Remembering Jim Henson

Chapter 9

“LISA! LISA! OPEN UP PLEASE”

Lisa woke up from the middle of her nap in her reserved hotel room. She knows it must be Beth outside of the hallway. She opened up and found Beth and Colleen exhausted.

“Are you okay,” asked Lisa while she let them in since she knew Beth before since she was in her school.

“No,” Beth started. “I can’t find Trish anywhere I might as well find her tomorrow. As I got here, somebody was making noise and I heard Oscar, the grouch said that he doesn’t want a bath.”

“So, that’s how you smell awful,” said Lisa, as she was holding her nose from the smell.

“Right,” Beth said. “I got closer to him and he was so grouchy. Ugh! He’s sometimes reminds me of my dad. Ugh! If you need me, I am going to the assigned hotel room with Colleen and take a shower. I am filled with nasty germs from that dark green Muppet.”

“Okay,” Lisa said, with a chuckle. “I will see you in the morning then. Bye!”

Lisa then closed the door gently after Lisa and Colleen left the room before she collapsed on her bed and closed her eyes to finish her nap before Scooter comes back with results for Jim’s memorial.

While Lisa was tired, Colleen and Beth were back in their room and Beth was extremely angry for getting near Oscar at his fowl and awful smell.
“Look at me, Colleen,” Beth said, with her cheeks growing hot on her face. “I am covered with germs and soiled myself. Yuck!”
“Don’t worry about getting dirty,” suggested Colleen. “You can get cleaned up tomorrow.”
“No,” Beth said. “There’s no way I am waiting til’ tomorrow. I am washing up right now.”
“That’s going to be your second shower for the day, Beth.”
“There is always something exciting around there. That’s what’s wrong with this world.”
“You are so Booberish.”
“That’s right! I help my parents with the laundry and the cooking. I don’t even swim!”
“Maybe someone can teach you how to swim.”
“I don’t want to talk about it right now, Colleen. I got a shower to have right now.
“Okay,” Colleen said sighing. “By the way, you did tell me earlier that when you were young, your friends heard you watch Fraggle Rock and they said that all Fraggles are pesitimic. I stood up from those liars for you and I told you the truth Boober Fraggle is the pesitimic one in Fraggle Rock.”
Beth did not answer from Colleen since she was already in the bathroom as she took off her soft while silk robe and stepped in into the shower so nobody would bother her for a while.
“Oh well,” Colleen said to herself. “She will talk to me later once she cleans up her germs and odor from that filthy Muppet. Sheesh!”

It was now close to nighttime and Trish couldn’t get over the way Amy acted by arguing and making her friendly creatures suffer. With a lot of noise around her even the cars honking so loudly, she was very scared and lonely.

“That Amy drives me nuts,” Trish said to herself. “Now I sound like Red. Ohhh! No one cares about me anymore.”

Lonely, lonely as can be
No one knows and no one wonders what becomes of me.
No one understands the way it feels to feel like me.
Sick of only me
Lonely as can be

Show me, why I can't be free.
Show me something better than just lying here with me.
No one understands the way it feels to feel like me.
Sick of only me
Lonely as can be
Thinking about the loneliness of me.

“That song sort of made me too happy, but I am all by myself,” Trish said, while watching the cars go by. “If I had not been fighting with Amy, I wouldn’t be so lonely in the first place. I should have told her to stop fighting with me. I even try to tell her that Fraggles are kept a secret.”

Then, she hears a deep and serious voice.

“Listen,” the voice said.

“Who are you,” Trish called out, so it can hear her.

“Listen,” the voice said again.

“Listen to what? What are your rules?” Trish said questioning.

“There are no rules and those are the rules,” the voice said.

Before she blurted anything else out of her mouth, the white light came and before her eyes was a tall elderly looking tan Fraggle. She forgot it was Cantus, the Minstrel who travels through unknown places of Fraggle Rock.
“I don’t have time for this, sir,” Trish said, while feeling shaky.

“No time is wasted time,” Cantus said.

“Then, what am I,” Trish asked.

She was shocked that she was talking to a Fraggle. It was the silly creatures that travels and is the minstrel leader of the Rock.

“Youuuuu are youuuu,” Cantus answered.

“So, I-I am a silly creature and y-you are a (n) F-Fraggle,” Trish said, shuddering. Then, what am I supposed to do now?”

“Listen,” Cantus said.

Before she could explain what he meant, the Fraggle disappeared, and then she heard a song that sounded familiar.

Feel the water flowing.
Feel it coming, feel it going,
In the river, in the rain or in the sky

One day it's an ocean.
One-day ice in motion
One day it's a teardrop in your eye.

Once I wasn't here,
And then I suddenly appeared,
And now I seem to be at home in earth and air.

Just like water flowing,
I know where I'm going.
Look beneath your boots and I'll be there.

It's just a dream away.
You've got to leave to stay.
We'll meet again someday,
Just a dream away

As she walked closer before he even started taking in his deep breathing in and out. She started remembering who he was. He had brown hair, blue eyes, a nice old brown cap (sort of similar to Boober’s), and looked young in his teens.

“Was that you singing, sir,” Trish asked.

“AHHHHHHHHH,” the teenaged boy screamed, waking up like it was a nightmare. “Monsters! Gorgs! Is this the road to Harry Krishna or am I at Hollywood?”

“Stop, please,” Trish said out loud. “It’s just me. You probably had a nightmare”

“Is that you, Trish,” asked the boy, wearily.

“Yeah,” Trish said. “I am myself, but what’s your name?”

“Vincent Liu,” the boy said. “What else would I be, Trish. I still live in California, but I used to be one of your close neighbors.”

“I came because I-I want to go to Jim Henson’s funeral,” Trish said, feeling so shaky that she was at a loss of words.

“I know,” Vincent said softly. “Can I tell you why I moved somewhere else instead of being your neighbor?”

“Why do you want to do that,” Trish asked with concern.

“Well, before I tell you my story, there’s one favor you can do for me,” Vincent said trying not to stammer.

“What would it be, Mr. Vincent?”

“Will you please get me some tea? I have an awful headache from sleeping on the concrete steps?”

Trish groaned in a Red kind of way and walked away to find tea for her friend that was lost, but then was found.

Beth was finally done washing after scrubbing off the smelliness she got from a disgusting Muppet with lots of soap and water. Then, she got dressed by wearing clean clothes including her t-shirt and shorts before covering them into her white silk robe. Then, she came out of the bathroom with her dirty smelly clothes and put them a Ziploc bag.

“Are you done being claustrophobic,” Colleen finally asked after she was done reading her book.
“Yeah, I sort of am, Colleen,” Beth sighed. “Will you go get someone to wash Oscar? I am not doing it.”
“Ha! Why would I do it,” Colleen said.
Beth then stared at her with an annoying look.
“All right, stop giving me those angry eyes. I will wash Oscar. I knew you can get annoyed at grouches.”
“You got that right,” Beth said in a huff. “I never go see near a germy creature. I would smell like rotten garbage. Yuck!”

Then, they heard an explosion and some yelling. It must have been from Gonzo and Fozzie realizing that they said something that made Crazy Harry cause an explosion. Next, they heard a loud crash probably from a Muppet penguin. Finally, the chaos got a little worse. It was from Gobo and Red Fraggle.

Colleen had no idea what it was and she opened the door so she can hear what they are fighting about.

Sorry I made this chapter short, but the next one will be a little bit longer. Promise!

Song Credits
Lonely As Can Be – from the Fraggle Rock episode, “Playing Til’ It Hurts
Just A Dream Away – from the Fraggle Rock episode, “Gone But Not Forgotten

Wow that was unexpected!

Have you been monitoring me? That's exactly the dialogue I would have said in real life!

Colleeen, I don't understand what you just said. I forgot what unexpected even means.

I'm glad you like what you could have said (chuckles)!

No more typos, but getting better for staying in character. I even added Cantus the Minstrel, which was the vision Trish sees while lost in the New York City streets.

Collgoff - I knew it! How silly of me. There were surpises and unheard moments from Chapter 9 including Cantus, the Minstrel which is Trish's vision and a new OC. So, there are more to come.

Oh sorry about that Muppetfan I was just freaked out.

What? How were you freaked out, Collgoff?

You know what you said earlier about Cantus the minstrel.

Oh, I didn't mean to freak you out on that FR character (Cauntus). Sorry! Okay! I will work on chapter 10 and get it done less than two days if that's okay with everyone.

Don't worry about that I was only a little fraked out but I'm.
You can write more that if you want and it's all right with us to a chapter about 2 days from now.

It could take longer to get my next chapter done. Right now, this headache I have is horrendous. Not only do I feel so dizzy, I am feeling delirious too if I don't get any sleep. Where is the doctor or Boober when you need them. (groans)! Colleen, I promise to get my next chapter done soon, but today will not work out.

Don't worry about me Muppetfan I don't care I really don't!
Just take some rest and sleep so you'll feel much better!

Chapter 10

“I voted for being second from a silly creature and the next one agreed with my debate,” Gobo shouted.

“Come on Gobo,” Red said. “I voted first before you did.”

“Red Fraggle, I showed the silly creature my determination and he agreed that I sing the second verse.” Gobo countered, with Beth and Colleen listening. “Even the pianist judged that I go next.”

“Silly creatures! Ha! What do they know about debates,” Red said in a huff.

“Wembley entered the room and said, “I agree with Gobo, and I go next,”

“How dare Wembley take Gobo’s side,” Red thought.

“Well, the silly creature was the judge, Red,” Gobo said. “Wembley’s right! He’s my best friend and he’s sings right after me.”

“Well, silly creatures know about debates, but I voted first.” Red said angrily.

“Give it up, Red, we both voted and the silly creature voted me.”

Then, the argument started with Wembley in the middle. He wanted to run away until Colleen yelled, “QUIETTTTTTTTTT!”

Since they heard from the silly creature’s command, Red and Gobo stood frozen.

“What on earth is going you guys,” Beth asked.
“I voted for singing the silly creature song, “Just One Person first,” Gobo insisted.

“No way, I voted first for singing that stupid song,” Red said. “It’s so sentimental.”

“It is not sentimental, Red,” Gobo said angrily.

“Wait a minute! What song are you doing for Jim’s funeral,” Colleen asked.

“Just One Person,” Gobo answered.

“I remembered that song,” Beth said. “Gobo’s right, Red! He goes second on the song. There are two things my friend Colleen would like to have in a few days. First, she can’t stand fights and she never liked being in the middle of arguments just your friend, Wembley was in the first place. Wembley even doesn’t want you guys fighting all the time. Second, she loves songs. Not just Fraggle songs, but all kinds of music no matter what she listens to. I’m sorry, Red, but you’ll have to accept disappointment.”

Before Red could say anything, she hanged her head down and sat with Colleen. She knew she was defeated, not a winner.

“Ohhh,” Red groaned. “I wanted to go first,”

“I know you didn’t get your spot, but there might be a song that will cheer you up,” Colleen said with a nice grin.

If just one person believes in you.
Deep enough, and strong enough, believes in you.
Hard enough, and long enough before you knew it
someone else would think,
If she can do it, I can do it. Making it.. (Colleen sang)

Then, Gobo joins in with Colleen.
Two whole people who believe in you.
Deep enough and strong enough believe in you.
Hard enough, and long enough there's bound to be some other person who believes in making it a threesome.
Making it...

Next, Wembley joins in with Gobo and Colleen after softly saying, “Hi!”

Three....
People you can say believe in me.
And if three whole people, why not...

Mokey then joined in after she entered the room earlier to find out what is going on with Red and Gobo.

Four. And if four whole people, why not...

Finally, Boober joins in without hesitation,

More, and...

Amy joins in as well before more Muppets join in with them.

More and more.
And when all those people believe in you,
deep enough and strong enough believe in you,
Hard enough and long enough it stands to reason you,
yourself will start to see what everybody sees in you.
And maybe even you, (maybe even you)
Can believe in you, too.

Amy looked at Red in deep thought, because she was always the Fraggle that loved challenges and sports. Now with their friend, Jim, gone, she may have lost her speed or maybe the edge she was willing to have. Now she knew it was time to spill out the whole truth.

“Beth, I’m sorry that you acted like someone even a Muppet character.” Amy said, with a feeling of quilt that twisted inside of her. “I’m your sister and you can be whatever you want to be or you can be just the way you are.”

Beth at first wanted to deny Amy’s advice, but the feeling made her think that her sister was really forgiving her even though she made an awful mistake, which drove her crazy.

“I accept you apology, Amy,” Beth said, with a smile in her face. “I know that tomorrow will be a long day for-“

“Wait a minute,” Figgie interrupted. “Where’s Trish,”

“Figgie, how did you get here,” asked Amy, while still felling guilty for getting her best friend in trouble.

“Well, I don’t why how I got here, but I can’t stay anywhere else. I even forgot it is so dark out there right now.” Figgie said, forgetting she was now shaking so much that it was hard to speak out the real truth.

“This is all my fault,” said Gobo. “I wanted Trish to come along with us, but she didn’t go. All she wanted to do was to fight with Amy.”

“No, Gobo,” Boober said, feeling the guilt feeling he has inside. “It’s my fault. I should never let her go.”

“Boober’s right, Gobo,” Amy said. “However, I really messed everything up. I let her go and now she could be lost. I am going to go find her and I don’t care how dark it is. I sort of remembered how much of a ruckus she caused, the other night.”

*Flashback* - the other night
Trish could not get any sleep. While everyone else was asleep, she didn’t that realized that Boober came back in his or her room to get some sleep.

Then, she sang a song that would really disturb Boober’s peace and quiet.

Sometimes I have trouble
Falling asleep.
But it's not so bad.

“Tosh, I’m trying to sleep,” Boober protested.

I don't worry
And I don't weep.

Boober sighed and just shook his head.

In fact I'm glad....

Be-cause I get up off my pillow
And I flip on the li-ight.

(Toshhh!)

Trish ignored Boober’s pleas and continued singing.
I get down and get hip
In the still of the night.

(“Oh no!”)

I stretch and I yawn and then I breathe real deep,

(Boober shook his head again)

And dance myself to sleep!

(“Oh please, don’t dance.”)

His protests did not stop Trish from dancing.

I hoof around my beddie
Just a-tappin my toes.

(“You’re dancing?”)

Before I know what's happened
I'm a-ready to doze.

(Boober gets frustrated and scratches his head)

Got some partners I can count on called the Boogie Woogie Sheep (The Boogie Woogie Sheep appear immediately)

(“The what?”)

I dance myself to sleep!

(“I don’t believe this!”)

I gently rock-a-bye myself across the floor.

(“What are those silly creatures doing?”)

I turn and then I toss and then I start to snore.

(“Tosh!”)

My trusty little bugle helps me spread the news (she takes a small trumpet from underneath

(“Oh, not the bugle”)

That I'm tappin' to "Taps"
And I'm a-rarin' to snooze!

Then, she blows her trumpet and now there goes Boober’s quiet night. He does his best to protest so she can stop playing that trumpet.

(“You’re playing that bugle?
What are these creatures doing?
Tosh…
These c-creatures – they’re dancing!)

Before he could say anything else, Amy woke up from the noise and yelled, “STOPPPPPPPP!”

Trish took the trumpet out of her mouth and the tap dancing sheep stopped making tap noises.

“What on earth are you doing? Amy said, with worry. “You need to sleep, Trish. And where did those sheep come from? Mom doesn’t allow farm animals in our house.

The sheep then left the room with nothing else, but the sound of their tap shoes about to go fainter until they were gone.

“Amy, I couldn’t sleep. So, I wanted to dance myself to sleep.” Trish said laughing.

“Very funny, Trish,” Amy said. “You really need sleep or you will wake up grumpy the next morning. Right, Boober?”

“Right,” Boober said, with a sigh.

“I can’t believe you’re taking her side and I…..uh,…never mind. Ugh!”

Trish put her trumpet back underneath the bed and turned off the light.

“Boober was right,” Trish thought. “Fun is dangerous! We have nothing in common. I am a silly creature and he’s a Fraggle. How am I even going to trust him. Not only did I embarrass him, I showed off. Ohhhh! Why can’t I be like Beth? She is so quiet that I don’t give her a hard time at all.

She got underneath her blankets and finally went to sleep.

*Back to the present*
“So, everyone, stay here," Amy said with the seriousness in her voice. "Because I am gonna go and find Trish. Promise me! Promise me that I will come back with my friend, Trish."

“We promise, Amy,” Wembley insisted.

Everyone now understood that once the promise is made, it cannot be broken.

“So, don’t worry! I will come back and bring Trish back, okay? I am angry with any of you. I’m just worried about Trish. That’s all!”

Amy left the room as Lisa finally came in and wondered what she missed.

“Hey, Amy! I know what songs…..Amy?”

“Amy’s not here, Lisa,” Colleen said, with a concern look on her face. “You missed her!”

“Oh, why did I fall asleep,” Lisa asked, before burying her face with her blanket.

“It’s not you fault, Lisa,” Figgie said. “She left, because she wants to find her friend before something terrible happens….or worse.”

++++

Trish finally found a coffee shop and ordered tea until someone said, “Trish, is that you?”

“Are you Dominic,” Trish asked.

“Yeah,” said the man. “I live here, remember,”

“Oh yeah,” Trish said. “You are one of the people that moved out of California. You didn’t tell me that your dad had a job out here.”

“Well, he always has business to take care of for everyone,” Dominic said chuckling. “What brings you here?”

“I need you help,” Trish said with a harsh tone. “Vincent is in terrible condition, but he just has a headache.”

“Tea will get rid of his headache,” Dominic insisted. “Is there anything else I can help him with.”
“Not really,” Trish said. “Will you please come with me? I know where Vincent is at right now.”

“Okay,” Dominic said sighing. “I am tired of staying at this coffee shop for too long.”

Right after leaving the shop, Dominic and Trish quickly went to find Vincent without getting cautiously hit by cars or taxicabs. Although it took longer than they thought to find him, they finally found Vincent sitting on the concrete steps with both hands on his forehead.

“Here’s your tea,” Trish said in a soft tone. “Blow it first before you drink the tea.”

Vincent blew his tea before drinking it up. Not only was he shaking, he was scared of seeing a stranger.

“What’s wrong, Vincent,” Trish asked.

“I-I’m scared,” Vincent said, still feeling shaky.

“Why,” Trish said concerned about her best friend.

“After I heard that Jim died from pneumonia, I went upstairs to my room…..and cried.”

“Then, what did you do,” Dominic asked.

“I-I called the airport for tickets to New York and made reservations for a hotel as well.”

“Did you tell your parents what you did that day,” Trish said. “Because I want to know if you did.”

“Yes, Trish you know I did,” Vincent said, before taking another drink of his tea. “They accepted that I need vacation. So, I wanted to pack everything up, but I decided to take my backpack and stuff everything for what I needed.”

Trish realized that he was right. His backpack was right beside him and it looked very full filled with things inside the bag. “Go on,” Trish said quietly.

“Well, I finally got here after it took forever for the plane to get to New York,” Vincent started. “Before I exited the airport, I saw a little girl crying. She told me she was upset that Mr. Henson was gone and will never come back. I told her death is the part of our lives when there is a time that we can’t be in this world anymore. She sort of cried some more, but she said thanks before her mother took her hand and one moment I never saw her again. Then, I felt like a throb inside my head and I knew I had a headache.”

“Then, what,” Trish said now feeling the truth coming out of his mouth.

“I-I walked and then I sat down here. I didn’t want to get into accidents or get hurt. And I was waiting for you, Trish.”

“You know New York is very crowded and – “

“I know! Will you help me get to the hotel before I hurt myself.”

“All right,” Trish said sighing. “Come on Dominic, let’s get him to the hotel before something bad happens to him.”

“Right,” Dominic said, although he wasn’t so sure about Trish’s plan, he knew she was trying to do the right thing for Vincent.

Vincent slowly got up before Trish put him on the shoulder and took his hand that did not have a teacup. Before they started walking, they heard a voice.

“Trish….Trish? Is that you?”

“Amy? She must have found me.” Trish said to herself, since Vincent and Dominic didn’t know what she was talking about.

In fact, it was Amy who was looking for Trish. When they saw each other face to face, they started hugging together. Vincent and Dominic look confused and wanted to know what’s going on.

“Dominic,” Trish said. “This is Amy, my best friend.”

“Hi,” he said with a shy smile.

“Amy, this is my best friend, Vincent.” Trish said with excitement.

“How do you do,” Vincent asked.

“I’m fine, but thanks,” Amy said with a grin on her face.

“You’re welcome,” Vincent said.

“Well, I’m sorry that I said that I will never speak to you again,” Amy said with a guilt feeling in her stomach. “Why did we put those funny looking creatures in the middle of our fight?”

“I doesn’t matter much anymore, Amy.” Trish said. “Let’s just say that there should be more fights.”

“You can say that again,” Amy said. “I believe all of us should go back to the hotel where the puppeteers and their Muppets are.”

“I don’t blame you, Amy,” Trish said with a smile on her face. “Vincent, you got your backpack.

“Yeah, you know have it with me,” Vincent said with a serious tone.

Vincent no longer had a headache after drinking one cup of fresh tea thanks to Trish for getting the drink from the coffee shop.

+++++

Up into the clouds to the heaven gates, Jim knew that might have a mistake.

“Jim, are you okay,” Joe asked.

“It’s funny,” Jim said sheepishly. “The Fraggles and the silly creatures might be friends. Now that’s what I call Perfect Harmony.”

“What was the last huge project you did?”

“Well,” Jim started. “I wanted to make a children’s show about world peace. Without creating Fraggle Rock, there wouldn’t be a Red, Gobo, Mokey, Wembley, or Boober.”

“I understand,” Joe said patting Jim’s back before sitting next to him. “I met Don Sahlin and he heard that you were going to go into a Muppet’s dream.”

“I can’t do that, Joe,” Jim said sighing. “Instead I left a tape for them.”

“Really, Jim,” Joe asked.

“Yeah,” Jim said with concern in his face. “So, what the hey. Kermit was always a good old friend of mine.”

“Who was closer?”

“Rowlf the Dog!”

“You mean-“

“Kermit will get his voice in a few months, but Rowlf…..he was like me, Joe. Laid back and calm! He will not get his voice back for a long time.”

“I know what you mean, Jim,” Joe said with a smile.

“Oh good,” Jim said in his Kermit voice.

“You were Kermit the Frog weren’t you?” Joe asked in surprise.

“Yeah,” Jim said in a quiet tone. “I lived a good life down there and so did you Joe. I was a leader like Kermit, Gobo, and who else would it be if it weren’t for those guys.”

“Do you remember what it was like to be a “fearless leader.” Joe asked.

“Yeah,” Jim said while softly rubbing his hands together. “Even Gobo and Jerry Nelson knew that I was a “fearless leader” I always said that nothing was impossible.”

“So, you really miss Kermit and everyone else including your family, don’t you, Jim,” Joe asked sighing.

“Yes, Joe,” Jim said. “Whatever they do for me, I will be smiling down there. Life is mysterious in many ways. And I love being here with Don, you, and the people that I will meet.

“Come on, Jim,” Joe said, as he got up before letting Jim up. “Why don’t show some of the Hollywood stars your Rowlf the Dog voice.”

“I doubt that, Joe,” said Jim smiling. “I will do the best I can with that voice I got from that dog. I’ll never know.”

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Song Credits
Just One Person – from the Snoppy musical
NOTE – You and everyone may not know that this was one Jim’s favorite songs.
Dancing Myself to Sleep – Sesame Street song

O

Oh Tosh was a Fraggle Boober had a minor crush on as is seen in Tune For Two, and Wembley's song is from Terrible Tunnel! But where is Trish's song from? Did you write? If so you have very good talent.

Can't have lasanga on the third week of March! Ha ha ha! That was funny, but I feel a little sorry for Beth! Great work!

Thr Trish character I did..well she is human OC, she was nicknamed Tosh no thanks to Amy for teasing her and calling her something else that she is not. The song, "I'm Not Scared" was wrttien by Philp Balsam (music) and Dennis Lee (lyrics). Not only she did have that nightmare, I personally had that nightmare too right after seeing the FR episode, "The Terrible Tunnel." Yikes! Truth be told!

Yeah! I remember I had a dream about Junior Gorg coming out of my closet, because I never saw the show and saw a clip of it on a Muppet Show video!

Well, Beth as an OC does evidently goes to New York to find her sister, Amy and her best friend Trish. She later meets Colleen (Collgoff) and she becomes her new best friend. I got that joke from the fan-fic "We Know It's Probably Magic" when Kermit is killed off. No offense, but there were some sad parts of that fan-fic.

Awww thanks for including me! That was so nice! Please let me return the favor! Let me find a way for you Collen, and Vincent to be in my story too!

Did you write that? I would read it a friend wrote it, but no offense to anyone I wouldn't want to read Kermit getting killed. Heck the hardest choice I ever made? Killng Metora in my story