Dreamland part twelve

To Popee, living with his darling son and loving partner, was the ultimate fairy tale come true.

He never was told many fairy tales growing up, and knowing sharing fairy tales were generally a big part of parent/child time, he felt left out.

He would make up his own fairy tales.

About a something, something, a long time ago, blah, blah, blah.

He didn’t like to fill in the details.

Mainly that there was a starting conflict, there was some sort of rising tension, a breakthrough, another problem starts up and gets to the rising buildup climax—-then, finally, a resolution.

He liked to pretend that the rock collection he had as a child, rocks he had found throughout his travels with his dad, were the ‘characters,’ and he would make them laugh or cry, fight or run away.

But, he was very unsure about how to actually create a real conversation between people, and that’s why he felt his play acting for his made up fairy tales fell flat.

His dad would leave him alone a lot, and only teach him stunts or tricks for the circus, and sometimes teach him geography or math.

But, then Kedamono came along…

And the blah, blah, blah…

Became…

Once upon a time, a sad clown met a handsome, talented prince…

And they did tricks together, singing and dancing...

And became best friends——

The handsome prince saw through all of sad clown’s anger and mean words, and carried him off to the sunset, where they fell madly, deeply, passionately, ardently

In love. The conversation was rich and full and it was more than just laughing it crying or running away. It was about truly living.

He was willing to do almost anything to keep this dream in tact, a starry Dreamland that represented everything that could’ve ever mattered to him.

Now that his little sister Marifa and Papi were here, questioning them and this most beautiful and loving arrangement, he felt like his Kingdom was under attack. They accepted his son, sure, but what about his partner?

He swore to himself he was made to have this family.

And seeing the love of his life go out with his dad for drinks—-to go ‘talk’—-it felt off.

What would his dad need to say to Kedamono?

Popee made it a point to kiss Kedamono before he left, right in front of his dad.

Papi eyed them carefully and said, “Marifa will be over soon.”

“I thought we’d be doing dinner all together tonight…” Popee said, looking at Kedamono longingly.

“I think you and your sister should talk. It’s good to catch up,” Papi said.

“Yeah, baby, it’ll be good. Order some Thai food for you and Marifa. Okay?” Kedamono said softly with a smile that looked heavy.

“Okay. Love you,” Popee said to Kedamono.

“Love you too, sweetie!” Kedamono answered, blowing him kisses goodbye. Popee blew a kiss at Kedamono as well, and saw Papi was looking sullen.

“Love you, my son!” Papi yelled in a kind voice as they left.

Popee grimaced and sighed, waving at his dad. “You too.”

Papi smiled sadly and then proceeded to go out with Kedamono.

The door closing, Popee went to check on his son, who was sleeping still for his nap.

He and his father didn’t get along—-almost ever. He felt a disconnect with the man, and he believed it was because he never really felt like Papi raised him. More so, that Papi had him tag along, and made him feel like he was just another element of his circus, and not really his actual son.

The way Papi would sometimes suffocate him with extreme fatherly affection felt smothering, and he’d reject it, feeling like it was only because he was trying to make up for not being there for him at longer periods of his adolescence. Being gone and leaving for intermittent periods of time without telling him, and in general, having Popee live in squalor and sleeping outside most of his life, he didn’t feel like he had done his duty as a parent to keep him safe or feel safe.

Of course, when Kedamono came around, he finally started feeling better and not lonely anymore, but he pushed the poor guy away too many times to count, afraid of the closeness and what it may bring,

It wasn’t until the day Kedamono had actually taken off his mask and that frog had jumped around after seeing him, trying to tell everyone that he looked like his legendary mother, the White Wolf woman, that he not only advocated for him, but was the only one who stood by his side.

She was cruel and ravaged villages, towns and cities, a woman that bred anger and violence. Someone who abandoned Kedamono, and left him alone to raise himself.

It gave Popee more perspective, as Kedamono really didn’t have anyone, not a single person to be there while he grew up.

And Marifa was only there for small visits, living at some kind of school, and he felt like even though they didn’t have much to go off with childhood memories, he felt close to her. She’d always make Popee clothes and blankets and shower him with sisterly love, and he’d try to make her laugh and do tricks for her, and be the big, protective older brother.

He was starting to see a slightly different side to his younger sister, which felt like she maybe was judgemental and seemed to dislike Kedamono quite a bit, a fact he denied out of his own obliviousness and unconditional love for Marifa. Now that he and Kedamono were officially together, cemented together in a bond of love and family and commitment, he felt that any disruption to his peace would have to met with a strong defense. He wouldn’t tolerate it, not even a tiny bit.

He ordered in some delivery Thai food and went to check on Kedamono Junior, who was now waking up.

“Hello, my heart,” Popee said to his son, picking him up from the crib, holding him gently.

The baby clung to him tightly and cooed.

This was all I needed, he thought to himself. My son and Kedamono.

He heard the front door being knocked and went to find Marifa there, pleasant and embracing him and his son.

He knew he’d have to talk to her, to get her to be on board to not attack Kedamono anymore—-almost like she were a fire breathing dragon and he was Bilbo Baggins from The Hobbit, not ever directly fighting with the dragon, at first, but merely with using clever word play did he feel like he could maybe get her to stop.

He did feel like in a fantasy world, he’d be a hobbit.

Eating all the time, reading and learning.

It was a nice life, he loved that kind of tranquil predictability.

Talking with his sister and holding his son as he ate off a plate on the kitchen table, he felt like things could work out.

Then, he decides to just ask her, straight up.

“Do you dislike Kedamono?” He looked at her straight in the eyes. Marifa felt uncomfortable and shook her head, but her expression said otherwise.

There was a long pause and then she answered. “Popee… I don’t think you’ll like my answer.”

And that was it, the building tension.

Popee decided to fight this off straight away.

He knew no one would ever really take away his perfect fairy tale dreamland, because he refused to allow it to take place.

Even if…

“Kedamono isn’t who you think he is…” Marifa starts.

His happy ending…

“His mother is the White Wolf.”

Seems a bit off.