You know how people write stories with song lyrics embedded in them? Well, this is not a song; it's a poem that was written many years ago by my youth pastor, Johnathan. I was surprised at its dark tone, yet also fascinated with it. So, the poem (which shares it's name with the title of this chapter) doesn't belong to me, it belongs to him.
This (kinda dark) story takes place one night, during which Stitch cannot sleep. He's too busy thinking about how 627 was so much better than he was; now, Stitch has only one wish for 627, and that is…
I Wish You Would Die
If you died todayWould I cry?
And if I did, would it be joy or pain?
If you died today
Stitch couldn't sleep. He tossed and turned in his bed, he pulled the covers up around his neck, he even tried wrapping his pillow all the way around his head…but nothing worked.
He could only think of Experiment 627.
627 had been stronger, scarier, grosser, and more powerful that Stitch. 627 didn't sink in water, was better camouflaged in the underbrush, and was the only Experiment who Stitch couldn't immediately take out.
For some reason, that was the memory that irked Stitch the most.
If you died today
How exactly would the world change?
Would all that you held or touched suffer and choke
Or would the memory of you be the latest and greatest joke?
Would the world you know cease to be
Or would everyone who knew you leap and skip with glee?
If you died today
Stitch had come to admit it; 627 had been better than him. Besides the fact that 627 had a weakness in laughing, 627 was better than Stitch in battle, in ferocity, and -- as it was rumored by several giggly female Experiments, who had found a picture of 627 on Jumba's laptop – in sex appeal. Even Jumba had been slightly more impressed with 627's success than Stitch's.
Okay, Stitch had to admit that 627 had taught him a valuable lesson in dealing with pride (basically, avoid getting your head so big that it makes a good target for someone to burst your bubble), and Stitch could thank him for that.
Nevertheless…Stitch knew that, while 627 existed, he could very well be forgotten.
If you died today
Would you promise to leave me alone
Or would you still wear out your welcome long after you're dead and gone.
Being careful not to awaken Lilo as she peacefully slept beside him, Stitch crept downstairs for a quick plate of Oreos and a glass of milk. As he sat at the table eating his midnight snack, Stitch's mind still wandered.
Was it selfishness to worry about being forgotten because somebody was better than you were? Stitch dunked an Oreo into the milk; for a split second, he imagined it was 627, drowning in a river. With a gleeful grin, Stitch pulled 627 (the Oreo) out of the river (the glass of milk) and slowly bit into it. His powerful jaws ripped 627's head right off of his shoulders; with a powerful flip of his neck muscles, 627's head slipped down Stitch's gullet into his stomach, where his super-powered stomach acid began to disintegrate 627…erm…the Oreo.
If you died today
I could start to live
No longer would I have to survive off of what you choose to give.
Okay, that was just plain scary. Stitch knew better than to think things like that; those types of thoughts were just plain evil, and Stitch was no longer was evil.
But 627 still was. That thought struck Stitch's mind like an arrow in a bull's-eye. 627, in all of his power, was pure evil – Jumba had said so.
That was what separated Stitch from 627, and lowered the awe others held for 627.
And this was the reason that a sudden fear for Stitch's family entered his heart; if 627 were reactivated, he wouldn't hesitate to hurt – or kill – any of Stitch's family members.
If you died today
I really would not be sad at all
I have been waiting for the day
When you no longer lived in my home.
Another thought crept into Stitch's mind. Lilo had given 627's pod to Jumba for safekeeping; after which, Jumba had put it in the drawer with a few other super-dangerous Experiment pods.
Slowly, Stitch gazed towards the hallway that contained the staircase.
If you died today
Then I could see
Because the shadow you cast while living,
Did nothing but blind me.
After finishing the rest of his midnight snack, Stitch stood and slowly walked upstairs towards Jumba and Pleakley's room.
Don't do this, Stitch! a part of his mind argued. You shouldn't do this!
But I have to, reasoned the other part, for the safety of my family.
The safety of your family? retorted the first part, Or your social status?
Stitch thought about this for a second or two. At first, he finally decided, for my social status. But I don't care about that anymore. 627 is a danger to everyone on this island, and he needs to be destroyed.
If you died today
And Oh! How I wish that you would
Then I could start to live
Like God always told me I could.
The door to Jumba and Pleakley's room opened silently as Stitch padded in. His eyes, glowing bright green in the dark of the room, scanned the drawers for 627's pod. Upon finding it, Stitch picked the lock with one of his long claws.
So, if you died today
Yes I would cry.
Joy or pain, you ask?
You don't really want to know
So on the answer to that I will just pass.
The drawer opened. Feeling around inside it with one of his paws, Stitch pulled out a round blue marble with three numbers imprinted in black letters along one side: "627"
Yes…this was what Stitch had been searching for.
If you died today
Things would not suffer or choke
As a matter of fact I could start to get fixed all that you broke.
Clutching the Experiment pod tightly between his paws, Stitch glanced around the room. Jumba and Pleakley were still asleep, and there were no other signs of life. Good; this meant that Stitch could make an escape without being seen.
Silently, Stitch slipped downstairs, through the house, and out the doggy door. Then, running as fast as he could, Stitch bolted into the forest, far away from any spying eyes.
If you died today
Stop talking about it and just leave.
Don't let me hold you up, cause I got places to be.
Stitch finally came to rest in a clearing; for a split second, Stitch realized it was the same clearing where he had said his second and third English words: "I'm lost."
How ironic, he mused, that this – the place where he first turned good for real – would be the place where he was going to get rid of the threat of 627.
Stitch picked up a nearby rock that was the size of his fist.
If you died today
Oh how happy I would be
I have been blind for far too long
And I got too many things to see.
Stitch placed 627's pod on the rock where he had laid his book years ago; then he held the rock above his head. For some reason, Stitch remembered that Lilo had told him that everybody should say something nice at somebody's funeral, whether that person was good or bad to them.
"627," Stitch spat in Tantalog, "I have only one good thing to say to you: thanks for teach me the dangers of pride. However, if you're expecting any praise for your actions or any other good words, think again. You were pure evil, a sadistic monster…"
Stitch's face twisted into a snarl. "…and I wish you would die!"
I need you to die today
There is just to much weight on me
This can't be healthy if I am going to grow and succeed.
Stitch brought the rock down on 627's dehydrated form.
I'm glad you died today
There is just too much weight on me
This can't be healthy if I am going to grow and succeed.
Stitch let his breath out in one big gasp; he didn't realize he had been holding his breath. He double-checked the rock where he had set the pod; 627's pod had been smashed into a million pieces. As a failsafe, whenever an Experiment pod is smashed, it will disintegrate until there is nothing left; this is what once had been 627's pod was now doing.
It's over, Stitch thought, 627 is destroyed.
Stitch tossed the smaller rock aside.
I'm glad you died today
Now I can breathe
It was hard to run with you siphoning the air meant for me.
An eerie grin spreading across his face, Stitch walked back towards the house. He no longer had to worry about his family getting killed in their sleep, nor about being forgotten by his 'Ohana, nor even a leak in the roof accidentally reactivating 627.
No one would ever have to worry about 627 again.
I'm glad you died today
Besides for you there is no need
When the Master sought to form me
Room for you He did not leave.
Stitch crawled back towards his bed. As he did so, he stole a glance towards Lilo. She was asleep; she had slept through the entire incident. Tomorrow, Stitch decided, he'd announce to the entire family that 627 was dead. Of course, they wouldn't understand; in fact, they'd probably punish him for doing what he had done.
Whatever they did to him, though…Stitch wouldn't care. 627 was gone, and he was glad.
Slipping back under the covers, Stitch feel into a sweet and dreamless sleep.
I'm glad you died today
I don't miss you now that you are gone
And if you ever think of coming back
Don't bother calling me,
Cause I ain't home.
Yeah…I don't really care for 627 all that much. I don't know why, I just don't. The only good thing he's got going for him is his voice, which is pretty cool.
But, enough rambling: review!