Pacifier
Age 3
Mikey had always had his pacifier. When he was younger it never left his mouth. It was a comfort tool and he knew the sucking sensation also calmed Don who had recently begun to suck his thumb. But even so Mikey wanted to stop sucking, but he didn't want to throw it out either. It was a hard decision and not easily made especially for a three year old, but what could he do?
It took a while, but he finally figured it out. He would make it a good luck charm! But how could he? Surely there must be some special way to make it. 'Well,' he thought 'Master Splinter does know EVERYTHING. So I'll ask him.' Mikey soon found his father in a light meditation.
"Um, Master Splinter," said Mikey.
"Yes, Michelangelo?" asked his father.
"Do you know how to make something a good luck charm?" asked the little turtle toddler.
"What did you have in mind?" questioned Master Splinter.
"My pacifier," answered Mikey quietly.
"Yes, I believe I do," said Master Splinter, getting up.
Soon Master Splinter and Mikey had gathered up some string, a pair of scissors, and Mikey's orange pacifier. Then Master Splinter began the instructions "First, you see how much string you need to be able to tie it around your neck." The rat sensei did just that and then removed it from around Mikey's neck and said "Now you cut the string to length needed." He snipped the string with the scissors. "Now you put the pacifier on the string," Master Splinter said and quickly threaded the string under the pacifier's handle and the said "And tie it around your neck." and Master put it around his young son's neck and tied it.
"That's it?" asked Mikey "That's all you have to do?"
"Yes, my son," answered his father.
"Wow! Thanks, Master Splinter!" exclaimed Mikey giving his father a hug and running to go play with his brothers.
Age 5
Here it was. It was his turn. Mikey rubbed his pacifier for good luck. Right now it was his turn to do the kata him and the others had been mastering. Always one for goofing off, this was his turn to show his Master and brother that he took being a ninja seriously. He had practiced for hours each day and he only hoped that he did it right. This was his pacifier good luck charms real test to see if it was really good luck. It had passed every other test so far in the two years he had it. He took his place in the center of the room.
"Begin," commanded Master Splinter Mikey went through each movement in his head. By the end, he was sure he had made a mistake. He looked to his sensei's serious face. Downcasting his eyes he had wondered what he did wrong. Letting his eyes wonder he came upon his father's face and saw the smile on it. He took a deep breath and then Master Splinter said "Well done. Not one mistake." Mikey swelled with happiness. 'I guess my pacifier really is good luck, isn't it?' he thought.
Age 8
"When are ya gonna stop wearin' dat thing around your neck?" asked Raph.
"Yeah, Mikey, it just looks...weird," agreed Don.
"So? It's my good luck charm," said Mikey "I'll never ever ever let it go."
"But you've got to let it go sometime," said Leo.
"No I don't. I'll never let it go. It will be with me forever!" answered Mikey.
"Listen, Mikey," said Don "I've stop sucking my thumb so isn't it about time you stopped wearing that thing?"
"NO!" yelled Mikey as he ran away.
They just didn't understand. His brothers didn't have anything that they clinged to. Especially not Leo and Raph. That was only to his knowledge, but he was just about one hundred percent positive that they didn't. No one understood. He needed his good luck charm. What if he went out without it and got hurt or he forgot to rub and made tons of mistakes in training? The pacifier good luck charm made him safe. He needed and would never let it go for anyone.
Age 15
"Thanks for helping me sell my stuff, Mikey," said April.
"Not a problem, April," said Mikey fully clothed in a disguise "And we have my good luck charm. We are sure to sell everything." Mikey showed her the pacifier.
"I've seen that before," said April.
"When I go out I leave it at home in case a loose it," said Mikey "I've only been doing this since we began battling the Shredder. You know, so I don't loose it."
"Ah," said April. Suddenly, a baby's cry could be heard. A poor looking family walked by trying to shush their baby girl. Quickly, April got up from her seat at her sidewalk sale and over to the family and asked "Do you need anything to help her quiet down?"
"We have no money to purchase any item," answered the father.
Mikey looked down at his good luck charm. He had just washed the pacifier today. It was the perfect thing to give to quiet down a child. Quieting down was the reason he had the pacifier in the first place. But how could he let it go? It was his good luck charm. Bad things happened when he didn't rub it. Like when Leo was seriously injured by the Foot or when Donnie turned into a monster. But then again, was luck real? When he had truly first decided that his pacifier was good luck he had trained hard to do his kata. Was it really his work that did that? There was only one way to find out.
He go up and put the pacifier in the baby girl's mouth and the rope around her neck. She instantly quieted down and slowly began to fall asleep.
"No charge," Mikey said "And that will bring her good luck, too." The family thanked them and left. A few hours later after long sales pitches and hard work every item dat been sold at April's sidewalk sale.
End of Chapter...
Kai: I own nothing, but the plot! Review! Peace!