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Just like most of the days at Smileyland, the Sun was high in the sky, and the wind was pleasant. In short, a perfect weather for a perfect game session.
Like usual, Kaeloo started her day by greeting each little flower she passed by, each little bug, each tree and, of course, the Sun itself.
Her good mood was contagious for her surroundings. Wherever she went, each blade of grass seemed greener, healthier; the flowers’ colors were more intense, for the green little frog’s delight.
Everything seemed to predict a beautiful day, filled with games crazier than the last. Thus, it was without any worry that she walked towards her friends, all grouped together in one place most of the time.
She arrived near a familiar couch, on which Stumpy and Quack Quack were sitting. Next to them was Mister Cat, relaxing in his usual deckchair. Each of them was immersed into their own activity, barely noticing Kaeloo’s presence.
While Mister Cat was reading his newspaper, sunglasses on his nose, Quack Quack was devouring one of the innumerable yogurts he had in stock. As for Stumpy, the latter was leaning over his console. His eyes fixed on the colorful screen, whose picture never ceased to change.
The frog suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. There they were, separated, when the weather was perfect for playing! Really, she wasn’t surprised. If she weren’t here, it was obvious that none of her friends would initiate a play session.
-”Hello everybody!” she exclaimed with a wide smile, standing on tiptoe. First things first, motivating the troops by her good mood was primordial!
-”Ah, not now, Kaeloo,” protested the squirrel without looking away from the screen of his console: “I’m smashing this boss, I need to stay focused!”
Before Kaeloo was able to retort anything, she watched as Mister Cat slowly and lazily shook his hand in the air:
-”Yeah, not today, Froggy,” he cut her short, and threw a rapid glance over his sunglasses: “There’s one article I wanna read.”
-”Quack!” added the duck, pointing at his yogurt with his free hand.
The little frog put her fists on her hips, and a frown took place on her face:
-”Oh, come on, you're unbelievable! The weather's great, the sun is high in the sky, and you don't want to enjoy it?”
-”You got that right, Tadpole,” the feline replied, without sparing her any glance: “For once, we can loaf around under the Sun, oh, please excuse us .”
She let out a sigh full of disappointment and annoyance:
-"Admit it! If didn't make the first step, you wouldn't even play, ever!"
-”Hey, that’s an idea!” the cat replied, mockingly. He finally deigned to look at her again: “Why don’t we do that, heh?”
-”Booyah!” Stumpy screamed- though, not at his game, but at Kaeloo instead.
Quack Quack was nice enough not to push the matter further, but Kaeloo was already fighting to keep her anger inside- this familiar feeling that overwhelmed her, and gave free rein to Badka.
“ Me can convince, ” suggested an inner, low-pitched voice that Kaeloo recognized immediately, for it belonged to the one that shared her body. Speak of the devil…
-”No,” she whispered to herself as an answer: “I'll take care of this…”
For some time, Kaeloo was doing her best to give more freedom to Badka: whether it was including her in games, taking his suggestions into account, or… Just talking to him, simply. The green little frog had made a lot of effort, and the toad returned the sentiment.
Oh, time had changed, and for the better. Not so long ago, Kaeloo purposely ignored Badka’s existence, pushing him away and refusing to talk to him. An outsider’s eyes might have seen disgust, anger… But it wasn’t quite all that.
It was fear, especially. The very idea of not being yourself, of not being the master of the body you thought was yours… Kaeloo had been particularly afraid of that, and had tried to push away this “undesirable other”.
However, as time went by, the frog realized how selfish this attitude was and that, in the end, she was the only one responsible for her unease. As soon as she began to accept her other self, and threw her psychological follow-up through the window… It was as if a heavy weight had been lifted from her shoulders. A complicated relationship, sometimes difficult… Finally replaced by the sweet feeling of a burgeoning friendship.
She would never, ever be alone, from then on.
Mister Cat raised an eyebrow at her answer, visibly addressed to herself, and a self-interested smile creeped on his lips:
-”Oh, is the toad going to honor us of his presence? Because that changes everything, in that case.”
Kaeloo brought the hand to her face, and pinched the space between her two eyes:
-”Mister Cat…”
Agreeing would be the most obvious choice to guarantee the feline’s participation, but she didn’t want to give him the pleasure. If Badka wanted to join them, it was only up to him, and the frog. No one else.
“ Me want play too! ” the voice of Badka echoed at the back of her mind, which was the perfect answer to her previous thoughts.
Kaeloo decided to smile again- nothing should make a dent in her good mood, and especially not Mister Cat’s deplorable attitude, even if it was a usual one.
-”Yes, Badka is going to play with us, today.”
The feline did a victory pose as a reaction- something that didn’t surprise the frog in the slightest… At least, she had obtained his participation, which was already a lot.
She turned to Stumpy and Quack Quack, decided to convince them too- however, she was cut short by the former, who had finally looked away from the screen of his console.
-”Hey, guys! We have mail!”
His face was turned to the right, and he was pointing at something. Kaeloo, just like all the others, followed the direction of his finger, until their eyes fell on the mailbox… Whose red indicator was up, a sign that indicated that the squirrel was right.
The latter dashed to the object, beating the group to it due to his usual speed:
-”Dibs! Dibs!” he screamed, running as fast as he could, soon followed by the duck.
-”And there he goes,” groaned the cat, folding his newspaper wearily: “For once, he wasn’t moving, wasn’t doing any fucking nonsense…”
Mister Cat’s last words caused a shock for the frog, whose eyes opened wide. Before she could repress the wave of anger that suddenly overwhelmed her as she heard that odious word, her body was shaken by familiar spasms. In a few moments only, the little frog that stood there turned into an imposing toad, under the feline’s admirative eyes. He, of course, was delighted by the current turn of events.
Badka rapidly leaned towards him, almost sticking his face to Mister Cat’s:
-”No say bad words!” the toad yelled- but all it did was make the cat smile even more.
-”Oh, good morning, my dear, what a delight it is to see you again. So, when do I start running, hm?”
The toad narrowed his eyes, growling.
” Let it slide, ” the frog’s inner voice said, sighing: “ This is all he's waiting for. ”
-”Humph!” Badka rolled his eyes, almost disappointed from holding himself back. However, despite the pressing urge to hit the feline in the face, he did none of it. Instead, he exchanged his place back with the green little frog, to the cat’s displeasure.
-”Oh noo, we were just starting to have fun!” he complained.
-”No, Mister cat, I won't lose my temper, you better get used to it!”
-”Ugh, but why?” he retorted, exasperated: “Do I need to say swear words non-stop, is that it? Do I need to blow up the duck again?”
-”That's how it is, and it's fin-”
But Kaeloo barely got the time to finish her sentence. In the distance, Stumpy’s high pitched voice could be heard, catching the attention of both the frog, and the cat.
-”Kaeloo!” the squirrel screamed at the top of his lungs: “Ho! Kaeloo, it’s for you!”
The frog took a second to realize what was Stumpy talking about- the letter . The one they had received or, rather, the one she had received.
Her eyes went wide with excitement and glee, and a large smile made its way onto her lips.
-”A letter? For me? ” Her face was full of emotion, and she dashed to the mailbox, not even noticing that the cat had rolled his eyes again. The latter still followed her, a long, irritated sigh leaving his lips.
Kaeloo was particularly excited. A letter from a fan, without a doubt! Oh, she couldn’t wait to open the envelope and read the sweet words that were meant for her!
It only took her a few instants to join Stumpy and Quack Quack. The former handed the letter to her, and she took him. She was bouncing, impatient to see what was inside. Quickly, she looked at the sender… But was surprised to discover a very familiar name.
-”Oooh! It's coming from Cousin Kevin!"
-”Wait, wait… That name rings a bell…” The squirrel began hitting his forehead lightly with his fist, visibly trying to remember past events.
-”Quack!” The duck remembered it well, and shared his memories, with the eloquence that was so characteristic of him. Suddenly, Stumpy’s face lit up as he finally began to remember.
-”Oh, yeah, he was the guy who came to Smileyland, last time!”
The frog gave him a smile:
-”That’s it!”
Unable to wait any longer, she quickly opened the envelope, unfolded the letter, and started to read it for herself.
“ Dear Kaeloo,
I hope you are okay. I’m sending you this letter, because Uncle Klaus is organizing a party, next Friday. He invited the entire family, and asked me to invite you there.
I’ll understand if you’d rather not come. I know your relationships with the family are a bit complicated, and I don’t want you to be put on the spot, and have discussions you’d rather not have.
If you want, I’ll find an excuse for your absence.
I’ll visit you when I can !
Don’t hesitate to keep me updated.
Best regards,
Kevin. ”
As Kaeloo read the letter, her smile became tenser and tenser. The radiant expression she had was slowly turning into a grimace of worry, and she felt her heart tightening inside her chest.
In other circumstances, she would have been delighted to see her Cousin Kevin again… But the mere idea that she could go to this party, and meet people from her family… Her face was already turning pale at the thought.
Deep down, she could also feel Badka’s agitation, and while he wasn’t saying anything at the moment, she knew he was just as ill-at-ease.
Kaeloo and Badka’s relationships with their family were… Complicated, to put it simply. None of them fitted their uncles and aunts’ expectations, and their compassionate attitude only brought mockery and reprimands on them.
Oh, she could already imagine the sermons, the blames, the laughters, the disdain… Her Uncle Klaus wouldn’t waste any chance to reprimand her on her appearance as a frog, or on her lifestyle in Smileyland.
Her hands tightened on the letter, and she couldn’t help but crumple it a little. Naturally, none of her friends missed the change in her behavior, and they were now watching her with a mix of worry and astonishment.
Rarely had they seen the frog in this state.
-”Quack?” the duck asked, rapidly followed by the other two.
-”Uh, Kaeloo… You okay?” Stumpy titled his head and frowned, his tone hesitant.
-”Did somebody die, or somethin’?” Mister Cat’s question was more than indelicate and indiscreet, though this wasn’t really surprising coming from him.
Kaeloo suddenly realized that her attitude was rather transparent. She quickly forced herself to smile again- a smile that didn’t look genuine at all.
She didn’t wish to mention her family problems to her friends. It was something incredibly personal, that was only for Badka and her to know.
-”N-no, it’s nothing,” she stuttered, quickly folding the letter back into her fingers: “My cousin Kevin is inviting me to a party, that's all.”
-”And that party, is it a funeral?” Mister Cat raised an eyebrow, not convinced: “‘Cause you should see your face…”
Kaeloo couldn’t help but pinch her lips, even though she did her best to keep her façade up.
-”Hey, Quack Quack, do you think people party at funerals?” asked the squirrel, confused.
The duck shrugged, just as lost as his friend.
-”Oh, you know, it's because I need to check if I have something planned, and stuff…” Kaeloo did her best to put an end to this topic, and put the letter back in its envelope, as if to hide it: “Being invited to a party, it’s a whole thing to prepare for!”
-”Huh uh,” the feline replied simply, watching her with an expression that was enough for Kaeloo to know he wasn’t buying it. Out of all four of them, he was the one that detected lies the fastest… And she had to admit that said lie was rather obvious in itself. But lying… It was a difficult thing for the little frog.
Kaeloo hated lies to no end. The circumstances and the reasons didn’t matter, she disliked them all the same. And yet… There she was, hiding things from her friends.
It wasn’t like her- and she hated that. The only thing she wanted at the moment was to end this conversation… And stay alone for some time.
To think she had been so motivated to play just a minute ago… And it had all been spoiled because of a letter that, yet, came from the heart. She and Badka had a lot to say about this invitation… And the first was to decide whether to go, or not.
Of course, such a private and personal conversation couldn’t happen in the presence of her friends.
-”I, uh… I forgot that I had something to do, so…”
She pointed at what was behind her with her thumb, and began to walk away, as if to sign the end of the conversation. Of course, the lies, and this attempt at cutting this short… It all made her feel terribly uncomfortable.
-”Uh, didn’t you want to play, like, five minutes ago?” asked Stumpy, not really understanding what was going on.
-”I’ve changed my mind, I have… Some cleaning to do,” she found an excuse- she knew Mister Cat wouldn’t believe her, but if she could at least avoid questions from Stumpy and Quack Quack…
Seeing the confused faces from the squirrel and the duck, it was clear that they didn’t know what to think. The feline, however, kept his eyes on her.
Unable to bear the uneasiness of this conversation, the frog turned, and began to walk away. As soon as her face was not visible from her friends anymore, her smile fell instantly, soon replaced by a grimace of worry.
This wasn’t going to end well…
Kaeloo had walked for a long time, always making sure that Mister Cat hadn’t followed her. Knowing him, it wouldn’t be that surprising, but she didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. Only the trees, the flowers, and the rocks she loved so much.
It was only when she was far enough that her other self began to talk, with a grumpy voice:
“ Badka no want to go, ” he said, and Kaeloo could almost see him crossing his arms at his intonation: “Family not nice!”
The frog frowned and sighed:
-”Yes, I know. I don’t want to go either… But it wouldn’t be right to leave Cousin Kevin all on his own…”
If the letter had come from anybody else, Kaeloo could have found an excuse- even though she hated the very idea of lying. However, the fact that it came from the only cousin who accepted her… She couldn’t stand him up.
Of all her family, Cousin Kevin had always been the one she got along with the best. After all, he had a personality similar to her. For a toad, he was considerate, benevolent and kind… Which was a rare, very rare association in their family.
If Kevin hadn’t found the courage to leave like she did, he still remained the only person who understood her, and wasn’t trying to change her.
She couldn’t leave him alone with the rest of the family… She had to make an effort.
“ Kaeloo say her sick, and not go, ” suggested Badka.
-”You know very well I hate lies!” protested Kaeloo.
“ Kaeloo lie before, ” he reminded her sulkily.
-”No, that… That isn’t the same!”
She heard a displeased “humph” as an answer.
Deep down, Kaeloo was more than aware of her bad faith- but saying it out loud was another story, thus she stood her ground.
However, none of this was bringing any solution to their problem, and she knew very well that the decision belonged to Badka and her both . After all, the former would be the one in control during said party, while she would stay backstage, as an observer.
It was an easier role- in the end, it was logical that her opinion mattered less than Badka’s. So if he didn’t want to go, then that was it.
Still, she couldn’t help but feel guilty not following her cousin’s invitation.
The frog let her legs take her to random places, while her mind wandered. Eventually, she found herself at the edge of a cliff, overlooking a good part of Smileyland. The view was superb, distracting her just a little of her messy thoughts. But, no matter the beauty of the landscape, the problems kept coming back to her.
So, she sat, her eyes fixated on this view that, despite what she hoped, couldn’t take her mind off things eternally.
Silence set in, in which Kaeloo kept thinking. What should she do? On one hand, she was tempted to refuse the invitation, but on the other hand… She knew she would feel guilty, even if her cousin was perfectly aware of the tensions between her and her family.
After all, he was different too. But in this case, it was normal for her to be there for him… And leaving him alone in a family reunion was not the way to do it.
-”You know we need to go,” she said out loud, knowing very well her other self was listening.
She didn’t receive any answer for a moment, until, finally…
“ Me scared. You scared too. ”
The tone was low, almost sad. But how couldn’t they be, when the memories of so many reprimands was hurting their mind? After so many years being compared to cousins that better fit expectations?
After so many years trying to be someone else, until they finally reached a place away from judgement?
-”I know,” the frog answered and lowered her head, her voice serious. She tried to use a more optimistic intonation: “But it’s only one night! We can handle this, right?”
She received another “humph” as a response, and she couldn’t help but smile sadly. Badka knew her pretty well. With a sigh, Kaeloo moved her eyes back on the landscape facing her. In the end, she and Badka had a few days to decide… And a small part of her was hoping that Badka will convince her instead.
Of course- after all, Badka wasn’t the only one to be scared.
She let her mind get back into thoughts- but as a familiar voice rose behind her, she couldn’t help but jump high from the surprise:
-”Okay, what’s your deal, Froggy?”
Kaeloo let out a high pitched scream, and she almost fell from the cliff due to the shock.
As her heart was pounding in her chest, and her breathing was fast, the furious little frog turned around, towards the one that almost made her fall.
-”Are you out of your mind?! Don’t scare people like that!”
Her eyes fell on the smug face of a cat she knew oh so very well: Mister Cat.
Of couse he had followed her. She might have looked thoroughly around her, he must have creeped behind her, out of her sight. Underestimating him had been a mistake.
-”Oh, please excuse me. Next time, I’ll knock,” he said, as his smile grew wider in the most infuriating way.
She frowned, and rolled her eyes. Of all the times to bother her, the cat had evidently picked the worst. She really wasn’t in the mood for this, now.
-”I’m sorry, but I’d rather be alone, please,” she told him with a grave tone, before averting her eyes.
-”Oh, really? Yet, I’m sure I’ve heard you talk… With a muscular toad, perhaps? Fact, or fiction?”
The frog sighed.
-”I don’t want to play, Mister Cat,” she protested weakly, hoping he would get the message. Another day, maybe. Now, though, she didn’t have the strength to get mad.
However, instead of leaving like what she had hoped, the other moved forward, and sat beside her. She couldn’t help but recoiled from the surprise, and looked at him curiously.
-”Uh…”
-”We all got that something’s wrong,” he said, resting his chin in the palm of his hand: “Well, not Nutcracker, but he’s a lost cause.”
She couldn’t help but smile at the mockery, though it quickly disappeared.
-” So ,” continued the feline without averting his eyes: “What’s the deal with your cousin’s party?”
Kaeloo’s eyes fell onto the ground, and her face tensed. She didn’t want to talk about it- after all, it was a very sensitive topic that she never told anyone before. Only she and Badka shared that.
-”It’s nothing…”
-”Yeah, right, call me stupid while you’re at it,” he rolled his eyes, and an irritated expression settled on his face- he didn’t believe her at all.
She couldn’t lie to him- not to the king of lies himself.
-”So you’re here, moping around for who knows what, and you’re telling me everything’s fine? Pull the other one!”
Kaeloo pinched her lips. He wasn’t wrong- and this disn’t surprise her very much. He was the most perceptive in their group… Which didn’t really help her out in the current circumstances.
-”C’mon, get to the point, Tadpole,” insisted the feline, frowning: “I haven’t got all day.”
The little frog looked at her feet, hesitant. She really didn’t want to talk about her family issues with someone other than herself… But she was certain that Mister Cat wouldn’t leave without hearing a reason. He was perceptive… And terribly stubborn.
Maybe she could get away with it by staying relatively vague…
-”Well… My family and I… We don’t really get along,” she admitted reluctantly.
-”Ah,” he nodded: “And you’re gonna see them again if you go, that’s it?”
She nodded as well, with a shrug, which was enough of an answer.
-”I mean, if that’s the problem, it’s simple: you don’t go, and that’s it,” he explained, as if it were obvious… Which probably was the case, from an outsider’s eye.
But things weren’t as easy.
-”But that’s the thing! I have to go!” she retorted, feeling herself getting more and more nervous.
-”Why’s that? Someone’s forcing you?” Confusion spread on his face, as he watched her with some form of curiousness.
-”No, it’s just…”
She paused- evidently, she couldn’t get away with staying vague, which was really unfortunate. But if she had to explain herself, then she needed to bring some information to the table.
-”In fact, my Cousin Kevin is the only one who accepts me as I am,” she started with a sigh: “The rest of my family doesn’t really approve of me being… A cute little frog.”
The cat remained silent, listening to her with a form of respect that was almost surprising coming from him:
-”When I go there, I have to transform. And even with that, I get reprimanded a lot… On how I act, or what I do here, in Smileyland.”
Now that she had started talking, she couldn’t stop. It was as if all the problems and concerns she had pushed deep down were escaping, no matter how hard she tried to repress them.
-”I’ve always been different… And that’s why I left.”
She didn’t have the words to explain herself. The story of her life, of her cohabitation with her other self were… Complicated topics. It was notably due how sensitive they were- how couldn’t they be?
-”But when I see them… It all starts again. The reprimands, the sermons, the judgment of my family… It’s very difficult.”
She remained silent for a moment, before saying, softly:
-”I don’t want to go…”
Despite the strong feelings she had for her cousin, this was the truth. The very idea of facing her family, when she could simply refuse, when her cousin was so understanding of her situation…
It was extremely tempting. Only guilt was preventing her from making the first step in that direction.
The feline, however, didn’t have the same feelings on her situation:
-”Then, don’t go,” he said simply with a shrug: “I don’t see why you’re putting yourself through this. Tell him you can’t go, and that’s it.”
-”Well… My Cousin Kevin is different too. Less than me, but…” she shook her head imperceptibly: “Anyway, I’d just want to be here with him, so he’s no alone with our family.”
-”And why is he going? Why don’t you both skip the party? Problem solved.”
-”He’s always been more… Obedient than I am. If my Uncle Klaus tells him to come, then he will. So I think that… If I can just be there for him…”
-”So what, that justifies you having to go to an annoying family reunion? He’ll survive it, you know,” the feline shook his head, frowning: “It’s good to be all ‘nice, super cute, yippee’,” he added, imitating the frog with exaggeration: “But you can think about yourself too. I mean, what do I know, about family problems, huh?”
The last sentence was like a stake in Kaeloo’s heart. Of course… Mister Cat had family problems too. The frog didn’t know much about it, but enough to feel bad for him. Of all her friends, he was probably the one who could understand her situation the best.
They remained silent for a few minutes. The tension that had settled between them was particularly awkward, so much so that she couldn’t help but try to find something to say… In vain.
In the end, the cat was the one to talk again:
-”Well,” he sighed, turning towards her: “If you want to go so much, I can just come with you. You know, as moral support and all.”
Kaeloo’s eyes widened with surprised, and she stared at him:
-”Oh no, Mister Cat, you don’t have to!”
-”Maybe, but if you’re moping around, you don’t transform, and that’s just not right for me,” he retorted, standing up: “Actually, I’m not giving you much of a choice. And, you know…”
He smiled smugly, and rubbed his chin:
-”If I can see several muscular toads, I’m not gonna complain…”
-”Oh, Mister Cat!” she took offense, which did nothing but amuse the feline even more.
-”Oh, relax, I’m just joking,” he mocked her as he rolled his eyes: “Anyway, we’ll talk about it later, once you feel better. In the meantime, I have an article to read that I haven’t finished yet. I sure do wonder why…”
Despite her initial irritation, the frog couldn’t help but chuckle. She then watched him leave, a smile soon appearing on her lips as he moved away.
For the first time since this letter arrived… Kaeloo felt somewhat lighter.
Perhaps this family reunion would go more smoothly than the last ones, in the end…