Chapter 9
Later that night, the buffet was well-lit as we made our way towards it. Courage and I came to the buffet, loading our plates, while we ate. I spoon fed Courage his food, while he ate. I later on, wiped Courage's face with a napkin. "Did you enjoy our dinner, my Courage?". I asked, gently. "I did". Courage said. I petted Courage's head, kindly. "Let's drink our milk, and we'll get the full nourishment we need". "There's no need to worry". I said, gently. Courage nodded, as he drank from his sippy cup. "You are my good boy…my best friend". "I love you, my Courage". "I always will". I said, in a gentle whisper as I petted Courage's fuzz, stroking his cheek. "I love you too". Courage said. Courage drank from his cup, closing his eyes. "You are sleepy, my darling". "Luckily, it is bedtime, so we can go back to the room, and lay down". I said, gently. Courage nodded, as he kept drinking from his cup.
"Love you, Courage". I said, gently. Courage nodded, as he sniffled. As if he was troubled by something. Courage turned his head away, as he sniffled. "Courage". I said, softly with gentleness. Courage turned his head, as he sniffled. He finally looked at me. He was troubled by something he was struggling to comprehend.
"Is everything alright, my Courage?". I whispered, kindly with gentleness. "Yes…yes..I'm fine". Courage said. "Time for bed, now". I said, gently with softness.
Courage and I walked upstairs after a plentiful meal, as I turned down the sheets to a warm bed. Patting the side beside me, Courage came to the bed, laying his head down, as he began sleeping. The glow of the television lit up the room, as we watched the television. I could tell Courage was troubled by something he couldn't explain. He was troubled by something he was having difficulty processing. I still petted his head, providing nonverbal gestures, to encourage him. I kissed Courage's small head, nuzzling him in a comforting manner.
We talked a bit, watching the television, though nothing seemed to make a difference. When I grew tired, I turned off the television, working towards sleep. Sleep was the important thing. As my eyes closed, as I saw the essence of sleep, I heard something else a bit troubling. I heard whimpering. There was whimpering coming from my Courage. He was crying. Courage buried his head in the pillow, crying with sadness. I wasn't sure if Courage was going through pain, or if he had a nightmare. I felt bad for my Courage as I glanced over at him, petting his fur.
"Courage". I whispered, kindly with softness. Courage looked up at me, sniffling with tears in his eyes. "Is everything alright, darling?". I asked, in a kind whisper.
Courage looked up, sniffling. "No…I'm fine". Courage said, sniffling. I petted his fuzzy fur, kissing him on the head, gently. Courage fell asleep, laying his head down. "Maybe we can talk about it, tomorrow, darling". "Try to have a good night". I said, kindly with a gentle whisper. Courage glanced up at me, seeing my face. "It will be alright". "Don't be sad, dear". I whispered, gently. Courage nodded, as he fell asleep. "Goodnight, my Courage". "I love you". I whispered, gently.
Courage nodded, as he fell asleep. We both fell asleep, awaiting tomorrow.
Ah, the hot tub. The hot tub is a magical place. A magical, lovely place where one can sit in, and relax. As I relaxed, smoking my cigarette, Courage came down, yawning in his wake. I smiled a kind smile, seeing my Courage. "Courage….what a nice sleep you had". "You were asleep for a long time, darling". "Good to see you". I said, gently. Courage nodded, coming over.
"Hello, my Courage, good morning". "I'm so happy to see you". I said, gently. "Hi". Courage said, as he came over. I kissed Courage's head, kindly, as I nuzzled him. Though while I nuzzled him, something embarrassing happened, while we nuzzled. I began lactating, when my nipples began leaking at the tips. "Ooh, well, there's something likely". I said, giggling a bit. Courage looked up, a bit confused. "I'm lactating a bit". "Seems my breasts are beginning to do some things". I said, gently, giggling.
"Hmm, it'll go away soon". I said, gently. Courage nodded, as he put his head down, enjoying the jets of the hot tub. "It is nice out here, isn't it?". I said, kindly. "It is". Courage said. "Well, my dear, it should get sunnier as the days have us". I said, gently. "Perchance". I smiled a kind smile.
"I did have something…Courage…I've noticed last night, you were having a hard time…you were crying". I said, gently with kindness. Courage nodded. "I had a nightmare…and I've been kind of sad, recently". Courage said. "What happened, my Courage?". I asked, gently with kindness. "When I was abandoned….as a puppy….there was this dog…there was this Rottweiler….that bit my ear off". Courage said, sniffling. "I've been having nightmares about the Rottweiler". "My ear is beginning to hurt again".
Courage sniffled, as he began crying. I smiled a kind smile, stroking Courage's face, gently. "I understand". I said, in a kind whisper. "I know it's hard to remember for right now". "Trauma is something we often try to forget, but oftentimes, we cannot". "I know it's been troubling you for a while now…and I promise you, we'll work through it, my Courage". "Don't be sad". "We'll get through it" "I promise you, my darling". I whispered, kindly. Courage nodded. He sniffled, coming to me, as he laid his head down on my lap. "Never be doubtful". "The world is ours". I whispered, gently. Courage nodded, as he sniffled. "Never be doubtful". "We will be quite alright". I assured, gently with softness. We relaxed in the tub, as Courage snuggled close to me. He relaxed against my breasts.
"They are big, aren't they?". I said, gently. "Kind of". Courage said. "Don't be sad, my Courage". "Know that it's ok…now and forever". I said, kindly. Courage nodded, as he snuggled close. We both relaxed, in the midmorning sun, as it bathed us. Gentle, and kind. That was our midmorning sun.
While Courage took his bath, I went outside, talking on the phone to Winnifred. "How's the vacation going?". Winnifred asked, gently. "It is going well…we had a nice buffet, chocolate covered strawberries, it was fine". I replied. "How does Courage like it?". Winnifred asked. "He is a bit troubled by something". I said, softly. "He was sad last night, and he says something traumatic happened to him when he was younger, perhaps that haunted his mind even now". "He is troubled, and while he is doing better, he's in so much pain".
"He perhaps is". Winnifred replied, softly. "His past trauma of losing his parents…his time being abandoned as a puppy…this might've left an emotional scar on him".
"He's had some injuries to his ear, we'll take him to the vet, he'll perhaps be ok". I said, gently. "True". Winnifred said, softly. "He needs the support now more than ever".
"He does". I mentioned. "We'll enjoy the rest of our vacation, though".
"If you or Courage need anything, let me know". Winnifred said, gently. "Thank you, dear". I said, with an equal amount of gentleness. "Have fun now".
Winnifred smiled as he hung up the phone. I assume he did. I glanced around, going into the bathroom to see Courage. Courage was soaking in the tub, as he played with his rubber ducky. I smiled a kind smile, sitting beside the tub. "Enjoying your bath?". I asked, kindly with gentleness. "I am". Courage said. "It is a nice bath, I'm sure". "I drew the bath with us in mind". I said, kindly. "You might be getting clean, perhaps". "You have your rubber ducky just in case".
"Yes". Courage said. "Would you like the water a little warmer, or with much more in there?". I asked, gently. "I'm fine". Courage said. "I want to get out because my ear hurts". Courage sniffled as he said this. "The water is bothering your ear?". "Sometimes, that happens, it's ok". I said, gently. Courage nodded, as he sniffled. "Let's come out, and we'll put some medicine on your ear". I said, gently. While Courage got out, and was dried off, I put some baby powder on him, making his fuzz smooth, and ready for rest. "There's some baby powder, making you fresh and sweet after a bath". I said, gently. Courage nodded, as he drank from his cup.
"Time for some ear medicine". "This is something called Cannabis". "This is a special oil that can relieve pain in any part of the body". I said, gently. "Let's take some medicine, and we'll feel much better, lad". Courage nodded, as I poured some cannabis into a medicine cup…some oil into a cup, while Courage drank it. I could see the bags under his eyes were disappearing, yet his tiredness was still there. He was a trier. He never had much in the way of natural skill.
"There you are, my Courage". I said, kindly with gentleness, as Courage drank some Oat Milk with his oil. Courage drank his milk, sniffling. "There you are, my Courage". "Ready to sleep". I said, gently. Courage nodded, as he hopped up in his spot on the couch. "There you are, my Courage". "My wonderful love". I said, kindly. Courage, nestled in the blankets, slept beside me…eyes closed, drinking from his sippy cup. I smiled a gentle smile, seeing my Courage. I was happy he was in a good place. My Courage and I were inseparable. We could do anything.
On the other side of town, Kuki's cousin, Rika, took a bath. She played in the tub, holding her mermaid doll close as she played. "You truly are enjoying it, aren't you, honey". Edd said, gently. Double D was taking care of her. He was a doctor, after all. "You seem to be enjoying it a lot". Double D said, gently with softness. "Do you want the water a little hotter?". He asked, softly. "No". Rika said.
She laughed and played, as she held her doll close by. "Da ba ba ba ba". Rika babbled. She splashed the water with her hands. "Not too hard, ok?". Edd said, softly. "Just enough to get wet". Rika didn't exactly listen, as she kept splashing water around the tub. "Rika, sweetie". Edd said, gently with softness. "Rika". Edd said, kindly with gentleness. Rika glanced up at our Edd, with a blank stare, as she laughed. "Time to settle down, now". "Ok?". "Almost time for a nap". Edd said, kindly with softness. "Ba ba". Rika said, as she held up her hands, while Edd held her hands, kindly. "How's your ears, baby?". "You might have some minor bruising around the ears". Edd said, gently with softness. "Ba ba ba ba". "Ma ma ma ma". Rika said, as she giggled and laughed. "Would you like some more milk?". "Milk?". Edd said, gently, as he signed the word to her in sign language. Rika nodded. "Yes". she said. Edd handed her, the sippy cup with Oat Milk in it. "Milk time". Edd said, kindly with gentle softness. Rika laughed and played as she drank her oat milk. "Not too fast…you've been going potty very well in the big girl toilet….we don't want anything but that". Edd said, gently with kind softness.
Rika smiled and played, as she drank her oat milk. Edd smiled, holding Rika's hands, gently. They both seemed to be happy, and copesthetic as she played. Then, something bothersome came. Rika began whimpering, as she winced. "What's troubling you, baby?". Edd asked, softly with kind gentleness. It was as if he was a teddy bear, a wise, cuddly teddy bear about to comfort a hurting child. "Tell boppy". Edd said, kindly. "Baby bop". Edd often called himself Baby bop because that was Rikays favorite program. Barney. Oftentimes, intellectually disabled, emotionally disturbed teenagers, or adults who had been through trauma, had the mental age of a young toddler. Rika pointed to her ear, as she began crying. "Ma ma ma ma". Rika whimpered, as a wet spot in the corner of her eyes formed. She was in pain, as the wet spot became a tear.
"Your ear is hurting you….aww, sweetie". Edd said, softly with cuddly gentleness. "Let's get out now…we'll put on some baby powder….and I have some medicine for your ear". "Baby bop will make it all better". Edd said, in a cuddly soft voice. Rika nodded, as she sat, with her hands up, as if to protect herself from hurt.
"Come to boppy". "Come to baby bop". "He'll hold you, and kiss you, he'll make it all better". "It's ok, sweetie". "Come". Edd said, softly, as he opened his arms. Rika nodded, as she came to Edd, shivering from the air that surrounded the bathtub. Edd wrapped a soft, blanketing towel around Rika, kissing her cheek. Rika felt comfortable in the towel, as she felt a warm hug from Edd. "let's put on some baby powder now, darling". Edd said, gently with softness. Edd poured baby powder up and down Rika, as she rubbed it in. "to make you smell fresh and sweet after a bath". Edd said, gently. Edd kindly put Rika in her pajamas, as she held her oat milk sippy cup close. She walked with Edd to the kitchen. "Time for medicine". Edd said, kindly with softness. "This medicine will help with your ears". "If they ever begin to hurt".
Edd poured some medicine into a medicine cup, giving the cup to Rika. He helped Rika swallow the medicine, pressing two fingers down on her throat to ensure that she swallowed it. Rika did, as she drank the medicine in full. Edd smiled a kind smile, as Rika got the medicine down with some Oat Milk. "now, it's time for more ear medicine". "This will get into the spots that hurt, and make them better". Edd said, gently with softness. Rika nodded. Edd poured some ear liquid down Rika's ears, as she drank her milk. "Don't worry, my baby girl". "Everything will be ok". Edd said, gently. Rika nodded, as she played with her mermaid doll. "Time for a nap". "Bedtime". Edd said, softly with gentleness, as Rika chewed on the doll's small, plastic hands. "Ba ba". Rika said, signing the word for, "bed".
"Yes, it is time for bed". "Time to lay down". Edd said, kindly with gentleness. Rika nodded, as she followed Edd into her room, where she laid down, drinking her oat milk, while a Barney tape was put on the video machine.
No one says much about the Gorillaz band anymore. Their story was written, they've been on tours, and what have you….they've done everything. What entices me the most, is the relationship between Russel, and the band's youngest member, a young girl they call Noodle. Seemingly because she's from Japan, and the only word she knew in English was "Noodle". Still, Noodle was the only girl in the band, that was mostly comprised of men. It seems dangerous to think about, until one knows the full dynamic of her daughterly relationship to the 3 men. Russel was in the living room of his hotel, talking to one of his bandmates on the telephone. "How's the daddy/daughter trip?". "You guys chillin' and havin fun?". 2-D asked. "Yes, we're having a wonderful time". "Noodle and I had lunch over by this taco place, and got matching hats, we had a great time". Russel replied. "Something's been bothering with my Noodle, though". "She was depressed last night, and was crying while she slept". "She and I got to talking about it, today". "She's been having flashbacks about her parents' deaths". "She was very sad this morning, but felt better when we talked". "That, and while she was in the kids' army, with Kyuzo, she injured her right ear badly, and had it damaged". "I'll put some medicine on it, later".
"I think Noodle needs more counseling….and…don't tell anyone this…but…she might need more medication". "More cannabis, as well as a stimulant". "She needs medicine to help her focus more in school, to help her when she has moments of anger and violence, when she feels too afraid to think her way out of a problem". "She needs therapy…she needs medicine, and someone to tell her it's ok". "Holding time is helping in some ways, at least, but she needs medication". "Medications heal the wounds I can't see". Russel explained.
"Maybe when she feels as if she's going to become angry, or scared, tell her you love her". "Open your arms, and give her some weight to push the anger, or the fear out of her". "She's not intellectually disabled, she's not bad, she's traumatized…and she needs love". "She's scared, and she doesn't know what to do…she's in fight or flight, so she becomes angry". "Emotionally disturbed children do that". "They do that because they don't know what will happen next". 2-D explained. "I will start doing that". "Her doctor mentioned that, in order to get her to become less scared, or tearful in a hard situation". Russel replied. "She is very intelligent, she's very gifted as well". "But I don't want that part of her to become lost due to her trauma, and sadness". "I want the girl I adopted to come out, and see me".
"I see". 2-D replied. "Is she taking her bath now?".
"She is, she has her sippy cup in there". "I'll check on her now, actually". Russel said. "Ok, call me if you both need anything, man". "Love you both". "I'll come up later, and give you both some sandwiches". 2-D said, gently.
"Thanks man". "Talk to you later". Russel said. "Bye". 2-D said, as Russel finished talking on the phone. Russel went into the bathroom, seeing Noodle. Noodle drank her sippy cup, sniffling as she fought back some tears. "Hey, princess". "You look like a million bucks in here". "Having fun?". Russel asked, kindly. Noodle sniffled. "Maybe". Noodle said, as she fought back more tears.
"Something's troubling you, sweetie". "Is everything ok?". Russel asked, gently. "Kind of…my ear hurts….it feels terrible…and I want out". Noodle said, sniffling. "Hey, it'll be ok, baby". "Let daddy take care of you". Russel said, kindly. "Daddy will make it better". Russel smiled a kind smile, as Noodle sniffled. "Come on out, and we'll put some medicine in the ear that hurts". "Then, daddy will do some holding time with you before you lay down for bed". Russel said, softly with kindness. Noodle nodded, as she cried, sniffling. "It's ok, baby". "Come to daddy". "I promise you won't get hurt". "I've got you, and I love you". Russel said, softly with gentleness.
Noodle nodded, agreeing as she came to Russel, and he wrapped her in a soft towel. "There we are, baby". "Nice and clean". Russel said, gently with softness. Noodle nodded, as she felt Russel's warm hug. Russel put some baby powder on her, to comfort her. "Love you, fresh as a daisy". Russel said, gently with cuddly softness. "Love you, too". Noodle said, as she saw Russel put on her pajamas. "There you go, baby". "Daddy loves you". Russel said, kindly, kissing both of her cheeks, gently.
Noodle sniffled, as she hung around in the bathroom of the hotel. Well, the hairdryer, and mirror part of it. "Time for some medicine, baby". "There's your cannabis, your Respirdone, and your ear medicine". "Daddy's got your sippy cup right here for you, ok?". Russel said, gently. Noodle nodded, as she took the Risperidone capsule. The round, circular capsule it was. She took this low dosage medicine to help with flashbacks, trauma, and intrusive thoughts or behaviors. It was a simple medicine that helped her relax during the day, and feel calm. My Courage doesn't need medicine, really. He's always been well-behaved. Then again, some younglings receive more trauma in infancy than others. I will say, I feel bad for anyone with a traumatic past, where they've lost their parents.
As Noodle took her medicine, she looked at the Cannabis that had a syrupy viscosity about it. "Let's take this one now, ok?". Russel said, kindly with softness. Noodle nodded, as she took her cannabis. As Noodle took her Cannabis, she had help swallowing. Russel helped her swallow, pressing two fingers down, helping her to push. "Then, here's some ear medicine, that'll help you feel better in your ear, baby". Russel said, kindly. Russel helped put some drops in Noodle's ear, as she sniffled. "It's ok, baby". "You're almost there". Russel said, gently with soft kindness. Noodle got her drops in, as she took the capsule with it. She drank from her cup, shuffling to the bed. As she laid down in the bed's warmth, she drank her almond milk. Almond milk is another healthy alternative to dairy. It helps strengthen the synapse connections within the brain, while dairy weakens synapse connections. Noodle drank her milk, looking at the television, while Russel was on the other side. It's not unusual for little girls to sleep with their dads. It's a great bonding experience, indeed.
"You ok, sweetie?". "Need anything?". Russel asked, gently. Noodle shook her head, as they both enjoyed the television. Noodle enjoyed the warmth of the bed.