THE APPRENTICE
Linus leapt over the stream, his feet landed on the pathway as he continued to run up the hill. His blanket fluttered behind him as he continued jogging, nearly out of breath.
They were on a 500 yard trail nearly a mile out from Birchwood, and Linus was now racing up to the end of the track. He was tired, but was determined not to stop till he reached it.
Which he soon did, arriving at the top of the hill.
"Good run?"
Edward was waiting for him.
Linus looked over "It's a bit of a climb".
"True" Edward admitted "but, it does has a purpose".
He stared over the hill, and Linus did the same.
He was amazed to see an astounding view of the surrounding area, the parkland, the trail leading down, and the road back to Birchwood. The town looked small from up here, yet Linus could still make out locations such as the school, the town park, the tennis courts, and the baseball field.
"You can even see your house from here" he pointed out.
Edward looked. "So I can" he said, Black Manor was scarcely visible.
They continued admiring the view. Edward turned to him.
"Down there Linus, is everything you've ever known. This view, it represents your friends, your family, your very life. From here, it can seem small and insignificant. But, if we are willing to move closer, to enter it, to touch it. Then, we can see it grow tall and great".
He turned to Linus.
"Or, as I mentioned last night, we can make it as such. So, let us begin".
Edward held out his hand.
Linus nodded "What do you need me to do?"
The response from the elder boy was what he'd been dreading.
"I need your blanket".
Linus hesitated, his security blanket was his comfort object, his, well, security. But he nonetheless handed it to Edward, he knew the SOJAS leader was aware of his attachment to it.
"Good" Edward said "now, can you start doing some push ups. I'll let you know when to stop".
Linus realised he might have been right about the drill sergeant act after all.
After about five minutes of exercise, Linus was feeling exhausted. He had done maybe 30 pushups, and his arms were aching.
And that was making him really feel withdrawn from his blanket, which Edward noticed.
"You want it back?" he asked, to which Linus nodded.
"I don't think that's necessary" Edward advised to him "Don't rely on your attachment to your blanket".
Linus understood what he was getting at. Edward didn't want him to be dependent.
He continued exercising.
"Remember, the blanket is not going anywhere" Edward reassured "Fear not".
Linus paused when he heard that quote, "Did you…?"
"…hear your Christmas passage" Edward explained "Every word Linus. Janice for one, was very excited to show it to me".
Linus smiled at his comment, and now freshly motivated, he continued his exercise for a further 3 minutes.
Eventually, Edward stopped him.
"That was good" he complimented.
To Linus surprise, Edward handed him back his blanket. Guess he wasn't the blanket type then.
They sat in silence for some time, Linus taking the moment to relax.
They then repeated the cycle, with Linus doing exercise for around 10 minutes, followed by a 5 minute break with his blanket. All the while Edward watched over him, sometimes even joining in.
And as they went on, Linus began to notice that the older boy slowly extended the exercise time, and less time was spent with his blanket.
As they rested again, Linus bought this up to Edward.
"Yes" Edward confirmed to him "I was trying that method to get you to stop relying on your blanket to feel secure".
"What, is it because you think your muscles are better for us both" Linus joked.
Edward rolled his eyes, "more cheek from you might mean some additional exercise kid"
They both laughed. But Linus had another question.
"If thats so, then why'd you give the blanket back?" he asked.
Edward looked at him, surprised he'd asked.
"Because Linus, I wanted to make sure you remained comfortable, rather than take the blanket cold turkey" he reassured.
Like a certain sister of yours does, Edward privately thought.
"So, why'd you let me take the blanket then" he inquired. Edward was curious. Why did Linus, despite his reliance on it, still hand his blanket over.
"I guess, I just did" Linus replied.
"Have you ever given your security blanket to someone?" Edward asked him.
Linus silently stared out at the view, and breathed out.
"Only one other person" he said.
A few years prior
A tear rolled down a young Linus's face, as he offered his blanket to Charlie Brown.
His best friend accepted it, surprised by this gesture. The look on Linus's face told him everything, his beloved blanket was now entrusted with him.
As Linus got in his car to leave Birchwood, he looked back to Charlie Brown, one last time. His friend was holding the blanket the same way Linus did, using it to feel secure.
"That was a kind thing to do Linus" Edward summarised.
"Thanks Edward"
"It got retconned within less than a week, but still"
Linus rolled his eyes, but then the two boys became serious.
"I believe that shows something Linus" Edward explained "your blanket is so important, but, you will hand it to Charlie Brown"
Linus nodded, blushing.
"I felt it would help him be secure, once, once I wasn't there" he explained, stammering.
Edward realised why, "Because, you help him be secure, don't you".
"Yeah"
"And as you trusted Charlie Brown with your security" Edward told him, "Does that mean, that he is what helps you to be secure" he looked at Linus "As much as you, help him".
At that statement, Linus remembered another special memory of his.
A few years prior(again)
Linus breathing was tense as he laid in bed. His blanket was lost, buried by an intolerant Lucy, who wanted him to be permanently rid of it.
"You all good" his best friend asked him.
Linus nodded, Charlie Brown was staying over, making sure he was still okay.
Despite his situation, Linus put on a faint smile, "Thanks for staying up with me Charlie Brown" he said gratefully
The normally glum Charlie Brown smiled back, "That's what friends are for"
At that statement, even with his blanket gone, Linus once again felt he was secure. He clasped his best friends hand.
"Good ol Charlie Brown."
Linus knew that the SOJAS leader was right.
"It is wonderful" Edward said "that two insecure young boys can come together like that. You and Charlie Brown, you're each other's security"
Linus smiled at that comment, a heartwarming feeling fostering inside him.
Not, Edward thought, that Charlie Brown was the best security, but he didn't tell Linus about his private dissatisfaction.
Linus was smiling as Edward continued. "I offered you a spot in SOJAS for that reason, amongst others. Our number one rule, is that an attack on any member, will lead us all to ensure that members security, and to enact justice"
They sat down and stared once more at the view of Birchwood, letting the words sink in.
"Thanks Edward" Linus replied, "This has all been very, enlightening"
Edward looked at the sky.
"Speaking of light, if we stay out here any longer we won't have any left" he realised, "we'll start heading down now".
Linus turned, and began to jog down, in much better spirits than he had been beforehand.
Edward slowly followed, but before he did, he slowly pulled out the gold locket and opened it.
He sighed deeply.
"If only I could've kept you secure, Lionheart" he said to himself.