Puzzle 36

[hintcoinplz]

[Phone.]

I-I think something may be wrong with my voice. It keeps getting all squeaky- [and right on cue, Luke's voice cracks as he makes a high-pitched noise] -when I talk.

[He coughs and clears his throat, trying to make his voice sound deeper.]

I think I might be [and again his voice cracks] getting sick. [Another cough before Luke tries to make his voice deeper again.] I mean, I think I'm getting sick.

I-I think I'm going to just stay off the phones for a while. I've got a speech due in class tomorrow...

[Unfortunately for Luke, he's yet to realize that he's hitting puberty now.]

[Outside 726 Anderson Lane.]

[It's that time of year again - a set of pumpkins will suddenly appear on the porch of 726 Anderson Lane with a set of carving tools and a bucket nearby. Who's the culprit? Well, it's probably that boy rolling yet another pumpkin up the street, past the row of newer and smaller golems being built in the yard of 726 Anderson, and towards the porch.]

Comments

[hintcoinplz]

There's plenty to pick from if you want one. I miss having pumpkin pie.

[If it was a joke it goes over Luke's head. Welp.]

Do you really think we're going to last that long?

[inthebones]

Until next year?

Possibly. I highly doubt the town can do much to Grandfather, in any case. The question is whether the town itself will.

[hintcoinplz]

Well, I mean...do you think we're going to last long enough to see what happens when the town eventually does fall apart?

[inthebones]

Naturally. We'll just keep coming back until it does, won't we?

[hintcoinplz]

Mm, I suppose so.

[He's not too convinced that they'll be able to keep coming back for much longer.

He'll start rolling up his sleeves so that he can dig out the insides of the pumpkin.]

[inthebones]

And if we don't, we can take it as a sign that the town is broken. Good riddance.

[But before Luke can return to his pumpkin carving, a hand will settle on his head.]

No more jumping into dimensional holes.

[hintcoinplz]

You jumped into one.

[A pause.]

I wasn't alone, you know.

[inthebones]

I am not a thirteen year old child with the relative constitution of a roll of tissue paper.

Annie and Edward can get themselves erased from reality if they choose to, but I would much prefer they leave you out of it.

[hintcoinplz]

Hey I don't have a...whatever it is you just said!

[His shoulders droop.]

I just wanted to help too. And Mr. Nigma's already left once, so I'm going to make sure it doesn't happen again.

[inthebones]

Luke...

[Susan sighs slightly as she kneels a bit. There was a time to be lenient and a time to be blunt. Given the state of the town, the necessary tack was clear.]

Nothing you do can stop the town from taking him again if they feel like it. Nothing. You can sleep next to him or follow him around everywhere, and it wouldn't change a thing. What you can do for him is to keep yourself out of danger. The more risks he's forced to take, the more likely it is he'll be eaten by some dimensional monstrosity.

Of course you care for him, but the desire for a happy ending isn't actually a force you can weaponize or something the universe cares two whits for. If you leap in deathtraps after him, you're only compounding the chance that the happy ending won't ever come to fruition.

[hintcoinplz]

[He opens his mouth to protest - but finds that he can't. She's right, as always. And nothing hurt more then the truth, that if the town did take Edward again, Luke was powerless to stop it.]

I'm just...

I'm tired of being so weak. And not being able to do anything to protect anyone.

[inthebones]

You shouldn't worry about something like that.

[Susan turns slightly to the side.]

...That's a burden we bear. As adults. ...I'm tired of not being sure whether or not you and Slugger will make it out of the next catastrophe alive.

But I can tell you something. ...Do you know what the strongest power in the world is? Stronger than this town, stronger than Death... Stronger than me, certainly.

[hintcoinplz]

[Stronger then Susan? Luke doesn't think he knows the answer to that one, so he shakes his head and waits for an answer.]

[inthebones]

Belief.

[This is about as un-Susan-like a thing as she will ever say. Indeed, she seems uncomfortable even voicing the word.]

Yes. Belief. ...Belief so strong that death cannot enter into its realm. Belief so strong that it could unmake death if it chose to. The belief of a child, blind and pure.

[A slight pause]

Perhaps you're past that age, but as you seem to believe so strongly in your own immortality... believe in Edward, for his sake. And I can guarantee you that not a hair on his head will be harmed.

[hintcoinplz]

...Really?

[He doesn't sound like he's being sarcastic. In fact, he sounds a bit hopeful.

Luke had learned that with this town, things like hope and belief were pointless things, but with the town fall apart...

Maybe he was allowed to be optimistic again?]

You really think - believe, that he'll be all right?

[inthebones]

I'm too cynical to believe anything. It won't work for me, not the least of which because I never believed in anything as a child.

[She gives a slight shrug.]

You might be able to manage it. If two children can believe enough in a poker to save my life, you can believe enough in Edward to save his.

[hintcoinplz]

W-well I will then! If that's what it takes, I'll believe with every bit of belief I've got!

[inthebones]

[This must be how people contract diabetes. Susan manages to keep a smile as she pats Luke lightly on the head.]

That's the spirit.

And if all else fails, remember to always aim for the bit between the legs. Go on with your vegetable defacing now.

[hintcoinplz]

Thanks, miss Susan.

...Really, I mean it.

[inthebones]

You're welcome.

Try not to make a mess.

[As always, Susan takes the thanks without making an emotional fuss about it. With a nod, she sweeps on past back into the house.]