No More Smurfing Chances
Chapter 5
Gargy Smurf was not the most popular Smurf in the village but he didn't care. It was late evening and he was wandering around the dusty village paths. He didn't want to be indoors. He often thought about running off into the woods, but that would be suicide, he wouldn't last five minutes out there as a Smurf. He started to feel angry and took it out on a pebble, kicking it very hard, causing it to bounce off a mushroom house and hit him on the shin. He winced in pain but tried not to show any weakness in front of the others. Never in his wildest dreams or even his nightmares did he expect to be a Smurf. Whatever Papa had done to him was not wearing off. Would the rest of his life be spent as a blue creature. The thought made him go weak at the knees.
After the 'incident' a few days ago, he had expected to be beaten up or locked at least. But no! Those goody two shoe Smurfs had chosen to give him freedom. But he knew that they were watching him whilst trying to pretend they were not watching.
If he got too near another Smurf they would scuttle off making excuses. No-one would talk to him or smile.
Except for one, Papa Smurf, who just at that moment appeared behind Gargy Smurf and tapped him on the shoulder.
The wizard almost had a heart attack.
"Papa, how very dare you give me a fright like that! I should...!"
"Should what?" asked Papa raising a quizzical eyebrow.
"Never mind. Just don't do that again! Haven't you all tortured me enough already?"
"Is that what you think we are doing? I'm sorry if you think that way. We are all here to help you see that there is hope for you to change your ways"
Gargy Smurf glared at Papa and growled,
"What if I don't want to change! What will you do with me then? I may be a humanised Smurf but I'm still me and you should all be quivering in your stockinged feet at the terrible revenge plots I'm thinking about day in day out!" He was visibly shaking with anger, but Papa had a solution to try and relax the new addition to the village.
"Come on, lets have a drink. I've got some very good wine at my home. Several bottles in fact."
Gargy Smurf was going to say no, but he could feel the other Smurfs staring at him once again. He felt as if he really needed a drink. He had been on high alert for weeks, no it may have been months. It was taking it's toll on him. He felt wretched and looked even worse.
He had always had a drink to unwind after a hard day's Smurf hunting. In the past, he had taken stronger 'potions' when things had gone wrong or he had gotten hurt. It had been hard giving them up, he had been known to spend days in a stupor and then was always desperate for another 'fix'. His cat Azrael had kept him safe several times from overdosing. He only just realised how grateful he should feel towards his mangy cat. But it was too late now. He even started to miss his only feline friend. What did he have to lose now by accepting the offer of a drink?
Gargy Smurf nodded and followed Papa Smurf to his home.
The wizard thought it would be good to have some company, he could only cope with one Smurf at the moment. In the solitude of his hovel he only needed his cat. But here, in the village, he could see how close the Smurfs were. How they interacted. How they cared for each other. How alone in the world he was.
Right now he wanted someone to care for him. Just for once.
Later that night in another part of the village;
"I want to know what is going on with Gargy Smurf. Papa won't tell me anything. Is he going to stay for good?" asked Smurfette.
"No I hope not, but he hasn't told me anything either" replied Vexy, looking down at her feet.
"But I did see both of them go into Papa's home a few hours ago. They still haven't come out. What could they be doing?" whispered the blonde Smurfette.
"Come on! Let's go and find out. We might get some answers!"
And with that both Smurfettes crept out into the night to spy on their elderly leader and his unsavoury guest.
At Papa's mushroom home;
"I, I, I really do not like you. I hope you know, know that, Papa" slurred the Smurf in purple robes and red leggings, who just happened to be flat on his back with his legs over the side of an overstuffed armchair. They had been drinking for over three hours. Hard, fast drinking as they didn't want to show weakness in front of the other. Together they had put the world to rights and even agreed with each other on certain topics. They had found a new respect for each other. They would always be poles apart on the things that mattered but they had a new understanding for each other's point of view.
Gargy was not used to this much wine and was the first to succumb to the alcohol, but even then he still managed to throw an insult as to what he thought of his host and his wine selection.
"And, furthermore Papa , your wine tastes disgusting!"
"Aww come on, G, Gargy! Can't you **hic** hold your drink?" taunted a red clad Smurf who promptly fell down onto the floor, spilling red wine all over himself from his glass and dropping a half empty bottle which shattered on the floor.
"S, S, Smurfettes **hic** are not, not going to like this. Horrible stains, to clean up **hic** Looks like the Smurfettes are going to be very angry with us **hic**!"
"Uh, Oh, we, we're in trouble Papa! "
And this set both of them off laughing like maniacs.
They laughed so much that they exhausted themselves and soon passed out where they lay. Wine puddles were all over the wooden floor. Glistening and staining the area deep red. Candlelight flickered over this scene of merriment and then spluttered out a few moments later.
Just then, Vexy and Smurfette arrived outside Papa's door. Vexy knocked and waited for an answer. None came. Both females looked at each other and together they tried the door handle.
It opened easily into a dark room. They hesitated on the threshold.
"Papa are you here?" shouted Vexy
They then heard a groan coming from the floor, but they could not see very well. Smurfette went to the small table next to the window and opened the draw. She felt for the box of matches and struck one. Lit the candle that stood on the table and turned around to survey the scene.
Both shrieked in shock!
Other Smurfs heard them and came running from their homes. Hefty Smurf was the first to arrive and in the dim light all he could see was Papa lying on the floor covered in red. With red patches on the floor. The strong Smurf went ballistic and jumped on the unconscious Gargy Smurf and started to shake him.
"What have you done to Papa, you monster?! Answer me!"
"No! What are you doing?" screamed Vexy, throwing herself on top of Hefty, who easily shrugged her off.
"Oh my Smurf! Can't you all see? This pathetic creature who does not deserve to live has killed Papa! All the blood!" bellowed Hefty whilst slapping Gargy. The latter was only just starting to come round.
Vexy got down on her knees close to Papa and could see that the elderly Smurf was still breathing. She looked at the glass on the floor and came to her own conclusion.
"It looks like they had a fight and Papa got hit over the head with a bottle! Take Gargy Smurf away and lock him up in the grain store. We'll deal with him when he's sobered up!"
"With great pleasure Vexy", said Hefty and he roughly pulled Gargy Smurf to his feet, but the evil Smurf could not stand. In one swift movement he swung him over his shoulders and carried him off. A crowd of Smurfs had gathered and made way for Hefty and his prisoner.
Gargy, briefly opened his eyes and only saw a sea of hateful faces leering at him. Maybe having too much to drink hadn't been such a good idea after all.
Once they arrived at the grain store, Hefty threw Gargy roughly onto the floor.
"I smurfing hope for your sake that Papa is unharmed. So help me, I'll not be held responsible for my actions!" growled the angry smurf.
Before he left he saw a length of rope on the floor, he bent down to pick it up and then had another thought. An unsmurfy thought. He quickly fashioned a noose and threw it down next to Gargy Smurf.
"Why don't you do yourself and us all a favour? What have you got to live for now that you're a Smurf?!" Hefty then gave the prone wizard a kick in the stomach and walked out of the building.
The door slammed shut, leaving Gargy Smurf in the pitch dark with only his conscience and pain to keep him company.
To be continued...