Lessons
There is a world that exists around us……
A world of right, a world of morals, of what is accepted……
But then there is another world……a world of wrong……
The unknown, the sinful, the wicked, the unacceptable……
These 2 worlds have collided, and 2 hearts have been shattered……
The aching agony of misery grinded deep into Frankie's heart as if it were swimming through an ocean of daggers and jagged, broken glass. Skies of blue and rainbow colored dreams were now soiled by the heartless, blackness that infested her heart and mind.
No logic.
No right.
No wrong.
Only pain……
Frankie sighed "I j-j-j-just don't understand it, how, no, WHY did this happen? I mean Mac is".
The red haired girl stopped herself and simply sighed, staring soft, doe like angel eyes into the creaky wood of the massive mansion. Frankie's mind couldn't stop thinking about that sweet little boy that visited here every single day.
"I can still hear his voice" Frankie whimpered.
There was railing Mac and Bloo used to slide on, they would carelessly slide down those wooden banisters and caused heaven and hell to fall with their outrageous pranks. There was the kitchen that used to be splattered with globs of goop and slime, and echoing with the laughter of Mac and Blood as they tried to cook something, or make a mess, whichever came first. Every inch and frame of this house spilled forth memories both sweet and kind.
The warmth brought to those green sweater sleeves of Frankie's was indescribable.
"Is this what parents feel like? Is this the joy they feel?" Frankie thought to herself.
Mac was not her child and neither was Bloo, but right now, she sure felt like they were. Every mother and father cherishes each moment they spend with their children. Every parent freezes each event, loving everything they touch, everything they say, everything they do. As if the world were a museum of still frames, just waiting to capture a new moment inside their hearts. But now those frames were empty, memories gone, and there was nothing now.
Just the cold……the cold of pain……
THUMP! THUMP!
Frankie's bedroom door was swung open by the slamming thumps of an elderly woman's cane. Madame Foster entered, twitching her tiny toes across the floor under that ratty, dark, purple skirt that swished as she approached Frankie.
The young woman sighed "Oh granny, what am I going to do? This is a nightmare; I can't believe this is happening. Poor Mac, he must be so confused right now".
Madame Foster giggled "Oh dearie don't be such a tart, he's not confused, he's exactly as he should be".
Frankie blinked at her grandmother, her young creamy colored cheeks flustered with frustration and bewilderment.
Madame Foster smiled "He's in love with you, and I'm not surprised one little bit".
"WHAT? Grandma have you lost your marbles……okay stupid question" Frankie groaned.
The grandmother scoffed at her young granddaughter and crossed her arms, tapping her cane along the floor as she walked around Frankie's room. The young red head frantically continued to try and understand her granny.
Frankie stuttered "B-b-b-b-b-b-but its wrong, it's very, very, VERY wrong. I'm in my 20's for god's sake and Mac's just uh just a".
"A kid" Madame Foster finished.
Frankie nodded.
Madame Foster frowned "Frankie, come closer to me".
Curiously responding, Frankie gently leaned her head down towards her diminutive grandmother and leaned her ear close.
BONK!
"OW" Frankie cried out.
Madame Foster had smacked her cane over Frankie's skull.
The little old woman pouted "You big dummy, I'm supposed to be the geezer around here and you're the only one who's actually BLIND".
Frankie gasped "What the hell are you talking about?".
Madame Foster sighed "Honestly Frankie, how else did you expect Mac to turn out? Haven't you ever noticed how different he is from other kids?".
"Well I uh" Frankie bit her lip, she stumbled over her words and tried to speak, but found she couldn't.
Old Madame Foster continued "Mac's a bright and caring kid, but he's terribly lonely. He doesn't get along well with other kids at school and I doubt he gets along any better with the ladies. If Mac did, then he never would have needed to create his own imaginary friend now would he?".
Frankie half nodded "Well yeah but".
Madame Foster butted in "Mac comes here every day because this is where his friends are, imaginary friends. There the only real friends he has that not only like him, but care for him and treat him like a decent human being. Mac can't be who he is at school so it's no surprise he thought up Bloo in the first place, he's lonely".
"L-l-l-lonely?" Frankie asked, in a sad and tearful tone.
Madame Foster nodded "Think about it. You're the only human girl that has the most contact with him, you see him every day and actually spend time talking to him or asking how he is. Other then myself, you're the only other girl around here that Mac can relate to.
Remember that crazy Goo girl? Mac couldn't even accept her and that was about the closest thing he's ever had to a girlfriend, one that understands his love for imaginary friends".
Frankie groaned "But grandma it's wrong, worse then that it's ILLEGAL. He should be in love with kids his own age. I mean (blushes a little) I'm flattered and all but this isn't right, it's morally and legally wrong. Do you have any idea how negative an effect this kind of thing can have on a kid?".
"I can't imagine it would be any worse then what he's feeling right now" Madame Foster said.
The crimson headed cutie was lost for words and explanation, the swirling madness of reality and logic crashed into her brain like a shower of meteorites. The girl's bare ankles flexed as her sneakers slowly walked across the squeaking wood boards. Frankie sighed as she stared out the seemingly hollow glass window, the front yard was devoid of life, devoid of fun, devoid of love, devoid of Mac……
All this time Frankie has been here……
And all this time she never realized how important she was to Mac……
Frankie found it hard to believe, the knowledge of such love and passion resting upon her nervous shoulders weighed heavily on her nervous mind. How awful she must have been to deserve this, to deserve the mantle of shattering a young boy's innocent and love with a few simple words. Frankie wept into her hands and shunned the world from her tear soaked eyes. Madame Foster took Frankie by the head and gently stroked her red hair.
The elderly woman hummed an angelic tune softly into Frankie's ear, the young woman almost nuzzled into Foster's embrace like she was an infant. Frankie felt like a child again and that the whole world ceased to exist outside of this simple, sweet, winged feeling of serenity and warmth.
"What am I going to do granny, what am I doing to do?" Frankie begged.
Madame Foster smiled "You are a silly one today aren't you? You've got to talk to him, you've got to care for him, and that's all there is to it".
Frankie nervously protested "But granny I can't do this, you know I can't. As much as I care about Mac I can't go through with something I know is wrong. I mean, he needs help, he needs someone to talk to".
"He needs……a friend" Madame Foster said.
Nodding in slow but inevitable agreement, Frankie knew in her warmest, and tender of hearts, what she must do. The young woman adjusted her green sweater to the blood chilling winds of the cold air blowing around the mansion. Red hair blew around all over as Frankie walked down the sidewalk, her eyes staring mindlessly at her squeaking sneakers and slow moving feet. Time passed and Frankie eventually arrives at Mac's house.
DING DONG!
The door opens to reveal a pale face, tear drenched, and heart broken shell of a miserable little boy with chocolate brown hair. Mac stared blankly at the angel of temptation that had stirred his heart so passionately and wildly.
Frankie sighed "Hi Mac, I think it's time we had a talk".
To be continued……