Chapter 1
My Courage. He has been my hero for so long…he has been so brave, and so tenacious…I can't even imagine life without him because….he is my hero. With Courage, anything is possible. Welcome again, my dear children….my name is Muriel Bagge, and I've been writing this story for such a long time. Well, I've told you the story of a former time, where I've actually said my piece, married a man, and still lived in my farmhouse. It was a lovely story, and it ended well, also. For now, we resume, perchance.
My Courage and I were now resting on the rocking chair, as Winnifred had gone away for the weekend. I rested, petting my Courage, massaging his back. Courage sat, as he enjoyed the massage. "Wonderful day, doesn't it seem so, my Courage?". I asked, kindly in gentleness, as I massaged his back. "It is a wonderful day". Courage said, as he rested his head on my lap. "Nothing to bother us now….it truly is beautiful, isn't it?". I said, kindly. "It is". Courage replied. Courage rested his head, as he closed his eyes. I petted him, kindly, as I massaged every part of his back.
Courage recently had his heart operated on…a minor ischemia, as he came out alright. Yet, he was still a bit sore. I petted my dear son, my dear friend as I kissed his small head. "How does your heart feel this afternoon, honey?". Courage nodded, as he put his head down. "Good". He replied. "We might have to take your pulse a bit later, to collect your heartbeats". I said, kindly. Courage nodded. "Ok". he replied.
I smiled a kind smile, gently patting him. "I know it is rather exhausting, in a sense". I said, kindly. "It kind of is". Courage said. "I just….I don't know…I haven't had a heart problem in a long time". "I don't know". Courage looked up at me, with saddened eyes. "Well, there's no need to worry now, darling". I said, kindly. "We did just fine now". "You're home safe now…and we essentially have the afternoon to ourselves". "There's nothing to worry of". I smiled a kind smile. "Ok". Courage replied, as he closed his eyes, sleeping. "You are doing wonderfully, honey". I said, kindly. Courage nodded, as he slept. I smiled, petting him as I rested my eyes as well. It had been a long day, and I was ready to sleep. I closed my eyes as well, resting. I could hear Courage's heart beating. He was recovering from the surgery, and doing well. I closed my eyes, resting, as the television went about playing. We just rested, as I rocked in my chair, my hands petting Courage as I slept. The day seemed to go on, stretching, ebbing and flowing as it did. I smiled, as I kept my eyes closed, dreaming a marvelous dream. The miracle of the evening…was that everything was relaxed. And everything was nice. I wasn't busy at all. And that was the wonder of it….truly. Was that there was nothing to do, or get done. Everything was at a leisurely sort. I slept for a long time….well into that evening.
I looked outside the farmhouse window, seeing that there was a sunset. "Courage, darling". I said, kindly. Courage looked up at me, his eyes opening. "Would you like to rest upstairs?". "There's not quite much to do down here". "I feel somehow that upstairs would be better". "In the nice, big bed". I said, gently. Courage nodded. "Ok". he replied. I smiled, as I carried him upstairs. I set him down, as he rested, drinking Oat Milk from his bottle. We both rested, as he snuggled up close to my apron. I kept him close, petting him, as he rested, laying his head down. We both took a nap, as I closed my eyes, putting the sheets over myself, and I laid, resting well into the night. No disturbances prevalent in any case.
In another part of the night, Princess Morbucks was getting ready for bed as well. Her tight negligee comforted her as she sighed, sitting on the bed. She turned down the sheets, getting in. She decided to give my Courage a call.
Courage snuck from the bed, walking down to where a phone was. "He…hello?". He asked. Princess smiled as she answered. "Coochie, how are you?". "I was just thinking about you, and decided to give you a call". Princess said, gently. Courage nodded. "That sounds nice". Courage replied. "How are things, coochie?". "How's your heart feel?". Princess asked, kindly. "Fine, kind of". Courage replied. "My heart feels kind of sore, I guess". "I keep taking medicine..I..I…I don't know". Courage sounded a bit saddened.
Princess sounded sympathetic as she spoke. "Well, coochie…healing is always the hardest part". "One day, you feel active and ready…one moment you feel tired and weak…it's all relative". "I know it's a bit harder right now….but…you'll get there….I know you will". "Healing from a big medical procedure is hard…but I promise you it will be fine….I know it will". Princess said kindly. Courage nodded. "Ok". he said, dismally. "You sound kind of sad coochie". Princess said, kindly. Courage sighed. "I want this heart problem to go away". Courage said, sadly. "It's a lot right now".
Princess smiled a kind smile. "Well, keep taking your medicine, get a lot of sleep, and I guarantee you things will be ok". "I know how hard it can be, sometimes". "Just be vigilant, and know that things will be alright". "I can promise you that". "I can't write prescriptions, but I can recommend something if you need it". Princess said, kindly. "Don't be scared now, coochie". "I'll make it better…that, I promise you". Princess smiled a kind smile. "Did you remember to take your medicine for this evening, coochie?". Princess asked kindly with softness. "Yes". Courage replied. "Good, good, you might be ok, then". Princess said, gently. "Ok". Courage replied. Princess smiled a gentle smile. "Alright then, coochie". "Wow, 8:00, it's about time for you to go to bed". Princess said, kindly. Courage nodded. "Ok". Courage replied. "Off you go now, coochie coo". "I'll talk to you tomorrow…feel better, ok?". Princess said, gently. "I definitely will". "Thank you". Courage replied. "Goodnight, baby". Princess said, kindly in a cuddly, gentle bedtime voice. "Goodnight". Courage replied. Princess smiled as she hung up, along with Courage before he snuck back into bed. I hugged him from behind, kissing his cheeks, as I just snuggled with him. My Courage…he was someone truly magnificent. As he slept, I felt more and more eloquent. He was someone truly extraordinary. And of course, I knew it.
In the middle of the night….say, around 3 or 4 in the morning…(how weird is that?). I checked Courage's heart rate. He was normal…beating in a steady rhythm, he was very nice. I smiled a kind smile, as I fell back asleep. Courage fell back asleep, as he snuggled beside me. He is such a good one. I love how eloquent he is….and how amazing he is. Measuring his heart rate wasn't so bad. And even so, he was someone that always managed to bounce back with an incredible amount of resilience. He's shown that side of him since birth. He is a survivor…with all of the trauma he's been through. I know that my Courage has been through a lot of tumultuous happenings…but he's managed to survive every one of them…because he is so resilient, and beautiful. I love Courage. And I love what we've always had…the love we share. That, is something truly invincible, and indefatigable.
On the opposite side of our town of Nowhere, there was someone…someone you all might recognize. He isn't very prominent, and he's not very eloquent, either. But I've taken pity on him, many a time. Dr. Zalost, walked around on this cold wintery night, looking for something….someone, as he sipped some coffee from the homeless shelter. His complexion was back, yet he felt very lost, and disparaged. Zalost bent down, as a rat came to him…a small rat, that squeaked, and ran up his arm. He smiled a happy smile as he laughed a bit. "Sir Pierrot". Zalost said, as he chuckled. Zalost laughed a happy laugh. "I guess you'll have to do". Zalost said, as he smiled and laughed.
The rat rested on his arm, as Zalost laughed, and chuckled. He crept farther and farther from town, coming to a wheatfield. As he came, he decided to sit and rest a while, letting the rat rest on his arm. Zalost measured every aspect of his beating heart, and decided to rest it, though he felt the pain. Heart issues were his enigma he did not like, or take kindly to. He breathed a heavy, strained breathing as he rested. Zalost heard a rustling in the wheatfield, as he decided to get up, seeing what exactly it was. There was a young girl present, walking around in her nightgown. She looked down at this decrepit scientist, sighing. She just walked around, sighing. "Hello?". "Is everything alright?". Zalost asked, as he coughed. "I was about to ask you the same thing". The young girl replied. "By the looks of it, you seem to be in a malignant state, with the propensity of being affixed in a cold, clammy sweat as a given, though no seizures were reported". The young girl said, smartly.
"Who…who are you, and how are you out and about this late at night?". Zalost asked, as he sounded gruff from smoking, and cantankerous from his many health issues. "Shouldn't you be in bed?". Zalost's eyes flashed. "You know…little girls like you shouldn't be out of bed past 7:00". Zalost replied, gruffly and somewhat angrily.
The little girl rolled her eyes. "Believe me, I am quite aware of the hastened fact that has been induced on me several times". "But I am indeed unsupervised now….there's no one to tell me anything anymore". The little girl stated, as she fixed the collar to her nightgown. "No one to tell you otherwise…?". "Why, you have to have parents that can present a set of necessary disciplines, and rigors". "Which is why it is heavily suggested that you go on home, and get some sleep". Zalost said, as his eyes flashed angrily again. The little girl nodded. "Point taken, however, there is no one to tell me otherwise…my parents passed away a short time ago". "So…I've been left with minimal to none". The little girl said.
"Oh". Zalost said, as he nodded. "Well, before I call the police…and have you escorted out…go on home". Zalost's eyes flashed angrily. The little girl nodded, as she began walking away. Her somewhat of parting words were "fair enough".
This left our Zalost curious however, as he looked upwards at the little girl. "Wait…just a moment". Zalost said, as he spurted out an exclamation, and another heavy cough of a cigarette smoker. "What is it now?". The little girl asked. "You never answered my question…who are you, exactly?". Zalost asked, as he coughed more, feeling a minimal amount of beats in his heart. The girl turned around, seeing Zalost. "My name is Alexandria Ross…I am 14 years old now…so, I'm certainly not a little girl anymore". "I am at a university now, studying theoretical physics, and particle expansion". "You've certainly seen me in the number of journals published…I'm sure an esteemed man like you in your condition reads those, hmm?". Alex said. Zalost rose from his laying position.
"Hmm, Alexandria Ross…the young scientist that graduated high school at age 10". "Well now…you are very esteemed". "Yes, I've seen you before….you are very high and mighty for someone of your age". "I've heard of you…and I admire your work". Zalost said, gruffly. "Thank you, sir". "And judging by your physique…you must be…". Alexandria began to guess. "Dr. Zalost…I am no longer in the fields of science, or in the practice or study". Zalost said. "I am homeless now…I live in the streets, and here….allow me to introduce you to my friend". Zalost began to show Alexandria his pet rat. My, that is gross now…isn't it?
"Eeek!". "That is very…putrid….but I admit, he is cute". Alex said. "What's his name?".
Zalost held the rat for Alex to pet. "His name is Pierrot". "Pierrot Le Fou". "And he is very small right now". Zalost said. "Aww, look at im…he likes you". Zalost smiled a broad smile.
Alex smiled, as she pet the rat. "Bonjour, Pierrot". "Good to meet you". Alex said, as she petted Pierrot. "So good to meet you now". "I've heard much about you…you are prominent". "How cute are your little fangs?". Alex giggled, as she petted the small rat that belonged to Zalost.
Pierrot purred as he snuggled up to Alex, wrapping his moistened tail around the backside, as he rested in Alex's hands. "I love you too". Alex said. Pierrot hissed a bit, as he purred.
"He just hissed at me…what does he mean by that?". Alex asked. "It means he likes you". "He has a man's part underneath…did you see it?". Zalost asked, as he snickered, tickling underneath the rat's behind. "A man's part?". "What would that be?". Alexandria asked…puzzled. "Oh, well…nothing, nothing a young girl like yourself needs to know now". Zalost said, as he snickered. "Oh….ok". Alexandria replied. Zalost allowed Alexandria to pet Pierrot, as he encouraged tickling…which Alexandria did. Alexandria and Zalost enjoyed themselves, laughing, playing with Pierrot, and tickling. At the end of the evening…when Alexandria's watch read 4 am, she decided to go back home. "Do you need somewhere to stay?". Alexandria asked. Zalost shook his head. "I do not as of now". "I'm better off resting here in the fields, where I need to be". Zalost said. Alexandria nodded. "Well, I'd better be off now". "It was nice speaking with you". Alexandria said. Zalost nodded. "It was nice as well…my young prodigy". Zalost said, with a comforting aspect, and a gentleness about him. "Oh…well, likewise". Alexandria replied. Zalost and Alexandria nodded, as they parted ways. Alexandria walked home, as she saw a blackened puddle nearby. "A black puddle". "How unusual". Alexandria said, as she passed by it, only looking into the reflection to see the unusual queen that lived in it.
"Alexandria….Alexandria". The whispers said, as Alexandria got closer, hearing brushes of wind and breeze come by. Alexandria decided to ignore this….however, the whispers became even closer. "Alexandria…Alexandria", the whispers said again. Alex looked into the black puddle, seeing the Queen inside of it. The Black Puddle Queen had purple hair, and turquoise skin, along with purple, thick lips. She called to Alexandria…beckoning her to the underwater.
"Come with me…come with me". The Black Puddle Queen whispered, as she laughed a bit. Alex decided to follow the Black Puddle Queen, to the lair that resided underneath. "How…how…how did you find me?". Alex asked. The Queen hissed a bit. "I've only been seeing you, my darling". "I've been obsssserving you for quite some time". The Queen whispered, kindly with gentleness. "You have been troubled for quite some time, it sssseems". The Queen had various hisses in her statements. "I…I have been?". Alexandria asked, as she glanced around. "I haven't noticed if I was". Alexandria said, as she stammered a bit. "You have, darling". "That'ssss why you've been wandering copiously for a while now". "You are searching for something you're unable to find….you've been pondering something you cannot figure out the answer to". The Queen whispered, kindly. "What have I been pondering?". Our young Alexandria asked. "You've been pondering life, life beyond, the whims of reality, and the structure of them both". "It seems what you've been given, you're not happy with…and subconsciously, you're looking for an answer". The Queen whispered, gently. Her lips moved as she spoke.
"I have all of the answers". Alex replied, as she glanced around. "At least I thought I did…I'm not sure now…now that you've questioned me". "Or made me question myself". Alex looked around the lair at the many remains the Queen had strewn about. "Well, why is that?". The Queen asked, kindly in a whisper. Alexandria shook her head a bit, as she felt puzzled. "I…I don't know…actually". Alexandria said. "I'm not too sure about anything, anymore…ever since…ever since…". Alex looked away for a moment.
"Ever since your parents passed, and you stopped talking to your sister". The Queen whispered, kindly. The Queen's reality, and distinct pessimism made it easy for Alexandria to doubt herself. "Really?". "Maybe I haven't noticed". Alex said, as she looked away another moment.
The Queen pursed her lips a bit, as they moved. "Of course you haven't". The Queen stated in a whisper, as she hissed a bit. Alexandria was puzzled, as she looked back up at the Queen. "I haven't?". "What do you mean by that?". Alex asked.
The Queen hissed again. "You are so busy with your academia…and so wrought with your other amounts of studies…you've failed to notice". "Only because you've been neglectful". "Perhaps this inquisitive surmount might appeal to you…why do you believe you're troubled?". The Queen asked, in a whisper. Alexandria searched for an answer even she couldn't find. Which says a lot.
"I…I'm…I'm not sure". "I might need additional data". Alex said. "Perhaps because….you miss your mother and father". The Queen whispered, gently. "Because your family has been ripped away from you". "Because there's no one else to comfort you". The Queen hissed a bit more.
Alexandria stood, pensive now, as she looked around. "Maybe so". Alexandria said, as she sighed a bit. "I just…I don't know what to do now….without….without…without my mother and father". "They were who I was…for a long time". Alexandria sighed, as she glanced about.
"They adopted you….shortly after your birth mother died….and you were being abused in foster care". "They gave you nurturing, love, ssssstimulation, milk, gentleness, they gave you so much". "It would be foolish not to miss them after their role in comforting you". The Queen whispered, kindly.
Alex nodded. "How do I react, though?". "What can I accomplish, and what can I do?". Alex asked. The Queen hissed again. "Try perhaps to cry if need be". "Remember that you are an item of your feelings, and dispellings". "You are in control now….remember now, that emotion is a suture of how we process things….and how we handle them". "You are very astute…and you are intelligent…however, the measure of emotional intellect is judged by a different measure". "And you don't see the realm". "You are very haughty, and very naive". "Nothing will go by your adhesion if you are not willing to seek it…which, you are not willing". The Queen whispered, kindly. Alexandria nodded. "How do I seek to resolve it?". Alexandria asked. The Queen whispered, with a hiss. "Now, that's up to you to decide". The Queen whispered, gently. Alexandria nodded, as she felt the room spinning, and the puddle drying up. When she blinked, she found herself back at the house she was in. Alexandria found herself in her bed, blinking as she felt a measure of pain…now located in her heart. Because she recently came out of surgery as well. Alexandria sighed, as she laid down…facing the hardships she had. One day at a time.
