The Advent Of Smouse - Chapter 12 - Explaining The Problem

Yes,

We're back again,

Back again for chapter 12 of the Advent of Smouse,

Explaining the Problem.

When their father heads straight into his study,

Perry and Ex decide it's wiser to help their mother prepare supper.

Mentor settles herself under the kitchen table,

While Scat claims a chair.

There is no sign of Smouse.

The siblings work in silence,

Toasting and buttering raisin bread,

While their mother makes hot chocolate.

Well,

Who's going to start,

Vera Black raises her eyebrows.

She glances at Mentor,

Who dips her head knowingly.

Ex outlines what's happened,

While Perry fills in the gaps.

They have just finished when their father reappears.

He is totally dejected.

The Melbourne Office report is excellent,

But news from overseas is black.

Repeats of the Melbourne debacle worldwide and no one seems to be able to sort it.

The sight of Mentor and Scat obviously on friendly terms further unsettles him.

They share their supper in silence.

As they are finishing,

A warm hum and glow fills the room.

Perry and Ex turn their heads to discover Smouse,

Seated at the end of the table.

Their parents follow their direction.

The sight of Smouse makes Vera Black's face light up.

Her husband's reaction is not as receptive.

He sharply pushes back his chair and leaps up.

What the?

He stops abruptly,

As a sharp warm tingle flows through his head.

The cordial words of greeting render him speechless.

It's as if the Mouse creature is speaking to him.

He stares in shock at his wife,

Seeking confirmation.

She motions to him to sit down.

He sits down.

It's time for explanations and solving the problem,

But fixing it won't be easy.

Perry and Ex take turns in relating the events of the past couple of days.

The mother nods as things fall into place,

But for their father it's all too much.

A black-spotted pink dog,

A Smouse that talks,

Diablo logos that mix with the personality of his computer operators,

Cause the computers to crash.

He's never heard such a load of rubbish.

What's more confusing,

That his children and wife seem to believe it.

He wonders if he's having a breakdown.

His disbelief is so great that not even Smouse or Mentor can reach him.

He slams back his chair and storms from the house,

Heading for the office.

They hear the roar of an engine as his car takes off,

And then a sudden screech of tires,

And the heart-stopping sound of tearing metal.

As one they race from the house.

Martin Black's car is on its side against a lamppost on the other side of Beach Road.

A red sedan,

Its driver white-faced and distraught,

Is on the nature strip.

Martin Black,

Blood pouring from a deep gash on his forehead,

Is slumped against the driving wheel.

He is not moving.

The car looks a right off.

Fearfully the children and their mother approach the car.

Vera Black repeatedly calls her husband's name.

She tries to open the door,

But it's jammed.

Car doors slam and voices surround them as the neighbors appear.

Another driver stopped to offer assistance.

The driver of the red sedan stumbles over,

Repeating that she hadn't seen him,

That he just shot out of the driveway.

She stands helpless on the footpath.

Unseen by the crowd,

Smouse appears on the steering column beside Martin Black.

He feels for his pulse.

Nothing.

He and Mentor,

Who is standing next to the car with the family,

Connect with each other.

Smouse stretches and places both hands on Martin Black's heart.

He and Mentor focus.

A stream of pure white light fills the car.

Perry,

X and their mother,

And Sam Shiro,

Who has joined them,

Fearfully hold their breaths.

The crowd steps back,

Afraid that the car might ignite.

The four watch in wonder as the light fades and the wound closes up.

They feel a powerful,

Loving energy flow between Smouse and Mentor,

Through them and into the car.

It's as if time stands still.

Martin Black opens his eyes and sees his wife and children.

His head is fuzzy as he struggles to recall what happened.

He thinks he remembers seeing the Smouse.

Was it a dream?

He opens his door,

Clambers out and staggers out into the arms of his wife and children,

Who are overcome with relief.

Smouse has disappeared.

The police and tow trucks arrive.

As no one appears injured,

The crowd gradually disperses.

The police check quickly to make sure that neither driver is injured before they sort out the liability details.

They are relieved that Martin Black accepts blame for the accident.

Fortunately the red sedan has suffered only minor damage to the front mudguard.

Martin Black's car is a wreck.

The family,

Sam and Mentor watch as it's towed away.

The driver of the red sedan stands tensely beside her car.

She is still rather shaken.

Smouse suddenly appears beside Sam and suggests that he offer help to the lady motorist.

Sam nods and approaches the distressed lady and asks if she'd like a cup of tea at his house.

She gladly accepts.

The calming influences of the Shero household soothe her and she is able to gain her composure and drive with confidence.

The Blacks slowly walk back to their house where Smouse and Mentor are waiting for them.

Smouse on the kitchen table and Mentor on a chair.

In his shocked state,

Martin Black finds the reality of Smouse and Mentor even more confusing and hard to rationalise.

Still rather stunned,

He tries to remember what happened but he can only recall getting into his car.

Then total blackness and then seeing this incredible light and feeling this wonderful warmth as his family's voices called him to come back.

The mirror fills him in on what happened,

On what seems to be a miracle.

He inspects Smouse more intently.

Smouse looks back at him and ducks his head.

He laughs and his words fill everyone's heads.

It's not a miracle,

Just the power of pure love.

It sits in the space of the universe.

Mentor and I were the conduit.

We gathered it and condensed it.

You Martin actually used that love to heal yourself.

You used the love for your family.

Anyone can learn how to channel the love.

The family looks dubiously from one to the other.

Accepting that Smouse is a reality is one thing but this love concept will take a bit more convincing.

Smouse just smiles.

Regardless of what really happened,

Martin Black thanks Smouse profusely and asks what they need to do.

It's love,

He says,

Everyone and everything.

Pure love is unconditional,

Freely given.

The Blacks exchange further looks.

It's a concept they are not used to.

Mentor assures them that with practice it will come easily.

She pauses and consults with Smouse.

I agree that the time is right for further revelations.

Smouse produces a small dark book with gold writing from within the folds of his scarf.

The Guide.

He addresses them all.

I know it's late but it's important to do this now.

It's time to apply its principles to the problem of Madrog and the computers.

None of the Blacks seem to be aware that they are actually communicating with Smouse and Mentor telepathically.

And here endeth Chapter 12.

I'll see you next time for Chapter 13.