I had no idea it has been about a month since my last update.
In response to the guest user who gave a chapter idea, I already wrote an Eadlyn chapter based on puberty, specifically acne (chapter 92) and I have a different idea for a future chapter or two involving teeth.
This is just a cute little chapter whose origin I do not know about.
Photo #107: Child Cartoons
Sometimes, Eadlyn would look back on things she liked as a child and wonder why she ever liked them. Young Eadlyn would be amazed easily by anything inanimate that spoke or just by throwing bright colours and loud noises in her face. Present Eadlyn just cringes and gets irritated. What confuses her is that the two Eadlyns are one and the same.
There are certain childhood educational tools that Eadlyn doesn't know what kids are supposed to learn out of them. Sure, they teach basic tasks like learning how to count and what colours and shapes are, but sometimes, they make Eadlyn's brain melt into mush. She remembers watching them when Osten was young and her brain turned into the consistency of his baby food.
Now that she thinks back and sees this photo of her parents forcing themselves to watch those cartoons with their kids, she has a sudden flashback as if she was sitting in her mother's lap. And like a dreaded curse, some stupid cartoon song finds its way into her head.
-o-
America, Maxon, Marlee, and Carter all sit on a couch in The Newsome Library. Sitting all around in front of them are the Schreave twins and Kile, all young children, with their various toys scattered around them. However, none of the kids are playing with their toys. Instead, their eyes are glued on the screen as their favourite cartoon is about to start. The kids seem excited. The adults, not so much.
"Let's get this started so it can be over," Maxon says as he starts to get comfortable.
The theme song starts as the screen starts to fill with explosions of colours and random cartoon characters dancing around. Cacophony fills their ears and the children are excited. Marlee and Maxon are too overwhelmed even though they have listened to this exact song a thousand times before. Every time they hear it, it feels like they are hearing it for the first time. Unlike the two of them, America and Carter have gotten used to hearing that irritating tune. They start bopping their heads and becoming one with the theme song.
Sometimes, it just felt easier to accept life's nuisances instead of fightinf against them.
"It's good to ask questions!" The random cartoon character exclaims at the screen, meant for the viewers. "It shows your interest and that you'll be a quick learner!"
"Why is that actually inspirational?" Marlee questions, now showing more interest towards the show.
"Look at you taking the show's advice already," Carter states proudly, putting his arm around his wife.
"Can you sing?!" Another random cartoon character exclaims.
"I can scream," America jokes because cartoon singing and screaming are mostly ones and the same. In reality, she could actually sing.
And on cue, a random musical number starts. There was no leadup to it; it just happened. They're not so sure what the song was about, but it was a lot of noises, rhymes, shapes, and numbers. The song could have been about anything and it was way too catchy. It was almost hypnotic which means that it actually matched whatever was happening on the screen which resembled a kaleidoscope. It was like being hypnotized on two senses, making them truly vulnerable. Maybe that was why they were targeted towards kids: their minds were more malleable since their brains were still developing due to all the learning that happens now.
However, the parents didn't think they would get sucked into the animation just like their kids.
"This tune will be in my head all day," Maxon states as his hand starts tapping against his leg in rhythm.
"Or all week," America says as she continues to hum the song.
"So...many.. colours…" Marlee mutters as her head starts following the trail of the flying shapes on the screen.
"This is propaganda," Carter exclaims once he's snapped out of the trance. "I don't know what it's supposed to be advertising or teaching, but this is certainly propaganda."
Suddenly, the credits start to roll and all the cartoon characters start waving goodbye. For some reason, all the parents find themselves waving back as well before stopping themselves. They all look ahead for their kids who have disappeared. They seemed to have left possibly hours ago because they had no idea they sat through a marathon of that weird cartoon.
"What an anti-climatic adventure," Maxon comments as he stands up and stretches out his body.
"Then why were we still sitting here for an hour?" America questions, yawning a little.
"Because we wanted to know how it ended."
Do you ever go back and watch some cartoons only to see how savage some of those characters were? Or is that just me?
Now that I look back on this chapter after writing it, am I shedding some social commentary on cartoons? Because I didn't intend for that to happen.
