016- [Action] Happy Halloween?

[friendly_ghosts]

[After the town returned to normal, Mindy has been getting back to life in Mayfield.  She gets up, goes to school, returns home and sits in her room until dinner. Eats dinner and then back upstairs to bed. Repeat the next day. The only way you can tell she isn't droned is because she's never smiling. Loosing Tad so soon after loosing her Daddy was

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[a_gentle_boy]

[On his way back from school one morning, Lucas finds himself walking a short distance behind a very unhappy looking young girl. He isn't in very good spirits himself, but . . . ]

Hi, Mindy.

[friendly_ghosts]

[She turns around to look at him, then looks away again.]

Oh. Hi Lucas....

[a_gentle_boy]

. . . Are you alright?

[For her sake, he manages a gentle smile as he falls into step beside her.]

[friendly_ghosts]

I'm fine.....

[She isn't, but she doesn't want to cause problems by complaining. In fairness, the last time she complained in public about something the town did, she got shot.]

[a_gentle_boy]

You're not.

[Lucas lowers his eyes a bit. Mindy . . . To be so young and to have to suffer through these things.]

No one's fine right now. It's alright to say so.

[friendly_ghosts]

[She begins wiping tears away from her eyes, and stares at the floor. When she speaks, her voice is very quiet and tight with what may be anger.]

I- I hate this place. I want to go home....

[The second she says it though, she glances behind herself, as if someone might have heard her.]

[a_gentle_boy]

[He stops.]

I do, too. The things that happen here . . . This place can never be our home.

[Kneeling, he reaches out to allow her a hug if she wants one.]

This is just so very sad.... ;_;

[friendly_ghosts]

[Why yes, Lucas, she does want that hug. And while she's hugging him, she has one more confession to make.]

I w-was happy before.... When Daddy was still....

[a_gentle_boy]

[He holds her closely, trying to keep his own tears from welling up.]

I thought I could be happy, too.

. . . It's alright, Mindy. It's OK. You don't have to keep it inside o-or feel the pain alone.

[friendly_ghosts]

[She clings, very tightly, but tries to get her tears under control.]

But..... why are the bad people always mad at us? Why did they bring us here if the don't like us?

[Because she really doesn't understand the whole communist capitalist conflict, the westport mess, none of it. All she knows is that sometimes they get yelled at over the phone and then bad things happen.]

[a_gentle_boy]

I don't know . . . I don't understand much, either. I'm sorry.

[Lucas is sorry he does not know how to help you. He has never been in the position of being the older one. He understands what it means to be strong for someone else, but . . . it had always been him being on the end of the reassuring words before. He tries his best, though, and continues to hold Mindy closely.]

But no matter why . . . We can get through it. All of us helping each other . . . They can't hurt us more than we can bear.

[friendly_ghosts]

[She nods. They have to be brave. And help each other. Otherwise the bad people will win.]

Lucas....what can I do to help?

[a_gentle_boy]

[Lucas hesitates for a few seconds before trying a smile.]

You . . . You can help just by being you, Mindy. People are happier when you're near.