Someone Who Cares

Knowing they would be safe inside the cathedral, Mokuba and Rebecca stayed inside and waited a little while longer before going to the bell tower. They also had arrived in time for the evening mass. The bells began to ring and parishioners were being called to prayer and to take part in the service. Mokuba and Rebecca decided to attend once again to pass the time.

When it was finally over, the children began making their way to the bell tower, excited to see their new friend again. It was still exhausting climbing the long flight of stairs, but Mokuba and Rebecca were starting to get used to it after having been on their feet all day.

They walked inside the tower, calling for their friend. Happy to hear the voices of his new friends, Quasimodo climbed down from the rafters to greet them. "Mokuba, Rebecca, you came back."

"Of course we did," said the raven-haired lad. "We promised we would."

"And, boy, are we glad to see you," the blonde added. "We couldn't wait to come back."

"You guys actually came at a good time," the hunchback was saying. "I have something I want to show you two." And he led his friends back to the main area where his models and figurines stood. "Close your eyes," he told Mokuba and Rebecca as he picked up two figurines. The children do as told. "Now open."

Mokuba and Rebecca open their eyes and see the figurines in his hands. In his left hand was a small figurine of Mokuba and in his right hand was one of Rebecca. The children gave a small laugh, honored that Quasimodo would make figurines of them. They took the figurines and studied them carefully. They were very well-detailed.

"They're so cute," Rebecca said, admiring the figurine in her hands. "And they look exactly like us."

"I love them," Mokuba commented. "You have quite a talent."

"I made them this morning after you left," Quasimodo told them. "I wanted to surprise you with your own once you would come back."

Rebecca felt tears coming to her eyes. She felt that this had to be the most special thing anyone could do with such an incredible gift. Mokuba's eyes were beginning to water too. He rubbed them and cleared his throat. "You are an extraordinary person, Quasi. And your talents and abilities show it."

Rebecca agreed. She also opened her arms and began hugging Quasimodo. "You're so sweet and thoughtful too," she added.

Mokuba was about to join in on the embrace until he heard a sound coming from outside. He looked out the window and gasped in horror at the sight. He turned around and pulled his girlfriend away. "We're in trouble. Frollo's coming to the tower."

That wasn't good. "We got to go."

"There's no time," Mokuba told her. "By the time we make it down the stairs, we'll run into him."

Quasimodo lifted the tablecloth. "Hurry, get under and whatever you do, don't make a sound." The children nodded in understanding. Rebecca went under the table first followed by Mokuba. They sat up with their knees against their chests and their arms wrapped around their legs.

Quasimodo noticed that they had dropped their figurines. He knelt down to pick them up and held them in his hands to make it look like he was admiring them. At that moment, he saw his master arrive. "Oh, Master. Welcome," he greeted politely.

Frollo accepted the welcome and sat down at the table. It was bringing fear to Mokuba and Rebecca. They both felt their hearts pounding in their chests and swore that he would be able to hear them since he was this close. The children wanted to scream from the fear of being discovered, but they knew that doing so would be a dead giveaway. Instead, they decided to concentrate on slowing their heartbeats by talking silent breaths.

Frollo noticed the new figurines. "I see you've made a few new additions, my boy."

"Yes, sir," Quasimodo replied, trying to keep his voice steady. "Just this morning as I was looking down the square, I saw children playing. Then I looked and realized that I hadn't had any figurines of children. I always thought to myself as I looked at the models that something was missing and when I saw some children playing, I decided to carve them."

In his mind, Mokuba was assuring Quasimodo that he was doing good. It may not have been entirely true, but the boy knew his friend was trying to make an effort to distract his master.

The hunchback began thinking out loud without realizing it. "I then thought about my younger years, about how I wished I could-"

But his master interrupted him with a small laugh in disbelief. "Would you have been willing to put yourself through the cruelty knowing you wouldn't be accepted?"

Quasimodo sighed. "You're right, Master. I know I shouldn't have thought of it knowing I wouldn't fit in. After all, no one's ever been kind enough to want to be my friend."

"Because no one would ever think of coming here," the minister was saying. "However, you shouldn't say you haven't received any kindness in your life, boy."

Mokuba gritted his teeth, knowing the minister was going to start talking about himself.

And he was. Frollo stood up and asked Quasimodo, "Think about it. Who found a poor, misshapen orphan alone on the steps of the cathedral? Who taught you everything you needed to know? Who shared his food with you? Who gave you a home here knowing you could never belong anywhere else?"

"You did," Quasimodo answered.

"I did, yes," Frollo told him. "And where would you be without me?"

"Drowned or burned," the hunchback answered, knowing he had been told so many times before.

"Precisely," his master said, "for it's a cruel world out there."

"For a boy like me," Quasimodo finished. He sighed miserably and said, "Forgive me, Master. I didn't mean to sound ungrateful."

Frollo ruffled Quasimodo's hair gently. "Of course, dear boy. Just try not to overlook the good you've received and think you haven't received any at all." With that, the minister began to take his leave.

When Mokuba and Rebecca were told that the coast was clear, they came out from under the table. The blonde sighed of relief. "Finally. I thought he'd never leave. My heart was racing so much; I thought I was going to pass out."

"I can't believe he would talk to you like that," Mokuba told Quasimodo. It made him think about the argument he had with his brother the other day. "He's so full of himself."

"But he's right, Mokuba," said Quasimodo. "I do need to be more grateful to him for always having gone out of his way for me. And it's like we've often discussed, I wouldn't be here if it weren't for him."

"I know, and I get it," the raven-haired boy was saying. "He's convinced you that keeping you here will keep you safe. He's never let you go out and try to make friends because he knew you'd be bullied for being the way you are."

"But he's the real bully," Rebecca protested, "always controlling you."

"Guys, I know Frollo can seem heartless, but he really means well," Quasimodo assured his friends.

Mokuba began to feel tears welling up in his eyes again. He deeply empathized with Quasimodo and understood why his friend was defending Frollo. It was because he was loyal to him and he trusted him and somewhat depended on him. That was like how Mokuba felt towards his brother. Mokuba knew that Seto was the way he was because he cared about his brother. Sure they sometimes fought and argued, but the fact that Seto's his brother always comes first for Mokuba.

Finally, he spoke and said, "It's just, when I hear the way Frollo talks to you, I think about the argument I had with my brother. He wants me to remember all that he's done for me and how he's gone out of his way doing it. But I know my brother cares about me." He dries his eyes with his sleeve. "Just like how you're loyal to your master, I'm loyal to my brother. That's how I understand why you would defend him."

Rebecca stood by her claim. "Quasi, I know your loyalty to Frollo is what makes you think he cares about you, but have you ever thought to ask yourself if that's true?"

He had thought about it. There had often been times when he wondered if his master kept him isolated from the world because he cared or if he was just thinking about himself. It didn't make much of a difference to the hunchback. "I think either way, Frollo would be right. If I were to try to interact with others, I would be subjected to hatred and torment."

Mokuba dries his eyes again. "But I guess in a sense, you have been protected. Just like how my brother has always protected me from bullies when I was young and he still does. So I guess sometimes it is hard; especially when you are the way you are."

Then he began singing. Every street in the city is the same to me

Everyone's got a place to be, but there's no room for me

Am I to blame with a killing shame hung over me

Like a dark cloud that chases you down in the pouring rain

He opened his locket and looked at his picture of his brother. It's so hard to find someone who cares about you. Then he picked up the figurine of Frollo and added, But it's easy enough to find someone who looks down on you

He pounds his fist and sings, Why is it so hard to find someone who cares about you?

When it's easy enough to find someone who looks down on you

Quasimodo placed a hand on Mokuba's shoulder. He could tell this boy really did understand how he was feeling deep down inside because he was having the same problems.

Rebecca joined in and sang, It's not what it seems, when you're not in the scene, there's a chill in the air

But there's people like me that nobody sees, so nobody cares

Together, they sang, Why is it so hard to find someone who cares about you

When it's easy enough to find someone who looks down on you

Why is it so hard to find someone who can keep it together when you've come undone?

Why is it so hard to find someone who cares about you?

Mokuba felt his anger building up inside of him. He clenched a fist, thinking about his argument with his brother and what Frollo said before he left.

He released his tears and sang, I swear this time it won't turn out the same

'Cause now I've got myself to blame

And you know where we'll end up is on the streets

Where it's easy enough to find someone who looks down on you

Rebecca joined in and they sang, Why is it so hard to find someone who cares about you

When it's easy enough to find someone who looks down on you

Why is it so hard to find someone who can keep it together when you've come undone?

Why is it so hard to find someone who cares about you?

When they finished singing, Mokuba got down on his knees and began crying, letting his anger out. Rebecca approached him and gently placed her hands over her shoulders to try to relax him. It seemed she was the one who could keep it together for Mokuba now that he was breaking down like this.

Quasimodo approached Mokuba and gently wiped his tears. "I never thought I would meet someone who understood what I was going through and what I was feeling because he had the same problems as me," he said sincerely.

Mokuba did understand. His heart went out to his friend. Mokuba also knew that Quasimodo understood him as well. Though their situations were different in some aspects, their loyalties and feelings towards their guardians were the same. Mokuba got back on his feet and wrapped his arms around Quasimodo to hug him. Quasimodo returned the gesture and softly hugged Mokuba and began rubbing his back to soothe him. "Me neither," he sobbed. Now he was certain that his wish came true.

As Rebecca watched her friends embrace each other, she smiled through her tears. Her heart went out to both of them as she saw how much they had in common with each other.