Chapter 15
The next morning was something a bit harder for Courage. It seemed as if all of the stress had mounted overtop of him, and collapsed above him, unfortunately. Courage growled underneath the blankets that morning as Princess woke up. "Coochie…is everything ok?". Princess asked, gently with softness. "Get away from me". Courage warned, angrily as he growled. "What happened, Coochie?". "Tell me what's wrong". Princess said, gently with softness. "I said, get away from me!". Courage growled, as he snarled, lunging a bit. "Sweetie, it's ok…I only want to help you". Princess said, with kind, gentle softness. "Please don't be angry….I'm here to talk to you, that's all".
Courage growled, as he began snapping, with anger, and some irritation to his growl. "I will kill you". Courage threatened as he snapped. He began picking things up (he does have opposable thumbs and human anthropomorphic qualities), and began throwing them at Princess, attacking her and becoming violent. "Courage please stop". "Please don't be angry…I don't even understand why you're angry this morning". "If we talk, and work through this, I promise you, we'll find answers". "Please stop….please don't do this….I know you're stressed right now…I am, too". "If we talk through the problem, I promise you we'll find a solution". "Don't hurt me….please…I'm begging you". Princess said, softly with gentleness. Courage snapped, as he threw one more thing, then breathing heavily, as he tensed up.
Courage's heavy breathing slowed down, as he began crying. He cried, loudly, and with depression, as he sniffled, while his crying became heavier. "Shh, it's ok, Courage". "It's ok….I've got you….I won't let anything hurt you, Coochie". "Come see me, and we'll cuddle". "Please don't be sad….I'm here for you". "I've got you….it's ok". Princess said, gently with softness. "Come to me, Courage". Courage came to Princess as she held him close. She provided some weight, as she hugged Courage tightly. "There you go….it's ok…it's ok, everything's fine now". "No one will hurt you". "I won't let anything hurt you, Coochie". Princess said, gently in a soft voice. "Shhh, shhh, shh, it's ok, now". "It's ok". Princess whispered this, as she hugged Courage.
Mojo Jojo came in, seeing Courage, as he became soft, and gentle. "Is everything ok?". "I heard something from my room". Mojo Jojo said, softly. "Is Courage ok?".
"He's having a bad morning, this morning". "He was crying, he was becoming agitated, I think he might be stressed about something, and it's angering him". Princess said, softly with gentleness. "He might have had a bad dream, and it's making him angry, and scared". Mojo Jojo said, softly.
"Something bad must've happened in his sleep, and he's fighting back". Mojo Jojo said, gently. "I'm not sure". Princess replied.
"Hey, big guy". "Everything ok?". Mojo Jojo asked, gently with softness, as he petted Courage's ears, gently. "Everything is ok now….". "I just was angry". Courage said, sniffling. "What made us angry this morning?". Princess asked, gently with softness.
"I don't know". Courage said. "I was angry because….because I lost my job, because I…I don't know….probably because I failed". "I failed at everything….and right now….I… Guess…someone…. someone…like Muriel, who should love me…and be proud of me…I'm angry at her, because I don't want her to be disappointed in me…or think less of me because I failed". "Someone that's naturally smarter than me….when they're disappointed in me….I feel sad…and angry". Courage sniffled. "Are you guys disappointed in me….at all?".
"I'm not disappointed in you, baby". "I'm never disappointed in you…I love you so much, and if anything, I'm proud of you". "I love you, because you've worked so hard…because you've done so many wonderful things….I love everything about you". Princess said, gently.
"I will never be disappointed….because you're someone with so much potential". "I know you worked hard….I know you tried your hardest….I love your hard work…..and your tenacity….I don't think you're giving yourself enough credit, and worth". "You are extraordinary, honey". "I believe in you so much…and I have always believed in you". "I love you, Courage". "Nothing you will do, will ever change that". "You are always in my heart". Princess said, gently. "Don't be sad….because I know you'll do so much".
"Don't cry, Courage". "Please don't be sad….I want us to have fun today, and the rest of this week". "I don't want you to worry at all….I want you to have a good time, and forget about what makes you angry, and sad". "If I had one rule, and I don't believe in rules….but if I had one…it would be that you are not to have any negativity on this trip". "Don't think about bad things at all". "They go out the window right away". Princess said, gently. "Come give me a kiss, Coochie".
Courage licked Princess's face, as he smiled, sniffling back tears. "I love you". Princess said, softly with kindness, as she nuzzled Courage. "I love you, too". Courage replied. "We're going to have fun today…right?". Princess said, gently, still holding onto Courage's cheeks, massaging them. "Yes". Courage replied, as Princess kissed his cheeks. "No worries, just love…and seaweed wraps". Princess said, gently.
Courage nodded, as he looked up at Princess. Princess smiled, kindly as she petted Courage's fur. "Well, they have some omelets on the deck, and they have a meditation circle". Mojo Jojo said, gently. "I'm sure this will be nice…omelets".
"Maybe that would be good, but we're in the market for Ice Cream…aren't we, Coochie?". Princess said, gently. "Sure". Courage replied. Princess smiled a kind smile. "Ready for an Ice cream bath, Coochie?". Princess asked, gently. "I am". Courage replied. Princess and Courage went upstairs to the pool deck, as Mojo Jojo followed them. "Perhaps one might like to see it…but…here it is". Mojo Jojo said, unwrapping his robe, showing his nis, or penis if one really cares. "Oh….". Princess said, pausing for a moment.
"...yes?". Mojo Jojo asked. "I didn't know yours looked like that….all hairy with a fang in the middle". Princess said, awkwardly.
"Yeah…why do you have a fang?". Courage asked. "Mmm, you mean a tusk?". Mojo Jojo said, airily, with his own, soft, light, raspy tone, lush with seductive, gentle airs. "Well, when male Chimps have coitis, they unintentionally hurt their mate by pressing down with this fang". "Chimps have spikes in their penises". "Lions have spiked penises as well". "You like how it looks on me?".
Princess and Courage exchanged looks, as they tried looking away instead of gawking. "It looks….odd, kind of". Courage said. "Mm, perhaps because we've never seen a penis that looks quite like that". Princess said. "Penises are generally round and hard".
"Mine can be long, and spiny". Mojo Jojo said, as he chuckled. "Mm, seems fitting". Princess said, laughing as she glanced at Courage. "One day, I'll have sex, and a girl will scream". Mojo Jojo said. "She'll scream in pain". Princess corrected, as she and Mojo laughed. Courage grimaced a bit. "Well, let's take this one up to the ice cream tub, and we'll gladly show it off to some potential suitors". Mojo Jojo said, brashly. Princess nodded.
They got up to the ice cream tub, as the three of them sat in the vanilla persuasion. Courage sat, relaxed, as he took in the warming jets. Courage relaxed, as he fell into the jets, calming down, even as he licked the ice cream. He felt a stroke on his face….a kind, and gentle stroke on the face, as he glanced upwards, even with anxious eyes, and a tireless mind. "Hey big guy, I have something that might help you calm down". Mojo said, gently, with kindness. "It's a medicine that can help you sleep, and be less anxious…less angry". "Will you be ok to take it…it's only if you want to, son".
"Ok". Courage said. Mojo Jojo took out some Cannabis, as he put a few drops in Courage's milk. Courage drank it, sniffling. "You'll calm down, now….you'll be ok". "You just need to relax, think good thoughts, and not be so stressed". "You'll be ok…..just think about ice cream, and how delicious it is". "That's what I always do". Mojo Jojo said, gently. Courage nodded.
"There you go, Coochie". "Close your eyes, it's ok". "You're doing great". Mojo Jojo said, gently. "Thank you". Courage said, as he, Mojo, and Princess laughed. Mojo smiled a kind smile, as the three of them talked, eating their ice cream. As Courage ate, as he drank his Oat Milk, he felt a sting on his face. He yelped a bit. "What happened, Coochie?". "Is everything ok?". Princess asked, gently. "No….". Courage said, as his eyes welled up with tears. "No….unfortunately not".
"Something fell from up there…up from the ceiling, and bit me on the face". Courage said, as he sniffled. Courage's eyes filled with tears. "Oh….something bit you…I'm sorry, honey". Princess said, softly with gentleness as she comforted Courage. "Shh, it's ok…we'll get some medicine for you…I packed some in my first aid kit, especially for bites". Princess said, gently. "Let's go get some medicine". Princess patted down Courage's bug bite as he cried. Courage sniffled, as he blinked back more tears. "Come to my breasts, and I'll make it go away". "Breast milk solves anything". Princess joked, as she and Mojo laughed. "Let's go to the breakfast bar, and we'll refill your milk, and get some medicine for your bite". Princess said, gently with softness.
As Mojo was in the tub, he saw a girl coming to the tub, as she smiled, along with her caregiver, Double D. Rika had joined them. "Rika, honey, not too quick, now". "Please stay calm when we come close". Double D reminded Rika, gently. "There might be bugs around here, so let's be vigilant". Double D said, kindly. Rika nodded.
"There she is…she looks beautiful". Mojo Jojo said, gently. "She looks like a dream this morning". Mojo Jojo smiled as he held Rika's hands, kindly. Rika nodded. "Hello, Rika". "Hello, how are you, baby?". Mojo Jojo asked, kindly with gentleness. He nuzzled her, kissing both of her cheeks, as she giggled. "Ba ba ba ba". Rika said, as she giggled. "So good to see you, darling". "I've missed you so much". "I love seeing you, and your beauty, my queen". "Come on in, have some ice cream, and bubbles, have some milk, and I'll stroke your face". Mojo Jojo said, gently. Rika giggled, as she nodded.
Mojo Jojo nuzzled Rika, as she giggled, smiling. Everything was peaceful, and calm. "She might be perfect for Courage". "They both lost birth parents, they both struggled with disabilities, they both work so hard". Edd said, gently.
"Rika lost her birth parents to a fire when she was a few days old". Edd whispered, gently as he spoke to Mojo Jojo. "did she find a family with nice parents…..oh…she was abused?". Mojo Jojo whispered. "She was abused heavily, isolated heavily….beaten, neglected, and starved in the orphanage, until the orphanage burned down, and she was the only one who survived". "She had such a hard time". Edd whispered. "I feel so bad for her".
"Mmm". Mojo Jojo whispered as Rika played in the hot tub. "Well, I was hoping to help with the center for Battered children, and individuals who were internationally adopted…that or children with deceased families". "I still had to do the background check".
"We have you on the top of the list…and your background check came in, first thing". Edd whispered. "That's nice…I think Princess Morbucks wanted to help there as well". "She wanted to see if she could apply to be a care nurse". "She'd help with toileting, medications, and bedtime routines". "She'd help with physical exams, and personal care". Mojo whispered. "I'd be more or less helping with counseling, and deprivation therapy, as well as emotional support".
"That sounds nice". Edd whispered. "The kids need it more than anything". "They suffer like no one else we've seen".
"They truly do". Mojo whispered. Rika played as she splashed the ice cream, eating it. "Well, we're having a nice time". Edd said, as he engaged Rika in play.
"I think she and Courage would do well". Mojo thought as he read the paper. At the food bar, Princess applied some medicine to Courage's face. "There we are, coochie". "All better". Princess said, gently. She kissed Courage's face, kindly. "All…better". She said, sniffling. "Is everything ok?". Courage asked. "I will be honest with you, I feel so bad for you". Princess said, softly. "Because you lost your birth parents at an early age, and you were alone for a long time before being adopted". "I feel as if you deserved more…
More than I could've given you…".
"I know you're being strong, but I worry sometimes". "I worry that I'm not giving you enough". "I want to be sure we're in a good place, together". Princess said, gently with softness. "I love you, and I want to make sure you're ok".
"Thank you". Courage said, as he drank his Oat Milk. "I don't want to see my favorite person feeling bad". Princess said, gently. Courage nodded. Princess petted his head as she went outside to rejoin Mojo and Rika, as well as Edd. "You tried your hardest….that's all anyone could ask". Princess said, softly with gentleness. Princess sounded depressed.
Rika drank from her sippy cup, as Mojo stroked her face, kindly. "It's ok, sweetie". "Be calm, be happy". Mojo said, gently with softness. "You're enjoying your milk so much". Rika nodded, as she sniffled. "Time to take your medicine, my Rika". Edd said, gently with kindness. Rika whined as she held her sippy cup close to her. "Please don't be sad….medicine is good for us". "Take medicine and drink your milk, honey". Edd said, kindly. Rika nodded. Mojo smiled as Rika came to him. "It's time for some more milk". Edd said, gently. Rika nodded, as she received her psychostimulant from Edd. Rika drank her milk, as she took the capsule.
Courage drank his milk from his sippy cup, as he glanced at Princess, who seemed sullen, and pensive. Pensive is a good word to describe it.
"Is everything ok, Princess?". Courage asked, as Princess Morbucks nodded. "I'm doing well, I just feel kind of down, though". "I'm sad that you had a hard year". "I'm sad that you have this disability…all because you lost your birth parents". "You deserved much more than you were given, Courage". "I'm not disappointed in you, I don't think you're disabled, I just feel bad that's all". "I wish I could help you more…there was more I could do to make it easier for you". "You've been through so much…you and Rika both". Princess said, gently. "She lost her birth mom, too".
"I know". Courage said. Courage nodded. "You both need more than what life gave you….and I want to give you both more than that". "Please don't be angry….don't think you've failed…the world is the thing that failed….and hopefully, there can be some success". Princess said, gently. "I love you….no matter what".
"I love you too". Courage said. Princess hugged Courage gently as she kissed his cheek. "Let's not be sad now…let's join the meditation circle". Princess said, gently as she and Courage walked to the circle. Princess took a glance at the bug bite on Courage's face. "Mmm, it seems to be getting worse". "Your face is bruised". Princess said, gently. "I'm ok for right now". Courage said. "Let's get some more medicine for your face, sweetie". Princess said, gently.
Courage followed Princess into the bar, the buffet bar, in the intimate cabana, as Princess gave him an antibiotic for his face.
Mojo Jojo bade Edd and Rika goodbye, as he sniffled. Princess glanced at Mojo Jojo, as she sighed. "Everything ok?". Princess asked a former member of the Beat-Alls. "Everything might be fine….I'm just a bit down, that's all". Mojo Jojo said. "I feel so bad for Rika". "She has her learning disabilities, she has her backstory, I feel so bad for her". "I don't know how to help her…but I want to".
"Right now, all it takes is time". Princess said. "Time is what gives us patience". "I wish there was more for me to do, too". "But honestly, I don't want to be upset, I don't want to work myself up…I need to stay positive on this trip". "I'm already disappointed enough".
"Hey, me too". Mojo Jojo said. "Disappointment is something that is commonplace now".
Maybe it's better if we go to the meditation circle". Mojo Jojo said. They went to the circle, as a small gong was rung. They went to the circle, seeing other members come near.
Some had special needs, some didn't. Some had Down Syndrome, some were normal. The gong was rung, as the individuals came near. "Welcome, everyone". The swami said, gently, as the white mist from the clouds, and the sky, the easygoing fog surrounded them.
"Good to see everyone this morning". "Allow us to begin". The swami said, gently. Another thing perhaps for us to notice….is how naked everyone was. Everyone was naked….nude, with all of their reproductive parts showing.
My Courage felt sleepy, as his bugbite began to swell, in effaced complacency. His face began to hurt, as his eyes had bags, of exhaustion under them. His eyes, which were the eyes of a troubled creature, a tired creature, who had experienced the death of a loved one, blinked back tears.
Courage sat beside Princess, as he saw her breasts lactate. Everyone, naked, pure, and honest, soft in their attempts, paid attention to the swami. "Well, now that we're here…perhaps we can start". "We are gathered today to find peace". "To find love, and understanding". "Take a deep breath….focus on….my voice". "Focus on….my words". "Focus on the air you're breathing…the sounds….and the sights". "Think to yourself….am I running away from who I once was?".
"Am I prioritizing others' needs before my own?". "Am I losing a piece of myself to my negative thoughts…to others standards?". "Am I holding onto anger towards others?". "Will I forgive?". "Or will I be angry?". The swami recited for meditation. "I will think….I will use reason, and logic….rather than anger". "Focus….on….my voice….and….the taste….in your mouth". "Mmmmm…..mindfulness". "Love….and peace". The swami said. As Courage meditated, with his eyes closed, he took in the clouds, and the mist. Courage thought about the mist, and only the mist. He focused on the sights….and the sounds. He was in a good place….even though his face hurt immensely due to the bug bite. My poor Courage.
"Think of how amazing you are". "You are everything". "You are important". "You are worth something". "You matter to everyone". "You have a purpose….you are strong….you are invincible…..you can do anything". "Don't be doubtful…be happy that you are someone". "Be the invincible you wish to be". "Breathe….breathe….breathe". The Swami encouraged, gently as he guided everyone. Courage breathed in deep, visualizing certain things…as he took in the sights and sounds. Courage was doing well.
Courage opened his eyes as he glanced at the Swami, and the mist that surrounded him. Courage sniffled as he came back to his reality. Princess came back to her reality as well.
"That was nice, huh?". "Meditating". Princess said, gently. Courage nodded. "I guess it was nice…it was really nice…but I guess…I guess kind of….it felt nice to let go of what once was, and try to think about nothing". Courage said, taking a sip of his naturally-made frozen lemonade, with strawberry drizzle. "It was kind of nice, come to mention it". Princess said, gently. "I need that sometimes, too".
"We all need that". Mojo Jojo said, kindly as he and Princess laughed. "Well, I'm certainly happy we're naked". "All that naked gets me to thinking". Mojo Jojo said, gently. "Thinking about tearing a lady's vagina to shreds during coitis with the penis claw?". Princess asked. "I've thought about it…and I truly don't have anywhere to put my penis…as of now". Mojo Jojo said. "What about that one chimp you were dating….Moko Jono?". "You said she was coming….perhaps?". Princess asked. "She should be here shortly". "But she's definitely not in the market to hurt anyone". "She's just there for a morning delight, and Coitis on the beach". Mojo Jojo said, gently. "I've had my affairs with married women….their husbands never find out, so it's copesthetic".
"I've had affairs before, myself". "Usually, I hire men to sleep with me, so I get 50 to 90% of the payout". "I love having sex…it's freeing in its own right". Princess said. "It definitely is freeing in every market". Mojo Jojo stated. He and Princess laughed. "You'd perhaps be nice to sleep with…if you weren't a different species". Princess said. "I thought the same about you". Mojo Jojo said, gently. He and Princess laughed again.
Courage drank his lemonade, as he looked up at Princess and Mojo Jojo, all with the look of vulnerable innocence about him. Much like a toddler coming to their parents, or their older sibling. "There he is…he looks so angelic". "He looks like a dream". "It is true, I dreamt about him last night when I was sleeping". "He's my angel". Princess said, sighing with a swoon.
"He is angelic, indeed". "I dream of the purity, and sanctity my Courage has, as well". Mojo Jojo said, gently, as he swooned. Courage looked up at Mojo Jojo and Princess. "Baby, we need to take more medicine". "Your face is so bruised, and swollen". "That bug bite was hard, huh?". Princess said, gently. "It was". Courage said. "Come with me, and I'll give you some medicine". Princess said, kindly. "Let's get some medicine, Coochie". "Coochie, Coochie coo". Courage and Princess went back to the cabana, taking more antibiotics. He drank from his sippy cup, taking in more of the nutrients. "Love you, my Courage". Princess said, kissing both of Courage's cheeks, as the gong sounded again. (it was a small gong the size of a cell phone), as another meditation circle was beginning. They joined, and enjoyed the sights and sounds of another love taking place. On their cruise.