Chapter 10

My Courage slept very well in the bed. He didn't toss, or turn when he felt something come through. He slept, very much. I reached out my hand every so often to pet him, and give him comfort. Courage felt very content, sleeping, simply. He just slept….with his head down, his eyes closed, and his paws calm. He yawned every once in a while, but he returned to sleep. I took a bit of a nap, myself. I felt myself come to sleep, and lay down, yet I didn't feel disturbed by anything, either. It was an easy afternoon. When I woke up, I stretched a bit, watching a bit of the television in its entirety. "Courage". I said, gently with softness. Courage stretched a bit, looking around as well. "Would you like something to eat?". "I'm perhaps hungry in my own manner". I said, gently. "Kind of". Courage said, still burrowing under the blankets for sleep. I glanced up at the television, noticing that it had become quite fuzzy. "oh…I…I…I'm sorry". Courage said, as he shivered a bit. Some sadness was in his voice. "I accidentally hit a button, and the T.V., the T.V. went out". Courage said, sadly. "It's quite alright, darling". I said, gently with softness. "It happens, sometimes". "We'll just say a little elf did it". I chuckled at this comment of mine, smiling a gentle smile.

"Don't be sad, Courage". "Everything will be just fine". I said, kindly with gentleness. "Let's do storytime, then we'll see what the delicious buffet has". "I'm sure hungry for something good to eat". I said, chuckling with a measure of kindness behind my voice. Courage nodded. "Would you like to hear one about Cowboys and Indians, or Robin Hood and his Merry men?". I asked, kindly. "What about a knight and the princess trapped in the tower?". Courage asked. "That sounds like an excellent story". I said, gently. "Let's tell it together".

"Once upon a time there was a princess lost in a tower". "She had wandered through the forest, and found an interesting tower, and decided to ascend the stairs". "Yet when princess Muriel went into the tower, she couldn't figure out how to get out!". I said, gently. "As time went by, a knight in shining armor, the knight they called Courage, because of his bravery, and love for the princess, came to the tower, and rescued princess Muriel". "They rode back to the castle where she awarded Courage with a big kiss on the cheek". "And she was off to wed Prince Winnifred". Courage and I swooned at this part.

"There was a big wedding, and everyone lived happily ever after". "The end". I told, gently, as I nuzzled Courage who had popped his head out of the blankets. We both laughed, as I held my Courage close, hugging him. We both shared a warm hug, as I kissed my Courage on the nose.

"Ready for the buffet?". I asked, gently with kindness. Courage nodded, licking his chops. He was especially hungry. We gathered our things, heading down to the buffet, where there were steaks, and spaghetti, mashed potatoes, and red herring. They also had macaroni and cheese on the menu. "Well, at least I won't have to cook for a while". I joked, as Courage and I laughed. We sat down to the table, to our meal, and ate quite a lot. We ate our meals, and we had dessert at the end. We felt very full, and content.

When we were full, we gazed outside at the stars that befell the night sky. "This is nice, isn't it?". I said, gently. "It really is". Courage said. "I'm sure it is". I said, kindly. "I like the night sky because it reminds me of my beloved". "It reminds me a lot of Eustace".

"Yep…it reminds me of Eustace, too". Courage said. "It reminds me of being at the farmhouse, looking around, seeing what crazy things the world brought". "I remember this one time, the ghost of King Ramses the 3rd came to the house demanding his slab". "Remember that?".

"Yes, I do". I said, gently, as we chuckled. "Or perhaps the one time some film maker named Errol Volkheim came to the house, and wanted to film there". "Or the one night, some Ghost called the Harvest Moon spirit came, and demanded we grow a plant". "Oo, I remember all of those things that happened at our farmhouse". Courage and I agreed. "But my best memory, was when I first brought you home when you were a puppy, and you cried, and cried, because you were in a new place, and I held you in my arms, stroked your face, and took you outside to look at the stars". "Your face lit up, you were so happy to see the stars, you barked for the first time, and ever since that day, you've been my Courage….my heavenly gift". I said, gently with softness. "I know…and you've been amazing, too". "Muriel….mom". Courage said. "Of course". I said, gently. I smiled a kind smile, petting Courage's head, as we looked at the moon. "The moon means a lot to me, too". "Every night….I still talk to my parents….as if I talk to the moon". "I know they're proud of me….I protected someone important". Courage said.

"Yes, they are proud of you, my Courage". "Just as I'm proud of you…always". I said, gently. "Mm, does it bother you that your birth parents are passed away?".

"No…not really because….I lived a great life after them". "I had you by my side". "And I knew I could do anything". Courage replied. "You have lived a wonderful life". "But I've lived a wonderful life…because you were by my side". "You made me stronger every day". "You made us, us". I said, kindly with gentleness, as I kissed Courage's nose again. "Thank you". Courage said, as he and I nuzzled, doing Eskimo kisses. The moon shone over us, as we looked up in all of its awe, wonder, and beauty. The moon was prominent.

Courage and I enjoyed the moon for a few seconds before we headed inside to bed. "The buffet was nice". "I enjoyed my creme brulee at the end". Courage said. "I enjoyed my Gelato Fermiggio". "That was so tasty". I said, kindly. We headed upstairs to bed, as I turned on the television. "Time for some medicine, Courage". "Some ear medicine ought to help you sleep". I said, kindly. Courage waited for his medicine, patiently, as he yawned. "Here's just the right fit". "And I've refilled your sippy cup for bed, too". I said, gently. Courage nodded, as he took his ear medicine, then climbed into bed with his Oat Milk. I smiled, as my Courage went under the covers for bed. I went under the covers as well. We both watched television for a while, before sleeping.

The next morning, I sat in the hot tub beside Winnifred. He came up to visit us for a while. "Bono, seco ari mi amor". Winnifred spoke smooth Italian as he kissed my lips. "I love you, mi amor". *

"I love you too". I said to Winnifred romantically, as we kissed. Winnifred smiled a kind smile as he kissed both of my lips. We kissed, as the jets seemed to surround us. We were in our own paradise, kissing fruitful and with essence as we enjoyed the jets that seemed to surround us.

Courage came to us, as he yawned. "Hello, son". Winnifred said, kindly with gentleness. He smiled a gentle smile to Courage. Courage sniffed around the hot tub, keeping his nose curious. I smiled a gentle smile to Courage, being sure to encourage him in the endeavor to wake up, and enjoy the hot tub.

"Come see us, my boy". Winnifred said, kindly with gentleness as Courage came closer to him. Winnifred and I hugged, as we both hugged our Courage. It was a group hug in its efforts. Courage seemed to be doing well as he stayed within the hug, feeling the warm gestures of a kind hug.

"I love you, my Courage". I said, gently with soft kindness. Courage nuzzled, digging his nose deep into my lap. He was comfortable where he was. He felt comfortable….that was the most important factor in it.

As our vacation continued, we had a blessed time, snuggling close, and kissing. It was a surmountable time.

Winnifred and I's wedding wasn't a huge affair, but it was big enough for us to celebrate. It was just the both of us, and Courage, marrying near the open field of the farm. Just down the street from the farmhouse. I looked into Winnifred's eyes, as he recited his vows.

Winnifred gazed into my eyes, as I recited my vows. Winnifred and I kissed, as the sun seemed to shine above us. Courage smiled and played, as Winnifred and I felt the kiss. It was a glowing evening, filled with love, amazement and love. We were content. It was a loving wedding, filled with amazement.

As time went on, we lived a content life, and had happiness in our daily aspects. Courage was outside, happily playing with his truck. The farmhouse was content. And it seemed everything was going well. Somewhere in the distance, on the Gorillaz band, child prodigy Noodle, was living a content life…Noodle played with her truck, looking up and down as she was wrapped up in her blanket. It was early in the morning. Russel, her adoptive father came to see her. His large feet padding across the floor.

"Hey, baby girl". Russel said, kindly with softness. Noodle nodded, playing with her truck. "I have some almond milk for you, in case you get thirsty, baby". "Daddy has some cheerios for you, too". Russel said, softly with gentleness. Noodle nodded, as she held her truck close. "Thank you". She said, quietly. Russel glanced at Noodle with kindness. "Everything ok, baby?". Russel asked, kindly.

"Kind of". Noodle said. "My ears hurt kind of". "I just wanted my medicine…because my ears are really bothering me".

"I have some medicine that can help". "Daddy will take good care of you". Russel said, gently with softness. Noodle nodded. "Don't worry, baby". Russel whispered, gently. Noodle sniffled as she began crying. She was in pain. "Come to me, sweetie". "It's ok… I promise you". Russel whispered, softly. "No need to feel sad". "Come see daddy, he's got you". Russel opened his arms for a hug, as Noodle crawled to him. She sniffled, crying as she sniffled. "Daddy loves you, baby". "It'll be alright". Russel whispered, kindly.

Russel held Noodle, picking her up in his arms. They went into the kitchen, where Noodle received her medicine. "Shh, this won't hurt, baby". "Just a bit of medicine, I'll put in, and we'll relax for a while". "It's ok". Russel whispered, gently. Noodle drank her milk, as she got some drops in her ear. "Some Risperidone for today". Russel said, kindly. Noodle took her medicine, her risperidone, swallowing the circular capsule. "Good job, honey". Russel said, softly with gentleness.

"Let's drink some milk, baby". Russel said, kindly with softness. Noodle cried as she looked upwards. "It's ok, honey". "Don't be sad when it comes time for school". "My baby girl doesn't cry at school". Russel said, gently with softness. "Ok". Noodle said. "Here's some antibiotics for your ear, too". "These will help the pain get numb, and feel nothing but ease". Russel said, kindly with his own softness. Noodle nodded. Russel kissed Noodle's cheek, gently as he gave her antibiotics. Noodle drank the medicine, as she drank some milk to go with it. Russel smiled a kind smile, as he kissed Noodle's cheek, gently. Noodle sniffled, as she glanced around.

"She's ready for school today". "All smiling and happy". Russel said, gently. Noodle nodded, drinking her dear almond milk.

Noodle was put in her clothes, as she waited outside for the bus. She drank her almond milk, seeing the bus come down the street for her.

Noodle was gifted, yes. She went to the high school for some classes, and took some college level classes due to her high intelligence. Her high intellect was due to her infancy where she wasn't nurtured. Sometimes, in a rare case, a baby that isn't stimulated or nurtured develops a higher intelligence. This is only 2% of individuals in the world, with coexisting savantism, which is a form of institutional autism.

Noodle was in the cafeteria of her high school, drinking from her bottle. Someone with a lab coat, in the medicine program, Double D, or Edd, came over to see Noodle.

Noodle was sitting in her own cafeteria seat, drinking her milk. Edd came over. "Hey, sweetie". Edd said, kindly with gentleness. Edd smiled a kind smile. His voice was a bit raspy from smoking as well. "How are you this morning?". "You look much better than you've been". Edd said, gently. Noodle nodded. "I'm ok". Noodle said.

Edd also smelled like cigarettes as well. "I'm impressed you're doing much better, honey". "You've been so patient with it, recently". Edd said, kindly. Noodle nodded, as she sniffled. "I'm doing the best I can". Noodle said. "You're doing so well". Edd said, gently.

"How have you been, sweetie?". "I know you've been having some hard times recently". Edd said, kindly. "I've been doing ok". Noodle said. "I kind of had a hard time sleeping and everything….but I've been ok".

"Sleeping is hard for you?". Edd asked, gently with softness. "It's hard". Noodle said.

"That might be because of the nightmares". "Usually, when we're traumatized, we have nightmares, but we wind up being ok". "With a little bit of help, baby girl". Edd said, kindly. He smiled a gentle smile. Noodle nodded, drinking from her to-go bottle.

"Why do you call me baby girl?". "That's kind of obscene". Noodle said. "Perhaps because you're our youngest". "You're the baby of the family". Edd said, gently with soft kindness. "You're our baby though". "You've proven to be so loving, and kind". "Along with your immense intelligence". "You can do anything".

Noodle nodded. "Mmm, I might go smoke a cigarette". Edd said, tiredly while he stretched. "I need a cigarette this early to wake up". Edd remarked, kindly. "Cigarettes are bad". Noodle said. "I need them…I've been addicted to them ever since I was 7". Edd said, kindly. "I've always been fond of cigarettes". "They've helped ease a lot of pains…physical and social".

"They help with quite a bit". Edd muttered. Noodle nodded, as she drank her almond milk. "I have a gift for you, too". "It's not anything big, or extravagant". "I leave that to Eddy". "But it is well worth it". Edd said, gently. "Want to sit at some tables outside?". Noodle nodded. Edd and Noodle went outside to the tables, sitting down, as Edd took a cigarette from his pack, lighting it.

The tip of his cigarette glowed…as do most tips of the cigarettes. He smoked, as the end of the white cigarette glowed with a reddish orange flame at the tip. The cigarette tip singed with ash, as it turned a shriveled, white ash. Edd still held it to his lips, as some ash fell on his labcoat. He removed the mouthpiece, blowing out smoke.

"How are your emotions, recently?". "Have they been ok?". Edd asked, gently. "They've been ok". Noodle said. "I've kind of….I've kind of been in a bad place".

"Why have you been in a bad place?". Edd asked, gently with softness. "Because I've kind of been having nightmares…I don't know…when my mom and dad died….I don't know…it was a lot". Noodle said.

"Usually, after trauma, we experience a lot". "We experience a lot we never knew we could". "It is something we learn from, and we benefit from". "We do what we can, because we've learned, and grown". "Life is something we grow with, and accept". Edd said, kindly with softness. "I know it's not easy, but I believe you can do it". "You always have, and you always will". "I know you can do it". Edd tapped ash from his cigarette.

"You seem much calmer". "Did you start on Cannabis?". Edd asked, gently with softness. Noodle nodded. "I did, and my dad has me on medicine kind of…to help me be calmer…and not have flashbacks as much". Noodle said. "Usually, Autistic children are given mood stabilizers to help them calm down". "Children with PTSD are given mood stabilizers as well". Edd said, gently. "Do you feel ok with the mood stabilizer?". "Does it bother you at all?".

"Not really". "It makes me sleepy". "I'm ok, though". Noodle replied. "Do you feel as if you have trouble concentrating because of your medicine?". Edd asked, kindly. "No…I'm ok". "I'm kind of….sleepy when I take the medicine…but I can still concentrate because of my cannabis". "I've been ok". Noodle said. "If you ever have troubles with it…or difficulties with other things…let me know". Edd said, kindly. Edd smoked his cigarette, as he looked around.

"Ok". Noodle said. "How are your ears doing?". Edd asked, gently. "They're ok as of now". Noodle said. "They kind of hurt….but they're ok".

"My dad gave me some ear medicine to take earlier, but I don't like it". Noodle stated. "It kind of tastes sour, and then has a bitter taste…like shampoo".

"Antibiotics do have a bitter taste to them". "I know it does have the side effect of tiredness, but I recommend you keep taking it, sweetie". "It's horrible to go through pain like that". "Going through it only worsens feelings of sadness". Edd said, gently with softness. "Please take your medicines, and remember that medicines help". "They don't hurt us".

Noodle nodded, sniffling. "I don't want to take my medicine, sometimes". "My ear medicine". "I don't know why, but I don't want to take it". Noodle said. "Sweetie, I know it's irritating to take…but we have to take it". Edd assured, kindly with softness. "I know sometimes, the taste can bother us, but we have to take our medicine, regardless". "It'll help us to feel better". "The more we reject something as simple as the taste, the less we feel from it". "We need to take what we can, in an orderly fashion".

"Please don't be mad at me…don't be angry, but I'm just offering some advice". "We need to do what needs to be done". Edd said, kindly with softness. Noodle nodded, as she glanced at Edd. "Maybe". She said. Our Noodle…..she was having difficulties. "Ok". Noodle said, as she glanced at Edd. "But I guess….I guess…I don't want it to taste bad". Noodle said. "You won't have to worry about that, sweetie". "We have almond milk in your cup, you can drink some, and drown out the taste, easily". Edd said, kindly with gentleness. "Drink some almond milk, and you'll feel better, sweetie". Noodle nodded.

There was a visitor at the office door that came around the side to see Noodle. It was Russel, her guardian. "Hey, sweetie". Russel said, gently with kind softness, kissing Noodle's cheeks. "We forgot your ear medicine for today". "And here's some almond milk you can drink in your class if you wish". Russel said, gently. He gave Noodle a "Fairlife", almond milk bottle.

Noodle took it as she sniffled. "Ok, thank you". She said. Russel gave the medicine to Edd. "Glad you're here, this is her ear antibiotics, she should take them every hour, before the class she's in, ends". Russel said. "I'll see to it that she does". Edd replied. "We'll put her almond milk in the fridge beside her antibiotics". "That way if she needs her cup refilled, she can see me, and I'll help her". Edd said.

"Thanks for looking out, man". "This means a lot to us". "She needs someone now, more than ever". Russel said. "She is extraordinary". "I love working with my Shizuka". Edd said, gently. Noodle nodded. "She is". "Well, I'd better go". "Nice seeing you". Russel said, walking outside. Noodle sniffled, as she hugged Russel. "I'll see you later, baby". "Talk to you soon". "Daddy loves you". Russel said, gently. Noodle sniffled, walking with Edd to the nurse's office.

"Let's put the medicine in here, beside almond milk". "That way when it comes time to take medicine, we can have access to it". Edd said, gently. Noodle nodded, as Edd placed her almond milk in the fridge. "There we are, snug and sound". Edd said, kindly. "We have to take it every hour, though". "If you take it properly, I'll give you some candy, or a lollipop". "I have some in my cabinet, those are for anyone".

"Thank you". Noodle said, as she sniffled. "Don't be sad, honey". "It's only here to help us". "Put on a happy face, and I'll give you some milk for later". Edd said, gently. "Happy face, show me what a smile looks like, honey".

Noodle nodded, as she tried smiling. "Look at me, smile at me…it's ok". Edd said, kindly with softness. Noodle smiled, as Edd laughed along with her. It was a good morning, followed by them going to class. Little 9 year old Noodle was in High School. She was doing well, yet linearly, she was still a child.