Aphex Twin - Blue Carpet
...
Later...
The rain in Burmecia reflects everyone's state of mind. Whether it'll be gentle, drizzly, stormy or depressing, it's up to you. I love the rain, so does mom. Mothers are so caring and nice when they are not pissed at us.
— ...Thanks! Many thanks! I like it! – Gary was the first who got to eat Sophia's marvelous pancakes. The amount he can guzzle in a single bite...
— I hope you enjoy it. – Fratley's mother looked all weary and tired. Her face reveals that she cried a lot, but the lady didn't want to look weak and frail in front of us. Not in front of visitors, that will cause a bad impression.
— Nevermind my brother's gluttony. – Meg said, with a fascination in eyes mixed with that one look the old give to us whenever we do something disrespectful.
— Did you really grab the ball, like on your first try? – Zack heard the story of his little brother's astonishing feat, and he could not believe it.
— Yes, I did! I was so scared, but I grabbed the ball! It was hot like a potato and I grabbed it, I'm not kidding! – Fratley spoke and chewed pancakes at the same time, on same level as Gary.
— I still don't believe it. – Said Michael, in doubt of what Fratley could do or not.
— But it happened, it ain't no lie! Tell 'em, Jack!
— It's true. – I said, being honest and drinking an orange juice. – I saw Fratley grabbing the ball with both arms. It was fast like Matra Magic!
— You're exaggerating. – Peter was as skeptical as Michael.
— Well, excu-u-use me! But you were not there. I saw with my very eyes that Fratley took the ball, and he did not even pay attention. It was an instant grab! A quick reflection!
— Bullshit.
— I saw it! I swear, in the name of Bahamut! – I stood in Fratley's defense. I felt more like a brother than his own brothers did, what the hell. – You saw it too, Gary, right?
— Yeah, I did. My nose hurted a lot, but I saw a glimpse of Frattie here holding the soccer ball. And then he threw it that high! – Gary raised a fork with a pancake on its tip to show how high the ball flew to the skies. Then he ate it.
— If that's true, well... congrats. – Zack was the only one with common sense. – Father would be proud if he was here.
— And he will! Father will come back to us! – Fratley yelled with joy. His mother came in, and he looked straight at her. – Won't he?
— Of course! Prescott might be stubborn, but he will find a way to get in here safe and sound. – Fratley's mother cuddled him, but something was not right.
— Where's Leo? Did he get out of bed?
— He's not feeling well. – Sophia looked concerned. – Your brother got a cold. He'll be fine, don't worry.
— I have nothing to worry about mom. Neither Leo. He is a Highwind after all, just like me! – Said Fratley, who still felt proud of what happened today. None of us expected that he could do anything like defending the goal, we thought he was useless and a kind of pain.
I know far better than anyone else that being a child is a value in itself. We come to exist to aid others, some exist to ruin others, be it for fun, for the sake of doing whatever it feels right to do, or because Burmecians are inherently mean since birth. I look at Meg, Gary, Fratley, Dan, even myself, and yes, we can be evil if we let ourselves be, swearing can be fun but it can get tiresome, and you know what's not tiresome? That, in the same way we can be bad, we can also be good, just like these delicious pancakes. Too much pancake will be bad for our stomachs, but a pancake for a while, like this special while, is a heartful gift.
I know lots of moms that hate cooking for their sniveling brats, including someone else's children! I'm glad Sophia cared for us. A lot so she made these pancakes, but it's also kind of sad because pancakes are her husband's favorite dessert and he ain't here to enjoy them. But we are! And we like it a lot... honest...
— ...Jack, are you crying? – Meg asked as I finished my dish. My eyes were filled with tears, and I had no way of hiding them. For the first time I opened my feelings to someone else.
— No, I am peeing out my eyes. – I simply said.
— Eeeeugh! – Meg felt disgusted by standing near me and her fat brother.
— Wait, that's not possible! – Fratley replied immediately.
— I know. I'm bad at lying.