#presentableliberty

I played around with Doctor Money’s version of a Gameboy, moving the little black serpent around as I avoided the black walls. It was my, what, second day here? I was stuck in this tiny cell, with some little turtle my friend, Antonio, had sent me along with his letters. I had dubbed the creature Tiny Turtle Tom, and as I gave up on the infernal game ‘Serpent,’ I watched Tom crawl around on the stone floor, as slow as a…well, turtle.

There was also my ‘happy buddy,’ someone named Alfred. He was way too cheery for my taste, and his first letter had came with five confetti poppers. Right. As if I, Lovino Vargas, currently stuck in this hellhole, had anything to celebrate. Another letter came with the little game machine, along with the game he had bought. He had written in the letter that it was very expensive. Then earlier today he bought me some other game, where a spider had to dodge fire, and a poster of a very creepy smiley face. I liked ‘Fear of Fire’ and hated the poster, but beggars can’t be choosy.

As I waited for another letter to just mysteriously slide under the cell door, I stared out the small window above my bed, lost in thought.

I had no clue why I was in jail. I don’t remember doing anything bad. All I remember was that I was closing the bakery with my younger brother, Feliciano, and the next day, I woke up in this cell. I was confused, angry, and admittedly, scared. I still was, even as a letter slid under the door. I honestly had no clue who delivered them, since no footsteps were heard, but it was a mystery I didn’t want to think about. I glanced down at the floor, expecting a bright yellow envelope from Alfred, or a crumbled brown envelope from Antonio. One thing I didn’t want it to be was the plain white letter from ‘Doctor Money.’

To my surprise, it was none of the above, but a floral pink envelope with my name scrawled across. I snatched it up and opened it, my brows knitting together in confusion.

"Hello," I read the single word on the letter aloud. There was nothing else, just that single word. Another letter slipped in, and I grabbed it, reading the contents to Tom. "I don’t think you remember me, but I’m Feliciano. Your brother." My eyes widened slightly. Feliciano! "I think we’re the only ones in town who aren’t infected by the virus. I closed down the bakery so I can stay safe. If you want, I could send you your favorite cake tomorrow. Please be okay, Lovino. Ti amo, Feli."

I smiled happily, holding the two letters to my heart. My brother was okay! I didn’t understand why he thought I wouldn’t remember him, but it didn’t matter, I guess. What mattered was that Feliciano was safe from whatever was happening in the world. What was happening, anyway?

Before I had time to dwell on the thought, a new letter slipped in. I groaned at the bright yellow, but picked it up anyway to read what Alfred had wrote. I cleared my throat, rolling my eyes as I read the letter out loud.

"HELLO! HELLO! HELLO!!!" I cringed. Okay, no, I’m just going to read it normally. "I hope you’re enjoying your two new games. They’re were expensive you know." What followed was erratically written ‘ha’s.’ I felt as if the written laughter was forced. No one could be this happy without being on some serious drugs.

I set the letters down on the bed just as another envelope slipped in, still from my happy buddy. I opened it, squinting at the huge ‘ha’s’ that continued down the page, until it abruptly stopped to read ‘please don’t be sad.’

I shuddered, a bit weirded out. It was written in such small handwriting, I would’ve missed it had I been preoccupied with something else. Two more letters were delivered, both from Alfred. I hesitated in reading them. “I know it must be hard all alone in a prison cell, but please, you must remain happy!” I glanced at the other letter, one word written on it. “Please…”

Officially worried, I tossed both letters onto the bed, frowning. Yet another letter slipped in, and I was starting to get annoyed by all these letters. Well, except for Feliciano’s. I was happy to hear from him, even if I couldn’t respond. I turned my eyes to the ground to see the menacing plain envelope. Doctor Money.

I bent down and picked it up, my hands shaking slightly as I opened it. “It has come to our attention that your happy buddy has shown sign of not behaving in a happy and excited manner. If you wish to have your happy buddy replaced, just send us a letter, and we will get rid of him. Signed, Doctor Money.”

Really? Send a letter? Even if I wanted to get rid of Alfred, which I didn’t, how was I supposed to send a letter? Use blood? I sorted the letters on my bed by sender and put them into a pile, sliding them under my bed. I started to play ‘Fear of Fire,’ when I received another letter. I glanced up as my spider burned and gulped when I saw it was from my happy buddy. I went over and picked it up to read it.

"Hello," I skipped the ‘ha’s’ written. "Hello. I heard that some people are reporting their happy buddies to Doctor Money." Even more ‘ha’s,’ Jesus Christ, when would they end? "You know what happens to them, right?" Uh, well, actually, no. "You wouldn’t do that to me, would you?" Two more ‘ha’s.’ That was the end of the letter, and I set it onto the pile from Alfred.

I continued to play ‘Fear of Fire’ until Alfred sent me another letter. Oh for Christ’s sake.

"Sorry I haven’t gotten you another game yet. I just don’t have the money for it at the moment." I honestly didn’t care. I just wanted answers to some questions. Another letter. "I’m so sorry." Wait, what? Another letter again. "So very sorry."

I didn’t like this side of my strange happy buddy. He was kind of defeating the purpose for being called that. I waited to see if there were any more letters from Alfred. After a few minutes, I decided my happy buddy was done for the night. I played a few more levels of ‘Fear of Fire,’ when I got a letter from Antonio.

"My friend," I read in a grand voice, rolling my eyes. "Is your turtle friend keeping you company? Have you given him a name?" Yep, and it was Tiny Turtle Tom. "You should. Do you remember how we used to sit by the fireside, carving chess pieces out of wood without a care in the world?" Yeah, you idiot. You kept stabbing yourself every ten seconds. "That was a long time ago. My wood carving skills have gotten significantly worse, but I still tried to make you something so you feel less lonely. It’s the leg of a table I’m making for you!"

I looked over at the dark wooden block on the floor. So that’s what that thing was. “I know that it might not be the most extravagant project, but I hope you like it anyways. Sincerely, Antonio.” I smiled slightly, setting the leg up in the corner of the cell. Feeling this was a good time to celebrate something so simple yet so joyous, I took out one of the confetti poppers and pulled it, watching as the colorful paper bits floated around the leg.