Chapter 3 Catherine's Past
There are moments in your life where you're ups feel like downs, fortune a bane...
A 5 year old, slightly chubby Morbucks was reading a Batman comic book purchased by her father. Morbucks was a very special child, since she seemed a bit advanced for her age. From the age of 3, Princess had been reading classic books, one after the other. Batman and Robin had captured Riddler again and foiled one of his elaborate plans. As cunning as a villain could be, he was no match for the caped crusader. "POW! WHAM! POW! POW!" Morbucks started yelling out the words, while punching and kicking in the air. "I wish I could be that cool someday" Morbucks said dreamily, picking up the book again to read further. The next panel depicted an interview with a Gotham reporter and the duo. The people were all crowding around the interviewer, wanting to get in on the action. Their expressions were excited and they were all proud of the two superheroes who worked tirelessly to save their city. Everybody loved them and not a single person didn't know who they were and why they mattered.
Someday...Morbucks thought hopefully...someday I'll be someone who matters...smiling a sad smile.
Mr. Morbucks had been away again on business, and she'd been left in the care of her maids again. Even as a 5 year old, it was obvious that they could care less. Of all the caretakers that had to be paid, her father chose the most apathetic people on earth. Short of their job, they did not care much to do anything else. Ask for a meal and they'll bow their heads...request a ride to the local marketplace and they'll take her there faster than lightning...but they never went above and beyond the call of duty and whatever orders they did have they'd enforce to a T...They just didn't care. They displayed such an indifference that it was a wonder if they were even human beings.
One of them knocked on the door with a "Tap, Tap, tap tap tap Rhythm. Upon opening it, a disciplined face that gave away no emotion reminded Princess that it was dinner time. The same lifeless, void expression she'd seen since the earliest memories...It was as if all that was dead in the human spirit had possessed this older woman. Pouting, Princess asked if the Maid could come back in a little while, too engrossed into the comic book to pay attention to her rumbling stomach.
In the same dry voice that she'd heard countless times before, the old maid replied "As you wish...mistress", closing the door slowly and leaving Princess alone.
Having just finished the comic, Princess thought about leaving the mansion. Unfortunately, the place she wanted to visit wasn't somewhere her father approved of. Morbucks had read about many things in the collection of books gathered and in those contents, parks had been mentioned several times. Parks...the area where owners walked their dogs, where friends and family alike played frisbee, where couples had picnics and brought peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, a gathering place where all sorts of activities took place.
Morbucks tiptoed to the front door and then gently opened it. Peering to the left and right, she saw no one in sight. Good...so far so good. Comics did more than to entertain. They had also provided insight into how people think Morbucks said internally. There was an comic of Batman where an older criminal was targeting Alfred and they had no idea how to find him or what he even looked like. Apparently, there were rumors that he'd had plastic surgery to change his appearance. Luckily for Alfred, Batman and Robin were on the case and knew exactly what to do. They built a dummy version of Alfred and placed him on a couch. Taking the bait, the criminal was intercepted by the dynamic duo and POW! WOW! His nefarious plans were thwarted and the day was saved again. When people think a certain way, they take actions based on those thoughts. "How can I slip out without anyone noticing" Morbucks said, scratching her chin. "AH" I know, Morbucks exclaimed, lighting up like a thousand bulbs. Pulling out her toys, she placed them carefully on the bed and then stacked them. Then, threw the blanket over. Pulling out a voice recorder, she yelled "Go away" and then set it to replay in 5 minutes.
Then, Morbucks tiptoed to the front door and gently pushed it outwards. Looking to the rear, she saw that the maids were nowhere to be seen. She began to walk a bit faster and made her way down the stairs. A maid had come out of the dining room and Morbucks froze in place. Oh darn it...Morbucks said. Morbucks began backing up the stairs slowly and the maid started thinking out loud. "I wonder if the mistress wants her meal now"...tapping her foot as she spoke. Morbucks was as still as a statue, indecisive. Should she head back to the room now or wait and see what develops? The maid had decided for her, and Princess heard footsteps that felt like they were growing farther away. Morbucks began again, being more cautious this time and upon seeing no one, grabbed the door knob and walked outside. Still feeling that she wasn't in the clear yet, Morbucks eyed the area for any of the other attendants. No one was in earshot. Assuming that no one was around, Morbucks walked past the mansion and into the street.
Pulling out the directions, she read them carefully. These were taken from and they were an estimated time by car. Taking that into account, Morbucks knew that it would take some time before she arrived at Townsville park. The question is...how long would it take by foot to reach a place that was within 20 minutes of driving distance? As with many things in life, she'd just have to find it out on her own. While walking on by, she could see that many of the homes adjacent to hers had a splendor all their own. Each one just radiating a magnificence that one comes to expect from a wealthy neighborhood. The humongous homes were symbolic of the influence and power that the rich had, but this was nothing new to Princess. What interested her was the outside world, a place that her father and maids had been insistent on avoiding. It couldn't be that bad to hang among the commoners of the world. Even if it was, I have a right to know Morbucks thought. Would they be like the happy citizens in the comics books she loved so much? Oh, I hope they're that and so much more...
Rich people had much, but they weren't as vibrant as the ones in the books. They just seemed like there was...something missing from their lives. They also could be so boring, that it would put Princess to sleep. The kids her age were kept indoors and guarded like she was. The only times that they were let out were for parties or social events organized by the parents of that neighborhood. They seemed to be closed off from the rest of society, as if they were afraid or something. Also, unlike the comic books she read, the parents in her neighborhood didn't play with their kids...at least not outdoors. Never once had she seen any playing a game of catch or throwing a football around. Were the poor and middle class also this protective of their children? Was this normal? Morbucks had to know the truth.
According to the directions she carried, the park wasn't far away now. "Now...I turn right on Howwe Avenue and keep going until..." Morbucks read out loud. Looking up, she started to see a line of trees and some audible noises in the distance. It sounded like...people running over grass and chatter...YES, printing these out really payed off. Deciding that she couldn't wait any longer, Morbucks started running excitedly towards the park. Oh what to do, what to do! Play tag with the other kids?! Find some other girls to play jump rope with? What will I-and then Morbucks came to a hault. "FRISBEE!"
2 teenage boys had been throwing it back and forth, seemingly paying no mind to anything else. Morbucks wanted to ask to play at first, but thought it better to watch their technique. In the comic books, they depicted the act of throwing the object but there's seeing something in real time that a slice of it can never fully capture. She watched carefully and made mental notes of what the brunette boy was doing. Gripping the end, pulling his hand back, and then...throwing it. Watching the other boy, it looked like he was doing the same thing. If it wasn't thrown flat, what would happen?
Morbucks had the basic idea down, so there was only one thing left to do...
Morbucks walked up to one of the boys and tugged on his shorts. The brunette looked down and tried to wave her off, but the girl wouldn't go. "What do you want" the boy asked harshly.
Morbucks asked nervously "I...was wondering if I could play for a bit".
The boy looked at her confused and then laughed evilly. "Hey bro, she wants to play"
"Oh, you don't say" the boy said in reply.
This was definitely not playing out the way it did In the comic books. There was just something...malicious about these two. Whatever...as long as she can get her hands on it, did it matter?
Pushing instinct aside, Morbucks asked again. "No can do squirt".
"But...why?" Morbucks asked, putting on puppy dog eyes.
"Because I don't feel like it, that's why"...
None of this made any sense. These two are nothing like the ones of the comic book at all..they were downright mean!
Refusing to take no for an answer, Morbucks kept begging the older boy to let her play.
"There's gotta be something I can do...anything"!
The boys were laughing even harder, savoring her misery and drinking it all in. Why were they treating her like this? Was it because she asked without giving them anything? Is it because they didn't know her? Do they hate little girls? Are they just bad?
Eventually, Morbucks gave up and left in tears. Princess was sobbing so loudly, she couldn't hear the boys anymore. Morbucks settled on a giant tree and sat with her back faced towards it. The tears were still flowing. It was dark, so the place was mostly empty. It was humiliating to be denied like that and it hurt...but at least there weren't a lot of people around. Why were they so cruel? It was just a frisbee! They couldn't let her play for just a little while?! Anger was beginning to well inside Princess, when a figure had walked up and looked down at the little girl. It was a man in some kind of suit...and he had some kind of monkey walking alongside him...that's an unusual choice for a pet.
"Are you ok"? The black haired man asked. "I...I'm FINE"! Morbucks body language was screaming to leave her alone. "You're awfully young to be out this late...do you have any friends or family"?
If Morbucks told the truth, she'd likely be on a one-way trip home. As painful as this was, Princess didn't want to leave the park. Surely everyone can't be as bad as those boys...Why would an author write about nice people if they didn't exist. The man eyes her skeptically, but then shook his head. Then, she saw that his pet monkey had been carrying something with him...was it...It's a frisbee. Perking up, Morbucks walked over and asked about it. The young man flew into a minor rage, lecturing his pet monkey about taking things from others then stopped when Morbucks was holding her hands out. "Well...as long as we have it I guess there's no harm in using it".
He grabbed it from the primate and handed it to the girl. FINALLY! My luck paid off...but who am I gonna play with? Would he...
"Can you play...with me"?! Morbucks asked, drying the last of her tears.
"well...It is late...but sure".
Morbucks celebrated by throwing her hands up into the air and cried "YEEEEEEEEEE-"On one condition" the man interrupted. Oh, of course it HAD to be something. Do people ever just do nice things for the sake of being nice? The comic books were not living up to reality at all. "When our little game is done, I want to take you home" The man said earnestly.
"How did you"-
"I've been around a long time" he said, cutting Princess off again. Princess was gritting her teeth, ready to throw down if he interrupted her one more time. "So it's a deal, then"?
Morbucks had to think about this deal for a little while. On one hand, she could walk all the way back home as intended. It would take her longer to get home and the chances of discovering that she'd gone missing were greater. On the other hand, if she goes with him that would considerably save time. Ah screw it, what's the worst that a man with a monkey could do?
"alright" Morbucks said, accepting his terms. Then, the two played frisbee for about 20 minutes. The older man was throwing it very slowly, whereas Morbucks was trying to work off her frustration with him by seeing how fast she could send it back. Despite the fact that she was trying her very best to anger the man, he seemed to take this in stride. Was she not putting enough force into it? "Is this the first time you've ever played Frisbee before?".
"Yep" Morbucks said confidently.
"You're really good at this, for a first-timer."
Morbucks mood lightened at the comment. The compliment had completely disarmed her. How can one person make someone go from hell to heaven like this? The people in the comic books were exuberant, happy, virtuous, and kind...but today had been an eye-opening experience. Not all people in the world were like this...in fact the opposite may be true. Still, it was too soon to draw any conclusions.
"I was watching those two boys play and picked it up from them" Morbucks said nonchalantly.
The black haired man smiled and then commented "Ah, you must have studied their technique and copied it". This little girl is really smart, the man thought. For a girl as young as this to have figured it out in so little time is extraordinary. I wish I could have a daughter like this someday...
When Morbucks and the man got tired, they stopped while Jojo was running around the park, amusing himself. "Do you know where those two went" the man asked Morbucks.
She shook her head. "Well, I can't very well just leave this frisbee here..."
Why does he care whether those jerks get their frisbee back or not? Come to think of it, how did Jojo get his hands on it without them complaining? Maybe they just forgot about it and left it here by accident...same stupid thing happens to me all the time. I'll be so caught up in a talk or thought, that I forget about everything else. Still, after everything they did, why return it to them? He'd probably give her some kind of adult speech about morals or having principles if she asked. Honestly, if people are bad or do something to piss you off, why should they be treated well?
The man sighs. "I guess I'll just return this to the lost and found after I drop you off".
"Do you want to go now"? The mysterious man with the monkey asked.
Morbucks had learned everything that she was going to today. It had been an educational experience to say the least. Nodding, Morbucks walks along with the man and his monkey to the parking lot.
When they had arrived, Morbucks took a look at his car. Yep...definitely not a rich person. You'd never see a self-respecting wealthy person ride around in this thing. It was short, compact and looked old. He unlocked the front seat and asked that she climb in. Unlocking his door, Jojo climbed inside and sat in the back seat. Morbucks sat in the front, and buckled herself in.
"So, where to"?
Morbucks pulled out her directions and handed them to the man in the labcoat.
"My, you really are quite bright for your age, aren't you?
For my age? Does that mean everyone who's as old as me are dumber?
Morbucks decided to ignore his comment and look away. It's not like she had a lot of people to compare herself to. Rich people had kids...sure...but there's a difference between swimming in a pool and a large ocean.
The professor pays no notice to her indifference and keeps going.
"You printed out direction, found your way here on foot, and didn't get lost...that's impressive for a kindergardner".
Is that supposed to be a word for a kid? It couldn't hurt to ask..
"What's a kindergardner"?
The Professor slammed on the brakes abruptly, with his mouth hanging open.
"You're kidding me!"
"What's the big deal"?
The man shakes his head disapprovingly and then, after pausing briefly answers.
" Well..there's a place called Kindergarden where children your age learn, play and socialize"...
This is the first time Princess had ever heard of such a thing. Daddy had never mentioned this before...a place where there are other kids my age...Is it because they're poor?
Utonium calmed himself a bit and then scanned the directions again, having lost his concentration.
As if changing tact, the professor murmered "A child your age normally attends preschool...guess your parents want you homeschooled."
He's wrong on both counts. My father never even so much as talked about it...why was that?
Yet...she didn't want to shut herself off from the world. Sure, today was kind of a mixed bag, with its own ups and downs. There was so much more to discover and life at home was so...BORING! Yes, that's the word! Maids who couldn't care less, parents who weren't there, and the rich kids in her neighborhood could be as lame as her own homelife-some of them were even sheltered because the wealthy parents were paranoid of the outside world. Sure... a few would play games with her..but is that what I want? Maybe that's why she read so many comic books...because it gave her a chance to escape, an opportunity for excitement...for entertainment! Maybe Kindergarden would give her something similar to the comic books...and offer so much more than what she has.
Morbucks contemplated and then came to a decision, as the Professor switched to more casual topics of discussion. Townsville was very dark tonight and covered in a thick fog. Morbucks was squinting her eyes to see if that would help discern what the street sign in front said. Despite her efforts, it was impossible to tell. The landmarks around her were barely visible, with a fire hydrant here and a shoe store there. If she can't even tell where they're going, how can he?
"We're not...lost...are we"? Morbucks asked, feeling panicky.
"Oh, of course not, don't worry about it" the professor said assuringly.
Morbucks still felt afraid, which was not lost on the professor.
"I've lived here my whole life, so Townsville is like my backyard"!
"So you know where...the rich live too"? Morbucks said, anxiety ever present.
"Yea, I had a few wealthy friends who attended school with me growing up".
Morbucks was still worried, but somehow that calmed her down a bit. A few wealthy friends huh...So rich people do hang with the commoners after all.
"They were good friends and we got along great, "The professor said, reminiscing of a more innocent time.
We got along great...are they still friends now? If they aren't, then why was the man talking as if it was a good thing? Why form a friendship if it doesn't go anywhere?
"Are you still friends?" Morbucks asked.
Scratching his chin, as if searching for an answer, he replied "Well, they call every now and again".
"Then how can they be friends"? Morbucks asked calmly, very much invested in the conversation they had going now. Conversations are an art all their own, starting in one place before moving to something else. In a sense, a conversation can be akin to a small fire-When small talk is all that remains, the fire grows dim and weak, as if it were being put out by water. On the other hand, there were times when the flame expanded, as if someone had thrown more wood onto it.
"Well...that's a tough one...how to explain it" The professor said in an amicable tone.
"There are many friends in our lives, some closer to us than others. I may not be as close to the people I knew when I was younger, but I still consider them friends".
"Do you understand"?
Morbucks nodded, but something about what he was saying didn't sit right with her. Putting work into a friendship...only for it to fade away over time? Can that really be called a friendship if it falls apart? Morbucks rejects his conception of a friend entirely. If there was such a thing as a friend, they'd stay with you forever. What's the point of seeking something out if you can't keep it? Adults...I'll never figure them out.
The rest of the car ride, they rode in silence. While it was unintentional, the professor had given her so much to think about. Would she be able to make friends? How would she go about doing it? Would her father allow her to learn with the poor? Would she have to go over his head to attend this kindergarden? What did it even mean to be a friend? Would she ever find a genuinely kind person in this world?
The professor dropped her off at the manor and waved goodbye. Morbucks did the same, out of courtesy and walked back inside.
The head maid was noticeably distraught upon entering. She had gone upstairs to check on the young mistress and initially left her alone, due to the recording. However, Mr. Morbucks would not be happy if the little girl starved herself over a hobby. Working up a bit of nerve, the maid had opened the door and found the device lying near her bed. Putting the pieces together, she quickly realized that the young girl had escaped the residence and gone out without the assistance of the head maid. Morbucks quietly tried to walk away, but not before an exasperated maid breathed a sigh of relief upon her entry.
"Oh mistress, thank goodness"! The maid squeezed out, placing a hand on her chest, breathing coming under control. Morbuck was not impressed, nor did she show any remorse for the lady. She wasn't concerned for her safety, so much as the job. This act might fool a lot of other people, but she'd seen what happened the last time her daddy fired someone for incompetence. That person was driven away in tears and goodness knows what happened to them. If they didn't care about her, why care about them? They were just servants and nothing more.
"I think I'll have some dinner now," Morbucks commanded, taking her shoes off and heading back upstairs. The maid nodded dutifully and went into the kitchen to fulfill the request.
"Where is it...Where is it!" Morbucks shouted, throwing her hands up in frustration. The entire room had been torn apart in her search for it. Clothes were sprawled all over the floor, scratch paper crumpled, hairbrush lying about, and an assortment of other items. Morbucks knelt down once more and looked under her bed, reaching for where it might be...
No, it wasn't here either...where could it...Then she spotted it in plain sight, lying on her dresser. Morbucks slapped her forehead in shame and then shaking her head, the little girl laughed a bit. The stuff you're looking for is always right in front of you...It's so stupid!
Grabbing her diary, she penned in today's events and her commentary on it. Today was the day...that she would ask Daddy about school...today things would mark the beginning of a new chapter in her life...Morbucks squealed delightfully. A knock came at her door and a few seconds later the maid came in with spaghetti. Morbucks took the food, and began worfing it down as quickly as the silverware would let her. Whenever she was among company, she had to behave more...appropriately. Daddy had told her that in the presence of other wealthy people, there was an expectation that had to be met. You couldn't just eat as you wished, but eat with a certain grace that comes with being born in high society. Morbucks didn't really care for the rule, but obeyed so long as those were the conditions. When she was alone, she ate more carefree and happily. It wasn't long after spilling some sauce on the tip of her diary, that Mr. Morbucks had entered the home.
Every so often, the anger of Mr. Morbucks was made known...either through his voice or, in this case, the slamming of a door. The maids had rushed to the front door, and Princess became conflicted. Whenever Daddy's in a bad mood...No, I'm not going to suffer any setbacks now!
Morbucks worked up her courage and marched downstairs to confront her father. He had given the maids his clothing, had it hung up on a rack and slumped into his chair. Pushing the button to the side, the bottom elevated his feet until they were parallel to the rest of his body. "A bit of Jack Daniels, maid" Morbucks ordered, pointing to the kitchen.
Morbucks stood in front of her father. The anger had worn itself off a bit and now he just looked mostly morose. "Daddy, I have a question?" Morbucks asked sheepishly.
Mr. Morbucks looked annoyed, but allowed for the question. "What is it?" He asked curiously.
Morbucks was fighting the lump In her throat. "Well...I was just wondering..."
Mr. Morbucks was looking at his daughter, waiting patiently for her to finish.
"...can I go to kindergarden"?
Mr. Morbucks eyes nearly popped open and he was sighing disappointingly. Next, he put a hand on his face.
"Why do you want to go there when we can just hire some tutors later?" Her father inquired.
Morbucks was struggling again with her anxiety, but managed to force the words out. "I want to hang out with kids my age, and see what the world is like"
"The world..." Morbucks said plainly, a scowl forming on his face.
Morbucks didn't know where he would go with this, so she waited.
"The world...what's wrong with the kids around here"?
Morbucks answered right away. "Well I do hang with them...but they're just..."
Mr. Morbucks was growing tired of this conversation, so he interrupted Morbucks.
"Alright, I think I get the picture" he said.
Morbucks replied "You do"?
"Yea, you're going to sneak out and go even if I say no, so what's the point?"
Morbucks gasped in surprise and terror, averting eye contact with her father.
"How...how did you know"? Morbucks asked, wondering if she'd be punished or the maids.
"I wasn't born yesterday, Catherine" Mr. Morbucks said flatly.
"I can't stop you from going, but I'll tell you this much: People are always jealous of what they don't have...or can't obtain themselves".
Morbucks nodded, but she didn't quite know what he meant.
"wha..."
"Enough questions", Mr. Morbucks said, putting his hand up like a stop sign. To be honest, Morbucks was besides herself that she was able to see him talking more than a few sentence. Most of the time, he was drawn into his own world. When he did acknowledge her, it was usually because she wanted something. Otherwise, it was as if the distance between them could never be bridged..Morbucks face grew a bit sad and she said "Ok", walking slowly back up the stairs to her room. Had he not given his permission, Morbucks imagined she would feel worse.
Morbucks had tried time and again to get her father's attention, tried everything...Asked to play games, read books, playing catch, but...He just seemed...Morbucks shook her head violently.
No, this is just the way that daddy is. If he didn't...why get me things when I ask or keep me in his home? Maybe he just showed it differently than the other parents...surely that had to be it.
Having quelled the fear and sadness temporarily, her mind drifted to school. Now everything begins...and for a while, Morbucks put aside her father's warning and embraced the excitement she felt prior to his return. There has to be people like the ones in the comic book, surely there has to. Why would an author make that up, unless there was some element of truth to it?
Time will tell...time will tell, and come what may, I hope that it sings of heaven, and not hell.
Morbucks was jumping up and down, next to the car outside the manor. "come on...Hurry up!" She shouted to the maid who had just come outside and was busy trying to lock the door. The maid showed no change in emotion, guarding her true feelings from the little girl. Morbucks kept yelling, while she fumbled a little with the keys. Breathing slowly, she locked the door and turned out. The little chubby, red-headed girl was positively ecstatic, like the hidden energy of the universe was being channeled into a single child. "Yes mistress, I am on my way", the head maid said, walking hurriedly over to the car.
Morbucks was still doing an unintentional impression of Mario, incapable of containing herself. The maid opened the door and made sure Morbucks was buckled up. Then afterwards, did the same.
The drive was fairly long, so it gave Morbucks plenty of time to think about the first thing she wanted to do when they got there. What should I do...go talk to some of the kids first...No...I need to get to the class first...no...maybe the playground...or the cafeteria...Morbucks couldn't decide on anything for sure. I guess I'll just go with the wind for now...and then she felt butterflies in her stomach. It was so difficult, not knowing what exactly to expect. What if the kids were as mean as the ones she met in the park that day? Oh, I hope that I can meet people that are cool...
The maid had arrived at the school. Taking a deep breathe, Morbucks stepped out of the limousine. A few kids were looking at Morbucks, curious looks on their faces. Morbucks swallowed a bit and then the maid drove away. A young teacher walked up to the little girl and examined her.
"Are you Catherine Morbucks"?
Princess nodded, social anxiety getting the best of her.
"I'll give you a tour, so follow me please" The teacher said dryly.
The bell rang and the students all started heading back to their classes.
"What is that noise"?
"Oh, that's just the bell".
"The bell?"
"we use It to indicate when a period is over, so that students will know when it's time to return to class, have lunch, or leave school".
Morbucks didn't say anything else, as the teacher showed her all the school had to offer. The playground, with its grassy fields, jungle bars, the occasional toy lying scattered around, and some chalking marks on the asphalt. All in all, Morbucks wasn't terribly impressed by what they had. However, it was too soon to call this visit a disappointment. Next, came the cafeteria. It was smaller than Morbucks imagined it would be. Her dining room alone was almost half the size of the room. There were 20-30 tables in all, and posters plastered over the walls. There were about 4 garbage bins that she could spot...Morbucks wondered if that was enough for the amount of students they had...
The hallways seem kind of constricted, as if 5 little kids could block the way in or out. The teacher was bringing her to the final destination: The classroom. Morbucks felt those butterflies in her stomach again. Biting down on her lip, Catherine tried to keep her anxiety in check. Will they like me she thought. What if they hate me...I don't want to be hated. Morbucks knees began shaking. The teacher took note and stopped before enterting classroom 104.
"We can wait a bit, if you'd like" the teacher said.
"thanks"Morbucks said, taking in a very deep breathe and exhaling slowly.
I'll never know unless I try..
Grabbing the door handle, the teacher opened it and the little girl went inside.
The classroom was rowdy, with the students chatting amongst themselves. Morbucks stepped to the center of the room and a blond teacher named Mrs. Winstrom rose from her desk and greeted the girl. Then, with a hand on her back, she turned to face the whole classroom. Morbucks tried to meet the eyes of the students, but couldn't. Instead, she looked towards the back of the room to control her social anxiety.
"Hello class. Today we have a new student joining us today".
Morbucks was nervous, but by some miracle kept her anxiety levels in check.
"Would you like to introduce yourself" she asked.
"..sure", she squeaked.
"My...name izzz izzzzz...Cathhhhhherine Morbucks".
One of the boys In the back of the noise made an oink noise. Soon, a friend of his followed suit and this drew the teacher into a rage.
"Cut it out right now"! The teacher admonished, glaring intensely at the young boys.
A couple of girls chimed in as well. "Why are you guys being so mean to the new kid"?
The boys began quieting down, but still snickered to each other.
Morbucks was mortified, unsure of what to do. Before she had time to process what happened, her legs had reacted for her. Running out of the room, she was crying so much that you could fill a dry river with the tears. As she left, one of the girls said "Now look what you've done!". The boys were roaring with laughter and some of the others joined them. The teacher was furious and shouted over them.
"I bring one new student in and this is how you treat her"?!
One of the students repeated her words, as if to mock her.
"That's it" The teacher said. "No cookies or candy friday"!
Some of the students whined in response, but the teacher held up her hand.
"Want to make it 2 weeks"? She asked threateningly.
The student chanted in unison this time "No"...
One of the girls who stood up for Morbucks motioned to the other. When the teacher turned her back, she slipped out of the room quietly.
Morbucks had her arms wrapped around her knees, pulling them towards her face. Most of the tears were gone now, but she was left feeling so hurt and miserable. For a while, she just lay there as if nothing else existed. Then, she saw a shadow protruding from a source in front of her. Lifting her head up slightly, her eyes caught sight of one of the two girls who defended her.
"Are you ok" She asked.
Morbucks ignored the question and buried her head back into her arms.
The girl walked slowly to Morbuck's side and gently sat down beside her.
"When you want to talk, I'll be here...okay"?
Morbucks didn't respond right away. She continued to sob silently, refusing to budge from her posture. It was bad enough that those boys at the parks were so mean, but then there were more of them! It wouldn't be a big surprise if those were their younger brothers...no, more like Satan's offspring. Why was everything going so wrong? Are those comic books nothing more than pure fantasy? Is there truly no one in this world who's kind and genteel? Who's noble, but compassionate? After some more sulking, she peeked through her arms and saw that the girl was still sitting beside her.
Waiting patiently for Morbucks, the little girl remained silent, as if waiting for the new student to initiate a conversation. Taking the hint, she opened up a little. "Whyyyyy wasszzz heee sooooo..." Morbucks began tearing up again, and her mouth clamped shut, as if to hold back the feelings that were ushering forth again. She was trying to communicate, but it was so...hard... to express it all at once. Anger...humiliation...despair...sadness...all bound by an entire moment. If only emotions were like food, things would be easier. Food gives you the occasional gas, but then it digests and the problems go away. There was no telling how long she'd feel this way or stay there in the hallway.
"Yea, they are jerks"! The girl said in reply.
Morbucks kept her head down, but now her ears were perked, waiting for the next thing the girl would say.
She didn't say anything after that, and just kept silent as Morbucks began to compose herself.
"They...aren't like that all the time"? Morbuck asked frightfully.
Not missing a second, the girl replied "Yea, they're pretty much mean to anyone"...
Morbucks hung her head down, taking in a deep breath and felt depressed. Is this really what she had to look forward to for the next few years? Boys relentlessly picking on her...was there anything she could do?
"Would being nice help" Morbucks asked, still crying a little between the words.
The little girl smiled devilishly and said "No, but there are other ways to handle them". Morbucks didn't know if she wanted to understand the meaning behind that sentence. Then again...when the sadness subsided, all that was left was anger and a sense of helplessness...she hated feeling that way. On the other hand, was she really someone who could take her aggression out on others? Was that the right way to approach this? Morbucks was conflicted, and then one of the boys was coming, followed by the entire class to where they were situated.
The boy had a defiant look to him, as if the world could not move him. Regardless, the teacher was pulling the back of his shirt to where the 2 girls were. The class had followed, soaking in the spectacle that was taking place before their eyes. Nothing maintains one's interest quite as much as drama and in this case, there were bucketloads of it. The boy was held fast by the teacher, as she stood with him before Morbucks.
"You apologize to Catherine right now!" The teacher shouted, her face reddened from rage.
The boy stood his ground and scoffed at the adult, leading to a bunch of "ooooooooooohs" from the other children.
"Why do I hafta say sorry?" the boy asked mockingly.
The classes started laughing again, and a few began commenting on the matter.
"Man, just get it over with" and another chimed in "I want to eat my sandwich already".
The little girl besides Morbucks suddenly moved, saying "Let me show you what I mean".
Morbucks watched with great interest, as the boy had his back turned to the 2 girls. He was arguing with the teacher about not apologizing.
"No!"
"Yes!"
"NOOOOOO!"
"YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES"!
While they went back and forth, the girl tiptoed behind the boy, who was distracted by the teacher. She looked back at Morbucks, gave a thumbs up, and then smiled like a minion of pure evil. What is she planning on doing? She isn't going to-and then the little girl did. She pulled the boy's pants down in front of everyone, underwear exposed to all that lay their eyes on it. The classroom erupted in laughter, and even the teacher had difficulty restraining herself. "That's...that's not..." The teacher covered her mouth, but she was losing the battle. She was forced into letting out a belly laugh, feeling guilty but unable to not appreciate the karma that was unfolding right in front of her. The boy blushed in red, pulled his pants up, cursed at the class, and then stomped off. He had that sort of scream where you were seconds away from having an emotional breakdown. He covered his eyes with his left arm, trying to hide how moist his eyes were.
Morbucks did not immediately condone nor condemn the action that the girl had taken. On one hand, the comic books had layed out a clear sense of right and wrong that should be followed. On the other hand, don't those people who go around looking for trouble get what they deserve? Her mixed feelings that day did not end there. Although it would surprise Blossom, Buttercup, bubbles, hell the whole people of Townsville, but...she was not vindictive by nature. It was her friends that taught her the sweet taste of revenge and that problems were best solved by violence, force, or humiliation. Because her father had rarely ever been around, she'd looked to comic books. Being good was about being good for its own sake, and not for want of reward. Batman was vengeful, but that's because his parents were murdered! Also, his vengeance was directed at crime and was for the greater good of that society. He did what he had to, so the things that happened to him wouldn't happen to others.
The circumstances with this bully were different. He was just a kid. He wasn't a super villain, or some criminal who'd committed a serious crime. The boy was annoying and he kept up the abuse for weeks after the event. Whenever she left classroom, he'd find new and imaginative ways to torment her and make school life absolutely miserable. Catherine's rage was building and building until that one day. It's easy to keep the moral high ground when there are no enemies, no arrows being shot in your direction. When there was someone who won't leave you alone and makes it his mission in life to see that you're never fully happy, it's impossible to keep turning the other cheek.
I really tried to be the bigger person, but there's absolutely nothing to gain from that long-term. Morbucks tried to make peace with the boy at first by having the maids cook some blueberry muffins. She approached him directly before class, and attempted to broker a peace between the two. He was very hostile.
"Jake...can we talk".
Jake glared at her, refusing to answer. Pulling out a blueberry muffin from the bag, she offered one to him. "Can't we be friends instead of enemies? Do you really hate me that much?"
Jake swatted the muffin out of her hand, and it fell to the floor. Then, he turned his back and walked away from her, calling her names under his breath. What is it going to take to make this stop? Humiliation didn't work on him, he doesn't listen to the teachers, doesn't care what anyone thinks. How do I reach him?
The day came when Morbucks found a way.
He kept flicking her ears in class, while she tried to keep ignoring him. Then, he blew into her ear and giggled. She kept trying to fight back the anger, but it was rising, like the smoke from an active volcano. I tried everything...everything but...he...WON'T...LEAVE...ME...ALONE! The two girls who she befriended from class had kept telling her she needed to stick up for herself. Morbucks listened, but she thought that he'd get bored and move on after a while. However...that just wasn't happening. Bullies push the boundaries of their victims the same way gamers look to break records. To start, he'd use spit balls. Over time, he was being more touchy, feely. It wasn't long before he did something even worse. He did the one thing he shouldn't have and she made him pay very dearly for it.
The boy pulled the back of her hair and cut some off with scissors. Finally losing her patience, she unleashed everything that was bottling up those past few weeks. She elbowed him in the face, then turned around to face the boy. Striking first blood, he was disoriented. Seizing the initiative, she jumped on top of him, throwing one punch after the other.
The kids were chanting "FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT, It's a FIGHT!" Morbucks kept working on the boy's face until it was bruised, and bloody. Even then...it wasn't enough.
Were it not for the intervention of those two girls then, she may have put him into a coma or worse. "That's enough!" They pulled her away from him, as he lay breathing heavily on the floor. Morbucks kept charging at him, despite the pleas from the girls to stop it. They were enjoying it at first, but Morbucks had a certain kind of nature that could best be described as all or nothing. Morbucks pointed a finger at him and began screaming in a fit of rage, and tears.
"I DIDN'T WANT THIS! I WANTED TO BE FRIENDS, BUT YOU WON'T STOP HURTING ME!" LET ME GO! LET ME GO!"
Morbucks tried to break free from their grip, but couldn't. The boy was too beaten to really process what was happening. The elbow had came so abruptly, that he didn't even have time to dodge it. Then, he briefly lost consciousness. The nurse said that day he'd had his nose broken, his teeth were damaged, and his eyes were swollen.
Morbucks was guilty. She had totally lost control, was completely overwhelmed by her emotions. The girls kept telling her that she had a right to defend herself, but her feelings were so mixed. She was still angry, and sad...and pleasure. She'd tried to make peace with the boy, but he wouldn't have it. After the beat-down, the boy wouldn't even so much as look in her direction. Force had solve that problem permanently. She had an internal argument about it, asking herself if anything could have been done to resolved the matter differently. Most of the other kids grew fearful of her and she developed a reputation at the school as someone not to trifle with. She wanted to make friends, but everyone(with the exception of her two friends) seemed like they were walking on eggshells around her for a short time. Although she didn't want to admit it, she enjoyed every punch...every blow she inflicted upon him. If vengeance had a taste to Morbucks, it would be sweet. She had been trying to hold herself to an ideal that others didn't. What was the sense in that? If force and violence could more readily solve conflict, why even bother being peaceful? It hadn't worked on the boy, and it didn't work with anyone else either. Morbucks was beginning to understand just how different she, and reality, really was. If someone hurt her, she hit them back...That became her new mentality for anyone who attempted to harm her. Until someone understands your pain, how can you really reach them? They have to suffer as much as you, to even fathom what it's like to be the helpless one, the victim.
That day was like the stone cast into the water, with ripple effects felt to this very day.
In the 2 months following that incident, she became increasingly more frustrated with her peaceful methods of attempting to get her father's attention. She had tried everything she could think of to spend more time with him, but nothing was coming to mind.
Her friends had been asking her questions about what it was like to be rich and if she had a trampoline.
"What is a trampoline?" Morbucks asked earnestly.
"Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaat. Bringing out a magazine, the little girl flipped the pages until she found the image. Handing it to Morbucks, she said "This is a trampoline".
It was some sort of device, with a black covering that was somehow fixed on top of a metal base. "What do you do with it" Morbucks asked inquisitively.
"We'll show you, if you can manage to get your dad to buy it" one of the girls said, a glint in her eye.
Her father...The guy who wouldn't play a single board game...the man who rejected all of her requests to play video games or go outside and play ball...the dad who was always working late, at meetings, or on the phone. The dad who killed conversations like an expert, and who seemed very withdrawn. That dad...He bought all those maids to feed me, help me with transportation and shopping, he puts a roof over my head. Could he really...NO! No, no, no, no! Daddy loves me, it's just that he's not a...very expressive person...that's all. If he really hated me or didn't care, then why not just give me up for adoption? Why couldn't he say no to anything I asked?
Couldn't say no to anything I asked...Then it dawned on Morbucks that there was a way to get closer to her father. She'd entertain her friend's request, but what she really wanted was to spend time with her father. He approved her request and within a week the maids had set it up in the back yard of her mansion. It was a lot more fun that she thought it would be. Jumping up and down on it made her feel like a superhero from the comic books. She'd imitate moves that she saw-punches, kicks, body slams, you name it. Her friends thanked her for it and they kept asking her to do more things. Since it aligned with her self-interest, she kept doing it.
If I just keep getting his attention, maybe...just maybe he'll understand and finally get me. Sadly, this would never come to pass. She kept asking him and he would satisfy her requests without so much as allowing for a follow-up conversation. Morbucks had tried to use the requests as an excuse to start conversations with her dad.
"Those two friends of mine say trampolines are really fun, but I've never tried one. Did you ever jump on one before?"
Silence...nothing but deafening silence. Every single time she tried, he'd remain quiet. She increased the number of requests, but it made no difference in the end.
Then, some time after that, came a tragedy. It was an event that scarred her for life and set her on the path that she walks today. It was burned into her psyche, where it still angered her to think about it. She could never bring herself to condemn her father for anything. He ignored her and she'd just think he was busy. He didn't have a conversation because his work was too important to allow for anything else. He worked hard so that she could have a home...he must have cared about her...he had to she thought. Still, she didn't want to let go of that connection for anything. She kept talking to him, even if he wasn't. She wanted him to know about the friends she made, the work she did at school, the park they went to, everything...
Then the day came when her world shattered, destroying that person she was and turning her into a vindictive, selfish, entitled person. She wanted to surprise her friends by placing gifts near the Christmas Trees their parents bought. She had considered sending them money, but this had a personal touch she couldn't resist. She'd sneak into their home using the tech her father had bought for her. She even dressed up like batgirl and snuck into their residence on Christmas Eve. She place the gifts under the tree, then overheard giggling from the room. They were up awfully late for 2 kids...guess everyone's family is different. The maids were always on me about sleeping early and waking early. There was no compromising with them on that point. Morbucks felt tempted to listen in on their conversations. What did her two friends talk about when she wasn't around?
If she knew the things that were going to come out of those two seemingly innocent girls, she'd never have befriended them.
"Trampolines, video games, it's so awesome being in good with a rich kid".
"Yea really, even if she is bigger than a Baluga whale".
"Seriously, does she just pig out on pasta all day long or something?"
"She certainly has the funds".
"What a loser".
They kept laughing...and the innocent girl that was Catherine Morbucks was utterly destroyed in that finite moment of spacetime. They never cared about her...just what she could do for them. Pulling that boy's pants down, laughing at all my stupid jokes, all those talks we had...it was all calculated...right from the used me...they...used...me! I was just a dollar sign to them. A wallet that they could dip into whenever they wanted something. She moved past the presents, considering grabbing them. Instead, she left the residence and walked very slowly until she got home. There's no such thing as a truly kind person Morbucks thought. You'd see them on television, in the movies, ...in comic books, but there's no one like that in real life. It's an ideal that people would like, but that no one can actually meet. I'd never find someone who appreciated me for who I am...In their eyes, I'm always going to be that rich kid that they can play for a fool. Maybe that's just the way life is...the only way to get anything is to have something to offer. If I wanted dad's time, I had to demand it. If I wanted friends, I needed wealth. Well...no more! No more!
I am not going to be used. For a change, I'll be the one using them! If I want anything, I'll have to seize it by force! Daddy's time, friends, influence, anything...anything! Nothing is even given for free...you have to take it with your own two hands!
Once she returned to her room, she removed her comic books from the shelf where they'd been placed. She tossed them into the garbage and said "good riddance". Princess had been born.