CH2ONO2
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3/2 N2 + 3 CO2 + 5/2 H20 + 1/4 02
She stared at the poster and thought, "Oh, shadowy mystery boy, you'd understand. Wouldn't you?"
Lisa sighed.
The shade started to flap, a little at first but it gradually got stronger. "That's odd," Lisa thought out loud because she couldn't feel any wind. She held the shade up with one hand to close the window and saw that it wasn't even open. "Am I losing it already?" she thought. The shade jumped out of her hands and fell straight down, but the clouds in the poster's background starting swirling. Lisa stepped back in awe until she was against her bed. She rubbed her eyes and looked back to see the poster still distorted and swirling.
The clouds parted and a head came out. It was a young man with a clean-shaven boyish face and stringy brown hair that went just over his ears -- his real ears, as he also wore a cap that was white and had two huge faux cat ears on top. He seemed to look right through Lisa with his big brown eyes. "That's a nice change," he said as he stuck his arms out from the clouds and pulled himself through by the window frame. When it seemed that he was about to fall out of the poster, he did a slow forward roll in mid-air, thanks to the small pair of white wings that were attached below his shoulder blades and landed with his back on the bed. Lisa was more than a little frightened by this apparition, so she slowly edged her way back into the corner, wondering what he was going to do.
The man wore a black half-shirt that zipped up around his neck and left his midriff exposed above a pair of blue jeans. He also wore a white sweatshirt with blue sleeves. On the sweatshirt's left side was a round golden insignia of some sort, and the sweatshirt was actually held on only by one small golden clasp, making it look almost like a cape from the front.
He relaxed for a moment, apparently relishing the comfort of Lisa's bed. A small puff of the clouds shot out from the poster and his eyes suddenly went wide. He quickly rolled forward again and, unable to use his wings which were trapped underneath him, rolled forward onto the floor by the bedroom door.
"Wait for me!" a shrill female voice cried as a woman popped out of the poster and landed face first on the edge of the bed, with her knees hitting the floor at the same time. She wore a purple halter top with a zipper pull in the front and inch-wide white frills on the top and bottom. Below her bare midriff and navel was a skirt that was about four inches above her knees and had a six-inch white frill going all the way around her belly, all cinched by a black belt with a round clasp and a silver trapezoid emblem. On her head was a large purple top-hat, not very tall but with a very wide brim. The hat had frills as well, plus two large faux bunny ears sticking up about ten inches above her head. Though the rest of her clothes were rather scanty, she had large black work boots that went up past her ankles.
Her pink hair parted as this bunny woman lifted her face off the bed. Her large dark eyes glared at the man as he got up. Don't you know!..." she started in an angry voice, but her head dropped back on the bed and she began crying, "... a gentleman is supposed to help a lady make her entrance!"
"Geez!" he moaned in a frustrated tone. "Hey, boss, you told me to go first and make sure it was okay."
The woman stopped cold as her head popped up once more. "Oh, right," she chirped. He got up and dusted himself off as the woman hopped on the bed and pulled out a small book. She leaned forward, with her elbows on her knees, as she started leafing through the pages. "Let's see..."
"Uhm...?" Lisa shyly tried to interrupt.
"Well, this is the house, so which one will we, uh, escort?" he asked in a rather disinterested tone. He began looking around the room, opening and inspecting the desk drawers, the closet, and the dresser.
Though frightened, Lisa weakly tried again, "Excuse me."
"Give me a moment!" the woman complained, obviously annoyed at him.
Lisa raised a hand next to her head and weakly waved. "Hello there?" she said barely above a whisper.
The man suddenly turned to face the woman and moaned, "Geez, the this room doesn't have a single book or anything, just toys! Must be the slow one in the family."
"HEY!" shouted Lisa, who was both angry and hurt by the comment. Both of the intruders stopped and looked at her with a puzzled expression. "Just who the heck are you and what are you doing in my room!?" she demanded.
"You can see us!?" the man asked in shock.
"No way," the woman replied, "She's not supposed to be able to see us."
With a look of curiosity, Lisa regained her composure and took a step towards the woman. She asked, "Who are you? Are you even real?"
Without answering, the man asked the woman, "What do we do in a situation like this?"
"Let's see," the woman said as she started flipping madly through the little book. "I don't know -- it doesn't say anything about this!" She said with a hint of panic in her voice.
"There's no helping it then," he bemoaned. "We'll have to do that." He turned towards Lisa and looked straight at her. "We are the shinigami who silence even children..."
The woman turned to Lisa, raised her right arm in a pose, and almost cheered, "I am senior spirit of death, Meroko!"
The man adamantly put his left fist on his hip and raised his right hand in the air. He continued, "And I am junior bringer of death, Takuto; and together we are..."
The two jumped in the air, turning their backs towards each other. "Negi-Ramen!" they shouted while striking a ridiculous pose.
Lisa was confused. "What's that?"
Meroko turned towards Takuto as they floated down. "I told you it wasn't a very good name," she complained.
"What!? Yours was even worse," Takuto retorted.
Lisa interrupted, "What's a shinigami anyways? Sounds Japanese, right? I'd look it up, but they took my computer and all my books away." She was less afraid now, so she took a step from the wall and stood right in front of Meroko.
"I guess she's not so bad after all," Takuto admitted to Meroko, though he still ignored Lisa.
Meroko ignored her partner and leaned forward, answering Lisa in a kind voice, "That's right, we're Japanese spirits of dea.., er, Japanese angels. Our job is to take those who are sick to, uhm, Heaven and make sure that they don't get lost or keep on suffering."
"So, why the cute costumes then?" Lisa asked while cautiously feeling one of Meroko's bunny ears. "Ooh, they're warm!"
"It puts the children at ease," Takuto added coldly.
Meroko continued in a more pleasant tone, "Along with collecting souls, comforting the sick and dying is a big part of our job. So these allow us to change into..." There was a poofing sound as Meroko turned into a white plushy bunny with big eyes, a soft round tummy, and long ears. "Takuto!" she commanded, and he poofed too, but his plushy form was a round white cat with a bell ornament on the collar around his neck.
Meroko jumped into Lisa's arms, and when the girl felt the warm soft creature she had a strong urge to cuddle it. "This is how we get close to the really little kids," Meroko explained.
Lisa gasped and dropped Meroko back on the bed, looking very scared. "That's right, you said that you silence children! Don't tell me Bart's gonna die!" Despite all of his shenanigans, the sudden thought of losing Bart really bothered Lisa.
"No, we are here for a special little girl," Meroko warmly beamed, as if not realizing she was talking about death.
"Then," she gasped, "Oh no!" Lisa began to panic. "Not Maggie! She hasn't even said her first complete sentence yet!" She blurted without thinking, "Take me instead!"
"Aw, don't worry," Meroko said with a smile. "We are here for you."
"D'OH!" Lisa cried while momentarily wincing. "You mean, " Lisa gulped, "I'm dead?"
For the first time, Takuto spoke directly to Lisa, "You have a month."
"Baka!" Meroko scolded. "You're not supposed to tell her that! She's not even supposed to know that she's dying."
"Heh heh heh," Lisa let out a nervous laugh before asking, "Are you sure you have the right girl?"
Takuto poofed back into his spirit form and flipped a few pages in his notepad. "Let's see: Lisa Marie Simpson, eight years old," he read. "Daughter to Homer and Marjorie; Sister to Bartholomew and Margaret; Born August 2, 1984..."
"I thought it was March," Meroko noted. She poofed back to her normal form and started paging through the little book, "And it couldn't have been 1984 because she's only eight."
He glanced at her for a moment, obviously uninterested, and went on, "Blood type O; I.Q. 179; plays saxophone..."
"I see," Lisa sadly admitted.
The oblivious Takuto continued, "... is against foods that, let's see, actually taste good; helped Montgomery Burns reclaim his fortune by destroying the ocean; can be a real busybody sometimes..."
"Okay, I get it!" Lisa snapped as Marge pushed the door open and looked in.
"I thought Dr. Hibbert left..." Marge started, but then she saw Lisa was alone. "Oh. Anyway, I'm going shopping and I'm taking Maggie with me, so just take it easy and try to get some rest."
"But I've been sleeping all day!" Lisa whined.
Marge was clearly unhappy. "Mrrrh. Just take it easy, dear. I'll get you something special for dinner," she said before leaving.
"Mrrrh!" Lisa growled softly.
Takuto snapped at her, "What's that about? She's just worried about you."
Meroko shot him a dirty look and then turned back to Lisa. "Don't mind him. He doesn't like his job very much, so sometimes he tries to stick his nose where it doesn't belong."
He put his hands in his pockets and bowed his head. "Sorry!" he muttered and then turned his back to the two, staring glumly at the bare desk and walls.
Meroko gently put her hands on the back of Lisa's head, stroking her hair, and looked in her sad eyes. "There, there, don't be sad."
While trying to pull herself away, Lisa interrupted, "Isn't there something I can do? Surgery?"
"No," Takuto answered flatly. "Once your fate is set it cannot be changed. We are here to make sure of that, despite someone is trying to..."
"Shhhh!" Meroko cut in again, relaxing her grip on Lisa. "You're definitely not supposed to tell her that part! It'll just make her feel worse."
"Someone is trying to what?" Lisa asked while pulling herself free. "Save me?"
Meroko kneeled on the floor so she was at eye level with Lisa. Then she put her hands over the little girl's and spoke in a calm voice, "None of that matters. We are here to make sure you don't get lost on the way to the spirit world because that would be bad."
"Real bad," Takuto added coldly while still looking away.
Annoyed, Meroko turned and glanced at him momentarily before continuing, "Your fate is to pass away one month from today. You weren't supposed to be burdened by this, but I guess it can't be helped."
Lisa thought for a second and then smiled. "Wait a minute!" she said while pulling her hands out of Meroko's and then holding them tight against her chest. Her face lit up as she continued, "I'm not Japanese or Shinto -- I'm a Buddhist-Christian American, so I'm supposed to see Saint Peter and pearly gates and stuff when I die -- not you." She put her hands to the sides of her face and laughed nervously for a moment before telling herself, "This can't be real! You're just being caused by my brain tumor."
Meroko was at a loss for words, so there was a short awkward silence. Though still disturbed, Lisa looked somewhat relieved until Takuto suddenly turned to face them.
"To tell you the truth," he spoke up, "the public schools in Heaven are pretty great for most kids, but only because they're mostly recess and lunch. That's why we take the smarter students to Japanese Heaven schools where they can be happy." He smiled as he finished explaining.
"Well..." Lisa thought about it for a moment, wrinkling her nose a little bit, and then admitted, "I suppose that makes some sense." Suddenly she snapped out of it. "But I can't die yet! I still have to grow up and become famous..." She blushed and shyly added, "and fall in love."
"Oooh!" Meroko cooed with an excited smile. "You have a boyfriend? How wonderful!" Then she looked sad and bit her lip before whining, "How tragic." She suddenly livened up again and put her arm around Lisa's shoulder. "What's his name? What's he like? Does he feel the same way? Tell me all about him!"
Lisa was embarrassed, but she slowly admitted, "Well, I don't know much about him. I haven't even seen him in years. When I was just a little girl, about four or five, there was some older boy who used to play with me."
Takuto mumbled, "Sounds a little weird to me."
Meroko briefly glared at him again before turning back to Lisa. "Go on!" she practically begged.
Lisa continued her tale, "I wanted to be like the big kids: go to school, do homework, and stuff like that. The grown-ups kept telling me that I'd be in the way and get in trouble, so I should just do what I'm told, like a good little girl. Even Mom would make me go out to play with the other kids when I wanted to read and stuff, so I'd just sit outside alone and feel sad. But then this boy appeared and wanted to play with me. He'd take me around to all sorts of places. Mom would get so mad at me for leaving the yard!" Lisa smiled as she finished, "He also kept telling me that I didn't have to do what the grown-ups said -- that I should do what makes me happy."
"Then!?" Meroko asked anxiously.
"I don't know," Lisa said while looking sad again. "I took his advice, but that meant I found ways to study a lot, so I didn't see him much anymore. I guess he just found other stuff to do."
"Awww, that's so sad," Meroko said with tears in her eyes. "I wish you two could be happy, like me and Takuto."
"Happy? That's news to me," he muttered.
"Since I've been sick and can't do much studying, I think of him a lot. And," Lisa said before pausing. Meroko gave her an anxious look before she continued, sounding guilty, "Maybe he'd know how to help me out now. Pretty selfish, huh?"
"Can't you find him?" Meroko wondered.
Lisa looked even sadder. "I can't remember much about him. I don't even know his name. The only thing is he gave me that." She pointed at the poster on her window shade while speaking, "so I know he liked chemistry. I also figured being in the school band should've got him to recognize me at an assembly or something."
Takuto asked, "What if he doesn't go to your school?"
"That's why I have to get into a better band that goes to lots of places! Then maybe I'd have a better chance of finding him," she said excitedly.
Meroko spoke in a comforting tone, "I'm so sorry that you won't get to meet him now. But we are there to take care of you." Meroko smiled and continued, "So there's no need to worry anymore. Just pretend that we're not here and it will all be over soon." She beamed a large smile.
"Geez, Meroko!" Takuto barked, catching the bunny girl by surprise. "Don't say it like that!"
"What!?" she cried in shock while hastily turning towards him and sliding her left leg onto Lisa's unmade bed. "What's wrong with that?" Her knee crumpled the band tryout form, so she absent-mindedly picked it up and started smoothing it while listening to Takuto.
He looked truly angry as he yelled, "You say that, just, too" he paused, searching for the right word, "too casually! How can she not worry now!?"
"You said it yourself," she retorted, getting angrier by the moment, "Everything'll be for the best!"
"What, we'll just keep her in this room until she's dead?" he barked while stepping towards Meroko.
She jumped off the bed and stood right in his face. "Of course not, baka!" she yelled back. "She'd still have to use the bathroom!"
"Bathroom! She's dying and you're only worried about potty breaks!?" he said in disbelief. "If she mopes around here she won't get to say goodbye properly. Plus they'll think she's nuts for talking to people no one can see."
Meroko's face suddenly changed to a confused expression as she asked, "Who's that?"
Takuto's eyes went wide with rage. "Us!" he yelled. "Honestly, sometimes I can't believe that you're the one in charge."
"You're being too negative, Taki-kun," Meroko said with some disdain before switching to a happier voice. "I'm in charge because, despite what I know or don't know, I present myself very well." She smiled and chirped, "Right, Lisa?"
There was no answer.
They both turned and looked to see Lisa, but she wasn't there. Takuto's face flashed with panic. "We'd better find her quick!" he gasped.
Meroko was a bit calmer. She just shrugged and said, "Well, it's not like anything really bad can happen to her."
"What do you mean? Why not?" Takuto asked.
"Because we're not with her, baka!" she blurted out before snorting a laugh. "Besides," she taunted while waving the tryout form, "I know where she went."
********
Still in her pajamas, Lisa was lugging her saxophone case down the empty street and carrying a small garment bag. "Gotta hurry," she huffed. But then she looked down at her pajama sleeves and stopped. "Gotta change," she puffed before dragging the case into some nearby bushes. The noise of rapidly-snapping branches came from within. Moments later, Lisa stepped out holding her sax and wearing her good red dress, the one with an unfrayed hem, and a light-blue windbreaker. She fastened her pearls and zipped up the windbreaker before running off.
As Lisa approached the Aztec Theater she saw several busses from different schools parked in front. Principal Skinner was watching the band members from Springfield Elementary get off the bus, and, as usual, he was bossing them around, "Wait in line, single file only. That better not be glitter, young lady! No, no duets -- if you haven't learned to stab your friends in the back by now then you'll never make it in showbiz anyways." There were also kids of varied ages, up to high-school, getting off of the other busses and joining the line.
Lisa snuck up and hid behind the left side of the Springfield Elementary bus. While waiting to slip into the end of the line, she put a strap over her neck and clipped the saxophone to it. Otto suddenly stuck his head out of the driver's window and called out to her, "Whoa! You're supposed to get out the other side, little girl."
Though startled, Lisa quickly answered in a hushed voice, "It's okay, Otto." She thought quickly. Considering who she was talking to and the kind of day she was having, she tried "This is all imaginary!"
"Hey, wait a minute," Otto replied, still using a loud voice, "Your imagination or mine? 'cause I can almost tell when it's mine sometimes, but this doesn't seem ..."
Before he could finish, Lisa's arms shot out to her sides and she was sprung two feet into the air by unseen forces. She struggled and muttered angrily while slowly floating off to the other side of the street.
"Oooh!" he moaned in awe, "That's more like it!" With that, he leaned back in his seat, closed his eyes and cranked up the volume on his headphones.
"Put me down! Put me down!" Lisa rasped at Meroko and Takuto as they lifted her over the curb and onto the sidewalk.
"Why are you trying to make things difficult for us?" Takuto snapped as the two dropped Lisa on her feet.
"For YOU!?" Lisa yelled out loud, shocking even herself. In a loud whisper she started again with heavy sarcasm, "Oh, so I woke up this morning, had a seizure; Mom yells at me for it, and then you tell me I'm gonna be dead! 'Oh, the poor shinigamis gotta kill me today' -- and it's all my fault!" Lisa then rolled her eyes and shook her head slowly.
Takuto stiffened up and inhaled sharply through his nose. He seemed hurt.
Meroko tried to explain sweetly, "It's nothing personal. It's just you are a very sick girl and we have to take care of you for a little while. It will be fine if you just do what we say."
"What if I don't want to!?" Lisa screamed. "What if I wanna grow up and work hard and be famous and meet the boy of my dreams!" Lisa struggled to fit in a breath before continuing, "Why did he tell me that I could do anything I wanted? Why did I spend all my time alone to study so I can be really smart someday!?" She buried her face in her arms and began sobbing.
From behind, Takuto touched a hand to Lisa's shoulder. She felt a cold chill run down her spine. "Lisa," he said solemnly, "I know it's not fair, but you must let go of this life soon -- If not, a horrible fate awaits you."
"Anyway, you still have a month to live," Meroko chimed in, "But we're just te..." Meroko caught herself and started again, "No, we're just asking you to take it easy, for your sake as well as ours."
Lisa turned her head sideways without raising it and pushed her palms up to her eyes. Between sobs she said softly, "But if I have to give up now then I'm already dead."
Meroko got down on one knee to be at eye level with Lisa. She spoke in a shaky voice, "If you can't let go of this life, you'll be trapped here as a ghost and damned to roam Missouri until the end of time."
"Can't I at least try?" Lisa quietly squeaked out.
"There's no point. It's better this way," Meroko softly answered. "Trust me."
Lisa gave another sniffle and tried to put on a brave face through her tears. "Yeah, if they picked me it would just be out of pity, anyway," she lamented.
"That's why you'll need a disguise," Takuto said with his eyes closed.
Lisa turned to face Takuto and Meroko looked at him in shock. "What!?" they said in unison.
"What do you think you're doing?" Meroko demanded.
He opened his eyes and stared at her. "Isn't it also our job to make sure she has no regrets to keep her here?" he said. Then he looked straight into Lisa's eyes. She could feel her heart beating strongly but slowly as some connection formed between them. Neither one of them blinked. "If you lose, then at least you tried and lost fair; but understand that even if you win, your fate is unchanged," he warned sternly.
Meanwhile, Meroko held her fists above her hunched shoulders and grimaced in anger. "Don't do it!" she shrieked, but they weren't aware of her anymore.
Lisa couldn't stop staring into his eyes. "I understand," she whispered breathily.
"Hold out your hand," he commanded. She complied, and he drew out a short dagger with his right hand. He held the blade out and slowly brought his left index finger up to its tip. A droplet of blood formed on the blade tip and then began to glow eerily as he drew his dagger and hand away. The droplet formed into a tiny ball-star shape and glowed even brighter.
"Take this," he ordered as the talisman slowly floated down towards her hand.
Lisa suddenly cringed and whined, "EWWWW! That's unsanitary!" The mood was broken.
Takuto took a deep breath but could not suppress his impatience. "Hey!" he cried, "You're gonna be dead in a month anyway, so just take it already!" Lisa was shocked and he realized, too late, that it wasn't the right thing to say. He calmed himself down and explained, "This spell will just let me change you into your older self, so no one should be able to recognize you. During that time you will also be a healthy, normal teenage girl."
Lisa was speechless, as all of this was too much for her to deal with. But Meroko was fuming mad. She shouted "No!" while trying to snatch the glowing capsule from above Lisa's hand.
When Lisa realized what Meroko was trying to do, she immediately popped the glowing star in her mouth and swallowed. Meroko stopped dead in her tracks, and both of the shinigami looked at Lisa in utter shock.
"Yuck yuck yuck yuck...!" Meroko repeated while turning away and gagging in disgust.
"Uh," Takuto hesitated, "You were supposed to just wear it, you know, on a ring or a pendant." Then laughed a little and said, "Well, I suppose it can't get lost this way. But now's the hard part -- just try to endure it." Takuto nonchalantly raised his left hand, pressed the thumb to the already-healed index finger, and snapped.
As he did, a bright golden light surrounded Lisa and gently spun her a few times, making her image as a silhouette. A halo formed over her chest and slowly worked its way to her edges and then went beyond. As it radiated outward, it left the image of a taller, slender girl with rounder features and flowing hair. The light faded, revealing a girl of about sixteen years old with a distinctly pleasant figure and wavy waist-length hair. Also, her windbreaker had become a frilly while cotton jacket, matching the trim on Meroko's outfit, and the skirt of her dress was a brighter red while the sax strap around her neck was now golden colored. Her sandals now had sparkling red straps and her fingernails and toenails were painted to match. Lisa looked down at the now-distant sidewalk and then out at her longer arms in disbelief.
"Geez!" Takuto cried out. Lisa spun back to see Meroko standing behind Takuto with her hands over his eyes.
"It's not polite to peek while she's changing!" Meroko complained before uncovering his eyes.
Takuto looked at Lisa in awe. His expression made Lisa something that she'd never felt before; it was something she didn't understand, but she kind-of liked it. With a happy giggle, she spun around to check out her reflection in a car mirror. "Wow! It's perfect!" she squealed before turning back to Takuto. She stopped in front of him and smiled with an embarrassed look. "But," she meekly asked, "maybe I should curl my hair a bit more. What do you think?" She drew locks of her hair forward with both hands, right in Takuto's shocked face, and wrapped her hair around her fingers a few times. "Don't you think?"
"Aw, geez!" he sighed while rolling his eyes.
********
It was noisy inside the lobby. At a table behind the ticket office, the kids were registering with Gil and then scampering off to practice, chat with others or even play the video games. Meanwhile, Principal Skinner and the staff members from other schools were standing by the water fountains and discussing which budget items were cut to keep their music programs. "We were spending so much money on the cafeteria's meatloaf," Skinner bragged. "But get some wet dryer lint and just the right seasonings and voila! The kids don't like it any less."
Lisa entered the lobby nervously, followed by Takuto and Meroko who had to walk through a swirling distortion in the door as it closed on them. Lisa's hair was now tied into large, bouncy coil-curls starting at ear level and hanging well below her shoulders. She glanced over to the adults and noticed Principal Skinner staring at her with a strange, grim expression. She froze up. "Oh no, I'm busted!" she whispered in panic. But then she noticed that all of them were staring at her, as was almost every boy and most of the girls in the lobby. The lobby quieted down for a moment, but it slowly returned to normal.
"Don't worry about it," Takuto said smoothly. "They can't recognize you 'cause you're so much bigger."
"Hey!" Meroko snapped at Takuto while angrily slapping his shoulder.
"What!?" he cried defensively.
Meroko let out a loud "Hrmf!" and glared at him.
Deciding to ignore Meroko's odd behavior, he turned back to Lisa and guided her towards the table, "Don't worry about it. We've come this far, so just get in line and then play your music."
"Yeah," she answered softly as she arrived at the table. "Hi, I'm Lis..."
"Baka!" Meroko cried, cutting Lisa off. "You can't use your real name. Remember?"
"Well, let old Gil check you off the list, Leese," he said in his shaky voice. Before Lisa could come up with a better name he started looking through the lists, and he soon became a bit agitated. "Oh dear," he bemoaned, "You're not on the lists we got from the high schools."
Lisa was getting worried and she felt nervous sweat drops form on her forehead. "Uhm," she started slowly, but she couldn't think of what to say.
Suddenly, an older woman's voice came from behind her. "What's the problem, Gil?" Lindsay Naegle, the all-around successful businesswoman asked. "We have to get started soon."
"But she's not on the list," he protested.
"Then add her," Lindsay snapped back. "She obviously has talent," she said with a wink.
"Yes, ma'am," Gil said weakly to himself.
Without waiting for his response, Lindsay had scrambled off to solve the next problem. Jimbo was holding a little boy up by his underwear, in a wedgie, as Kearney tapped him on the head with a violin bow. "Who let the bullies out of the alley!?" Lindsay shouted at some ushers as she rushed over to them, "They're supposed to clear the theater after we choose the winner. Now scoot! Scoot!" She chased them out.
Lisa turned back to Gil. "I'm sorry you got in trouble," she offered.
"That's okay," he replied as he wrote on the bottom of his list. "Old Gil has only seventy more weeks before he can collect unemployment again." After finishing a note, he got up and went one of the theater's entrances where Lindsay was.
At this point, Lindsay called out to everyone, "Thank you all for trying out for the OmniTel All-Star Band. Okay, now we'll start calling students in order and keeping several of you waiting here at any moment so that we can move right along. Go directly to the stage and have your instruments ready to play. And remember, only one of you will be chosen today, but you're all winners -- especially when you have OmniTel's premier cellular plan, now with free nights and weekends."
"Yay!" several children cheered. Then Gil started calling out names for students to get in line.
Lisa looked confused. "What did she mean I 'obviously have talent'?" she asked the two shinigami.
Meroko shrugged her shoulders and said, "I guess it's 'cause you have your saxophone ready."
Takuto put his palms on his temples and slowly shook his head in disbelief.
Lisa seemed satisfied with the answer but then she suddenly looked horrified, "Oh no! I'm not ready to play." She pulled the mouthpiece off of her saxophone and her fears were confirmed. "I cleaned it last night and my reeds are in my case!"
"Here," a small girl's voice came from behind. Lisa turned around to see her friend Allison Taylor, wearing a white Sunday dress and holding out a couple of reeds out to her. "You can use my spares. You'd better wet them in the fountain."
Lisa smiled and beamed, "Oh, thank you, Allison!" Lisa was relieved beyond imagination as she gently took one from the smaller girl's hand. "I can always count on you," she said as Allison looked at her in confusion.
"Bah!" Takuto blurted in shock. "She doesn't know who you are!"
Lisa laughed nervously. "I mean, you look like a decent girl, that's all," she tried.
"How did you know my name?" the small girl asked.
Fresh beads of perspiration formed on Lisa's forehead as she tried to think of an answer. Her mind raced as she thought to herself, "'Imagination' worked on Otto, but Allison's too smart. And 'A little birdie told me' is too condescending, and I wasn't here when she registered. I gotta think -- hey!" Lisa's eyes went wide and she smiled before blurting out loud, "It doesn't hurt anymore!"
"Uh, you go to a," Allison paused and then spoke in a low voice, "special school, don't you?" she asked with a rather concerned look.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Lisa laughed. "I was very sick -- but I'm feeling much better now."
"I seeeeeeee," Allison softly exhaled while glancing out the corners of her eyes. She then leaned in towards Lisa and signaled her with her finger to come closer, so Lisa leaned down to listen. "Don't worry," Allison whispered, "I won't tell anyone. Just stay with me and you won't have to talk to yourself anymore. Okay?"
Lisa nervously laughed a little, but now she felt very self-conscious. Allison took Lisa's hand and smiled while leading her over to the water fountain, merrily excusing both of them to get through the herd of teachers. Allison kept talking as Lisa rubbed the reed in the water fountain and then installed it in the mouthpiece.
"I'm really nervous," Allison admitted, just as wedgied-boy started playing his violin behind them. "Murphy's There She Sits Brokenhearted is really tough." Her tone suddenly became sad, as did the violin music. She continued, wistfully, "A friend of mine really liked him but she can't play anymore. This way, if I win then Lisa wins too."
Lisa choked back her tears and took Allison's hand, patting it speechlessly but trying to smile. Then she let go and ran into the ladies' room where she immediately splashed some cold water on her face.
"What's happening? I've never felt this sad before!" she said to herself with heavy breaths as the water dripped off her nose and face into the sink.
She tried to look up at herself in the mirror, but it glowed and distorted as Takuto stepped part-way through. "Yeah, that's what happens when you're a teenager. Your emotions go on a roller coaster and get stretched to their limits over the smallest things," he said nonchalantly. " But you're doing fine," he added.
Lisa wiped her eyes with her fingers and looked at him, quite shocked.
"What?" he asked. "We've been walking through walls all day."
"No, I've seen that, but you're in the ladies' room," she said indignantly before turning away from him.
"Oh, sorry!" he gasped before stepping back through the swirling mirror again.
Without acknowledging him, Lisa went for the paper towels and dried her face as she walked out.
She returned to the lobby and found Allison practicing. When she approached, Allison winked at her without stopping, so Lisa just listened to her. This time she felt good remembering the times she had with "Bleeding Gums" Murphy. She started to think that the "emotional roller coaster" must have its good side, too.
Meanwhile, Takuto kept back and watched Lisa carefully, pretending to look elsewhere whenever she happened to glance in his direction. Meroko was over playing a video game, and a few boys were watching the machine that appeared to play itself. "Man, this demo doesn't get very far," one of them said in disappointment, but, despite losing, Meroko was having too much fun to hear them. When she ran out of quarters, she went back over to Takuto and bugged him for more, but she stormed off when he refused.
Soon Gil called out, "Taylor, Allison. Come to the line please."
"Wish me luck!" Allison chirped and smiled.
"You got it!" Lisa answered with a big smile.
Allison scampered to the end of the line where Gil handed her a clipboard with some papers on it. "Just sign these, please," he said.
"But sir," Allison protested, "This is a cellular contract."
"Aw, ha ha ha," Gil said nervously, "How did that get in there, I wonder."
Allison glared at him suspiciously, so he took the papers back. "Okay, old Gil can just have ketchup soup for dinner tonight," he lamented as he returned to the front of the line.
Lisa looked rather gloomy now, so Takuto approached her. "What's the matter now?" he asked impatiently.
She caught herself before answering, so she grabbed a demo cell phone off its stand and pretended to speak into it, lest someone else think she was crazy. She spoke quietly, "I can't believe what a jerk I've been to her!"
"What do you mean? You looked like you got along fine," he commented.
"Now. But when I first met her I was afraid she'd outdo me at everything I was good at. I was pretty mean to her," she admitted in an angry tone.
"But you're friends now? You must have done something right," Takuto consoled her.
Lisa sighed, "I suppose you're right. It actually seems downright silly now." She giggled, not realizing how quickly her moods were changing on her.
Gill approached her from behind and surprised her from behind by interjecting, "What's silly is that that very phone you're trying is only $19.99 if you sign up today." He held out a contract to her.
"No thanks," Lisa said dryly.
"Are you sure you don't..." he continued, but Takuto snapped his right fingers and the contract burst into flames, quickly disappearing in a puff of smoke.
"Aww, geez," he lamented. "Now I'll have to use my ketchup money for toilet paper." With his head hung low, Gil wandered back to his post.
Lisa just walked to the front of the lobby, followed by Takuto, and took a couple of deep breaths. "Just relax. It's been a busy day," she said mostly to herself.
"You're doing fine," he reassured her.
"Yeah!" Meroko said while suddenly appearing and patting Lisa on the back. "Just concentrate on playing and don't think about dying."
Lisa's heart sank and she turned away, looking out the large windows. Takuto's face flashed with anger. "What are you trying to do!"
"What? What did I do?" Meroko asked, genuinely oblivious to her faux pas.
Lisa was stunned, but Takuto put a hand on her shoulder and guided her back towards the inside of the theater, leaving Meroko behind.
"Hey," she called after them. She started to regret her remarks and let out an "Aw, darn," before bowing her head and moping her way back to the video games.
"Don't mind her," he reassured Lisa, "When you do our kind of work you get a little insensitive about it sometimes. There are more important things to think about now."
Lisa tried to take her mind of Meroko's words. She sighed and softly said, "Yeah, like what I'm can play now that Allison is doing my song." She suddenly gasped when she realized what she was saying. "Oh no!"
"Hmmm, maybe. Wait here." Takuto said before floating over towards Meroko. He talked to her for a moment and the bunny woman went from looking hopeful to excited. She smiled wide and quickly walked over to Lisa. Takuto followed her at a normal pace, but he gave Lisa the thumbs-up sign.
"Of course I'll teach you a song!" Meroko squealed with delight. "Can you believe he said he likes my singing!?" She was overjoyed.
Lisa's head went back a little as she let out, "Huh?"
Takuto caught up and begrudgingly told her, "Yeah, yeah Just teach her one, quick." He turned to Lisa and quietly explained, "She's always singing to herself. I'm sure something she knows would sound good on a saxophone." Meroko shot him a glance, so he quickly added, "Too! It would sound good on your instrument too."
"This is one of my favorites: it's called Moonlight Destiny," Meroko said before singing out the tune. After a verse, Lisa played along and caught up. It took about half an hour for Lisa to memorize the tune and get a little better at playing with her longer fingers.
When they stopped practicing, Lisa could hear Allison playing beautifully as always. Takuto just listened with her and gave her an occasional smile, trying to remember not to make her talk to him openly. At the end, the applause from the audience was more enthusiastic than it had been for many of the other children. Before the clapping stopped, Lisa was called into line. She was getting nervous, so Takuto poofed into his plushy kitty form, landed on her shoulder, and patted her on the back of her head while whispering, "There, there. You'll do fine. Your dossier even says how good you are." Lisa smiled a little at this and gave his plushy paw a little squeeze.
Lisa kept watching the door to see if Allison would return, as most of the other kids did, but she never showed up. Meanwhile, others were being called out of the line, though not always in the order that they had been called into line. Pretty soon, just Lisa and Ralph Wiggum were left, and Lisa kept her distance until he was called to the audition. Then she moved up to the door and peeked in.
Meroko felt a little left out, so she squealed and turned into her plushy bunny form, landing next to Takuto. "Yay! I want a ride, too!" Lisa didn't pay attention as she watched what was happening in the theater. Takuto just glared at Meroko for a moment, clearing his throat. "What!?" she asked in a loud whisper.
"Never mind," he said. "It's almost her turn. Let's just be quiet so she can concentrate."
Down in the front of the theater four panelists sat in front row while Lindsay stood next to the stage's stairs. There were also about a dozen reporters and photographers standing and sitting off to the right side of the panelists. Lisa could also make out Allison and about eight other kids sitting several rows behind the panelists.
"Okay, next we have Ralph Wiggum from Springfield Elementary," Lindsay announced as Ralph waddled down the aisle.
Lindsay pointed him to the stage and he made his way to its center where the microphone stood. With his right hand he held up a musical triangle, level with his head, on a string. "My song is Ride of the Valkyries," he chirped.
"Oh!" Meroko gasped, "My favorite teacher in shinigami school was a Valkyrie!"
"Yeah," Takuto chuckled, "We used to play this song all the time while cramming for exams."
"Shhh, let's listen!" Meroko gently commanded as the boy began.
Ralph firmly gripped one side of the triangle with his left hand and then picked up the striker with his right. He started banging on the triangle, producing nothing but a dull empty metal noise. "Dah da dah daaah dah..." he said in a singsong voice, out of time with the triangle's clanging. Lindsay motioned to an usher who then escorted Ralph off stage, though he kept on playing and singing as he went.
Takuto had put his paws over his ears and winced, but Meroko cheerfully commented, "At least you won't have a tough act to follow."
"Okay, you're up," Gil informed Lisa, so she nervously walked down the aisle.
Except for the stage, it was dark in there, but she noticed a sheet of paper with the word "FINALISTS" taped at the end of the row where Allison and the other children sat. As she walked by, Allison called out in a loud whisper, "Knock their socks off!" Lisa just smiled at her nervously.
Lisa got to see the panelists as she met up with Lindsay. Her heart almost stopped when she saw Dr. Hibbert was one of them. Next to him was Krusty the Clown, chomping on an unlit cigar and looking rather weary. The third panelist, wearing a Springfield Correctional work-release uniform was Sideshow Bob, and the fourth was Professor Frink.
"Gentlemen," Lindsay called to the men in the front row. "We have one late addition to the program. Please welcome Leese," she announced. She turned to Lisa and winked before noticing the stuffed plushies. "Why don't I hold onto these for you," she said with a smile as she took and placed them together on top of her briefcase, which was holding down one of the fold-up.
Lisa's heart raced as she climbed up on stage. She was perspiring again, as it was very hot under the lights. "Excuse me," she mumbled as she rushed back down the steps, removing her saxophone strap and putting it down next to the shinigami. The audience was a bit confused by this and there was some murmuring.
"Hey!" Takuto whispered in an annoyed tone. "What's the ma...!"
Lisa unzipped and pulled off the white jacket. She rolled it into a ball and kneeled down to the two before leaning in really close. "It's too hot up there. Can you hold this for me, please?" she asked.
"Okay!" Meroko cheerfully replied.
"Uh, uh, uh..." Takuto stammered, but Lisa had already dropped the jacket between them and was back on stage with her saxophone.
"Sorry -- it's a little warm in here!" she chimed to the audience. There were murmurs of relief and then more excited whispering. Suddenly, applause broke out in the audience. Lisa didn't understand why, so she was a bit embarrassed as she held her saxophone up to play.
In the front row, Dr. Hibbert smiled and commented, "That's the best entrance I've seen all day, huh he he he he he. What do you think, Krusty?"
Krusty's eyes went wide and he actually looked a little more alive. His bow-tie began spinning rapidly.
"Krusty, really!" Bob scolded, "Did you have to wear that infernal gag bow tie to a serious event such as this?"
"Yeah," Krusty glanced at him and laughed nervously, "'Gag bow tie.' Sure." The tie stopped spinning.
Meanwhile, Professor Frink was pointing some strange handheld device at the stage. It had a small radar dish and wires running up to small earphones. He began to panic quietly, "Oh glaven! My Talento-O-Meter is overloading! Hoiven, with the 'oh no' and the 'spitzen-sparken' and the, eep, 'voided warranty' and such." The device spit out a few obligatory sparks before releasing a puff of blue smoke. "Oh maven! I guess I'll just have to listen for a change," he grumbled while removing the earphones.
It took a moment for her embarrassed smile to relax enough and let her lips hold the mouthpiece. Meanwhile, the applause faded as the last few obligatory coughs were finished. She took a deep breath and began to play.
It felt good to be playing for real again, despite feeling a bit rusty and not being very familiar with the song. Also, her older body could push a lot more air through the instrument than she was used to. Still, she got into the mood by closing her eyes and blocking out all of her cares of the day. She slowly swayed her body left and right with the rhythm and even bowed forward and pointed her horn down on the loud notes, blowing them almost right at the audience. After a few minutes she thought she must be over her time limit, so she opened her eyes to see if she was being signaled. Everyone was just watching, smiling, and nodding. She closed her eyes again and brought the song to a close. It wasn't her best performance, but this almost made the whole day worth the hassle.
The audience clapped and cheered; the panelists even gave her a standing ovation. She wondered if they really did recognize her and were just happy to see her, poor Lisa Simpson, put up a brave fight. But that was silly because she knew Dr. Hibbert would never allow it. She just smiled and curtsied before leaving the stage. She went to pick up her jacket and the shinigami when Lindsay stopped her.
"Don't bother sitting down," she said before turning to the rest of the audience. Disappointed, Lisa picked up her stuff. Lindsay called out to the kids in back, "Okay, finalists, please go out to the lobby while the panelists discuss your performances. We'll call you back in when we're ready."
"Don't feel bad!" Meroko soothed as Takuto turned red. "Hey, don't get so mad," she scolded him.
"That's not it..." he started to say when Lindsay tapped Lisa on the arm.
"We'll see you all in a few minutes," Lindsay said.
"Huh? I thought..." Lisa started with a confused look.
Lindsay smiled at her and patted her on the back. "Oh, you're a finalist," she said. "I didn't want to make you sit down just to have you get up again." Lindsay abruptly turned away and went over to the panelists.
There was a poof and Takuto turned back into his spirit form, facing away form Lisa and Meroko. "Okay, let's go wait," he said, without looking, and then started walking out.
"Geez!" Meroko said with a poof as she returned to spirit form. "Aren't you ever happy?" She went after him, followed by Lisa. Out in the lobby, Meroko was still nitpicking Takuto, but he kept his eyes closed and answered in single words, such as "fine" and "whatever."
Lisa noticed on a clock that it was almost 5:00 PM, and it was getting dark outside. Parents were arriving to pick up their kids. Most of the non-finalists had simply left, but many parents were there now, congratulating their kids and wishing them luck. Lisa sighed, wishing that her parents could have been there for her as well. After all, Mom usually tried to encourage her at these events and could usually show up, and Dad had passed up on buying an air conditioner twice so that she could have her own saxophone. These thoughts made her feel worse because she wasn't used to going behind their backs: when she caused trouble, she usually did it right in their faces.
She sighed again and turned, facing away from Meroko and Takuto. Then she put her jacket on the floor and carefully rested her saxophone on it before turning to look out the large windows, into the cloudy darkness.
Lisa almost jumped out of her skin when she saw a stranger looking back at her. It took a moment to realize that it was her own reflection, though now sixteen years old. This was the first time she had seen the full extent of her transformation: her long and flowing blonde hair; long legs below the hem of a skirt that ended about four inches above silky-smooth knees; her slender waist and a hint of her flat stomach showed above her skirt; the matching top with tiny straps over the outsides of her shoulders. Instead of her normal necklace, only a delicate strand of tiny pearls rested like dew drops around her neck. Something didn't seem right so she moved closer to get a better look. The top somehow seemed oddly out of proportion, and when she turned sideways she suddenly realized why.
"AIIIIEEEEEEEE!!!!" Lisa cried out in shock and crossed her arms over her chest. Worried by her scream, the shinigami quickly floated over to her.
"What is it?" Takuto gasped as they approached the panicking girl.
Lisa quickly grabbed her jacket off the floor and put it on while facing right up against the wall. Then she put on her saxophone strap and held the instrument in front of herself, like a shield. "I... I can't believe I was in front of all those people like this!" she rasped, still in shock.
"That's all?" Meroko laughed.
"Huh? What's the big deal?" Takuto asked while nervously looking away.
Lisa glared at Takuto and scolded, "How could you make me look like this!?" Then she looked down at her chest with bulging eyes and back at him. "And what about these!?"
He closed his eyes while he spoke. "Geez," he said while shaking his head. "Apart from your age, I have no control over what your body looks like."
"And the clothes?" Lisa added.
"I think it's quite lovely on you," Meroko chimed in with a smile.
"Yeah," Takuto added, though he was turning a bit red again. "What's the matter with it? That's how American girls dress."
"No they don't!" Lisa shot back. "At least not the ones who are taken seriously."
"Well, what about all the American TV shows and magazines and album covers we see in Japan?" he asked defensively. "And look how we're dressed -- what did you expect?"
"D'OH!" Lisa cried while wincing. She suddenly felt a tug on her right arm and looked down to see Allison, looking a bit concerned.
"Don't get mad. You were fine. You were fine," Allison said in a soothing tone. "We all made little mistakes, but you were really good."
Lisa laughed nervously. "Oh, I just realized that I wore the wrong outfit," Lisa said to her meekly.
"But you're so beautiful!" Allison crooned. "None of the boys even said you were yucky."
Before Lisa could respond Gil was calling everyone back into the theater. "Okay, let's hurry up now. They're showing The Powerpuff Girls Movie tonight, and that's where old Gil invested his life savings. We can't keep the paying customers waiting!"
Allison and Lisa looked at each other and said in unison, "The Powerpuff Girls have a movie!?" They both laughed at their simultaneous reaction. With a big smile, Allison took Lisa's hand and practically dragged her back into the theater. They sat next to each other in the finalists' row.
Lindsay was conferring with the panelists as the press folks all gathered around the stage and prepared their cameras. Kent Brockman from Channel Six News was at the far end of the stage, clipping on his microphone as his hairdresser finished up. Lindsay grabbed a clipboard and called something to the reporters.
Lindsay then walked up the steps and went to the microphone, which she spoke into, "Okay, everybody. First, we really appreciate you coming here and spending so much time, without compensation, to help OmniTel reach more people with our All Star Band. Now, the winner will be joining our group at an exciting time and will be kept busy over the next six months. Not only will we be celebrating many mall openings, but we're also preparing for the National Product-Placement Championships in six months.
"As a special gift, all of the finalists will receive a valuable OmniTel refrigerator magnet, and the runner up will also receive a copy of the CD 'OmniTel Jingles Throughout Our Last Five Name Changes.'" She paused for a moment, covering the microphone and saying something to the reporters in front of the stage. Then she continued, "Allison Taylor, please come up!"
Allison smiled wide and everyone was clapping as she walked up to the stage in disbelief. She climbed the stairs, beaming as cameras flashed and people cheered. She went over to Lindsay who put an arm on the girl's shoulder and had her face the audience. Lindsay called out, "Isn't she great, folks? Giver her a big hand!" The applause rose and then settled again as Lindsay turned Allison so that they were facing each other. Lindsay took a jewel case from her clipboard and handed it to Allison. "Here's your CD. Be sure to come back next year and try again." Lindsay then shook Allison's hand while whispering something to her. Allison then turned around and quickly walked off the stage. There was still a big smile on her face, but her eyes showed the disappointment as she returned to her seat. Once there, the smile quickly faded.
Lisa turned to face Allison directly. "That's not fair!" she spat out. "You played the best of anyone!"
"That's okay," Allison said meekly, not even looking up.
"No it's not," Lisa shot back.. "I bet they give it to some loser," she grumbled.
"Well folks," Lindsay continued, "It was a tough call because all of the finalists gave wonderful performances, but the best was," she stopped for dramatic pause, "Leese! Come on up!"
There was more applause and cheering as Lisa gasped, "I won? I won! I won!" she kept repeating with a wide-eyed smile as she sat there in disbelief.
Allison tapped her arm and Lisa saw that she was smiling again, this time for real. "See!? You played good, too. Now go up! Go up!" Allison frantically motioned for Lisa to move, but Lisa was still in a daze.
"Hey," Takuto commanded, "Go up already!" Stepping through the seats and other kids, he took one of Lisa's arms while Meroko grabbed the other. They gently stood her up and walked her to the stage. Lisa regained her composure and was able to walk over to Lindsay on her own, though the two followed her, just in case. Cameras were flashing rapidly and Kent and his cameraman moved up just next to the microphone and began recording.
"I... I really don't know what to say," she said over the applause as the room quieted down. Despite the darkness and the flashes, she could see all of the smiling, excited faces in the room. "I've never won anything like this before, and..." she trailed off as she caught sight of Allison, still smiling and giving her the thumbs-up. Lisa's heart sank as she continued, "And, I can't accept this award."
"What!?" Meroko and Takuto shot off simultaneously as the audience gasped and then fell silent.
"Why not?" Lindsay asked, looking more concerned than Lisa had ever seen her before.
"Well," she said while tilting her head awkwardly. "I didn't realize that it was going to be a year-long commitment and," she paused and jerked her head, looking directly at Takuto and Meroko before continuing, "I just found out that I don't have that much time, uh, free time, so it wouldn't be fair to the rest of the band. I'm sorry!" Lisa glumly walked off the stage and back up the aisle.
As groans of confusion and disappointment filled the room, Lisa passed right by her seat and towards the lobby. Allison got up to follow Lisa but was interrupted by Lindsay calling to her from stage, "Well, Ms. Taylor, it looks like you're the winner after all! Come on up again!" she said with a cheer to bring the happy mood back. It worked, because people began to applaud and cheer for Allison as she returned to the stage.
Lisa stopped, turned around and smiled a little. "It's better this way," she thought. Allison was still in a bit of a daze, but when she saw Lisa's smile her face lit up again. Allison looked directly at her, pressing her hands together tightly, and tried to say "Thank you!" over and over again through her tears of joy. Lisa smiled even more and began cheering along with the others.
Lindsay made one more announcement, "Okay, we're out of time, folks, so grab your fridge magnets on the way out." She then walked Allison over to Kent to start the interview. Lisa gave a happy sigh before turning and walking to the lobby.
When she got there, Meroko turned and got right in her face before rattling off her complaints, "What was all that!? We could get in serious trouble for what we did, and you threw it all away! How's that boy ever going to notice you now?"
"Hey," Takuto gently interrupted. "That was very clever, little girl," he said coolly.
"Huh?" both Meroko and Lisa said in confusion.
"Of course," he went on, "No one would ever pay much attention to this little contest. But winning and turning it down like that -- people will talk about this more than Trent Lott's wishing David Duke a 'white Christmas.'"
"Right!" Lisa realized. "That was my plan all along, heh heh heh," she laughed nervously.
Meroko said, "Oh. Then I have just one question."
"What?" Takuto asked.
"Do I have time for another video game, pretty please!" Meroko begged.
"Awww," Lisa groaned, but she cut it short and looked around, lest Allison find her talking to herself yet again. With her case in hand, Allison was just coming out of the theater with Lindsay. They came straight over to Lisa, though Lindsay stayed back a few feet at first.
"Here," Allison said with a smile as she handed Lisa the CD. "You should have this. It's only fair."
Lisa was about to accept it, but she suddenly put her hands up in refusal. "Well, I appreciate it," she said with a little hesitation. "But what about that sick friend you mentioned? You should give it to her. I'd love, er, I'm sure she'd love you to visit."
Allison's smile disappeared. "I can't," she sniffled while pushing the CD into Lisa's hand. "Her mom doesn't want me to!" she said tearfully before running out of the theater. Lisa was about to follow her when Lindsay came up and put a hand on Lisa's shoulder.
Lindsay spoke with a spark in her voice, "Hey, what you did back there was really something! Not only are you a natural performer, but you project an air of gentle integrity -- the kind of thing I could exploit for all its worth! Why don't we go have a drink and talk about your future plans."
"Uh, I'm too young to drink," Lisa said nervously.
"Just as well -- I'm an alcoholic," Lindsay admitted. "But we can grab a bite to eat instead."
"Well, my mother will have dinner ready..." Lisa almost complained.
"That's okay -- I'm a foodaholic, too," Lindsay said casually. "Hey, my condo is just around the corner, so stop by for just a few minutes..."
"I'm sorry, but I'm really running late," Lisa while trying to step away.
"I see -- and besides, I'm also a se..." Lindsay started to say before Lisa cut her off.
"Can I just call you?" Lisa asked impatiently.
"Fair enough," Lindsay said while reaching into her jacket and pulling out a cell phone. "Here, take this and..." she handed it to Lisa and then paused while fishing through her pockets.
"But don't eat it!" Meroko giggled. Takuto gently rapped the back of her head with his fingers, making her wince.
Lindsay handed her business card to Lisa and continued, "Call me as soon as you can. I see a big future for you. Now if you'll excuse me, the chocolate store closes at 5:30, so I gotta run. Ciao!" Lindsay ran for the door.
"5:30? EEEK!" Lisa squeaked before running out of the theater.
The two shinigami looked at each other in confusion and shrugged before flying after her.
********
Lisa was in her normal eight-year-old form, dragging her sax case again. She approached her house in the darkness and stopped by the Flanders' driveway. "How can I get in without them seeing me?" she asked. When there was no response she looked around, but Meroko and Takuto were nowhere to be seen. "Well, I suppose they're tired of doing everything for me," she sighed before sitting down on her case.
Muffled groans and screams came from inside, startling her so that she jumped up. She carefully opened the case, releasing the bunny and kitty forms of Meroko and Takuto. "It's not that we don't appreciate the ride," Takuto gasped as the two fell to the ground.
Meroko grabbed his arm and snuggled close. "I didn't mind," she cooed.
Lisa smiled meekly at them. "You know, I thought my pajamas were fighting me awful hard when I stuffed them back in there -- Sorry!" she chimed nervously. Takuto pulled away from Meroko by pretending to stretch his limbs. Meroko looked slightly irritated at this. Lisa pulled her pajamas out of the case and closed it before sneaking it into the garage.
Lisa tapped on the case and said, "I can hide this in here, but how do I get back to my room?" Then she really started to worry. "Oh no! Mom must have noticed me gone by now! What do I tell her?" She felt the throbbing start in her head.
Before Lisa could say another word, Meroko poofed back into her spirit form. "Pfft!" she puffed. She took off her top hat and spun it around on her index finger as it seemed to drizzle tiny sparks all over her. "Mero-Mero henshin!" she cried as the hat turned into a hoop which then slowly floated down around her. Meroko transformed into an exact duplicate of Lisa, though she was already wearing the pajamas. "Now I'll show you a real performance," she bragged.
Lisa was dumbfounded. Meroko picked up the plushy Takuto and placed him in Lisa's hands. "Come in behind me and wait until I distract your mother," she quietly ordered. "Then get back to your room, get in your pajamas, and hide until I get there. Got it?"
Lisa was still staring at Meroko's disguise, but Takuto nodded. Meroko entered through the door in the garage, followed by the other two. Meroko turned back one last time and whispered to Takuto, "So, will you marry me now?" she suddenly pleaded.
"No!" the plushy kitty fired back angrily. "How can you ask at a time like this!? Baka!"
Meroko-Lisa looked upset and tears welled up in her eyes. "Okay," she sniffled, "I'm ready now." She went ahead through the side hall into the kitchen, crying softly.
They could hear Marge start laying into the faux Lisa pretty hard. "Where have you been!? You can't just up and...!" Marge yelled before gasping.
"MARJO... er, MOM!" Meroko wailed in a piercing tone, crying more than before. Between sobs and hiccups, she told her tale. "I wanted to go for a walk," she sniffled, "before it rained. And I couldn't remember where I was! I was so scared!" Then she let out a terrifying screech, "I JUST WANTED TO GO HOME!" before loudly sucking in some air.
"Oh, my baby!" Marge cried. "There there!" Marge's tone, though still upset, became more soothing as she continued comforting the imposter. "You had me so worried when I got back from the store and you weren't here. Your father and Mr. Flanders are out looking for you." Marge continued to gently scold while Meroko gradually quieted down.
Meanwhile, the real Lisa was feeling somewhat queasy. "Let's just go upstairs before I throw up," she said. She slipped through the dining room and started up the stairs, but she started to fall forward on the steps and caught herself with one hand while protecting Takuto with the other. She heard Meroko's crying get softer. The fake Lisa had calmed down and told Marge that she just wanted to take a nap before dinner.
"Okay, honey," Marge purred, "But from now on, don't go outside unless I say it's okay -- Okay, honey?"
"Okay," Meroko-Lisa droned as she turned and walked to the family room, not knowing where the stairs were. She saw Bart and Maggie on the couch, so she couldn't change back in front of them.
"Welcome home, Lis," Bart said with a grin.
She still had a few tears in her eyes. "Hi, uh," she moaned and nervously headed towards the living room. As she walked by, Bart held up a piece of paper with a large "9.9" written on it; Maggie held up "10.0" on hers, though it was also in Bart's handwriting. Meroko didn't know what to make of it.
"I don't know what you were doing," Bart whispered as he held back his laughter, "But I can't wait to find out. You rocked in there!"
Meroko smiled at this and took in one last sniffle. Then, without a word, she proudly walked through to the living room and, seeing the stairs, poofed into her normal form. Lisa saw her and angrily stormed up the stairs. Meroko floated up after her. Lisa ran into her room and slammed the door on Meroko, but it simply distorted as she passed through.
With a scowl, Lisa placed Takuto kitty on her desk. Meroko struck a pose with her arms outstretched dramatically. "So, what did you think?" the death bunny asked with a big smile.
"Meh!" Lisa growled before pulling off her windbreaker and hanging it on the chair. She was having trouble keeping her balance. Then she unceremoniously unzipped and pulled off her dress. Takuto immediately winced and turned away to face the wall.
"Well," Meroko prodded. "Aren't you going to at least thank me?"
"Fine!" Lisa grumbled as she yanked up her pajama bottoms, though she fell back against her bed as she did so. Then she fumbled to fix the inside-out top. "Thanks for getting me grounded and making Mom think I'm a helpless baby!" she spat. She finally got the pajama top straight and put it on before throwing herself into bed and yanking the covers up. She rolled over, facing the outside wall, which she stared at angrily.
"What!?" Meroko shot back angrily while floating over to the far side of the bed. She glared at Lisa, who immediately turned to face the inside wall. "What are you complaining about -- I was wonderful!"
Takuto poofed back into his spirit form. "You did overdo it," he commented with some hesitation.
Meroko was shocked. "What do you mean?" she asked.
Lisa immediately sat up and flipped around to face her. "If she just yelled at me it would be over with, and -- who cares? -- 'cause she's been mad at me ever since I got sick anyway!" she shouted. "But now she thinks I'm losing it, so who knows what she'll do!"
"Shhh, shhh," Takuto soothed while placing a hand on her shoulder, but Lisa cringed and pulled away from him. Surprised, he backed off and spoke instead, "She can't really be mad at you for being sick."
Lisa's face changed from angry to sad and she sank back down into bed.
Meroko added with a sad whine, "Yeah, it's not your fault!"
Lisa wasn't paying attention. She pulled the blankets up over head and wrapped them around so that only her face was uncovered. With a quiver in her voice, Lisa quietly spoke, "I just need some rest." She stared lifelessly at the wall as the rain started to tap against the window.
"Maybe you could..." Meroko started, but Takuto firmly held her wrist while placing a finger to his lips. He then motioned her out of the room and they floated into the hallway.
Lisa's mind raced with a thousand questions about what had happened that day. Why was Lindsay so interested in her when she didn't play that well? Why won't Mom let Allison visit? Did she really just hallucinate the events of the afternoon -- Even worse, had she been really just wandering around confused, like Meroko had told Mom? And, most importantly, was she really going to die soon? All of the thoughts made her head hurt again, but the pain in her heart was so much heavier. She didn't know how much time passed before she finally fell asleep.
********
Chapter 2: Death Has Feelings Too
Meroko was in the family room, sitting crossed-legged on a throw-rug in front of the television set. She was hunched forward with her head resting in her hands as she watched. On the screen was video of Lisa, both normal and as Leese, before and during the audition. Meroko spoke excitedly, "We started this assignment thinking it would be like the any other, but this girl could see and hear us. She doesn't want to go along quietly 'cause she has lots of goals and dreams, and she insists on making them happen. What a problem!
"To make it worse, Takuto decided to help her for some reason. He made her older for the big all-star contest -- we didn't think she would win! At the last minute, she wouldn't accept the award and it went to her friend Allison. She said it wouldn't be fair to the others since she's gonna die soon, but I don't know if that's it. Anyway, it would've been O.K., but then the woman there offered her a job. I wonder what's going to happen next!"
Just then, plushy Takuto grabbed the rug and dragged it -- with Meroko still sitting on it -- back towards the couch. Surprised, she looked up in distress until she realized what was happening. With a poof, he turned back into his spirit form, standing with his head bowed and his eyes closed. He spoke sternly. "Always watch T.V. from a safe distance in a well-lit room -- Understand?".
Meroko bowed her head and closed her eyes for a moment, but then she held up her right hand and waved a cell phone. "I'm on the phone with my mom, baka!" she barked.
Takuto's eyes popped open and he looked embarrassed. "Oops," he said with some guilt. She softened a bit and held the phone up to him, so he smiled and spoke into it, "Hi!"
********
The rain was coming down pretty hard when Lisa woke up. It was dark in her room, except for the occasional flash of lightning, and there was a rumble of thunder in the distance. However, she felt strangely peaceful and warm and she heard a sweet melody. She rolled over to look at her clock, "10:54 PM" it read, and then she realized that she was clutching something warm and soft. It was the plushy bunny Meroko, gently humming some pretty song.
"Feeling better?" Meroko's tiny voice asked before yawning. "A nap always makes me feel better, too."
"Huh...?" asked the groggy girl.
"Like I said, comforting's part of our job," the bunny replied before suddenly changing the subject. "I'm sorry you don't get along with your mom. I guess I'm just lucky."
Lisa released Meroko and thought for a moment. "It's not like we never got along," she said. "She just seems to get mad at me for being smart. It's like she just wants me to be her little girl forever."
"Well, in a way.... er, never mind," Meroko thought out loud. She spoke again in her bubbly voice, "Hey, my mother always wanted me to learn more and be smarter than she was. Doesn't yours?"
"But Mom was smart," Lisa complained. "She always did well in school and wanted to go to college, but then she married Dad. Now she keeps telling me not be so brainy and try to be popular. Sometimes I think she's happy I'm sick and can't study anymore."
"That can't be true!" Meroko shot back.
Before Lisa could respond, Marge spoke from the doorway. Lisa hadn't heard the door open and wondered how long she had been there.
"Lisa," Marge said softly, "That's...." she trailed off and paused for a few moments. Unemotionally, she started again, "You haven't eaten all day. I'll go warm up your dinner, so just come down when you're ready." Marge quickly turned to leave but stopped for a moment. "I'll bring it to the family room -- you can eat in front of the TV," she said before leaving.
"Ooh, dinner!" Meroko said excitedly as she floated into the air.
Lisa was very hungry, and the thought of food made her empty stomach growl. Lisa flipped on the light and got out of the bed, on which Meroko was hopping on in anticipation. She put on slippers and a bathrobe before asking, "Where's Takuto?"
Meroko rolled her eyes as she spoke, "Oh, he's meditating."
"Really?" Lisa asked.
Meroko went on, "He's new and doesn't have a lot of powers yet, so changing you took a lot out of him. He's in Margaret's room where it's quietest."
It took Lisa a second to realize whom she was speaking about. "Oh, Maggie," she said before picking up Meroko and trudging out of her room and heading downstairs. They heard Marge and Homer talking in the family room, so Lisa stopped in the living room to listen.
Homer spoke excitedly, "Ooh, snacks. Hey, wait a minute -- this looks healthy! Agggh!"
"Leave it alone! That's Lisa's dinner," Marge scolded. "I'm worried about her. First disappearing like that, and just now I heard her talking to an imaginary friend."
"There's nothing wrong with that," he told Marge before turning his head to the empty side of the couch and asking, "Right, Sugar?"
"Mrrrh," Marge sighed. "Homey, just talk to her, please? She's lonely, and I don't' think she wants to talk to me right now. I'll bring you a beer."
Homer pointed to a six-pack of Duff's on the coffee table. "That's okay, Marge. We've got a plenty of beer right here," he said merrily.
"Isn't it warm?" Marge asked.
"That's all taken care of," he said happily. Homer picked up a can of beer and presented it to the empty part of the couch. "Do your stuff!" he said with excitement before the can suddenly frosted over.
"Maybe I'm the one losing it," Marge said, but then she noticed Lisa standing in the living room. Marge looked away and called out to her, "Your dinner's ready. Just leave the dishes when you're done. I'll be in the kitchen trying to find out where all those waffles went." Marge zipped off.
Lisa walked in slumped down on the couch. She didn't pay attention as Homer tilted the beer can up to his shoulder. "Yes, KEY-RAH-MECK-IE is sparkly and makes people happy," he said to the imaginary friend. "But we just call it 'beer' in the human world."
Marge had left a bowl on the serving tray, so Lisa picked it up and looked at her supper: it was steamed broccoli, cauliflower and carrots on top of brown rice, plus a few blocks of cheese. A hint of spices made it smell wonderful, but she put it back down because she suddenly felt too guilty to eat it.
Meroko hopped on the tray and helped herself to some carrots, but Homer was paying too much attention to the TV to notice. On the screen, the credits finished and a preview began. "Next week on Law & Order: Food Crimes Unit..." it started and showed a donut truck stopping at a traffic light. "A madman strikes fear into the very heart of the police force." The donut truck suddenly exploded, making Homer gasp.
The preview cut to a scene with pools of jelly in the road; there were sprinkles and powdered sugar everywhere. One of the two detectives picked up a piece of donut and sniffed it. "We're dealing with a real sicko -- this donut was fresh, not even an hour old!" he lamented.
Homer slapped his hands to his face. "Agh!" he wailed. "Such senseless violence!"
Lisa interrupted him. "Dad?" she said meekly. "I think I hurt Mom's feelings. What should I do?"
Homer was still transfixed on the television screen, but he answered, "Pfft! Between me and the boy, you're still way ahead. Don't worry about it."
"Awww," Lisa moaned and then looked disappointed.
Homer looked at her and felt bad, so he suggested, "Just do what I do: go to Moe's until she's asleep. Eventually she'll just stuff those bad feelings deep down in the dark place where they belong." He turned back to the television to see the start of the Channel 6 News.
"Good evening, I'm Kent Brockman," started the newscast. A graphic with the silhouette of Iraq, some keys on a ring and a giant question mark was showing behind him. "The U.N. weapons inspectors are delayed in their search for weapons of mass destruction when they can't find their car keys. On a related note, Saddam Hussein insists to reporters that he has no weapons of mass destruction. But when pressed, he clarified that weapons of mass murder are a different issue.
"But in more important news, the world of corporate-sponsored fake charity was rocked today in Springfield," he continued. The television cut to scenes of Leese on stage as she forfeited. "The winner of OmniTel's musical competition turned down a place in their band -- along with the full college scholarship that goes with it."
"D'OH!" Lisa winced, but after a moment she sighed, "I guess it doesn't matter."
They cut to a clip of Brockman interviewing Allison, and his voice went on, "Miss Taylor, congratulations on being picked for the band. What do you think about Leese giving up the position to you?"
Allison shyly answered, "Well, I think she was just being really nice. She was really good -- and so pretty."
"No, you played much better!" Lisa yelled at the television. Meroko stopped munching and looked back at her for a moment. Marge came to the doorway to see why Lisa was upset, and she stayed to watch the end of the news segment.
Kent threw in, "Nice and crazy, maybe." Allison looked nervous at his comment. The news cut back to the studio and the music played as Kent announced, "Coming up, do cell phones and cell towers really cause cancer?"
There was a quick cut of Lindsay saying, "No way... Well, maybe if you put a cell tower in your bedroom, but who would do that?" Then the station cut to commercials.
Marge spoke to Lisa in a more-typical tone, "Honey, I got all your favorites at the store today but you've barely eaten. Hrrrm. And you know how I feel about cooking three different vegetables in the same meal."
Lisa felt too bad to even look up. Marge looked down at the plushy bunny with carrots smeared all over her face. She looked very worried as she picked Meroko up. After staring at it for a moment, Marge spoke as if talking to a toddler, "And pretend bunnies should only eat pretend carrots, okay sweetie?"
"I'm sorry," Lisa replied weakly.
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Marge walked off with Meroko while mumbling, "Oooh! You're so warm and soft and cuddly." Lisa thought she heard tears in her voice as she continued, "I can take care of you. I'll clean you up. Yesiree, you'll get a nice hot bath in the washing machine and then a ride in the dryer. Then you'll be all better."
Meroko was mouthing, "Help me!" to Lisa as she was carried off, but Lisa wouldn't look up.
Lisa fell over, landing with her head on Homer's lap, and started crying softly.
"There, there," he consoled her as he stroked her hair and took another sip of beer. "The commercials will be over soon."
********
Lisa entered her room quietly and slipped her bathrobe off, draping it over the chair. She stepped out of her slippers before tiptoeing over to her bed. She gently lifted the twisted covers, revealing the plushy Takuto resting underneath. He jumped up in the air and gasped. "Geez!" he cried while floating in the air. "Why'd you sneak up on me like that?"
"Sorry, it's just habit," she whispered. "Since I've been sick I can't sleep on a normal schedule, so I have to be quiet when I'm up all night."
"Oh," he said, accepting her answer much more calmly. "What do you do all night?"
"Not much," she sighed. Without thinking about it, she picked up the plushy and held him in her hands so that they faced each other. "They don't let me read or use the computer. The radio only gets Coast to Coast at night, and that gave me headaches even before I had the tumor. Worst of all, to make sure I don't' see anything 'intellectually stimulating,' the TV's programmed to only get FOX at night."
"Ehehehehehe!" he shuddered at the thought while floating into the air, shivering.
She sat on the edge of her bed and continued, "Usually, I would just lie down on the living room floor and stare out the window. On a clear night I'd watch the stars and try to remember the constellations' names."
Takuto gently floated down onto the bed, next to Lisa. "It sounds lonely," he asked more than said.
Lisa continued with a hint of sadness in her voice, "No matter how late it was, or how quiet I tried to be, Mom would always get up and do something. She'd set the table for breakfast or bake something." She paused for a moment. "Yes, it was," she finally answered him. "Now I just stay in my room. It's easier."
Takuto was a little concerned as he spoke, "Can't the doctor give you some medicine?"
Lisa answered, "I already sleep too much."
"No. I meant for..." he started to explain, but then he suddenly fell silent and went still.
Lisa heard the door push open and Marge came in, carrying a very clean Meroko, and both of them looked worn out. "Here's the bunny, honey," she said, but she couldn't manage her usual giggle after her rhyme. She brought Meroko over to the bed where she spied Takuto and then looked at Lisa for a moment, confused. "Oooh, another cuddly friend!" Lisa noticed that Marge had avoided looking directly at her. "I didn't know you kept some of your old stuffed animals."
"Who are you calling 'old'!?" Meroko muttered under her breath.
"Mom," Lisa asked cautiously, "Did you, uh, hear me saying something to them earlier?"
"What do you mean?" Marge said disingenuously while looking away.
Lisa laughed nervously, but it came out more like panting, and then she offered, "'Cause I think I've kinda been saying things I don't mean, and ..."
Marge cut her off dryly, "No, Lisa, I'm not happy that you're sick." She buried her face in her hands as she started crying. Then she crumpled down, kneeling on the floor with her elbows on the bed. "I'm not happy at all!" she sobbed.
Lisa's eyes welled up with tears as she put her hands on Marge's arms, as if trying to uncover her mother's face. Marge looked at Lisa for a second before grabbing her tightly around the waist, and Lisa put her arms around her mother's neck. While still on her knees, Marge pulled Lisa off the bed and they squeezed each other tightly.
"Oww!" Meroko cried out from between them.
"Oh, sorry," Marge said as she got up and put Lisa back on the bed. Meroko clung to the little girl until she was above Takuto, then she let go. Marge wiped her eyes then pulled the covers over her daughter's legs. She looked straight in Lisa's eyes. "Honey," she said as she sat on the edge of the bed, "I know we don't always see eye-to-eye, and you don't agree with everything we're doing. But someday, when you're older, you'll understand that it's for your own good. Okay?"
Lisa caught herself before disagreeing because she didn't want to start an argument, especially after what she said earlier. Actually, she was desperate to say something about what was happening to her, but she knew it would sound crazy. Instead, she simply said, "Mom, I'm hungry."
Marge smiled and got up. "I'll go heat some more vegetables for you and bring 'em right up," she said while almost leaping to the door. She turned halfway around and asked, "Or would you rather have some ice cream?"
"Ice cream!" Meroko shouted with glee while sitting up. Lisa scooped up the loud bunny and held it on her lap, covering its mouth with her hand.
"Please," Lisa added nervously. Marge hurried off to get it.
Lisa loosened her grip on Meroko, who just said, "Oops, sorry."
Takuto shook his head and let out, "Geez!"
Lisa looked disappointed, so Meroko comforted her by happily saying, "See, you're mom's not so bad!"
Lisa didn't answer. Instead, she just stared at the far wall, deep in thought.
"Aww, you really wanted the veggies, huh?" Meroko asked, sounding disappointed in herself.
Takuto cut in, "Mom's awfully tired and the ice cream's easier. Meroko will be happy to go down and get your dinner later."
"Hey!" Meroko shot back.
"That's not it," Lisa said with a distant look.
Marge returned quickly with a big bowl of rocky road ice cream and a spoon, both of which she handed to her daughter. Lisa noticed that Marge looked happier, but she also noticed the weariness that Takuto had mentioned.
Lisa looked at the bowl. "Wow, that's a lot of ice cream!" she said. Meroko was rubbing her fluffy white tummy and drooling a little bit.
Marge instructed Lisa, "It's rocky road, so you'll have to chew slowly -- don't get an ice-cream headache. Be careful 'cause I'm out of clean napkins." Marge yawned and turned to leave the room. Meroko's eyes were bulging. The bunny slowly opened her mouth very wide and started leaning towards the bowl.
"Thanks, Mom. Sweet dreams," Lisa called after her.
"Good night, dear." Marge turned in the hallway to close Lisa's door and added, "But don't worry if it gets on anything -- I'll just throw it in the washer tomorrow."
"Eeek!" Meroko cried as she bolted under the blankets.
Despite her empty stomach and sharing with the plushy shinigami, it didn't take long for Lisa's belly to be full. She put the bowl and spoon on her nightstand ever so quietly and stared at the wall again. Meroko hopped onto the dresser and checked her face in the mirror, carefully licking off every last trace of ice cream.
Takuto poofed back into his spirit form and sat on the foot of the bed. "Gonna be a long night?"
Lisa answered, "Yeah, I just don't know what to do about Ms. Naegle."
Meroko poofed back to spirit form and sounded surprised. "If you weren't serious about it in the first place then why'd we go through all this trouble? You can't stop now!"
Takuto snapped back at her, "What are you talking about? You were dead set against this in the first place."
"But it's so exciting!" Meroko whined.
"It just doesn't seem right," Lisa said, not caring if they heard her. They turned back towards her. "I certainly didn't deserve it."
Meroko was concerned. "Why are you being so hard on yourself?" she asked.
"I only won because of what I looked like, not for playing well," Lisa lamented.
Takuto replied immediately, "How do you know that? After all, would you be so quick to complain that you should have won if you thought you were the best? Geez! Have some confidence."
Lisa shot back, "It's not confidence. People should like me for who I am and what I do, not what I look like."
"What you look like is part of who you are," Meroko protested.
"But that's not fair! People should just be judged by what they do," Lisa insisted.
"Why not? If people want that as part of the show, then what's so bad? Would you see someone who dressed raggedy?" Takuto asked
"It doesn't matter to me," Lisa answered indignantly.
"What if they smelled bad?" Meroko wondered.
Lisa opened her mouth to speak but then hesitated for a second. "How bad?" she asked.
Meroko offered, "What if he hadn't bathed in a week?"
"Pfft! Big deal -- I have a brother," Lisa replied with an air of condescension.
"Booze?" Takuto asked.
Meroko stopped him and explained, "Don't bother, Taki -- I met her father."
Takuto thought for a moment. Then he smiled and asked, "What if he smelled of cigarettes?"
"Ewww! No way! "Lisa cried as her face scrunched up.
"See? It does matter to you after all," he said smugly.
"But," Lisa stammered, "Then what's the point? I could just send a picture if that's all they care about."
Takuto explained, "That's not it! A performance requires a performer: her heart, mind, and soul. That's where your personality and passions really show!"
Meroko added, "And, besides, don't you want to find that shadowy mystery boy?"
"Yeah, but..." Lisa said softly.
Takuto sat on the bed and faced her while trying to explain, "When you think about it, a performer is just using people." Lisa just looked confused, so he continued. "It's not a bad thing -- you want to express your feelings and have them appreciated. That's what everyone wants, but you are special because you can make so many people happy. They certainly aren't hurt by you sharing your songs."
Lisa was about to give in when Meroko gleefully added, "And think of the money you could make!"
Lisa's head dropped. "I'm not in it for the money," she complained softly.
Meroko replied, "Maybe you aren't, but it gives other people work, helps clubs and stadiums stay in business so that they can put on more entertainment."
"That's right, and you can give your share to charity if you want -- that's certainly something positive," Takuto added.
Lisa started thinking about it and her head was starting to hurt again, so she leaned back against the headboard.
Meroko suddenly appeared to have an idea. "But if you're not interested, then no big deal. We can just hang out with you for now and it will be easier," she said very merrily before poofing into her bunny form.
Takuto caught on and added, "Yeah. After all, we weren't even for this in the first place, but we thought that it was important to you. Oh well, at least you got the answer you were looking for." He crossed his arms and closed his eyes while trying not to smile.
"So, what do you want to do for the next month?" Meroko asked as she bounced into Lisa's lap.
"Well, uhm," Lisa spoke with considerable hesitation. "It does seem kinda silly to give up after all you've done." She let out a small nervous laugh.
"That's okay," Meroko said with a big smile. "Don't worry -- Takuto and I probably would have gotten into trouble if you continued, anyway. Let's see if you can get some sleep. And tomorrow we can watch TV or play games or do whatever you want to pass the time." The plushy bunny sounded very happy.
Lisa replied, "Well, I at least have to give Ms. Naegle her phone back -- and it couldn't hurt to hear what she has to say." Lisa looked at the bunny expectantly.
Meroko replied sweetly, "Oh, Takuto can mail it for you while we play."
"But what about all the good I could do, and finding that boy?" Lisa pleaded.
"No, no, it's too late," Meroko insisted.
Takuto snapped at Meroko, "Hey, stop it! She's willing to try now." He poofed into his kitty form and landed on the bed behind Meroko as she turned to face him. "What are you trying to do?" he demanded.
Meroko hung her head down and looked sad. After a moment she answered, "I was so caught up in the excitement and romance of it all -- I forgot we weren't supposed to be doing any of this!"
Takuto laughed and told her, "Don't worry. It'll be fine." But Meroko didn't seem to believe him.
********
It seemed like she spent the night comforting Meroko, but Lisa had managed to fall asleep eventually. She woke up late in the morning while her mother was checking in on her. Actually, Marge checked on Lisa quite often during the day, so she was afraid to talk to Meroko and Takuto. Lisa tried to take them into her closet to talk quietly, but Marge happened to peek in and grew more nervous at this peculiar behavior.
To make matters worse, the two shinigami did not leave Lisa alone, even for a moment. Eventually, she went to use the bathroom and bunny Meroko hopped in after her. Lisa snapped. She pushed the bunny out into the hallway and yelled, "Can't you leave me alone for a minute!" She slammed the door and then realized that her mother may have heard her outburst.
Marge heard Lisa crying in the bathroom and gently knocked on the door. "Is everything all right?" she asked.
"Mom!" Lisa replied with a growl, using her pain to increase its magnitude.
"Well, I just thought maybe you were out of toilet paper or something!" Marge responded, somewhat offended and embarrassed by having to make up such an excuse. After all, they both knew that she made sure there were at least two inches of toilet paper on the roll when she cleaned the bathrooms each morning.
Marge resigned herself and said, "Well, if you need something you know where I'll be!" She went back to work, but, instead of finishing the dishes in the sink, she went to make the beds until Lisa was out of the bathroom and Marge knew she was all right.
Lisa splashed cold water on her face and then scraped it all off with a towel. Its soft fabric still felt rough on her young face, getting out some of the numbness from her sleep and inactivity. She left the bathroom and walked back to her doorway, but she stopped when she heard Takuto and Meroko talking.
Meroko poofed into her spirit form and complained, "She's the most moody little girl we ever had to deal with!"
"Hey, it's not like we really had to deal with any child, before. Usually they don't know we're even there, so they have no options," he replied before taking on his spirit form as well.
"Yeah, but now she knows too much..." she started to say.
"So we have to kill her!" Takuto shot back sarcastically. "No, seriously, maybe there's a reason she can see us."
"Well, rule number one is a person's fate must never be changed, and you pretty much blew that yesterday," Meroko told him. "Now, if we just focus on rule three, give comfort and compassion to the dying, then we'll be all right."
"I made it clear that the change wouldn't extend her life," Takuto replied defensively.
Meroko then confronted him with, "Then what was the point? I know she's a pretty girl and all, but why did you have to ogle her when you have me?" She posed with her hands on her hips and threw her hair back.
"Meroko!" he complained. "It's not like that! I just can't bear to see someone with so much spirit sitting around, waiting to die. Besides, rule two warns us to make sure she has no attachments, no regrets."
"Well, she does seem awfully fired up to meet that boy. Maybe we shouldn't stand in the way of her trying to find him. We could just step back and let her do her thing, like we usually do," Meroko wondered out loud.
Takuto thought for a moment and answered, "Hey, bunny lady, you might be on to something. After all, it's one thing to watch someone when they don't know, but getting too involved may just make things worse -- like you did with her mother. And..."
"Oh! Speaking of which, that woman has been checking on Lisa so much today!" Meroko complained. "She's as bad as..."
"Us?" Takuto guessed.
"Grrr!" Meroko grumbled after being caught off guard, but then she explained, "Actually, I was thinking about what Lisa said. Maybe if I be her again and make her mother really upset, then..."
"Baka! That's no good. Besides, I think Lisa could do that herself. If anything, you should become her and just behave so Lisa can get some time to herself."
"We can't leave her all alone!" Meroko complained.
"I won't," he snapped back.
Meroko suspiciously responded, "Oh, Taki-kun, don't tell me you are trying to sneak off with this girl, especially when you have Meroko, who loves you terribly."
"Terribly - how apt," he started before catching himself. "I mean, don't get weird ideas about me and little girls!"
"Little!? I saw how you made her look," Meroko teased.
"I have no control over that part," he insisted.
Marge saw Lisa standing in the hallway, just staring into her bedroom. "What's wrong dear?" It got the shinigami's attention and then they noticed her standing outside the door.
"Oh, uh, nothing. Just... well, wondering what I could do. It gets boring with you busy all day and no visitors..." Lisa said with a weak smile.
"Well, maybe I should put the spare TV in your room," Marge answered before unnecessarily scolding, "But you can only use it during the day, when there's nothing on that will make your head hurt, at least not for being too intelligent. Maybe Bart will let you play his video games, too."
Meroko's eyes went wide with happiness. "Video games! Yay!" she shouted. Takuto put his palms on his head and shook it slowly.
After noticing Meroko's reaction, Lisa thought for a second answered, "That would be nice. And Mom?"
"Yes sweetie?" she answered.
Lisa wrinkled her lips a bit, almost afraid to say, "Do you have to check on me so much? It's a bit, uhm..."
"I'm not checking on you," Marge said defensively. "I just have a lot to do and I can't help it," she added before hurrying back downstairs.
Takuto grinned at Meroko and whispered, "Told you so."
"Aww, cheer up!" Meroko squealed as she poofed back into a bunny. "At least we'll have a TV and can play video games."
Lisa answered flatly, "Yeah, that should keep me busy for a month."
"Why are you suddenly so sad?" she asked while hopping into her arms.
"I heard you talking, and now it just seems kind of hopeless to do anything when I know it won't make a difference," she said.
"Hey! It's not nice to eavesdrop!" Takuto complained.
Lisa was taken aback and complained, "Well, you were talking right out in the open."
"Oh," he said much more calmly. "Well, we weren't used to having someone who could see and hear us."
Meroko chimed in, "We'll just have to be more careful. The more she knows the more likely destiny will be changed, and she can't really tell anyone about us."
Lisa laughed a bit and replied, "I definitely won't do that -- they already think I'm crazy. Actually, I'm not so sure myself."
"What's that supposed to mean? Now's not the time to second guess yourself," Takuto complained.
"Will I even remember all of this when I'm, you know...?" Lisa couldn't finish the question.
Meroko kindly answered, "Well, it's not that simple. In our case, remembering our mortal lives would tempt us to check up on the people we loved. To be a field operative in the Shinigami Core you must be willing to put that aside."
Something caught Lisa's attention so she asked, "But if you already have no attachments when you die, then why does it matter?"
Takuto answered coolly, "Well, it's one thing to let go when it's forever, but quite another when you have false hope. At the time of your death, memories of the living are just another thing to hold you back, so you are cleansed of your memories of the living."
Meroko quickly added, "Now, you will remember all of the general knowledge -- the book smarts -- that you've acquired. You won't be starting over by any stretch. Actually, you'll learn more than you've ever imagined possible."
Takuto gave his partner a strange look before continuing, "But the living will hold your memories in their hearts, and when they pass on and join you, then you get to share them again. In turn, they'll be joined by others and..."
"This is the best part!" Meroko blurted out with excitement.
"...they'll even share things that happened after you were gone. It doesn't matter how many cable TV channels you have: this is way cooler!" he finally said with some happiness in his voice.
Lisa seemed to be thinking about it, but Meroko was worried that they had said too much. She poofed into her bunny form and told Lisa, "You shouldn't be thinking about any of this. What matters now is how you live: that's what makes a difference, even if it's not for you then for everyone else. In the end, the good that you do is more important than what you get out of it."
Lisa moaned, "But that isn't fair to me!"
"Geez! How can you be so selfish!? Takuto cried. Lisa looked at him in shock, and he seemed embarrassed. He suddenly flew up and out through the ceiling.
Tears welled up in Lisa's eyes as she clutched the bunny tightly.
"Don't worry about it. Taki-kun's always a bit moody," Meroko said gregariously. Lisa loosened her grip and looked at her while she explained, "The thing about Takuto is: he hates this job. No matter how much I try to make it more fun, with all my heart, it really bothers him that he has to do this. Don't tell him I said this, but when he got out of shinigami school the first thing he did was tell me that he quit. He said he couldn't take children because, even though he couldn't remember who, there was a child that he loved. That's when I fell in love with him and knew that we'd become more than partners," she sighed. "I just wish he knew that."
"But then why does he do it?" Lisa asked.
"It's too important not too," the bunny answered. "After all, we don't make fate or decide when people die, but if we're not there to guide them then they'll be lost souls. Even if they stay with their loved ones for a while, eventually those people will pass on, leaving the lost ones to the saddest fate of all: being all alone. In the end, that thought bothered him more because they'd never be reunited with their families."
"That's so sad," Lisa commented. "Isn't there anything you can do for them?"
Meroko hesitated and said, "Well, I've already told you way too much. Let's just say there are some powerful forces between Heaven and Earth, and they won't hesitate to call in the big wings when it will help."
Lisa slipped in one more question, "Big wings?"
"Uhm, the ones with a little more power," Meroko answered before muttering under her breath, "And much bigger attitudes." Then she continued with a big smile, "Hey, Lisa, don't worry because we don't give up on anyone. There's always hope. And you have me, a responsible, dedicated shinigami who will pay full attention to y..."
Just then, Marge pushed the door open and struggled to roll in the spare television on its cart. "Here you go, honey," she said before plugging it in.
Meroko's eyes lit up and she whispered, "Ooh, TV! Let's watch Springer!"
********
An hour later, bunny Meroko was watching "Middle Aged Men Obsessed With Fan Fiction and the Japanese Schoolgirls Who Love Them." Lisa was lying on her bed, ignoring the television and starting at the ceiling. It began to shimmer as Takuto floated down through it. He landed on the foot of her bed and pretended not to notice her.
Lisa was a little nervous as she offered, "Takuto?"
"Hey" he said casually, without even looking.
"I'm sorry," she said weakly, but he just nodded.
Lisa tried to appease him despite her anxiety, "Meroko explained about how you..."
"What did she tell you!" Takuto interrupted, turning to face her with an angry look.
"Uh," Lisa was thrown by his reaction but then continued, "How you two have to do your job or else I'll be stuck."
He slowly relaxed and then calmly said, "Oh, sorry."
"That's my line, but okay," Lisa said, a little relieved. "I'm sorry that I was blaming you when you just want to help me."
He looked a little uncomfortable and then asked, "So, when are you going to call Lindsay?"
"Are you sure it's okay?" Lisa asked with pleading eyes.
"No, not really," he started, "but I honestly didn't think that would stop you."
"Well, I'm under a deadline -- whoops, poor choice of words," she laughed. "I'd better do it."
Lisa hopped off the bed and fished the cell phone and card out of her windbreaker. Meanwhile, Takuto turned the volume down on the television, eliciting a momentary look of annoyance from Meroko. He whispered to Lisa, "Why'd you get the TV for Meroko anyway?"
Lisa answered, "Oh, it's not for her -- I figured having a little noise would make it easier for us to talk, and I can always say I'm yelling at the TV if Mom catches me..." She then yelled in a whisper while mocking her father, "Stupid lousy daytime television shows! D'OH!" They both laughed a little and then Lisa opened the phone. "Let's see... this is on but what do these lights mean?"
The awe could be heard in his voice as he commented, "Wow! I've never seen signal strength that high. Why's it so good around here?"
Lisa wrinkled her nose and moaned, "Grrr! Don't ask." She dialed and held the phone up to her ear. "Hello, Ms. Naegle? It's Leese, from yesterday. Okay, then Lindsay it is. Really, anytime in the afternoon when my mom's gone shopping, I mean, she goes shopping and can give me a ride. That soon? Well, okay. Thanks. Heh heh heh. You're welcome. Bye."
"Well?" Takuto asked.
"She wants to meet me right away, and I have to bring my saxophone," Lisa said excitedly before turning towards Meroko and asking, "Can you really cover for me here, please?"
Meroko poofed back into her spirit form and turned to face them with an angry expression. "Is this fair?" she asked. "I just sit here while you two go out to have fun, meeting that boy while Takuto tries to forget why we're here in the first place..." she then thought for a moment, "and maybe feel good for a change and be a bit nicer when he comes home... and all I have to do is sit around here watching TV and eating ice cream?"
Lisa and Takuto looked at each other for a moment and then back at Meroko. They both nodded.
Meroko jumped in the air and yelled, "Yippee!"
********
A few hours later, Leese was standing by the statue of Jebadiah Springfield in the park. She was holding her case in her left hand and plushy Takuto in her other arm. Lindsay walked up to her while talking on a cell phone. Leese raised her hand to wave and started to speak when Lindsay raised her hand to make her wait.
Lindsay snapped at the caller, "I don't care. It's clearly stated on page fifty-eight of your contract, so just do it. You should read it more carefully." She closed the phone and put it in her jacket pocket while putting on a big smile. "I'm glad you could make it," she said while reaching out to shake Leese's hand.
Leese awkwardly put down the case and shifted Takuto to her other hand so she could return the gesture. However, by the time she reached back, Lindsay was looking at a stopwatch and didn't have her hand out anymore. "Eight seconds, a bit too slow," she reported. "We can work on that, but you get points for making it a cute delay."
"Oh," Leese responded in mild confusion.
"The stuffed animal is a nice touch, too," Lindsay continued her assessment while picking up Takuto and looking him over. "They're cute, and it gives you an extra connection with your younger fans," she said while flipping him around, holding him upside down and looking at his rear. His eyes went wide and Leese quickly took him back. Lindsay said, "No tags? We'll have to have to contact the manufacturer before we can use it in your promos."
"Well, he's one of a kind," Leese explained.
"Perfect," Lindsay answered while briefly pointing for Leese to walk with her. "Now, we just need to stop by my office and sign a few papers, and then you can get ready for tonight.
"Tonight?" she asked.
Lindsay smiled and replied, "Yeah, you have a show at a local place. It's not the Jazz Hole, but you have to start somewhere."
It took less than a minute to arrive at the small Omni-Tel office building, which was near the park. Lindsay got the door for Leese and then lead the way to her office, where she pulled out a bunch of papers from a folder and handed them to the girl. "Just look these over and sign them," she said while holding out a pen.
"I didn't expect all of this so soon," Leese said while looking at the first pages.
"Time is running out," Lindsay said, making Leese shudder momentarily.
"She has a point," Takuto whispered.
Lindsay continued, "The buzz from your audition will be wearing off, so you have to get out there soon, or else."
The words struck her particularly hard, so she bit her lip and started initialing and signing the papers after only a cursory inspection. Leese stopped at one and asked, "What's this ASCAP release for?"
"That's the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers. You pay them a membership fee and that allows you to play songs by other people who paid the fee," she answered.

"That doesn't make sense," Leese observed.
"But it does make money, and that's what keeps everyone in business," Lindsay quipped.
Leese signed it and then finished with the rest of the paperwork while Lindsay made some phone calls and did other paperwork. As soon as Leese handed all of the papers back, Lindsay immediately got up and said, "Okay, let's go!" She took the girl by one hand, barely giving her time to grab Takuto and her case before rushing out the door. Then Lindsay helped Leese get the saxophone case into the back of her Infiniti and then two were quickly off.
They arrived outside of Moe's about forty-five seconds later. "We're here," Lindsay said as she hopped out of the car.
Leese was puzzled as she got out and retrieved her instrument. "Why did we drive if we're so close?" she asked.
"For what I paid for this car, I need to use it whenever possible," she explained.
"But Infiniti's are just overpriced Nissans," Leese said as she put Takuto under her left arm and shifted the case into the same hand.
"D'OH!" Lindsay winced before they walked into the tavern.
Moe greeted them at the door, so Leese immediately offered to shake his hand. "Thanks for letting me play here, Mr. Syslak," she chirped. Lindsay nodded approvingly and put away the stopwatch.
"Thanks nothing! I wouldn't be doing this if it hadn't been snuck into my new cell phone contract, " Moe bit back while looking the girl over. "Well, I suppose you won't scare my customers away, but I can't guarantee vice-a-versa. Just put your stuff by the corner over there."
Leese looked around and saw the regulars sitting at the bar: Lenny, Karl, Barney, Larry, Sam, and even Charlie. She thought, "This isn't so bad."
As she put her stuff down and took out her saxophone, Homer walked in. Moe and the customers all yelled, "Homer!"
"Cheers, guys!" he replied before noticing Leese and Lindsay. While holding a hand up to the side of his mouth, he asked, "Hey Moe, what are the W-I-M-E-N doing here?"
"Oh no! It's Dad!" Leese whispered when she saw her father come in.
"Nah, don't worry: he can't recognize you," Takuto quietly reassured her.
"Maybe not by my looks, but what if he hears my music and figures out..." she whispered, then paused. She repeated, "My dad figures out!" before busting out laughing.
"What's so funny?" he asked.
"Never mind," Leese said while wiping a gleeful tear from her eye. "My dad won't be a problem. But to be safe, I'll start with one of Meroko's songs so he won't recognize it."
Lindsay put a hand on Leese's shoulder and interrupted, "I'm glad that you're in a good mood, but you really should think about getting ready."
"Okay," Leese said while she finished preparing her saxophone. She went up to the stage and Lindsay pulled the dimmer switch, lowering the lights. Moe flipped on a small spotlight behind the bar and it shone in the girl's eyes, but she just treated it like the lights at school concerts, since not being able to see the audience had always helped her concentrate on playing.
"Hello, everyone. Thanks for letting me play here tonight," she started when she was interrupted.
"Hey, nice rack!" Lenny yelled out. Leese froze in horror.
Karl then asked, "Yeah, when did you get that, Moe?"
"You mean this, here?" Moe asked as he nudged the spotlight over a little, shining it on a large wine rack behind Leese. "It came in last week," he answered with considerable pride.
"Wow, Moe! That's gotta hold at least a hundred bottles of wine!" Barney pointed out, spitting a little cappuccino foam as he did so.
"Yeah, yeah," Moe acknowledged as he started moving the spotlight back onto the girl.
Then Sam said loud enough for Leese to hear, "Wow! Check out those hooters!" Her eyes went wide with shock.
"What, you mean these?" Moe said while moving the spotlight again, this time to illuminate a picture against the back wall of two owls playing darts. "Pfft! That's been there forever. I wanted to get dogs playing poker, but they were sold out. Anyways, enough with these comments, guys. Let the girl do her thing or I won't get my free weekend minutes," Moe complained as he pushed the spotlight back onto Leese.
Between the minor scares and the spotlight, she was starting to sweat so she pulled her jacket off and dropped it on a chair before continuing. "Anyway, uh, thanks for letting me play. I'll start out with..."
"Yeah! Take it off! Take it off!" Homer cried out. Leese's eyes teared up. She grabbed her jacket and held it over her chest as she ran outside.
As Leese bounded through the door, Moe took an opener to the top off the Homer's bottle of Duff's Special Brew. "There you go, Homer," he said as the top flipped off. Then he looked and saw the performer missing. "Gee, what is it with me and pretty girls?" Takuto poofed into his spirit form and grabbed a mug of beer, taking it through the swinging door with him.
Lindsay was waiting outside with her stopwatch. Click! She stopped it and said, "Three minutes. That's the longest anyone has lasted before running out of this dive. But we can work on that."
Leese was stunned at first, but she quickly recovered. "You mean this was a set-up?" she asked indignantly.
Lindsay smiled and answered, "I need to know how my performers are going to handle stressful situations and stupid stuff. And believe me, that's about all these guys are capable of." She laughed a little, "You should hear some of Moe's insipid cell phone calls!"
Leese looked at her suspiciously.
Lindsay suddenly waved her hands. "Oh, not that we at Omni-Tel ever listen in on our customer's calls," she said while trying to contain herself.
Leese looked down and said, "I just don't know if I can play while people are making such stupid, sexist comments."
Takuto interrupted, "In their case, they were all just plain stupid comments -- about the decor, not you. The worst thing anyone said about you was that you're pretty."
Leese smiled a little.
Lindsay patted her on the back once and said, "When you have a job to do, it's best not to think about all of these things. After all, my job is to get you play a few songs in there, so I'm going to focus on that and not worry about that beer mug that's levitating behind you."
Leese smiled even more. "I'll do it!" she shouted before turning around and walking back in.
"Who's ready to jazz it up!" she called out, but the people were busy talking among themselves. "Okay, then who's ready to give Moe an extra-big tip tonight?" she tried again.
"Turn around and listen to the lady, you schmucks!" Moe hissed at the customers. "Anyone who doesn't pay attention is too drunk and 's gonna be shut off!" The customers begrudgingly turned around to face the stage.
Lisa started playing a jazzed-up version of the tune Meroko had hummed the night before. After that, she played several more songs, pleasing Lindsay, Moe, the customers, and especially herself.
After she finished for the night, Lindsay explained that she was doing most of her manager work on her own time, not for her company. So, she would scout locations over the weekend and start booking jobs the next week. She then offered her a ride home, but Leese politely declined: she figured it would be better if Lindsay didn't know where she lived. Also, a nice walk home would help her come down off her high from playing so much.
Lisa was so excited that she didn't expect to get any sleep. However, she was pretty tired and it didn't take long for Meroko's warmth and gentle singing put her out. Then, as soon as Lisa was asleep, the bunny began pestering Takuto. "Gee, we eat so much here. Am I getting fat?" she asked while pinching her bunny belly.
********
Chapter 3: Gifts
Lisa woke up with a smile at 10:00 on Saturday morning. Her first thought was that the weekend was going to drag on forever, but then she remembered that she didn't have many weekends left. She curled up into a ball and stared blankly, but Bart barged in, snapping her out of the depression.
"Oh, you're finally up," he said with a hint of annoyance. "Mom told me I can't go out today unless I take you with me. Just remember that we go where I want to. Got it?"
The sudden thought that Bart would remember her as a bossy nuisance made her cry. She pulled her blanket up and hid her face in it.
His eyes went wide in surprise, so after a moment he started rubbing her shoulder gently. He defensively said, "Okay! Okay! I really don't care where we go, but Mom and Dad told me you can't go anywhere you could learn stuff." Then he got a sly smile and said, "Then again, how would I know where people learn stuff."
Her crying subsided and she sat up, giving him a brief hug and saying, "That's okay, Bart. But I don't want to get you in trouble."
Sitting at the desk, spirit Meroko chimed in, "Yeah, I bet he can do that just fine on his own. Hrmf, boys!" The kitty Takuto just growled at her softly.
Bart continued, "Well, I want to get a move on! Tell you what, if we leave now and you promise not to embarrass me, I'll split the ten dollars Dad gave me for watching you."
Lisa looked shocked. "You mean, you're babysitting me?" she asked.
Bart answered with some embarrassment, "Well, it was actually five dollars for each of us, but I was just gonna keep yours for myself and tease you about it. But then you got all water works on me!"
Lisa smiled, hopped out of bed, and said, "Well, let's go out and spend it like there's no tomorrow!"
"Yay!" Meroko cried.
Takuto poofed into spirit form and asked her, "Why are you so happy?"
"Because since you get to go with her in her teenage form, I get to go out with her as a little girl," Meroko answered. Then she put her arms around his left arm and offered, "But you can come too and be my escort."
He nonchalantly pulled his arm free and said, "I'd better check out the rest of the family and study for my next exams."
********
Bart and Lisa met up with Milhouse in front of The Android's Dungeon & Comic Book Shop. Meroko was in bunny form, nestled under Lisa's arm. They went inside and started looking around. As Milhouse opened a new issue of Radioactive Man, the rather plump and unkempt proprietor came from behind the counter, wearing a tee shirt with "WORST FANFIC EVER" screened on the front. He spoke in a condescending tone, "Ahem. This is not a lending library, so if you wish to read the materials without paying for them, I suggest you go to one of those buildings that Benjamin Franklin was so fond of."
Meanwhile, Bart was checking out the toys while Lisa and Meroko looked through the discount bin. A Japanese sailor fuku, or girl's school uniform, hung above the side filled with Japanese DVDs. Lisa studied it for a moment before noticing that Meroko was aggressively rummaging through the bin.
"Wow, so much anime, and it's all so cheap!" Lisa commented.
"That's because it's all trash," Meroko grumbled while looking through the disappointing selection. "Look at this! Sadamitsu the Destroyer: trash; Sakura Diaries: disgusting; Hoshio no Kirby: based on a video game, so you know how good that's gonna be; Tokyo Mew-mew: derivative..."
Lisa quietly turned around to the comics and started leafing through a romance story in Non-Threatening Boys. Meroko noticed her being awfully quiet and hopped up behind her, still on the bin. Lisa had been staring at the same page for a little while, so Meroko peeked: the full-page frame had a female character imagining that she was kissing a boy. "You were looking forward to your first kiss?" she asked with a small smile.
Lisa turned up one corner of her little mouth and admitted, "Well, I've kissed a boy, but he turned out to be a jerk." Then she sighed before continuing, "I guess I want that 'special kiss' I that girls always think about in my Preteen Club books." She closed the magazine and put it back.
The bunny girl glanced at Milhouse, who was peeking around the corner at Lisa. "You know, that Milhouse seems to like you a lot. Even if you don't find this boy you like, you could..."
Lisa interrupted in a hushed voice, "Yuck! I'd rather kiss Bart!" She quickly turned away while picking up and reading a DVD box with a cute pink-haired little girl on the cover. She started reading the back.
"That's really weird," Meroko said with a hint of disgust in her voice, but then she decided to go with the flow. "But if that's what you really want then let's start working on it as Plan B."
"Ew ew ew ew ew!" Lisa cried out while grimacing intensely.
Bart and Milhouse looked to see what was wrong, but the owner called out to her, "Excuse me, girlie, but if you don't care for Magical Girl Pretty Sammy then at least be considerate to those of us who do."
"Sorry!" Lisa meekly said. Then she whispered to Meroko, "That's not what I meant! It's just that Milhouse is, ugh, so Milhouse." She glanced back to make sure no one saw her talking, but she noticed Milhouse was whispering something to her brother over by the counter. Bart snuck a peek over at Lisa with a sly smile before turning back to Milhouse. They continued their hushed conversation, and Lisa thought it was a bad sign.
********
The rest of the weekend passed quietly, but that didn't make Lisa feel any better. Homer was happy to spend Sunday morning at home with her while the rest of the family was at church, but he spent it watching television and drinking beer. Lisa sat with him for a while, but then she left plushy Meroko on the couch while she snuck the newspaper up to her room and read it, sharing sections with Takuto. She was working on the crossword puzzle when she heard Marge and her siblings return, so she stuffed the paper into the empty bottom drawer of her desk so she wouldn't be caught with it.
Marge still checked up on her throughout the day, but she seemed a little more relaxed. However, Bart seemed to avoid her entirely, but he had that happy guilty look that meant he was up to something.
Lisa nearly jumped out of her skin when the cell phone started ringing early on Monday afternoon because she was afraid that her mother would hear it. However, Marge was vacuuming downstairs and Lisa was found out she had a job for the next afternoon. Then, Lisa was surprised when Takuto showed her how to turn off the phone's ringer and set up the voice mailbox. She hadn't expected him to know about the latest high-technology gadgets, but she didn't give it much thought because she was more concerned about her next performance.
********
Lisa had slept well again, but she was too excited to stay in bed that morning. Against her own better judgment, she tried to think about how to get out that afternoon without being noticed. When Marge went downstairs to start her chores for the day, Lisa quietly got up and put on jeans and a sweater. She was careful to let the plushy shinigami sleep. She tiptoed down the stairs and then went into the kitchen. Marge was still wearing her bathrobe, but she had set the table, started coffee, and begun packing lunches for the boys. Maggie was sitting in her high chair and occasionally stuffing a dry Cheerio into her mouth despite the pacifier.
"Good morning, Mom!" Lisa chirped, surprising Marge a little.
"You're up early. You haven't been down for breakfast in weeks," Marge observed. "And why are you all dressed?" she asked suspiciously.
Lisa answered, "Wearing my pajamas all day makes it too easy to go to bed. I thought I'd try to stay up so maybe I can sleep at night."
Marge replied skeptically, "Mrrrh, don't push yourself too hard." She finished packing the paper bags and started cooking some bacon.
"But Mom," Lisa complained, "It's boring being in my room all the time."
Marge relented a little. "If you're bored during the day you can always watch TV on the couch, except at 9:30 and 2:15 when I'm vacuuming it," Marge told her. "Or you can play with your sister. I'm sure she'd like that." Lisa nodded and then Marge added, "But no spelling with her blocks!"
"Numbers then?" Lisa asked meekly.
"Hmm, okay, but no more than two digits together at a time," Marge instructed. "Unless you're building something."
"Aww," Lisa said as she bowed her head, looking rather sad.
"And no arches! That's too complex a structure to make in your condition," Marge added.
Before Lisa could say anything else, Bart walked in, still in his pajamas. "Hey, Lisa," he said while looking her up and down. "Why are you dressed? People won't be able to tell when you're wandering around all crazy again," he giggled.
Marge scolded, "Bart! Don't make fun of your sister's, uh," saying the last word very softly, "problems." Then she added with a hint of denial, "And it's not going to happen again, anyways."
Takuto, in spirit form, wandered in sleepily and mumbled, "Good morning, Lisa."
"Good morning," Lisa said absent-mindedly as Takuto sat down in Homer's chair.
Bart thought Lisa was talking to him and looked a bit confused, but Marge shot him an angry glance before he could point it out. Instead, he pretended not to notice and simply said, "Good morning, Lisa," as if nothing was wrong, but Lisa felt embarrassed by it.
Marge poured two cups of coffee and put one down in Homer's place before taking a sip from the other. Without thinking, Takuto picked up Homer's and started drinking it.
Bart thought for a second and said, "Uh, Lisa, all the other dorks at school are asking about you."
Marge looked at him suspiciously for a moment but decided let his comment pass.
"Really?" Lisa asked excitedly as some life returned to her face.
Bart answered, "Yeah, they keep asking why you don't reply to their e-mail, so I tell them that you're, uh," he caught himself, "your computer's busted."
Lisa's lips quivered as she asked, "Why don't they call or visit?"
Marge suddenly interrupted, "Your sister's not well enough for visitors. They'll put too much strain on her." Even Bart was surprised by Marge's gruffness and detachment.
Lisa was flabbergasted and she looked at Takuto, but he was drinking the coffee and didn't seem to be paying attention. There was noticeable stress in her voice as she asked, "Can't they just stop by after school?"
Marge started speaking assertively. "Tell Lisa's friends that talking about school and homework will just make her head hurt until she has the surgery," she commanded him. Her voice was getting more surly as she spoke, and she was working on breakfast much more frantically, almost slapping the scrambled eggs on Bart's plate. "Now sit down and eat your breakfast, Bart, or you'll be late for... you know, you'll be late."
There were tears in Lisa's voice as she squeaked, "Mom, stop talking about me like I'm not here!"
"I don't want to get into it now. I've got a lot to do!" Marge said with a closing growl. Bart sat down, flabbergasted, and even Takuto started to notice what was going on.
Lisa's eyes were welling up. She didn't want to believe it, but she asked anyway, "So you did tell Allison she couldn't come over?"
Marge saw Homer's empty coffee cup on the table and snapped. "Look at this! Now I'm going..."
Bart's face suddenly lit up as he forced himself to look like his jovial self again. "Hey mom!" he interrupted with excitement. "Can Milhouse come over after school? He's gonna help me board up the tree house before it gets too cold out."
Marge stopped moving for a moment to think and then answered him, "Okay, but you'll have to play inside if it's raining." The hard edge was gone from her voice.
"Cool!" Bart replied with a smile as he bit into a piece of bacon. "Wow, Mom, how do you always make bacon so it's not too crispy and not too fatty?"
Homer came in, already dressed for work, and answered Bart's question, "That's because she knows exactly when to pick it off the bacon tree, son." He quickly plopped himself down right on top of Takuto, who passed through the chair and landed on his rear end.
Lisa gave up. Despite Bart's crafty intervention, she didn't feel very loved at the moment and wondered if she really belonged with them. As she turned to leave the kitchen, Takuto floated over to her and poofed into his plushy form, landing in her arms. "Psst!" he whispered and pointed at the table. "She did set a place for you."
With her face still red, Lisa quietly took her seat. Though she sulked the entire time, she sat through breakfast with her family for the first time in weeks.
********
Lisa spent the morning with Maggie, but Meroko was actually singing and humming a few more songs to her until she could follow along. Still, Maggie didn't seem to mind the company as she played by herself. Lisa was nervous about not having sheet music to rely on, as all of it had been confiscated. However, playing from memory didn't seem to be hurting her head nearly as much. Eventually, Maggie had to take a nap, so they continued practicing quietly in Lisa's room.
Early that afternoon, Lisa was waiting for Marge to go shopping so she could slip out as well. For some reason, Marge was running late. Lisa anxiously waited next to the top of the stairs, holding Takuto. The doorbell rang and the two stood there frozen, listening to find out who it was.
Marge answered the door and let Grampa Simpson in. "I'm so glad you could come over and watch Lisa for me," she almost gushed. "Are you sure you don't mind? I'd normally just leave her home alone, but lately she's been getting confused, talking to herself, and wandering off in a daze."
Grampa hobbled in using his cane and said in a loud voice, "Really? That's great! Now we have something in common." He went into the living room and sat down on the chair. "Don't you worry. I'll make sure she doesn't escape."
"Grampa!" Marge said in shock. "She's not a prisoner. I just don't want her to do anything too fun or get out and hurt herself. It's for her own good."
"Yeah, that's what they tell us at the nursing home, too," he answered plainly.
Marge growled but then said, "Thank you Grampa." She picked up Maggie and went out the door.
He sat down in the living room and picked up a newspaper from the table. "Now let's see what's in the paper here," he said to himself before falling fast asleep in the chair.
Lisa quietly started down the stairs, looking a bit worried. She whispered to Takuto, "He's a very light sleeper, so we'll have to be extra quiet when we sneak out."
He poofed back into spirit form and said, "Hey, remember? Only those on the very verge of death can see me."
They reached the bottom step and Lisa reached for the doorknob when Grampa suddenly woke up. "Hi Lisa. What'cha doing?" he asked before noticing Takuto. "Oh, hi Takuto. Is it my time already?"
Takuto sheepishly raised a hand and waved to him while saying, "No, not quite yet, Abe."
"Okay," Grampa said happily before immediately falling back to sleep.
********
Leese caught up with Lindsay outside the OmniTel building. After putting her case in the back seat and getting in front, she asked, "Where are we going?"
"It's just another Starbuck's opening," she said flatly. "Frankly, I could have booked you two of these a day for the next year, but that wouldn't be much of a career."
"Then why even do it?" Leese couldn't help but ask.
Lindsay livened up and smiled as while explaining, "Instead paying us money, I arranged to have a few club owners and music industry backers at the opening to hear you play. So, I hope you have a few fresh and exciting songs you can play for them. We'll be there early so you can get warmed up."
When they arrived, Leese found that her spot in the corner had already been set up. The teenagers who had been working busily to prepare for the first customers were awestruck as she came in and got her instrument ready. She was a little embarrassed to have all that attention, but it also excited her. "I hope I can remember what Meroko taught me," she whispered to Takuto as she sat him on top of the case.
"I'm sure you can, but practice now and I'll tell you if you got it," he told her. "Sometimes I can't get those tunes out of my head!"
Leese kneeled down to him as she assembled the mouthpiece. "You don't like her songs?" she asked with some concern.
His plushy face turned a bit red as he looked down and admitted, "Well, her voice can be kinda nice when she isn't complaining or whining, but that's rare. But, this is between you and me, right?"
Leese nodded and stood up to begin practicing. The manager reminded his employees of their jobs before stopping to listen himself. She continued playing as the doors were unlocked and customers came in. It took her a while to realize that the shop was open. She was busy playing Ai Wa Energy, which she had just learned, then a Murphy tune, some Miles Davis, and then a sad sounding piece that Meroko called Eternal Snow.
Lindsay winked at Waylon Smithers, who had a tear in his eye. Meanwhile Monty Burns prattled, "Yes, with her music in my commercial, we should be able to sell much more electricity."
"But sir," Waylon interrupted as he wiped his eyes with a handkerchief, "People already have to buy their electricity from you. Why do you have to advertise?"
"Oh, some monopoly tax thing the government makes me do," he answered dismissively. "It's just too bad they don't have electrically powered gramophones -- then people would want to play her music back and need my electricity to do it! Ah, someday."
"Ah, sir," Smithers tried to explain before Burns cut him off.
"Hey, Smithers, there's a pretty and wholesome looking young lady for you. Why don't you ask her out?" he said with a mischievous smile.
Smithers looked a little embarrassed as he answered, "Sir, I'm very happy spending my time taking care of you."
Burns fluttered his hands and sarcastically chided him, "Yes, you're so gay!" Waylon's eyes nearly bulged out of his head before the old man continued, "Oh, it just fills you with overwhelming happiness and joy to be my lackey!" He changed back to his normal dissatisfied tone and continued, "How are you ever going to be as wicked as I if you never think about what you want and then come up with schemes to get it?"
"Well, uh," Smithers offered as Lindsay walked over to them.
Burns cut in, "Oh, never mind! Just take me home and give me my bath."
He got up and told Lindsay, "As for this precious flower of yours, I'd love to have her play at the plant's open house." Then, after thinking for a moment, he squinted his eyes and added, "Actually, there's something more this young fancy flapper could do for me." His face lit up with an evil grin.
"Of course. Anything," Lindsay answered, almost afraid to ask him exactly what he meant.
"Excellent," he said while tenting his fingers before the two gentlemen left. Lindsay then looked around and was happy to see that her other contacts were enjoying the performance as well, though not as much as Leese herself was.
********
As Lisa walked down Evergreen Terrace, Takuto popped into spirit form and flew straight through her home and into the back yard. Bart and Milhouse where boarding up the windows of the tree house and Marge was busy in the kitchen making dinner. Takuto flew back over the house and gave Lisa the all-clear signal. Lisa slipped in the front door and quickly hauled her case upstairs, into her bedroom. Takuto followed closely.
Lisa called out excitedly as she closed the door, "They loved your songs, Meroko! How did everything go here?" She carefully pulled the sax case over her bed and put it in the corner near the window. There was no answer.
There was no sign of her imposter. "Geez! Where did she go?" Takuto huffed as he shook his head.
"Maybe she's having my dinner," Lisa offered.
"She'd do something like that," he grumbled.
"That's okay," Lisa said defensively, trying to protect Meroko. She turned around and sat up on the bed before admitting, "Actually, I had too much biscotti and mocha, anyway. I don't know if I'll be able to sleep tonight, never mind eat dinner."
As she finished speaking, the door opened and the other Lisa came in with a big smile. "You have to! Your mom said if you eat all of your dinner then we can have a big bowl of ice cream!" With a poof, Meroko resumed her spirit form.
Takuto sounded a bit concerned as he explained, "You should be more careful when you're Leese: that is still you, even though it's older and healthy, and whatever happens to you then will still affect you in your normal form."
Lisa put a hand on the side of her face and thought about this. "So, that really is how I'm going to look when I'm sixteen?" she asked with a smile.
"No," Meroko answered bluntly. Lisa and Takuto both looked at her curiously before she continued, "When you are sixteen, you will look like you do now... only a lot more skeletony!" She started laughing at her own sick joke.
Takuto was horrified and speechless. Lisa's eyes began to well up with tears and she buried her face in her hands.
Meroko immediately felt pangs of guilt and rushed over to hug Lisa, poofing into her bunny form as she grabbed the crying girl. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I thought you'd laugh! Oh, I'm the worst shinigami ever!" she cried out.
Takuto sat on the bed next to Lisa and put an arm around her shoulder. Lisa immediately turned to him and buried her face in his side while clutching his vest. Meroko fell next to Lisa and tried to comfort her, but she and Takuto ignored her. Instead, Takuto just patted Lisa's back.
After a minute or so, Takuto spoke to Meroko without sounding at all angry, "Why don't you go downstairs and cover for her at dinner."
The bunny clutched Lisa's shirt and put her cheek to the girl's side while saying, "I'm so sorry! I'll make it up to you! I promise!" When there was no acknowledgement, she hung her head and hopped off the bed. After poofing into Lisa's form, she went out the door. She turned back, looking ashamed, only to be ignored one more time.
Takuto spoke to Lisa in the same calm, soft voice, "As I was saying, if you were to live to sixteen then yes, that is what you would look like. Of course, if you made drastic lifestyle changes in eating and exercise or had some injury, then those differences would be reflected on your older form." Lisa's crying subsided listened to listen to him. He continued, "After all, it would take some tremendous magic to make such a pretty girl like you look any less attractive."
With a sniffle, Lisa raised her head and looked up at him. "Thanks," she said while sitting up and wiping the tears off of her face. "And I thought you were the mean one at first."
"Well, I actually learned that from Meroko," he admitted awkwardly. Lisa looked up at him in confusion, so he explained, "She's always upset 'cause I won't tell her that she's pretty, so I just figured that, since it's true in your case, telling you might make you feel a little better." Lisa smiled and even began to blush a little. "Meroko's not so bad. I think trying to be cheerful and making jokes is just her way of dealing with our depressing job."
Lisa sounded unsure as she said, "I guess I understand."
Takuto stood up and walked towards the door while saying, "You'd better get ready for bed now. You've had a stressful day." The door warped and phased as he went into the hallway to give her some privacy.
********
When Meroko returned to the room, Lisa was already in bed but still awake, and kitty Takuto was lying under one of Maggie's blankets on the otherwise empty desk. With a small pop, Meroko took on her bunny form and landed on Lisa, but the girl didn't hold her as usual. So, the dejected bunny rolled off to her side and offered, "I'm really sorry."
"That's okay," Lisa answered unconvincingly. Meroko dropped her head on the edge of the pillow and just stared up at the stoic girl. She didn't know what else to say or do, but she kept thinking about her careless remark.
It wasn't long before Marge cautiously pushed the door open and entered the dark room. Lisa closed her eyes when the hall light shined on her face, but it was obvious to Marge that she wasn't yet asleep. "You're in bed already?" she asked. She sat on the edge of the bed, eclipsing the light so Lisa could open her eyes. "When you didn't touch your dinner or dessert I was just a little worried, but now your eyes are all puffy and red. Are you sure I shouldn't call Doctor Hibbert?"
Lisa looked down at the sad bunny for a moment and then back at her mother. "I don't think it's the tumor, Mom. Some things have just been bugging me today," she said with one corner of her mouth involuntarily curling up.
"Well, you have an appointment with him on Friday morning anyway. Your father's coming, too," Marge said. Then she spoke with more distance, "You know, I noticed the Sunday paper disappeared. For now, just help me cut the coupons out of newspapers until we see what the doctor has to say, okay?"
Lisa answered unemotionally, "Okay."
Marge gave her a kiss on the forehead and left. It was a long, sleepless night.
********
Though exhausted, Lisa made it to breakfast again the next morning, but soon afterwards she fell asleep on the family room couch. Meroko hopped up next to her, sitting with her back against Lisa's stomach. Lisa slept so soundly that Marge even considered skipping the morning vacuuming, but eventually she carried Lisa up to her room and laid her on the bed. When she went back to work, Marge noticed that the plushy bunny on the couch looked much sadder than she had remembered.
When Lisa woke up, she wasn't upset to find the death bunny sleeping on her stomach, but she simply moved her onto the bed before getting up, waking her. Takuto was reading though his notepad when he noticed Lisa getting up. "I think I heard your phone vibrating earlier," he told her. Lisa took it out from one of her spelling trophies and checked her message. Lindsay had found her some more jobs.
Lisa went out for a show on Thursday night. She was starting to wonder how finding a pre-teen boy got her playing in a nightclub, but after the show Lindsay told her about other jobs, including a few appearances at the local schools. Lisa didn't get home until very late, so she was still groggy on Friday morning when her parents took her to the hospital to see Doctor Hibbert.
After the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of her head, the kindly doctor brought the results into the curtained waiting area. Lisa was sitting on a padded exam table and Marge was holding the bunny Meroko in her lap. Homer sat next to her, holding her hand, but Marge jumped up when she saw the doctor enter.
"Well, we have a better understanding of what's going on now, huh he he he he he," Doctor Hibbert reported. "Tell me if I'm going to fast and I'll try to explain the medical terminology."
"Termawhatsies?" Homer asked, already lost.
Marge explained, "He'll tell us what the big words mean."
Doctor Hibbert held up a chart of Lisa's brain and pointed to a small dark section while saying, "This is the upper cerebral hemisphere, and this astrocytoma -- the tumor -- is wedged between the pre-frontal cortex and the edge of the upper brain stem."
Lisa interrupted, "Can you tell if it's benign or malignant from that?"
"No, we'd need to do a biopsy to be sure, but that would require a complex cranial procedure. It would be just as difficult as removing it."
"I see," Homer said as he stared off into the distance. "So, it's a head thingy, right?"
Doctor Hibbert tried to explain, "Basically, there is a lump growing between the parts of her brain that do the complex cognitive thinking and that control autonomic functions."
For her father's benefit, Lisa explained, "Basically, it's near the brains that keep my heart beating and it's pushing into the part that I think with. When I think too hard and more blood flows there it also fills the tumor and causes the seizures."
"So, then it's a very bad thing?" he tried again.
"At least a very bad thing," Doctor Hibbert said gravely. "But we can't tell if it's malignant, never mind whether or not it's metastasized, until we try to remove it."
Before Homer could ask another question, Lisa translated for him, "The tumor could be just a separate solid or fluid-filled clump, like a section of orange. In that case, it would come out easily. But if it's cancerous and has started to spread, then it would stick to surrounding parts of the brain like a marshmallow. If it's that type, then removing too little would leave some behind to grow back even worse. On the other hand, getting it all out could also damage the important thinking and breathing parts of my brain."
"Mmmmmmm, marshmallows," Homer moaned, but Marge's growl got his attention.
"So, then we just have to operate as soon as possible," Marge said very assertively.
"But Mom!" Lisa quickly countered, "I don't want to have surgery and get brain damage!" Marge stared at her sternly, scaring her a little, so she looked down and muttered, "It's not like it will make a difference anyway."
Meroko's eyes went wide. "Careful!" she mouthed at Lisa, but the girl wasn't looking at her.
"What's that supposed to mean!?" Marge cried out. "This is ridiculous! Doctor Hibbert is going to do the operation and there's nothing more to say about it!" she snapped loudly.
After an uncomfortable moment of silence, Doctor Hibbert meekly spoke up, "Actually, by law I can't do the surgery without Lisa's permission. Only the public schools can force medical procedures on minors."
Marge put her hands up to her temples and started to pace back and forth. Doctor Hibbert tapped Homer on the arm and said, "Mr. Simpson, why don't we let your wife and daughter talk this over a little."
"Why should I leave?" he protested. "I'm an important part of my daughter's life, too, so I am going to be involved in this decision. And nothing you say is going to change that!"
"Of course, Homer," the doctor tried again, "but why don't we just go get some coffee and donuts and let them start..."
"Ooh, donuts!" Homer said as he pulled the curtain back and ran off towards the cafeteria.
Hibbert shook his head. "We'll be back in a little bit," he said before ducking out to find Homer.
Lisa didn't say anything or even look up. Marge clutched Meroko a little tighter and just continued to pace until she couldn't take the silence anymore. "Lisa, you've got to have the surgery! You've got your whole future ahead of you. You can't spend the rest of your life being in so much pain, moping around the house."
Lisa looked up but tried to avoid looking Marge in her eyes. "I don't want to be home all the time! I can go to school and just lie down in the nurse's office if it starts to bother me. The medicine's even starting to work," she rationalized.
"Get the surgery and you can go back to school without the pain," Marge said, trying to appease her.
"I," Lisa hesitated to say, "I just don't want to lose everything I know now. That would hurt even worse, Mom. You still regret not being able to go to college, don't you?"
Marge walked right up to the exam table and scowled at her. However, while looking down at this little girl who was stubborn and cranky, she suddenly realized that Lisa was also very scared. Her anger melted and she gently put a hand under Lisa's chin, making her look up at her. She spoke a bit more softly, "That's different, Lisa. I met your father and then had you kids. It's not what I planned, but I certainly don't regret it. Not ever. And no matter what happens, you'll always be my daughter. I promised you that I would ride out the bad times with you no matter what. So, please, the sooner we deal with this the better."
Looking back into her mother's eyes, Lisa wanted to believe her so badly that it hurt. But the bunny in Marge's other arm was proof that surgery wouldn't help her: it would just risk that she'd spend her last days either in a coma or unable to think clearly. Dying was bad enough, but not having those last few precious weeks to share fully with her family and friends was just an unbearable thought. She could feel both tears and anger building up inside her, so she simply pushed her mother's arm away and turned sideways to sulk while trying to hold it all in.
Marge was deeply hurt, but she didn't know what else to say so she didn't say anything.
Then they heard Homer talking to doctor Hibbert, "What!? It can't be! IT CAN'T BE!"
"I'm afraid it is," the doctor answered solemnly.
Homer continued his rant, "What good are you doctors if you can't!? We respected you and praised you, but in the end you're good for nothing! NOTHING!"
"I'm sorry you feel that way, Homer," Doctor Hibbert apologized. "But I can't give you a lollipop unless you got a needle without crying. If I did, the insurance companies would sue me for fraud, huh he he he he he."
Doctor Hibbert came back in through the curtain. Homer followed him a moment later, muttering, "I bet Doctor Nick would give me a lollipop!"
"Well, have you come to any decisions?" the doctor asked.
Lisa looked up at her mother and was about to say something, but her lips were quivering so she pressed them together tightly and waited for her mother to say something.
"I'm afraid not, Doctor," Marge sighed.
He looked disappointed but spoke with encouragement, "Well, keep discussing it. Lisa, I can understand why you're reluctant, but I promise that, if you decide to go through with it, I will work with the best surgeons to make sure we do everything possible. Well, at least if your insurance will pay for it, huh he he he he he." He turned to the parents and said softly, "I'll talk to you next week, Marge, Homer. It's a scary decision, so take a little time. But you understand it wouldn't be right for me to go ahead the way she is now." They nodded and thanked him before he left.
"I bet Doctor Nick would do the surgery anyway," Marge muttered.
********
That night's job was for a private party at a the Frying Dutchman. One of the jazz quartet's members had the flu, so Lindsay offered them Leese to fill in for the night. However, Leese was still upset from earlier and her heart wasn't in her playing. During a break, Lindsay took her aside and asked , "Is something wrong? Your playing is a little flat tonight, and I wanted these guys to get you some studio work."
Leese slowly let out a breath through her nose and then explained, "My mom and I had a fight today, so I'm feeling kind of down." As the other musicians went into the kitchen, they sat down in one of the many folding chairs next to the function room's stage.
Lindsay told her, "My mother and I used to have terrible arguments when I was your age. Looking back, they were always about such silly things, like staying out late or going to clubs instead of doing my homework. You are still getting your homework done, right?" Lindsay looked to Leese for an answer.
Leese nodded and Lindsay continued, "But here you are, out late at a club. Your mom's pretty progressive, actually."
"I suppose, but she wants me to do something that I know won't do me any good. And she wants me to think it's my choice, even though I want nothing to do with it," Leese vented ambiguously.
"Well, mothers usually try to push what they think is best for their children. Still, making your own choices is part of growing up, and since you seem to be very independent and mature, I can only assume that you had lots of freedom to learn how to make choices as you grew up. After all, it's not like you were a little girl one day and a teenager the next," Lindsay kidded.
"Sometimes it feels that way," Leese said with a nervous laugh.
"But basically it all boils down to one thing," Lindsay said confidently as she stood up again.
"What's that?" the girl asked as the other musicians returned to the stage.
"You have to deal with it on your own time. Break's over, so for now, just play like the Dickens so you can get more work!" Lindsay said with a big smile. Then she winked and added, "Anyway, I thought you blues players liked to express angst and unhappiness in your music."
"You're right!" Leese cried as she bolted out of her chair and returned to the stage where the others were preparing to play some more.
After a several sets with Leese playing much better, the group's leader, Mike, couldn't help but put this beautiful young lady on the spot. As the party was winding down, Mike had her come forward to introduce herself and he thanked her for filling in on short notice. Then, he surprised her by challenging her to "show us what you've got."
Leese took a moment to steel her nerves, but then she brought up the painful memories in the hospital that day: how she felt oppressed by her mother's control; the helplessness and futility she felt; the pain of knowing that she would soon be gone and all alone. Starting with one of Meroko's tunes, Kaze mo Sorro, she closed her eyes and let all of her feelings out as music. A single teardrop escaped and ran down her cheek. She didn't realize how long she had been playing until the other musicians were joining in from her lead. Soon, they were playing a jazz requiem that brought the whole room to a hush. When she finished, Leese shyly thanked the audience, some who had been moved to tears, before returning to her spot.
She was starving by the end of the performance. She made her way into the kitchen, where one of the waitresses took time away from cleaning up to get her a plate of food and then gushed about how well she had played.
While she ate, one of the bartenders passed through and stopped to chat with her for several minutes, so she happily went on about school and her family. However, Leese then became self-conscious because he kept looking at her, just smiling and nodding even when she talked about things that even her geekiest friends eventually found boring. He seemed to hang on every word, and she liked the attention. He even asked her questions about her ramblings!
Lindsay came in to find her and stood back for a few moments, listening to this young man trying to find out if Leese had a boyfriend or might be interested in going on a date. Eventually, Lindsay decided to save her oblivious young musician from any embarrassment. Using the skill of a professional waitress, she waited until just the right moment to approach and interrupt by saying to Leese, "I'm sorry you didn't get to eat earlier, but we had to take care of it. Right?"
Leese had just taken a bite of food and could only nod. Lindsay grinned because that's what she wanted. "Oh, they didn't get you anything to drink?" she asked with the appearance of genuine concern.
The bartender immediately straightened up and said to Leese, "Oh, I'll get you one! What would you like?"
Lindsay immediately fired off, "Shirley Temple, straight up, with Canada Dry and cherries." As he turned to run off and get it, she paused for a moment as Leese finished swallowing her mouthful. "And what you like, Leese?" she asked just loudly enough to get his attention, so he stopped and spun around.
"Shirley Temple sounds good," Leese answered, half confused by Lindsay's misdirection and half amused by this man's eagerness to please her. "Thanks," she added as he took off again.
"Be careful," Lindsay teased, "Even guy musicians get a lot of fans, but a pretty girl like you will break more than a few hearts if you're not careful."
Leese could only giggle a bit as she blushed.
"Anyway," Lindsay said in her usual calm yet upbeat way, "That piece you did was fantastic. You really impressed the guys, and they just said they want you to come in on a studio session at Channel Six this Sunday."
"That's great! So they really liked my music?" Leese asked with a big smile.
"Well, you did do much better, but when you did that riff..." Lindsay started.
"Oh, I shouldn't have gone into such a long piece, right?" she asked with genuine concern.
She was relieved when Lindsay backed off a bit by saying, "No, the guys really loved that piece, so full of soulful melancholy and a struggle to overcome heartache, but..."
Lindsay hesitated as the waitress cheerfully put two plates of leftover wedding cake in front of them and then rushed off. "A song like that really doesn't go over well at a wedding reception."
"D'OH!"
********
When Lisa and Takuto got home at 1:00 AM, all of the lights were out but the front door was unlocked, courtesy of Meroko. She and spirit Takuto quietly went inside and Lisa ever so quietly climbed the stairs, using her hands and feet so that the wooden stairs wouldn't creak. As she reached the top, she heard talking coming from her parents' room, so she crawled over to listen through half-open door. Takuto just floated above her and watched.
Marge was crying quietly, "Homer, I don't want to lose my little girl. Why can't she just have the surgery? That way at least we'll still have her!"
Lisa thought, "No you wouldn't: you might have even less of me," as her mother sobbed. Lisa raised her head, trying to see them by the dim yellow light of the streetlamp.
"Why is this happening to her, Homey? What are we supposed to do?" Marge desperately asked him.
Homer embraced Marge and started softly, but panic crept into his voice as he said, "I don't know what to do either, Marge. I never know what to do. And for the first time in my life I'm not okay with that -- and I just don't know what to do!" He began crying with her.
With a lump in her throat, Lisa crawled back to her room, followed by Takuto, and quietly closed the door behind her. Meroko, still in Lisa's form, crawled out of bed and walked over to the two. "How was it?" she whispered excitedly.
Lisa slid down with her back to the door and sniffled quietly as tears started racing down her cheeks. Meroko instinctively poofed into her bunny form and landed on Lisa's shoulder, hugging the girl's head. "What's wrong? Didn't you have fun?" she asked with her own sad voice.
Takuto just sat down on the floor next to Lisa and put an arm over her shoulder. She leaned into his side while taking Meroko into her hands and pressing her face against the bunny.
Takuto explained in his soothing voice, "The show was fine, but we just overheard her parents talking." He then spoke to Lisa in a compassionate voice, "This must be rough. It would be one thing to hear them if you didn't know, but this...." He intentionally didn't finish his sentence.
"I with I could tell them everything! Then they would be ready for it and we could think about how to say our goodbyes. But they'd never believe me," Lisa lamented. "Why did Dad have to say that?" she began crying more. "Just when I think he doesn't even notice me, he'll go and do something wonderful. Once when I was little, Bart wouldn't let me play with his blocks. The next day, Dad came home with a bunch of shiny metal blocks that he got from work. He'd etched the numbers and letter in them himself, and he even got most of them right.
"I still remember how warm they felt... funny, 'cause you'd think metal blocks would be cold, but these weren't. I'd spell out words with them and leave them on my nightstand at night -- it was as if they glowed in the dark. Even when I got older, I kept one under my pillow for a long time," Lisa rambled on. Meroko took on her spirit form and the two shinigami helped her into her pajamas before putting her in bed. The happy memories of her father's gift helped her fall asleep.
Poor Lisa was exhausted the next morning when the plushy Takuto started to wake her up. "Geez! You're gonna miss breakfast," he complained while pulling her covers back.
"Why do I have to get up now," Lisa sleepily mumbled while half-heartedly trying to take back the covers from the kitty. "Mom will make us breakfast later."
"You should spend as much time with your family as possible, and they're always together for breakfast," he explained while dragging her out of bed by the elbow. "You can go back to sleep afterwards."
"And I'm hungry now!" the bunny Meroko added while pushing Lisa from the other side. "Besides, Itchy & Scratchy will be on soon."
Without acknowledging Meroko, Lisa sighed heavily. Takuto stopped pulling so Lisa could put her feet down, but he also shook his head at the bunny's comments.
The weary girl fumbled to put on her slippers and bathrobe before making her way down the stairs with them. When she got into the kitchen, everyone had already started eating their bacon and eggs. Lisa got into her chair but could barely keep her head up, and the two shinigami had to cling to her robe to stay in her lap.
"Oh, you did make it!" Marge said with some pleasure. She hopped up and served Lisa some oatmeal that had been warming on the stove. "What do you want to drink? Orange juice? Milk?"
"Coffee would be good," Lisa requested with a yawn.
"What, did you stay out too late?" Bart asked with an evil grin. Lisa just glared back at him, much to his surprise.
"You can't have coffee, honey," Marge complained as she put a glass of juice in front of Lisa. "Doctor Hibbert said too much caffeine can give you those headaches."
"But a little would constrict the blood vessels and help keep the astrocytoma from swelling," Lisa complained while rubbing her forehead with one hand.
"Mrrr, okay, but just half a cup," Marge agreed while pouring it. "Just stop using those big words."
Along with giving Takuto his morning coffee, Lisa managed to share her oatmeal with the two death spirits without her family noticing. However, Santa's Little Helper was annoyed that these two were getting table scraps. He edged up under the table and tried to intercept some food.
"Go away! This isn't for you!" Meroko hissed at him, to no avail.
"It's just oatmeal, but if you want it that bad..." Takuto calmly informed the dog while directing the spoon to the dog's nose. When the animal realized it was gruel, he rejected it and went over to Bart to beg for some bacon instead.
After breakfast, Lisa took the plushies and joined her father on the family room couch while Bart lied on the floor. She rested her head on the side of his big round belly as Itchy and Scratchy came on.
"Scratchy Goes to Washington - TO DIE" came on the screen and then faded to Itchy and Scratchy working in a bakery. Scratchy was putting some dough on trays when Itchy suddenly tied him up with it and started to push the poor cat into a giant oven.
In a high-pitched and defiant voice, Scratchy said, "You can destroy my body, but you can never take my soul."
Itchy looked rather disturbed by this display of dignity, so he grabbed a bread knife and cut the top of Scratchy's head open. He then scooped out the cat's brain and replaced it with some of the dough. After that, the put the top back on and sealed it with cake frosting.
Then, Itchy dressed Scratchy in a nice suit and put a pin on him which read, "Scratchy for U.S. Senate." Then he pushed the cat out the door. Scratchy wandered around in a daze, blindly shaking hands and kissing babies at the mouse's prompting. In the next scenes, he was in a debate, then he was interviewed by the press, and finally he was being sworn into the senate. The Chief Justice finished administering the oath and shook Senator Scratchy's hand just before the dough in the cat's head exploded, killing him. The next scene was Scratchy in Hell, screaming while being attacked by a dozen devils who all looked like Itchy. Then it was, "THE END."
Takuto whispered to Meroko, "I really hate that mouse."
Bart was laughing hysterically, but Homer was confused so he looked at Lisa and said, "I don't get it. What did it all mean?"
She didn't move, but he could hear the apprehension in his daughter's voice when she replied, "It wasn't funny to me, either, Dad." Without looking, Lisa took his hand and placed it on the side of her head, holding it there with both of her hands. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the warmth of his big warm hand which had been made strong by years of pushing buttons and strangling her brother.
"Huh...?" he wondered before realizing what she was doing. Then he gently stroked her cheek with his fingers before turning back to the television set and laughing little. "I get it now: the cat was in the congress! That's funny!"
********
Leese had been bubbly and happy at the recording session on Sunday, but plushy Takuto noticed Lisa looking rather sad on the way home. "Didn't you have fun today?" he asked.
"Yeah," she sighed.
Takuto probed further, "What's wrong, then? You got along with all of them really well. Heck, even the news guy came over to say hi and then had all of you filmed for the news credits. Everyone seemed to like you a lot."
She hung her head and slowed down, dragging one foot at a time as she walked. She finally said, "Well, they liked Leese, anyway."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Takuto asked, somewhat irritated.
Lisa stopped, held him up, and hesitated before complaining, "Well, it's just that everyone was so kind and paid so much attention to me. They actually listened to everything that I said and didn't get mad when I made mistakes. No one ever treats me that way, and until you changed me back, I had almost forgotten why. I just wonder if I'm getting by on my looks more than my self."
"Hey, don't be down on yourself. After all, you and Leese are the same person, no matter how different you look. And it's not like bad people are tolerated just because they're beautiful," Takuto explained. "Maybe your looks helped you get in the door, but if you hadn't played so well the other night then they would have asked you to be the weather girl or something like that." He could see in her eyes that we wasn't getting through to her, so he said, "We've already discussed this, so why are you bringing it up now?"
Lisa's eyes fell and just looked down at her feet for a moment. She sounded ashamed while admitting, "I know, but I think I'm starting to really like all the extra attention."
Takuto instantly poofed back into his spirit form and busted out laughing. Lisa looked up at him in surprise, a little embarrassed by his outburst. "Seriously!?" he cackled. "Geez, I guess you are human after all."
Lisa only managed to say, "Huh?"
Takuto regained his composure and said, "For the past two weeks, all you've ever told me about yourself is how important it is for people to pay attention to you: the mysterious boy, your parents, your friends... It's what all of us want, but you actually deserve it." He could tell by Lisa's expression that compliments would not ease her mind, so he offered, "Hey, if you really believe that you're just getting by on your looks, then you should talk to someone who knows a lot more about it."
"Maybe, but who?" Lisa asked.
Takuto just smiled.
********
"Meroko!" Lisa called as she ran into her bedroom, followed closely by Takuto. However, the room was quiet.
"Geez! She isn't supposed to wander off while you're out," Takuto complained while hovering a few feet off the floor. "I'd better find her before your family starts seeing two of you." He floated out through the wall into the hallway.
Lisa started her own search, first pulling her bedcovers out and checking her desk and closet for traces of a napping bunny. Then she went into Maggie's room to see if Meroko was in the crib, but she found only her baby sister there. After hesitating for a few seconds, Lisa quietly approached and stood over Maggie. She was sleeping peacefully and looked so happy that Lisa thought, "I'd better tell her how special she is while I still can." Then, quietly, Lisa left the room and continued her search.
She checked everywhere downstairs that she could, but Marge was busy in the kitchen and the rumpus room, where all of her book and computers were, was still locked. She noticed a light around the basement door, so she quietly slipped down there to see what was going on. At first there was no sign of the missing bunny girl, but as Lisa climbed back up the stairs she heard a little "ouch!" There was a little bit of minor crying and some other noises that she traced to a spot behind some boxes. As she peeked over, Takuto phased through the ceiling and looked down there as well.
Meroko the bunny was sitting on a small box, trying to sew up the hem on a blue skirt.
"You were supposed to wait for us in Lisa's room!" Takuto scolded his senior partner.
"Eek!" Meroko shrieked in surprise as she jumped up in the air. Then she quickly tried to stuff the dress into an open box, but this caused her to prick her bunny finger with the needle again. She cried "ouch!" and winced before putting her paw in her mouth.
Lisa picked up the skirt and recognized it as the sailor schoolgirl uniform from the Android's Dungeon. "Why's this here?" she asked while looking it over.
Meroko opened her eyes and puckered her lower lip. "It's not ready yet," she said sadly.
"What are you doing?" Takuto asked angrily.
Meroko sheepishly admitted, "I wanted to make up for saying all those stupid things. I noticed Lisa looking at it... Since she'll be in a Japanese school soon, I thought she might like to see how she looked in the uniform."
Takuto scolded her, "You can't just take stuff!"
Meroko shot back, "I didn't steal it -- I traded my Sailor Stars box set for it."
Takuto leaned back, stunned. "But that's your favorite," he gasped in disbelief.
"Can I try it on?" Lisa quietly interrupted without looking away from the outfit.
"Of course!" Meroko answered cheerfully. "Then I can make sure I got your measurements right! Takuto can help me, too."
Lisa picked up the bunny and sewing kit in the outfit. With a big smile, she carried everything back up to her bedroom. Takuto lingered in the hallway until Lisa changed into the outfit, and then Meroko called him in. He immediately poofed into plushy form and picked up some pins while bunny Meroko measured Lisa with the tape.
"Wouldn't it be easier to do this as people?" Lisa asked.
While putting some pins in the hem, Takuto answered through the pins between his feline lips, "As spirits, we are forbidden from doing any lasting work, such as building things or even making alterations to an outfit. So, to interact with the physical world we have to be in our physical form." Then he told Meroko, "Measure her neck. We might as well make sure the collar fits well while we're at it."
"Couldn't you choose forms that can do more?" Lisa asked as Meroko hopped up onto her shoulders.
While running the tape around Lisa's neck, Meroko answered, "We have to choose something small, so we won't get noticed, and we have to be comforting."
Takuto added, "And to pick a different form we have to fill out all sorts of paperwork. It's not worth the trouble." He pulled out some of the thread that Meroko had sewn in and then started re-sewing at lightning speed. Meroko jumped down and held the spool for him.
While they worked, Lisa tried to keep the conversation going. "So, you can choose any animal you want?"
Takuto responded to this question with, "Well, different shinigami choose different animals: cats, dogs, bunnies, bears. There was even one gal from India who chose the form of a cow... but at a job in the west she was....." He paused to cut the thread with his teeth and then simply said, "Let's just say she had to choose a new animal form and none of us eat at Krustyburger anymore."
Takuto went to the sewing kit and then suddenly froze as the door opened; Meroko fell over where she was. "Lisa?" Marge asked as she poked her head in. "Oh! I was wondering where my sewing box was."
Lisa quickly thought of an explanation and blurted out, "I just needed to fix my Halloween costume."
Marge walked into the room and looked Lisa up and down. "Oh, what a darling outfit. Where did you get it?" she asked while picking up the hem and looking at the handiwork.
Lisa looked at the bunny with a smile and said, "A good friend of mine got it for me," she said. Meroko let out a happy little sigh.
"I'd offer to help, but you're doing such a good job!" Marge commented before adding, "I always thought you weren't interested in my housework, but I guess I was wrong. Maybe I should let you do all the sewing from now on," she said excitedly.
Lisa's eyes went wide with dread, making Marge giggle. She leaned down to give her daughter a little hug and said, "That's okay. I know you'll be too busy once you're better." Then she suddenly looked uncomfortable. "I'd better go start dinner," she mumbled before hurriedly leaving the room.
"Whew! That was close," Meroko said as the two plushies came back to life and resumed work on the dress. "Look in the mirror! Check it out!" Meroko insisted.
Lisa turned and looked at herself, all ready to attend a Japanese middle school, but her mother's last comment still haunted her.
Takuto looked at her reflection and put his paw on his chin. "Hey, isn't there something you wanted to ask Meroko about?" he reminded her.
"Yeah?" Meroko asked while happily brushing some dust off the skirt with her paw.
Lisa looked at their reflections and then at herself again. She smiled and said, "Not anymore."
********
Chapter 4: Connections
Late that night, Bart snuck downstairs in his pajamas and quietly turned the television on. He kept the volume low and sat very close to hear it. The show started with, "Coming up next on PBS is the Itchy & Scratchy anthology, Profiles in Agony, hosted by Richard Attenborough." He suddenly started moving backwards, so he looked behind him and was shocked to see Lisa's little stuffed kitty dragging the throw rug back towards the couch.
"Always watch TV from a safe distance in a well-lit room," it commanded before vanishing in a puff of smoke.
Bart rubbed his eyes in disbelief and then stood up. "Man, I really gotta get some sleep." He turned the television off and went back upstairs.
********
Lisa was singing quietly with Meroko on Tuesday afternoon they heard the front door slam. Lisa went over to the bedroom door to listen and see if it was just Bart coming home.
Marge called out, "Honey, do you want a snack?"
"Not right now, Mom," he called back to her. "Milhouse is here and we're gonna see Lisa."
Milhouse called out, "Hi, Mrs. Simpson."
"Hold on," Marge said as she poked her head around the corner and then approached them. "You know she needs her rest."
Milhouse held up a small plastic bag and said, "But a bunch of us at school got her a get-well present."
Without taking it out of his hands, Marge peeked in the bag and saw a CD, still shrink wrapped, and a large card envelope. "Oh, how sweet! She'll be so happy," she said with a weepy smile. "Why don't you come have some brownies and I'll see if she's awake." Marge led them to the kitchen and served their snacks before heading to the stairs, but Lisa was already coming down with the spirits Meroko and Takuto floating right behind her. "We have a surprise for you," Marge said with a big smile.
Lisa let out an expectant gasp and ran to the kitchen. Marge and the shinigami followed her, all three of them smiling.
"H-Hi, Lisa," Milhouse stuttered as he stood up and looked at her for a moment. "Oh!" he said as he awkwardly grabbed the bag off the chair and handed it to her. "We all pitched in," he added as while staring at her.
Lisa pulled the card out and opened it up. On the front there was just a tiny feather, and inside the caption read, "We heard you were a 'little down' so get well soon!" But the rest of the inside was covered with short notes from everyone she knew: Janey, Martin, Celeste, Database, Sherri, Terri, Ms. Hoover, Cosine, Ms. Krabapple, Principal Skinner... there was even, "If I find the thing that's causing your headaches I'll kick it in the head! -- Nelson" There wasn't much white space at all left on the card. She continued to stare at it and noticed Bart had written, "Mom and Dad won't let me tease you while you're sick, so get better already!"
She shifted the card to read more, but Marge gently took it, putting it back in the envelope. Lisa just looked up at her and Marge said, "Don't overdo it, Lisa. You can read more later, but there's something else you can have now."
Lisa pulled out the CD and was truly surprised: It was a best-of Monty Python disc.
Milhouse leaned close to her and whispered, "We picked this because it's funny but you have to think about it."
Lisa was overjoyed. She threw her arms around Milhouse, catching him by surprise, and gave him a tight hug. "Thank everyone for me!" she squealed, and then she scampered off into the living room.
Milhouse stood there a moment, blushing, until Bart bumped him with his elbow and said, "Let's listen, too." The two boys followed after Lisa as Marge cleaned up the table.
Lisa was so excited that she dropped the CD wrapper on the entertainment center shoved the disc into the player. She sat down on the floor in front of the couch, looking at the speakers as it began. It started out with The Galaxy Song, making Lisa and Milhouse laugh, but Bart seemed bored with it. "What's the matter, Cosmos?" she chided him, making Milhouse laugh even harder.
with a scowl on his face and his arms across his chest, Bart huffed, "That's the last time I try to do something nice. This stuff blows, anyway."
"Oh, come on, Bart!" Lisa said, but then she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you, Bart," she said sweetly while sitting back up. Milhouse looked over at Lisa, not-so-secretly-hoping that he would get a peck on the cheek, too.
"It's okay," he said with some annoyance while wiping his cheek. "If you like it then I guess it's okay."
For the next half hour, Lisa and Milhouse rolled with laughter at some of the skits and songs while Takuto sat on the couch, trying to explain the jokes to Meroko. Most of the humor went over Bart's head, so he read comics. However, he did gasp and cover his smiling mouth whenever a dirty word was used. After a few had slipped out, Milhouse apologized to Lisa for the swears, but she happily answered, "I guess you have to take the good with the bad." Her head was stating to hurt from figuring out all of the allusions and jokes, but she was having so much fun that she simply ignored it.
The next song that came on was Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, which wasn't particularly funny, but Lisa actually thought it was uplifting until about halfway through: "Always look on the bright side of death, just before you draw your terminal breath." A wave of seriousness took over her face as she thought about those words. Takuto and Meroko also heard it and looked at Lisa. Milhouse was giggling until he noticed Lisa's troubled expression. It was as if the gathering dusk outside had suddenly come in and taken over her mood.
Milhouse got up and went to the stereo. "We can skip this song if you don't like it," he said nervously while hitting a button. As he sat down again, the "Dead Parrot Sketch" started to play. Milhouse and Bart laughed at the silly yet grim conversation, but Lisa just stared at the floor and almost forgot to breathe. Each line of the skit felt like a like a bee sting in her heart, and her head pounded as she tried to keep up with the skit.
Milhouse noticed that Lisa was looking odd again, and she looked a bit shaky while slowly getting up off the floor. She just stood there for a moment, staring off into space and rubbing her forehead with the palm of her hand. Milhouse got up and cautiously went over to the CD player again, without taking his eyes off of her. He hit the stop button.
"Hey, what are you doing, man!" Bart complained. "They were gonna swear again -- I just knew it."
Lisa snapped back to reality and realized what was happening. She started walking unsteadily towards the foyer as Milhouse asked, "Are you all right, Lisa?"
Without looking at him, Lisa trembled and weakly said, "I'm all right, Milhouse. I guess that was just a bit much too for me." She suddenly turned back. "Oh, the card!" She went to the entertainment center and picked up the get well card.
"Was it something I did? I didn't mean to make you feel bad, honest!" Milhouse pleaded.
Lisa flashed a pretend smile at him and looked away before answering, "Oh, no. I guess it just started to aggravate the tumor."
"Tumor? What...?" Milhouse asked in surprise.
At the same time, Bart furtively hissed, "Milhouse, shhh!" He glanced at Lisa and then suddenly looked very uncomfortable.
Lisa thought he was embarrassed by her behavior, and she suddenly felt ashamed. While looking down at the floor, she clutched the card tightly in both arms and said, "If anyone needs me..." She fought back crying the spasms building in her chest. "I'll be in my room." She rushed to the front hallway, letting out a single sniffle as she started up the stairs.
Both of the shinigami stood up. Meroko motioned for Takuto to follow her, but he responded, "You go this time. I'll come up in a bit."
Meroko nodded in agreement and floated off after Lisa, who was slowly trudging up the stairs and trying to take deep breaths. Meroko put her hands on the girl's shoulders and whispered, "Let's go lay down for a bit," before helping Lisa up the stairs.
Without thinking, Lisa instinctively said, "It's lie down"
She heard Bart in the living room. "What got into her?" he asked in a an angry tone, so Lisa stopped to listen.
Milhouse shakily confronted him, "Geez, Bart! If you just wanted to hurt Lisa's feelings you didn't have to use everyone else to do it."

"What are you talking about, man?" Bart snapped. "You picked out the stupid CD last week, and all of her egghead friends said she'd like it. How's that my fault?"
"Yeah," Milhouse said while pushing his glasses up. "Well, you just told us her brain was sprained, not that she has a tumor! What are you trying to pull?" Milhouse stared at him.
Bart suddenly looked weary and admitted, "I didn't want everyone to know because then that's all they'd talk about at school, and I figured they'd act weird whenever they saw her. Don't tell anyone Milhouse because she feels bad enough already."
"I'm sorry I blamed you, Bart," Milhouse sheepishly admitted. "I should'a known you'd never do something that bad."
With a little smile, Lisa continued towards her bedroom, followed by Meroko.
"That's okay. And besides, if I was gonna use her illness to play a trick, it would have to be for something much bigger," he answered with a smirk.
A light bulb went on above his head as Marge turned the lamp on. She was looking towards the stairs and biting her lower lip. "Mrrr," she grumbled before walking over to the CD player and ejecting the disc. A look of consternation came across her face as she squinted to read the titles etched on the shiny piece of plastic. Bart and Milhouse felt a sudden panic when she picked it up and studied it.
"Mrs. Simpson, don't...!" Milhouse started to beg, but Bart put a hand over his mouth. She looked over at them.
Bart interjected, "Don't worry. We'll let everyone at school know how much she loves it."
Milhouse caught on quickly and freed his mouth before adding, "Yeah, I haven't seen her laughing like that in a long time."
Marge smiled and put the CD back in its case. Relieved, she said, "That's so thoughtful of you." She put the case down and suggested, "Why don't you two play outside so Lisa can rest."
Milhouse said, "Actually, I better go home now anyway. Tonight is the only night I get to see my father this week."
"Okay, see you in school tomorrow," Bart bid him farewell, but then he remembered something. "Do you want to come with us to the nuclear plant's open house on Thursday night?"
"That's a great idea!" Marge interjected. "We all have to go because Bart's father works there, but this way Bart will have someone to play with."
"I would," Milhouse started, "But that's the only night I get to see my therapist this week. Sorry."
"That's too bad," Marge said with a sigh. She returned to the kitchen and Milhouse left.
Bart just stood there, thinking, and a sly smile slowly appeared on his face.
********
"I can do it!" the little bunny cried with joy while hopping up and down on Lisa's bed. From her desk chair, Lisa looked at her nervously.
The plushy cat eyed her for a moment and said, "I don't know. You could run into a lot of her friends, and that could be a problem."
Meroko looked at Lisa and begged, "I've spent so much time with you. I promise I won't do anything embarrassing."
"Well, you've gotten much better since the first incident, and my family accepts you as me," Lisa acknowledged.
Takuto agreed, "Yes, that's true. But to be safe, we'd better go over how to behave. First of all, she's a very smart girl, and that's my biggest concern."
"Hey!" Meroko shouted while getting in his face.
Lisa quickly interrupted, "Don't worry about that." She let out a nervous laugh. "With my illness, no one will expect me to come up with solutions to all the trouble Dad and Bart cause," she told the bunny. "But, if Milhouse told anyone how sick I am, then they may be treating you kinda weird."
"Pfft!" Meroko laughed. "I've been around, uh..." she paused, "children in your situation for centuries. That won't bother me."
"You're lucky," Lisa said with a hint of self pity. "I haven't seen many people at all in so long, well, not as myself. I guess I'm lucky that you'll deal with the awkwardness for me."
"Aww, that's so sweet," Meroko cooed, oblivious to the little girl's pain. "Anyways, you'll get to see how people act around you and how to handle it because I'll probably be with you, even though you won't be you and I won't be me 'cause I'll be you and you'll be Leese," she explained. "Will that make you feel better?"
Rather than risk a seizure, Lisa just agreed. "Riiiight. Just don't try to tell anyone else that and we'll both be fine," she said with a nervous smile.
However, kitty Takuto started giving Meroko advice. "I've spent a lot of time with Lisa around people, so let me tell you what I've noticed: First, make sure you say NEW-clear power and not NUke-you-ler when you talk about it. Only correct people around her age when they get it wrong, and pretend not to notice when it irritates them. And it wouldn't hurt you to read the kiddy displays when you get there: then you can explain it to her father," he told her.
She hung on his every word, smiling, and even repeating back what he told her. She practiced how to say nuclear and other related vocabulary words properly.
Takuto continued to instruct her on the nuances of being Lisa, "If people ask, tell them that you're still not convinced that nuclear power is safe, but don't say 'anti-nuke' or take a strong stand because it might get her dad in trouble. When it's time to eat, try to control yourself. Though as long as Homer or Bart is with you then no one will be horrified by the way you eat. Oh, and at the buffet it's not enough to avoid taking any meat, but make sure you ask about everything on the table. Point out that you're a vegetarian to everyone. And don't do it apologetically -- be a little indignant, but not nasty. Got it?"
"Do you really have to give her that much detail, Takuto?" Lisa softly growled at him, but he didn't seem to notice.
With a big smile, Meroko just grabbed his arm and squealed, "Takuto cares about me so much! He wants to make sure I imitate you good!"
"WELL!" Lisa and Takuto simultaneously corrected her.
When she realized what had happened, Lisa laughed at herself and admitted, "I guess I can be a bit of a pain sometimes."
Takuto poofed into spirit form and said, "Well, it's time to get going."
Meroko then poofed into Lisa's form. "Okay. I can't wait to hear you play again!"
The real Lisa hopped off her bed and took the saxophone case from underneath it. "See you there, Meroko," she chirped before quietly slipping out into the hallway with Takuto.
********
Outside the power plant, Mr. Smithers brought Leese and Lindsay to the open tent where Leese would be performing. "The visitors will be walking around this area to get an idea of the size of the place, but, uh, it will be good to have you play your music here outside 7G's containment wall because there's really nothing to see," he explained.
"What about the beautiful mural?" Lindsay said breathlessly. She pointed to a glowing green and yellow pattern on the high wall. "It looks even more impressive set against the pink dusk sky and wisps of clouds passing through, don't you think Leese?" she asked.
As Leese looked up to see, Lenny and Carl rappelled down the wall. They each pulled out a can of white spray paint and covered the patterns until the wall was completely white.
"Yeah," Smithers sighed without looking, "Nothing to see." He walked off as the outside lights were switched on and started to warm up.
Lindsay handed some of her business cards to Leese. "If anyone asks about you performing, just give them one of these and maybe point them out to me. Are you sure you'll be okay if I leave you by yourself?" she asked.
Leese answered, "I should be fine. After all, you should get to see the exhibits in the information center and have some fun."
"Well, I do need to catch up on my schmoozing and making myself feel important," she said. "You can always call me on the cell phone if you need something. I'll bring you some food later."
"That would be great. But when you do," Leese hesitantly started to ask.
Lindsay held up her eight fingers and interrupted, "I know. I know: no meat."
"Thanks," she said with an embarrassed smile as Lindsay strolled off. She looked down at plushy Takuto and saw him smiling to himself. She picked him up and held him at eye level. "Have I really been that bad?"
"Hey! I never said you were bad or anything," he protested while laughing.
Leese smiled, blinked once slowly, and placed him back down before picking up her saxophone. Even though no one else was there yet, she played the first new song that she wanted to try, Motto Suteki Na Asa Ga Kuru Yo.
It wasn't long before people were walking around and stopping by to hear her music. She performed so well that most visitors didn't even notice the eerie yellow and green glow that was slowly seeping through the upper part of the wall.
Finally, she saw her family come by and stop to listen. Between songs, she was shocked to hear her own excited voice asking, "Can we stay and listen for a bit, please?" Meroko-Lisa looked up at Marge and Homer with pleading eyes.
Marge answered, "Well, the doctor certainly didn't say you can't listen to music." They all moved closer to the stage.
Bart seemed bored and was looking at the ground as Marge held his hand. He groaned, "I suppose it didn't sound as bad as Lisa's crappy music. No offense, Lisa."
"None taken," the replica answered with a smile while squeezing her father's hand. However, Leese just glared at him for a moment and cleared her throat loudly. Bart looked up to see, and when his eyes made contact with Leese's, he stared at her in awe.
Still a bit miffed at him as she looked away from him and played Golden Queen Galaxia, a fast-paced song that got everyone's hearts pumping. It was a difficult piece, especially without accompaniment, but most almost stuck around for the whole song. Even Maggie forgot to suck on her pacifier while Leese played it.
Homer picked up Meroko-Lisa so she could see better, and she hummed along with the tune. After it was over, Homer said, "Aww, I had a feeling you'd like this saxophone lady. When she played at Moe's I liked her because her playing sounded like yours." Then he added, "And she only cried once the whole night, though Alice Cooper broke down least three times when he played there."
"Thanks, Hom, er, Dad," she said before kissing him on the cheek.
Leese saw this and felt a sharp pang of jealousy, but her thoughts were interrupted when Lindsay arrived with a tray. "We're going to take a short break," she told the crowd before leading Leese to the back of the tent. She put out the plates of food and started to tell stories of who she had run into, but Leese still stared at her family. Marge talked to Maggie while Homer chatted with Meroko-Lisa. Bart just continued looking around, apparently bored, but then she caught him looking at her strangely a few times. She grew worried that he was suspicious of her.
"It looks like you have another admirer," Lindsay joked while looking at Bart. "If he was ten years older, I'd take him off your hands for you."
Leese laughed nervously and then she noticed two of her classmates, Wanda and Celeste, approach her family. They went up to Homer and caught Meroko-Lisa's attention, so Homer put her down. Leese couldn't hear what they were saying, but her friends looked nervous and seemed to be standing back from her other self as they talked to her. However, Meroko-Lisa never stopped smiling. Eventually, she stepped forward and took a hand from each of them, turning them around, and then they all skipped off together merrily.
"What's so interesting?" Lindsay asked between bites of her quesadias.
She paid a little more attention to her eggplant lasagna and answered, "I didn't have many friends when I was a kid, and I was just imagining that the cheerful and outgoing little girl over there was me. Silly, huh?"
"Hmmm, that's odd. I never thought of little Lisa Simpson as particularly cheerful before, but she seems to be getting better at it," Lindsay commented. "I heard she has a brain tumor and can't even go to school."
"Yeah," Leese said softly, "That's terrible."
"Excuse me," Bart sheepishly interrupted, catching the ladies by surprise. "I was wondering if I can have an autographed picture, uh, for my sister. I mean, she plays sax, too, and she's been sick, so I'm sure she'd really..."
"Aww, that's so sweet of you Bart," Leese said sweetly while blushing.
"D'OH!" Takuto softly cried when she called him by name.
"Bart Simpson, right?" Lindsay asked without waiting for an answer. "Unfortunately, we haven't had the modeling package done yet. But if it's for your little sister then we'll definitely make sure she gets one." Lindsay noticed his face light up a bit, so with a sly smile she added, "And one for you, too. I mean, if you want."
"Uh, yeah, sure! Whatever," he said unconvincingly. "Thanks."
Lindsay then put down her fork and said, "Actually, why don't you tell me where to send it while Leese starts her next set."
"Yeah, I guess I should start again," Leese said while getting up. "Uh, it was nice to meet you," she said to him before returning to the stage.
Bart watched her getting ready until Lindsay got his attention by pointing to the empty chair. "Have a seat, Bart," Leese heard her say as if she was starting a sales pitch. However, the crowd was anxious to hear her play, so she started right away and couldn't hear more of their conversation.
********
Lindsay stopped her Infiniti on the side of the road. "I feel bad not taking you all the way to your house," she said apologetically, but then she laughed. "But according to the judge, I shouldn't even have you alone in the car with me."
"That's okay," Leese said as she got out, taking Takuto under one arm and pulling out her case with the other. "After a gig, I need a little walk to become my normal self again," she explained with a chuckle.
Lindsay responded, "Okay. Just remember that we're booked tomorrow and Saturday night. Oh, and Mr. Burns has a very special job for you on Sunday. It pays very well."
"All right, I'll be at your office tomorrow evening. Good night," she said.
"Good night," Lindsay called back before speeding off.
"This was a great night, huh?" Leese asked Takuto as she started walking towards home.
He poofed back into spirit form and answered, "Yeah, you did play well. And I think Meroko did okay, too."
Lisa stopped to face him and said, "Well, thank you. And remind me to thank Meroko and get her some extra ice cream or something." She paused for a moment and then said, "Okay, I'm ready to be plain Lisa Simpson again."
Takuto just said, "Let's wait until we get home. I noticed that Lisa has a hard time carrying that case around, and..." He pointed up at the starry sky and continued, "I thought you might like to learn a few constellation names. That one over there is known as Ursa Major. Actually, its real name is Reinhold, but it doesn't like to be called that."
Leese laughed.
"No, really!" he said seriously. "He hates being called that. And there, The Big Dipper is really supposed to be a wedding dress and veil, but they got it upside-down and had to change the name."
He continued his silly stories as they walked down Evergreen Terrace. When they got home, he floated in first to see if the coast was clear. A few seconds later he popped out and reported, "Dad's watching TV and Mom's in the kitchen. Bart's in his room waiting to be tucked in, and Maggie's already asleep."
"Okay," Leese said as she quietly opened the front door and entered. She closed it gently and made her way upstairs with her case. Takuto had been absolutely right about not having to struggle with it.
Leese put the it just inside her room, but before she could close the door Meroko-Lisa excitedly ran over to her. "You were great!" the little girl told Leese.
"So were you," Leese said as she picked up Meroko-Lisa and gave her a hug.
Bart happened to walk by in his pajamas. He was half asleep and could only see Leese's back as she held up the girl he thought was Lisa. He glanced while passing but didn't seem to notice. Takuto quickly pushed the door closed, latching it quietly.
"Dad!" he sleepily called down the stairs.
"What is it, boy?" he yelled back, over the sound of the television.
"When's someone gonna tuck me in?" he called back.
"Your mom's busy, so you'll just have to go to sleep by yourself," he snapped back.
"That's no fair! Lisa's got a teenage girl in her room," he complained.
Sounding disappointed, Homer called back, "Come on, boy! Do you have to let your sister surpass you in everything?"
"Owwww," he whined before trudging back to his room.
********
On Friday night, Leese filled in a few times at the Jazz Hole and played a few sets whenever one of the saxophone players needed a break. Lindsay had warned her that it didn't pay much, but it gave her exposure and a chance to hear some excellent blues jazz. The wedding reception on Saturday afternoon went much smoother than her last one, though Lindsay had her hands full scaring off more of Leese's would-be suitors.
Early on Sunday morning, Leese met Lindsay just outside the OmniTel parking garage. Lindsay grabbed her car keys and noticed Lisa's saxophone case. "Oh, I should have mentioned: you won't need that. Just leave it in my car," she said while using the remote to unlock the doors.
"If I'm not playing, what kind of job is it?" Leese asked, somewhat baffled as she put her case in the back seat. There was no immediate answer, and she noticed Lindsay fumbling with something in the trunk. As the young girl walked back to see what she was doing, Lindsay smiled mischievously and answered, "Oh, Monty Burns wants you to bear his child."
********
At that very moment on top of Mount Everest, a heavily-dressed Gil and three Sherpas had just reached the summit. Gil pulled the oxygen regulator out of his mouth with one hand and raised an OmniTel flagpole with the other. As one of the Sherpas started the camera, Gil shouted, "They're really gonna pay attention to old Gil now, I tell 'ya!"
He raised the flagpole, ready to force it into the ground, when the mountain started rumbling. All four men lost their footing as Leese's loud voice called out the worst obscenities imaginable, shaking the ground violently. The snow broke free in an avalanche, taking the four men down the mountain in the blink of an eye. "Oh, darn!" could be heard echoing in the distance.
********
Back in the parking garage, the wide-eyed Lindsay Naegle finally remembered to breathe again. As the car alarms stopped blaring and the sprinklers shut off, wisps of steam rose from the young girl's angry red face. Still in Leese's arms, Takuto was frozen with abject horror.
As color returned to her ghostly pale face, Lindsay simply held up the head of a bear costume and managed to speak between heavy breaths, "His son Larry's birthday is today, so he wants you to dress up in this custom-made Bobo outfit and sing 'Happy Birthday' for him and his family."
She flashed her winning smile at Leese, but the young girl still looked rather repulsed by the idea.
"Well, it's either that or you can jump out of a cake. It's up to you, but he's already paid," Lindsay said plainly.
Leese sighed. "Help me get into the costume."
********
Lisa and Takuto returned late in the afternoon. Since the rest of her family was at home, Lisa hid her saxophone in the garage again while Takuto floated inside to find Meroko. He found his partner, still disguised as Lisa and wearing a similar outfit, watching television with Bart and Homer in the family room. She was curled up on the right side of the couch next to Homer, who was sitting with his body sprawled out and taking up most of its space. There was no room for Bart, so he was lying on the floor.
"Come on. You need to let Lisa can come inside," he told her.
"Can't it wait until a commercial?" she said while moving to see the TV around him. "Hey, you're in my way. It's getting to the good part."
Bart looked to see who she was complaining about, but he quickly turned back to the TV when he realized that she was talking to no one. Homer looked at her as well, but then he looked down with sad eyes at his left hand resting on the middle cushion. Even though Lisa was just inches from it, she hadn't held it once.
"It's cold in the garage and she's tired," Takuto insisted, forgetting that Meroko's side of the conversation was confusing the guys.
Meroko-Lisa got up and sighed, "You're right."
Homer asked her, "What is it that can't wait, honey?"
Meroko-Lisa hesitated while she thought of an excuse. "I gotta go to the bathroom," she finally answered, a little too exuberantly. She scampered off through the kitchen, high-fiving Maggie in her high chair on the way, and then into the back hall.
After a moment, Homer took his empty beer can and went into the kitchen.
Meroko-Lisa quietly opened the door to the garage and then poofed into her bunny form. The real Lisa stepped inside and quietly closed the door. Meroko floated gently onto Lisa's shoulder and happily explained, "You'll be proud of me! We watched a lot of Animal Planet, and there was one show about different zoos, and then a show about robot fish that ..."
"Dinner's gonna take a little longer because I have to make extra," Marge said happily as she continued chopping a large stack of vegetables and tending to a stove already full of simmering pots. She turned to give Maggie a carrot stick when she noticed the empty can in Homer's hand. "What's wrong, Homey?" she asked with minor concern while Maggie started trying to cut the carrot with her toy knife.
"Nothing, Marge. I just needed another beer," he said while looking down at the floor.
"You always want me to bring you more beer, and you never pick up your empties," she observed. "What's bothering you?"
"Is Lisa mad at me for something?" he asked.
"I don't think so. Why? What did you do now?" she answered while taking the empty can from him and putting it in the recycling bin.
He looked even sadder. "Usually she's either really mad at me or we're really close, but lately she doesn't seem to notice me. All day she hasn't yelled at me or tried to cuddle with me or complained about the shows we're watching or anything. She just stares at the TV with a blank face or talks crazy to herself like she's... like she's me!" He broke out in a short spurt hysterical crying.
"There, there," Marge said while patting him on the back and taking his hand. "It's just the tumor doing weird things to her. Some days she can be sweet or full of vinegar, like always. Then there are days like today when she just sits in front of the TV like a zombie and has trouble putting a complete sentence together."
"Hey!" Meroko cried out in a whisper. Lisa absent-mindedly patted her little bunny arm as they continued listening.
Homer thought out loud, "Aww, Marge, there must be something we can do."
"Well, I suppose we just have to enjoy the 'normal' days as much as possible and just help her through the bad days," she explained.
He went on, "I want the old Lisa back. I know! We'll trick her into having the surgery!"
Marge grumbled at him and said, "That' not going to help. The more pressure we put on her, the more she's going to resist. Hrmf! She's just so stubborn, and I have no idea where she gets it from!"
Maggie suddenly coughed, accidentally spitting her pacifier onto the floor. Then she looked at her mother in wide-eyed disbelief.
Marge just picked it up and rinsed it off while telling Homer, "All we can do is let her know that we love her and will always be here for her, no matter what happens. Hopefully, once she understands that, she'll be willing to face the risks. For now, we just have to wait... And buy extra food, because on her quiet days she eats like a horse!" She let out a little giggle.
"Mmmm, horse... with gravy," he said in a trance.
Lisa turned her head and looked at the bunny quizzically.
Meroko whispered defensively, "In my spirit form I'm bigger than you! Besides, your mom seems so happy when you eat a lot."
After a moment, Lisa gently bumped her head against the bunny's shoulder and smiled. After holding the bunny in once arm, she quietly walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator.
Marge gently protested, "Don't spoil your appetite: dinner's going to be ready soon and..."
Marge stopped when Lisa closed the door and turned around with a beer. She walked over to Homer and held it up to him, smiling. "Here you go, Dad" she said.
He readily accepted it from her. Then, Lisa took his free hand and led him back to the family room. "Can we watch Discovery Channel until dinner's ready?" she asked as they turned to leave.
"D'OH!" he cried out before catching himself. "Oh, alright. For you."
"There's a special on the history of demolition derbies," she added as they walked out.
"Oooh!" he gasped at the pleasant surprise, but then he sounded disappointed again. "Oh, but is it educational?"
Lisa just giggled.
"Mrrr!" Marge grumbled. Then she looked at Maggie and said, "I'm glad your sister's feeling better, but what I am going to do with all these extra vegetables?"
********
Chapter 5: Backwards
The family room sat empty, lit only by a little early-afternoon sun filtering through from other parts of the house. After a short while, the kitty Takuto poked his head out from behind the couch. "Geez! Doesn't the mother ever watch television?
********
After eating breakfast and seeing the boys off, Marge put Maggie in the high chair and then sat down at the kitchen table with Lisa, who had plushy Meroko in her lap. Marge pulled the coupon sections out of the Sunday paper, handing it to Lisa and then giving the business section to Maggie. "Ooh, thirty-five cents off on Spam!" Marge pointed out before clipping it. Maggie started attacking the business section with her plastic ducky scissors.
Lisa was going slowly, reading the fine print and mumbling to herself as she cut each coupon. She finally asked, "Mom, wouldn't it be better to just reduce the price of the items based on how many coupons are usually redeemed and save the money from printing the coupons in the first place?"
"What's the fun in that?" Marge replied before spotting another great deal. "Wow! Two dollars off rat poison. It's too bad we don't have any rats."
"Yuck!" Meroko commented at the thought of rats. Then something caught her attention, "Ooh, a carrot juice coupon for a whole dollar!"
"A dollar off? I suppose we can try it," Marge said. "Lisa, you missed the coupon for thirty-cents off Dowl pineapple rings."
"But they cost forty-five cents a can more than De Monty and have less drained weight," Lisa whined.
"That's not the point," Marge said, mildly frustrated, but she forced herself to lighten up. "You always want to try new things, and this is the manufacturers' way of getting us to do that."
"But, but..." Lisa said while clumsily rubbing her temple with her right hand, still holding the scissors.
Panicking, Meroko jumped onto Lisa's shoulder and struggled to hold the blade tips with her paws. "Careful Lisa!" Marge cried as she jumped from her chair, gently taking the scissors away from Lisa by the handles. "You almost cut your bunny, honey," she said, forcing a little laugh at the end so that she wouldn't sound upset anymore.
"Whoa, that was dumb of me," Lisa said while patting the frightened bunny. She then whispered to Meroko, "Sorry, I didn't realize what I was doing." Meroko slumped over and tried to catch her breath.
Marge looked down at Maggie tugging on her dress; the baby was looking up at her and holding her ducky scissors out in one chubby hand and pointing towards Lisa with the other. Marge's heart sank as she turned to her older daughter and said, "Lisa, I know you wanted to keep busy, but maybe you should take it easy. I mean, you did a great job keeping up with your father and brother over the weekend, but maybe you aren't up for actually doing anything yet." Seeing Lisa's sad face, she offered, "Hey, you haven't watched Sesame Street in a long time, and I hear they have lots of hidden jokes for adults."
Lisa took Meroko in her arms and clumsily got out of her chair, saying, "I'll lie down for a bit. Maybe Takuto can do something." Meroko let out a little gasp. Lisa then walked out of the kitchen without looking back. Marge looked at Maggie, confused, but Maggie just shrugged her shoulders and then went back to cutting out the currency trading figures.
As soon as Lisa got into the dining room she began to sway and started rubbing her head again. Meroko poofed into her spirit form and took Lisa's arms, catching her as she fell. Lisa was clutching her head and gritting her teeth while shivering. "Takuto, help!" she yelled up the stairs.
Takuto's spirit form floated down the stairs while still reading the book Heaven Can't Wait. "What is it? I thought you wanted me to study for my next test," he complained. However, when he saw Lisa was having a seizure he dropped the book and zoomed over to them. "What happened!?"
Panicking, Meroko stuck her hand over Lisa's mouth and shouted, "Ow! Just do something!"
Snap! A golden light enveloped Lisa as she transformed into Leese. She stopped shaking and opened her eyes, quite surprised. Meroko quickly put her hand behind her back as she and Takuto helped Leese stand up. "That was the worst one yet," Leese said, not quite believing its severity.
"Shhh!" Takuto insisted. "Your mom will hear you. Let's go to your room."
"I'll be there in a minute," Meroko told them at the top of the stairs before floating into the bathroom.
Takuto walked her into the bedroom and she closed the door. Leese sat on the bed and Takuto poofed into his kitty form. He landed on her lap and asked "Are you better now?"
"Yeah, thanks. I feel fine," she answered softly without looking at him.
"I wonder what triggered it," he said suspiciously.
Leese didn't answer. A moment later, the door glowed and distorted as Meroko entered the room. Her right hand got caught on the door, trapping her until she opened it and slid her bandaged hand into the room. She closed the door and quickly hid her injury.
Leese jumped up and bolted over to Meroko, trying to grab her hand. "I did cut you!" she cried.
Meroko pulled it away and smiled. Then she patted Leese on the back and cheerfully said, "No, you just bit me a little."
"Huh!?" Leese asked in a panic.
"I didn't want you to bite your tongue, so I..." she explained.
Leese sunk to the floor and started crying. "It's all my fault!"
Takuto looked at her sternly without saying anything. Meroko knelt down and tried to comfort her. "Don't worry so much," she said with an even bigger smile while wiping away Leese's tears with one of her big bunny ears. "It can't be helped."
"Or can it?" Takuto asked.
Meroko got a little angry and snapped, "What do you mean, Takuto?"
Leese looked up at the bunny girl and admitted, "It was my fault."
Meroko spun back to her and gasped, "Huh!?"
Leese explained, "I was keeping track of the numbers while cutting coupons: the average, median, and standard deviation of each amount. That's what made my head hurt."
Takuto hopped off the bed, landing next to Leese and taking her hand in his paws. "Why do you push yourself so hard?"
"After doing so much over the weekend, with the shows and everything, it just seemed like today was too boring," she said.
Meroko patted her head and soothed her, "There there. You know your condition is only getting worse, and being rushed to the emergency room would mess everything up."
"I know," Leese sighed. "But I can't stand just sitting here, waiting to... And even if I'm no closer to finding that boy, at least I like being like this," she said while raising her arms.
Takuto poofed back into his spirit form and, with Meroko, helped her off the floor and into the chair. He took a deep breath and said, "I think I've made a mistake."
"Huh?" Meroko asked in a pained squeal while Leese just looked at him.
"I turned you into a teenager to help you live out your dreams, or at least try to. It may help you in that way, but now it's driving a wedge between you and your family," he explained.
"But I get along with my family like always, or even better now," Leese complained.
Takuto calmly raised a finger and said, "Sometimes, yes, but I wonder if you don't think of how they feel. We just kept another seizure from your mother so she won't worry, but maybe we should let her worry for you. After all, she won't be able to in a couple of weeks."
Meroko protested, "But she wasn't supposed to know about us, and she can't just say, 'Hi Mom, I'll be dead in twelve days,' without making everyone feel bad!"
"I know," he said with his head hung low. He turned to Leese and said, "There's no good way around it, but we need to resolve everything that could leave you with regrets. I would still like to help you find this boy, but family members are often the most overlooked because we take them for granted." He suddenly choked up and said, "Think about it." He turned away and flew up through the ceiling.
"Geez! He gets all worked up for nothing and then runs away," Meroko complained. "And they say girls are the irrational ones."
A low buzzing noise came from Lisa's bed, so she pulled the cell phone from under the mattress and answered it. "Hello? I see. Right now!? That's great! Where?" She then sounded a bit disappointed, "Oh, okay. I know where it is. Yes? Of course -- that would be great! Bye."
"Well?" Meroko asked.
"Michael Jackson was going to speak at a school assembly, but they changed their minds because of his treatment of monkeys. Now they need someone to fill in at the last minute," she explained. She smiled and added, "I thought I was going to have a chance to look for him, but it's at my school."
"Aww, but at least you'll break into the school gigs this way," Meroko suggested.
Leese sounded excited again and she continued, "Well, she also wants to talk to me about some charity benefit idea afterwards. Oh, I'd better get going. Can you cover for me for a couple of hours?"
Meroko poofed into Lisa's form and scampered over to the game console with a big smile while saying, "Sure! I need to work on my Unreal Chrysanthemum score anyway. Takuto should be back by then, so I'll ask him to wait on the roof until you get back."
"Thanks!" Leese said before peeking out the door and slipping into the hallway.
********
Leese felt strange being in Springfield Elementary because she had been absent for so long. Also, she was amazed at how small everything looked now that she was a teenager. After Principal Skinner introduced her, Leese played a Murphy song for the children. She was disheartened because many of them looked bored, though Bart sat in the front row, next to Lindsay, and didn't take his eyes off her the whole time she was up there.
After finishing her song, she was disappointed when only a the teachers and a few of the children clapped. Bart was one of them, clapping and smiling enthusiastically, and that bothered her a little more. "Thank you for letting me play here today," she said.
"Boring!" came a call from the back. Everyone looked at Edna Krabapple until she defensively said, "Well, somebody had to say it."
To break her tension, she raised the microphone and called out, "Springfield Elementary Rules!"
The children suddenly started whispering and wondering if they had heard her right. Most of them were now paying attention, and one small voice called back, "What's so great about it?"
"Ooh, tough crowd," she said to herself.
However, Principal Skinner was just watching unemotionally until Superintendent Chalmers called to him, "Seymour!"
Skinner's attention snapped back and he said, "Eek?"
"I was going to fire you today, but if what this young lady says is true then you're doing better than I realized," Chalmers said. He walked onto the stage and Leese stepped sideways so he could speak into the microphone. "Okay, children. We have someone here who wants to talk to all of you about a good cause."
He then pointed to the front row where Lindsay was sitting, but instead of getting up she just tapped Bart on the shoulder. He then got up and put his hands through his hair, making sure it was neat before walking up on stage. All of the children clapped and cheered. Leese stared at him in shock as he approached the microphone. He smiled at her nervously while Willie adjusted the microphone stand for him.
"My fellow students," he began while raising his hands to stop the applause. "Usually I have some prank or scheme planned for an occasion like this, but today I have something serious to discuss with all of you. As you know, my dear sister Lisa has been very sick for a while now..." He paused and then spoke very emotionally, "It seems to be much more serious than they thought."
He hung his head for a moment, but he then raised it and continued excitedly, "But she won't give up! Leese, Krusty, and a bunch of other celebrities will be holding a benefit show next week, and part of each admission will go to the Springfield Brain Research Institute. So if you all go, you can have fun and help Lisa at the same time."
A few of the girls began chanting "Li-sa! Li-sa!," but the overall reaction was lukewarm at best. Most of the kids began chatting and fidgeting again. Principal Skinner rushed up and took the microphone out of the stand and said, "Come on, children! Do you really want a school without Lisa Simpson? I speak for all the staff when I say that we certainly don't. After all, it's not like we look forward to seeing any of the rest of you every day."
"How about this," Mrs. Krabapple called out from the back. "If you all go, me and the rest of the teachers will only show filmstrips and movies for an entire week."
"LI-SA! LI-SA!..." they all began chanting happily. Then they laughed and cheered, throwing books and pencils and whatever they had into the air.
Principal Skinner covered the microphone with his hand and worried out loud, "I haven't seen the students with this much enthusiasm in some time. Hmmm, if we don't do something, they may even be motivated beyond our ability to make them do busywork!" Then he turned to the side of the stage where Willie was waiting and pointed sharply at the wall.
Willie winked and donned his gas mask before reaching behind the curtain and pulling a lever. All of the teachers put on small breathing masks as the thick smoke started pouring out of the vents. Student began coughing and gagging as their teachers herded them towards the exits. Leese recognized the putrid stench of burnt school cafeteria food and began coughing, but Skinner quickly escorted her and Lindsay out of the auditorium.
In the hallway, the teachers had lined up their wheezing students and were taking headcounts before leading them back to class. Skinner pulled off his mask. "Sorry about this. We usually only use plain old tear gas, but some children seem to have developed an immunity," Skinner told the ladies as they caught their breath. He then politely closed the door behind them and guided them towards his office. "Of course, I will be happy to thoroughly Febreeze both of you."
Lindsay smiled at him and said, "Always adapting new ways to keep control over people -- I like that in a man."
Mrs. Krabapple called over from her classroom door, "Seymour, did you remember to get Bart Simpson off the stage, too?"
"Hmmm," he said while thinking, "I guess not." He turned back to the door that Willie was about to lock. "I think we left one in there, up on stage."
Willie's eyes went wide and he gasped, "Ohh! There 'as a puddin' fire today, so the fumes probably did 'im in by now!"
Leese shoved her saxophone in Lindsay's hands and bolted at the doors, pushing Willie aside as she forced them open. She was instantly enveloped by the foul smoke, so she dropped to her hands and knees and crawled up to the stage. She found him curled up under the podium, unconscious, and dragged him down the stairs and out into the corridor. Willie and the school nurse had a stretcher waiting, and they took the boy to the nurse's office, with Lindsay and Leese following.
Bart was laid on the dull-brown vinyl couch and the nurse went to her desk and started filling out paperwork. Lindsay noticed a mask and tank hanging from the wall and asked, "Shouldn't you give him oxygen?"
"Nah," the nurse squawked back. "That's just the laughing gas I use to get through the day."
Leese sat in a chair next to him and held the little boy's hand. "Please be all right," she said softly. "It's bad enough that Mom and Dad are gonna lose one of us," she thought.
Bart pulled his hand away and began rubbing his eyes while grumbling, "Man, I should have paid attention during fire drills." Then he opened his eyes, saw Leese, and then rubbed them again.
She put a hand on his shoulder and asked, "Are you all right, Bart?"
He held her hand again and said, "I'm getting better." He suddenly let go and sat up. "So will you play at the concert for my sister? She saw you at the power plant and talked about you all the way home! Please!"
Lindsay added, "That's the charity work I was telling you about: Bart told me about his sister's illness at the nuclear plant's open house and you've mentioned an interest in charity work."
Leese had to fight back the tears of joy. "You're so sweet! Of course I will!" she said while hugging her brother tightly. He didn't resist being crushed, but he struggled for breath. She noticed his distress and let go, so he lied back down and caught his breath.
The nurse put a hand on Leese's shoulder. "He needs to rest now. He's had quite a shock," she explained.
"Let's go back to my office and go over the details," Lindsay told Leese. As the two ladies left, Lindsay commented, "Did you see that happy look on his face when you agreed to do the show? I can understand why some people think that's all the reward they need. Not me, of course -- I'm in it for money and power -- but for some people, fine."
********
When Leese arrived at her house, she saw Takuto sitting on the front step with his heads in his hands. He looked upset. After looking around nervously, she quickly walked over and sat down next to him.
"How did it go?" he asked without looking.
"It went well, but..." she started to say, but then she just looked down and put her head in her hands.
After an awkward moment of silence, he finally looked at her. "But what?"
"I think I know how my parents feel, kinda," she answered softly.
"Hm?" was his only response.
She started to explain, "The assembly filled up with smoke and I was worrying that I couldn't breathe and it would affect my playing. But after I got out Bart was missing. I was terrified that I'd lose him, so I ran back in and found him. I couldn't think about anything else until I was sure that he was all right."
Tears started flowing down from her eyes as she continued, "Then it struck me: this is how Mom and Dad must feel about me, watching me get worse every day, not being able to do anything. And all I do is get mad at them for it. The worst part is: there's nothing I can do about it, even if I wanted to!" She began crying hard, so Takuto put an arm around her shoulder and she leaned against him.
"Hey, you don't have to be quite so hard on yourself," he consoled her. "Anyways, you could still let them try. After all, it won't make any difference in a few weeks."
Her tears subsided and she asked, "But what if...?" He gently put a hand under her chin and turned her head. They were looking in each other's faces, and he gave her a stern expression.
Takuto took a deep breath and said, "I know that there's no perfect solution, but if it helps your family suffer a little bit less then maybe you should rely on them. Besides, no one said you have to have the surgery right away: you could have it a few days before you die so your parents don't feel that they could have done more, but they also don't think that the surgery caused your death. Also, it leaves you a little time to find that boy."
"But if the surgery cures me won't that mess you guys up?" she complained before realizing what she was worrying about.
"For all we know, you will die in a bizarre pencil-sharpening accident. We're only told when to pick you up and if there may be problems, but no details," he explained. "The brain tumor could just be a coincidence."
Leese had a look of relief as she sat up on her own. "So, I just need to get Doctor Hibbert and my parents to do the surgery on the 27th or 28th. Thank you Takuto! Now I just have to tell them."
"Well," Takuto said sadly. "You can tell them tonight."
She looked at him, confused, and asked, "Why? Did Mom make an appointment?"
He had to look away as he told her, "No, but Meroko and I realized there's a problem with my spell. Apparently, it only makes you better while you're Leese. And since you were having a seizure when I changed you..."
Leese gasped and put her hands on the sides of her head.
"Meroko's preparing your mother now by acting strangely," he added.
"How strangely?" she wondered, not knowing whether to be more afraid for her reputation or the pain she would soon be facing.
"Oh, I told her to just be herself," he said with a little smile.
She let out a giggle as he stood up. He took her hand, helping her up, and said, "Your father's almost here and Meroko will meet us at the bottom of the stairs. That's where..." His voice trailed off.
"I understand," she said while opening the front door. She stepped inside and saw Meroko-Lisa sitting on the staircase, looking glum. Leese sat down next to her and Takuto poofed into his kitty form, landing on the Leese's lap.
"Takuto told you, right?" she whispered sadly. "But actually it's better that we go out to the hospital for a while because your brother smells really bad tonight."
They heard the car door slam and a moment later the doorknob turned. "Ready?" Takuto asked as Meroko-Lisa gently pulled Leese's head into her lap.
Leese closed her eyes and nodded as the front door opened. Snap! Poof! Leese turned back into Lisa as Meroko changed back into her bunny form.
Homer stepped inside and the door closed behind him. "Oh, hi Lisa honey. Awww, you shouldn't be sleeping on the stairs. You're all cold and shivering now," he said sweetly, but she didn't answer. "Lisa? Lisa!?" He cried out, "Marge, come quick! LISA!"
********
Lisa woke up in a hospital bed, inside the emergency room admitting section. She could feel the two plushy shinigami in her arms. Her parents were facing away from her as Doctor Hibbert spoke with them. He looked at Lisa and said, "Well, look who just can't bear to go a week without seeing me, huh he he he he he," he said with a laugh.
Marge and Homer turned to see her. Marge stepped closer and held her hand but Homer hung his head and wouldn't look at her.
"What's wrong, Dad?" Lisa asked ashamedly. "I didn't mean to trouble you just when you got home from work."
"That's okay, Lisa," he said slowly.
Marge interrupted, "He's just worried because he used a beef jerky to keep you from biting your tongue." She turned to him and said in an irritated tone, "For gosh sakes, Homer, you did the right thing -- and it's not like she could even put a dent in it!"
"I don't know, Marge," the doctor interjected. "Something as hard as jerky could easily do serious dental damage, huh he he he he he." He turned to Lisa and said, "But more importantly, we have to figure out what we can do about these seizures."
A nurse put the blood-pressure cuff on Lisa and began to pump it up. Lisa looked at him, then her mother, before saying, "Well, I was thinking that maybe I should have the surgery."
"That's wonderful, Lisa!" Marge said happily. "Did you hear that, Homer!? She's going to be all better soon!"
Doctor Hibbert spoke up, "Marge, I don't want to give you any false hopes. We still don't know much about the tumor, and there's danger with any surgery."
"But you said it's her only hope," Marge snapped back.
"True, it's certainly better than doing nothing, but let's just take it one step at a time. Now, Lisa, you still understand all of the risks?"
"Yes, Doctor Hibbert," she responded. "But, I have a few... conditions before I'll do it, if that's okay with you." She looked up at him with pleading eyes.
"What do you mean?" Marge asked loudly.
Lisa explained, "Well, first, I want to do it late next week, so I can prepare now in case... you know, there's brain damage. Also, if anything happens to me during the surgery or afterwards, I want to be an organ donor so that at least other people won't suffer."
"Lisa, that's too gruesome to think about!" Marge protested.
"Please, Mom! After all, I've always been after people to recycle," Lisa added.
Sounding irritated, Homer said, "Yeah, Marge! It's not like she'll need them then."
"Homey, you just don't understand!" Marge said tearfully while putting a hand over her mouth.
Homer held Lisa's hand and smiled at her while saying, "For once Marge, I think I do." Lisa smiled back at him.
"Organ? I thought you only played saxophone," Bart said while peeking in from behind the curtain.
Lisa was surprised to see him. "What are you doing here, Bart?"
Marge patted Lisa's hand and explained, "He said he was really worried about you and wanted to make sure you were all right. I guess all that smoke is still affecting him."
Dr. Hibbert explained it to him, "No, son, not a pipe organ. Huh he he he he he. Your sister just wants to make sure someone who might need a heart or a kidney can get hers on the off chance that she, uh... How do I say this?"
"Don't!" Marge cried while covering Bart's ears and wincing. Bart turned white and stood still for a moment, his mouth wide open. After a moment, she regained her composure and explained, "Doctor Hibbert, we haven't told him everything."
Bart stood still with a far-away look in his eyes. Finally he spoke up, "You mean, she really could die?"
After an uncomfortable pause, Dr. Hibbert said, "Lisa should be all right, though I've upped the dosage on her medicine. I'll call you with all of the details for the surgery, but you can go home now." He looked at Marge and added, "It sounds like you all have a lot to talk about."
"Thank you Dr. Hibbert," Marge said, sounding hopeful. The doctor nodded and then walked off while writing notes on a clipboard.
"Let's let your sister get dressed, boy," Homer said to Bart, and then they walked out of the exam cubicle, pulling the curtain shut behind them. "Maybe we can go grab some of those donuts for the ride home" he added.
Marge called after him, "Get some for Ned and his boys, too -- it's the least we can do." She turned to Lisa and, seeing her confused look, explained, "Mr. Flanders is watching Maggie."
"Oh, take Ned's side!" Homer protested.
Bart said, "I'll meet you out front, Homer. I have to use the bathroom."
Lisa sat up and turned to get out of the bed, but Marge grabbed and hugged her before she could put her feet on the floor. Her mother picked her up and held her much too tight while crying softly. "You'll be all right! Everything will be all right!" she sobbed. Lisa hugged her back, wishing she could believe it too, but she couldn't bring herself to say anything.
However, as she put Lisa back down, Marge noticed her little girl's look of uncertainty and quickly changed the subject. "We were in such a rush that we didn't bring your jacket. It's chilly out, so you can wear mine," she said as Lisa got dressed.
"Thanks, Mom," escaped her lips softly as she let Marge put it on her, like her mother used to bundle her up years ago. Marge then handed over her two favorite stuffed animals. Lisa didn't resist or complain as her mother picked her up, so Lisa was looking behind her mother while being carried out of the examination area.
As Marge looked for Homer, Lisa saw Bart talking to Dr. Hibbert. He listened earnestly to her brother and then slowly shook his head before walking off. Bart looked disappointed as he approached. "I bet Doctor Nick wouldn't be so uptight about doctor-patient confidentiality," he muttered. Lisa hung her head in sadness, resting her forehead on Marge's shoulder.
********
Chapter 6: None for the Show
Homer was lying on his side right in front of the television while trying to watch one of the scrambled channels. He had a beer in his hand and a big smile on his face as he tried to make out what they were doing. Homer giggled excitedly and said to himself, "This is gonna be good."
Some simple upbeat music was quietly playing and then a voice said, "Tonight I will be teaching you all about pork. I'm Alton Brown, and you're watching Good Eats on the Food Network."
He then started hearing grunting and groaning coming from behind him, so he turned his head to look. Lisa's stuffed kitty was trying to pull the throw rug back towards the couch, but it wouldn't budge under Homer's weight. Between grunts and breaths, it was saying , "Always watch TV from a safe distance in a well-lit room."
"Hey, what's the big idea!?" Homer demanded.
With a frustrated look, the kitty let go of the rug and shouted, "Forget it!" He then pulled out a stun gun and started electrocuting Homer's behind, making him jump up and scream. "Just get back on the couch, fatty!"
********
"Bart?" Lisa asked tentatively as he quietly put a vase of fresh cut flowers on her desk. The dusky shadows in her room had kept him from seeing her sit up. She flipped on the lamp next to her bed and he froze in the light, as if he had been caught doing something bad instead of something kind. Lying next to Lisa, Meroko covered her eyes at the sudden brightness before realizing that Bart was looking, so she froze in that awkward position.
"I know," he answered nervously. "I wanted to get you one of those girls' comics, but Mom says you still can't read anything until after the surgery." He didn't move, so the plushy kitty on the desk carefully slid the vase back from the edge while Bart was still looking at his sister.
She paused, surprised by the demure tone in his voice. "No, Bart, the flowers are very nice," she said with a little embarrassment. "But, I was wondering why you were so surprised at the hospital last night. I thought you already knew..." Her voice trailed off, not wanting to say the words.
He looked at the floor before continuing, and Meroko took the opportunity to put her plushy arms down. "I could tell it was bad, but no one told me that you could die from it!" he admitted.
Lisa was a bit confused, "But when you told everyone at school about the benefit concert..." Bart's shocked look made her stop.
"Uh, yeah, but still..." he began to stall and seemed a little confused. Then he said, "Well, it was supposed to be a surprise." Lisa, Meroko, and Takuto all looked at him. "You were acting kind of weird during the open house..."
"Weird!?" Meroko asked, but Bart thought it was Lisa.
"You know, all happy and bubbly and paying with the other kids. Anyway, I figured you'd have wanted to meet Leese -- I mean that saxophone girl -- if you were normal. So I asked for an autograph for you and talked to her manager, Ms. Naegle. You remember her, right?"
Lisa looked at the unused 220-volt junction box in the middle of her wall and sighed. "Yeah, I remember," she said.
He went on, "Anyway, I talked to her a bit and she said that a benefit concert to help fight your disease would be a good idea. I didn't bother you with all the details because you aren't supposed to think about stuff, but I figured you like charity and stuff so it was okay."
"Bart," Lisa began to sob, "I never would have thought..." She began crying, but Meroko didn't dare move to comfort her. He walked over and sat on the bed, putting an arm around her. She buried her face in his chest as he sat up straight, looking at the wall. Through her tears she said, "I'm so happy I got to see this side of you before I d-- OUCH!" She flinched and put a hand over her lower back, catching Meroko's paw pinching her.
"What's wrong!? Is it your head!?" Bart asked in a sudden panic.
"No, it's nothing," she said while sitting up straight and rubbing the spot. "I just twisted the wrong way, I guess."
"Oh," he said, relieved, and got up. "I'll tell Mom you're awake," he said before walking towards the door. He looked back and saw Lisa looking sad again. "Well, Dad's hanging around at Moe's tonight, so I gotta make a phone call," he explained.
"Okay," she said with an unconvincing smile. Lisa's eyes followed him, not looking away even after he was out of sight.
Meroko hugged Lisa's side and apologized profusely, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! But I couldn't let you tell him... you know..."
While still looking at the door, Lisa patted the bunny on her back and sighed, "No, you were right. He just surprised me."
Takuto poofed into spirit form and gruffly said, "Yeah, there's something odd going on."
"Yeah, I've never seen him be so," Lisa searched for the right word, "caring."
"That's not what I mean," he complained as the cell phone buzzed quietly.
Lisa quickly hopped out of bed and pulled it from under the mattress. "Hello?"
Meroko poofed into her spirit form and went up to Takuto. She whispered loudly at him, "Why are you being so negative!?
Takuto closed his eyes and folded his arms defiantly. "I still don't trust him. He seemed a little too nice," he growled.
"Geez!" Meroko hissed. "What did you expect? He doesn't know how to react, but at least he'll be a little more prepared. You should have learned that much by now."
"Hmm, maybe you're right," he admitted.
She smiled at him. "Besides, if Lisa's happier then that's better for all of us!" she said.
"Okay, see you then. Bye!" Lisa chirped before closing the phone. "Guess what!" she said, getting their full attention. "They're going to have the first benefit concert on Friday night, so I'll actually get to play in one!"
"How many did they plan?" Meroko asked.
Lisa answered, "They don't know yet, but we'll probably talk about it at the meeting." Lisa suddenly giggled. "I get to play my first benefit, but it's kind-of for myself."
"That is a bit weird," Meroko agreed.
"Well," Lisa said meekly, "it's not like I get the money -- Bart said it was all for the Springfield Brain Research Institute. So at least it will do some good for those who get to live." The two shinigami were shocked by her last comment, but Lisa quickly shook the thought off. "Wow! I never figured Ms. Naegle for the charitable type. Hey, maybe I'm starting to rub off on her!"
"Hmmm, usually she just rubs me the wrong way," Takuto said suspiciously before realizing how cynical he sounded. He quickly added, "But it's still a good thing."
Lisa smiled and turned to Meroko, "Can you teach me some more songs?"
"Hai!" Meroko answered with a huge smile.
********
Leese rushed into the Channel Six lobby with plushy Takuto in her book bag. "Why did Mom suddenly make me take a bath!?" she complained before spotting Lindsay in the corridor. She excitedly ran up to her and asked, "Are we -- I mean, am I late?"
Takuto put a paw to his head and let out a soft, "D'oh!"
"No, early actually," Lindsay answered with a cool smile. "But you don't have to worry so much. Since I'm the one arranging the show there's no way you'd be dropped from the program," Lindsay explained.
"Oh, good," Leese said before letting out a deep sigh of relief.
"God, you're so easy to manage!" Lindsay commented. "Anyway, this meeting is mostly for the agents and reps., but I just wanted to show you off to the others. That way, they'll be more inclined to think of you whenever they need pretty music with a pretty face."
Leese blushed at this double compliment.
"Let's go get ready," Lindsay said as she led Leese down the hallway. "Just to let you know, there's quite a bit of ego going around in these meetings and you're still pretty new. Don't take a seat near the front of the table and try not to take any comments personally -- no matter who they're directed at. Also, we have a special guest coming in to motivate everyone. So, smile, be friendly and gracious..." Leese grumbled a little bit as Lindsay continued, "Basically, just be yourself. Oh, if you can, hold your questions for me later."
They entered the large conference room where fifteen people were sitting around the table. Present were Kent Brockman, Krusty, Sideshow Mel, Reneir Wolfcastle, and several agents whom Leese didn't recognize. Mike, the jazz band leader, was sitting near the middle, so Leese quietly sat down next to him.
"I may as well start," Lindsay said. "First off, I want to thank you all for coming on such short notice, but it was sheer luck that we got the Springfield Civic Arena this weekend."
"How the heck did you manage that!?" Krusty gruffly asked before lighting a cigar.
"It was really strange," Kent said. "The show that was supposed to open got cancelled because of very poor ticket sales."
"I warned 'em that 'Closed for Fumigation' would never sell, but did they listen to me?" one of the agents loudly complained.
Lindsay continued loudly yet calmly, "In any case, we have the venue, the performers; the local radio stations are running ads, for free of course, plus a few news stories." She winked at Kent, and he winked back. "We have the standard deal with the Brain Research Institute, and they've given us their seal of approval," she said while holding up a seal die. "So I can stamp anyone's court-mandated community service fulfillment cards after each show."
"Also, the schools are letting all of the kids know about it since it's for one of their own. Of course, that's Lisa Simpson: the extremely bright little girl whom, strangely enough, most of us have met on several occasions."
There was some general positive grumbling among the participants. "Hmm, Lisa Simpson -- sounds familiar," Krusty said while lighting a cigar. "Oh, that Lisa Simpson! So Bob didn't kill her after all? That's great!"
Leese couldn't stop herself from smiling. Lindsay noticed and gave her a quick thumbs-up sign, which made Leese smile even more.
Lindsay walked over to the door and, while still facing everyone, put her hand on the doorknob. "So now let me introduce the face that will sell a thousand tickets," she announced while opening the door, "Lisa Simpson."
Leese's eyes went wide as the door opened. She saw Meroko-Lisa with her mother, both dressed up, standing in the doorway and holding hands. There was mild applause as Marge nervously smiled and guided Lisa into the room. The little girl was too overwhelmed to speak. She just smiled and gazed at everyone in wide-eyed wonder while walking in.
Marge addressed everyone, "Please pardon Lisa -- she was fine this morning, but it's been a rough afternoon for her." Marge pulled a seat out for Lisa, but the girl just stood next to the chair. "It's probably my fault: I didn't tell her about the meeting until a little while ago because I didn't want her to get too excited."
Meroko-Lisa smiled and took a deep breath before saying, "Thank all of you for thinking of her, uhm, me and doing such a nice thing. That's so sweet of you!"
Kent was the first one to speak up, "So, Lisa, how do you feel about the benefit being in your name?" Everyone else looked at him angrily. "Heh heh heh, sorry. After being in local news for so long it's become a reflex," he explained sheepishly.
Lindsay took control yet again. "So, Lisa, any words on what keeps you going during these difficult times?" she asked.
Lisa looked embarrassed as she answered, "Well, I've always been uh..." She quickly glanced at the pink bunny notepad in her hand and continued, "a bit of a busybody -- Oops! I mean, I like animals.... Oh! I don't like to see anyone suffer, but instead of looking away I always tried to help." She looked up at everyone and added, "Just like Sana."
"Santa?" Leese whispered to Takuto.
"No, Sana is a character from an anime she likes," he whispered back. "You better try to help her."
Leese stood up and said, "That's right: didn't you do a bunch of volunteer work for poor people? I also remember hearing that you were at a bunch of protests against animal cruelty."
Lisa thought for a moment and then got a big smile, "Uh, yeah!"
"And didn't you host a kids' news show here on Channel Six, save Krusty from wrongful imprisonment, and help solve lots of crimes here in town?" Leese continued.
"I guess, if you say so," the faux Lisa answered while trying to find the right page in her notepad.
Marge interrupted, "Hmm, maybe this has been a bit much for her today," she said tentatively. "I'd better get her home."
Lisa and Leese simultaneously let out sighs of relief.
"Well, thank you both for coming," Lindsay said to both the Simpson ladies before kneeling to Lisa. "And I hope you're well enough to come to the concert on Saturday."
"I hope so," Meroko-Lisa said before letting out a few big fake coughs. "But I don't know."
"Thank you all," Marge said misty-eyed before guiding Lisa towards the door.
"It's our pleasure, Mrs. Simpson," Lindsay said before they left. Then everyone else around the table glared at Leese.
"What makes you, of all people, the expert on Lisa Simpson's life?" Kent demanded.
Krusty cut in, "Yeah, she can usually speak pretty well for herself, new girl!"
Lindsay said, "I'm sure Leese was just trying to help..."
"Well, why'd you do it!?" Reneir insisted as Leese sank in her chair. All eyes were on her.
Leese sank into her chair. "Uh, because it will help sell more tickets?" she answered.
"Ah, good point!" Krusty noted while everyone else mumbled in agreement.
"I'll make sure to work all that into the news piece," Kent added.
With the mood now relaxed, everyone went back to planning the show.
********
"Lisa, why are you reading the newspaper?" Marge asked with a hint of uneasiness as she put the grocery bags on the counter. Plushy Meroko looked at Marge nervously, but Lisa didn't look up from the kitchen table where she was reviewing the entertainment section. "Where did you get it from, anyway?"
"Mr. Flanders let me borrow it to see the ads for the concert," she answered.
Marge thought it over for a moment and then said, "I guess that's okay, then." Then she started to put the groceries away and asked, "What does it say?"
Lisa happily read it out loud, "Tomorrow night, many of Springfield's top performers will be gathering in the Civic Arena in a show for support for local schoolgirl and activist Lisa Simpson. Channel Six reporter Kent Brockman will be hosting this star-studded spectacular event. Participants include TV's greatest funnyman, Krusty the Clown; big-screen action hero Reneir Wolfcastle; Christian Rock's rising star Rachel Jordan; Springfield's newest jazz sensation Leese; the OmniTel All-Star Band, and many others.
"For many years, eight-year-old Lisa Simpson has devoted herself to many charitable Liberal causes, but that won't stop these wealthy performers from cheering her on to victory against a rare and serious brain tumor. While the exact details of her illness have not been released, a source close to the family indicates that she will be undergoing the first of perhaps many surgeries next week. So be sure to show your support and enjoy a Saturday evening with the stars. Tickets benefiting the Springfield Brain Research Institute start at $25 and are on sale now."
"That sounds wonderful! Everyone wants you to get better," Marge commented.
Lisa looked up and gazed at the where the wall meets the ceiling. "Yeah, I never knew so many people liked me," she said.
"Aww, honey, everyone likes you!" Marge said. She spun around to the table and kissed Lisa on her forehead. Then she turned back to finish putting the groceries away.
Meroko tapped her arm, getting her attention before whispering, "Sometimes it takes something really bad for everyone to show how they really feel, but that makes it not so bad anymore."
"Yeah, it's a bit sad, though," Lisa's said with a sigh.
Marge kneeled down next to her, putting a hand on her shoulder. Then she gently placed her other hand under Lisa's chin so that they looked into each-other's eyes. "Sweetie, I know you really would rather be there tomorrow night, but I'm so glad you agreed to stay home and take it easy."
"I'll still be there," Lisa said with a wicked smile, intentionally hesitating before finishing, "in spirit."
"Of course," Marge agreed. "Anyway, it's only six more days until the surgery, and then everything will be back to normal."
Lisa squirmed a little bit at this but didn't break eye contact as she spoke uneasily, "Mom, just in case it doesn't..." The lump in her throat made her to stop.
Marge's eyes went wide and teary as she stroked her daughter's face. In a shaky voice, Marge said, "Lisa, I once told you that you don't have to smile if you don't want to because I can smile twice as much for the both of us; and you don't have to believe in the same God as me 'cause I can just pray twice as hard for the both of us. And you don't even have to eat meat, because your father eats enough meat for both of us and the rest of the family and half the town!" She caught herself from becoming too excited and put both her hands on the sides of Lisa's face. Her voice started to break up as she continued, "But, please Lisa, you have to believe that everything will be all right, because that's something I just can't do it all by myself!"
"Oh, Mom!" Lisa cried while hugging Marge around her neck. "Don't be sad! No matter what happens, I'll love you and Dad and Bart and Maggie with all my heart."
"Hey hey hey!" Bart cried in his showman's voice as he walked into the kitchen, dropping his backpack next to the doorway. "Your young man here does not care to hear how much his sister loves him!" He turned to face the two and noticed the tears on his mother's face, so he groaned and said, "But I guess I'll have to join in these hugs if I want to prevent more of this crying."
Lisa let go of her mother and slipped off the chair. She hugged Bart tightly, and he even hugged back a little. As Marge put her arms around both of them, Lisa said, "I do love you, Bart, and I won't even make you say it back."
"Okay," he said uncomfortably after a moment. "This is all nice, but I, uh, have homework to do, people!"
Marge and Lisa let him go. "I'll fix you a snack so you don't have to study on an empty stomach," Marge said cheerfully while going to the refrigerator.
Lisa picked up Meroko from the table. "Okay, Bart, I'll let you do your homework," she said with a sly smile before leaving the room.
"D'OH!" he cursed as she left, laughing to herself.
As she climbed the stairs, Lisa noticed Meroko looking away and wiping tears from her big bunny eyes. Lisa said, "Yeah, I feel really bad for her, too."
"That's not it," Meroko said tearfully.
"Then what?" Lisa asked with great concern.
"I wanted a snack, too! Waah!" the bunny cried, so Lisa gently patted her head.
********
The band music stopped and there was loud applause as Kent Brockman, looking great in his custom-fit tuxedo, walked up to the microphone on the right side of the red-curtained stage. Carefully avoiding any microphone feedback, he spoke, "Thank you, members of the OmniTel band for such a rousing opening. And thank you all for joining us this evening for our benefit concert. Lisa Simpson sends her apologies for not being here tonight, but she's resting comfortably at home and watching via a Channel Six linkup. So, without further ado, let's begin..." He held his arms out to the center of the stage as the curtain lifted, revealing a giant headshot of Lisa on the backdrop. "...our Lisathon!"
The crowd cheered wildly upon seeing the picture. Off to the side, Leese shivered and held Takuto tightly when she saw the picture.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"I don't know how many times people have made giant visages of my head, but it always creeps me out," she explained.
First on stage was Reneir Wolfcastle. "When I virst heard about thees little girl and the brain tumoh, I did a little research. It seems that even when they ahh removed, these evil little monstehs often leave pieces of themselves behind and say, 'I'll be back.' However, with all of your support, we can tell these brain diseases that if t'ay come back, 'WE'LL BE VAITING FOR YOU!" There was wild applause as he flexed his muscles and walked off stage.
Next, Kent introduced Montgomery Burns for a special message. "My fellow Springfieldians, I know many of you think of me as a heartless old miser with no concern for the common man, woman or child."
"Yep! That about sums it up," Barney yelled out, eliciting laughter from the rest of the audience.
Burns smiled wickedly while tenting his fingers. "Excellent!" he laughed to himself before speaking to the audience again. "However, I have come to learn that Lisa Simpson is no commoner -- no siree! Why, she is personally responsible for helping me regain my nuclear plant after I was wiped out by bad investments. So one thing is clear about her:" He squinted his eyes and shook angrily as he finished, "she could just as easily destroy me and my financial empire any time she wanted to. Of course, we all hope that she'll get better soon -- so just in case that happens, my nuclear plant is donating all of the electricity for this fundraiser tonight, through extra employee payroll deductions."
There were applause and cheers as Burns left the stage. Kent introduced Rachel Carlson to sing her latest hits, When Jesus Calls Me Don't Let it be Collect and Though I Rock Through the Valley of Death.
Afterwards, Krusty came out on stage, making all of the children in the audience go wild. It took a few minutes for the cheers and clapping to stop so he could begin. "I'll never forget the first time I met Lisa: she came to my door one Saturday morning with a clipboard in her hand and tearfully asked for my help to keep the whales from going extinct. I knelt down to her and said, 'Those rumors are false -- Krustyburger doesn't use whale meat!'"
Everyone broke out in thunderous laughter and applause.
Krusty looked confused and asked, "What? I don't' get it. What's so funny?" When the crowd finally calmed down, he continued, "Anyway, we have a special surprise for all of you. Someone who cares very much about whether Lisa lives or dies is here tonight: please welcome my former assistant and attempted murderer, Sideshow Bob!"
The audience booed and hissed as handcuffed Bob, wearing a striped tuxedo with the words "WORK RELEASE" stenciled on it, was escorted to the microphone by Chief Wiggum and Lou.
"Come now, people!" he yelled indignantly into the microphone. "Most of you are probably thinking that, if anything, I want Lisa Simpson to die -- almost as much as I want her brother, BART, to." He suddenly shook his head and sounded hurt, "But not like this! When I look at this poor, suffering face, I just want to put my arms around her, not to strange her, but to comfort her until she's better." He clenched his teeth and muttered, "Then I can strangle her." He spoke into the microphone again, "So, I made an agreement with Krusty that, if the show was sold out, I'd let him attempt to shoot me out of a cannon. Since you all lived up to your part of the deal..."
Bob pointed towards center stage as the spotlights came on and two showgirls wheeled out a large canon. He walked over to it, where Wiggum removed his handcuffs. Then he put on a crash helmet and climbed inside. Krusty unceremoniously walked up to the back of the cannon and lit the fuse with his cigar.
BOOM! The cannon went off, propelling Bob high above the audience and through one of the skylights. "Free at last! HAHAHAHA!" they heard him cry as he flew into the night sky.
"Hey, it finally worked!" Krusty exclaimed. The audience cheered.
Chief Wiggum looked at Lou and said, "So, who's waiting for him outside?"
"Uh, Chief," Lou said, "I did say I thought we were forgetting something."
"You always say that!" the Chief snapped back. They both walked off stage.
After the cannon was removed and Krusty finished telling his jokes, Kent introduced Leese. She was nervous under all of those bright lights and with just about everyone in town looking at her. She raised her saxophone and hesitated for a moment.
Suddenly, a stage door behind her opened and she turned to see what it was. The light from beyond blinded her for a moment, but a form stepped through slowly. She could see the silhouette of a young man. A stagehand ran over and pulled the door shut, revealing this shadowy figure to be a pimple-faced teenage boy.
The stagehand dragged the kid off, cursing, "Hey! You aren't supposed to use that door during the show. Darn! We freak out more young female musical sensations that way!"
After catching her breath, Leese leaned into the microphone and said, "Before I begin, I have a special message for the children of Springfield." She picked up an index card and read, "Due to shipping problems, the size-small concert tee-shirts did not arrive in time, so the merchants would like you to know that they'll be available early next week in your school stores."
Then she looked at the audience and saw everyone's faces, staring at her and listening attentively. "Also, I want to remind all of you kids that you can do anything you want to! And if something gets in the way of your dreams, you can find a way to make them come true as long as you don't give up!"
Many people started mumbling, wondering what she was taking about, though most of the children were stunned. "All right!" Nelson cheered as he stood up and grabbed Milhouse from the seat in front of him. "This lady really knows what I want to hear!" he laughed as he began punching Milhouse's head.
"But most importantly," Leese continued, getting everyone's attention again. "The best way to fulfill those dreams is to get help from the people who love you most, especially your parents."
"She had us going there for a second," Kearney said to Jimbo, somewhat disappointed. Most of the other children groaned at her platitude. However, most of the parents let out little awes at her comments.
With a big smile, Leese picked up her saxophone. "Now, I want to play a very special song about reaching for your dreams. I learned it from friends who cares about me very much." She put the mouthpiece to her lips and began to play Suki to Itte.
********
Chapter 7: Two for the Money
Lisa sat on the family room floor, crossed-legged with her chin resting on her fists. She was right in front of the TV, watching intently. Kitty Takuto walked up behind her and then hopped onto her knee. She didn't pay much attention to him, even as he leaned back against her arms and watched with her.
Bunny Meroko walked into the room and gasped when she saw them. She yelled, "Takuto! Why are you letting her sit so close to the television!?"
"Hey," he answered, "It's not like it's going to matter in a few days, so let her enjoy it. Okay?"
********
Leese walked into the Udderly Delicious ice cream parlor with kitty Takuto's face showing from her otherwise-empty book bag. "Over here!" Lindsay called from a small table, waving in an unusually happy manner. "I'm glad you could make it."
Leese quickly joined her, putting Takuto down on the table. "It sounded important," the girl answered. "Is everything all right?"
"Oh, better than all-right. Hey, I know you said that you didn't have much time, so I ordered for both of us already," Lindsay told her. "But the show was such a success that we just have to celebrate!" The waitress brought over two chocolate hot-fudge sundaes in Styrofoam cups. "And, believe it or not, you played a big part in making it all happen."
"Oh, that's nice of you to day," Leese said, a little embarrassed. "But you're the one who put it all together."
"True, but if that boy didn't have a huge crush on you then it never would have happened," Lindsay explained.
Leese started to blush, coyly saying, "I don't know what you're talking about. All the guys..."
"Bart, your brother!" Takuto quietly reminded her. She suddenly shivered at the thought.
Noticing her discomfort, Lindsay let out a single laugh and then cheerfully prattled, "Oh, don't worry: it's just harmless puppy love. He's far too young to feel anything serious. Besides, he was really thinking more about his sick little sister -- and when even I start to feel sympathy, KA-CHING! I knew we'd make something good out of it."
Leese smiled and gushed, "Oh, it was lots of fun! It was great to be up in front of so many people, working with such important celebrities. And for such a good cause, too."
"Anyway, I'm glad you were in it," Lindsay commented.
"I couldn't have turned down a once-in a lifetime opportunity like that!" Leese said with a giggle.
"Oh, it's more than once in a lifetime, I assure you. Everyone wants to work with you again, and they're all looking forward to seeing you at the next show on Friday night.
Leese's eyes fell and she was silent. Takuto tapped her hand to get her attention.
"What's wrong?" Lindsay asked. "You haven't even touched your sundae."
"Oh, nothing's wrong, really," Leese said while putting on a smile. "It's like I got to live out one of my greatest dreams. Lindsay, how can I ever thank you?"
"Ten-percent is all the thanks I need," she said with a sly smile. Then she pulled an envelope out of her jacket and slid it across the small table to Leese. "And, here's your ninety-percent, less expenses. Sorry it took so long."
Leese opened the envelope and her eyes lit up when she saw the amount on the check. "Wow! I never realized that those small gigs paid so much!" she said in disbelief.
"Small gigs?" Lindsay laughed. "After taxes, all those gigs combined barely paid your expenses. Most of this is for your appearance on Friday night."
Leese was suddenly in a daze and wondered if her mind was playing a trick on her. She said, "Friday night? But that was a benefit concert."
Lindsay looked at Leese, studying her face for a moment before replying, "Yes, and charity events are always a big draw, so they pay very well."
"Doesn't the money go to the charity?" she asked.
Lindsay laughed loudly before catching herself. "Of course. The standard deal is that we give a percentage of the door money -- right off the top, mind you -- to the charity whose name we're using. Then we pay the expenses and divide the rest among the participants according to their time and fame," she explained.
Leese felt like she couldn't breathe, and she suddenly couldn't stand to look at Lindsay's smiling face, so she stared down at the ice cream sundae. It had looked so delicious a few minutes ago, but the taint of what she just learned made it look like oil-soaked mud that was smeared with the scummy white foam from a wastewater plant.
Lindsay comforted her, "Don't feel bad: the institute got a lot of money out of it -- more than the last three years' donations combined. Plus, we threw in Burns' money for the family." After an awkward moment of silence, her cell phone started ringing so she pulled it out and answered it. "Yes?"
Meanwhile, Leese just stared blankly in disbelief. The envelope fell out of her hands, so Takuto picked it up and peeked at the amount. His eyes went wide as Lindsay finished her call.
"Sorry, I gotta run," she complained while standing up. "Bob's agreed to be in the third show, but the negotiator won't agree until we get the hostage away from him. I'll call you tomorrow," she said. Then she dropped some money on the table before rushing out.
Takuto put one foot inside the book bag and said, "We have to get going. You don't want Meroko to take the surgical review in your place." She didn't answer, so he joked, "Lisa? If she goes to the hospital, they may think you need the surgery immediately."
She forced a little laugh and then slowly stood up. The waitress happened to walk by and pointed to her sundae while asking, "Do you want to take that with you?"
"I don't think I can eat it now," she said, but then she noticed Takuto looking annoyed at her.
He mouthed, "Meroko," as the waitress picked up the dish.
Leese suddenly added, "I know someone who'd like it, so I suppose it would be a shame to let it go to waste."
********
Marge and Homer sat on either side of Lisa in the waiting room's overstuffed couch. Lisa gently used her ring finger to wipe ice cream off the stuffed bunny's mouth.
"Oh, look Lisa -- you got your cute little bunny all dirty again," Marge complained softly.
Lisa hunched her shoulders and looked at her nervously, and the bunny clutched her wrist in fear. "Sorry, Mom," she said before laughing nervously. "I'll clean her up when we get home."
Marge forced a smile to her face and said, "Oh, don't worry about it dear. We have other things to think about."
"Have no fear!" Homer said while grabbing the bunny away from Lisa. He jumped up and said, "Hospitals are just loaded with cleaning supplies, so I'll fix your little rodent friend good as new." Meroko had a look of sheer terror as Homer carried her off. "Now, I'm sure they must have a tub of bleach somewhere that I can soak you in."
Dr. Hibbert walked in and said, "It looks like your husband found his first patient, Mrs. Simpson, huh he he he he he." He then kneeled down to Lisa and asked, "How are you feeling today?"
"A little nervous, I guess," she answered.
He stood up and said, "We might as well get started. Your surgery is only three days from now, but you'll have to make some special preparations on Wednesday for everything to go smoothly."
"That's right," Lisa interjected. "No food or non-clear liquids after 6:00 PM, and no water or anything else after 9:00."
Marge grumbled, "I thought we agreed you wouldn't read those pamphlets."
Lisa looked down at the floor and said, "Sorry."
Marge patted her on the head and said, "Ow, I'm sorry that I keep snapping at you. I'm pretty nervous myself." She then held her hand out. "Can you forgive me?"
Lisa smiled a little as she took it. Then they turned to follow the doctor, but he was still facing them. "There's one more thing: we want to get a profile of your brain activity right before the surgery, so we'll have to do a special kind of electroencephalogram, or E.E.G., first thing that morning." He signaled them to walk with him as he continued explaining, "Unfortunately, that means you'll have to stay awake the entire night before. So, you should take plenty of naps throughout Wednesday and then plan to be up from 5:00 PM. I'd recommend that you and Homer, or whoever else, take turns staying up with her all night to keep her awake."
Marge looked at Lisa and smiled. "I'll stay up with you and we can have a girls' night," she said before giggling. "Besides, when you used to be awake all night I couldn't sleep anyway."
Doctor Hibbert held open one of the double doors to an operating room as the Simpson ladies entered. "This is the operating room that we've scheduled for you. Now, it's a bit cold and scary, but look up. Do you see those windows near the ceiling?" Both of them nodded and he told Lisa, "That's an observation room that we use for medical students. We're going to let your parents watch from up there so they can see and hear everything that's going on. That way you don't have to feel all alone down here."
Lisa gripped Marge's hand a little tighter while looking up at her.
"That's so thoughtful of you, Doctor," Marge beamed. She then smiled down at Lisa and gave a quick squeeze back.
Homer suddenly burst into the operating room with a very clean Meroko in his hands. "Here you go, Lisa. Good as new, though I couldn't find the off switch," he said while handing it to her.
"What do you mean, Dad?" Lisa asked nervously as she noticed Meroko's head swaying to and fro.
"I rinsed it off with a bottle of rubbing alcohol, but now it won't shut up!" he complained.
"You're my besht friend. I love you!," Meroko softly slurred at Lisa. "I love Takuto, too, but why won't he love me back?" she asked before she started sobbing very softly.
Lisa clasped the bunny tightly, holding its face to her chest. "I'm sure it'll be fine. Thanks, Dad," she said.
"No problem! Now, what's this room for?" he asked.
"They'll be removing the tumor down here," Marge explained before pointing up at the window. "And we get to watch from the skybox!" she giggled.
Homer shouted, "Skybox? Woohoo! In your face, Doctor Hibbert!"
"Homer!" Marge snapped.
"Oh, sorry," he said meekly.
"Don't worry," Hibbert said. "You'd be surprised how often I hear that, huh he he he he he. Now let's move on to the E.E.G. room."
Homer thought for a moment and then said, "Mmmmm, eggs." Marge's glare stopped him. "Uh, I guess there aren't any eggs, huh?" Marge shook her head at him. "Oh," he said apologetically.
"Let's get on with it," Marge huffed. She looked down at Lisa and smiled while taking her hand. They followed Hibbert out of the operating room and over to the lab section.
He led them into a large yet narrow room which had a small desk, a chair, and a flat couch of dull brown vinyl. Behind these, taking up the entire wall, was a large black sheet-metal panel. Several rows of red and yellow lights flickered angrily while a row of large yellow tubes alternately flashed and occulted in random patterns. A harness of black and orange wires with inch-wide metal tips hung sloppily next to the couch, looking as if they had been ripped from the bowels of an airliner.
The machine's deep hum was interrupted occasionally by short sharp buzzes and hisses. Its main display, a large flat-panel screen in the middle, scrolled the same strange messages over and over again, "1Z53RT QU4R73R5 2 83G1N." Below it was an eleven-inch wide strip-chart recorder which spewed paper into a large wire basket near the floor.
"Oh my!" Marge gasped when she saw it, pulling Lisa closer. The little girl's eyes went wide as she stared at the monstrous machine.
Doctor Hibbert smiled and reassured them, "Oh, don't be frightened. It may be an ugly prototype, but it will give us detailed information that could be invaluable if there are any, uh, complications."
"Yeah, don't be scared, honey," Homer said in a patronizing voice as he picked up the harness. "Daddy will plug himself into the machine and show you it's all right."
"That's okay, Dad," Lisa said nervously.
Marge snapped, "Homer, maybe you'd better leave the machine alone. It looks expensive."
Hibbert explained, "Oh, the only expensive part is paying for those little ink cartridges, huh he he he he he. But don't worry, Marge: this machine can take anything. Usually we hook the children's stuffed animals up to it to show that it's fun. Of course, nothing happens because it can only analyze things that have some intelligence, which your bunny obviously doesn't."
Being held tightly, Meroko couldn't turn to face the doctor, but Lisa quickly had to put her hand over the bunny's paw to hide an obscene gesture. Lisa patted her a few times to calm her.
"I wanna show my little girl that there's nothing to be afraid of," Homer insisted.
The screen lit up and showed, "404 - NO INPUT SIGNAL."
"Why you lousy stupid machine!" Homer cursed while hitting it with his fist. "Show me how my brain works!"
"Dad! Please don't." Lisa said fearfully.
The display changed to "INTERNAL ERROR: NEGATIVE BRAIN ACTIVITY IMPOSSIBLE -- SYSTEM OFFLINE. CALL 636-555-5782 FOR SERVICE." The lights went off and it went quiet.
"D'OH!" Homer cried.
Doctor Hibbert sighed in awe, "Well, I'll be..." Then he looked down before saying, "Hmm, I guess we can't do the surgery on Thursday."
"Huh!?" Lisa almost cried.
"Can't they fix it? We still have a few days," Marge offered.
"I'm afraid not: Professor Frink is out of town until late Thursday night. He was planning to come in Friday and do a software upgrade, anyway. Well, it's no big deal. We'll just have to reschedule for Saturday morning."
"No!" Lisa suddenly yelled. She dropped Meroko, who managed to land on her soft bunny behind. Lisa started ranting in disbelief, "It can't be Saturday! It just can't!" Tears started streaming down her cheeks.
The three adults watched in shock as she clutched Marge's dress and looked up at her. "Mom! Please don't make me do it then! Any day but Saturday!" she begged before burying her face in the dress. Her legs buckled, leaving her hanging on her mother's waist while sobbing uncontrollably.
Marge put her hands on Lisa's head, stroking her hair while looking at the doctor with pleading eyes.
"Unfortunately, the machine can't be fixed before then and I already scheduled my vacation to start Sunday morning. We really shouldn't wait until I get back," he explained.
Thoroughly ashamed, Homer pulled the wires from his head before walking over to Lisa and Marge. He dropped to his knees and put a hand on his girl's back, reassuring her, "I'm sorry, honey. But don't worry: we can tape your TV shows if that's what's bothering you." Then he thought for a moment and added, "Uh, but you'd better program the VCR in advance, though."
Lisa turned her face out towards him and lost her grip, but Homer caught her before she could fall. "It's not that, Dad," she softly cried while clumsily wiping her eyes and nose. "Saturday's just a really bad day to do it," she said in a shaky voice while standing up on her own.
"Why?" Marge asked while kneeling down to her. Her lips tightened and she sounded annoyed while asking, "Did you read some silly statistic somewhere?"
Lisa sniffled. "No, Mom. I just have a bad feeling -- a really bad feeling," she answered tearfully.
Marge let out a nervous laugh while patting the back of her head. "Sweetie, it's not like you to get so worked up over a hunch. Trust me: everything will be fine, okay?"
Lisa hesitated for a moment before opening her mouth to speak, but she noticed Meroko, still on the floor, looking up at her with wide eyes. The bunny put a paw over her mouth and rapidly shook her head.
"Okay?" Marge implored.
Lisa turned away and wouldn't answer. Marge and Homer stared at her back for a moment, looking scared. After a short silence, Lisa took a deep breath and spoke apologetically, "I'm sorry. I guess I'm just being a selfish crybaby."
Hibbert reassured her, "Don't worry for a moment, Lisa. It's understandable in your situation: you're going through a very scary time. Actually, I'd be more worried if you didn't have an occasional emotional outburst."
Marge tentatively asked, "Is there any way we can do it another day?"
He looked at them, unsmiling, and said "I'm afraid not." Then, without warning, he angrily mocked them, "Unless you think Dr. Nick would do it for you."
Marge gasped and Homer's jaw dropped; Lisa began to shiver in terror. They all looked at him with a mixture of anger and horror.
"But there's no way I'd let that happen, huh he he he he he," he chuckled. "Lisa, let your parents and me take care of you for just a little while longer. I promise it will all be over soon."
Lisa tensed up.
"It's just a few more days, Honey," Marge said as she patted Lisa's shoulder. Lisa suddenly put her hand on top of her mother's, making Marge shudder for a moment. However, she was relieved when her daughter gripped it tightly and then reached her other hand out to her father. He looked for a second but turned away, picking up Meroko. Then turned back to take his girl's outstretched hand.
As they walked towards the door, Doctor Hibbert said, "Oh, and Homer?"
"Yes?" he said as he nervously turned back.
Hibbert sternly told him, "When I said it was 'not a big deal' -- that's only because you're paying to fix the machine!"
"D'OH!"
********
Marge crossed the darkened room, carefully following the narrow strip of sunlight that shone through the heavy curtains. She looked concerned as she leaned over Lisa's bed. "Where does it hurt, honey?" she asked softly while instinctively putting a hand on her sleeping daughter's forehead.
Lisa stirred and asked in a sleepy voice, "What are you doing?"
Marge answered with great concern, "I heard you moaning. Are you in pain?"
"I feel okay, just sleepy," she insisted while trying to go back to sleep.
"Okay, you get some more rest," Marge said before kissing her on the cheek. "I saved you some pancakes from breakfast, or if you don't feel like pancakes I'll make you something else."
"Okay," Lisa sighed as she rolled over to go back to sleep. Marge pulled the covers up to her daughter's neck before leaving the room.
Lisa pulled the covers tight and slowly let out a deep breath, ready to drift off again.
Suddenly, she heard a slow pained moan. Her eyes popped open and she sat up to see where it was coming from. On her desk, the kitty Takuto was sitting upright with his back against the wall with one arm around the bunny Meroko, who was slumped forward.
"What's wrong?" Lisa gasped softly while jumping out of bed. She was at the desk in a flash, holding one of Meroko's paws.
"She's still hung over from the alcohol fumes yesterday," Takuto said with a hint of concern while Lisa picked her up and cradled her.
"Owww! I'll never complain about the way your mother washes me," Meroko swore. "Just don't ever let your father do that to me again."
"I told you not to eat your sundae so fast! What a mess you made," Takuto huffed.
"I had to rush because we had to go to the doctor's ," the bunny complained a little too loudly for her own good. "Oww!" she suddenly cried before rubbing her temples.
With a poof of smoke, Takuto turned into his spirit form. "I'll get you some more aspirin," he said before floating out through the door.
"I'm sorry," Lisa cooed while carrying her over to the bed. She got back in and cuddled with the bunny.
Meroko started giggling, "That's okay. Ow! It was worth it." She looked up at the ceiling with a dreamy smile and a twinkle in her eyes. Then she sighed lovingly. "Takuto sat up and held me all night long. He really does care about me! He's so great."
"He is nice," Lisa agreed before looking at the flowers on her desk. "Why is it that boys can do really nice things for us when we least expect it, but they can't just tell us how they feel?"
Meroko thought for a moment and then answered, "I don't know, but when Takuto does something like this, I don't really care anymore if he says it or not... Well, at least not for a while."
The door creaked opened and the kitty Takuto slowly walked in. He was balancing a small glass of water in one hand and had two aspirin tablets in the other. "Sorry it took so long, but I learned that it's best not to try carrying this right in front of the dog, even if he appears to be sleeping."
Lisa hopped up and took the water and pills from the kitty, who immediately turned back into his spirit form. As she carried them to the bed, Lisa added, "And I learned that spirits can get nasty hangovers."
Both Takuto and Meroko suddenly looked at her in surprise, and then they looked at each other.
"D'OH!" Takuto cried as Meroko poofed back into her spirit form.
"Hey, I'm all better!" the bunny spirit chimed. "Why didn't I think of that?" she wondered aloud while floating up off the bed.
Takuto shook his head and mumbled, "Sit awake all night... annoying dog... carried it up all those steps..."
Meroko landed next to him. "Thank you, Takuto," she said before kissing him on the cheek.
He stopped muttering and said, "It's okay." He turned away and quickly asked, "So, what do we do now?"
"Nothing, I guess," Lisa answered, suddenly emotionless. "We just wait."
"Huh?" Meroko said with a confused expression.
"That's easier for everyone, isn't it?" Lisa said.
"Yeah, but it's not as much fun!" Meroko complained.
Takuto noted, "But now there's no reason why you can't do the second show, and that could be your last chance to find that boy."
"No way!" Lisa insisted. "For once I didn't think about finding that boy or doing anything for myself. I thought I was helping a good cause, but the charity itself was willing to sell out. That's not something I can be part of," she growled as she left her bedroom. Takuto and Meroko followed her at a distance as she headed down the hall.
"Well, I guess you'll just have more time with your family, so that's good," Meroko called after her, but she was unconvincing.
"Wait, Lisa," Takuto called to her, but she walked into the bathroom and shut the door.
When Lisa came back into the hallway, she could hear the shinigami talking in her room. She let out a sigh and headed back. However, before she got there she heard Maggie fussing, so she went in to check on her.
She saw Maggie straining to reach out of her crib through the bars, trying to reach the pacifier that had fallen on the floor. Lisa picked it up and wiped it on her pajamas. Instead of taking it to the bathroom to wash it off, she simply stuck it in her mouth for a moment to clean it. When she offered it to Maggie, the baby gave her a suspicious look.
"Don't worry, Maggie: what I have isn't contagious," Lisa said, depressed.
Maggie cautiously took the pacifier and put it in her mouth. Suck! The baby smiled at her for a moment, but then she looked surprised as Lisa lifted her out of the crib and sat on the floor with her. Lisa put her face against Maggie's, but the baby pushed her away.
Lisa let Maggie go on the floor and said, "I need to talk to someone I can trust to keep a secret. Okay?"
Ignoring Lisa, Maggie crawled over to her toy box, pulled herself up, and started digging through it clumsily.
Lisa got up on her knees and moved over to her. "I'll help you find what you're looking for," she offered, but Maggie gave her older sister an annoyed look and pushed her hands away. Lisa sat back down and sighed.
"Let me help," Meroko said from behind, making Lisa jump a little in surprise. Meroko then poofed into her bunny form and landed in Lisa's hands.
"Look, Maggie! I have a very special bunny. Do you want to play with her?" Lisa said excitedly.
Maggie turned around to look for a moment, but then she wrinkled her nose at the bunny and resumed her search.
"Wow! No one else can resist cuddling you, so why isn't Maggie interested?" Lisa asked the bunny.
"These forms give comfort to those who are suffering, but it has no effect on people who are happy," she explained. "That way, we are always free to be with those who need us the most." Maggie peeked over her shoulder when she heard the unfamiliar voice, but only for a moment.
"I see," Lisa said sadly while holding her up. She hugged Meroko and took a deep breath.
"Aww, What's wrong?" the bunny asked.
"Well, I figured it would be okay to tell Maggie about, you know, since she wouldn't really understand anyway," Lisa told her. "But I guess I should just let her be happy and not burden her with my problems. Telling her that I'm going to die this weekend isn't going to do her any good."
Maggie's paused for a moment and her eyes went wide.
Meroko patted Lisa's shoulder and said, "That's okay. I'm just sorry we can't be here for her after you're gone. Babies have such a hard time understanding what's going on when people die, especially siblings. But I'm sure your family will take care of her feelings while they're mourning for you."
Lisa began crying very softly, "I just want to say goodbye to everyone, but I don't know how. Everyone else would think I'm crazy, but I thought Maggie would listen. I guess I haven't been a good big sister. Sure, I always used to think that I'd teach her lots of stuff and help her with her homework. Then we'd hang out at the library or visit museums together."
Neither Lisa nor Meroko noticed Maggie now staring at them. The pacifier dropped out of her mouth and landed on the floor.
"That would have been nice," Meroko reassured her.
"But I've always been so busy with my own things and always expected Mom to take care of Maggie, like she was just part of the housework," Lisa lamented. "Like you told me, it takes something really bad before people start behaving like they should. But I didn't do it, and now it's too late."
Lisa felt a tapping on her knee and looked down to see Maggie standing right in front of her and looking sad. "Do you want to hold the bunny?" she asked while handing Meroko to her.
Maggie gripped the bunny tightly against her chest with both hands but kept looking at her big sister. Lisa just smiled weakly at her for a moment while Maggie tried to grip Meroko more and more tightly. Though visibly uncomfortable, Meroko didn't resist at all.
However, Maggie suddenly put Meroko down next to her and raised her arms up for Lisa to hold her. Tears were running down her cheeks and she let out a sniffle as Lisa picked her up and held her baby sister close, their cheeks touching. Upon seeing this, Meroko quietly walked out of the room while Lisa slowly swayed back and forth with her sister.
"Shhh. Don't worry Maggie. You have a full life ahead of you," Lisa whispered. "I'm sorry that I won't be here to see it, but don't let that stop you from living it. You know, I always hoped you'd be just like me, and not just because I desperately need friends. Now, I just want you to do what makes you happy."
Lisa sat cross-legged and put the baby on her lower legs so that they were facing each other. Maggie hung on her every word as she continued, "I wasn't that much older than you when a special friend told me something important: he said that I could do anything I wanted, and that's what I did. You have to remember that, especially if Bart tries to push you around or Mom wants to make you do stuff you don't like.
"In a few days I'll have to go away. I really don't want to leave you, but I don't have a choice. Some very special folks are already here, waiting to take me away."
Maggie suddenly scooted back off of Lisa's legs and crawled over to her crib. She lifted up her mattress and pulled out an assault rifle. Click! Click! Click! She had it loaded and cocked in four seconds. The baby lifted the rifle and looked through the sight at an imaginary target. After a few seconds, she clicked the safety on and held the rifle out in both arms, offering it to Lisa.
"So that's why we don't have raccoons anymore," Lisa said. Then she put up her hands in refusal and sighed, "No, I'm afraid that won't stop them from taking me."
Looking dejected, Maggie popped the cartridge out of the rifle and put it back under her mattress. Then she fell on her bottom and crossed her arms angrily. "Hm!"
Lisa scooted up in front of her. "It's not their fault. Actually, they've been very good to me even though they didn't have to be, even when I wasn't being very good to them," she explained. "But there is one thing you can do for me, when you're older."
Maggie relaxed a bit and looked up at Lisa sympathetically.
"Mom and Dad may think it's their fault that I," she hesitated. "...that I died, but it's not! And it's not Doctor Hibbert's fault, either. Don't ever think that it was, and, more importantly, don't let them think it either."
Maggie shifted uncomfortably and looked off to the side before letting out a sniffle.
"Please?" Lisa asked again.
Maggie closed her tear-filled eyes and nodded while raising her arms. Lisa snatched her baby sister up and held her for a long time. Eventually, Maggie fell asleep.
"Follow your own dreams, Maggie, no matter what," Lisa quietly reminded Maggie while placing her in the crib. She turned to leave but was a little startled to find spirit Takuto standing in the middle of the room.
"The same should still go for you, too," he said while looking down at her expectantly.
Her lips tightened and she hesitated before quietly saying, "My dreams have already left me behind."
He inhaled deeply through his nose and then offered his hand to her. He spoke gently, "Never mind that now. We can talk after you rest up." After a moment, Lisa took his hand and they left together.
********
Still in her pajamas, Lisa walked into her room with the bunny Meroko under one arm. "You missed a great breakfast, Takuto!" Meroko told him.
"That's okay," he said while closing a study book and looking up. "Lisa, your phone buzzed three times while you were eating."
"Oh," Lisa said plainly while getting it out of the trophy. She pressed a few buttons and then dropped it back in with a loud clang. "It's off now," she said while walking to the bed. After putting Meroko down, she went to her dresser and started picking out clothes.
"Aren't you going to listen to your messages?" Meroko asked.
"Why? It's just Lindsay," Lisa said while changing.
"Geez! You're too close to stop now!" Takuto complained while standing up, though still looking away.
"It's just not important," Lisa said unemotionally while sitting down on the chair. "I got to play and have fun, but now there's nothing I want to do but spend time with my family."
"You should at least talk to her about it," he suggested.
Meroko added, "Yeah, she sounded really upset by her eleventh message yesterday!"
Lisa looked at her quizzically and asked, "How did you hear her messages?"
"Uh, we kind-of figured out your PIN," Meroko admitted.
"Takuto!" Lisa complained.
"It wasn't me! Meroko did it," he protested.
Lisa looked at her again, even more confused.
"It was easy: 45762 = I Love Shadowy Mystery Boy," Meroko said with a guilty smile.
Lisa blushed and then stammered, "It's like -- I Like Shadowy Mystery Boy! Anyway, we were supposed to be helping people, not making everyone rich."
Takuto shot back, "But you did help people. Maybe it wasn't as perfect as you would have liked, but at least she was willing to do something. So what if some others benefited, too?"
"I cant' trust her anymore," she huffed.
"Aren't you at least going to tell her you won't be there?" Meroko asked while poofing into spirit form.
Lisa hung her head and waited a moment. "I don't think I can even talk to her," she said quietly. "I'm too disillusioned by the whole thing."
Takuto asked, "You knew what she was like and how she's motivated, so why are you so disappointed in her?"
"No, I'm disappointed in myself," she said before walking out of her room.
Takuto started to go after her, but Meroko put a hand on his shoulder. She closed her eyes and spoke in a shaky voice, "Even if she shouldn't give up now, it may be the right thing to do."
"Maybe you're right," he answered before noticing her blank expression. "But then why are you upset?"
"Because even if it's not, I don't think we can do anything about it right now," Meroko answered.
********
CRASH! Lisa almost lost her balance on the step stool while trying to catch the plate, but Marge gripped her shoulders to steady her. Lisa looked scared as her mother silently knelt down and started picking up the pieces. Lisa didn't move the whole time.
While getting up, Marge finally noticed Lisa's expression and said, "Don't worry, Lisa. It's just a plate. Heck, I don't even need to get the vacuum."
Marge dropped the pieces in the trash before returning to the sink and rinsing off another dish. Lisa reached to take it from her, but Marge hesitated and then put it back in the soapy water. "Oh, Lisa," she sighed.
Lisa looked confused and a little hurt. Marge picked her up under both arms. She gently kicked a chair out and sat, putting the girl on her lap so that they faced each other. "Lisa, I'm glad that you're getting up early again, and, believe me, I'm really happy that you want to help me with the housework," she said kindly. "But you look like you didn't sleep at all last night, and you shouldn't push yourself. Why don't you go upstairs and go back to bed."
"I just want to be with all of you as much as I can, j..." Lisa stopped herself. She then leaned into her mother's chest and curled up, so Marge held her closer.
"Honey, hmmm..." Marge stopped herself as well, and there was an awkward silence. For several minutes, Marge stared at the table while Lisa looked at the wall.
Finally, Marge gently pushed Lisa's shoulder so that they were looking into each others' faces again. Marge spoke very calmly, "Lisa, I never thought I'd say this, but you're really starting to piss me off." Then she bit her lip nervously and held Lisa's shoulder's tightly. The little girl's eyes went wide in shock.
Marge then continued, "For more than a month you've been wandering around this house like a prisoner, and I can't blame you for getting bored or mad because you can't do any of the things you like. Sure, it's been rough for you, but it's been hard for the rest of us, too. Maggie's missed play group more times than I can count, and Moe could go out of business because your father's spending most nights at home. Bart's been walking around on pins and needles for the last week, and my cleaning routine is really out-of-whack these days!" She took a moment to look at Lisa's apologetic eyes.
Marge went on, "That's okay, honey: If we have to make a few sacrifices so that you'll be better, then that's fine, even when you aren't being particularly pleasant. But you know what really bothers me?"
Without breaking eye contact, Lisa briefly shook her head.
Marge continued, "It bothers me when I see you sitting and just staring at the TV like a zombie, like your father, and it bugs me when you eat like a pig just to make me happy." Tears began to well up in her eyes. "But when you start acting like you want to be my baby girl forever, that makes me feel like I've failed you as a mother." A tear ran down her cheek.
Lisa sat up and looked at her in utter confusion. "Mom..." she whimpered.
Marge went on, "Sometimes I think that I'd like my children to stay with me forever and never grow up, but I won't be here forever to take care of you. So I have to make sure you can take care of yourself someday. Sure, I'll still worry, but only enough to think that I'm still important to you."
"You'll always be important to me," Lisa said while trying to cuddle against her mother again, but Marge pushed her back again.
Marge took a deep breath and continued, "I know, but you were always so independent that I was sure you'd be self-sufficient and then some. Even when we started to realize how sick you were, you still kept pushing the limits and trying, no matter how much I yelled at you." She swallowed hard and said, "If you're scared now, honey, that's okay -- I've been scared out of my mind ever since you started playing with stuffed animals again.. If it helps, then I'll blame all of your strange behavior on the tumor.
"But I could really use your help now: the Lisa I know is always fighting for what she believes in, and the Lisa I know believes in herself. So, if that Lisa is willing to show her nagging over-protective mother that she hasn't given up on herself, then I won't be quite so scared anymore. Even if we you don't agree that everything will turn out fine."
Lisa put her hands on Marge's face and rested her forehead on her mother's cheek. "Of course I'll be there for you, Mom! For as long as I can!" After a moment, she leaned back, smiling, and added, "And if it makes you feel better I'll do everything I'm not supposed to and we'll be so angry at each other that we'll forget to be scared."
Marge smiled and answered, "That's better. Not what I really had in mind, but definitely better. Besides, I already have one baby to feed and clean up after and encourage all the time." Then she looked up at the clock and gasped, "And he's going to be home from work in six hours and I don't have any pork chops for dinner!" She helped Lisa stand up before getting up. "Watch Maggie for a bit and I'll run to the store," she said while grabbing her purse.
"But you said I could take a nap, geez!" Lisa huffed indignantly. Marge looked at her, surprised, but then Lisa broke out laughing so hard that she had to hold her sides.
"Mrrr, don't overdo it, okay?" Marge said gruffly, but then she smiled while walking out to the garage.
Lisa ran through the family room, seeing that Maggie was sitting on the floor as the title The Happy Little Elves came on the TV. She rushed out through the living room. Then Maggie looked back at the screen as the rest of the title faded in, ...Meet Itchy & Scratchy.
As she shoved her door and ran into her room, Lisa barely heard the voice on the television saying, "Maybe this cat and mouse will be our friends!" The door bounced off the wall, blocking the sound of machine gun fire as it closed itself.
Bunny Meroko jumped off the bed and the spirit Takuto turned in the desk chair to see what was happening.
Lisa paused for a moment and then tentatively asked, "Will you still let me play the benefit tomorrow night?"
"Geez!" Takuto muttered while standing up. He took a step towards her and then dropped to one knee, "Of course! You should know me well enough by now."
Lisa smiled at him.
He asked, "But what made you suddenly change your mind?"
Lisa was embarrassed as she admitted, "I just realized that I've been acting like a baby."
"Yay! We can practice the songs today," Meroko shouted while hopping into the air and poofing into her spirit form. She landed on her knees next to Lisa and gave her a little hug, but when she pulled back, Lisa looked troubled. "What's wrong?" the bunny girl asked.
Lisa looked down and slowly dragged one foot back and forth. Then she said, "Well, it's my last show and I wanted it to be special, but there's no way my parents would go."
Takuto agreed, "Of course not. You're scheduled for surgery the next morning."
"Go, and have fun," Meroko told her. "I don't even mind not being able to sleep or eat while I'm you."
"Well," Lisa hesitated again and then looked up at them both. "Since we've become so close over the past month, I was wondering if both of you could come to this show with me."
Meroko immediately accepted, "Aww, that's so sweet! Of course!"
"Baka!" Takuto cried, but then he caught himself. "They'll definitely be keeping a close eye on her tomorrow, so she'll definitely get in trouble if you aren't here to..." Takuto stopped as Lisa put a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry," she said with a wicked grin. "After all, what are they going to do, ground me?"
********
Chapter 8: Something Suddenly Kept Me Up
When Lisa woke up the next morning, she could tell that something was up. Everyone seemed fine enough, but she felt like her family avoided looking at her, though they all seemed to be in a better mood than usual. At the breakfast table she tentatively asked, "Hey, could we do something special today, as a family?"
Homer immediately responded, "Oh, honey, we are... OUCH!"
Bart pulled his fork up from under the table. "Oops my fork slipped!" he said with a smile.
Marge then answered, "We are, sweetie: we're all gonna clean the entire house from top to bottom, as a family. You just need to rest today because you have to stay up all night for the EEG."
This seemed a little odd to Lisa, but it also seemed very familiar. Before she could question any further, she could only smile and think about all of the happy times they had together after starting a day with the same kind of senseless banter.
Takuto's plushy face wrinkled a bit and he whispered, "Hey, something is going on here."
Meroko quickly responded, "Oh, Taki! You're so suspicious. Just let her spend a normal day with her family."
Lisa tried to remain upbeat as she mentioned, "Well, I had hoped we could do something fun -- all of us."
Marge heard this and answered, "Oh, honey. Tell you what: we'll arrange for you to have some fun later. Okay?"
"Okay," Lisa answered as Marge pushed a fresh waffle off of the serving plate onto Lisa's dish. "Waffles!" Lisa said in happy surprise.
"Yes sweetie," Marge nonchalantly affirmed. "Since you won't be able to eat tonight and tomorrow, I thought you should have all your favorites today."
Lisa clutched the plushies and slowly took a deep breath to keep her composure. "Thanks, Mom," she said with a big smile.
"Hey, not so tight!" Takuto quietly complained, distracting her enough to relax again.
Meroko looked up at Lisa with her big bunny eyes, as if she understood how Lisa felt, and said, "Are you gonna eat those waffles? If not, I'm starved!"
Takuto just closed his eyes and shook his head. Lisa let them go so she could pour the syrup on her big, fresh waffle. She cut a bit with the edge of her fork and almost scooped it directly into her mouth, where she savored the taste until it was mushy. She thought, "Someday Mom will understand how happy this made me." However, Lisa made sure that the next few bites made it to the two shinigami.
********
For a day of resting, Lisa had a hard time getting any peace. Meroko watched TV quietly while Takuto tried to help Lisa nod off by telling stories, but that didn't help. Even though she had been through so many sleepless nights during the past few months, she knew it would be difficult to stay up all night now, especially after playing the farewell concert. However, the stresses of the impending performance and operation were nothing compared to her feeling of sadness, but all of it weighed heavily on her mind.
To make matters worse, the vacuuming, scrubbing, organizing and everything else going on in the house made it very difficult for Lisa to relax. Though Bart was used to doing housework as punishment, Homer was completely out of control as he tried to wash the windows, take the sheets off of the beds, or do any simple tasks. Every few minutes he would scream for help and Marge would have to rescue him. At one point, Lisa jumped up and followed her mother to the master bedroom when her father was screaming particularly loudly. They found him hanging from the curtain rod, which was still mounted and holding him up by running through both sleeves of his shirt.
"Wow, Homey, that's gotta be a new height of ineptitude for you," Marge commented as she climbed on a chair to free him.
He fell to the floor with a loud thud but then looked up at Lisa with a happy smile. He said, "I told you, Marge, today I'm trying extra hard at everything because it's for my little girl." After he gave Lisa a wink, Marge escorted her back to her bedroom doorway before rushing back to solve another Homer-related problem.
"Geez, they're not going to make it easy for you to sleep," Takuto complained.
Lisa smiled a little and said, "You know, with less than two days left, I really don't think sleeping is all that important."
Takuto looked sad at this but quickly recovered, saying, "You're a brave little girl."
This embarrassed Lisa, so she changed the subject. "At least someone in the family has time for me today," Lisa said with a smile. She picked Takuto up and scampered off to Maggie's room. The baby was sitting in her crib with her eyes scrunched shut and hands over her ears, trying to block out the noisy cleaning. Lisa put Takuto in the rocking chair and picked up her little sister, who suddenly looked very happy. "Do you want to hear a story?" Lisa asked while walking her over to the rocker.
When Maggie saw Takuto sitting in the chair, her eyes lit up and she reached for him.
"Okay," he said with a sigh and jumped down to the floor. Lisa sat down on the floor, too, and Maggie snatched Takuto up in her arms, cooing and squeezing the cuddly little death spirit. She rolled around on the floor with him for a minute while her older sister just watched.
Seeing Maggie that happy made Lisa smile. Maggie suddenly notice Lisa's expression and then looked guilty for a moment. She let go of the little kitty and crawled over to her toy box. Lisa got up and went over to help her as she tried to dig out a toy xylophone and its striker. She plopped down in front of it and held the striker out to Lisa. Lisa smiled but didn't accept it.
"No, Maggie, you're gonna have to play from now. I'll show you," Lisa said as she started pointing to different bars and carefully explaining where Maggie needed to strike. Slowly, Maggie began to get it.
A little while later, Marge found Lisa asleep on Maggie's floor, her head resting on that kitty doll's lap, and Maggie quietly playing the xylophone. Lisa looked happy there, so Marge quietly put a blanket over her as the baby continued to play and then pulled the door closed as she left the room.
********
"Hey, sleepy heads," Marge said while rubbing Lisa's back. "It's almost time for dinner."
Lisa was still on the floor, and Maggie was asleep with her back against Lisa's stomach. It was twilight now, and the hall light made its long trapezoid pattern on the floor next to her. This and the relative quiet gave her an eerie feeling.
"We're all going to have dinner in the dining room tonight, so you should put on some clothes," Marge said while offering Lisa her red dress. Marge then picked up Maggie and began the process of changing her and putting her into a clean outfit. "I hope you had a nice nap, 'cause you can't go to sleep until tomorrow."
Still sleepy, Lisa got up and started changing there. With a yawn she asked, "Why are we eating in the dining room?" She picked up the still-sleeping Takuto from the floor.
While holding the baby with one arm, Marge reached out and offered her other hand to Lisa. "You'll see," Marge said with a little giggle.
Lisa took her mother's hand and they started going down the stairs. She could hear Bart talking about something, and from his tone it didn't sound like he was talking to Homer. There was a small pile of backpacks by the front door. Lisa realized that someone else must be there, but she was still surprised when she turned the corner and saw everyone at the dining room table: along with Bart and Dad, she saw Allison, Janey, Sherri, Terri, Alex Whitney, Wanda, Celeste, Martin, Database, Cosine, Ham, Report Card, and Milhouse. They all called out and greeted her merrily. Allison went over and gave her a big hug, followed by most of the other girls and even Milhouse.
She was in shock. "Guys, what are you all doing here?" was all that Lisa could say.
Marge was happy to answer, "Well, we thought having all the girls over for a slumber party would be a fun way to help keep you awake all night!" She gave Maggie to Homer, who just smiled when he saw Lisa's happy face.
Milhouse spoke up, "Yeah, Lis, and me and the other guys just wanted to wish you luck, so your mom asked us to dinner, too."
Lisa was having a hard time keeping the tears back. "Oh, you guys," she started to say as Marge rushed to the kitchen, dragging Bart along so they could start serving dinner. Allison took Lisa's hand and led her to the head of the table where Homer usually sat. Homer put Maggie in the high chair and then took the seat next to Lisa; Allison sat on her other side as everyone else took their seats.
As Marge and Bart served the falafel salad and eggplant parmesan, the boys chatted about what had been going on in school while the girls talked excitedly about their plans for the night.
"We heard there was gonna be a DVD player in your room, Lisa, so we brought some movies to watch," Sherri said while Terri nodded in agreement.
Janey chimed in, "I brought a whole bunch of scary movies -- that should really keep us awake!"
Alex casually added, "Oh, and my parents brought over our cappuccino machine, so we'll be able to drink all kinds of coffee: there's no way we'll fall asleep."
"That's right," Celeste added with a grin, "We have all sorts of mischief planned to keep you up."
"That's so sweet, everyone," Lisa said with heartfelt appreciation.
Takuto whispered, "Yeah, but how are all three of us gonna slip out to your concert?"
"D'OH!" Lisa said, much to everyone's confusion. They all stopped talking and looked at her. "I mean, hehehehe, this was such a surprise that I didn't even get to clean my room," she nervously offered.
Marge chimed right in, "That's okay -- we cleaned it up and put down drop cloths while Maggie was distracting you."
Lisa looked at Maggie, who pulled the pacifier out of her mouth and gave her stunned sister a wide smile.
********
After dinner, the crowd of children hung out in the living room, watching an Itchy & Scratchy tape while a boy's mother or father would occasionally stop by to pick him up. After they had left, one of the girls suggested that they move the party upstairs to Lisa's room so that they could really start to have some fun.
As the girls picked up their bags and prepared to get into their pajamas, Lisa went to her room, supposedly to do get changed before everyone else came in. She ran in and closed the door when Takuto immediately poofed back into spirit form. Spirit Meroko was sitting in front of the television, but she hopped up when the other two came in.
"They brought in a DVD player and a karaoke machine and everything! I bet'cha you were real surprised," she said to Lisa with a big smile.
"You knew about all of this?" Lisa asked.
"Of course, silly!" Meroko answered. "But I wasn't going to ruin the surprise for you."
Takuto cut in, "Baka! Now how can Lisa do her concert? If you take her place then her friends are bound to realize that something's wrong."
Lisa looked down at the floor and slid the big toe of her right foot back and forth. She meekly said, "And, 'cause of all you've done..." She found it hard to speak. "I really wanted both of you there with me tonight."
This seemed to hurt Meroko more than Takuto's harsh words, but now he was even angrier and yelled, "We could have faked a seizure or figured something else out. Now what do we do?"
Suddenly, Meroko's eyes lit up and she gasped, "I know! I know!" She floated up in the air and said, "I'll be back in a little bit, but it's gonna be okay. Trust me!" She then floated out through the ceiling.
"What's she gonna do?" Lisa asked.
"I don't know, but I hope for once she does something smart," he answered before turning away. "If not, we can come up with something -- we always do. I'll think in the hallway while you put your pajamas on," he said while passing through the inside wall.
Lisa changed quickly and opened the door, letting the horde of young girls into her cramped room. They had brought games, soda, candy, snacks, and movies. To make matters worse, Marge showed up with a tray full of tiny espresso cups, which she gave to all of the other girls. Janey and Terri started with the karaoke machine, even convincing Lisa to sing an Ozzy Osbourne song. After some time, Lisa looked at the clock and realized that she had to leave soon to make it to the concert on time.
Meroko flew back into the room carrying a bag with The Android's Dungeon logo on it. She dropped the bag on Lisa's bed and motioned her over. Lisa picked up plushy Takuto and went to see what she had.
The spirit handed her the plastic bag and looked at her in all seriousness before explaining, "This is really powerful and can even affect us shinigami, so do exactly what I tell you: give this to your friends and I'll tell you what to say; Takuto, your job is to return to spirit form and block Lisa's view of the TV and cover her ears. IF YOU LOOK AT OR HEAR EVEN A LITTLE OF THIS, WE WILL SUCCUMB TO IT'S HIDEOUS AND UNNATURAL POWERS!
"Takuto, get some cotton balls from the bathroom," Meroko continued. "We need to plug our ears as well, all four of them just in case."
Takuto flew out into the hallway while Meroko put a hand on Lisa's shoulder and guided her over to Allison. The senior shinigami whispered in Lisa's ear and she repeated it out loud, "Guys, I really wanted to see this for a long time, but it's subtitled and I'm not supposed to read too much. Can each of you read for a character?"
"Oh, sure!" Allison said while taking the bag and opening it. Meanwhile, Takuto had returned with ears full of cotton and he handed a few balls to Meroko before inserting some in Lisa's ears. Meroko carefully sealed her human and bunny ears.
Alex looked at the DVD case and exclaimed, "Oh, I just love anime! This is gonna be fun." She ran over and set up the DVD as Takuto led Lisa to her desk chair. One she sat down facing the television, he stood facing her so that neither one of them could see the screen; Meroko stood to the side of the television and watched the other girls.
The youngsters were excited as the FBI warning about copying came on. They sipped their espresso and chatted gaily, wondering what kind of show it was. "It must be magical girls!" Alex blurted out with some excitement.
"I hope it's giant robots," Celeste said, eliciting dirty looks from the other girls. With a nervous laugh, she said, "Heh heh heh. I mean, I hope there are talking animals." Everyone seemed happier with this comment and turned back to the television.
Allison started reading the subtitled lines of the first character, a young girl just getting out of bed in the morning, "Today I start learning how to be a librarian. I'll be working at the library my father built, which has the same name as me." She yawned but had no trouble keeping up, "My name is Kokoro." The title "KOKORO LIBRARY" appeared on the screen as a few more yawns were heard. Sherri chugged the last of her strong coffee and then opened a bottle of Jolt.
"Are you ready to learn how to become a great librarian, Kokoro," Janey read for one of the older sisters in the story. THUD! Alex had passed out.
"Of course," Allison continued, "But why did our parents build the library, Kokoro Library, which is named after me, Kokoro, their daughter, in the middle of nowhere?" Sherri dozed off while still sitting up.
Terri's head sank into the pillow that her elbows had been resting on.
Wanda read for the third sister, "I wonder if we'll have any customers today," as her eyes slowly closed.
Celeste read for the customer who had arrived on a moped, "There was a book that I read when I was a child. Can you find it for..." Celeste rested her head on Janey's shoulder and closed her eyes.
"I think..." Allison started to say before she succumbed to the inane boredom of the story.
Janey looked at Lisa, who was staring towards the TV with a blank look and not reacting. "Lisa, what's happening?" she asked, but her young didn't answer. She heard the bland insipid Japanese voices on the television as she tried to crawl over to her backpack. It was tough to keep her eyes open as Janey pulled out her clothes and fumbled for the small bag marked "BEE STING KIT" in the bottom. She pulled out an epinephrine injector and was trying desperately to uncap the needle as her body tried to fall asleep.
Meroko noticed Janey's resistance went over to her, being careful to keep her back to the TV screen. When Janey fumbled with the medicine, Meroko snatched it from her hands, making it appear to the girl that it was floating in mid air. The death spirit held it so Janey had to look towards the screen while she tried to grasp her last chance at staying awake. This was too much. THUD! Janey was out, slumped over her backpack.
Meroko put a blanket over the small girl and then walked up behind Takuto. She tapped him on the shoulder and reached in front of him, pointing towards the bedroom door. Marge suddenly walked in, asking "Okay, who wants some..." She didn't have a chance. Meroko caught Marge and laid her out on a sleeping bag.
Being careful to look away from the television, the three left.
********
Leese ran into the Jazz hole with her sax case in one hand and the plushy shinigami under the other. She moved to the back where there were lots of other cases and stands.
"I knew you would come," Lindsay suddenly said from behind.
Leese turned around and the looked at each other uncomfortably. "Really?" Leese finally asked.
"Uhm, actually no," Lindsay said while looking through Leese, not making eye contact. "I suppose that wasn't completely honest. I didn't pay attention to your concerns at the ice cream place, but after you never returned my calls, I realized that I should have explained better. Believe me, lots of other people get upset when they find out how these things work."
Lindsay then looked Leese in the eyes and said, "But I really did hope you would come."
"I'm glad I did," Leese said. Then she stepped forward and started to give Lindsay a gentle hug.
"Uh, be careful of the face makeup," the older woman complained, but then she gently patted Leese on the back a few times. "Anyway, you're on in a few minutes, so I'll let you get ready." Lindsay started back to her seat.
"There's one more thing," Leese added, getting Lindsay's attention again. She held out the cell phone and said, "It's not because of the charity stuff, but unfortunately I won't be able to play anymore after tonight."
Lindsay looked at her without saying anything, so Leese continued, "Actually, this was part of the reason I turned down the OmniTel Band seat. I know I should have told you sooner, and..."
Lindsay raised her palms to stop the girl and showed a knowing smile. "I knew it was too good to last. It doesn't seem like I can keep any worthwhile job going for long." Then she whispered, "Keep the phone in case you change your mind."
"Are you sure?" Leese asked.
"Yeah. I didn't have to pay for it, anyways," she said with a laugh. "Okay, get ready!" Lindsay whispered before returning to her seat.
Leese put the smiling plushies on a table and then prepared her saxophone. Before leaving for the stage, she gave each of them a kiss on the forehead.
After the current set finished, the crowd applauded as the M.C. took the microphone and said, "All right, out of sight! Now, we don't have the space or the acts of last week's Lisa Simpson benefit, but I'm glad that all of you were willing to come out and help the cause a little more. Hey, every bit helps, folks. So anyway, the Jazz Hole is proud to present the up-and-coming saxophone sensation, Leese!"
The crowd applauded and cheered as Leese took the stage. After a moment, the lights went down, but instead of stopping at dim, they went off completely. There was hushed concern and confusion in the crowd, but a back door off to the side suddenly opened, letting in a blinding light. Leese looked and saw the form of a young boy with thick disheveled hair standing in the light.
"Geez! Not again," she complained. Takuto and Meroko poofed into spirit forms and floated up to the stage.
The form beckoned to her. "Leese?" he said while reaching out. Her eyes went wide and she walked towards the boy as if she was in a trance. As soon as she was out the door and in the alley, it slammed shut behind her and two black-suited goons stood with their backs to it. Takuto and Meroko popped through the walls to see what was happening.
"I've been searching for you," the boy said as he stepped forward. He was tall, though only about fifteen years old, and he had Asian features except for thick blonde hair down to his shoulders. "You can do anything you want?" he said with a laugh.
"You're...." Leese gasped while gazing into his face.
"That's right," he said. "I'm Eichi Sakura, and I'm with the Japanese Intellectual Property Association."
Leese and Meroko simultaneously cried out, "Huh?" Lindsay ran around the corner and joined them.
"I was adopted and then my father was transferred to America. He works for J.I.P.A. and now I help out, too," he explained.
"Were you here when I was just a little girl?" Leese asked.
"Oh, no, just for two years, and we never stay in one place for long," he explained.
"So, if you aren't my childhood friend, then why are you here?"
He pulled out a clipboard and explained while reading, "It seems that you have been playing covers of many popular songs from Japanese anime, but you haven't paid a royalty for them. I'm here to make you pay a huge fine and also become a member."
"Meroko!" Takuto cried out.
"Hey, how was I supposed to know that she wasn't supposed to play all those Sailor Moon songs?" she said defensively.
Lindsay nervously proposed, "Why don't we talk about this inside. I'm sure we can come to some mutual agreement, like not playing the songs anymore. Then everybody's happy."
"I'm sorry, but you must be punished," he said, but then he looked at Leese carefully.
"But this was my last performance. I won't even be playing anymore after tonight," Leese complained.
"Tell you what," Eichi said while ripping up the forms on the clipboard. "I will let you off if you promise not to play these songs until you join."
"Done!" Lindsay and Leese shouted together. They looked at each other for a moment and then high-fived each other.
Leese turned back to him and asked, "What made you change your mind?"
He looked up at the nearly-full moon and began to reminisce, "You remind me of someone very special back in Japan. Oh, Mitsuki was such a lovely little girl, and she dreams of being a singer... even though she sounds like a chain smoker. But then again, lots of kids in the orphanage smoked, so I shouldn't be surprised. I wish I could write to her, but tracking down illegal use of Japanese music is a dangerous business. Sending a letter is out of the question..."
Lindsay looked at her watch and then tapped Leese on the shoulder before pointing out of the alley. They walked out together, followed by the shinigami, as Eichi continued to stare at the moon while talking to himself.
********
Lisa opened the front door to her house ever so quietly before tiptoeing into the dark entryway, followed by the spirit forms of the shinigami. As her foot touched the bottom step of the staircase, the hall light snapped on and Lisa turned to see Marge standing behind her.
"Busted!" Meroko cried out, disappointed.
"Geez!" Takuto moaned.
"Lisa," Marge said, sounding very disappointed. "What were you doing out of the house?"
"Uh, uh," Lisa couldn't answer, so she looked down, ashamed.
Marge gently took the case from Lisa and placed it back on the floor. Then she sat on the stairs, just high enough so her face was level with her daughter's. "I know I told you to be your old self, but I thought you understood there are still lines you shouldn't cross. You're eight years old and you're having an important operation in the morning. Did you eat or drink anything?"
Lisa slowly shook her head.
"That's good at least," she noted. "But what possible excuse can you have for sneaking out like this?"
"Well," Lisa said while turning red from embarrassment. She started to fidget with her hands, so Marge held them in hers and then looked right in Lisa's face. Finally, Lisa explained, "Well, there's this boy I've liked for a long time, and since we really don't know what's going to happen tomorrow, I was hoping to tell him how I feel."
Marge put a hand on the side of Lisa's face and turned her head a little so that they were looking in each-other's eyes. "You mean to tell me," Marge said with rising excitement, "that you snuck out of the house without telling anyone, abandoning all your friends, risking your health and even your life, all just because you like some boy!"
"He he he," Lisa laughed nervously. "Yeah, that's pretty much it."
Takuto and Meroko winced and covered their eyes in fear.
Marge's eyes teared up and her voice cracked. "My little girl is becoming a woman! You finally understand how important love is!" she sobbed while hugging Lisa tightly.
"Aww, Mom!" Lisa protested.
The shinigami tentatively opened their eyes. Takuto let out a sigh of relief, but then Meroko held his arm and smiled, saying, "Does all this talk about love make you think of anyone, Takuto?"
He uncomfortably removed his arm from her grasp and said, "Not really, but I am thinking about all those poor girls who are paralyzed upstairs."
Hearing this, Lisa asked, "Mom, how did you wake up?"
"Oh, there was a scene in that show where it looked like the little girl was going to be kidnapped by a motorcycle gang, something I'm all-too familiar with thanks to your father. Your sister happened to be crying at the same time so I went to get her, after I shut the TV off, of course," Marge explained. "Ooh! We'd better wake them all up. I'll make more cappuccino!" Marge hopped up and rushed off to the kitchen.
********
Chapter 9: Wake Up Angel
"Suck suck," Maggie sucked while sitting alone on the throw rug in front of the television. Plushie Takuto walked up behind her and reached for the carpet, but she suddenly spun around and grabbed him with both hands. With a delighted squeal, she lost her balance and fell over with him trapped in her little arms. A moment later she was fast asleep, cuddled up against the white kitty.
He quietly complained, "Aw geez!" Without opening her eyes, Maggie pulled out her pacifier and popped it in the kitty's mouth.
********
By 9:00 AM Lisa was exhausted. The other girls had taken turns napping and Marge's occasional visit with a snack or story helped them do fulfill their promise to keep Lisa awake. Marge and Mrs. Taylor summoned the girls to the kitchen for a large Simpson-style breakfast, so they rushed in and sat around the table, many on chairs from around the house. Lisa took the two plushies into the kitchen to sit with everyone, even though she couldn't eat or drink now. However, Marge had still set a place for her.
"Where are Dad and Bart?" Lisa asked her mother with some disappointment.
"They have a lot of work to do, so I made them an early breakfast," she answered with a smile.
As if to drive the point home, Bart walked through from the side hall carrying Lisa's computer monitor. "Heya, Lis," he said as he quickly turned into the dining room and disappeared before she could respond.
Lisa got up, leaving Takuto and Meroko on her chair, and peeked down the side hall to see Homer carrying her computer out of the rumpus room. "Hiya, my little angel," he said with a big smile.
Concerned, Lisa asked, "What are you doing?"
"We're returning all your brainy stuff. You know, since you're gonna be better after the operation today," he answered gleefully.
Lisa's heart sank, but she put on a brave face. "Thank you, Dad," she said with a little smile. "But you're still coming to the hospital, right?"
"Oh yeah. It's just that when we were at the hospital the other day and I went to clean your bunny, all I could find was junk like oxycontin and medical marijuana," he said before kneeling down. Then he whispered like a giddy schoolgirl, "But today I'm gonna find out where the lollipops are kept while they're busy with you. Don't tell!"
"Of course not," she said while hugging him around his neck, and then she gave him a peck on the cheek. He went on his way and she returned to the table. As her friends were eating she started to feel very hungry, and it started to bother her that she couldn't enjoy this last breakfast. After all, whatever she did wouldn't matter anyway, but didn't try to sneak any food.
Marge noticed Lisa's sadness and tried to cheer her up. "Aww, don't worry, honey. I'll fix you a nice breakfast as soon as you're home."
"It's okay," Lisa perked herself up a bit and inhaled deeply through her nose. "I'll just remember the smell of your cooking for now."
After breakfast, the girls helped clean up, but soon the parents started arriving and taking them home. As they left, they would give Lisa a hug and say something like "Good luck" or "See you in school on Monday." She answered as happily as she could force herself, though she couldn't help but wonder how they would take the news of her death.
"It's best not to think about it," Takuto whispered to her, as if he could suddenly read her mind. "Forget about your sin, give the audience a grin. Enjoy it -- it's your last chance that you have!" he sang softly, being careful to stop before the next verse.
********
A short while later, Lisa was dressed in her usual red dress and pearls as she carried plushy Meroko and Takuto out the front door. Marge was dressed and made up as if she was going to church. She picked up Maggie and her diaper bag before following Lisa outside and closing the door behind her. In the driveway, Homer was running the car already and Bart stood outside the open left-rear door. Both of them were dressed in their Sunday best, even though it was Saturday.
Marge told her, "I'll be right there as soon as I drop Maggie off."
"I'll go with you," Lisa said. She quickly handed the shinigami off to Bart and followed her mother, who was walking towards Ned's front door. Bart looked around nervously for a moment and then started to cuddle the warm, soft creatures of death.
Lisa caught up to Marge and Maggie at the Flanders' front door, and Ned opened it as soon as they climbed the step. "Howdy doodilee doo, neighbors!" he sang cheerfully as Rodd and Todd flanked him.
"Good morning, Ned," Marge said while dropping the strap so that the diaper bag landed in Todd's hands. She started to hand Maggie to Ned, but Lisa got between them and reached up. Marge let Lisa take her little sister.
Maggie immediately hugged Lisa and didn't want to let go. Lisa pulled her free and spoke softly, "You be good now, and remember: you can do anything you want to."
Maggie's eyes welled up, but she simply raised her right hand and saluted her older sister. Lisa kissed her on the forehead before handing her to Ned.
Marge was apologetic as she explained, "I could have taken her to my sisters', but I don't know how late we'll be and I really want her to be home with all of us tonight... I hate for you to close your store for a day."
"That's okay, Marge. If I went to the Leftorium on a day like today it just wouldn't be right. Anyway, it'll be nice to have a woman's touch around the house for a while," he said with his happy smile.
Lisa suddenly hugged him around the waist, scrunching her eyes, and just said, "Thank you, Mr. Flanders!"
"Oh, that's quite all right," he answered happily. Marge took Lisa's hand and they started walking back to the car. Lisa turned her head back for one last look.
Ned looked at Maggie and asked, "So, little lady, what would you like to do today?"
Maggie just looked up at him with puppy dog eyes and put her chubby little hands together in front of her chest. She bowed her head and closed her eyes.
"Well, boys," he started, "I think she wants to join us for prayers."
"Yay!" the two boys cried before they all went inside.
The ride to the hospital was quiet, as Marge didn't want to worry Lisa, and Bart was too busy cuddling Takuto and Meroko. Homer flipped on the radio and the song "Going to the Chapel" was playing, so he started happily singing his own words, "Go-ing to the doctor's, go-nna get better..."
"Mrrr," Marge grumbled ever so softly..
"Yes dear," Homer said as he flipped the radio off. They pulled into the Springfield Memorial Hospital parking lot.
Soon, Lisa was admitted and the whole family went to her room. Not wanting to miss even one remaining moment with them, she changed into her jonnie without asking them to leave or stand behind the curtain. A nurse had her get in a wheelchair and they took her for the enhanced EEG, which passed without incident.
She was back in half an hour with Dr. Hibbert. He started talking to everyone about the operation, but Lisa's mind was elsewhere. "Oh, I guess it is brain surgery, huh he he he he he," he ended a joke, so she pretended to laugh a little.
A nurse arrived and whispered something to Dr. Hibbert. "Oh, we'll have to take off a little hair above your right ear," he explained. Then the nurse went to Lisa and started shaving her hair as the doctor continued, "Okay, I've been reviewing the procedure and everything is ready. You folks will be watching from the observation deck above the operating room."
"Yeah, we'll be right there with you," Marge reassured Lisa. "I'll be waving!"
"Suuuure, that's where we'll be, in the obserwhatie room," Homer said slyly while winking at Lisa. He and Bart both giggled.
The nurse gave Lisa an injection and turned to leave, but Dr. Hibbert stopped her for a moment. "Serena, could you also remember to order more lollipops on Monday? I'm all out," he said.
"D'OH!" Homer cried.
The nurse agreed and left as two orderlies entered the room. After they lifted Lisa onto a gurney, Bart reluctantly handed her the two plushies. "They won't get in the way," she said in response to their concerned looks, but they just smiled and wheeled her out. She held the two shinigami tightly and tried not to cry. The shot was taking effect and she could breathe a little more easily. She remembered going into the operating room and seeing the bright lights and machines. She could barely see a window up above, so she gave a short wave, though her hand was so heavy now.
As Dr. Hibbert entered the room, the shinigami poofed into their spirit forms and each held one of Lisa's hands.
"Shall we begin," Dr. Hibbert asked Lisa directly.
She gave each hand a little squeeze before answering, "I'm ready."
The anesthesiologist put the mask over Lisa's face and she fell into a peaceful sleep.
********
In the observation room, Bart looked down with excitement. He pulled out a disposable camera as Marge watched nervously and Homer slowly paced behind them.
"What are you doing with that?" Marge asked.
"I wanna see if Lisa's brain is really that big or if she just has a thick skull like Dad's," he answered.
Bart looked to see his face, but Homer didn't react at all.
"It's not polite to take pictures of people while they're asleep. Did you ask your sister first?" Marge more scolded than queried.
"No," Bart replied slowly, but then he shot out, "Well, if Lisa's gonna have a tumor in a jar for her science project, then I should at least get pictures of the operation for mine! Don't you always tell me to take an interest in school like her?"
"Hrrm, okay," she answered.
Homer noticed a small metal box with a speaker on the back wall, so he flipped it on. Dr. Hibbert's voice came through, explaining all that was happening below. "Ooh! Old fashion radio drama," Homer said excitedly. He pulled up a chair and sat facing the speaker. Sounds of various faint beeps and whirrs mixed with the doctor's instructions as the surgery progressed.
It seemed to be taking forever. Bart finished up the camera's film and began to pace, but after a while of that, he walked up to Marge and gave her a sad look that she hadn't seen in years. She put her arms out as he climbed into her lap and put his head on her shoulder.
"Mom," he asked. "If Lisa doesn't, you know..." He hesitated.
"Yes Bart?" she prompted while fighting back the tears.
"Can we get another dog and name it after her?" he finished.
"Awwwww," she began to laugh and cry at the same time.
Homer interrupted. "Hey, it's getting to an exciting part!" Bart jumped up and went over to Homer while Marge just stood and stared down at her little girl.
The doctor's voice crackled through the speaker, "Now is the moment we've been practicing for. We want an orange, not a marshmallow... orange, not marshmallow..." He kept chanting, hoping.
There were sounds of instruments and puffs of suction for a few minutes. Marge's eyes didn't blink. Homer didn't breathe. Bart didn't really want another dog.
"It looks like..." his voice came again. "It's an orange! It's all coming out, and there's no sign of damage to the frontal cortex. Lisa's gonna be all right, huh he he he he he! Okay, let's start closing."
"WOOHOO!" Homer cried, jumping out of the chair and knocking it over. He grabbed Bart and picked him up, giving him a big hug. They were both smiling. "Hmm, something doesn't feel right," he observed.
Bart smiled and said, "Awww, shucks! Since Lisa's gonna live, does that mean I don't get a new puppy?"
"Why you LITTLE...!" Homer grabbed the boy's throat and started strangling him.
Bart stopped gagging for a second and asked, "That better?"
Homer's face relaxed for a moment and replied, "Yeah, this is more like it, YOU LITTLE...!" He choked Bart again.
Marge just kept staring down at her little girl with a smile. "You were so worried -- so convinced that something just had to go wrong, but I told you so," she said quietly as Bart and Homer were slapping each other on the back. "Just smile 'cause everything will be all right." For a moment she imagined that Lisa shook her head in disagreement, like she so often did. But then Marge saw it again and knew it wasn't her imagination.
In the operating room, Meroko anxiously looked at Takuto with a tear in her eye. She could barely whisper, "It's time."
Lisa started to shake and convulse on the operating table. A nurse tried to hold her still while a new, loud beeping filled the air. "What is it?" Dr. Hibbert asked, sounding very concerned.
Bart and Homer froze. The voices they had been hearing were now coming all at once:
"She's coming out of it!"
"Heart rate 220!"
"Throat's swelling!"
"Add 40ccs adrenaline to the drip!"
"It's a delayed reaction to the anesthetic!"
"Switch her to oxygen! Twenty c.c.s of morphine, stat!"
"Don't let her wake up like this!"
"Intubate her!"
"Blood pressure dropping. Sixty over... DAMMIT!"
"No pulse!"
"Clear!"
BANG!
There was a brief moment of silence before the cacophony started up again. "Clear!" Dr. Hibbert's panic-stricken voice cried out, then another BANG!
Meroko and Takuto lifted Lisa's hands, making her sit up before helping her down off the table. She looked at the commotion as the doctors and nurses fought over her little body, which was still lying there. Lisa felt light, and all of her physical pain was gone. She then looked up and saw her mother's face, unblinking. Lisa knew that she really wasn't' ready for this, but she couldn't cry anymore.
Then everyone was silent as Doctor Hibbert furiously pounded Lisa's chest. Apart from his efforts, only one long, unstopping "beeeeeep" could be heard. It, too, ceased when a nurse hit a button. Another doctor put a hand on Hibbert's shoulder and he finally stopped.
It was over.
Dr. Hibbert ripped the mask from his face and threw it on the floor. "Why didn't her allergy show up on the prep tests!" he screamed. No one dared answer. "I bet Dr. Nick would have caught it," he cursed himself as he stormed out.
"Do we go now?" Lisa asked her guardians.
"Not yet," Meroko replied softly. "There's still one more hard part."
"What's that?" she asked.
Takuto answered, "You got to say goodbye to them, as best you could, but now it's their turn."
The remaining medical staff members were discussing things while setting the instruments and machines. One of the nurses read from Lisa's chart with some sadness, "She asked to be an organ donor -- joked that it would be a shame not to recycle." He then held the door open as some machines were wheeled out of the room.
Another doctor responded, "I'll call it in while you get the death certificate ready." She pulled her mask off and threw it in a waste bag before turning back to the staff. "Keep the machines going and don't start prepping until after Hibbert brings the family in," she added before walking out.
Lisa saw her family, all in tears, as they entered the operating room with Dr. Hibbert. "I don't want to rush you... but it was her wish. They'll have to start soon," he told the family as they gathered around Lisa's body. Machines kept pushing oxygen and pumping her blood, almost making it seem that she could sit up again at any moment.
Homer kneeled down and kissed her cheek. "I owed you from this morning," he said. "Lisa, I'm sorry that I couldn't be the father that you wanted me to be. And I'm even sorrier that I could have been if I didn't have Moe stick another crayon in my brain. At least I got to realize how tough it was for you. But I'm glad that you made me do so many boring things with you, because everything you liked just dragged on forever, and that way I'll remember spending a lot of time with you."
Bart held her cold hand and took a deep breath. He was finally able to say, "We had some great times together, huh? Watching Itchy & Scratchy, solving all the crimes in town, running away whenever Sideshow Bob was trying to kill me. No matter what I did, it would always be more fun if you helped me, especially if I could trick you into it. I know we had some bad times when I'd be mean to you for the fun of it, or you'd try to act all superior and stuff...."
"Hey!" Lisa cried out, but he couldn't hear her.
Bart continued, "But in a way I guess we're the same. When it came down to it, we never did what we were told or what was expected of us. We just rebelled differently. Man! It's going to be suck city without you. Worst of all, now I'm gonna have to try to get into Heaven to see you again. Owwww... I'd give up all of my desserts forever to have you back... and the $80,000 I got from the charity events in your name."
"Bart!" Marge cut in, "Did you profit from your sister's illness?"
"A little," he admitted meekly "But I gave it all to the Brain Research Institute. I thought they could help," he said meekly.
"Awwww," Marge said through her own tears.
Bart turned back to Lisa and tried to continue, "Remember when we were little and you tried to help me..."
"BO-RING!" Homer interjected while shooing Bart away. "We don't have all day, boy! Let your mother have a turn."
"Mrrh," Marge growled as she stepped up to the table. She looked down and gently wiped away some of the residual tears on Lisa's face. "Where do I begin?" she asked. "It doesn't help, but I can say it: you were right and I was wrong."
"Heh heh heh. Told you so!" Lisa scoffed. Meroko stared at her, confused, but Takuto just looked downright angry. "Oh, yeah, sorry," she said meekly.
Marge continued, "But I just wish this wasn't the last time I could tell you that. You could be so stubborn, just like me, but if it wasn't for my stubbornness you'd still be alive!" She fell on Lisa's body and began crying hysterically again. Homer and Bart joined her.
"Aww, that's not true," Lisa whimpered as the room seemed to get much brighter.
Meroko looked up and said, "Well, it's time to go."
Lisa's spirit didn't turn away from her family. "So soon? Are you sure?"
"That's odd," Takuto said as she started looking around. The room was becoming ever brighter. "Usually it takes longer for the gate to open."
Lisa turned to them and they each took a hand. They started walking off to a door that she hadn't noticed before. It glowed and wavered, like when the shinigami passed through a wall, but this time she could see the other side. She could feel who was there waiting for her: Great Aunt Gladys and Grandfather Bouvier wanted to meet her; Bleeding Gums Murphy wanted to jam with her; even Dr. Monroe was waiting to ask her feelings about dying.
Lisa wasn't afraid anymore. They walked towards the doorway and the sounds of her mourning family faded. The shinigami's hands felt warm, and she was floating now. The door shimmered brightly and she felt rays of warmth and love that were cleansing her of all earthly thoughts.
Almost.
Lisa could still hear one beautiful sound behind her: heavy breathing. She wondered who in her family was crying so hard, yet whose gasps now sounded like lovely music. She turned back to look, stopping just feet from the otherworldly portal.
There was a sharp, deep yet heavenly breath before its young female voice cried out, "Just where do you think you're going!?" Though it carried a force that reverberated throughout the operating room, the voice was sweet and somehow delicate.
Lisa saw an angel standing by her grieving family. The being looked like a twenty-year-old, though a bit short and very thin. She had a light-blue-and-soft-white skirt to her knees and a conservative frilly lace top that opened up at her shoulders, leaving her arms bare. Her gorgeous outstretched wings were the color of untouched snow under the full moon on a winter night. Her simple yet elegant shoulder-length blonde hair framed a beautiful oval face. The being's blue eyes sparkled like diamonds as the nostrils on her tiny nose flared to catch her breath. Her thin pink lips were pushed together tightly, trying to make her look angrier than such a lovely creature ever could be. Lisa knew this was a creature capable of only love and grace.
Lisa heard the seraph's enchanting voice continue, "You utter contemptible plushy creeps! How dare you!" Takuto looked in confusion as Meroko's eyes went wide. Lisa couldn't stop staring at this vision of absolute purity and beauty who continued to sing the heavenly song, "I mean, gosh darn you both to heck!"
Meroko was shocked and a bit snippy as she addressed the angel, "Sasha, what are you doing here?"
"This," the sweet angel said with a smile before calling out, "MISHA NOW!"
Another angel suddenly bolted down and scooped up spirit Lisa, one arm under the small girl's back and the other under her knees. "Yoink!" Misha cried as she shot over to at Sasha's side. There, she stopped in mid-air before slowly turning and then gently touching one bare foot to the floor, then the other.
Misha looked about fourteen-years-old and her face had rounder features, matching the rest of her body. She wore a layered light-gray and dark-blue skirt hanging from an old-fashioned top with pleats, buttons, puffy shoulders, and a large blue ribbon above her chest. In her pink hair were two large bunny-clips, one on each side.
"What are you doing? Give her back!" Takuto cried out as he lunged forward to recover Lisa, but Sasha raised her hand and a bright light blinded him, stopping him in his tracks. The angel then relented and Meroko ran up to aid Takuto.
Sasha shook her head. "You know, I never would have guessed that you conceited, bratty dopes could sink to such a level," she said with some resignation in her voice.
Takuto recovered and asked, "Who are you two?"
Meroko mocked an answer, "It's one of my classmates, the 'One Whose Continence is as her Righteousness'."
"That's Countenance, my old chum," Sasha replied with some animosity. "I am Sasha, of White Ops., and this is my little sister," she said while pointing to Misha.
Takuto took a good look at the young angel and gasped. "That beautiful pink hair; the cheerful voice; the whole 'bunny' thing going on. Oh, you're so adorable!" he sighed.
Meroko gave him a sharp elbow in his ribs before the young angel introduced herself, "I am angel-apprentice Misha, junior-grade 'su. Yoroshiku!" She then beamed a huge smile.
"Uh, hi," was the best Lisa could manage at first, but then she asked, "What's happening?"
"We came to stop you from going to Heaven, 'su," Misha replied enthusiastically, still smiling. Lisa was horrified by this, so Misha quickly corrected herself, "I mean, you're going to Heaven, 'su. Eventually!"
Meroko gave the star struck Takuto another swift elbow in the ribs and then indignantly addressed Sasha again, "Did you finally decide to go back and finish shinigami school, or do you prima seraphim just like to bother those of us who had a life?"
"Oh, Meroko," Sasha said with a little laugh, "You're so cute when you're WRONG!"
Meroko snapped back, "Wrong about what?"
"You almost took this girl away before her time," Sasha said with some satisfaction. "And all of us know that it's wrong to change someone's fate without approval. Or at least should know."
"That can't be," Meroko insisted as she pulled open her assignment book and flipped a few pages. She then held the book up to Sasha's face. "See! The assignment page says: Lisa Marie Simpson, collect on October 30."
"But did you cross reference her schedule?" Sasha asked wickedly.
"Collections takes care of that when making the assignments," Takuto objected.
Meroko added, "And the Shinigami Core is highly regimented and doesn't make mistakes! If you hadn't left halfway through then maybe you'd know that."
"Oh, I believe you, Meroko," Sasha replied with some condescension. "But what if this wasn't really a mistake?"
"You're not making any sense. Awww, just like old times," Meroko cooed with a condescending smile.
Sasha let out an irritated sigh and then went off, "I should have known: the way you shinigami moaned and complained like little lost souls after the HSATs were updated with creative thinking sections. Ultimately, we're all supposed to be on the same team, for cripes sake! That's why we never thought you'd steal from another group to boost your scores."
"What!?" Takuto and Meroko asked simultaneously.
Sasha fired back, "Come on! The Shinigami haven't had an original thought since Pangea was split up, which is why you only get boring, mundane assignments. That's why I left when White Ops asked me to apply -- and why your section boss was so upset about my leaving. I guess he got desperate for some good help."
A couple of surgeons were coming into the operating room, unaware of the divine intervention in progress. Sasha glanced at them and noticed one carrying a tray of fresh surgical instruments. The other one was taking to Marge and Homer, but Bart was crumpled over his sister's body.
Takuto asked, "But how would he know about Lisa if she wasn't supposed to die yet?"
Sasha answered a little more pleasantly to Takuto, "Who knows? Maybe they were debriefing some recently-deceased soul and her name came up. Once he had that he could get all the information he needed for this scam."
Meroko went on the defensive again. "These are all nice guesses, but if you don't have something solid to base your accusations on then we have a job to finish," she insisted. "My instructions say so."
"Well, here's the message that I got," Sasha said as she pulled out a large parchment scroll from her robes. She offered it to Meroko and Takuto. Reluctantly, they each took a handle and began to unroll it.
Lisa asked Misha, "What does it say?"
The junior angel smiled at the girl in her arms and quietly answered, "Tee hee hee. I don't know 'su. But these divine truths are usually beyond the comprehension of mortals and even many of us seraphim 'su."
Meanwhile, the two shinigami read the scroll:

Date: October 30, 11:45 -0600
From: "Michael the Archangel" <mikeyboy@arc.heaven.sky>
To: "Sasha" <cuteasright@wo.heaven.sky>
Cc: "Misha" <teeheeheegirl1@aol.com>
Subject: FWD: Urgent Message From Priority Supplicant
Priority: High

On October 30 at 11:27 AM, "Big-G" wrote:
> From: "Big G" <G-MAN@ineffibleanduncrashable.heaven.sky>
> Subject: Re: FWD: Urgent Message From Priority Supplicant
> Cc: Pete, Gabe
>
> On October 30 at 11:09 AM, "Peter" wrote:
>> From: "Peter" <peteg@pearly.heaven.sky>
>> Subject: Re: FWD: Urgent Message From Priority Supplicant
>>
>> On October 30 at 10:51 AM, "Gabriel" wrote:
>>> From: "Gabriel" <gaby@watch.heaven.sky>
>>> Subject: FWD: Urgent Message From Priority Supplicant
>>>
>>> On October 30 at 10:33 AM, "Michael the Archangel" wrote:
>>>> From: "Michael the Archangel" <mikeyboy@arc.heaven.sky>
>>>> Subject: FWD: Urgent Message From Priority Supplicant
>>>>
>>>> On October 30 at 10:15 AM -0600, "Priority Prayer-In Box" wrote:
>>>>> From: "Priority Prayer Box" <prayerbot7@cloud9.heaven.sky>
>>>>> Subject: Urgent Message From Priority Supplicant
>>>>>
>>>>> Please do not reply to this e-mail address. The following prayer was
>>>>> received at the time noted above and was flagged for both its
>>>>> intensity and having been offered by a preferred customer.
>>>>>
>>>>> Original entreaty:
>>>>>
>>>>> Dear Lord,
>>>>> Yeah, it's Needy Neddie yet again. I know that sometimes You might
>>>>> get an eency bit tired of hearing from me, especially since lately
>>>>> I've probably been asking a lot more than I've been thanking. Ever
>>>>> since You took Maude from the boys and me it's been a lot harder, but
>>>>> oh gracious no! I'm not complaining, 'cause I know You've got reasons
>>>>> and all. Heck, even when You throw a doozy of a pickle my way that I
>>>>> can't understand for the life of me, I still know deep down that it's
>>>>> part of Your plan and I can usually accept that.
>>>>>
>>>>> But, Lord, Ya know, I'm really having a hard time wrapping my noodle
>>>>> around this whole Lisa Simpson thing. It just makes me so gosh darn
>>>>> mad, uh, I mean, of course not at You, O Lord! Oh golly, never!
>>>>>
>>>>> Even though Lisa may be a heathen and a buddhist (sorry for using such
>>>>> a word, but I intentionally didn't pray it with a capital letter, if
>>>>> that makes a difference), but of all the Simpsons that You put on this
>>>>> great green Earth, she's gotta be about the best one You ever made.
>>>>> And it would be a real shame if she were taken away now 'cause folks
>>>>> wouldn't get to see what a great job You dum-diddilie-did with her.
>>>>>
>>>>> Now, I know Homer's always been a bit of a fly in my ointment, and
>>>>> that Bart can be quite a little firecracker! But Marge is a nice
>>>>> woman 'n all, and I'm sure there's lots of hope for lil' Maggie here.
>>>>> Though, maybe she'd turn out a little better if you could find it in
>>>>> Your infinite wisdom and compassion to, *please*, let her big sister
>>>>> stick around for a little while longer.
>>>>>
>>>>> As always, thank You for listening, Lord.
>>>>>
>>>>> Yours always (and for eternity),
>>>>> Ned
>>>>> EOP
>>>>
>>>> Gabe,
>>>>
>>>> Haven't seen one of these in a while. Probably not much we can do
>>>> about it, but check with scheduling anyway.
>>>>
>>>> - Mike
>>>> ---
>>>> "Do you smell cookies?"
>>>
>>> Peter, please double check your lists re above matter. This doesn't
>>> make any sense over here.
>>>
>>> Gabe
>>> ---
>>> Famous last words: "What's the worst He can do to me?" -- Lucifer
>>
>> HeYa,
>>
>> Any ideas on this one? We're all stumped.
>>
>> Regards,
>> Peter of Galilee
>> ---
>> "Oops!" -- most of the people who show up here
>
> Good catch, guys! Perhaps I should have called it "My Great
> Ineffuppable Plan" instead. 8+;)
>
> Someone is trying to change her fate. It's bad enough to ignore
> My will, but when they mess with Flanders I start feeling a
> little "wrathy" -- if you know what I mean.
>
> The kid offered to clear this up, but Ned mentions the B-word.
> Send our top White Ops agent to make sure it's taken care of.
>
> Thanks.
>
> - G
> ---
> "Thou shalt not top-post 'cause I'm the Supreme Being and I fiat so!"

Sasha,

This is top priority. Someone is gonna be in big trouble, but
right now you've just gotta handle it on the ground. Have your
sister ride shotgun -- she's "on" until this mess is taken care
of. And she really could use some good press after that last
screw-up. O;)

- Mike
---
"Do you smell cookies?"
"Eek!" Meroko squeaked. "We were duped!"
Takuto added solemnly, "Yeah, but what can we do? We can't take Lisa, but we're still gonna be in trouble for failing, bogus assignment or not."
Sasha turned and took a step closer to the crowd around Lisa's body. "He tried to take a precious life for his own gain. Hrmf! All of Heaven's beings are supposed to act only out of love and compassion," she preached before surreptitiously sticking one foot and tripping a surgeon. He stumbled forward and all of the instruments on his tray scattered across the floor.
"You mean, I'm not gonna die?" Lisa asked.
Misha blurted out, "Not today. Franklin-san wants you in his library, but he'll wait, 'su!"
"You'll like Ben," Sasha added. Another cart was wheeled into the operating room and two nurses were trying to get Bart away from Lisa's body. "Folks, there isn't much time to put things right."
"Please, let us start now," Meroko asked the angel. She turned to Lisa and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry that we put you through all this. I know that I wasn't always the best comfort for you..." she said before being interrupted.
"And you did say some really ditzy things at times," Takuto threw in.
"Really?" Sasha said with a wry smile. "Why am I not surprised," she asked rhetorically.
"Hrmmm!" Meroko shot them a glance and then continued, "Anyway, I'm glad that you still get to live, and I hope you meet your shadowy mystery boy soon!"
Lisa answered, "Aww, Meroko, you really did make me feel better. Well, except for telling me how I was about to die all the time. You also taught me to accept who I am, no matter what I look like, and you were even willing to get in big trouble just to help me. I can't thank you enough."
Takuto took a step forward and gently cupped Lisa's spirit face in his hands. "You know, I never liked my job 'cause it was always so sad when an unfulfilled life ends. But you taught me there's always hope for the living, regardless of how much or how little time is left. From now on, I won't give up too quickly." After staring into each-other's eyes for a moment, he took his hands back but Lisa reached up and held onto them.
Lisa spoke with a tinge of sadness, "Thank you for saying so, Takuto, but it was only because you never gave up on me. I couldn't have lived out all of my dreams in a lifetime, but you taught me how to do most of them in a month! And, more importantly, without both of you I never would have made peace with my family -- that's gotta be a bigger miracle than making me into a teenager all those times!" She looked to both of them and continued, "Anyway, when it's time for me to really die, I hope that it's you two who come for me. I'll be less troublesome, I promise!"
"They won't be able to come for you," Sasha interrupted coldly.
"Huh?" Every spirit looked at her in confusion.
Sasha explained with a tinge of anger, "Even if taking Lisa early wasn't your doing, it sounds to me like you two violated several rules and used unauthorized powers. Hah! So much for being highly-regimented and disciplined shinigami. Quite frankly, I don't think you two are cut out to be shinigami, and I'm going to make sure you never get another assignment. As a matter of fact, don't even bother returning!"
The two were shocked beyond words. Lisa cried, "But...!"
Sasha cut her off with a raised hand, but then she smiled and faced the shinigami. "You just lie low for a couple of days until I can put through your transfers to White Ops. After all, if the Shinigami boss tries to steal a bright soul like Lisa, then I think his punishment should be the loss of his two most promising and talented..." She hesitated while looking at Meroko, "or perhaps just very lucky -- operatives."
Meroko's and Takuto's faces lit up and they began to jump for joy. Lisa and Misha just smiled.
Sasha patted the tearful Bart on his back, somehow making it impossible for the nurses to physically remove him from his sister's side. Marge wanted coax him away, to make sure Lisa's wishes were met, but his refusal made her cry too hard to speak. "Guys, time's up. Just hang with Lisa until after the rush tomorrow and I'll send for you. In the meantime, tie up any loose ends you may have left behind." Then she turned to her sister and said, "Go for it, Misha," before walking towards the operating room door.
"Just one thing," Lisa asked Sasha, "If they were watching me for a month and you guys didn't notice, how did you find out in time?"
Sasha turned and gave Lisa a wide-eyed smile before saying, "You know, dum-didilie-darnit, I'm not supposed to reveal-a-rooni our di-didlie-divine sources."
Lisa's just looked at her in confustion as Misha carried her over to the operating table. The surgeons were preparing her body while Homer and Marge tried to take Bart away, but he wouldn't budge. The young angel gently rested Lisa's spirit back into her body.
Lisa's limbs were suddenly cold, though she still felt the warmth of Misha's body as everything went dark. The clarity was gone from her mind and she felt disoriented, pained. Misha put a hand on Lisa's shoulder and gently kissed her forehead.
Lisa could hear Bart telling her about something that happened a long time ago. It was some escapade that she couldn't remember -- something to do with dynamite, and she thought, "Just like Bart!" He lamented about not understanding, but she was frozen with confusion. Something was stuck in her throat.
"What are you doing, nurse?" one of the surgeons asked the beautiful young Nurse Misha, who was leaning over the girl's body. Homer, Marge, and Bart looked up to see what was going on.
"It's okay, 'su," she told them as she stroked Lisa's hair. She then looked at Bart and said, "Yes, 'su?" as if he should go on, but the instruments started making noises, beeping in a slow, steady rhythm.
Lisa felt numbness throughout her body. Something was keeping her from breathing right. She coughed through the tube in her throat and then felt it being pulled out. Misha dropped its end on the floor. Marge and Homer crowded out the two surgeons to see what was happening as Dr. Hibbert returned.
Lisa opened her glazed eyes and smiled weakly. "There were angels," she told her parents, but they just looked at her with unimaginable joy. She felt the same way.
She struggled to sit up, but couldn't, so she took in a deep breath. "I really saw angels!" she still insisted.
Dr. Hibbert smiled and said, "After that much morphine, I'm not surprised, huh he he he he he."
Misha was just standing up when Lisa turned her head and softly told her, "You're one of the angels."
"Su," she responded with a smile.
"I wanna see angels, too!" Homer demanded. He grabbed a syringe and injected himself in the arm while everyone but Lisa watched in amazement. A moment later, his tongue hung out of his mouth and he staggered to the cart, leaning on it for support.
"Be good, 'su," Misha said softly before turning to leave. She took a few steps but then looked back at Lisa one last time, with a beaming smile, and again cutely said, "Su!" The angel then walked towards the door, where only Homer could see that Sasha was waiting for her.
"What was that 'suing' about?" Sasha asked as they passed through the doorway. "It's annoying enough in Japanese, but in English it's just confusing."
As her wings materialized and opened up, Misha answered in a whisper, "Ugh! They totally messed up her allergy tests. She really should sue."
The surgeons helped Homer move back over to the operating table while Dr. Hibbert checked Lisa out. "I'm glad you decided to come back to us, young lady. I thought for sure that you were a goner," he told her.
While wiping away his tears, Bart added with a laugh, "Yeah, Lis, they were so sure that they were about to take out your guts and everything."
"I couldn't leave you guys," Lisa started to say, weakly, "because..." She stopped and took a pained breath. Everyone was paying full attention. "Closer," she whispered weakly as her eyes half closed. Marge and Homer leaned over her while Bart went right up to her face. "BECAUSE I HEARD WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT ME YOU WEASEL!" Lisa tried to yell as she put her numb hands around Bart's neck, barely choking him. Instead of gagging, he started laughing and crying at the same time.
Homer wiped a tear from his eye and proudly said, "She takes after her old man."
Lisa was too weak to keep it up for long and her hands soon fell. Marge and Bart helped her put them back to her sides. Then Bart laughed, "Man, that's my sister! Always the tricky one."
"What do you mean by that?" Lisa asked softly.
"Come on, Lis," he loudly complained. "You were tricking people all the time when we were little. Heck, I'd take you around with me just 'cause you'd always get us cools stuff, the way you acted and all."
"Why am I just hearing about this now?" Marge said with a little stiffness.
Lisa looked confused and insisted, "I never hung out with you, Bart. I was always with that nice blonde boy. He used to take me places and do stuff."
Bart looked at the doctor and complained, "I think you gave her a bit too much happy juice, man." Then he turned back to Lisa and continued, "You don't remember? You used to get into Mom's books and stuff so she'd send you outside. That's when we'd take off and do stuff."
"What?" was all that Lisa could say.
Marge spoke up, "Yeah, and he'd take you all over town while I'd worry sick about the both of you!"
Bart continued, "You were afraid to leave the yard at first, so I'd have to keep telling you that you really didn't always have to do what Mom and Dad said. Heck, after a while you even started getting me to go places. One time I said I wanted dynamite, so you made us go to the library to learn how to make it. After you talked to the librarian she thought you were so cute that she gave you a poster. Man, you were so proud, and you promised you'd figure it out for me."
"That was you?" Lisa asked, suddenly feeling very strange. Before she could think about what she was saying, the drugs got the better of her and she added, "So you're the boy I've been in love with all these years?"
Bart looked shocked and Marge gasped in horror. Even Doctor Hibbert's jaw dropped, and everyone started at her.
Lisa let out a weak "D'OH!"
Homer's eyes lit up as he began to tease, "Oooh! Lisa loves Bart! Lisa loves..."
Marge gave him a quick elbow in the chest and angrily growled at him, "Of course! He's her big brother, AND THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT!" Then she frowned uncomfortably.
"Why did we stop having so much fun together then?" Lisa suddenly asked, hoping to steer the conversation away from her last statement.
Bart explained, "No offense, Lisa, but your idea of fun is lame. Maybe you were happy to sneak around the house and read stuff or do experiments... and, to tell you the truth, I needed a larger audience. Besides, you started trying to make me do stuff that you wanted. Who'd put up with that?"
"I wouldn't!" Homer shouted in agreement.
After some thought, Lisa responded, "But Bart, wasn't telling me not to do what Mom and Dad said, in a way, telling me what to do?"
Bart didn't know how to respond, but Marge suddenly dropped and gave Lisa a big, tight hug. Her eyes teared up and she cried out, "My little Lisa's finally back to normal!"
********
Halloween
The next day, Lisa was sitting on the living room couch, dressed in the sailor schoolgirl outfit that Meroko had given her. Plushy Takuto sat up against an arm and watched while plushy Meroko, from the couch back, adjusted the outfit's collar. Lisa was reading an issue of Scientific American when the doorbell rang. She looked up at the clock. "Quarter of five," she noticed. She dropped the magazine and hopped off the couch to answer the door.
"I'll get it!", Marge called from the kitchen as she rushed to the hallway. She picked up a large bowl of candy from the stairs and opened the door. Two large one-eyed, multi-tentacled alien creatures were standing on the front step, each carrying a plastic bag.
One of them spoke, "Hello, I am Kang, and this is my sister, Kodos.".
"Hello," the other one said with a drooling smile.
"We are here to, how do you say?..." Kang said before remembering.
"Trick or treat!" the two aliens called out together.
Marge was impressed. "What great costumes! You must have worked really hard on those. Here, you can each take two pieces of candy," she offered with a giggle. They each reached a tentacle and took some.
"Yes, it was really hard to look like this," Kodos said in a patronizing tone.
The two aliens immediately began laughing, "HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH!"
"Seriously, thank you," Kang suddenly said before they turned around and hurried off.
Kodos commented as they were leaving, "Even if we can't dominate the Earth's entire supply of candy in one night, it's still kinda fun."
Lisa returned to the couch and sat down, picking up the magazine as Bart hulked in. He was dressed in old coveralls with one strap missing and no shirt underneath. He wore just flimsy sandals on his feet. When Lisa saw him coming in, he gave her a big smile, revealing several of his teeth were covered with black wax, making them appear to be missing. He carried an empty Duff's bottle in one hand and had two Qwik-E-Mart plastic trick-or-treat bags in the other.
Bart spoke with a strong hick accent. "Howdy y'all!" he called out. "You're lookin' might perty in dat there outfit."
"What do you want?" Lisa asked, somewhat annoyed.
"Auntie Mom sez I oughta go trick-or-treatin' with you 'cause 'a that surgery ya just had. Eheelk!" he drawled.
Lisa looked at him suspiciously. "Why are you going out as a country bumpkin?" she asked.
"I'm not -- I'm your dream boy," he said with his tooth-masked smile. "I figured since you wanna marry me, we oughta get used to trailer park livin'. Ehulkhuhuha!" He laughed.
Lisa winced a little but managed to stay calm. "I don't want to marry you, Bart," she sighed while opening up her magazine again.
Sounding like his regular self, he teased, "The way you said it in the hospital yesterday, you sounded pretty hot for me."
"I'm only eight; I'm not hot for anyone!" she insisted before looking down and seeing a picture of Alan Alda in the magazine. She quickly turned the page. "I was just surprised that you could actually do something nice," she added defensively.
Bart shot back, "Oh, admit it! You love me!" He started teasing in a sing-song fashion, "Lisa loves her bro-ther, Lisa loves her bro-ther..."
Lisa looked quite irritated, but she then relaxed her face into a sly smile. "Bart, what about you ogling your sister?"
"Huh? What are you talking about?" he asked with a sneer.
Lisa put the magazine down again and got up from the couch, facing him from about three feet away. She smiled right in his face and winked to Takuto. Snap! The soft golden light surrounded her as she transformed into Leese. Her costume grew to fit her older size, though it stayed the same otherwise.
Bart's eyes nearly bulged out of his head. "You," he stammered and tried to catch his breath "You're..." He was fighting so hard just to inhale that he couldn't finish the sentence.
Leese smiled and slowly nodded, all the while relishing the sight of her thoroughly-flustered brother.
"Lisa, you're," he excitedly tried again. "You're Sailor Moon!" he cried out. "I knew it! I knew it! I knew you've been talking to the cat. Oh, man, this is so cool!" he went on.
Leese just rolled her eyes as he continued to gush. Finally she looked at him and firmly said, "Bart."
"Yeah?" he asked, suddenly paying full attention.
In one smooth motion, Leese took hold of Bart's small arm with one hand and gently removed the beer bottle with the other. After putting the bottle on the end table, she turned and headed for the door with him in tow. "We'd better start trick-or-treating now," she said.
"It's still kinda early," he said hesitantly.
"Yeah, but we need more time," the gorgeous young lady said as she grabbed one of the bags from him and walked to the front door, still holding in his hand. He kept up asking "Why" She answered with a wicked grin, "I have a feeling we're gonna get a lot of candy than usual this year"

THE END