Ch. 14: Guardianship Part 2

"So this is it."

Centipede, Mr. Grasshopper, Mrs. Ladybug and Miss Spider stood at the bottom of a flight of cold stone steps, staring at the building towering above them. None of them had really given much thought to where Spiker and Sponge were being housed until their return journey to England, but if pressed, none of them could admit feeling too badly for the two women. And even now, with the austere Women's Detention Center looming over them, sympathy wasn't really at the forefront of the bug family's mind.

Or, at least, it certainly wasn't anywhere close to being Miss Spider's first concern. No, her thoughts were still with James and how she could still feel the warmth of his skin on her arms from his goodbye hug.

"You'll be back soon?" he'd asked again before she'd left with the others.

"As soon as I can, my James," she'd promised. She'd hugged him hard and kissed his cheek before letting him go. "Now go and play with your friends. Earthworm and Glowworm are here if you need anything."

Still, Miss Spider doubted if the prospect of a day of fun with other children would take James's mind off the fact that his new family would have to talk with his previous caretakers, neither of whom even remotely deserved that title.

"Ahh, there's Sam," Mr. Grasshopper said now. "Good, let's get this over with."

"Indeed. The sooner we can leave this awful place, the better." Mrs. Ladybug shuddered as she and the others began to ascend the stairs.

"Speak for yourself. I'm kind lookin' forward to makin' the two old biddies squirm." Centipede grinned, but even his trademark smile didn't quite reach his eyes. "Wonder if they'll try anything stupid."

"I think they have long since crossed that bridge, Centipede," Mr. Grasshopper said with a sigh. "Honestly, agreeing to sever any ties to James might be the most sensible action they've ever taken."

"Do you think they feel even remotely sorry for all the harm they've caused James?" Mrs. Ladybug asked.

"We will soon find out, I think," Miss Spider answered. Privately, she doubted it, but she wouldn't be surprised if James's aunts tried to feign sorrow in exchange for sympathy. If so, too late for that!

"Good morning, and I wish I could say that under better circumstances." Sam, the lawyer assigned to oversee the family's adoption of James, gave the four a kind smile, one none of them had a problem returning. Despite his smart suit and polished glasses, Sam looked more like a boy than a man as he clutched a folder of papers and tried (in vain) to smooth his wild crop of blonde hair. "Still, the hardest part is over and done with."

"Oh? How so?" Mr. Grasshopper asked.

"Spiker and Sponge have already signed the necessary documents." Sam nodded at the folder tucked under his arm. "I have to take them to the courthouse this afternoon, but they put up no fuss about it."

"So, we don't need to be here?" Mrs. Ladybug asked. "I thought that was the purpose of the visit."

"I thought so too, but it seems the two women in question were more interested in speaking with you than officially having their guardianship rights terminated. You are within your rights to walk away, but..."

"But we're here; might as well see what the old hags have to say."

"Centipede!"

"I suppose it can't hurt," Mr. Grasshopper said, tapping his chin. "We won't have this opportunity again and I'm sure we're all a bit curious as to what Spiker and Sponge have to say for themselves."

"Follow me then. They're ready for you."
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To the bug family's surprise, the room they were led to was not a jail cell, but a large airy room with a single barred window. The floor was solid concrete with a long metal table in the center. The four settled themselves as best they could in the wooden seats as the guards went to fetch Spiker and Sponge.

"I'll be outside with the officers. There's a two-way mirror, but the conversation will be private," Sam explained. "Normally, you'd have about fifteen minutes, but the warden agreed to let you take your time."

"Lucky us," Centipede muttered. The others ignored him, too busy looking around the dull white room where the smell of soap and bleach couldn't mask the anger and despair of all of those who had passed through. All of them exchanged glances as they waited for Spiker and Sponge to be brought in, not sure of what to expect. Considering they had last seen the women cocooned in Miss Spider's own web, they could only wonder what the two looked like now.

They didn't have to wait long to find out.

The door creaked open, accompanied by the shuffling of footsteps and the jingle of chains. Spiker and Sponge, each held by an arm, were escorted into the room, though both froze when they locked eyes with the four bugs seated across from them. Spiker's jaw clenched, but Sponge recoiled, trying to lean away. The strong hands of the guards pulled them forward, giving Centipede, Mr. Grasshopper, Mrs. Ladybug, and Miss Spider a moment to take in the sight of the two women who had caused their little boy so much pain.

While their wigs had been returned to them, Spiker and Sponge's faces were devoid of any makeup and their confinement had leeched whatever color remained from their pallid skin. Instead of their once fine robes or garish dresses, both were clad in drab brown prison dresses, each with a number sewn above their right breast, and flat hard shoes. Both wore handcuffs on their wrists and a pair of heavy shackles on their ankles, making any form of escape impossible as they were all but pushed into their chairs opposite the four bugs.

Still, neither the indignities of prison nor the presence of guards could mask the anger and disgust in Spiker and Sponge's eyes. Even as their handcuff chains were secured to the table, Spiker glowered at her nephew's new guardians, her lips peeling back from her yellow teeth in a soundless snarl. Beside her, Sponge was sitting as far back as she could, shudders running over her flabby body as she regarded the four humanized bugs before her. Still, neither said a word as their chains were checked one more time before the guards retreated to the hall, shutting the door behind them.

For a long moment, no one said anything. The silence grew between them and still, not a word was uttered. Finally, just as Miss Spider was wondering if this was a waste of time, Spiker spoke up.

"Well, here we are. I should've known you wouldn't pass up your chance to gloat."

"And what exactly are we supposed to be gloating about, madam?" Mr. Grasshopper asked, the last word laden with scorn. "After all, you asked to speak with us."

"As if you didn't know!" Spiker's eyes narrowed to slits. "As if you weren't here to remind us about everything Sponge and I have lost thanks to you and that stupid little-"

"One cruel word about James and we're leaving." Mr. Grasshopper favored Spiker and Sponge with a glare of his own. "And I'll not have you blaming our son for your misdeeds."

"Son?" Spiker stared at them. "You consider that... boy your son?"

"How?" Sponge finally spoke up, confusion replacing her obvious disgust.

"Eh, you know we're adoptin' him, right?"

"All of you?"

"Yes, all of us."

"I thought only a mother and father could do that," Sponge said.

"Officially, we're just going to be his guardians," Mrs. Ladybug explained. "But each of us will take on a parental role towards James. Therefore, we can all claim him as our own and we're happy to do so."

Spiker's eyes traveled over each peculiar face in front of her. "Why? What in the world would you have to gain by such an action?"

"We gain James from such an action," Miss Spider answered, meeting Spiker's eyes. "That is all that matters."

"Oh, and a giant peach- which is forever gone now, I'll remind you- didn't matter?"

"Not compared to a life with our child."

"He's not really yours," Sponge sneered. "Never will be either. Besides, what would a bunch of bugs know about raisin' a boy?"

"Clearly more'n you," Centipede shot back. "Remind me, how does telling a little kid that he ain't worth anything supposed to be good for him?"

"Or starving him while forcing him to do all the work around the house?" Mrs. Ladybug asked, crossing her arms.

"Not to mention mocking his grief over the loss of his parents which, I remind you, he had to go through completely alone." Mr. Grasshopper added.

"And letting him sleep alone in a cold room while he has nightmares." Miss Spider bared her own fangs at Spiker as she added,

"He still has bad dreams and some of which are about what you have done to him."

"And you think he's the only one who suffered? Huh, a few chores and some missed meals were nothing compared to what we went though, right, Sponge?"

"I'll say." Sponge pouted, trying to cross her own arms as best she could with the handcuffs limiting her movements. "Bet you don't care about that, though."

"You're right. I don't."

"I think what Centipede means," Mr. Grasshopper said, putting a restraining hand on Centipede's shoulder, "is that, regardless of any hardships you have endured, it doesn't make what you put James through any less justified."

"Oh don't start with that; we've heard that drivel nonstop since we were locked up here." Spiker tried to bang her fist on the table, but couldn't raise it high enough thanks to her chains. "Makes you feel good, doesn't it? Seeing the two of us like this?"

"All things considered, yeah." Centipede leaned forward. "I know we're not exactly experts when it comes to livin' like humans, but I'm pretty sure no one is feelin' sorry for you right now, especially after that last stunt of yours."

"If you're referring to how we reacted when your so-called son mouthed off to us, I assure you, it was a momentary lapse in judgment."

"A momentary- is that how you're able to justify what you did?" Mrs. Ladybug asked indignantly.

"Our lawyer said it was the only possible explanation," Sponge replied, sticking her nose in the air. "And we happen to agree with him. Besides, it's not like we've ever tried to kill anyone before."

"In that sense, you are quite mistaken."

Spiker frowned at Miss Spider, but didn't press the issue. Instead, she straightened her back, trying her hardest to appear as dignified as she could.

"I assure you, nothing like this has happened before. And it wouldn't have now, if that... well, I can't say, can I? Since you all seem to be so sensitive regarding the topic of the boy."

"That boy is, or rather was, your nephew." Mr. Grasshopper gave his monocle a quick rub on his sleeve before returning it to his eye. "Your own flesh and blood and he did nothing to deserve such cruel treatment at your hands. Quite frankly, I'm surprised you even agreed to give up any familial claim to James willingly, as it's the only decent action you've preformed toward him."

"As if we had as choice," Spiker shot back, not cowed by Mr. Grasshopper's glare. "Not now and not then. Tell me, how would you feel if, out of nowhere, a random child was just thrust into your life despite you having no prior knowledge of him and yet, you were expected to take care of him?"

There was a long pause as the four bugs waited in vain for the realization to hit Spiker and Sponge.

"You're... you're jokin', right?" Centipede asked after the silence had stretched too thin for his liking. "Tell me you're joking."

"And why would we be?" Sponge asked.

"Because that is exactly how James came to us," Miss Spider clarified.

This at least gave Spiker and Sponge pause. They exchanged glances before Spiker shook her head.

"As I said, I'll never understand it. You had no claim to the boy; quite frankly, you still don't, as far as we're concerned. And yet, not only did you decide to keep the little nuisance, but you took our peach as well!"

"That's right!" Sponge's face was twisted into a mask of fury identical to her sister's. "That miracle peach was ours! You had no right to-"

"And do tell me, how do you think that miracle peach came to be?" Mr. Grasshopper asked.

"What are you... oh, right." Sponge sagged in her seat. "We've heard."

"Then you should know that if it wasn't for James, that peach wouldn't have grown," Mrs. Ladybug replied.

"And we wouldn't be havin' this little talk, either." Centipede grinned at the two women, but his smile faded when Spiker favored him with a cruel smile of her own.

"You really think that? Consider this... whatever you call yourself. If Sponge and I hadn't agreed to take that boy in- which we really shouldn't have- you wouldn't be here. So, in a way, you should be thanking us."

"We would be happy not being here if it meant James was never sent to you."

"What?" Sponge stared at Miss Spider. "If that little wretch hadn't dropped... whatever those things were in our garden, you'd still be... normal."

"True, we would not have undergone our transformation," Mr. Grasshopper agreed. "But as Miss Spider said, if that meant James was never subjected to your cruelty, then so be it."

"Indeed. But that's what it means to be a parent or just a caretaker for a child." Mrs. Ladybug sighed and shook her head. "And it's something you two will never understand. Just as we will never understand why you chose to be so cruel to a little boy who desperately needed his family's love."

"Once again, I fail to see how we were so cruel." Nonetheless, Spiker avoided meeting Mrs. Ladybug's eyes. "His parents certainly didn't teach him any self-reliance. Huh, you should be thanking us for doing most of your job for you. Bet he won't step a toe out of line now, will he?"

"How dare you even think such a thing-"

"Save your breath, Mrs. Ladybug." Centipede shook his head. "They ain't gonna listen. These old biddies don't think they've done anything wrong."

"Old biddies? How dare you?"

"Oh, I'll dare!" Centipede leaned forward, making Spiker and Sponge recoil as best they could. "You sit here after everything you did to our boy and still think we should feel sorry for you? I'm only sorry I won't be able to see what they're gonna do to you in the nut hatch you're headed for!"

"What?"

"That's enough!" Mr. Grasshopper pushed Centipede back into his chair. "Enough, Centipede. As you said, they aren't going to listen to us anymore. As such, I think it's best we leave."

"I agree." Mrs. Ladybug shook her head at the two women as she stood up. "You know, I might have felt sorry for you once. But after seeing what you put James through, I just can't. I wish I could, though. But I know you won't spare a thought for James, so I will return the favor."

"Enjoy the trip home, ladies." Centipede pushed his chair away from the table. "Feel free not to call."

"And we ask that you not attempt to contact James," Mr. Grasshopper added. "When he's a bit older, we'll permit him to reach out to you if he feels the need to do so. But as his guardians, we insist that stay out of his life for good now."

"Believe me, we would have done that from the beginning!" Sponge insisted as the four bugs made their way toward the door. Miss Spider, however, paused and turned back to face them.

"One last question. Why did you take James in if you did not wish to? Could you not have refused?"

Spiker stared back at Miss Spider. "We almost did. But then we realized how much work needed to be done around the house. And we knew our sister and her stupid foolish husband would have raised a stupid foolish boy. Someone needed to teach him what the world was really like."

Miss Spider stared at them a moment more, than shook her head in disappointment. "You truly do not see. Perhaps, then, there really is no hope for you."

"What are you talking about?"

"I am talking of a little boy who had nothing, had no one who loved him, and yet was nothing but kind." Miss Spider glanced up at the barred window. "I remember watching him that night and wished I could have helped him. I almost left my web in the window to sleep by his bed, you know."

"The window..." Spiker's eyes widened as the realization that had taken her nephew less than a minute to understand finally hit home. "You."

"Yes." Miss Spider favored Spiker and Sponge with a fanged smile.

"I knew that stupid boy didn't kill you," Spiker growled. "Pity my flyswatter missed."

"Huh, told you we should've hied an exterminator sooner," Sponge glowered. "Might've taken care of a few more of you."

"Perhaps, perhaps not. But you did not kill me then, nor you will never hurt James again. But you are right about one thing: sometimes, the world is a place where you will be hurt. But that is because people like you exist. And yet, there are those like my James, who will not let people like you make them cold and bitter. So I ask, who is the stupid and foolish one now?"

Neither Spiker nor Sponge answered, but Miss Spider did not expect them to. Turning away from them, Miss Spider followed the rest of her family out of the room as the door closed on Spiker and Sponge.
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"How'd it go?" Sam asked as the family joined him at the end of the hall.

"About as well as can be expected, I suppose." Mr. Grasshopper rubbed his forehead with an upper hand. "But what's done is done and they're out of our and James's lives for good."

"Indeed. And at least we know now they'll never take responsibility for what they've done." Mr. Ladybug clenched her fists. "Momentary lapse in judgment? I can't even fathom how they could make such an excuse for what they nearly did to James before we arrived."

"Well, it was what got them the insanity plea," Sam said with a rueful grin. "But while I can't speak for the British justice system, I can promise you that any and all forms of travel to America will be forbidden to them. They can try to write, of course, but any and all mail they send and receive will be strictly monitored."

"We did tell them not to contact James," Mr. Grasshopper clarified. "Whether or not they'll adhere to that request remains to be seen."

"If they know what's good for 'em, they will." Centipede reached into his pocket for a fresh cigar and stuck it in the side of his mouth. "Old hags deserve everything they get from now on and I ain't sorry for it."

"Well, like you said, Sam. The hardest part is over and done with. And thank you for all your help." Mrs. Ladybug laid a hand on Sam's arm.

"My pleasure, ma'am, and I do mean that. Well, I'd best get my documents to the court. With any luck, you'll be able to sign the adoption papers next week."

"Now that is good news. Once again, Sam, thank you for diligence."

"You're most welcome. I think the taxis are still waiting for us. Shall we?"

"Yes," Miss Spider said, nodding at the others. "Let's go home."