The Severis Tales 3: Larrygitis

The Severis Tales

3: Larrygitis

(C)2018.12 Patrick Rivers

The weather for the month of Septela is unusually quite chilly. It is only beginning of autumn, and it has already begun to snow. The chill in the air is so biting, your breath could freeze from your mouth, and fall to the ground.

Weekends are busy in Barlett. On Sundas, many attend the Deacon church (or one of the other two major followings) to hear the old wise tales told by the vicars. For others, it is just another ordinary day, albeit with shorter shopping hours. For Larry, he is busy recovering from his ordeal at the end of his second week of studies at Barlett College. Now, on Sundas, Septela 14 (Sunday, September 14 to us), 1103, he is recuperating peacefully, and looking forward to tomorrow, when he can get a fresh start on the week, as if nothing happened.

Unfortunately, as Larry is prone to post-stress illness, he took ill the very next day. He contracted a form of laryngitis that only affects bipedal dragons. Dr. Murphee, one of Barlett’s resident doctors, deduced he was not immune, as his throat and head contains a lot of his dragon lineage. He prescribed a lot of rest and ordered him to avoid forced vocalizations and speaking until the body heals itself enough to let him naturally speak. Not only does he have a painful throat, but he cannot audibly express his complaints to anyone, much to their relief.

The mood at the dinner table was, at best, frosty. No one spoke, and Larry’s own mood made everyone else feel his own discomfort. After he finished, he simply got up from his chair, and lumbered off to his room.

While Michale played around, Xiveer wiped his face with his napkin, and turned to his wife Leena. “What a sad kid. I’ve never seen him so down in ages.” he said.

“Dr. Murphee said he’s getting better,” Leena replied. “His voice should come back in a few days. I can’t get a single word out of him—I mean, on paper, or anything else.”

“That Toln Faresteed guy picked on him on his way home a few days ago. After that, his little problem on Fridas…I can imagine him feeling helpless. He’s even shrugged of Elcra, and I found astonishing. It’s not every day he does that.”

Leena rested her hand on her head. “Three steps forward, and four steps back,” she said, shoving a piece of potato into her mouth. “Well, hopefully tomorrow, his day will brighten.”

“You mean Tarla Wilfellow?”

“I’m sure he’ll have a change of heart when he sees her again. He’s been asking me about her since she ‘disappeared.’ I don’t know anything, but I’d like to know how she ended up in the west end on a very cold night and looking a few years older.”

Xiveer took a sip of ale from his mug. “I still think you’re making a mistake by not telling Larry. After all, you don’t know what happened to her.”

“I know, I know! I just want to see this fold out. I want to see how he reacts. He needs to learn on his own, and not rely on us so much,” Leena let out a sigh of frustration. “Let’s just try, okay?”

Xiveer nodded and smiled. “Okay. We’ll try it your way.”

~ # ~

The following day, Larry made his way to the college. He was surprised to find that no one bothered him much, regardless of his laryngitis. Miserable enough, the last thing he needed was someone the likes of Toln Faresteed aggravating him. He was certainly tetchy enough to do something regrettable.

The late afternoon marked the end of his day. Larry sat alone in the great hall of the college campus’ centre building. Slumped over a table, his thought turned to his miserableness and frustration of his lack of voice. As others casually passed by, he mentally whimpered, comforting himself by rubbing the horns on his head.

Then, an amazing thing happened. Maybe it was just pure coincidence, or a reward for being patient with himself, but it happened: Tarla Wilfellow came rushing down the spiral staircase, and his amber eyes lit up. Initially, he thought he saw the wrong person, with her shoulder-length hair, and pale complexion. But it was her, with one notable exception: instead of the warm, bubbly Tarla he met during registration day, this Tarla was more demonic and angrier. Still, it was her.

Larry leapt off the bench and waited patiently for her to pass by the entrance. As she stomped down the hall, he walked from behind a column, and waved shyly.

The huffing and unfazed Tarla came to a halt. “Oh, hello Larry Severis. Nice to see you again,” she said, her voice seemingly strained. She moved her hair back and pushed her glasses up. “It’s been awhile.”

Out of habit, Larry tried to speak. His lips moved, but not even a whisper came out. He snorted in frustration and sunk his shoulders.

To his surprise, Tarla quickly became irrationally irritated. “What’s wrong with you? Why is everyone sulking at me? Look, I’ve had a very stressful day. What’s with all the theatrics? What’s with the silent treatment?”

Confused, Larry scratched his head. He searched his bag for his pen and notebook but could not find it in time. Instead, he tried to convey the loss of his voice through the art of mime. Under the belief he did a good job with the explanation, he smiled awkwardly.

Tarla’s eyes went like daggers, and she took offence. “Why are you doing that? Why? For god’s sake, why is everyone doing this to me? Are you making fun of me? Don’t you know what I’ve even been through this past week?”

Larry took half a step back and shook his head.

“Then why did your mum come see me when I got back into town? Doesn’t she know? I thought she would have told you!”

Larry’s mouth dropped. What? Mother knew she came back, and she didn’t tell me? Why?

Out of patience, Tarla threw her hands up at him. “That’s it! I can’t trust anybody here! Go away, Larry! Just…leave me alone!” she yelled, attracting the brief attention of a few. She snorted at him and ran out of the building.

The moment has yet to catch up with him, but that was the last thing Larry expected from anyone. He closed his eyes, turned around, and banged his head repeatedly against the stone column. He could not fathom why Leena would do such a thing. In fact, it made him angry.

As he stood looking at the wall, he heard a shriek-like voice behind him, and it said, “Nice going, Severis!”

Larry’s ears collapsed from the whine, and he turned around slowly. With her arms crossed, and her bag over her shoulder, Janessa Vendyor—one of Elcra’s close friends, and one of Brackneed Vendyor’s nieces—looked at him with a cold smirk across her face. “So, once again, you frightfully scare everyone away, eh?” she taunted him, much to his dismal expression.

Pompous, well-off, arrogant, and sometimes rude, Janessa is much like her uncle in many respects.  She always puts her dark blonde hair in a high ponytail, with the remaining hair dangling over her shoulder, with evenly cut bangs covering her forehead. She considers it her personal everyday look. For Larry, however, it is her screechy, high-pitch and stretched voice that makes his sensitive ears cringe, making him terrified of her.

This time, while trying to convey his anger, Larry saw a notebook in her own bag and took it. “Hey! That’s mine!” she shouted at him.

He ignored her, and sketched out the words “Go away!” while holding the notebook close to her face.

Janessa laughed. “Don’t be such a wuss! How could you not know?”

Mad, he sketched out another sentence that said, “Then tell me, you walking, mop-haired, insufferable air horn!” Unimpressed, she flattened her lips, and tapped her foot, waiting. Larry gave in, wistfully adding to the paper, “Sorry.”

“Thank you,” Janessa said. “From what I know, your newfound friend came back on Saturnday, looking like she is now. She won’t tell anyone what happened, and everyone’s on her case. Of course she’s upset with you! You shouldn’t go around miming things like that! Hrmph!”

Larry rolled his eyes. Cross, he stared at her for some time, before shaking his head, and leaving.

“Hey, wait! My notebook! Give it back! Don’t you walk away from me like that!” she yelled, following him. She walked down the steps to the courtyard, where Larry mysteriously vanished. She squinted her eyes in puzzlement. That’s strange. Where did he go? He couldn’t have gotten far! While gazing around at the students walking around, she heard rough movement over by a column and some bushes. She investigated, and came face-to-face with Toln Faresteed, who had Larry pinned against the column. Oh, bollocks…

Toln looked at her. “What the hell do you want, woman? Beat it!” he barked at her.

“Don’t you talk to me like that,” she replied aggressively. “Let him go!”

Toln growled. “I told you to piss off! This concerns the freak, not you!

Janessa looked down. Larry had his hand free, covered by his glove. Without thinking, she pulled it off, revealing his dragon-like reptilian hand, and the claws on his fingers.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” With one free hand, Toln pushed Janessa into the bushes. She let out a small yelp as she fell cleanly against a flower bed.

When he turned his attention to Larry, however, an unexpected side of him caught Toln by surprise. Fuelled by anger, Larry’s dagger-like eyes stared into Toln’s soul. He lifted his hand up, and as a threatening gesture, scratching Toln’s cheek gently with his claws. “Nice dragon, nice boy…” he whimpered, his face sweating from fear.

Janessa dusted herself off. She grabbed his arm, squeaking, “Larry, you stop it as well!”

Larry listened to her, and he snorted. He let go of Toln, and simply walked away, with Janessa grasped his arm in tow. Cautiously, she gave Larry back his glove. He snatched it out of her hands and put it back on.

Toln appeared from behind the column. “You and I aren’t finished, freak! I will make an example of you some day!” he shouted. The two continued on, walking out towards the courtyard.

~ # ~

---

The coach ride home was anything but friendly. Larry, still fuming Janessa won’t let him be, sat in the corner by the gate. She sat across from him, also in silence, while the other folk chatted among themselves. While Larry hates Janessa because of her arrogant and up-tight attitude, she mutually hates Larry because of his closed shell anti-social life and his constant pampering by those around him, including Elcra. Today, she saw Larry’s dark side, and it made her curious.

With her notebook still in his possession, Larry eventually sketched out a question. “Why did you do that? Why did you pull me away? You hate me. That’s how it works.” read the sheet of paper.

Janessa sighed. “True, I hate your guts. You’re too soft, and you’re glued to Elcra like you’re dep—”

Larry anticipated her whining argument. While she spoke, he wrote a second sentence that read, “Will you just get to the damn point already?”

“Fine!” Janessa shouted. “I may hate you, but I’m not a cold and banal person! I wasn’t going to leave you there with that bully!”

“I thought all Vendyor clan members were cold and banal. That’s your uncle talking.” he wrote.

Janessa had to agree with Larry. She loves her uncle Brackneed. After all, he helped pay for her college fund so she can pursue her law studies. Brackneed also provided her with her own lodgings in town, far from her own immediate family. Although she respects him, and considers him close, she still thinks he is a bit of an arse.

The silence between them continued for several more minutes. She tightened her jacket up to combat the dropping temperature, while gazing at the light snow-covered spruce trees that surround the road back to town. With the snow coming early, the farmers are being put to task, to harvest leftover grains, and sow the winter batch. Usually, the winter weather does not begin until mid-to-late Novas, when they have plenty of time to prepare for next year’s crops. The light dusting on the thick, coniferous trees while being seasonably warm felt strange, yet somewhat pleasing. However, it was still too cold for this time of year, and she shivered.

She turned her head, and saw Larry looking down the road, also deep in thought. “What are you going to do when you get home?” she asked.

As it turns out, that was the wrong question to ask. Larry’s face again reddened with anger. He heard her but did not look. He shook a little and squinted.

Janessa flatted her lips and shrugged. “Okay, fine. Just don’t do anything stupid! It isn’t worth flipping your lid for. If you want my opinion… Well, I know you don’t, but you’re going to get it anyway. If you want my opinion, take this experience, and learn from it,” Larry looked right at her. “I mean it!” she said, adding more seriousness to her tone.

Larry looked down at the notebook, and scribbled, “Thanks, but this isn’t your problem.” He handed back the pencil and notebook to Janessa and continued his stare out of the carriage.

They arrived at the coach stop at the intersection to Pine Street. Without saying a word, Larry simply hopped off the carriage, and walked down the street. Janessa watched him lumber down the sidewalk, shaking her head in disgust. What an imbecile! I thought I was ignorant. Oh yeah, that’s also why I have nothing good to say about him… The carriage continued its route towards the west end, where Janessa lives in her tiny apartment. As usual, the carriage passed by Peren Stockwood’s bakery. She glanced over by the entrance and noticed Elcra delivering a sack of flour to Peren. Should I tell her? Should I not? It’s not even any of her business! Thoughts of Larry’s intentional silence began to circle in her head. Even she, as club-headed and egotistical as she is, thought something bad could happen. I guess I’ll do one more service to that immature twit! She asked to hop off the carriage, and she ran towards the bakery.

Elcra, with a wad of bills tucked away in a dark bag, was about to turn the corner, when Janessa caught up with her. While having the appearance of being fit and athletic, she was not the latter. “Elcra! Elcra! Wait up!” she said, huffing.

Elcra turned around. “Janessa? What are you doing here?” she said, unaware of the urgency.

“Never mind that bollocks!” Janessa said. “I’ve got a story to tell you, and you need to come with me right away!”

~ # ~

Meanwhile, Leena sat in the sitting room, anxiously twiddling her thumbs. She was not looking forward to seeing what Larry’s mood will be upon the opening of the front door. Will he be happy? Will he be mad? Would Tarla help him ignore his own problems, at least for awhile? She looked nervously at the arm chair. Xiveer had his feet up on a foot stool by the fire, reading a newspaper, and smoking his pipe. As calm as he was, Leena could not sit quietly.

Then, she heard the keys in the front door. The lock turned with a little more force than usual.

Leena stood straight. The door burst open with force. Nervous, she simply said, “Hello, dear—good day today?”

The demonic-possessed Larry—hunched over and beaming with rage—stomped right up to his mother. Breathing intensely, he stared her down. He briefly considered what his response would be, and how he would show it. But Janessa’s cringing voice broke through. Even though it wasn’t real, his eyes twitched from the thought.

“Don’t do anything stupid!” Janessa’s voice said.

“I told you it’s not your problem! Don’t tell me what to do!” Larry thought back.

“What did I tell you? Take this experience and learn from it!”

Larry bit his lip. “Shut up, Janessa’s voice in my head!”

“God, even in your own skull, you can’t stand to hear me! Have it your own way!” He visualized a door closing on Janessa, silencing her for good.

However, as their conversation bounced around his head, he realized she was right. He simply threw his bag into the corner of the sitting room, and walked up the stairs to his room, slamming the door shut.

Leena closed her eyes. She fidgeted about, whimpering, playing with her fingers, then crossing her arms, and went back to playing with her fingers. To her, the look on Larry’s face felt like deep betrayal. The very thought of letting him down after all these years turned her legs into jelly. Quickly, she glanced at Xiveer, who had his head planted in the newspaper. She sniffed, and looked away, and started to whine.

After a few moments, Xiveer put his pipe down on the table next to the chair and turned the page of his newspaper. “So, that went well…” he said dryly.

“Shut up, Xiveer,” Leena cried, her voice strained and wobbly with emotion. “Why didn’t you talk me out of this?”

“If you recall, I tried, but you were too determined to see this through. I know what happens if I try to interfere with any of your ideas. I knew this may happen, but you know—huh?” He heard the door unexpectedly shut. Xiveer put down his newspaper to find Leena gone. “Hey, that’s not fair!” he shouted. He got up, and walked to the door, and opened it. Leena was already past the gate, running off to somewhere unknown. He glanced at the coat rack, noting her missing coat. He sighed. Alright, I get the point. Just don’t do anything rash…

As he closed the door, Elcra and Janessa kicked it down. The force of the door took Xiveer by surprise, hitting him in the face, and sending him backwards and over the sofa.

“Mr. Severis! Mr. Severis!” Elcra shouted. “Janessa told me what happened! Is everything okay?” She looked to the left and right. “Um…where’s Larry? Where’s Mrs. Severis?”

Xiveer clamoured up onto the sofa, holding his nose. “Would it have killed you to knock first?” he told them fiercely.

Janessa put her hands on her hips. “Well I’m sorry, Mr. Severis, but this is important!”

Sitting at his desk in his bedroom, Larry heard the unmistakable sound of Janessa’s voice. His ears went on alert, and his face crumpled up like a paper bag. What is she doing here? Must hide, must hide! The only place he could think of was underneath his bed. So, like a coward, he rolled underneath, tucked his tail in, and waited.

Downstairs, the bantering continued between the three. “Look, everything is fine,” Xiveer said. “No one got hurt. There was a silent argument. Larry’s alright, but he…he is just not in the mood to see anyone right now. Hang on a minute. What’s a Vendyor doing in my house?”

Before it could kick off between them, Elcra stuck her nose up at Xiveer. “We saw Mrs. Severis running down the street! What’s going on?”

Xiveer scratched his horns. “Well, I didn’t want to pry, but Leena saw Tarla get off the coach late last night while doing some…” He looked at Janessa, who knew what she was up to. Her light blue eyes said it all. He received the message, loud and clear. “Anyways, Leena got ol’ Peren to give her something. One thing led to another, and, well, here we are.”

“Larry nearly cut Toln Faresteed’s throat in anger.” Janessa said.

Xiveer’s eyes widened. “He did what?“

“Oh, for god’s sake, Janessa—he didn’t nearly slit his throat!” Elcra said. “Stop over-selling the thing!”

“Yes, Brackneed—stop selling your story to us peasants!” he said, mocking Elcra’s voice.

Janessa threw her hands down in a tantrum. “Stop calling me Brackneed! I’m not like him!”

Xiveer smirked, muttering to himself, “Yeah, you say that…” The same look on Janessa’s red and irritated face made him realize what he said. Thankfully, he looked at the clock on the mantelpiece. It struck a minute past five in the afternoon. “Oh, hey, look at that! It’s time for me to go. I need to relieve Ms. Reena at the shop. She’s really taken to opening, you know?”

Elcra whined. “But…”

Xiveer put on his coat. “Look, do either of you know what really happened to Ms. Wilfellow?” he asked them.

“Um…” Janessa said, looking around the room.

“See? There you go,” Xiveer said, opening the door. “I doubt she knew either, and the whole thing turned into this foreseen mess. In my experience, these things tend to sort themselves out. Now, if you don’t mind, I have a shop to run.” He politely pushed them both out of the house and locked the door behind him.

The three walked together to the sidewalk, gossiping about Tarla’s disappearance. Xiveer thinks that something terrible happened back home. On the other end of the spectrum, Janessa thought that Larry’s pitiful attitude disturbed her, prompting a rebuttal from Elcra.

Xiveer locked the fence gate. “Well, I must bid thee farewell. Stop by somewhere near the shop sometime,” he said wryly. He waved at them and took off down the street.

“What an absolute brat!” Janessa said.

“Larry or Xiveer?” Elcra asked.

“Both!” Janessa looked up at a second storey window. Larry watched them from behind a curtain, and when their eyes met, he hid.

“You know, I’ve watched how you two behave, and I’ve noticed one thing in particular,” Elcra said. “You both talk to each other in a normal fashion. Larry doesn’t talk to anyone else like that, even his parents.”

Janessa shook her head. “What are you on about? “

“Let me put it to you like this: I think you both like each other.”

“What?” Janessa yelled. “Don’t be insane! The guy’s a wad! He’s whiny, clings to you, thinks the world is about him, and too afraid to go out on his own! I can’t stand him! Why can’t he act like, I don’t know, like a grown up?”

“Yet, you poked him, and stood by him when Toln came around. He’s expressed the same views about you. Okay, you take the initiative, but I can see why he hates you just as much.”

Janessa frowned. “Go on, friend.”

“You two are alike.” Elcra laughed after the sentenced rolled off her lips.

“Oh, get off of it!” Janessa said, pushing Elcra away. “You’re just winding me up!”

It took a few seconds more than Elcra thought it would to stop laughing. “Look, just cut him some slack, okay? He’s adapting well. Maybe, when this is all over, you’ll see each other in a different light, hm?”

“I doubt it. Whatever. I’m through hanging out with him. I’m tired and want to go home.” Janessa walked the opposite way down Pine Street, waving. “I’ll see you later!”

Elcra giggled. Janessa always had issues with Larry, as do some of her other friends. She is right about one thing: Larry has been far too clingy for moral and emotional support. Since Larry has spent more time attending college, and not with her, he has started to stand on his own. Elcra is a year older than Larry and has been close to the Severis family since she can remember. Maybe it’s not Larry after all, but her loyalty to the Severises, rather than to her own parents. The tense situation between Larry, Leena, and Tarla made her think about whether the bond between them is too strong. Then again, with the Severises, she feels like she can express her social side, as opposed to her hard-working parents, Berton and Clara.

Out of habit, Leena walked down Pine Street, and towards Severis General Goods. Of all the thoughts she had, the one about loyalty struck her mind. Does she really have any business getting involved? Leena is not her mother, nor Larry her sibling. She could make things worse and destroy the close relationship they all share. The whole situation will resolve itself, as Xiveer prophesized, but what will the outcome be if she doesn’t intervene?

It was only a few metres more down the sidewalk when the idea hit her. She replayed her and Janessa’s conversation with Xiveer. He really did say it: stop by somewhere near the shop some time. I thought he was just being himself, and clueless with his words. Elcra knew what to do, and where to go. Maybe he is relying on her. This spurred Elcra on even more. She tightened her jacket, and she marched on.

~ # ~

---

Leena walked around and around town, trying her best to shrug off the emotions she has been carrying around since fleeing the house. She always knew the possibility that the worst outcome in trying to ween Larry from their dependence would happen. She thought was prepared for it, but her pity and motherly attitude caused an internal conflict of morals, leaving her heart empty, and herself embarrassed.

Eventually, she found herself at the place she goes to when she needs time to think: Mila’s pub. In the quietest corner of a busy late afternoon, she sat at the table, staring blankly out of the window. She ordered a coffee but did not touch it. As she thought more about Larry, she could not help but think that, in some way, she hurt her son. She stared at her reflection in the black liquid and began to cry again.

From across the bar, Mila saw her idly stirring her coffee with a spoon but doing nothing else. Quickly, and without drawing attention, she darted up to the table. When she saw the tears in Leena’s eyes, she had to help her friend. So, she took off her apron, folding it neatly onto the table top, and pulled up a chair. “Hey,” she said, looking around. “You look quite upset. What’s wrong?”

Leena sniffed. “I made a terrible mistake.” she said quietly.

“Ah, I see,” Mila said with a nod. “The Larry and Tarla saga, eh?”

“I thought I could get away with him learning something without me for once. After all, I won’t be there forever. He…he came home, quite incensed, but he could not speak it,” Leena dabbed the tears from her eyes with a napkin. “I don’t know what happened, but he’s very angry with me. What do I do? What should I do?”

Mila pursed her lips tight. Larry got angry at his own mother? When does he do that? She adjusted her chair so others could not see Leena’s face. “Oh, my. Look, I can’t tell you what to do, but in my experience, making amends is the best solution. Yes, he will be angry for a bit, but he can’t stay mad a you forever. You two have too strong a bond to fall out over something frankly as trivial as this.”

Leena nodded, and gave her a crooked smile. “I hope you’re right.”

As they talked, Elcra came into the pub, and saw them both in the corner almost immediately. She pulled up a chair to the table and sat down. “Hey,” she said softly. Leena did not reply. Instead, she continued to stare out of the window.

“What are you doing here?” Mila asked rather sternly.

“Janessa told me what happened on the way home, and I thought I should come see you,” Elcra replied. “I’m just glad she managed to talk Larry out of doing something rash. That’s a feat, given her voice can curdle fresh milk within a fifteen-foot radius.”

“Brackneed’s niece managed to get along with him?” Mila said, surprised. “Do go on.”

“Well, Larry is upset that you never told him Tarla came back, Mrs. Severis. But he is under the assumption that you knew the reason why she left.” Elcra said.

Leena sniffed. “But I don’t know! She looked thirty years aged, as if the life was drained from her. I was busy, so I couldn’t ask. I thought that if he found out for himself…well, I guess not…”

“Oh, Mrs. Severis—it isn’t your fault!” Elcra said. “From what Janessa said, Tarla didn’t want to tell, and everyone got on her case about it. She naturally assumed, that since you gave her that gift, you told Larry. That, or she thought you knew what happened already.”

Mila sat back. “What? Then, you’re saying that the whole thing is—”

“A misunderstanding,” Elcra said nodding. “With Larry’s voice gone, the frustrations just built up, and she snapped.”

Leena stayed silent for some time, eventually replying, “That doesn’t make me feel any better.”

Then, Reena entered the pub with another older woman. The older woman is Dyanne Wilfellow, Tarla’s mother. They saw the others and joined them.

“Good day, Mrs. Severis,” Reena said. “I brought someone to see you.”

Leena looked up. “Dyanne? What are you doing here?”

“Mr. Severis told me what happened. Then, Mrs. Wilfellow came in, and asked where you were. Mr. Severis told me to come here,” Reena said. It was then she noticed the grim looks on all the faces, and knew it was an affair she was not to be involved in. “Well, I’ll be off then. Good night, everyone.” she said.

After Reena left, Elcra pulled the second chair from the table behind her and dragged it over. “Mrs. Wilfellow, please sit down.”

Dyanne sat down, nodding appreciatively. “Thank you.”

Leena put on a stoic effort to keep her emotions together. “Oh my, what brings you from River Ridge?” she asked.

“Well, I heard about the nice gesture you did for Tarla when she arrived back in town,” Dyanne replied. “I wanted to thank you personally, after all she went through the past few weeks. You did not have to do it that.”

Leena took a sip of her coffee. “I do appreciate you coming all the way down to tell me this, and more than you know. You see, my son…well…”

“Ah,” Dyanne said. “When Tarla returned home, she told me about her encounter with Larry. She thought rather highly of him. I’m sure that, upon her returning to her studies, they would be glad to reunite, right? Right?” Leena, Mila, and Elcra shook their heads in despair, and Dyanne’s heart sank. “Okay, what happened?”

“It’s a little complicated.” Mila said.

Elcra explained. “You see, Larry lost his voice. Tarla, well, she was already upset. When he tried to convey the loss of his voice through the art of mime, the ancient tradition of conveying sympathy through comedic acts, she misunderstood, and lost her temper. Tarla is under the impression that, because of her good deed, Mrs. Severis knows what happened, but I think that’s not the case.”

Leena cleared her throat. “All I wanted for him was to try and cope with others, and without my help. He got angry with me. He thinks I hid something from him, and…and…”

Dyanne grabbed Leena’s hand in a show of support. “It’s not your fault, nor is it Larry’s. Tarla is still torn up, and she needs some time to find herself, that’s all.”

Mila waved her hand to Tom, a waiter under her employ. Quietly, she asked for coffees for everyone else. “What happened?” she asked Dyanne.

Dyanne twiddled her thumbs and looked around the table. She knew Elcra by association to her close friend Leena, but Mila she does not know well. However, the trust between them seems strong, so she let her guard down. “Tarla’s grandmother passed away on the day she left for college,” she said woefully, her head slung low. “Roselynne Wilfellow, eighty-seven years old…”

“Oh goodness, I’m so sorry,” Leena said tearfully. “They were close, weren’t they?”

Dyanne nodded. “Roselynne supported Tarla all the way, learning about her magic heritage, and pushing for her seat at Barlett College. Mother was always someone we’d were fond of. Now, she’s gone. Tarla found out the second day and came home immediately. Poor girl…”

Now it’s Elcra’s turn to use a napkin. “Oh my god, that’s so sad!” she cried.

“Tarla never went far outside of River Ridge. We knew the day would happen, and she would leave home, but I guess Mother could not bear the fact that they would be separated a long distance,” Dyanne whined. “I believe she was proud of her granddaughter, but her heart was torn apart. She thought she wouldn’t see Tarla again. To think she would become so lonely…no!”

Tom arrived with a tray with three cups of coffee. By now, everyone except Mila was crying. They all had napkins up to their faces. Overcome by the experience, Tom also began to cry, sobbing the words, “Why is everyone crying? Why?”

Mila looked up and let out a slight gasp. Tom was shaking from his emotional breakdown, a sight she found confusing. “Tom, don’t worry about it. Look at me—I’m not crying, am I?” She took the tray from him and placed it on the table.

“But why? What did you do?” Tom asked.

Mila slapped his arm. “Why the hell are you crying? Stop it, or you’re going to make me cry! Do you want that?”

“But…I can’t help it!” Tom said.

Leena sobbed, saying to Tom, “This isn’t your problem!” while looking away.

It became apparent that Mila was the only one around the table in complete control of her faculties, and she needed to take control of the situation. So, she slapped the table hard with her hands, startling everyone. “All of you—stop it right now! You, Tom—you didn’t know her, so suck it up! Go and do some washing up!”

“Yes, ma’am…” Tom said. He bowed, and quickly left.

Mila turned to the others. “You must forgive Tom. His heart’s in the right place, and he’s very good worker, but he tends to get unnecessarily emotional when others do.”

“Don’t blame him,” Dyanne said. “Some people are just like that.”

“Well, what now, Mrs. Severis? What are you going to do?” Elcra asked.

“I don’t know,” Leena replied. “I made him this way. We gave him that dependence—you, me, and Xiveer. You’ve done more than enough, Elcra, and I cannot thank you enough. However, this is my mistake. I am responsible, and I will talk to him.”

Elcra smiled at Leena. “As you wish, Mrs. Severis.”

“I’m in town until tomorrow,” Dyanne said. “I’ve never visited Barlett College before. I think I’ll go up there and have a talk with Tarla. She needs some reassurance, and to hear from a comforting voice that everything will be fine.”

“Not just Larry, but everyone else,” Elcra said. “My friend goes to the College as well. She’s saw Tarla snap at nearly everyone. I don’t think she adjusted all that well, Mrs. Wilfellow.”

Dyanne smiled, and quickly finished her coffee. “Well, I know what I need to do. Leena, please do not tell your son that I’m going to visit her. I believe that after tonight, everything will be alright,” She stood up and pushed the chair in. “I’ll go see her tonight. Thank you…thank you all for your support.”

“Thank you for coming,” Leena said. “Take care.”

After Dyanne left, Mila stood up. “Well, back to work I go. The drinks don’t pour themselves, you know,” She grabbed Leena’s shoulder firmly. “We can talk later, if you wish.”

Leena looked up at her. “Thanks, Mila.” Mila nodded with sympathy and left.

Then, Elcra stood up. “As much fun this has been, I must be getting home myself. Mum and dad must be wonderin’ where the money from their flour sale to Mr. Stockwood went to. Better scram before all hell breaks loose.”

Leena finished her black coffee. “I suppose it’s now or never.” she said, standing up.

“I’m sure you will be fine!” Elcra said. “Come on, I’ll walk you home.”

~ # ~

And so, in the evening, Leena arrived home. She turned the key in the lock, slowly opened the front door, and stepped inside. The house was eerily quiet, except for Michale on the sofa, snoring loudly. Frowning, she closed the door, and hung her coat on the coat rack.

As she approached the first step of the staircase, her anxiety resurfaced. She froze. Oh, come on, Leena—move your damn feet up the steps! What’s stopping you? With the knowledge she has now, she is absolutely sure she can fix things with her son. However, the incident from this afternoon still puts a lump in her throat. Aided by her strong resolve, she pushed that mental imagery down, and swallowed it whole. Her frown transformed into a furrow of confidence, and she began her ascent to the second floor.

As typical, Larry’s door is shut. He does not like to leave it open. He prefers his privacy. As well, he does not trust his younger brother, Michale to do something torturous to him when he’s not looking.

Leena walked up to the door. Just before knocking, she paused for a moment. When she felt ready, she closed her eyes, sighed, and knocked.

Larry answered the door. He took one look at his mother and scowled. “Hello dear,” Leena said awkwardly. “May I come in?” After a moment of deliberation, he nodded, and stepped aside. She sat down on the chair at his desk, while Larry sat down on his bed. He held his hands together and stared at the floor in silence.

On the way home, Leena prepared an apology in the form of a speech—a lengthy explanation that she hoped would give him all the answers. “Um,” was the word she said before forgetting everything. So, off the wall, she stumbled and made it up as she went along, saying, “I know you feel pretty angry at me right now. You have every right to be. I didn’t want to tell you, because I wanted to see you…I don’t know…not rely on me so much. I wanted to see you handle it on your own, but I didn’t expect this to happen. Honest to truth, I had no idea what Tarla had gone through. I suppose she assumed so when I sent Mr. Stockwood to tend to her. I had no idea what the outcome would be. If I had known what happened, I would have told you. Please…please forgive me. All I wanted was for you to engage your friend on your own terms…”

Larry’s mouth twitched. He knew it was wrong of him to come home in such a foul manner, and after being alone for some time, he felt terrible about how he treated his own mother. Of course, her words rang true. His actions put an emptiness in his stomach that made him sick with guilt.

He went over to his desk, and scribbled out, in elegant handwriting, a response. He handed it to Leena, and she read it out loud. “Of course I forgive you. I was just angry. I knew you wouldn’t have caused such a screw-up on purpose. Tarla did look awful. Then, Janessa piped up, then Toln. I’m afraid I lost my temper, and yet, I couldn’t say anything to either of them. I could not express myself in any manner. My eyes were enough to tell Mikey to leave me alone, and he did. I’ve been just so frustrated the past few days. I don’t have my voice. I’m sorry I got upset at you. No, please forgive me.”

The long, letter-like reply put yet another tear in Leena’s eye. Squeamish with emotion, Larry looked away while she dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief. She stood up by the bed and hugged him rather aggressively. “I knew it would work out in the end.” she said warmly.

Larry walked over by the door, silently mouthing the words “Thank you.”

But then, Michale suddenly appeared. Awake from his power nap, he is ready for action. Tonight, he would pretend to be a monkey swinging in the jungle; and the vine is Larry’s tail. “Wheee!” he shouted, pulling hard, swinging like a tiny monkey.

Larry’s eyes popped out of his head. He made an involuntary noise, something along the lines of “Gwaaaag,” and quickly spun around. “Why, you little brat!” he hissed. Michale just escaped Larry’s reptilian-like hands, laughing manically as he ran off to hide in his own bedroom.

Then, he realized what he just done. He hissed. He made a croaking sound. He looked out towards the banister from his room, surprised. Larry heaved in, and bellowed out a “Awwwowwwwwowowowowww” sound. It was barely audible, and resembled something like a squeaky whisper, but he heard it. His voice is starting to come back! The depression and anxiety began to lift, and he started to feel good. “Hooray! Yes!” he rejoiced, jumping up and down. “Mother! My voice! It’s coming back! I can speak again! Mother! Mother?“

Larry turned around, and gasped. Sprawled across his bed was Leena. She had large red mark across her face and chin, as if something slapped her unconscious. It didn’t take long for him to connect the dots: when Michale grabbed his tail, he bent and turned around so quickly, his tail slapped the unsuspecting Leena across the face, knocking her out. Larry thought he was angry with her, so you can imagine how angry she will be when she wakes up. He decided to not hang about and tip-toed out of his room.

But Leena suddenly came to. Larry stood in the doorway, petrified. She grabbed her head with her hand, groaning painfully. “What…what? What happened? Why do I feel so terrible? Did I drink too much again?”

Larry laughed anxiously. Boy, I sure wish you did!

Leena sat up in the bed. Dazed and confused, she looked up at Larry, but could not understand his frightened expression. “Larry? What’s happened?” she said, groggy. It was only when she turned her head, and looked in a mirror, did she see the large red mark across her face. She looked back at Larry, whining, “But…why?”

Larry hissed the words “It was an accident! I can explain!” while waving his hands around.

Leena tilted her head. Her cream-coloured hair fell over her face. “I heard your voice! It’s coming back! Arendor Severis, you’re well again!” she said excitedly.

The only thing Larry was focused on was an explanation for the tail slap. “I-I swung around to grab Mike, and you got in the way of my tail! I’m so, so sorry!” he pleaded. “Please forgive me!”

Leena grabbed both of Larry’s shoulders to calm him down. “I understand. I forgive you,” she said, calmly and wisely. Leena discovered that when Larry has an anxiety fit, being pushy to the point he pays attention calms him down. “I heard you! You can thank Michale when he comes out of hiding. After all, he may have saved your voice!”

Larry looked down. “Yeah, that works as an explanation…” he said sarcastically.

“It is a much better explanation than the one I will give your father when he gets home,” Leena said. She heard Larry’s stomach growl, then hers. “Oh, my. I haven’t eaten anything since this afternoon! Well, to celebrate your recovery, how about helping me make a lovely beef stew?”

He smiled. “That sounds lovely.”

“Come on, then,” Leena said. Larry closed the door behind him, and halfway down the stairs to the sitting room, Leena asked him, “By the way, how did Michale get home this afternoon?”

~ # ~

The next few days were more comfortable for Larry’s throat. He was able to finally converse with others around the College, although only for a few moments at a time. Dr. Murphee gave him a bottle of slime produced by an edible form of algae that would give him temporary vocal ability. He further explained that his voice would return to normal by the end of the week.

Tarla, though, avoided Larry like the plague. Although her mother Dyanne went to great lengths to reassure her, she felt bad enough for losing it on him. Tarla was reassured that neither Larry or Leena knew of her grandmother’s passing. Her own grief and stress clouded her judgment, and it pushed her over the edge. She wants to tell him, but she does not know how.

The end of the third week of college was halfway done. Larry came down the spiral staircase in the grand hall, ready for his lunch break. Passing near the entrance, he spotted Tarla reading a book on a bench by the wall. He squinted at her. Okay, let’s try to not mess this one up again. Just casually walk over there and talk to her. He grunted anxiously and turned right.

He surprised Tarla when she looked over the top of her book to find him standing in front of her. “Oh, sorry, I was just leaving,” she said, hastily packing up her bag, and running off. “Maybe some—”

“Tarla, please,” Larry said, his voice like a drowned, muted bugle. She stood still, and turned around, looking down at his shoes with guilt. “I only have a few minutes of speaking left. I didn’t know what happened, and my mum didn’t know either. She knows now but will not tell me. Please sit down with me.”

Tarla grudgingly dropped her bag on the bench and sat down, and Larry sat down beside her. “I’m sorry. I really am sorry. I’m so…I don’t know…” she said in a low voice.

“I should be sorry too. After all, I could have mimed something better. I wanted to write it down, but I couldn’t. You see, my mum saw you get off the coach by the Stockwood Bakery. You looked miserable, so she got Mr. Stockwood to get you something. I was sad that you had just disappeared on that first day. Not to get cheesy-gooey over it, but you did stick up for me that day. Naturally, when I saw you again, I was excited, but…” Larry went into a coughing fit. “Excuse me.” he said, pulling out his bottle of slime, and putting a few drops into his mouth.

“What is that stuff?” Tarla asked. Larry showed her the bottle, and she read the label aloud. “Basin Bay Algae Throat Lube,” She sat back, disgusted. “Well, to each their own, I guess…”

Larry pursed his lips together, then asked her, “What made you disappear for two weeks?”

Tarla pushed her red hair back. “Don’t make a fuss out of it, but my grandmother died the day I went to college. She meant everything to me, and she gave me all the gifts of life I could ever have. River Ridge is a small town, and there isn’t much to do there, but granny Roselynne was an important person there. I really fell off the world and disappeared. I felt worthless. I still can’t come to terms with her passing. So much I haven’t, that I lashed out at everyone, and they didn’t deserve it, especially you. Will you ever forgive me for lashing out at you?”

Larry lightly grabbed her shoulder. “Of course. How can I not?”

Tarla’s gloomy face transformed into a smile. “Really? Oh, thank you!” She grabbed Larry and hugged him tightly. She accidentally punched part of his wings that connected to his back, and as a reflex action, he coughed. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” she said excitedly.

“Yeah, you’re welcome.” he wheezed.

Tarla got up and slung her bag over her shoulder. “I have to go now. You made me happy, happier than I have been the past few weeks. I want to talk more with you in the afternoon. I want to know about your first two weeks!”

Larry rolled his eyes. “I really don’t think you want to. It’s quite embarrassing.”

Tarla looked behind her. “Yes, I’m sure I want to. Toodles!” she said, running off.

Suddenly, the rest of Larry’s anxiety lifted. He felt a great weight lift off his chest, celebrating the event with a large and victorious exhale. Things are back to normal, and he managed it all by himself. It is just what Leena wanted—her son, standing on his own, building those social skills up, piece by piece.

He felt ecstatic about the outcome, until he heard the familiar broken, screeching voice of a woman he thought went through puberty at age five. His elven ears folded in on themselves, tuning out Janessa as she said to him, “Hey, Severis—nice going!”

Larry’s eyes and ears independently twitched from the rest of his body in reaction to Janessa’s voice. Ugh, not her! Not now! Why? With a sour face, he turned around. “What the hell do you want?” he barked at her, without the vocal force to make his mood known.

Janessa slung her bag over her shoulder and crossed her arms. “Well, it looks like your voice is back. And I see you’ve done it all by yourself. Here—have a tart.” She reached into her bag, pulled out a cream tart from a paper bag, and tossed it to Larry.

He was taken back by the cloaked but sympathetic remark. “Did you just…compliment me?” he said, blinking. “I don’t think I’ve ever been complimented by you before. Or given any positive words. In fact, I can’t—”

“Alright, alright, Severis—don’t get all mushy about it!” she said.

“Eh?” Larry said with one eyebrow raised. “I wasn’t getting mushy! Did Elcra make you come see me, or something?”

Janessa looked around. “Sort of, in a way… Okay, she sent me here! Look, I want to know something. Elcra put into my head an idea that I can’t shake off. I dislike you. Do you dislike me? What makes me so intolerable?”

Larry grabbed his tail from the side and scuffed off the end of debris. “Oh my, where to begin? Well, for starters, the put-downs, your arrogance towards me, your inflated ego, your voice—especially your voice, and your overall sassy attitude. Oh yes, I forgot—you’re a Vendyor,” He stared for many moments at her incandescent and enraged eyes, before asking, “Anything else, my lady?”

Janessa shook her head and replied. “Fine. Second question. Why can you speak clearly to me, without hiding in that shell of yours, but when you talk to anyone else, you turn into a wiggly wuss?”

“I don’t know,” Larry said. He became perplexed by her sudden curiosity, as if this building of bridges with Tarla had unlocked some sort of new attractiveness to Janessa. “I don’t go wiggly, do I?”

“Let’s test that. Hang on a second,” Janessa glanced over across the room and waved. “Hey, Terrance! Terrance! Come over here for a second!”

Immediately, Larry sunk his head into the collar of his jacket. Terrance, one of the students he met on registration day, came by, smiling. “Hello, Janessa. Hello, Larry.” he greeted them.

“Um, hello,” Larry said shyly. “How have you been?”

Terrance scratched his curly brown hair. “Oh, you know, busy. I see you’ve been busy yourself. Anyways, I gotta go. See ‘ya!” He shook Larry’s hand, as is custom greeting from where he hails from out east.  Then, he left.

“What the hell was that?” Larry said, shaking his head in confusion.

“Just as I thought,” Janessa said, confident in her proof.  “Now, the other thing she got me thinking of the other day. I do find you absolutely annoying—”

Larry interrupted her. “If you find me so incredibly annoying and not worth your self-centred ego, then why do you make the effort to come talk to me?” He put his bag down and sniffed the sweet cream tart. “You and I have never got along. Like I said, you hate me, and that’s how it works. You never gave me any sort of respect, nor did you ever listen to me. I don’t know what Elcra said to you the other day, but you clearly have a bee in that oversized ponytail of yours. Elcra didn’t send you—you sent yourself!” Larry pulled the tart up to his mouth and ate a piece. “Oh, this is good! Now, my turn: why are you suddenly not avoiding me?”

Janessa could not think of a real excuse, but since her conversation with Elcra outside the Severis residence, she could not fully answer his question. “Well, I don’t know. Maybe…um…give me a second…” she said awkwardly.

Larry tapped his foot. “I’m waiting.”

Janessa sighed, and slung her arms about. “Okay, maybe it’s because you’re becoming a little more…likeable,” She had trouble saying the word likeable. “You’re trying to be something better. Maybe Elcra was right—maybe you and I are alike in some ways. That doesn’t mean I think of you as a friend! Far from it!”

Larry blinked at her, then smiled.

“Oh, alright,” Janessa said. “You’ve changed in the past three weeks. You are opening to others, being more friendly than usual; and despite those like Toln, you’ve kept your head up. In fact, you’ve changed so much in such a short time, even Elcra is surprised, and I’ve…well, I’ve decided to not be as hostile to you. Maybe…um…well…I think that you aren’t the epic tool bag you were before, and maybe I’ve begun to regret the things I did to you,” Blushing, she looked away from Larry, muttering to herself, “I can’t believe I just said that to you!”

“That’s a pretty hammy way of saying friendly,” Larry said. “But I think I know one of the things that make us alike.”

“Oh, and what’s that, then?”

“You can’t stand talking to others about your own feelings.”

Janessa knew he was right. She is a Vendyor, and like most of her family, Brackneed included, she has an instinctive need to feel assertive, and has difficulty coming off that mental high horse to be more personal with one another. With Larry handling Tarla’s case superbly, she saw something new in him, and it has allowed her to soften that instinctive attitude that all Vendyor family have. So, it is for the first time, that she asked of Larry, “If we’re going to be more friendly, then how about lunch?”

Larry pouted in ponder. He simply stretched his wings a bit, stretched his neck, and nodded. “Sounds good.”

And so, the rest of the day went on. After lunch with Janessa, and her reminder that they aren’t straight up friends, Larry met up with Tarla. She was in a much happier mood.  The two discussed many things, including his meltdown at the end of the second week of college. In return, she told him many things about herself, about River Ridge, and magic.

It is a personal victory for Larry, a hat-trick of sorts. Although inflicted with that voice-degrading illness, he still managed something he would not have normally done without help. Janessa’s admittance made him feel uplifted and well-spirited. Although, she still insists they aren’t “friends,” and much to his mild annoyance, her voice still makes her cringe. Tarla and Larry seem to have a healthy, mutual friendship, and the brief handshake with Terrance let him know that things are on the upswing.  For the first time, he can believe that not everyone looks down upon him.

The doors are open to social opportunities that he never had. Maybe it was just a kick in his reptilian-like rear end that he needed. He became too complacent in his closed social life, and this experience was the symbolic shovel that will allow him to dig his way out of the eighteen-year-old hole he threw himself in. However, the very thought of openness made him queasy, shy, and anxious.  He quickly reverted to “classic Larry.” If anything, he learned in these past three weeks that he is like a baby learning to walk: he’s making the effort, and sometimes he will fall on his tail, and maybe cry, but he is still determined to learn to walk.

~ END ~