Chapter 9: Meet Yosemite Sam

Marvin had walked many miles and was freezing and exhausted. He had to find somewhere to settle down and sleep on the night, before progressing with his journey. Marvin came to the front of a dark log cabin. He pushed the draw gently with his numb hand and found the door was open. Using the torch, he had packed, he located the light switch. He flicked on the lights to get a proper view of the cabin. The place was a dump, covered in trash and caked in dust. The windows were so dusty that they mays well have been blocked out by black out curtains. "Hello." Marvin called. He waited a few seconds, but there was no response. He concluded that the place must be abandoned and decided to spend the night there, before continuing his journey the following day.

He lay on the couch and pulled a ragged couch cover which was heaped on the floor over his small body, used his frozen arm as a pillow and then pulled his teddy bear from his bag. Just as the martian started to nod off a loud "oi" boomed throughout the cabin, startling Marvin awake and nearly knocking him from the couch. "This is my cabin you overgrown deformed ant, I own it, I have a lease for it, it's mine fair and square you varmint!" Scolded a small, red-bearded cowboy from the steps.

Marvin sighed and rolled his eyes; he could not be bothered with this at this moment in time. He sat up on the couch and glared at the little man. "I'm not an ant, I'm a Martian."

"Wise guy ey? Prepare to be evicted." The small cowboy built up all of his strength and energy. "Charge!" He screamed, before running at Marvin, ready to elbow dive him. Marvin just sighed and rolled his eyes and moved effortlessly just in time for his attacker to elbow dive the hard couch. In shock from hitting his funny bone, he groaned in pain. "Ok, now I'm mad." The cowboy pulled out his pistol and narrowed his eyes and Marvin did just that with his laser gun. They both fired at the same time. Marvin dodged the bullet going for him, but the bullets he fired hit the attacker's hat, making a small hole. "Ooooo!" The attacker groaned angrily before jumping on Marvin, pinning him down like a lion who had just caught its prey. "Say Uncle, say it, say it!" The attacker spat. Furious, Marvin lifted up his legs and kicked the red moustached man off him and into the wooden walls. "You have made me very angry." Marvin said as the small man went flying.

The cowboy landed in a daze and muttered "uncle" under his breath. He then looked up at Marvin as a worthy opponent. "Welcome to the cabin Martian." He said, holding out his hand to Marvin which Marvin gratefully shook. "So, you got a name?"

"Marvin."

"They call me Sam, Yosemite Sam."

"Nice to meet you."

"So, what are you running away from Martian?"

"Who said I'm running away from anything!" Marvin was starting to get angry again.

"I can read you just like a book Martian. Your family never understood ya, your friends they all turned their backs on ya, you could not take it anymore, so you packed and you went."

"It was sort of like that, you're 75% right." Marvin admitted.

"Hey Martian, when things get bad. I mean real bad, just remember it could always be worse."

"What?"

"Allow me to explain Marvin…"

Sam:
If the glass looks half empty, and your prospects are low. Attitude adjustment's the only way to go
Things could be worse than that. You could be lost in the desert, 200 degrees, no water around, and lots of snakes and bees.

Marvin nodded, recalling the time he passed out in the desert on a high school trip to Egypt when he was 16. His mother was frantic when she was called; Z9 had to remind her that Marvin was all the way in Africa and there was nothing they could do and the 11th grade teacher, Mrs. Louis Griffin, had handled the incident well.

Sam:
Remember it's tough and it's cold out there. Life, sometimes can be unfair. So, for every step forward there's a step-in reverse, things could be better, they could always be worse. Yes, things could be better in this big universe, but remember, it could always be worse. Remember, it could always be worse.

Marvin now started to do a mini dance to the song, whenever Sam was not looking.

So, for every step forward there's a step-in reverse, things could be better, they could always be worse. Yes, things could be better in this big universe, but remember, it could always be worse. Remember, it could always be worse.

Yes, things could be better in this big universe, but remember it can always be worse. Remember it can always be worse. Sing it with me Marvin!

Marvin and Sam:
Remember it could always be worse.

Marvin and Sam finished the song laughing together. Marvin's eyes were glowing with joy, Sam noticed and was fascinated. "Say Marv, what's with the glow in the dark eye balls."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Marvin lied sheepishly, looking the other way to Sam. Sam ran around Marvin to see, Marvin turned around. This happened a second time. "Come on Marvin, let me see." Sam nagged. Marvin sniffed and burst into tears, swiftly turning around at Sam, his eyes glaring and glowing with pain. "Go ahead and laugh! Everyone else does!" Marvin sobbed.

"Gee Marvin, lighten up, will you?"

"Sure, I make jokes good for them all. My eyes can stop traffic! I have a glowing personality."

Sam then burst out laughing. "Gee Marvin, you're killing me!" Sam laughed, now rolling on the floor. Marvin burst out laughing too. "Are these eyes, or Christmas ornaments?" He asked, wiping away his tears. Sam and Marvin laughed through the night. For the first time ever, Marvin was able to laugh at the things which had caused him 21 years of discrimination and mockery.

Meanwhile Z9 and Tyranhee were searching Marvin's room. Tyranhee had in hand the letter from Scrappy. Z9 was shouting from down stairs whilst Tyranhee was in Marvin's room, looking for her son. Z9 soon noticed the note on the fireplace, he read it and shouted Tyranhee down who snatched the note from Z9 and read it. Tyranhee went into a state of shock and despair when she read it and Z9 was not in much of a better state, he was just keeping it together for his wife. There was a deadly silence between the two of them, one so tense you could've heard a pin drop. This was interrupted by a knock at the door. Both Martians looked at each other and agreed to go to the door, hoping that it was their son or someone with their son and he was safe. They both opened the door, it was Lilly. "Hi can I see Marvin please?" She asked with sadness and worry in her eyes. Tyranhee immediately burst in to a flood of tears and ran into the palace in hysterics. Z9 sighed and looked down at Lilly in a sorry state. "He ran away."

"What!" Lilly was stunned.

"He's gone." Z9 clarified before slowly closing the palace door to see to Tyranhee. Lilly was in shock and was worried and devastated. In tears of sadness and disgust at those who had caused her best friend so much pain he tearfully walked off into the distance, lost in her own thoughts. She stopped at the mistletoe tree herself and Marvin had almost kissed under when they were children. Sadness then turned into determination. "I have to find him." She said. She then rushed home to pack her own supplies and then went out in search for Marvin.

Back at the cabin Marvin and Sam were munching on spicy Doritos and watching late night television. During the commercial break Sam got up to get some more beers and to use the bathroom, when his eyes caught Marvin's backpack. "So, what's in the bag Marv?" He asked.

"Just stuff." Marvin dismissed.

"Hey Marv, if we're going to be friends, then no secrets." San insisted, picking up the bag and starting to open it. Marvin instantly grabbed it. "No Sam! It's private!" Marvin started to tug the bag out of Sam's grip.

"Come on, let me see!" Sam insisted further, pulling the bag further away from Marvin. Marvin pulled back and the pair thought until all of the bags content was all over the floor. Marvin was very angry, "look what you've done Earthling!"

"Ok Marvin, I'm sorry." Sam smiled. Marvin just nodded, accepting Sam's apology. Sam picked up the picture of two-year-old Marvin with his parents at a photoshoot. "You sure were cute." Sam grinned.

"Just put it away please." Marvin moaned with embarrassment blushing from his cheeks and glowing in his eyes.

Sam did not argue. He then put Marvin's photo and scarf away. He then picked up his bear, hugged it and commented "a teddy bear," before putting it away too and picking up the pendant as the last item. "So, uh, who gave you this?" Sam asked.

"I don't wish to talk about it."

"Say no more Marv, love is for suckers." Marvin nodded in false agreement as Sam closed his bag. Sam then noticed the disguarded beer cans and snacks. "Should I put these in the fridge?" Sam asked.

"Go ahead." Marvin smiled. Sam put the beers and snacks in the fridge and then the pair returned to watch the telly as their show had resumed.

Z9 and Tyranhee were in Aladdin's office. Z9 looked out worryingly amongst the falling snow, knowing his son was out there alone. He was ill with worry, his hand resting on his aching stomach. "Marvin is out there, somewhere." He said as Aladdin looked on in concern.

"Please Aladdin, help us find him, we're really worried." Sobbed Tyranhee. Aladdin could feel her pain.

Lauren and Graham Cunningham walked into the room. "Aladdin, we can't find Lilly anywhere." Rasped Lauren in a panic.

"She was over our house looking for Marvin, maybe she gone off to find him." Z9 suggested.

"Hopefully our kids find each other and get each other home." Graham added.

"Nevertheless, I will send out a search party immediately, I promise I will have them both back for Christmas." Stated Aladdin.

Meanwhile at Jon Arbuckle's house Garfield and Odie were settling down to tea. Odie had a juicy meat loaf; Garfield had a cheesy lasagne and Jon had a chicken fricassee with vegetables. There was a ring which sung through the room, it was the house phone. "I'll get that guys." Said Jon, "but no stealing my tea." He warned. Garfield and Odie nodded in agreement as Jon went towards the phone and picked it up.

"Hello Jon Arbuckle." He greeted and then listened intently to Aladdin on the phone. "Oh no. That's terrible. Those poor parents. Yes, I'll let the two of them know thanks." Jon put the phone down and went back to the dining room. "Garfield, Odie, Aladdin has an important job for you."

Odie groaned, unsure. Garfield looked worried. "But we let him down last time." He said.

"Garfield that was 19 years ago, and it was an accident. Besides, everyone deserves a second chance." Jon then looked down at his empty plate. Odie made sure to get himself out of the room to Jon's loud and furious yell. "GARFIELD!"