"Walter, did I ever tell you what Jim told me before he passed...?" Kermit asked the young Muppet.
Walter sat in front of Kermit's desk, wondering what was so urgent. But he was taken back from that question. Walter thought about it for a moment. He didn't recall actually having a full conversation with Kermit about Jim Henson. Walter never brought it up, because he didn't know if it would be disrespectful, or not.
"Uh..." Walter looked for words. "I don't think so."
Kermit nodded, and cleared his throat. "I wrote it down, so I would never forget. I still kept it through the time the Muppets were broken up. He told me that the Muppets begin with the two of us, and continue with someone else."
Walter didn't say anything in return. He felt honoured that Kermit was sharing Jim's sacred words of wisdom with him. The young Muppet thought it would be best to just keep listening.
"I still remember when it all began." Kermit continued. "Jim rallied me to be the leader. Leaping from the swamp life to Hollywood wasn't exactly easy, but he helped me. I met everyone else, and we all just clicked. We became friends, and then family. I met Piggy. Everything just felt on top."
Walter felt intrigued by Kermit's talk, but still didn't seem totally on track.
"Kermit?" Walter asked. "I want nothing more than to hear about how it all began. But, what does this have to do with me?"
Kermit played with the contract on his desk. He took the original he signed years before, agreeing to be the leader of the Muppets and being Jim's apprentice. He handed it to Walter.
Walter carefully took the document. His eyes widened when he realized what it was. "Wow." The boy said, astonished. "I'm surprise to still have something like this after so long."
Kermit nodded. "It's pretty amazing. But it also needs to be kept safe. Until of course, a new one is made."
Walter looked up from the document. "A new one...?"
Kermit inched forward in his chair, behind his desk. "Walter, you know that I'm not gonna be around forever..."
Walter sighed, and gave the frog a look of slight exasperation. "Kermit, you can be direct with me. I'm not five years old, anymore."
The frog wiped a bit of sweat off his forehead. He was getting nervous.
"I know." Kermit said. "I'm just trying to figure out how to say this."
"Say what?"
"Well," Kermit said. "Have you ever wondered what will happen to the Muppets when I get really old? Or, more like when all of us get old?"
Walter thought about it for a moment, and shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. I kind of just thought there would be a day when things end, eventually."
"Not unless there's someone younger, and qualified to take my position." Kermit said, eyeing the young Muppet.
Walter let out a bit of a scoff. "Yeah, but who could honestly live up to everything you've done?"
"Someone amazing."
"Yeah, but who?"
The frog played with the new contract on his desk, assigned for Walter. He took in a slow breath.
"I was only a bit younger than you were when Jim rallied me to be his apprentice." Kermit explained. "He chose me, not for potential. He chose me, because a big part of him knew that I could carry on everything he created."
Walter played with the sleeves of his zip up hoodie, nervously.
"I see everything he saw in me, in you. But also so much more." Kermit said to the younger Muppet. Walter held his breath. "I'm going to be around for a long, long time. But eventually, the Muppets are going to need a new heir. Someone who can create a whole new generation, but still carry on our family legacy."
Walter felt his heart pound. Kermit continued to choose his words carefully. "And I think I've found that person."
The boy's eyes went wide. "Wait a second..." he said. "Are...are you?"
"Walter," Kermit said. "I want you to be my apprentice. I want you to be our future leader."
Walter immediately felt himself go lightheaded, but resisted himself from fainting. His legs and arms went numb, and he felt everything practically disappear around him. Oh my gosh. Walter thought in his head. Is he serious? Kermit had been his idol since he was a kid. It was unbelievable enough that he became a Muppet within a short amount of time. But, Kermit just asked him to be his apprentice. To be the future leader.
"I didn't really expect you to respond right away." Kermit said, snapping Walter back to reality. "But, I'm picking you for a reason."
Walter swallowed. He subtly nodded his head, encouraging Kermit to continue.
"I discussed this with a few of the others, already. But when I met you, I knew you were a Muppet by heart. And as I got to know you, I saw the leader that you really are."
Kermit leaned forward on his desk.
"I saw Jim in you..."
Walter didn't realize how long he had been holding his breath, and exhaled. He tried to steady his breathing.
"I know this is all overwhelming." Kermit said. "But I had a contract made. It would agree to the same stuff I agreed to with Jim. The only difference is that I'd be training you years in advance, rather than on the fly. Jim had to teach me on the job."
"Kermit," Walter finally spoke. "You are sure about this...right? This is me you're talking to."
Kermit couldn't help but let out a little chortle. "Don't worry, I'm well aware that I'm offering this to you."
"Okay..." Walter breathed. "How...what..."
"You don't have to decide this, right away." Kermit said. "We have all the time in the world."
Kermit then picked up the new contract and handed it to Walter. "This is yours."
"Are you sure?" Walter said, taking it.
"Yes." Kermit said. "Read through it, and just think. If you have any questions or concerns, I'm always here."
Walter nodded, and tried to relax in his chair a bit. Kermit noticed his tension.
"You know this is a good thing, right?" The frog asked, concerned. Walter looked up at his boss.
"Of course I do." Walter responded. "It's just a lot to take in."
"Well if it's any consolation, I know you're right for the job."
Walter gave a small smile, and relaxed fully. He looked at the contract once more, and carefully held it in his hands.
"Who can I and cannot tell?" Walter asked.
"Anyone but the press." Kermit said. "I'm guessing you have a brother to call?"
"Yeah." Walter chuckled. "He's gonna freak."
Kermit smiled, feeling relieved. Walter was taking this a lot better than he thought. Once again, he was proven to be a good leader.
"Take your time to think about this." Kermit advised. "This is your decision, and nobody else's."
Walter nodded. "Thanks, Kermit."
Without warning, the office door came busting open. Walter and Kermit both jumped at the loud sound, and looked towards who had entered. Fozzie and Scooter both stood there, looking out of breath.
"Guys, this isn't really-" Kermit began.
"Sorry, chief." Scooter interrupted. "But, you might want to see this."
"What is it?" Kermit asked.
"There's a million reporters outside the studio, asking questions!" Fozzie said.
"Don't worry." Kermit assured them. "They're probably curious about Walter's accident. We'll just push through."
Scooter and Fozzie exchanged a look.
"Uh, that's not exactly why they're here..." Scooter said, nervously.
Walter arched a brow. "Why are they here?"
Scooter looked towards Kermit. "Did you tell him, yet?" Kermit nodded in response, and Walter held up the contract.
Scooter gave a look to Fozzie. "Well, Fozzie?"
"Uh..." The bear was nervous. "I told the press about your decision..."
"What?" Kermit said, a bit of anger in his voice.
"You said to tell everyone else." Fozzie defended.
"Yeah, I meant the rest of the Muppets." Kermit explained, trying not to get frustrated. "Fozzie, I gave you explicit instructions to not tell the paparazzi, yet."
"Sorry..." Fozzie said. Kermit sighed.
"Okay, 80's Robot is coming soon anyway. Walter, you don't have to-"
"Don't worry." Walter assured the frog. "I'll find a way pass them."
"How?" Scooter asked. "They're practically at every entrance."
Walter shrugged his shoulders. "Push through."
Kermit sighed, and put the old contract into his desk. Walter carefully folded the new one, and put it safely in his zip up hoodie.
"Okay, let's go." Kermit said.
/~/~/~/
"What did you just say!?" Gary's voice yelled through the phone. Walter made it to Lily's apartment, and had his brother and Mary on speaker phone. He thought it would be best to tell all three of them at once.
"Gary, for the third time." Walter said, slowly. "Kermit wants me as his apprentice, as the heir of being leader of the Muppets."
"Walter." Mary's voice said through the phone. "This is amazing!"
"What did you say?" Lily asked her boyfriend, squeezing his arm. Walter hesitated.
"Well, he purposely gave me time to think and just read through the contract. After all, I don't think this is an immediate response kind of thing."
"Well, no duh." Lily said. "But, do you know what your answer will be?"
Walter didn't say anything at first. He played with the contract in his hands, and Lily eyed him nervously.
"Lily?" Walter?" Mary's voice asked. "You still there?"
"Yeah, we are." Walter answered.
"You okay, buddy?" Gary asked his brother.
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine." Walter assured him. "Just kind of shock, and not entirely sure."
"Of course, but don't you want this?" Mary asked. Walter couldn't help but give a bit of an eye roll.
"Yeah, I want this." He simply said. "But, I'm also not entirely sure."
"Walter, remember." Lily said. "If he didn't think you were right for the job, he wouldn't be offering this."
Walter looked again at the contract, thinking about the whole idea. Carrying on the Muppet legacy? Kermit taking him under his wing? It was like a dream come true. But, it still needed thinking.
"Okay." Walter said. "Let's just say I'm on the overall spectrum of most likely saying yes. But, I still need time to go through it all and just think."
"Sounds good." Gary said. "Listen, we've gotta go. But, please call us for an update."
"Oh, wait!" Mary said. "Did they catch anything on the fugitives?"
Walter and Lily exchanged a look of sadness. Today had been such a huge revelation for Walter, he barely had time to even think about that.
"No, nothing yet." Walter said, trying to hide the worry in his voice. It was silent for a moment on the other end.
"Okay, we'll be checking in." Gary said. "See ya, guys."
With that, the two couples hung up their phone call. Walter and Lily sat their for a moment.
"How's your shoulder?" She asked him, tenderly touching his taped upper arm. She loosened his shirt to uncover his bare shoulder, and he winced a bit.
"It's healing." The Muppet responded. "But, not entirely."
"Listen, why don't you read through the contract a bit? I'll get you some coffee, or something."
"Actually, can I spend the night here?" Walter asked his girlfriend. "I do want to start reading it, but I also just want stay."
Lily gave him a sweet little smile, and nodded in response. Walter smiled back.
"Okay, I'll text Kermit and just let him know." Walter said.
Lily got up to go get the coffee. She walked towards the kitchen, until there was a knock at her apartment door. That's weird. She wasn't expecting anyone. She walked towards the door, and looked through the peep hole, realizing who it was.
She opened the door, and the doorman of her building was there. He held a package.
"Mr. Clark." Lily said, happily. "Is something wrong? Did I bother the neighbours?"
"No, nothing like that." Her doorman assured her. "Actually you have a package. I would have waited for you to come downstairs and get it in the morning, but the people delivering it said it was urgent."
"The mailman didn't deliver it? Then who did?"
"I'm not sure, ma'am. But, they said it was urgent." Mr. Clark handed the package to Lily. She took it. It was small, but bulky. It wasn't very heavy, either.
"Okay, thank you Mr. Clark." Lily said. The doorman gave a tip of his hat, as he left. Lily closed the door.
She hesitated for a moment, holding the package. She would have just put it aside, and take a look at it later. But, curiosity fled over the girl. She continued to make her way to the kitchen, still getting coffee for her and Walter. She placed the package on the counter and looked at it.
"Lily?" Walter called from the living room.
"Yeah?" She called back.
"Who was at the door?"
Lily hesitated for a moment. Something was telling her she shouldn't tell Walter that she got some weird package.
"Uh, it was my doorman. Apparently there was some noise complaint." She lied.
"Oh, that's weird."
Lily merely nodded, even though Walter wouldn't have been able to see that. She further studied the package. Without thinking twice, Lily pulled out a box cutter from her kitchen drawer. Before she started to cut the tape though, she noticed a little note attached to the box.
It read:
The next one will be your boyfriend's.
Lily felt her heart drop. The next one? She thought. The next one of what?
Lily began to open the back, cutting through the tape with the opener. When it was slit, she carefully opened the flaps. There was a clear white handkerchief, or some sort of cloth hiding something. She carefully took the cloth off.
She saw it, and let out a blood curdling scream.
Come back for the next part!