Tarzan: Daughter and Son
by S.M. Scott
Disclaimer: I do not own Tarzan, Disney does. I only own the characters I made up. Take Chuimbo and Elizabeth, for example.
The Decision part II
Just as the sky began to darken into another night, Jane had brought out the food and set it all onto the dining table. The children had their own separate table and were given their own helpings. Dinner that night was the fish that Tarzan and Chuimba had caught earlier that day.
"Well, that was rather delicious, I must say." Professor Porter had said whenever everyone had eaten their fill. "Thank you, Daddy," Jane smiled. "Any more tea, Auntie Theodora, Uncle George?"
"Oh, no thank you." They both insisted. Although she hadn't said it out loud, Lady Danford personally thought that the tea was the worst she'd ever tasted. It was almost as bad as if she'd stooped to eating dirt off of the jungle ground, along with whatever droppings any animals could have left. But neither she nor George could expect anything better, apparently. It would be best for all of the family if they went to England with them. But she would have to consult with George first.
"Well, the tea, like everything else around here, is really different." Lady Danford told Jane. "Anyway, Chiumba and Elizabeth have both told me that you let your father home-school them? Is it true?" She asked Jane and Tarzan. "Well, Auntie Theodora, there isn't any boarding school that we know of in Africa, or we probably would have sent them. But we all have to make the most of what we have here." Jane confessed. "Ah, fascinating, Janie." Said Lord Danford. "As sure as I am that Archimedes is a very capable teacher, think of all the opportunities you are having them miss. This would hardly be a cause for concern if they were educated properly."
"But we are educated properly!" Chuimba protested. And I don't ever want to leave Africa! I'm going to stay right here."
"But don't be silly, boy," Lord Danford said. "You don't even have any real friends, either of you." But Chiumba said, "I do so have friends. Terk and Tantor, Terk's a gorilla, and Tantor's an elephant. They can both talk, and I can be myself around them."
"Good Heavens! a gorilla and an elephant, how very...original!" Lady Danford laughed, then glared at Tarzan as though it were all his fault. Lord Danford was starting to get annoyed when he said, "Chuimba, you are eleven years old and not so stupid. Gorillas and elephants don't talk."
"They do so talk!" Chuimba yelled back. "And I'm never going to any stupid boarding school. Send Elizabeth if you want, but I'm staying in Africa!"
"Chuimba!" Jane said firmly. "That's no way to talk to your Aunt or Uncle!"
"Oh, Don't worry about it, Janie." Aunt Theodora said reassuringly. "He's only a boy, he'll calm down in the morning." Chuimba, of course, had stormed up to his bedroom, and Elizabeth was told to get ready for bed, too.
T
"You've really done it this time, Chuimba. Now Auntie Theodora and Uncle George will think that Mummy and Daddy don't know how to raise children properly." Elizabeth said reproachfully, from behind her dressing curtain. Then, she re-emerged in her nightgown. Her long brown hair was braided up for bed. "Oh, you shut up! I wasn't about to just sit there and let them talk about Terk and Tantor or the rest of us like they were doing."
"You are getting way too dramatic. All they said was that gorillas and elephants can't talk. It's not as if they can understand Gorilla or Elephant. Besides, this trip to England might be good for all of us." Chiumba ignored his sister. He snuck quietly back down the ladder, also ignoring Elizabeth's warnings that he would get in trouble. He hid in the shadows best as he could while listening to the grown-ups' conversation.
"Look Tarzan, all that Theodora and I have been trying to say is, there's nothing in Africa for your children. All it is as far as our eyes have seen is jungle. Dangerous animals that would attack you anywhere you turn. Think of all the terrible diseases your children could very well be at a risk contracting. It's astounding that they haven't caught any such thing yet. Besides, their manners are not exactly the most stellar, especially the boy's." Lord Danford stated.
"Survival is the most important thing in the jungle." Tarzan said. "As I grew up I had to start learning very early." Jane put an arm around Tarzan. "Yes dear, but there are different ways of raising children. Auntie, Uncle, I appreciate your concerns, I really do, but Tarzan and I have always been happy here since we were married, well, in a sense..." Jane laughed awkwardly under her Uncle's raised eyebrows. "The children are happy here, too." Jane added.
"And it was a fact we accepted when it was just you, your father..."
"And the Ape Man," Giles sneered in the shadows.
"But you have children to consider now." Lady Danford said. "Your Uncle is right, Jane, you know he's right."
"Did you have any suggestions?" Tarzan asked both of them tensely. "Why, of course, Tarzan," said Lord Danford. "Theodora and I have decided that you will all be coming to England with us."
"All right, we will all go." Tarzan finally relented.
"I don't believe this!" Chiumba cried.