"The worst of us is not without innocence, although buried deeply it might be."
-Walter Elias Disney
Chapter 1
It was a bright winter afternoon with the snow seemingly set aflame by a bright orange sunset, and all was quiet across the frozen landscape. Not a creature was stirring, except for a very noisy kid on an old toboggan sled zipping down a hillside.
The boy in question whooped excitedly as he passed over several mounds that made the ride a low-budget roller coaster. He was a dog with black fur covering everything except his face, which was peach colored, and he had long ears hanging off his head like hair, and two large canine teeth protruding from his mouth like fangs, albeit not significantly grown out since he was only 11.
Behind him, he heard his father, an older version of himself, call out and tell him in a heavy southern accent, "Don't get lost in the snow, Maxy!"
The young canine chuckled at the thought as he neared the bottom of the hill, dramatically flipping himself over the sled and into the snowbank. Getting back to his feet, Max noticed the sky looking darker than he remembered and called back to his father, asking if now would be a good time to head back?
No reply. Max also noticed his dad wasn't at the hilltop anymore.
He called out again but only got silence like before, but this time, the silence felt heavy.
Within a minute, Max was once more atop the hill, the reins of his sled in hand, but his old man was nowhere to be seen- even the car was gone!
Glancing back up at the sky and noticing it was now more purple than orange, Max began to feel uneasy at this bizarre situation. Had his dad simply left him behind? The latter was unlikely since he was only a few blocks from his house, so he began walking back, all the while wondering what was going on?
However, with each step, the sky got noticeably darker, as if someone was turning down the light with a knob. Looking around at the lifeless hill that was losing daylight, Max suddenly felt very alone.
Ditching his sled, he took off in the direction of his home, anxiety creeping in as day gave way to night.
It didn't end there because as he made it into his neighborhood, he noticed that even the homes were darkened. Not a single lit window was to be found.
"What's happening?" he wondered aloud.
Was this really his neighborhood? Had he wandered into some other reality? He recognized the houses, yet they felt unfamiliar, like he didn't belong there anymore.
Then he saw it: down the road sat a yellow three-story house with a red roof. His own home! But even better: There was light inside. He'd never been so happy and angry at the same time. His dad left him behind in the cold and dark, but he didn't have to stay outside much longer. With renewed vigor, he ran back home.
But he quickly noticed something was wrong: there was no door!
He ran all the way around his house twice and discovered the door to his house seemingly vanished. Wondering if things could get any worse, Max looked inside one of the windows and felt his anxiety balloon into terror as he saw his father playing a board game with another child who looked just like him.
Pounding frantically on the glass, Max called out, seemingly to no avail. However, the other Max turned to face him and flashed him a sinister grin that chilled him to his core. No words or gestures were exchanged, but the doppelganger's thoughts were clear to him: "This is my home now. You don't belong here anymore."
Then the lights in the home all went out, leaving it as darkened as the others.
The frightened child peered inside, waiting to see if something revealed itself...
...then a hand grabbed his shoulder.
(...)
Max gasped as his eyes shot open. He looked around to find himself seated next to a window through which he saw trees racing by in the dark. Opposite of that were rows of seats, like on an airplane, with a few others seated in them just like himself.
"Bad dream?" someone asked from behind as they lifted a hand from his shoulder.
"You could say that," Max exhaled, allowing himself to relax.
He was on an Amtrak heading for Spoonerville. It was the latest in a series of different rides he'd taken to get there, including an airplane, a boat, and even a taxi, among others. He'd had a difficult time getting shuteye throughout the two-day ordeal, though it wasn't the worst thing he'd experienced in the time he'd been away from home, and before long it would all be behind him for good.
"Where ya headed?" the stranger behind him asked.
"Home," Max said flatly, hoping that would be enough to satisfy him.
"Must be pretty bad if it's giving you nightmares," the man said.
The tired dog was going to let his interrogator piece that puzzle together himself, but a glance at his watch told Max he still had a few minutes before he arrived at his destination, so he opted to indulge the conversation further by replying, "Not exactly, I just haven't been there in 8 years."
"You leave because of some big fight?" the guy behind him chuckled.
"Sort of; I left to get into a big fight," Max replied.
"Elaborate?"
Max explained, "Actually, it's been ten years since I left; I was in college for a year before 9/11 happened, and I enlisted right after."
"Oh, you're a soldier!" the man said in surprise.
"Was, but my time is up," Max shrugged.
"My hat's off to ya," replied the stranger, "you guys don't get enough recognition."
Max chuckled and replied, "Right now, being at home, surrounded by familiar faces, is what would make all that worth it."
Pulling an envelope from his duffel bag next to him, Max pulled out a photo depicting his father, Garret Goof- aka, Goofy- next to his new wife Sylvia, both kneeling down, smiling, and waving at the camera. In front of them, standing upright but still shorter than the adults taking a knee behind them were two toddlers. One was a girl that looked like Goofy with light brown fur, and the other was a boy who looked like Sylvia but with shorter hair and his father's combination of black and peach colored fur.
His thoughts were interrupted by the intercom announcing the train's arrival at the station. This was it.
After a brief exchange of farewells with the man he'd spoken to, Max stepped out into the frigid winter night and took in the familiar sight. He'd left it all behind in the summer of 2000, and it was now February of 2010, just a few months shy of a decade since his departure. So many memories were coming back to him, and he could recall most of them like they'd happened last week, yet they simultaneously felt like another lifetime. So much had happened to him since enlisting in the army that Spoonerville might as well have been another planet with how foreign it now felt.
Feeling the winter chill penetrating his two-layered outfit better suited for late autumn, Max stepped into the warmer interior of the station, seating himself down near a heating unit. This was where his dad had agreed to pick him up when they discussed him coming home over the phone a week prior, but so far, he seemed to be a no-show, which worried Max, and not just because he might be left out in the cold.
Seeing no familiar faces, he returned to the envelope of photos and paid another glance at the one of his father with his new family. The girl's name was Macy, and given her resemblance to him, he wouldn't put it past Goofy to give her that name because it was similar to "Maxy". The boy's name was Ajay and he seemed to possess the same calm demeanor he remembered Sylvia having, though he didn't smile much in his more recent pictures. Macy, on the other hand, had the same mischievous spunk he did at her age, and seeing those two together, he could have sworn he was looking at a distorted reflection of himself and PJ when they were that young.
He'd kept in touch with his old man through letters, but he never asked too much about Sylvia or the kids, feeling more than a little uncomfortable at the thought of them taking his place in the home. A mere ten years ago, he'd been so eager to escape the house and become his own man that he skipped out on the large breakfast his father made him- an act that haunted Max every time he looked at pictures of the son and daughter his father had with Sylvia not long after he left.
The pictures of his replacements.
Setting the photo down on the bench, he pulled out a stack of envelopes containing the letters from his dad that he'd kept, and read through them again. He was comforted by his dad's concern for him, and his excitement to hear back from him never subsided even in their most recent exchange, and he didn't sound any less happy to hear from him during the rare occasion when he decided to call home and subject himself to paternal blubbering. However, it was even rarer that Sylvia herself talked with him, though his dad assured him she said hello and wished him well, but he couldn't help wondering if she was as eager for him to come back as he was, given that he wasn't her son and she had her own kids to look after.
Would she make him leave after coming back? Would she even let him in? Thoughts of everything that could go wrong had cost him sleep for the last several nights, which left him drifting in and out of consciousness on the different rides he took just to get here, and he was certain that it was the source of his nightmares about being replaced by an imposter in his house.
He hadn't been this worried about someone's approval since Roxanne- and the less said about her, the better! Didn't help that Sylvia had similar fur and hair colors, that was a bad omen if he ever saw one. The fact that his dad could raise him to adulthood and then get another woman before his son could find his first serious girlfriend only made it worse.
Overall, he had little reason to look forward to this reunion, and quite a few to call it off, which he would have if he had anywhere else to go. He hadn't really spoken with anyone from home besides his father, he didn't know if he could hold a civilian job, and he didn't want to sleep at a hotel. It seemed going back to the home that built him was his only option, but it might be the thing that finally tore him down after surviving everything else the world could throw at him.
"Maxy?"
No turning back now...
Max did his best to prepare himself for this moment, yet, turning to see his father melting with joy completely disarmed him. He barely noticed the older Goof closing the gap between them before he found his chin resting on his dad's shoulder after being pulled into a tight hug.
"It's really you! You're finally back!" gushed Goofy, struggling to keep himself together, a sob escaping as his hands moved around his son's back.
Max closed his eyes and exhaled deeply as he allowed himself to be pulled back in time to a more innocent part of his life, briefly forgetting everything that happened since then, and held on to his dad as he lost himself in his embrace, not caring who was watching. He needed this.
Inhaling again after a moment, he looked up at his old man as he was released, both sets of eyes moist as they took in the sight of each other, trying to come up with the right words until Max finally broke the silence and said, "It's...good to see you again."
Goofy replied, "Not as good as it is to have you back home safe.
Looking around, Max asked, "Where's everyone else?"
Goofy glanced sideways nervously, then replied, "They're, uh, busy."
Max got a sinking feeling, something was off...
Outside, he placed his duffel bag in the backseat before setting himself down in the passenger seat next to his dad, and was grateful when the heater kicked in fast. A benefit that came with a newer car than the old clunker Goofy had thankfully ditched. It made the ride home through Spoonerville more pleasant, and slightly less surreal. For a moment, Max found himself reliving the night he and his dad first arrived in that very town almost 18 years earlier.
But that could only take his mind off the big question for so long. He also noticed Goofy had been quiet since they left the station, which compounded his growing anxiety.
Unable to wait any longer, Max asked, "So what's going on with Sylvia and the kids?"
"Ohh…" Goofy started but trailed off into silence, apparently unsure of how to reply.
That wasn't helping.
"Just tell me what happened," Max requested, his voice sounding far more calm than he felt.
After a long uncomfortable silence, Goofy said, "Sylvia is...out with the kids."
"Doing what?" Max prodded.
After another moment or two of silence, Goofy replied, "...errands."
"This late at night?" Max asked suspiciously.
"Late errands," Goofy added, evasively.
Max wanted to ask if they were still together, but just like in the letters, he couldn't bring himself to pry too deep, fearing the marriage had failed. Yet, the answer seemed to be right there in front of him; his dad didn't want to talk about the woman closest to him, and she had left the house with the kids. What else could all that have meant? He'd been worried that he wouldn't be let back into his own house, but this was just as terrible in its own way!
The younger Goof deflated in his seat, slumped against the window, watching the familiar scenery moving past him and yearning for better days when the worst he had to concern himself with was his father living up to the family name, or helping his best friend PJ deal with family drama.
That last thought opened another old wound; he'd made many acquaintances and enemies during his time in this town, but the ones closest to him were his longtime friends, Pete Junior and Bobby Zimmeruski. They'd done everything together in this very place for the better part of a decade, but it had been about that long since he'd spoken to either one of them since they were no longer on good terms with one another. Last he'd heard, they were both far away from here.
And now his stepmother had left with the brother and sister he never got to meet.
The sights of Spoonerville were a bright neon wonderland full of glowing Valentine themed decorations put up to celebrate a holiday centered around love, but they were all blurred by tears as the ultimate rejection broke through his dam of denial, and his heart along with it. Almost ten years he'd fought, bled, and said goodbye to others he'd considered family, all while hoping to someday meet the siblings he shared an actual father with. Hope that had kept him going through the worst moments of his life. Hope that was quickly fading as his home drew near.
Wiping his eyes, Max noticed there was a door on the house this time- along with an assortment of glowing red hearts, and the irony of it all wasn't lost on him. He'd been worried that the family was doing good enough without him that they wouldn't want him coming back, but now it appeared they'd up and left instead. With no detailed discussion on how things were going, he was left in the dark and his mind jumped back and forth between opposing forms of abandonment, which seemed to be the only consistency in his life, going all the way back to his original mother.
After they pulled up and got out, Goofy came around to help his son get his bag out when he noticed the tear stains and asked, "Hey is everything alright?"
Max thought for a moment, then placed his hands on his dad's shoulders and told him in a shaky voice, "I'm sorry that it turned out this way, but know that I'll always be here for you, just like you were always there for me!"
Slightly bewildered, Goofy said, "I'm touched to hear that, but what're ya sorry for?"
Drooping visibly, Max told him, "You said Sylvia left with the kids...I know what really happened."
Realization becoming evident in his features, Goofy replied, "Oh cheer up, Maxy. Things aren't nearly as bad as they seem."
Max was slightly annoyed by his old man's relentlessly cheery demeanor, but shrugged it off and dismissively replied, "If you say so."
"I know so," Goofy continued as he strapped the bag over his shoulder, "Now let's begin anew."
Through thick and thin, the only one who stood by him through it all was his dad. Even now, he gave him the help he desperately needed, so it only seemed fair to be helpful in return.
"He looked more happy to see me at the station than I've seen anyone be about anything. I'm all he has left, and he's all I have left. I owe it to him to keep living, for him if nothing else." Max thought to himself.
Drying his eyes as best he could, Max braced himself and followed his dad into their old house.
"Looks like this is it, we'll be starting from scratch all over again...as best we can."
Stepping into the darkened foyer, he noticed Goofy had forgotten to turn the lights on, leaving them in total darkness. Rolling his eyes, Max turned to the switch and flipped it, bathing the room in light once more. He was taken aback by how little had changed since he'd left, and wondered if his father had simply reset everything since his would-be stepmom and half-siblings left the place?
He set his bag down and followed his old man into the family room where he noticed some ribbons and banners displaying the phrase "Welcome Home!" and chuckled sadly. It was a nice gesture but it wasn't the same without the family he'd been hoping to see after so long.
He sighed and said, "Well, it's...good to be bac-"
"SURPRISE!"
"Bahehah!" was all Max could get out, his hands going airborne while his eyes grew to the size of tea saucers.
Aside from Goofy, he now saw the familiar faces of Sylvia, Ajay, and Macy peeking out from behind the furniture.
"Wha...?"
"They're still here?!" he thought in bewilderment.
His confusion began to dissipate when he heard Goofy let out a hearty laugh behind him...like he'd expected this.
A smile made its way onto Max's face, and he turned and said, "They never really left, did they?"
"Boy did I have you going!" his father guffawed.
"Yeah, more than you know," Max replied, then added under his breath, "Please don't do that again."
He had just enough time to notice his half siblings closing in before they latched around his waist like handcuffs.
He laughed as he knelt down to hug them. Sylvia joined in and embraced all three of them.
Not to be outdone, the older Goof put his arms around everyone else, leaving Max sandwiched between both of his parents.
"Welcome home, Max!" Sylvia cooed.
Tears and a small laugh escaped him. His new family hadn't abandoned him, they were all still here! Everything was going to be okay, after all.
"I told you things weren't as bad as they seemed," Goofy told him.
A while later, they were seated around the table together, enjoying dinner Sylvia had prepared. It was a simple entree of goulash soup and homemade bread, but it was the best thing Max had tasted in a long time.
"So did you blow anything up?" Macy chirped with anticipation, making Max pause mid-bite, unsure of how to respond to such an inquiry.
"Your brother's been through a lot, let him get settled in first," Sylvia told her.
"I'll talk about it when I'm ready," Max assured everyone, "But yes, it's been rough, to say the least."
"But it can only get better from here on out!" Goofy added cheerfully.
He wasn't wrong, a bad evening had taken a turn for the better, and things were finally looking up for him. It was a moment to savor, all things considered.
But then Max noticed Ajay had been mostly quiet this whole time and asked him, "Sooo...you and Macy been up to anything?"
The boy shook his head nervously, leaving Max to wonder what was going on with him.
"Is everything alright?" Max asked, looking to his parents for answers.
A snicker drew his attention to Macy who said, "I told him you were gonna take his place when you got home!"
He looked back at Ajay who seemed to shrink in his seat, and Max realized his little brother had the same fear he did of being replaced.
"I don't know what you're talking about since I had no such plans," he laughed, tickled by the irony.
The boy relaxed a bit and asked, "You're not gonna kick me out?"
Sylvia sighed and told him, "I think your sister's been messing with you. She's gonna get it later."
It was Macy's turn to shrink in her seat, under her mother's glare. Wanting to diffuse any further tension, Goofy said, "Nobody's being replaced or thrown out. We're all together at last, and that's what matters."
Max noticed Ajay easing up with relief, but wondered what impression his little brother had of him this whole time? His military background could easily work against him in the mind of an impressionable child; did the boy believe him a monster instead of a protector?
Thinking preemptively, Max added, "And as long as I'm here, nobody messes with my family."
He thought he detected a smile sneaking onto Ajay's face and felt himself light up inside as it finally sank in that he was home with the family he'd always wanted and that wasn't about to change. Maybe now he could finally heal…
Not long after, Max retired to his old room and again felt himself being sucked back in time by how nearly identical it was to how he'd left it so many years before, save for it being a bit cleaner, courtesy of (he assumed) his dad. Even that dumb teddy bear still sat next to his pillow, but that looked a bit more worn, which made Max wonder if Ajay or Macy had ever used it?
Not wanting to risk contact with dried kid slobber, he set the bear on the nightstand, set his bag on the floor, turned out all the lights, save for a single lava lamp, and collapsed on his bed. He could feel himself fading fast and only had enough energy to remove his jacket, shoes, and jeans before he decided he was too far gone to take off his socks and sweat suit he'd worn underneath his clothes.
He still had a glove over his left hand, which he'd told everyone was being used to cover a wound when they sat down to dinner...which was technically true. He decided to just leave the glove on, thinking to himself, "At least I can feel whole for one more night," as he slipped under the covers and pulled them up over himself.
And like that, it was over. The moment of truth he'd dreaded for so long had come and gone, and the day had turned out far better than he could have hoped for, his willingness to face his fears had paid off in dividends. For the first time since enlisting, he looked forward to what tomorrow would bring.
In his last moments of consciousness, Max was comforted by the glow cast by decorative exterior lights, and a lit up snowfall outside his window, which made the night feel closer to Christmas Eve.
Smiling, he whispered, "All is calm...all is bright…"