Don't Drink the Cafestol
an excerpt

“Why is that Ewman yelling, Mama?” asked a young Muffin, named Lemony.

“I have no idea. But, I think it’s time that he stopped. Because it’s not fair. That poor young one, with the yellow hair. She looks so sad. And I think that Ewman caused it.”

“I don’t want her to be sad! Make it stop!”

She put her hands on her hips and chose to make a difference, rather than just sitting around and hoping that something would change for the better. She looked at her daughter, Lemony, and wanted to be a good role model to her. Nicknamed Blue, she was not willing to let this teaching moment slide, even with the repercussions that may lie in wait. Blue kissed her daughter on the forehead and said, “I will. Just know that I love you, Lemony.”

“I love you, too, Mama. Where you are you going?” the young Muffin asked as her mother pulled on a pair of shoes.

“To make it stop.” She tied the laces tightly and took off at a run toward the Ewman, who had suddenly stopped yelling. There was a look of hesitancy about him; Blue decided to take advantage of it. She took off at a run down Main Street of Pays Tree, and calling out for the injustices of the world to stop, she hurled herself at the yelling Ewman. She felt the ground slip from underneath her feet as she went flying.

“Mama!” Lemony yelled. Her sister, often called Mini, ran out of the house and watched as their Mama decided to do right by her children and help make the world they were going out into a better place.

Blue saw the yelling Ewman’s torso come closer, closer, until she could see the fleck of fabric that made up his cotton tee shirt. There was a design on it, one that she did not make out in between the flying and the impact of her muffinness against his torso. There was a soft thwonk, and she felt herself slipping, slipping, slipping down and she saw the fabled Floor flying up from underneath.

From the safety of their home, Blue’s muffin children watched all of this, seeing the small bits fly from their mother’s hands, as though she was throwing confetti in celebration of this final flight into freedom, this sense of purpose that she felt necessary to share with her children. Lemony and Mini looked at one another, puzzled, uncertain of what was going to come next. They watched like it was a television show that was playing. Perhaps this was just a commercial, a way to show that nothing was terribly linear these days.

They heard the other Muffins around the town, watching them run up and down Pays Tree. There had been rumours that there were bad things going on, though Lemony and Mini couldn’t even describe what those Bad Things could possibly be. So, they tucked themselves back in the house and waited until their mom returned. Then maybe they could change this channel away from the on-going commercial.

***

“Mama!” Lemony called out, going over to her mother, who had returned home carried by the Bayges from the next county over. “Where were you?”

“I went adventuring,” Blue answered quietly. She murmured thanks to the Bayge who had been kind enough to help her home, and to the Ewman who had helped get her back home to see her children. “And we showed that Ewman, didn’t we?”

“We did. Mama, are you going to be okay?”

“I think that I may have to go get some treatments for a while. But, I wanted to let you and your sister know how much I love you. And how much I want you to always stand up for what you know is right. That’s what matters in this world, Lemony. That you stand up for what’s right, even if it’s not popular, or if it hurts. It’s what matters,” she whispered. “Come here for a minute, Lem.”

“Yes, Mama?”

Blue again kissed her daughter’s forehead. She remembered when her parents had let her go out into the world. Sometimes, she was so thankful for those opportunities, to go exploring, to find out what it was that meant the most to her. And knowing that, she wanted to pass that on to her children. Her beautiful children. She was going to miss them. “I love you, Lemony. And Mini,” she said, as she saw her youngest daughter’s shadow, “you come here, too.” Mini went to her mother and bent down, just as she had seen Lemony do. “I love you, too,” she murmured, kissing the top of Mini’s head. “I was blessed with you girls. Thank you. And never forget what I said. You have to do what’s right, girls. Always what’s right.”

She coughed for a moment, and murmuring to the Bayge which had helped her home, she motioned for them to head to where she could get well. “Wait!” she called out, her voice scratching. “Girls!” The two young girls went over to their mother, only subconsciously realizing that they were telling her good bye. “Girls, if there is one other thing I can leave with you. It’s not fear the Bayges. I know that we talk about them, how fearful it is to be taken by them. But, just like us, they are simply fulfilling their purpose. They’re doing what they are meant to do. They are not to be feared. Just think of this one Bayge, who has helped me to get back to you this last time, and will help me find a place where I can heal. Just think of this Bayge. And remember.”

“Yes, Mama,” Lemony said. “You get better. I love you.” Her voice was small, but she stood proud, with her arm around her sister’s shoulder.

“I will. You take care of each other, okay?”

“Yes, Mama,” the two answered in unison, looking at each other.

“Good.” She motioned again for the Bayge to continue down whatever path that was hers to take. She knew that she would be healing, or not in pain, any longer.