The Return of My Hero

 “So go ahead and tell me about this monster that you hunted, Gary. Who was he? Or...what was he?” Gary’s therapist, Doctor Edwards asked the question and adjusted in his seat, listening intently as Gary’s mother Saundra sat nearby listening quietly. The boy spoke, his voice a strange blend of youth and age.

“Ah yes, the beast! I know not what type it was or even if it had a face. All I know is that it is up to me, Garret Forswording, the great Hero of Orinea, to slay the horrible thing and thus keep my mother the Queen and all her realm safe. Along with my trusted partner, the great Sorcerer, Marbles Callahan, we repeatedly defend the realm with great Courage!”

The boy speaking had only just turned 12 years old and was now recalling his adventures as a Knight of Orinea, a protective warrior who swore to defend his world from an unstoppable monster until his Father, the King and greatest Knight that Orinea had ever known, could return and help him to finally kill the beast once and for all. Dr. Edwards interrupted cautiously.

“Listen Gary, your mother and I really need you to understand someth-”

“My name is Garret!” he cried. “I’ve told you, I know nothing of this Gary you speak of!”

Gary’s eyes blazed blue like an arctic storm. Saundra looked at the Doctor and nodded, pleading to him for understanding. Doctor Edwards paused, refrained, and began again in a more gentle tone.

“Ok, I’m sorry Garret. Please, tell me how you came to know about this monster in the first place.”

They were in Gary’s bedroom. The walls had posters of King Arthur’s court and artworks depicting knighthood. Beside his bedroom window, there was a nightstand with an ancient metallurgy book on it and an old, blue plaid handkerchief. Outside the large window behind her son Saundra could see the sun beginning to fade behind gathering clouds. Gary began again.

“…Very well...it all began with my Father started teaching me the ways of Knighthood from an early age, as early as I can remember, really. He taught me about Honor, telling the Truth, basic swordplay and the great importance of protecting those that cannot protect themselves, which led me to meet Marbles Callahan, my greatest friend and most fearsome accomplice!

My Father was forced to make periodic journeys outside the realm to gather provisions for Orinea and to protect peace anywhere he was needed—a true Hero! I knew that this troubled my mother, the Queen and she would rarely speak his name. When he was gone, I would practice my swordsmanship on old logs or standing trees in the forest outside our castle walls. One day on one of my wood walks, I saw a young feline wizard surrounded by a gang of angry thieves. Upon closer inspection, I could see that this furry magician was indeed protecting his food from these masked heathens with striped tales! He spat and hissed at them furiously, evidently trying to cast a powerful spell but to no avail. I quickly came to his aid.

‘Get thee back from whence you came you foul cheaters! Let the man have his food!’

I came running and swiping my sword madly. Indeed, I had already become a force to be reckoned with. The masked thieves with the small black hands galloped away as quickly as their little legs and arms could carry them.

‘How do you do?’ I introduced myself, ‘I am Garrett Forswording of Orinea.’

Marbles purred at me, his orange and white fur no longer puffed up in fear. He adjusted his wizard’s hat.

‘Thank You kindly my friend’ he said without moving his lips. Telepathy! I thought.

‘I am the one known as Marbles Callahan, and I play in the realm of Sorcery!’

But this telepathy was only one of his many powerful magics that I would witness in the coming days and weeks as our friendship grew into a partnership against evil. For example, you would think that it would be extremely easy to keep your eyes on a caped cat with a large, pointy hat but look away for only one moment, and he would be gone, vanished into thin air, only to reappear a moment later! Teleportation?

Marbles and I became fast friends and I pleaded with my father to allow him to live within the castle walls with us. He agreed, which made us both very happy. Yes, we got on quite well together! But times were beginning to be very tough for my parents. My father was required to leave his kingdom more and more often. I was perhaps too young to fully understand at the time but I could tell that it hurt them both when I witnessed them arguing once. It seemed somehow desperate between them, a King and Queen bickering at odds with an unsolvable issue that I could not yet fully grasp and it was around this time that the...horrible thing made it’s first and most lasting appearance.

We became aware of the monster one evening while simply resting within the castle walls. My father had been gone for almost a week on a very important mission. Marbles had just finished a smelly tray of fishy substance that he insisted increase a Wizard’s powers tenfold while I had greedily consumed a bowl of sweet grunir (Elven Porridge!) with a few oatmeal cookies when all of sudden the front castle gate slammed open tremendously, moving the wind with great force. I startled and stood as quickly as I could, a bit afraid but ready. I looked for Marbles but he had apparently already teleported to better vantage point. What I saw baffled me completely.

I was at first overwhelmed with joy. It appeared to be my Father who had returned! But...”

The boy stopped for a moment as his throat swelled and his eyes became cold. His hands were clasped, thoughtfully squeezing as he looked down. Edwards leaned forward.

“Yes? Go on. If you’re up for it.”

“But it was all an illusion! It stumbled to and fro and then changed form completely. It had been an illusion! The monster can take on the form of someone else, you see? And it used this ability to confuse me at first. I ran happily toward my father, ready to embrace him when suddenly he changed into a terrifying creature, something like a gigantic, angry beast complete with long, sharp claws, burning red eyes and several pointy legs like spider! It was hairy, and frightening beyond words as it yelled to me saying only: ‘OUT OF THE WAY!’ It grabbed me by the throat and threw me aside effortlessly. And the smell...somehow a smell so clean and yet so burning to my nostrils.

I crashed into a nearby chair after it threw me and hit my face on some railing. That is how I got this scar.”

He lightly touched the long line that went vertically from his forehead down over his right eye and into his cheek. Saundra brought her hand to her mouth as she watched her son relive the fantasy that Gary had created to protect himself. The truth had been too much.

“As a Knight and a sworn protector of the Realm, I take no pride in telling you that I ran. I ran as hard as I could and hid deep within the underbelly of the Castle and cried in fear. I could hear the beast attacking my Mother but I was frozen fast, unable to move. The fear controlled me, you see? It controlled me and squeezed my stomach into a tight knot! It was and still is my greatest humiliation. I remember looking down in the closet where I hid, my knees pulled close against my chest. I could see Marbles Callahan there with me, his eyes huge and black with terror, just like me! I pleaded with him to cast a spell of Bravery upon me but he told me, with a serious glance, that no spell could ever create true Bravery in a man. Blood dripped down my cheek onto the top of my knee.

When the noise outside the closet had died down I slowly began to creep out. I followed the sound of my mother. She was weeping in the dining room. She looked like she had barely survived the beast, her hair a mess, her clothes ruffled, tears streaming down her face. I had failed her and even worse, I had failed the greatest Warrior in all of Orinea, my father. My mother embraced me and we just stood there for some moments.”

Dr. Edwards looked at the floor for a moment, contemplating the situation.

“That day I resolved to never again waver in the face of fear. I could be afraid but I could still do something—anything! I could save us from the monster but I needed my Father to kill it! I had to hold off the beast somehow until his return.”

“Ok, Garrett, that’s good. Thank you.” said Doctor Edwards, rubbing his eyes. He wanted to comfort the boy but stopped himself, pausing. Outside the bedroom window a steady rain had begun to fall. He looked at the 95’ Honda Civic sitting in the driveway. Inside it sat Gary’s father, waiting.

“Garret,” Saundra spoke suddenly, “Honey, why don’t you tell him more about your father?”

“My father?”

“Yes, dear. Please. How do you feel about your father?”

“Well, my father...he’s my Hero! He’s the greatest Knight our world has ever known. He brings wealth to us, provides anything we need and protects us from dangers. He taught me how to use a sword, how to tell the truth, how to be a man…”

Saundra and Dr. Edwards met eyes.

“Around the time I turned I turned 7 or 8 my father began to go on important journeys away from home. It was required of him. It was his duty. The monster could only come when he was gone because my father was far too strong for it. After that first time I met the monster, my father never returned to us but I have to believe that he’s alive out there somewhere!”

Dr. Edwards stood up out of his chair and gently placed his hand on Gary’s shoulder.

“Garret, I think it’s time that you see your father again. Do you think you’ll be ok with that?”

Gary shook his head no and looked away. He had lost the maturity of his storytelling voice and became young again in the face of reality.

“I’ll be right back,” said Edwards.

The Doctor went outside and got Gary’s father, giving him a brief explanation of the situation as they walk to the front. When they entered Gary’s bedroom Gary was squirming in his seat and Saundra was holding his hand.

Gary’s father sat down. He was a large man. About 6 feet, 3 inches tall and naturally brawny. He had a thick reddish, brown beard and bright blue eyes that he had passed to Gary. He was strong and well worn from a lifetime of working traveling construction jobs. In many ways, he truly did look like a Knight, especially to his son. His name was Daniel.

“Hello, son.”

Gary avoided eye contact. Daniel was heavy with guilt.

“Listen, I only want to say that I’m sorry for hurting you and I love you son.”

All was silent for a moment. The only sound was the softness of the rain patting down outside. Then thunder off in the distance. Gary looked at him, trembling, and then said “and who are you, exactly?”

“Enough of this!” Gary’s father screamed. Gary recoiled.

“I am your father! You’re name isn’t Garrett. It’s Gary and I’ve had enough of this. That monster was me, Gary! I am the monster, son.” His voice was hoarse and full of guilt. “Look at me, son. Look at me!”

Gary blinked and drew his legs in slightly. He looked at him suspiciously. Tears had begun to form in Daniel’s eyes. His voice was hoarse with regret.

“That night I had come home angry and drunk. I had been working too much; I was unhappy. You’re mother and I had been fighting for awhile. We were very behind on bills and there just wasn’t enough money! Look I never meant to hurt you…”

He reached forward to touch his son for the first time since that night. Gary stood instantly, knocking his chair down as he quickly backed toward the door.

“YOU...you are the beast! Mother, what is the meaning of this? Where is my real father?”

At that moment, Marbles came casually sauntering into the room. He approached Daniel, walked through his legs, pushing his head against Daniel’s ankle, purring and giving him a tail-hug against hist leg.

“Marbles…” said Saundra. “You see Gary, he loves your father.”

Gary loosened his stance and stood there with wet eyes, defeated, confused and wanting it to be over but…

“I...love you too...Dad…”

Daniel gently picked Marbles up and approached his son. They embraced, for the first time in almost one year. Outside the storm was picking up as a raccoon plundered the neighbor’s trash bin.