Chapter Fifty-Four
Two young frogs sat at the edge of a clearing, admiring the structure they had built.
"It's great!"
"It's perfect!"
"It's terrific!"
"It's
huge!"
"This is the best we've ever done, Ziggy!"
"Well the rocks were a great idea, Robin!"
"It turned out
great!"
It was their latest castle, built of the finest materials and craftsmanship the swamp had to offer.
In other words, it was a rather large pile of sticks and stones.
But that was just a matter of imagination, and the two of them had plenty to spare.
"We should show somebody!"
"Yeah!"
"Who should we show?"
"Let's show Uncle Kermit!"
"YEAH!"
"I'll go get him!"
"I'll stand guard!"
"Okay!"
Robin happily hopped to where he knew his uncle was most likely to be. If Kermit wasn't on his log, he would be in the grass next to it, appreciating the fact that it was morning. Yup, that's where Uncle Kermit would be!
Robin burst into what would most likely be Kermit's sight. "Uncle Kermit!"
...Or, maybe, his uncle would still be sound asleep.
"Uncle Kermit," Robin sighed. He crept closer and carefully examined the older frog. He knew that Kermit sometimes had a habit of
pretending to sleep late, in hopes of catching someone off guard. "Uncle Kermit, it's me, Robin!" he whispered. "You can be awake now. Nobody else is around."
No response.
Robin sighed. "Okay, Uncle Kermit... Maybe you
are asleep." He crept around his uncle a few times before stopping and reaching out to tickle Kermit's flippers.
Kermit mumbled a groan and pulled his flippers in closer, curling into a ball.
"Aw," Robin sighed. "But it works for
me!" He looked at his uncle. "Come on, Uncle Kermit. Ziggy and I wanna show you something! We built a castle!"
He thought for a moment, then hopped closer.
"I've got an idea," he said. He grasped Kermit's arms and shook him lightly. "Come on, Uncle Kermit, wake up!"
Kermit turned his head and looked up at the sky.
"Yay, you're awake!" Robin grinned and hopped excitedly. "Morning, Uncle Kermit!"
The Eyes.
"Ziggy and I wanna show ya something!" Robin hopped. He looked at his uncle's face. "Uncle Kermit?"
The Eyes were struck with fear.
"...Uncle Kermit?" Robin whispered apprehensively.
His uncle stared up at nothing, absolutely nothing, and was... afraid... so very afraid... and so very upset...
The Eyes slowly crystallized with a basic, dreaded understanding.
Robin turned and looked up at the sky, trying to see what made his uncle so upset. All he saw was sunshine and blue skies. He looked at Kermit.
Robin's uncle stared up at nothingness, so very afraid, so very upset... His breathing was getting faster, harsher...
"Uncle Kermit?" Robin whimpered. He didn't realize he did so, but he took a few baby steps backwards.
Kermit's breaths grew slower, deeper... His muscles tightened and relaxed, deep breaths, tight, relax, deep breaths...
"Uncle Kermit," Robin whispered. He curled up into a very small ball, watching. He wanted to cover his eyes, but his hands didn't obey him. He wanted to hop away, but his legs didn't answer him. His uncle didn't answer him, either.
There, there. The Eyes were gone. He had done the right thing. He WOULD do the right thing. Now, to focus on a sound, and come back to where he was. Where was he, anyway? No piano, not the Boarding House...
Robin took a deep breath. "Uncle Kermit," he said simply. It was all he could do.
Kermit flinched and bolted upright, startled at the sound of his nephew's voice. The young frog shrank back. Kermit's eyes darted for him. "Robin! I- I didn't- see-" He looked at his nephew's face. He saw the fear there, and the baffled confusion, and what was surely a perfect mirror of his own expression when he faced The Eyes. Kermit gulped. His mouth felt dry. "Robin," he managed to breathe, feeling tears in his eyes, "Did you... did you see me... wake up?"
Robin nodded, on the verge of trembling.
Kermit's head sank down to his hands in grief and shame. "Oh Robin..."
What did I do? I have to fix this. He reached out and pulled his nephew into his lap. "I'm sorry," he whimpered, holding him tenderly and rocking him gently. "I'm so sorry..."
But the young frog, usually so quick and so eager to curl into his uncle's embrace, stayed stiff and stared up at this frog.
Kermit gently stroked his nephew's arm with his thumb. "It'll be okay, Robin," he murmured. "It'll be okay..."
"But
you’re not okay," Robin burst, his voice trembling.
Kermit rocked him gently. "I will be," he murmured.
"Promise?"
"...I promise."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The train ride back from the swamp had been exceptionally long and unusually awkward. Robin usually talked to Kermit the entire way, but this time, he had mostly kept himself busy at the window and had occasionally glanced at his uncle, not quite sure of what to say. Kermit had shifted his weight, wondered what to do, and hoped that... Well... just hoped.
The trip home was almost over now, though. They were walking on their own street, and the Muppet Boarding House was in sight.
And still, there was no conversation between the two frogs.
Robin hopped up the porch steps and waited for his uncle to open the door.
Kermit slowly climbed the steps and did not open the door. Instead, he knelt down and hugged his nephew. "I love you, Robin," he said quietly.
Robin turned towards him and pressed into his uncle's grip. "I love you too, Uncle Kermit," he whispered.
They hugged each other tight for a long moment.
"Uncle Kermit?" Robin said quietly.
"Yes Robin?" Kermit whispered.
Robin hesitated. "Can we talk about it at bed time?" he whispered.
Kermit swallowed hard. "Yes, Robin," he whispered. He hugged his nephew tighter, and then stood up. "Ready to go in?"
"Yeah," Robin said.
Kermit opened the door and they stepped inside. "Hi-ho everyone!"
"KERMIT'S HOME!"
Kermit chuckled as he was pulled into a few hugs. Robin darted for Sweetums' waiting hand.
"Hey little buddy," Sweetums said as he scooped up the frog and looked him over. "Something wrong?"
Robin shifted his weight.
Kermit slid his arms around Miss Piggy and tenderly kissed her cheek. "Hey," he said simply.
She kissed him lightly, looked into his eyes, and saw at once that something was wrong. "Mon Capitan," she whispered soothingly, and she hugged him tight.
Robin said something quietly to Sweetums.
The hulking monster was evidently shocked. "HE'S GOING BACK?" he bellowed.
"WHAT?"
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