The Legacy
Disclaimer: I deny any ownership of any adult or adolescent transformed shadow warrior chelonians.
Chapter five – A simple thing?Michaelangelo:
I watched as Leo left the dojo before turning my attention to Rama " So Rama tell me babe, how come you were giving your sensei a bad time?" I asked her.
Rama stood in front of me " I wanna shurien" she said simply.
" Yeah I know you wanted to use your shuriken again and Leo also was well aware of that fact, but that doesn't mean you talk to Leo the way that you did." I informed her firmly, " Leo is your Sensei and that means you have to listen to him and respect him" I paused scowling at her " there is a lot more to being ninja then just throwing a shuriken and Leo has to teach you all of it."
Rama gave me her lost puppy dog look " But daddy…" she started to protest.
" No buts Rama!" I snapped sternly, " I don't want you giving Leo any more trouble. You have to obey him."
Rama scrunched her face up as she nodded her head, her bottom lip trembled a bit and she took a deep breath.
I smiled at her tenderly " Look Rama if you obey Leo and do what he asks you to do I'm sure he will let you do something that you enjoy doing as well. But you have to be good for him okay?" I hugged her a bit.
" Okay daddy I be good for sensay."
I kissed her " That is my girl. Trust me in this Rama you are going need all the ninjitsu that he can teach you."
" Why daddy?" Rama asked curiously.
" That is a little hard to explain hon." I began.
" Why?" Rama repeated.
I looked into her face and wondered how best to answer this question without scaring her.
" Daddy why?" Rama insisted as she climbed up on to my lap.
I knew I would have to tell her something but, what to tell her and how much I ought to tell her was what I had to try and figure out before I gave her my reply.
" Rama you might not understand all of this but I'm going try to explain to you so you understand. You know about humans right?"
Rama nodded " Aunt Ape-April and Uncle Casey are human." Rama replied.
" That is right and so is the lady in the infirmary that Leo found the other night. When he found her, she was hurt so he brought her back here so we could help make her better." I explained, " You also know that there are lots of people who live topside right?"
Rama made a face, she really didn't know what 'topside' was. She had heard about many things that could be found topside but she wasn't allowed to even leave the lair unless she was with one of us for a short walk in the sewer. Rama had to learn a great deal more about ninjitsu before being permitted her first trip above.
She would need to know to move quickly, to stay quiet and keep out of the light just for starters.
Then there was also the fact that Rama couldn't even begin to comprehend how many people there were topside so her puzzled look was fully understandable.
" Some humans Rama are like your aunt and Uncle they are very nice and they wouldn't hurt any one. Other people are not that nice and they want to hurt other humans or any thing else they find." I explained as I held her close, " Sometimes they do it for silly reasons, sometimes they are afraid and they hurt because they are scared. Because some people are so afraid they might end up trying to hurt us too."
" Why?" Rama wondered. For once she was sitting almost quietly in my lap.
I sighed shaking my head " Why what Rama?"
" Why hur us daddy?"
" Not all people would hurt us, but some might. Fear can do funny things to you and some people they get afraid real easy. We are so different from people that a lot of them might act and hurt us before they even got to know us."
Rama scowled I could see she couldn't quite understand what I was telling her, and the last thing I wanted was to scare her. I hugged her tightly " I love you" I whispered, " And you will understand better when you are older Ramiela."
In Rama 's bedroom was a picture of a sea turtle swimming in the water on either side of the turtle's head were the words ' If you talk to the Animals they will talk to you and you will know each other. If you do not talk to them you will not know them and what you do not know you will fear. What one fears one destroys – Chief Dan George.
I figured that summed up our whole existence with the human race quite nicely some people would take the time to talk to us and once they got to know us I had a feeling they would overcome their fears. Others would act on their fears first and in doing so would seek to destroy us.
The poster had a ray of hope in its simplistic words, and yet it was a grim reminder of man and his misunderstanding of his fellow man, and creatures that he shared his life with on our world.
I smiled as I pushed those thoughts from my mind " Come on Rama lets go play at the playground I feel an urgent need to go on a teeter totter." I suggested.
Rama smiled up at me and cheered " Yeah eeer oter" she agreed.
I had to laugh as she tried to say that word, especially as she had such a problem with her dreaded t's.
For the next hour I chased her around the playground and got her to play follow the leader encouraging her to swing off the ropes and follow me out on some of the balance beams. Rama squealed with delight as she came after me, her merry little laugh and exuberant yells a clear sign that she was having fun.
I finally decided that it was time to go make lunch for the entire family Rama followed me out to the kitchen demanding lunch for herself.
I gave her a peanut butter and jam sandwich with a glass of chocolate milk with an apple cut in slices and cored. She was easy to please, the rest of the family wouldn't be satisfied with that meal.
I made meat and cheese sandwiches and warmed up soup from last nights dinner knowing that our stock was getting low again. It was time to send April on a shopping trip with our money, problem with that was April and Casey often had a habit of bringing home more food then we had money.
It was a gift that was hard to accept because we were honourable but rejecting it would be considered rude, as gifts of any kind should be accepted.
Of course April always used the wonderful line " Think of Rama she needs it."
As if Rama would be the only one to benefit from her generosity. Still that line seemed to do the trick far better then any other excuse April gave when extras turned up in our groceries.
Money of course was scarce for our family. We recycled things using our human friends to collect and keep a small cut, or even hock jewellery that we found lost. Raph on rare occasions stole from thieves and drug dealers but Splinter didn't care for that money and wished that Raph would not add insult to injury.
Our main source of income was from Don he would repair any electronic item for April and Casey's friends for a small but reasonable fee. Don's clients left the items at the Jones' apartment and Don would pick them up repair and return the item with the bill. The money was left in April's care. Don allowed April a percentage of his earnings.
The rest of the money he earned went to groceries and other necessities that we might not have. He also gave each of us a few dollars each month for our own use.
Rama grinned as Don entered the kitchen and picked up a sandwich from off the platter.
" Hey Rama" Don muttered distractedly as he opened the fridge to get himself a drink.
" Unca Donaello" Rama cried out cheerfully as she watched her uncle curiously.
" What?" Don asked turning to face her the juice jug in hand.
" Unca Donaello have sandwich?"
Don nodded " Yes I have a sandwich thank you Rama."
Rama smiled " Wan' cookie?"
" No thanks!" Don replied.
I shook my head, " She wasn't asking you if you wanted one. She was asking if she could have one" I interpreted as I saw Rama scowl at his reply. I looked at her " Finish your apple then you can have a cookie."
She grinned in reply " Ank you daddy" she said as she munched on an apple slice.
My brother didn't seem to understand Rama course he didn't spend much time with her as he was usually busy in his lab. Don went to sit at the table beside Rama.
" I'm going have to run another test to find out…" he muttered to himself.
I sighed, " What is your problem now Don?" I asked interrupting his ramblings.
" Mike Rama is not at a typical four year old level. Her speech is rather stunted and she ought to be able to express her wishes better." Don insisted.
" Just because you don't understand her…"
" It isn't me Mike." Don declared, " Yes you might understand her but she ought to be able to express that she is the one who wants this."
" She did." I said.
" Not clearly." Don disputed.
" It was clear to me Don, if not to you." I returned.
" Mike you have to understand that Rama is not at an average four year old level when it comes to speech or communicating her desires and…"
Splinter entered the kitchen his ear twitched as he caught Don's words he placed a hand affectionately on Rama's head as he sat down in the chair on Rama's right hand side." What ever gives you that idea my son?" He asked kindly.
" Everything I have read and researched tells me that she is behind Master she talks more like a two year old might then a four year old." Don replied.
" Hmmm," Splinter hummed slightly as he rubbed at his chin " Yes but Ramiela is not a human child perhaps she progresses differently. Has that occurred to you my son?" He suggested after some consideration.
" Even so Master she ought to be showing further development then where she is at right now." Don disputed.
" Let me tell you something Donatello" Splinter said as he stared intently at my brother " I too, have read numerous books about child raising and development when you four were young." Splinter smiled at that memory, " I was often surprised by the contradictions that often would appear from one book to another, depending upon the author's view points." He sat back in his chair giving a rueful grin and a wistful shake of his head " Also there are many things children will do that are never in the books no matter how hard you search."
I almost laughed sure that Raph and I had presented many such problems for Splinter in our youth. I placed a bowl of soup and a cheese sandwich in Splinter's place and he thanked me before turning back to his debate with Don.
" Take it from me Donatello nothing can teach you about children quite like raising one or two, or even four of your own." Splinter chuckled " Besides children don't read the books my son, they are little people and as such they are all unique in their own ways. I think Ramiela is doing quite well for her age."
I noted Rama was almost finished her apple so retrieved a cookie for her while Splinter gave his only grandchild a loving look and a friendly tickle causing her to laugh.
" Master I don't doubt your words but Ramiela still acts noticeably young for her age" Don was picking his words carefully. He didn't want to call Splinter a liar and yet he was trying to point out how wrong our father might be. " I am sure that you have heard about children who do suffer certain challenges even from birth that make learning a bit harder for them and often slows their progress." Don pointed out delicately.
Splinter leaned forward " In all the test you have run on Ramiela have you found any indication that she may suffer from one of these difficulties?"
" No but…" Don began
Splinter shook his head and raised one hand to let him know he could stop right there.
" Donatello Ramiela has only been around adults. We have never spoken any sort of baby talk around her." Splinter noted calmly, " Nor does she play with other children meaning she doesn't pick up normal children speech. However it also means that she can not learn from her peers."
" Shouldn't she then be capable of better speech then Master?" Don wondered before taking the last bite of his sandwich. " If anything those points prove even more what I have been saying all along." He insisted after swallowing.
" It proves nothing" Splinter countered sharply, " Ramiela's hearing is adequate. She understands a great deal of what is said to her, far more perhaps then she lets on." Splinter murmured the last bit. I had told him this morning about Rama's jump kick. Splinter took a breath and continued, " She continues to increase her vocabulary and since she has learned her L's she has been speaking with great improvement." Splinter declared " I have a feeling when she learns her T's then we might know exactly where Ramiela stands."
Rama looked at her chair and over at Splinter " I sis a able no sands." She said quoting one of her rules.
Splinter chuckled. " Yes of course you sit." He agreed amiably before taking a spoonful of soup.
I went and took a sandwich for myself " I have been trying to get her on her T's but I am afraid I haven't had much luck so far" I confessed.
Don blinked " You think she is talking like a baby on purpose, or is holding back?" Don demanded his brow furrowing as if such a thought hadn't occurred to him " Kids don't think like that." He grumbled.
Splinter shifted in his chair " You are so certain then?" He watched Don as if waiting for an answer " Let me tell you something my son."
Rama had finished her lunch and lunged towards Splinter who took her into his arms hugging her close on his lap as she snuggled up against him. I think Rama enjoyed the fact that Splinter was a soft member of the family as opposed to us turtles.
Splinter stroked her hair as he began to talk " When all of you were not much older then three, Donatello I had my doubts about your ability to speak. Your brothers spoke in short simple sentences while you only said a few words." Splinter scowled at the memory " I worried that there might be something wrong with you. All the books told me was your brother's progress was natural. Therefore I felt the fault was in you my son." Splinter said softly " I tried to get you to talk and worried about what would happen if you remained behind your brothers." Splinter smiled a bit " All my worrying was for nothing for one day while your brothers played together, I noticed you were alone and sitting in a corner. I went over to see if you were all right." Splinter shook his head, " Imagine how shocked I was to hear you whispering a word over and over, very softly to yourself, yet my ears had not deceived me in any way."
Rama squirmed and kissed Splinter's nose before taking a bite of his sandwich " Spiner samwich good." She announced.
Splinter chuckled at her " When you finally spoke that word aloud for the first time you spoke it clearly and correctly. In that way Donatello you by passed the baby talk your brothers were more used to using." Splinter concluded, " So Ramiela hearing how we say things might be unwilling to speak baby talk much as you once refused to my son." ( A/N I had a nephew who did this when he was a child. So readers don't tell me that a child won't practice a word to speak it in an adult fashion.)
Don scowled it was clear to me that he hadn't even thought of that end of things. I brightened at the prospect.
" Then you think that Ramiela is just refusing to say those words or certain words for whatever reason?" Don inquired as he turned the idea over in his mind.
" It is only a possibility my son." Splinter stated casually.
I knew for a fact Rama could and did pick up words quickly her brief time of cursing like a sailor due to Raph had been proof enough of that fact. Then the family had to try and break both of them of the habit.
Splinter's brow furrowed momentarily " Michaelangelo you say that you have been working on her T's but perhaps the key to it lies in getting her to say a name, much as Raphael's name was the key to her saying her L's" Splinter suggested.
I nodded " I had thought of it Master but she won't say Donatello's name. Or more correctly she might say his name properly once and then forget her T's all over again." I complained.
Don tapped his fingers on the table top " What if it is Splinter's name though? After all he has both the dreaded L and T in his name. If I can recall correctly Splinter was one of Rama's early words like Raph and daddy." Don hinted.
I snapped my fingers " Your right Don she tried your name last it was Raph, Splinter, Leo then you." I realized.
Splinter had handed Rama the cookie she had abandoned at her place when she decided to cuddle up to him. She was now paying a great deal of attention to it as she nibbled away on her treat like a little mouse.
I went over and kneeled by Splinter's chair " Rama can you say Spliter?" I asked stressing the t for her.
She shook her head " Not name." She said firmly.
" You don't even know the name of Splinter's Master Yoshi" I mumbled she gave me an odd look as she continued to nibble the cookie.
" No daddy. Massa Spinner." She scowled darkly as she said those words and banged a small fist on the table in frustration.
I gave my head a shake " Of course master Splinter because that is what we call him. Well that or Sensei."
" No Daddy" Rama corrected me " Uncle Leonardo Sensay. Spiner not sensay he more he mas…" her face contorted as she tried to say it again " Masser" her face fell and she whimpered hanging her head miserably.
It suddenly was clear to me she knew what she wanted to say but somehow those t's kept tripping her up.
Don laughed at her and Rama shot him a truly dirty look. I knew she was mad at her uncle because she thought he was laughing at her, in her failure to say the word she had tried so hard to speak. I knew Don hadn't laughed intentionally at her.
" Rama honey it is Mas-Ter Splin-Ter" I told her speaking the words slowly and stressing those T's as much as possible. I then repeated it a few times for her with her watching me very carefully.
" mas.Ter Spli. Ter." She repeated slowly cautiously being ever so careful with those t's. Then just as she had with Raph she began to repeat his name saying it over a few times. Rama beamed as she suddenly realized that she could say those words after all.
" Master Splinter" She announced loudly almost yelling it.
" I am deeply honoured Ramiela" Splinter replied as he hugged her close and kissed her.
Rama gave an impish grin " Master Splinter rat not Mickey Mouse. Ramiela daddy, and uncles are turtles. Franklin turtle." She stopped cheering her own accomplishment at these bold statements " Daddy and uncles have three fingers. Ramiela have five fingers" she boasted.
I swooped Rama off Splinter's lap and tossed her into the air it seemed Rama was fully capable of saying her T's and her L's now.
It had seemed such a simple thing and yet it had held her back frustrating her to no end and now that she had it I had a feeling we really might learn what Ramiela was fully capable of.
Splinter had been right after all it seemed with children anything was possible.
TBC
Reinbeauchaser: I have all ready confirmed that ninja superstition of seven. Yes Leo often has his hands full with teaching Rama but he is not about to let the student run the lesson. As for Karena and her thoughts that will come later. A gratitude for your insight.
Lenni: Yes this is Rama and her sai stealing story. I have a thing for writing Rama as she breaks her rules but that is just the sort of kid she happens to be. I hope this update was fast enough for you. A gratitude for your insight.