February 18, 2010 - 5:07am — Alecsander
It had been nearly two years since that day. The White Man laid low for some time. It was futile to try and approach the child after that. In retrospect he should have held tighter to the mask and expected such foolishness. The child was still so young and not nearly ready for such a sight.
So instead he stayed distant and just watched. He watched 33 candles extinguished and only offered silent congratulations to the child he scarred for life. He had flirted with the thought of approaching the child multiple times previously, but even the smallest misplaced shadow or sound would cause a fit. It was disheartening.
The white man stared towards the open door at the end of the hall and just stood silently. He knew he would be in there. He could see the faint light under covers. No doubt the boy was reading a book as usual. He had grown up substantially since that night so many years ago, yet still harbored the irrational fears. He still hid under the covers from bogymen. He still had to huddle in the corner with the lights dimmed to avoid punishment from Fila. He steadily approached the room and gave a hesitant knock at the door. The covers trembled for a few seconds before being lowered. The White Man recoiled as the bright light was turned in his direction.
A spotlight.
How long ago had it been since he stood in one before? Nearly thirteen years. He tilted his head and raised a hand to press the mask to his face while simultaneously shielding his eyes. He stared dolefully towards the child and cocked his head to the side questioningly.
Would he be accepted?
Was another tantrum in store for the rejected spectre?
"...you gonna keep the mask on?"
The White Man snapped his head up and stumbled forward with excitement. "Y-yes! Of course! I mean if I knew you were go-"
The teen flashed the light on him again. "Don't even think about it. You can stand over there." Finata inclined his head towards the chair in the corner and fumbled to balance the light on the nightstand. "So..what do you want?"
The White Man licked his lips nervously and seated himself in the chair. "I well..um first of all happy birthday. I didn't get you a present though but I guess I wouldn't know what you like. Never really got to have kids, well I did but..anyway happy birthday and I hope you have many year-"
"That's not what I asked you Casper."
The White Man grumbled softly about manners before starting over. "I wanted to see you again. Aren't I allowed to? And it's not Casper, my name is..well was Felix."
"Alright, fair enough, but you still didn't really answer my question. What the hell do you really want?"
Children these days were so rude. The White Man rubbed his mask with one hand and gestured vaguely with the other. "Would you like a bed-time story?"
Finata snorted and flipped off the light. "I'm Twelve years old! Only babies want bed-time stories. Goodnight Casper or Felix or whatever you say your name is. Go haunt someone else."
The White Man frowned and obediently left the room. Honestly, what could he do? He was never there for the child in life and his attempts in the after-life have been the farthest from successful. He would need to find a new approach if he wanted to be the father he never had the chance to be.
Aw, poor Furfur, so
Mah. :'
*will keep watching for these*