This was a very delicate matter. It called for the highest degree of sensitivity and tact. Unfortunately….
"Are you out of your flipping mind!" Soulful demanded that evening. The others had all gone, confused and at a loss, while Soulful stayed at Bright Heart's house, trying to, as he put it "talk sense into that crazy raccoon". Bright Heart, sitting as his now empty desk, said nothing. "That must be it." Soulful insisted. "You're bleeding certifiable!"
Bright Heart sighed. "Soulful, I'm not crazy." He didn't raise his voice. He didn't sound insistent or even look at Soulful when he said it. "I've made up my mind. I'm not inventing any more."
"Because of a few minor setbacks?" Soulful scoffed. "Everyone has those."
"Most peoples' 'minor setbacks,'" Bright Heart said through clenched teeth, "Don't jeopardize the lives of the people they love."
"Yes, heaven knows the danger that flying rice pudding can cause!" Soulful fairly snarled.
"Soulful, stop being so flippant about it! Someone could've gotten hurt!"
"NO. ONE. DID. Get over it!"
"This from you?" Bright Heart shot back without thinking. "Since when have you gotten over anything?" Soulful, for one of the very few times in his life, was rendered speechless. Bright Heart pressed on, unaware of Soulful's condition. "I'm sick of being a laughingstock! The crazy inventor, the mad scientist who can't even make a toaster work right without it EXPLODING!"
"But—"
"My inventions have sent more people to Take Care's clinic in the last month than No Heart has in the last year. I'm a menace!"
"Wait just a—"
"What if what I had hurt someone permanently…or worse? Do you think I could live with myself if anything happened to you or Tenderheart or Gent—" His voice caught. Shaking his head he just buried his head in his arms.
"Bright…" Soulful said softly.
"Just go away..." Came the muffled answer.
"Becoming a Luddite isn't going to help anyone."
"Go away." Bright Heart repeated.
"Do you think anyone enjoyed watching that spectacle this afternoon when you turned your back on your greatest gift? Gentle Heart looked like she was going to cry—" Bright Heart leapt up as if stuck with a pin.
"Get out!" He demanded, his face wet with tears. "Get out!"
Not knowing what else there was to say, Soulful left. Casting one last look over his shoulder, Soulful shook his head and headed to the Hall of Hearts. As he expected, most everyone was there looking uneasy.
Tenderheart happened to be the one who caught Soulful's eye first. Understanding without words what was being asked, Soulful sighed and shook his head.
"I knew it." Brave Heart declared from one corner. "I knew I should've gone myself, I'm the Cousins' leader after all…"
"Oh, really." Soulful snarled, angry at the situation and furious at Brave Heart's implied criticism. "What would you have done? Given another of your inane motivational speeches? Roared?"
Before things could get ugly, Tenderheart stepped in. "This isn't the time for this." He said, guiding Soulful to a seat at one of the tables. In a low voice he added, "We're all worried about Bright Heart, Soulful." Soulful nodded once in thanks and lapsed back into his trademark silence.
"So now what?" Swift Heart asked. "Bright Heart not inventing is like me not running!"
"Hmmm. It means I'll have to do all the work around here." Grumpy grumbled crossly. "Figures." Grumpy wilted under a short glare from Swift Heart that seemed to say: This was not the time for that either.
"Well, maybe this could be a good thing for Bright Heart." Cheer suggested to incredulous stares. "I mean it is good to try new things, right? And you know maybe he'll find something else he wants to do. Something that doesn't involve electricity or wires…" She trailed off meekly under Soulful's baleful glare.
"Now if only you'd be so kind as to try something else…Something that doesn't involve making life-altering decisions for someone else!" He snapped.
"What about Bright Heart?" That was Gentle Heart, neatly cutting off another potential fight before it began.
"He thinks he's doing what's best for the family." Soulful said, crossing his arms in clear indication of what he thought of that line of reasoning.
"So what should we do?" Gentle Heart bleated, her worry clear.
I don't know what else there is to do tonight." Tenderheart said, looking at the dark sky outside. "For now I think we should all get some sleep. Maybe Bright Heart will feel better tomorrow." Gentle Heart looked like she would have wanted gone to see Bright Heart now, but allowed herself to be escorted out by Cozy Heart and Swift Heart.
Soulful Heart caught Tenderheart's eye as everyone trudged out. Soulful didn't believe a word Tenderheart had said. From what he could see, Tenderheart didn't either.