. He hated that people knew his secret especially with the taunting and teasing that he had to endure. When ever he would go where other smurfs were, they would always come up with excuses to leave. It was all too much to bear.
One day Brainy and Vanity were walking together hand in hand when suddenly Jokey bounced up to them.
"Hey Brainy, I wouldn't be walking with Vanity if I were you, he might get smurf on you!" Jokey cackled with joy and he was off.
Vanity sighed. "Oh, Brainy, I can't stand it anymore! I could just smurf myself!"
"No, Vanity, don't do that." Brainy hugged Vanity and held him close to him. "I have a plan… you'll see…"
Brainy stood on the announcing mushroom before the entire smurf village. "My fellow smurfs, I have an important announcement."
"You're not going to recite a Brainy quote are you? I have better things to do!" Handy complained.
"No… it's more important…"
The crowd gasped. Something more important than one of his quotes…?
"Yes… you all know about Vanity being… gay…."
The crowd grew silent at that word. Never before has anyone ever said it aloud… and in front of people too.
"Well, I think it's very unsmurfy the way you're all treating him. What if Papa smurf were gay? Would you treat him any different? Is not Vanity the same smurf we've known ever since birth? What is wrong with you smurfs! What if Greedy was gay? Would you stop eating his pastries; or farmer…? Would you stop eating his vegetables?"
"I would even if he weren't gay!" Snappy, one of the smurflings, piped up.
A wave of nervous laughter rippled through the crowd.
"What of me? Would you treat me differently too...?"
"But Brainy… you're not… gay…"
"That's where you're wrong my dear smurfs… Vanity and I… we are lovers… and I'm not ashamed to admit it…"
"Brainy… and Vanity…?"
"Who woulda' thunk it…"
"Maybe he's right…"
Suddenly Papa smurf climbed on to the announcing mushroom. "My little smurfs, Brainy is right. We must treat Vanity with respect and love that we would any smurf. Being gay does not change anything. Don't end up like Hefty."
At this last sentence there came a wave of murmuring from the crowd.
Suddenly Sassete piped up. "I will Pappy smurf!"
"Me too…!" Snappy, Slouchy and Nat agreed.
"I will too, Papa smurf," Clumsy chimed in.
Suddenly the whole crowd erupted with exclamations of redemption and repents.
"Oh thank you everyone" Vanity exclaimed, joyfully.
Brainy and Vanity embraced one another. "My dear Vanity," Brainy said, just before kissing him.
Hefty watched the whole scene, hidden from view, in disgust. "I can't believe it! Those fickle smurfs… they'll do whatever they're precious Papa smurf tells them to. Well, just because the crowd has accepted Brainy and Vanity's gayety doesn't mean a thing. I'll kill him… and Brainy… And then Smurfette," he chuckled. "You'll make a fine gift for Gargamel" He laughed maniacally.
"Oh Azrael, what are we going to do? We've run out of food and I haven't a penny to my name."
"Mreow!"
"It's all the fault of those damn smurfs!"
Just then there was a knock at the door
"Who could that be? It had better not be a tax collector!" When Gargamel opened the door there was no one there except for a tiny piece of paper. It was a note. "Dear Gargamel, I have a proposition to make with you. Meet me at the Great Oak and I will give you what you want; signed Hefty Smurf." Gargamel looked at his cat in shock. "Do you think this is a trap Azrael?"
Azrael shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, whatever it is, it's worth checking out. Come Azrael."
When Gargamel reached the Great Oak, they found Hefty resting on the tree trunk.
"Well, smurf, explain yourself. Why are you so willing to betray you're fellow smurfs?"
"They betrayed me first! I want revenge."
"What is it I get in return?"
"Smurfette on a silver platter."
"Too small, I want them all!"
Hefty thought it over then smiled. "Deal; but leave Brainy and Vanity to me!"
"Very well, smurf it's a deal."
Hefty and Gargamel shook on it. "Meet me back here tomorrow and I'll show you to the smurf's village."
"That fool, once I have the smurfs in my clutches I'll take him as well!" Gargamel cackled as he and Azrael walked back to his shack. "That fool smurf won't see what hit him!"
To be continued until next chapter…
