The Waiting Room
~ Chapter Eighty-Two
True Friends
“Porthos!
No! Ye can’t be meaning to take Porthos from me, can ye? That’s
not quite the way it should be, now should it?” Barrie protested.
“I don’t be needing much here in this Room. I ask for
nothing. I don’t have me fairy with me and now ye be wanting me
bear? Tis’ not right, tis not right a’tall.”
The
author’s Scottish accent grew thicker as he grew more depressed at
the thought of losing his furry companion.
“I’m sorry Mr.
Barrie. But he has to go back to the circus. They’ve been looking
for him and they engaged me to bring him back. Please. Let’s not
make this harder than it has to be.” Noodlemantra said. He did not
want to do this but he had a job and today that job was to take back
the bear.
Barrie gave Porthos a last hug. Then he slowly
brought his brown, sad eyes up to look at ON.
“Have ye seen
Peter? Is he doing well? And his brothers? How are they all doing?
Fine boys, ye know? I miss them much.” Barrie sighed as he released
the bear and quickly excused himself and headed to the bathroom to
have some time alone.
Up until this moment The Room had been
silent as all watched with heavy hearts at Barrie’s personal
dilemma. It was true. The man stayed back from the chaos of the Room.
He was a quiet, shy man, staying much to himself. And now this...the
one thing he had found pleasure in since his arrival was being ripped
from him.
“Hey! Noodlemantra! Do you really need to take
the fur-bag with you?” Duke asked, finally breaking the silence of
the room. “Seems they can do one day without a damn bear out there!
Hell! Tell the f---ers to train themselves a new one! We’re keeping
Porty here! All in favor?” Duke asked the Room.
Noodlemantra
watched in amazement as one by one hands went into the air. He turned
in a circle, all around arms reached for the ceiling as the occupants
voted to keep the bear with them. ON had mixed feelings. On one hand
he was impressed with the support the men were giving, the solidarity
of helping another man without regard for reward…but…on the other
hand he feared what would happen when he would have to insist on
taking the bear with him.
Things could get ugly. He recalled
the gun situation when he had come for the letter that had been kept
safe by BonBon. That had only been a few men. This time involved the
whole room.
“I am overwhelmed gentleman, at the show of
hands concerning Porthos. But I have to tell you, this is not up for
vote. I have been assigned to bring back the bear. I cannot leave
without the bear.”
“Well then, look like you’re not
leaving, Noodle-boy,” came Brasco’s reply. The Room mumbled in
agreement.
ON stood his ground. He could not, would not leave
without the bear.
“You gentlemen must understand that this
is not acceptable. The bear does not belong in the Room and has to be
returned. Porthos belongs to the Russian circus. He has to be
returned to the rightful owners.”
How much longer would he
be able to hold off the men, ON wondered. Would he be able to do
anything if they overpowered him? Would Depp be able to get him out
of The Room? He wasn’t getting paid enough. He would have to
inquire about hazard pay when he finally got away from this madness.
A clipping sound caught their attention and all turned to
look in the direction from where it had come. There, next to the bear
was Edward, clipping away.
“Edward? What are you doing? The
bear doesn’t need to be trimmed.” ON stepped around to the side
of the creature where Edward was working.
“My God! Edward!
What have you done!”
There on the animal’s side Edward
had snipped away the fur…exposing skin with three words…
SAVE
THE BEAR
ON covered his face. How was he going to explain
this to the ringmaster?
All right! He thought to himself,
throwing his hands up in the air.
“You win! You all win!
For now!” He headed towards the door but paused when he touched the
knob.
“But do know this…I will return for the animal. He
cannot stay forever.” Then he opened the door and disappeared.
For a brief second the Room was still. Then cheering rose as
they celebrated their victory. For once they had worked together and
succeeded.
Wood went to the bathroom and coaxed Barrie to
come out. Tears filled the author’s eyes as he saw Porthos still
sitting in the same spot.
“Thank ye, me friends!” he cried
as he rushed to Porthos. “No one has ever done such a noble deed
for me before. Ye all are true friends!”