A Wandering Heart
Part 2: Take 1
by Kim McFarland

There were many Fraggles in Fraggle Rock. Nobody had ever bothered to count them; guesses ranged from dozens to several hundred. All agreed, however, that however many there were, it was the right number.

It would seem impossible, if anyone had given much thought to the matter, to find vacant caves close to the heart of the colony. But it happened anyway, so Fraggles accepted it as an unexplainable fact of life, on a par with the appearance of the Fraggle Moon and the passages deep underground that led to Outer Space.

Janken and Mica had found just such an empty cave. It was a medium-sized room, with a flat floor and shelflike formations at waist height along most of the walls. They looked all around, then at each other. After a quiet moment he said, "What do you think?"

"It's just right... and it's a little eerie. Not scary, just... did you know this cave was here?"

"I never saw it before in my life."

"Wow."

In a low voice Janken said, "If Mokey saw this she'd say the Rock was providing for us, just like it provided for her and Red right after they decided to move in together. That sounds flaky, but at times like this I see how she believes that, you know?"

"Yeah." She stopped looking around and took his hand. "Whether or not it was meant for us or it's just here, I think we should take it."

"Yeah."

"Let's get our stuff."

Janken's belongings were spread among his parents' three homes. The first one he visited was the closest; Red and Mokey's cave. He hadn't slept here much in the past few years. The cave was snug for three, so when Sage was born he had started spending most of his time with Wembley, Gobo, and Boober. Now he only slept over when Red needed help with her baby.

When he entered Red and Mokey were playing with Poncle. The little Fraggle, now ten days old, was still blind. Her eyes wouldn't open for another week or two. She was too young to do much besides eat, sleep, cry, and make messes, but that never discouraged anyone from gleefully babbling baby talk at her. They looked silly, Janken thought, but so what? Silly is good.

Red was still in bed. Poncle's birth had been rough on her, and Boober would not permit her to risk further harm by straining herself. That she actually followed his orders with only token backtalk was taken as proof of her condition. Boober had confided to Janken that when she started complaining in earnest and trying to escape he'd consider her recovered. She had put her hair up in pigtails again, which, Janken thought, was a good sign.

Now Mokey was singing to the baby, a soft, silly ditty about thimble beetles and rumble bugs. Janken nodded to her and Red, unwilling to interrupt the song, then went to his corner and picked up the few items of clothing that he kept here. He left the bedding; with a messy baby in the room, they could always use a spare. Then he sat down by Mokey, listening to the song and looking at Poncle.

After Mokey finished Red asked, "What's up, Janken?"

"I've found a new cave. Mica and I are moving into it today," he told both Red and Mokey.

Mokey said, "That's wonderful! You must be so excited, moving in with your best friend!"

"Yeah, I am. And a little nervous, I guess."

Red told him, "You'll be fine. Where is it?"

"It's not far. Take the right tunnel as you leave here, then go on outward from the Great Hall for a minute, and it's on the right. I'll show you after we move in."

Mokey said, "All right. I hope you two will be as happy as we are!"

Red quipped, "At least, as we were after the first few days."

Janken grinned. He had heard all about Red and Mokey's housewarming battle, which had culminated in the invention of the hammock-thwack. It had been a while since Red's hammock had been used to slingshot anyone into the pool in the Great Hall. "I think we'll get along a little better than that."

Janken visited Boober next. Boober was sitting back with his feet up, a teacup in hand, gazing at the clothesline that crossed his living space. He always found watching laundry dry relaxing. Janken didn't understand that, but then there was so much not to understand about Boober. In the end, you just accepted him for the oddball he was.

"Want some tea?" Boober offered.

Janken almost said no, but then he changed his mind. "Thanks, yeah."

Boober poured a second cup. Janken took a sip. It was something minty, made with sweetwater. He said, "I've found a place to live. It's close by. I'll show you where it is when we're settled in."

Boober nodded. "I had a feeling you'd find a cave of your own soon. 'We', you said?"

"Yeah. I'm moving in with Mica."

After a pause, Boober said "Oh," into his teacup.

Janken recognized that oh-so-neutral tone of voice: pretending to pretend that nothing was wrong, and doing it badly enough that his opinion came through loud and clear. "Yeah. I really think that this'll work. We really like each other."

"I know you do. I hope you're happy together." Boober put his teacup down, then went over to a box he kept on a shelf. He rummaged within it for a few moments, then turned back and gave Janken a double handful of packets of folded paper. Janken sniffed them. They were teas. Boober liked to make his own blends from dried leaves and herbs. Janken recognized these as some of his favorites. They could be stirred into cold water and let sit for a few minutes, which was good, as not many Fraggles besides Boober had the equipment or knowhow to boil water. "Thanks."

"You're welcome. Come back for more."

"I'll come back whether you have tea or not," Janken said with a warm smile.

"Good. My door's always open."

"No, it isn't," Janken teased. The curtain that Boober used as a door was often drawn.

"If it's closed, open it," Boober told him.

"I will."

The two hugged. Then Janken went over to his bed. He didn't have much more in this room than that. He put his clothing down, wrapped the collection of tea packets in that, then made a bundle of the bedding. "See you soon," he said.

"See you," Boober said.

Janken left. Boober sat back at the table and put his feet up again. Anyone who looked in on him would assume he was laundry-gazing, but his eyes, hidden by his cap, were closed. Laundry was not on his mind now. Janken, rooming with a girl? Boober had not expected that. Maybe it would work out, but Boober doubted it would. Still, it was Janken's life; he had the right to take his own chances and make his own mistakes.

Janken's third stop was Gobo and Wembley's cave. Janken had his own sleeping nook here, and it was where, up until now, he had slept most nights. Wembley and Gobo were sitting in their own nooks, Gobo strumming his gourd guitar and Wembley playing his bongo drums. Janken put down the bundle he was carrying, got the ocarina from the back of his sleeping nook, and joined in. Gobo and Wembley grinned at him, welcoming him to their jam session.

They played a light, improvised tune. Any of them could have sung as well; all Fraggles had a gift for improvising lyrics. However, to sing would be to take control of the music, and they were enjoying it as a simple, cooperative tune.

When they finished Gobo put down his guitar and asked Janken, "What's up with the luggage?"

"I've found a new cave. It's time I got out on my own."

"Really? Where?" Wembley asked.

"It's just a minute from Mokey and Red's cave. It's really nice, and about the same size. Ought to be plenty of room, since we don't have a lot of stuff to clutter it up," Janken explained.

"We? Who are you moving in with?" Wembley asked.

"Mica."

"Oh," Wembley said, surprised.

"Come on, I expected that from Boober, not from you," Janken said. "Mica and I've been best friends since I can remember. Why shouldn't we move in together? You two did."

"Yeah, I guess you're right," Wembley said.

Janken started gathering his things from his nook. "Besides, well, it's kind of like testing the waters."

"Well, good luck," Gobo said. "Need any help?"

"Nah, I'm fine," Janken said. He tied the edge of his blanket, on which he had put his possessions, together, then swung it over his shoulder like a sack. Then he paused. "I'll really miss sleeping here, though."

"We'll miss you too," Wembley said softly.

Wembley climbed down the ladder. Janken put down the cloth and hugged his father. He thought, even though he would only be moving a few minutes away, he'd miss him. It really felt like he was leaving home now.

Wembley asked, "Need help carrying your stuff?"

"No, but thanks," Janken said. He swung the cloth back up onto his shoulder and said, "See you later!"

"Good luck!" Gobo said again.

"You too," Janken replied with a grin. Then he turned and left.

When Janken returned to the new cave Mica was already there. She had few possessions, and had only had to go to one place to gather them, so she had been back for a while. She said, "My mother didn't much like me moving out."

"My fathers thought it was kinda funny too," Janken replied. "I guess it's a parent thing."

"Yeah, guess so," she agreed. "I had some ideas how to set up in here."

"Go on."

"Well, first, do we want to split the room in half or not? Your half, my half?"

He glanced around the room, then at her. "Do we need to?"

"I'd rather not."

"Me neither. Do we want one bed or two?"

There were two obvious spots for beds on the shelflike formations. One was bigger than the other. She nodded toward it and said "I think that's big enough for us both."

"Okay."

He sounded a little hesitant, but then, she realized, so did she. She grinned sheepishly at him. "Big step, isn't it?"

"Yeah." He smiled back at her. "I brought two of my beds. There'll be enough to make one bigger one."

"I can sew two blankets together to cover."

"Sure. I'll set it up. You can put other stuff out."

"Okay."

Mica set out her and Janken's possessions on the flowstone shelf. There wasn't much; most Fraggles didn't accumulate a lot of possessions. She had a kit with thread, yarn, needles, and the like; her family worked with cloth. Janken had his ocarina and some teas. Both had some clothes and a few miscellaneous keepsakes. Not much to set up housekeeping with, she thought, but the rest would come with time.

Janken laid the two sleeping mats—basically very thick blankets—side by side. They could be sewn together, he thought. He covered each with a blanket and put a pillow at each end. And, well, that was all there was to do.

Janken glanced over at Mica. She was looking back at him. He said, "I guess that's pretty much it."

"Yeah."

There was another awkward pause. Then he said, "Except,"

"Except what?"

He put his arms around her and kissed her. After a moment of surprise—he had never kissed her before—she put her arms around his waist and kissed back.

Fraggle Rock and all characters except Janken, Poncle, and Mica are copyright © The Jim Henson Company. All copyrighted properties are used without permission but with much respect and affection. Janken, Poncle, Mica, and the overall story are copyright © Kim McFarland (negaduck9 at aol dot com). Permission is given by the author to copy it for personal use only.