Chapter 46: Apologies
The next day was another day to continue with the construction of that ship. But this time, Diddy and Dixie decided not to go... Not after all the public scandal they had been involved in the day before. They knew that returning to the site would be to gain the spotlight of everyone present... and not in such a good way. They didn't even want to see their friends; in actual fact, they were very disappointed in them and had never met them that way; they never imagined that they would act like that on both of them.
It was late in the afternoon, and the pair of kongs were on the floor of their room playing the two alone to a board game that Mr. Pinky had lent them.
"Ha! I beat you!" Diddy exclaimed in a winning tone as he moved his last token. "You have no more moves to make."
"Are you sure?" Dixie said with a mocking smile before moving another tile and completing the game. "Now tell me again!"
Diddy gawked at Dixie's play, while now she laughed victoriously. Suddenly, the door was knocked and they both got up to open it, it was Mr. Pinky.
"Yeah? What's up, Mr. Pinky?" Diddy asked.
"Uh, your four little friends have come," replied the teacher. "They're down there waiting for you; they say they want to talk to you."
Diddy and Dixie froze and were serious when they heard that, which Mr. Pinky noticed and assumed that something was not very right.
"What? Did something happen?" asked the teacher looking at them strangely.
"Uhh... no, it's okay," Dixie replied with a forced smile. "Tell them that in a while we'll go down."
Mr. Pinky left and closed the door and then went to talk to the group. Meanwhile, Diddy and Dixie looked at each other not knowing what to do now. Diddy went out of the bedroom window for a while, and tried to peek out of one of the branches of the tree in the house to look stealthy at the floor... Indeed, there was the quartet of their friends down there. Diddy immediately returned to the room.
"Yes... it's them," Diddy whispered to Dixie, rolling his eyes.
"And now what do we do?" Dixie asked the same way. "I don't want to see or talk to them."
"Me neither, and I have no idea what they came for."
Both were not in the mood to see them nor did they have any choice, but at the same time they were curious, so they decided to go down to see them anyway.
When they came down from the house, they saw the kong children again. Both of them were hesitant to take the last steps of the ladder, and then look at the four of them. These were also shown with faces of not knowing how to react, and avoided having prolonged eye contact with the two. Diddy and Dixie headed towards them without showing them any expression of excitement as they usually did normally.
"Hello," Diddy and Dixie said coldly and all serious.
"Uhh... hi?" answered the four simultaneously and with forced smiles.
There was an awkward moment of silence, as neither group knew how to speak. The four kids looked everywhere and then looked at them both not knowing what to say to them, while the pair just looked up at them and made small gestures of curiosity to get them to talk.
"Excuse us!" Melvyn said quickly before there was another moment of silence.
"Uhh… hey…" Mandy said with some embarrassment and hesitation to look at them. "It's that we wanted to tell you that... we're really... sorry. We haven't seen you all day and... we assumed you were mad at us, so we decided to come and see you and... we wanted to apologize if we gave you a bad time last night."
"Yeah... we were just coming to apologize," Jenny added likewise. "And especially me... Sorry if I was very intrusive with you."
"We really want you to excuse us," Ricky added with a lowered look. "We don't want you to get mad at us, you're our friends, so... if you have something to tell us, do it. Oh, and don't worry about my arm, we've already gone to that medicine ape," he added, showing them his healed arm.
Diddy and Dixie remained silent for a few seconds after hearing all that. They were really still upset with them, but they also saw that this would be an appropriate time to explain everything to them more calmly.
"Hey, you'll see…" Diddy said with a sigh. "Yes, we did get mad at you... and a lot. Last night you didn't want to listen to us but I hope you do now... There were certain things that annoyed us, for example: when we were playing the challenges, that is: it was just a game, and I had no problem eating the leaves, but you were already forcing me to do something that I did not want to do, and besides... you started badmouthing Dixie and me, when that wasn't relevant."
"And the same for you girls," Dixie continued towards Jenny and Mandy seriously. "I also told you that I would not play that game, but you wanted to force me anyway, and besides that, you started to comment on Diddy and me, that is... you were meddling in our lives. And besides, did you want to fight me? Whereas I never had that intention nor did I expect you to treat me like that, much less for a simple game."
"And another thing, this is about you, Jenny," Diddy added to her. "It's not right what you intended with me, you know well about Dixie and me. Besides, you're our friend and it looks so bad that you want to do that. I explained it to you last night calmly, but you just kept insisting on me, so that later you came to say in front of the rest that the insistent was me?"
"And what bothered us the most was all the fuss you made us go through in front of everyone," Dixie added. "We were about to leave and not argue with you in public, but then Jenny came out to continue the scandal more. And the worst part is that we just answered you how things were, but you guys started fighting with us when we didn't even have that intention, starting with Jenny, I wasn't even thinking about fighting her. Seriously... we never expect all that from you."
"We even intended to help Ricky with his arm," Diddy continued. "But... you just started yelling at us and kicking us out."
The quartet remained silent, showing themselves as if they had been told all the truths, but, at the same time, as if it was difficult for them to accept them at first.
"Uhh... Okay... We behave very badly with you," Ricky admitted, looking embarrassed. "See... we in the case of Diddy, we just wanted to have fun and that he also had fun and tried if he dared, but... I think we also went over the line and... I know it was wrong. So, listen to us, Diddy... we really apologize for how we treated you, we promise it won't happen again."
"And you too, Dixie... we want you to apologize," Mandy added in kind. "Sorry if we treat you that way... We just wanted you to play like us too, we wanted you to have fun too, but... forgive us if you felt obligated and, above all, if we made you feel bad."
"And I... I also want you two to forgive me," Jenny told them with a low look. "And yes, I've been trying to get an approach with Diddy, I know... that was wrong. Excuse me if I was very rude to you, Diddy... and excuse me too, Dixie, sorry if you came to feel bad because of me…"
"And most of all, sorry for last night's scandal," Melvyn continued. "We thought that Diddy was really with Jenny or something, and that's why we were surprised and all the fuss started. Forgive us if we embarrassed you in front of everyone and responded by attacking you."
"Please forgive us!" Ricky pleaded, clasping his hands and pleading. "You have been very good friends with us and we failed you, we are stupid, we know it... But we want to make peace with you... And we'll continue with our ship too; look we're doing that for you."
Diddy and Dixie sighed and continued to be serious; they didn't feel so sure yet that they could accept their apology, especially Diddy, since he had had something similar before with his bad schoolmates, who also used to force him to do things he didn't want to do and trampled on him for that... Although at least, this new group of children had had the courage to apologize to them and they were not bad children either.
Dixie, on the other hand, was trying to beckon Jenny to come talk to her privately, to which she looked at her with some insecurity, but Dixie continued to beckon her to agree. So, both went to another corner, while Diddy stayed with the other three trying to reach an agreement.
Dixie and Jenny stopped near the staircase of the house so they could talk. Dixie was gathering courage and strength to be able to talk to her friend about the events that had occurred that week.
"Dixie, I... I'm really sorry," Jenny said, looking embarrassed at Dixie. "Sorry for having been like that."
"I know, Jenny... and don't worry, I don't want to fight with you if that's what you think," Dixie replied, smiling a little, before hesitating a sigh and looking at her with some insecurity. "Just tell me one thing, and I would like you to be honest with me: you... you like Diddy, right?"
Jenny looked at her quietly for a few seconds, which made Dixie already guess the answer.
"Well... what could I tell you?... Actually, yes," Jenny replied, somewhat embarrassed. "Since always, since we met you two and I saw him... But I didn't know at first that you two were dating. I'm sorry…"
Dixie felt a little inner punch upon hearing that, but tried to be strong. She also began to feel some pity for Jenny; she didn't want to hurt her feelings, she really didn't want to have any rivalry or antagonize her because of it. But even so, she wanted to clarify certain things for her.
"See, Jenny, I think I can understand what you're feeling. But... you know that Diddy and I love each other, that is, I really love him very much and so does he to me... So... I wish you could understand that too. And really, I was quite annoyed by the way you've been approaching him these days, and he also says he feels uncomfortable when you treat him like that. So... I would just like to ask you to please don't do it... And I don't blame you for liking him; Diddy is a very cute monkey, and his way of being is much more... But it's not right how you try to approach him. This is for the good of both of us and also for your own good; don't hurt yourself either."
"I know... And excuse me, please, okay?" Jenny replied with a low look. "And I'm also sorry I wanted to fight you yesterday... It's just that I was upset about that: I couldn't stand to see the two of you together and how you defended each other, but... I know, Diddy is your boyfriend, and I just saw that he really loves and respects you; it was just me who tried to intervene between you. But... okay, I promise it won't happen again. I just want you to forgive me, please."
"Okay, Jenny," Dixie said, smiling and placing a hand on her shoulder. "Just one thing: I just hope your apology is true, okay? I have considered you a lot, you're my friend, and the last thing I want is to fight with you for this."
"Wow, Dixie... you're so kind with me," Jenny said, smiling somewhat embarrassedly. "Oh, I don't deserve a friend like you; you've been so good with me and I just failed you trying to steal your boyfriend and wanting to fight with you. I'm an idiot."
"No, don't say that, Jenny," Dixie replied, laughing and calming her down. "I really forgive you, but as I said: I hope you are also apologizing seriously. And also... I don't want you to feel bad because of us; you're very pretty, and I know that one day you could also find someone who loves you very much... And if you don't find it, you can still be very happy."
"Oh... I thank you, Dixie," Jenny said, smiling. "Thank you for understanding me... You're really a good friend, and now I just want us to stay this way... And yes, I promise I won't do that to Diddy anymore, don't worry about me... Can I give you a hug?" she added, extending both arms to Dixie.
"Okay, Jenny," she replied, smiling back.
The two girls finally hugged each other. Apparently, they had clarified things and that made Dixie feel very good; she even didn't feel anything bad towards her anymore. Still, as she mentioned, she just wanted to think that Jenny really understood and her apologies were sincere. After all the conversation, the two decided to return again to the others.
"Hey, Dixie, do you still have the bracelet I gave you?" Jenny asked her on the way.
"Uhh... You see, the truth is that it got damaged," Dixie replied somewhat embarrassed.
"Oh, don't worry, I'll make you another one, okay?" Jenny said, smiling.
They arrived again where the others, where apparently, an agreement had also been reached. Likewise, Diddy hoped that everyone was really apologizing; after all, they were their friends, with whom they had had good times and had made their days on Hurricane Island.
"So... are we good friends again?" Ricky asked them with a smile.
"Yes... But you already know, I don't want any of this to happen again, okay?" Diddy replied in the same way.
"Okay, friends," Mandy said.
"Why don't we all give each other a group hug?" Melvyn exclaimed with excitement.
The six nodded and smiled calmly. After that, everyone gave each other a hug as a sign of apology and peace. Then, they separated after a few seconds.
"We promise not to fight again, okay?" Ricky said, smiling.
"Okay!" they all exclaimed happily, before bumping their hands together. "For our friendship!"
"So... will you return tomorrow to continue with the ship?" Mandy asked them both.
"Of course!" Diddy and Dixie replied.
Diddy and Dixie were back in their room. They both continued their board game and at the same time talked about their four friends. They had finally fixed the little unexpected discord they had had with them, although... Diddy still had some doubts.
"You don't beat me this time!" said Dixie, challenging Diddy after moving a token of the game. But then, she noticed a low expression on him. "Uhh... is something wrong?"
"It's that... I really don't know if it was a good idea to forgive them," Diddy admitted with some insecurity.
"Why do you say it?" Dixie asked him in confusion.
"I don't know what you'll think, but I think that... maybe they can behave like that with us again at any time."
"I don't think so, I mean, we already explained everything that bothered us... That is already up to them whether they do it again or not."
"For that very reason: what if they do it again?" Diddy questioned. "Sorry if I still continue with the topic, but the way they talked about us only makes me think... if that's how they have thought for all the time we've been knowing them. And regarding Jenny, I don't know what you think, but I don't think she's going to change, just look at how she's behaved... And it's almost obvious that the others will take her side."
"Yes, I know. But I don't think that's why we have to throw away our friendship so quickly with them now; we can still try to give them another chance... Of course, if some of those things are repeated again, then we would have to reconsider. But for now, we'll only have to wait to see how they behave next time... I know they'll do well; I hope so."
"I want to think that too," Diddy replied, not so sure and shrugging as he continued with the game.
Then, there was a knock on the door, so they got up to open it. It was Mr. Pinky again.
"Kids, I have something to inform you," Mr. Pinky announced. "By the way, if you want, we can start with the fruitcake you wanted to eat today."
"Uh, yes, Mr. Pinky... In a while we went up," Diddy replied in a muted tone along with Dixie.
"Is something wrong?" asked the teacher, raising eyebrows when he noticed them that way.
"No... Why?" Dixie replied with a forced smile.
"Uhh... Excuse me if I'm wrong, but by chance... is everything okay with your friends?" the teacher speculated. "I saw the same face in you when I told you that they came."
Both Diddy and Dixie looked down at the question, in which Mr. Pinky could notice the clear affirmative answer.
"Well... we actually did have a mishap with them," Diddy replied after sighing.
Minutes later, Mr. Pinky was in the kitchen of his house along with Diddy and Dixie. They had planned to make a fruitcake, since every weekend the three of them used to make some special dish. While they were doing it, Diddy and Dixie told him what happened the day before with their four friends.
"... and that was it," Diddy said. "I don't understand what happened to them, we hadn't met them that way, they've never been like that. Although, well... they already apologized and we fixed it."
"So, that's what happened," Mr. Pinky said thoughtfully. "Wow, how bad those kids behaved with you yesterday."
"What would you have done in that situation, Mr. Pinky?" Diddy asked. "How do you see it?"
"Hmm... the decision in the end is yours, guys," replied Mr. Pinky as he placed the cake mixture in the oven. "But if you ask me what I would do, well... the truth is that I would reconsider that friendship."
"What are you talking about?" Dixie asked, looking at him with some strangeness at his answer.
"Well, that," added the teacher. "Forcing you to do things you don't want to, making fun of you like that, meddling in your lives and making you look bad in public, are things that friends shouldn't do. Not to mention Miss Jenny: if she intentionally behaved like that towards Mr. Diddy, it's very likely that she'll do it again. And finally: look for a fight against you in front of everyone? That's clearly not a good attitude of friends. So... Mr. Diddy might be having some reason to doubt whether they would do it again. But as I told you, the matter is yours; if those children really apologized, good for them and for you... And yes, in case they treat you again like yesterday, it's better that you flee from there... because that's not being friends, really."
"Is that what you meant when you told us that those four seemed weird to you?" Dixie asked.
"Oh, no, I said that because I had seen some strange gestures in those children," Mr. Pinky replied with a little laugh. "But no, don't listen to me with that anymore... By the way, what are you doing with all those other ape children you met?"
Diddy and Dixie were silent for a moment; they remembered that they had something else to tell Mr. Pinky... and it was about the ship. But neither of them was sure if it was a good idea to tell him, since they feared that Mr. Pinky's impulsive character would come to light again.
"Uhh, mister... you see," Dixie stammered. "Do you promise us that you won't be angry if-"
Diddy opened his eyes to the fullest and gave Dixie a slight sneaky nudge so that she wouldn't say it.
"Huh? What happens now?" Mr. Pinky asked them, looking suspiciously.
"Uhh, nothing, Mr. Pinky," Diddy hurriedly replied. "What we do there is-"
"Diddy, he's going to find out anyway," Dixie interrupted quietly before speaking to the teacher. "Mr. Pinky, what happens is... Well... We are building a big ship."
"What?! A ship?" the teacher asked, looking at them more seriously. "And... how so?"
"It's that... our friends," Dixie stuttered before answering, "told us that they know a route where hurricanes don't pass and they can take us to DK Island... And that's why we're helping them too."
Mr. Pinky stared at them silently for a few seconds, and then gradually adopted a hard look, in fact, a stern look that Diddy and Dixie hadn't seen for a long time and only began to make them both nervous.
"Uhh, no, no, no, Mr. Pinky!" exclaimed Diddy, holding him by the arm as the teacher began to wrinkle his gaze more. "Calm down, please! We don't even know yet if that ship is really going to work... Count to ten."
"Don't be angry, mister!" Dixie added, holding his other arm in the same way. "Breathe, please! You won't gain anything if you yell at us. Uhh, think of the fruitcake!"
Mr. Pinky exhaled hard and regained his posture. Diddy and Dixie were just begging that there wouldn't be another disagreement like the first day they arrived at that house.
"Oh, okay, okay," Mr. Pinky said, closing his eyes tightly and managing to stay calm. "And well… what exactly are you going to do with them?" he added, finishing holding back.
"A ship, mister," replied Diddy. "A huge and well-resistant one... Well, it's not as huge as they said, but it's big."
"Wait a minute, are you doing that with all those kids?" the teacher asked again, to which Diddy and Dixie nodded. Suddenly, the teacher gave them a look of weirdness. "Hey, it's not to get me into your business, but... I don't think they can make a ship of that magnitude; I mean... It's a ship, you would need to have a lot of knowledge and techniques about how to build one that really works."
"They can, our four friends know," Dixie reaffirmed. "They even made some plans, and in each step we make, they guide us. And they know a lot, even things that we didn't even know."
"Yeah, they always teach us new and strange terms about ships," Diddy added. "You should see it with your own eyes, mister. Even they say they have built boats before."
Mr. Pinky looked at them again strangely, as if they were just children playing at being explorers. Suddenly, he showed a slight smile, and seconds later, he began to laugh a little.
"Hey, I see that you and your friends have good imaginations to play," said the teacher, finishing laughing. "Just be careful not to have any accidents and-"
"It's not a lie, Mr. Pinky," Diddy replied before pausing. "Oh, well... yes, we're just really playing," he added with a forced smile as he sneakily winked at Dixie.
"Yeah, I should have known," Mr. Pinky said with a shrug. "Because at least me, I don't know any alternative route to DK Island, and besides, I don't think some kids could assemble a hurricane-proof ship."
Diddy and Dixie looked at each other and shrugged seeing that Mr. Pinky didn't believe them so much, so they thought it would be better not to continue the topic.
"By the way, mister, what were you going to say when you came to see us?" Dixie asked.
"Ah, yeah. This weekend I'll be absent during the day," replied the teacher. "I received a statement from the school where I'll teach next school cycle; I must go to introduce myself and organize some matters. It's going to be a long trip to another island, so I just wanted to tell you that that day you'll have to manage to get food or you can take whatever is here; this is your home."
"Okay, Mr. Pinky. Don't worry, we'll be able to do it," Diddy replied smiling, before being serious again. "Hey... but what about hurricanes?"
"No, that island is to the northeast; hurricanes don't pass there. And I'll return the same day, calm."
"Okay, mister," Dixie said. "So, we'll take care of it that day."