Adrian's Friends - it's amazing what a little mouse can do.

I hope you enjoy this next little story. It came about after one of my dreams about perseverance (I dream in cinemascope and dolby sound). I have had many struggles and obstacles in life, and in this story, Raymond, is going to find a way to make things better.

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Raymond was lost in his thoughts again in the cash out line in the supermarket. He was helping Marcie bagged items for their shoppers today. The quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson stuck in his head.

"Build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door."

To which, Raymond added, "And in the case of Mr. Walt Disney, he built a better mouse."

That was one of the ambitions of Raymond Best, the founder and CEO of R. Best Toy Company, R. Best Productions, R. Best (as in "our best") Bakery. He had big dreams, a little talent and no luck at making things succeed. That is why at age 37, he was still assistant assistant manager at the West Landing Supermarket. That is a glorified title for merchandiser, cashier, bagger, stockboy, you get my drift.

Last month, Raymond thought he had a winner with his Fibberly Fox character. It was one of his  sock puppet creations, a handsome looking high roller of a Fox who lied at the drop of a hat. His supervisor, told him, "it teaches kids the wrong things. Lying is wrong. Stick to bagging groceries. There's a backup in line six."

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Raymond went over to help at line six. There was one of his favourite families to visit the West Landing Supermarket. The Millers. Joyce, Martin and little Adrian. Adrian was special to Raymond because the four-year old could not talk. He had a brain tumor diagnosed shortly after his birth that prevented the development of speech. He had had several operations during his brief four years of life to try to get rid of the tumour. But it kept coming back and growing larger each time. And to be frank, at this point in his little life, the doctors were running out of options.

"Grymd", Adrian squirmed and grunted when he saw Raymond. Joyce Miller held onto Adrian's shoulders to keep him in the shopping cart.

"Just getting a few things today," Martin said, "Adrian's been sick again with a fever and this is the first time we have had him out in a couple of weeks. I think he's getting a little over excited."

Raymond went onto the other side of the cashier and started to bag the Miller's items. With Adrian's illness they had gone the holistic route for his diet and only bought gluten-free, sugar-free, additive free foods and drinks. It didn't help but it gave the Millers some sense of purpose and hope.

"Well, I'll just have to come up with something to keep Adrian focused. Like my Mouseboy puppet."

Joyce winced, "but that last puppet  looked more like a rat. Kinda scary for me. Not a cute rat like in "Ratatouille". And certainly nothing like "Mickey".

"Grymd", Adrian continued to squirm and reach out to Raymond, as Gracie the cashier, finalized the sale.

"I'll come up with something by the end of the week," he waved as they exited through the automatic doors to the parking lot.

"You better hurry up with that, Adrian's going back into the hospital next week. They're gonna try to reduce the size of the tumor again. They can't get it all since it's all wrapped around inside. That's what Joyce said. They're scared. But still hopeful."

Raymond went home that night and scoured his notes and sketches. Too violent. Too soft. Too much like "you know who" and you'll be sued. Maybe, he thought,  just tweak an existing character and make it your own.

.....

They say you should write what you know and in the case of Raymond, create a character that you know. When he was ten, he had a pet rat named "Othello" who lived in an elaborate split level cage in his bedroom. It guaranteed him privacy since it scared the living daylights out of his sisters.
What if he takes Othello and makes him smaller and more friendly. And turn him from an Othello the Rat into Moshe the Mouse. Moshe means Moses, or drawn out of water. Raymond would love to draw Adrian out of himself. So he could talk and laugh like other children. All he ever heard him say was,"Grymd" which he thought (but never shared with anyone) Adrien was saying "Raymond".

Raymond was pleased with the results. Moshe was a little finger puppet that slipped on whatever finger you wanted. Depending on how you wiggled your fingers, Moshe could be happy, sad, angry or just quiet and listening. He continued to work on the little wooden balls that made up the finger puppet heads. There was Fibberfree Fox who knew it was wrong to lie and always told the truth. And Squeaky Squirrel who shared his collection of nuts with his family "cause that's the right thing to do."

By the time Raymond had finished the collection of finger puppets which he called "Adrian's Friends" by R. Best Toy Company Limited, little Adrian had had his surgery and was recovering.
The family was cautiously waiting for the results. Did it help him or take away what was left of their little boy.

.....

Two weeks after the surgery the  Miller family dropped into the supermarket. The staff would abandoned their post and one by one say hello to Martin and Joyce and especially little Adrian.
He seemed a little worse for wear than before. He wore a colourful hockey helmet designed for him to protect the skull bones as they healed up. He had a minor stroke during surgery that weakened one side of his face so it drooped a bit, and his little left hand was clenched like a fist all twisted up.

But his beautiful blue eyes sparkled and his right hand fingers wiggled freely as if to say "hello" to those around him. Or at least that is what they thought.

When Raymond had finished with his customer he reached into his cashier drawer and brought out a little red box, and walked over to the Millers.
"Grymd!" Adrian seemed to shout when he recognized Raymond. He squirmed as best as he could and wiggled his fingers.

Raymond presented the box to Martin. " I made something for your boy. I think he will like them."
Joyce rolled her eyes as if to say, "oh dear, not another rat!"But instead, she smiled with delight at  what she saw. A collection of six little finger puppets with a big label on the inside of the box, "Adrian's Friends".  Martin pull out little Moshe Mouse and put it on Adrian's index finger. It fit perfectly. He wigggle the finger and it didn't fall off. And the more he wiggled and shook the finger the more he smiled. "Grymd."

By the time they left the store, Adrien had four puppets on his fingers and Martin and Joyce had one each. Raymond was very pleased with the reaction to his work. And that was the key factor in all of his designs and projects, he wanted people to be happy.

Raymond didn't see the Millers again after that day. He expected they would be heavily involved with Adrian's therapy and the coping with the side effects of the surgery. And he was busier than usual being the new assistant manager for cashiers. Keeping track of the staff and balancing the cash kept him very busy.

About a month later, Gracie the cashier came by and gloated, "well hello, Mr. Famous."
Raymond was confused, he didn't know what she was talking about.
"I just saw you mentioned on youtube this morning on my cell phone. That family you were friends with. The Millers? They talk about you in their video."

"I've been waiting for them to come back in. To see how well the operation went for Adrian."
A pale cast fell on Gracie's face. "Then you don't know?"
Raymond looked more confused than ever.
"Adrian passed away during the operation. He never woke up. I'm so sorry. I thought you knew."

Raymond started to tear up. One of the hazards of having big dreams and little luck, is that you can't afford or need luxuries like cell phones and such. He never realized until then how much he has been missing in life by not being tied into the rapid pace of the social media. Like being left out in the cold or on the wrong train track as the train roars by.
Gracie found the youtube link on her cellphone and set up the channel for viewing. She handed it over to Raymond so he could see the video clip the Millers had made.

On the screen was an overall shot of Joyce and little Adrian. And there were the six finger puppets - three on each hand. The camera came into a closer shot of Adrian. It was framed by his colourful hockey helmet and his hands with the puppets. His clenched left fist was open a bit and two of the puppets wiggled about. On his good hand, Adrian had four of them, with Moshe Mouse leading the pack on the index finger. He wiggled his fingers about and smiled at the camera.
Joyce was heard off-camera.
"And we have a miracle for our little miracle to share with our family and friends online. Our little boy is going to have surgery next week and we are very hopeful it will help him feel better.
"Grymd." Adrian interupted.
Joyce continued,"we got a very good prognosis from Dr. Meyerson, that the effects from Adrian's last stroke will be reduced significantly.
"Grymd." Adrian interupted again, this time having only his right index finger raised and Moshe Mouse taking centre stage.
The camera zoomed in to show off Raymond's design of the mouse called Moshe. Adrian smiled and looked right into the camera.
"Grymd .. Moshe... happy mouse."

At that point the camera started to shake, there were tears of joy and amazement recorded on the video, Raymond was watching. Martin, as the camera man was crying, Joyce, the co-host was beaming with joy, and Adrian seems oblivious to all the fuss.
"Grymd  ..Moshe ... happy mouse... ."
Raymond was in tears, along with the others beside him.

The camera zoomed back a bit and you could see how happy Joyce was as she hugged her child who had spoken for the first time in his life.
"Well, it certainly is a miracle now isn't it. And maybe this means we have an even better chance at beating this disease. Many thanks to our dear friend, Raymond Best. He's the one who made the finger puppets for Adrian.
"Grymd", Adrian smiled, "happy..."

At that point, the video froze on the serene face of Adrian, then faded to black. White text then appeared on the black screen. It spoke about how the Millers had a wonderful few days with Adrian, talking with him, trying to understand what he was trying to say. And then the sad news.
Adrian had another stroke while in the operating room and did not wake up from the surgery.
The family had a private service and Adrian was cremated and his ashes spread on the municipal rose garden near their home. Adrian liked the smell and bright colours of the flowers there.
The family had set up a foundation to raise money to help other children with the same brain cancer that their son had. They called it, "Adrian's Friends Foundation."

At that point , Raymond lost it. He burst out into tears, and quickly excused himself. He ran past his manager and shouted, "I'm sorry but I have to go home right now."

It is amazing how small acts of kindness can grow like the mustard seed and help someone of big dreams, a little talent, finally have the luck at making things succeed. Raymond finally got up the nerve to call the Millers to offer his condolences. And shortly after that, a national toy company contacted him (after Adrian's "happy mouse" video went viral) and secured the rights to produce the line of Adrian's Friends Puppets. With a percentage of the sales going to the Foundation.

It is amazing what a little mouse can do.

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