Chapter 5
In the evening, when the storm blew over, and the rain settled back in its proper place, Mandark went outside to smoke a cigarette. The noises pertaining to frogs, crickets, snakes, and other wildlife were heard in the bushes as the sky held tints of dark, sunset, red in it.
Mandark smoked, as the end to the cigarette became orange with a singed ashen look to it. He blew out the rest of the cigarette smoke. He tapped ash from the cigarette, smoking, as he looked around. There was a distinct noise by the bushes.
"Hey, there, how's it going?". A sleek, tie-wearing, glossy shoe'd Mojo Jojo asked. "Very well…you seem like you've been working much harder than usual". Mandark replied, as he rubbed his forehead. "I've only been working as hard as possible….head researcher at the Bushman firm is quietly paying off". Mojo Jojo said, as he sat down. There were cigarette stains on his necktie.
"That's always nice". Mandark replied. Mandark smoked, as he rubbed his chin. "Nice enough, perhaps". Mandark smoked, tapping ash from his cigarette. "How's Emily doing?". "Is she doing well?". Mojo Jojo asked, kindly. "I just got her down….mmmm, err….a long time ago…a few long hours ago and she's still sleeping". "She hasn't had any dinner yet". Mandark whispered.
"Oh…how is she feeling?". "I know you mentioned she was feeling sick from a centipede sting earlier". Mojo Jojo whispered. "She is feeling much better….though, I saw the saddest thing today regarding her". Mandark whispered. "It kind of depressed me a bit". Mandark smoked.
"What was it?". Mojo asked, in a whisper. "She was experiencing anxiety from the thunderstorm….and she self soothed by rocking back and forth on her hands". Mandark whispered. "She hasn't done that since her time in the orphanage when she was a baby". "She must really be handling something". Mandark sighed.
Mojo nodded. "It could be a part of her Autism….Autistic children experiencing anxiety or stress usually self-soothe by rocking, or flapping". "It could be a new symptom that arose". Mojo whispered. "Her Autism is very minimal and it is a comorbid symptom of her International Adoption, and developmental delay associated with that". Mandark whispered. "She has experienced a lot of stress, recently….I definitely understand that…..and I wish to help her…but I'm not exactly sure how to raise children…let alone one from a different background". "I never like being a disciplinarian to kids….ever". "I like letting kids do whatever they want…I'm the fun one, usually". "When I have to be a rulemaker, or enforce discipline, it makes me feel like I'm robbing a kid of freedom". "Kids need freedom, I believe". "When I was younger and married, I believed that as well". Mandark explained, in a whisper.
"It just makes me sad to see a baby girl, a normal, amazing, loving, resilient, strong, thoughtful, beautiful child robbed of so much joy from the beginning". "She's just a baby girl….a child, and she's already experienced a lot". "I don't want her to suffer". Mandark whispered. "If anything, I want to spoil her with ice cream, no bedtimes, rootbeer floats, and time in the pool, and hot tub". "I don't want her to feel sad…ever". "I want my happiness to be hers as well". "And hers to be mine….she's my little sister….and naturally, I want my baby sister to feel like she's enjoying herself, after all of the hardship she's taken". "She's just been through so much".
Mojo nodded. "I'd think of what she wants….she might want you to be supportive of her…even if it means showing her some discipline….that way, she doesn't feel too different from being with her late family". "She feels at home with you….she truly has a home, and a place to genuinely call hers". Mojo whispered. "That is a correct statement". Mandark whispered. He sighed a bit.
"Have her teachers been notified of her diagnosis yet?". Mojo whispered. "They were notified this morning….and her paperwork, and Individualized plan have been sent down as part of her medical records". "She'll be set up with a support teacher, and maybe have a little extra time on tests, and assignments". "She is learning at grade level with all of her subjects….the only thing she has trouble with is, mathematics". "She seems to struggle with that a lot…though, she works so hard with it". "She just isn't naturally skilled with it". "She's been struggling a lot, lately with some subjects….and I've tried helping her, we've studied, she's just experiencing hardship with it". "She does well on homework assignments, we always breeze right by, and have beautiful study sessions….but when it comes to the tests, she just keeps failing, though I've gone over it with her many times, each and every night". "She just keeps having a hard time with it….and we're not sure why". Mandark whispered.
"I'm not sure if Autism plays a role in it, or what". "We just aren't sure right now". Mandark whispered. "It's definitely not Autism". Mojo whispered. "If anything, it's grief oriented….and it has much to do with grief, depression, and lack of energy". "Genuine orphans usually experience this after the passing of their parents". "Emily might be losing her focus due to where she is in the grieving process, and she might have trouble focusing and concentrating when it comes to taking the exams because she is unable to focus properly". "She might feel agitated, stressed, she might feel tired, or lost….she might know the answers, but she just can't get to them without more time". "She has the skills…she just has trouble using them effectively right now….because of where she is in the stages of grief". Mojo explained in a whisper.
"That is correct, actually". "One of her counselors told me that". Mandark whispered. "Hmmm, she is experiencing some symptoms of depression, actually". "Lack of energy, trouble focusing, tearfulness, sleepiness, anxiety, lethargy, melancholy, she has experienced a lot". "I think…personally, that it might be best if she was on depression medication". Mandark smoked.
"She won't be on an antidepressant….maybe just a medical marijuana supplement that helps with depression-like symptoms". Mandark whispered. "She needs something like that….to help her overcome any untapped grief she has".
"Maybe". Mojo whispered. "It has yet to be legalized….but buying some won't be that bad". "Poor baby". "She needs some dietary formulas as well". "More seafood, or more proteins, and carbohydrates". "She needs something like that, really". Mojo mentioned.
"Mmm, I might have some clam pasta we could give to her to try". "We could get her to try something….whatever it might be". Mandark whispered. "Yes, I feel bad for her….she just has experienced everything….and she still just keeps going". Mandark smoked his cigarette. "Was she the sole survivor on the plane when it crashed?". Mojo whispered, quietly as he mouthed some of it to Mandark. "Mmm hmm". Mandark nodded. Mojo sighed a pensive sigh. "Awww". Mojo whispered.
Emily came outside, rubbing her eyes. Mandark smiled a gentle, soothing, kind, and loving smile. "Hello, darling". "You look beautiful". Mandark whispered, kindly with softened soothingness. "Thank you". Emily replied.
"So, how did you sleep, honey?". "Did you have a good rest?". Mandark asked, kindly with soothing softness. Emily nodded. "Yeah". She replied.
"I slept soundly, myself". "I woke up to get a cigarette, and come outside for a bit….I might be going to bed, soon". Mandark said, soothingly with gentle, kind softness. "I'm going to bed, too". Emily said. Emily sniffled, as she looked out of the swollen eye she had.
"Darling, you should get back into bed". "It looks like you've got pink eye". Mojo said, kindly with gentleness. "You need to get back in bed immediately, and rest there for a few days". Mojo smiled a kind smile, as Emily kept her hands down.
"Yes, keep your hands down….because you never know what, or who you might come into contact with". Mandark said, soothingly with gentle softness. "Ok". Emily said. "I'll be in soon, to kiss you, sweet girl". Mandark whispered, kindly with soothing softness. Emily nodded.
"Not with pink eye". Emily said, as Mandark nodded, chuckling. "Yes, I knew that". Mandark chuckled, kindly. Emily said goodnight, as she went into the bedroom, snuggling under the covers. Mandark did some reports, and talked business and research with Mojo Jojo, before coming into bed, as he saw Emily laying down…sleeping. "Goodnight, darling". "Don't worry too much….we'll find something for your pink eye in the morning". "Until then….sleep well". Mandark whispered, gently with kind, loving, soothingness. Mandark tucked Emily in…..blew her a kiss, and moved to another room. Pink eye was contagious, and he knew he could be on the safe side. He went into the guest room, while Emily made herself comfortable in her bed. She watched T.V. for a while, petted her bunny, Belle, then went to sleep. It was a comforting night that was met with sleep, medicine, and more sleep for the next day. All before Emily went ahead back to school.
Emily went about her days, feeling as normal as possible. She had extra time to take tests, she got the assistance she needed, and she did well. She waited in class one day, looking to see all of the kids who were older than her, (Mandark made a clerical error in enrollment, and had her skip a grade), Emily waited, while the kids got their math test scores back. "Most of us did well". Mrs. Curwin said, as she walked around, handing back the tests. "Actually, I plead the 5th on that statement….all of us did well". "We did an excellent job as a class taking those tests….I'm more than excited for you". Femme said, as she smiled. "Thank you". One of the kids said, with a nod as she received her test. Femme smiled a kind smile. "Yes, we did great….well then, the bell will ring soon". "Which means that it concludes our time together…have a magical day". Femme affirmed, kindly as the kids rose from their seats. Emily came over to see Femme…Emily…who was a few years younger than most of the kids. "Emily….did you see your test?". Femme asked, kindly as he sat behind her desk, pulling her chair out.
"I did….it was…it was good I guess….right?". Emily asked. "It was excellent, honey". "It was a marvelous feat of aptitude…something I'm easily impressed with". "You are so skilled…I somehow knew you were smart, and skilled by the way you conducted yourself in class, and the way you were completing homework assignments….you have what it takes to compete with these kids….and you are competing with them…..at a higher level". Femme, or Mrs. Curwin said, kindly with soothingness. She was once the famed criminal Femme Fatale from a Powerpuff Girls episode.
"You were struggling for a while….grieving, going through the motions, experiencing stress, you were trying your hardest….but nothing could come, hmm?". Femme said, kindly with soothingness as she folded some papers. "No". Emily replied.
"But you rose to the challenge….you met your opponent head on, and you never made any concessions". "You are the smartest student I've ever had in my class…and I'm happy I have you, honey". Femme said, gently. "Thank you". Emily replied.
"Mmm, you're Dr. Astronomonov's sister….aren't you?". Femme asked, kindly with gentle soothingness. Emily nodded, shyly.
"Mmm, you're lucky you're his….he just loves spoiling kids….I like doing that, too". "He always tells me over the phone how lucky he is to have a beautiful sister like you". "And though, I've been remarried for a while now with a great guy, he always tells me how much he misses me….honestly, I should've never let him go by the wayside….he was a smart, skilled, sharp man with a mind like a steel trap". "I know he had his intelligent, skilled reasons why he made his decision to part ways with me….and I had my reasons….but we were good for a long while". "I am glad the divorce worked well for both of us". Femme said, kindly with gentle soothingness and a chuckle. "Divorce?". "Wait, how do you know my brother?". Emily asked.
Femme's lips curved into a clever, wise, gentle smile. "I'm Mandark's ex-wife….I was once married to him before you came into the picture". Mrs. Curwin, (Femme) said, gently with kind soothingness. She winked a bit at Emily.
"What happened that you got divorced?". Emily asked. "Mmmm, I'm going to tell you the reason….and it'll stay between us….please, don't ever tell your brother I told you…or we'll both hear about it". Femme said, gently in a whisper. "I cheated on him a few times with the man that got me pregnant". "Yes, I'm actually pregnant right now". Femme said, kindly with a softened, gentle whisper. Emily nodded, as she glanced downwards at Femme's stomach…which looked pregnant.
"Ok". Emily replied, as she looked downwards, while Femme chuckled a bit. "I handled my first marriage very irresponsibly….but I've recently apologized to Mandark regarding it…and he and I…we're on good terms now". "We've handled what we needed to….and Mandark is an excellent man…he'll find someone else, soon". "He really is a great guy, and I've told him….he doesn't deserve someone as dishonest, and lowly as me". "He and I…we've made our mistakes in the past…Mandark has made some bad mistakes in the marriage as well…he just knows you're kind of young to hear it, now". "But he and I were too young at the time…we were irresponsible, we were just kids then….but we are much wiser now….and we know that the first marriage…the first one was a failure….but the promise lies in the greatness of later ones". Femme explained soothingly with gentle softness. "Well, enough of that….you're still pretty young to hear it". "But yeah, we were a thing". Femme sighed a bit, as she looked around.
"That's always nice". Emily replied. "Yeah, a divorce is a nice thing that sucks your finances dry, and leaves you bankrupt, with no money in your pocket". "Unless you have a kid with the guy you cheated with". Femme chuckled.
Emily nodded. "Ok". she replied. Femme sighed as she put the stack of papers on her desk into a folder. "Nothing else, really". Femme muttered, kindly as she sucked in some air. "Enough about my problems, they're not worth the whistle….how have you been, sweetie?". "You've been kind of quiet these past few days…..and you're usually a chatterbox". "Feeling ok?". "You look tired, this afternoon". "You feeling alright?". Femme asked, kindly as she slumped back in her seat.
"I feel ok….I kind of feel sad today". Emily said. "You're sad today?". "Why are we sad?". "Are your classmates picking on you, or won't they let you study with them?". "I'm not making assumptions, I'm just curious, that's all". "You seem much quieter than usual….and I'm concerned". "Did you eat lunch this afternoon?". Femme asked, gently with kindness. She scribbled on a homework assignment in red pen. "Clea got every single word problem wrong". Femme muttered, chuckling. "We might need you to help tutor her". "Between you and I…you're much more focused on your work". "Sometimes, effort isn't put into these assignments, and people just rush through their work to get it done". "It's easiest, and best to relax, take a deep breath, have a snack, or a refreshment at the side, and just think through the problem, while following the procedure". "No extra abstract thought needed….only detail". Femme said, gently.
Emily nodded. "I am doing well now on my homework". Emily said. "You are doing an excellent job….and thanks to the small testing room, and the parameters for more assistance, and extra time, you're flourishing". "You just needed some more time to map out your skillsets". "We know how intelligent you are, and how hard working you are…you can do anything, honey". "Sometimes, just getting there is the hardest part". Femme mentioned, kindly with gentle soothingness. "Kind of". Emily replied.
"My, you are quiet today….you've never been this quiet, honey". "We usually talk, and have spirited conversations". "Is everything ok?". Femme asked, kindly with a softened, gentle voice. Emily shook her head. "I'm ok, I guess". Emily said, sighing.
"What's wrong, honey?". "What's bothering you…I'm sure I could help". Femme said, kindly with gentle soothingness. Femme held Emily's hands, gently. "It's nothing…I'm ok". Emily replied.
"Tell me". Femme convinced gently with kind soothingness. Emily sighed, as she looked up at Femme. "I don't like it here in Florida….I want to go back home". Emily said. "You want to go home to Pennsylvania?". Femme asked, kindly with gentle soothingness. Emily nodded.
"You don't like it down here?". "It's really warm…and the pools are open year-round". "It's just not working out so well?". Femme asked, gently with kind soothingness. "I want to go home to my house….where my mom and dad lived". Emily said. Emily sighed a deep, depressed sigh.
"You miss your mom and dad, huh?". Femme said, gently with soothing kindness. Femme brushed Emily's cheeks, kindly. "I miss my mom and dad a lot". "But I have to stay down here….because it's where I live now". Emily said. "Mmm, do you miss your old home?". "With your old room….and your old kitchen, and closets?". "I'm sure that's difficult, huh?". Femme said, kindly with gentle soothingness. Emily nodded, as she sniffled. "Yeah". She replied.
"I'm sorry you feel that way, honey". "I know it's been a hard couple of years without mom and dad…..and every once in a while, the feeling will come up again, and make us sad". "It is a sad thing….but it'll be ok….I promise you, honey". "You are doing an excellent job this year in my class". "You are doing amazing, incredible, beautiful, extraordinary things that I am always proud of". "You truly, and genuinely are my favorite student….you are the best student I've had ever….and I will always be genuinely proud of you….because you're like my baby sister". "What I see in you is so much potential, and so much promise….I see an amazing, extraordinary, beautiful heroine, a warrior whom I admire". Femme said, kindly with gentle soothingness. "Please don't be sad…..if anything, be open, and know I'm always beside you….because, we're best friends, you and I…..and our bond is unparalleled". "I love you very much….and I promise that you and I will stay close every day….and we'll talk every evening on the phone….because, like a bad virus, you just can't get rid of me". Femme said, in a soothing, gentle, kind, loving voice. "I'll always be beside you, honey….forever and always". Femme smiled, as she kissed Emily's cheeks. "You and I….we're best friends…..and I promise you….whatever you might have difficulty with, I'm right beside you to fix it". Femme promised, kindly with soothing gentleness. Emily nodded. "Thank you". Emily replied.
"Would you like to say hello to Clive….my baby boy?". "If it's a boy, that's what I'll name him". "If she's a girl, I'll name her Cariana". Femme said, kindly with soothingness. Femme pulled up her shirt, showing Emily the baby bump. "Clive". Emily said, as she put her hands on Femme's baby bump.
"Mmm hmm, he's in there, chilling". Femme said, gently with kindness. "Give him a kiss…he likes kisses, and hugs". Femme gently tickled Emily's cheeks. "You'll be like his godmother". Femme said, kindly with soothing gentleness. Emily kissed Femme's baby bump.
"Mmmm, nice, honey". "So is anything else going on?". "Everything going well with Mandark?". Femme asked, kindly with gentle soothingness. Emily nodded. "He's good". Emily replied.
"You like living with him, huh?". Femme said, kindly with soothing gentleness. "I do…he is really nice". Emily replied. "Yes, he is an excellent man, and though we never had kids, I'm still grateful to have had him in my life". Femme said, kindly with gentleness. "Mmmm, I'm sure you both will have a beautiful time….he is a cool man". "Cool indeed". Femme chuckled a bit.
Emily and Femme talked for a while until class ended. "Hmm, do you need a ride home, honey?". "I could give you a lift, myself, if possible". "The day is almost over, in fact". Femme explained, kindly with soothingness. "It is…but I think I'm ok now". Emily said.
"Hmmm, alright….well, if things change, you know where to find me". Femme said, gently. Emily nodded. Femme smiled, kissing Emily's cheeks, gently. "Have a beautiful, incredible, magical rest of your day, honey". "See you soon". Femme said, kindly with gentle soothingness. Her maroon, thin lips curved into a smile. "Love you". Femme whispered, when Emily was already gone. Femme's thin, maroon, feminine lips were curved into a precocious smile, knowing she was going to help Emily….and forge a relationship with her…(with Mandark's permission, of course)...whether Emily liked it or not.