The Tale of Zachary Willowbrook: A Leap Day Paradox

Foreward - By Avery Oakendale

To my dear Uncle Zachary, whom I love with all my heart,

This is for you.

It took me a while, but I finally did it. That thing you called it. I believe that you called it a mem-war, right? I finished it. Yes. I finished what you started. You were in the process of putting it together, but you weren't able to complete it.

I know that it has been 608 years since you died, but I still think of you everyday. I especially thought of you when I put together that memoir. It brought back so many good memories. How you used to push me on the swings, watch cartoons with me, tell me bedtime stories, tuck me in....It gives me goosebumps just thinking of it.

Since you died, I have been very busy. For many years, I went to school. I went until I was bored. A decade here, a decade there. Kids look at me weird when I try to play with them. I don't know if it is my face, my hands, my toes, or just something about me. After trying it for a decade every hundred years, I stopped going. It got boring. For some reason, I seem to have a lot more fun by myself, reading and writing, and spending time with my mommy.

That's right. Since you died, I've had many mommies. More mommies than what you saw me with. I have so many because I always seem to outlive them all. When one gets too old, another mommy takes her place. A much younger mommy. I don't like it. I wish that I could have just one mommy.

Speaking of mommies, I miss my first mommy. The mommy that gave birth to me. From working on this memoir thing, she seemed like a really good mommy. I wish that I could remember her, but I can't. I think that I can remember her holding me, but that was a long long time ago.

That's why I started on your mem-war thing. I miss my first mommy and I miss you. I want to remember what you did when you were alive. I found your mem-war one day when I was playing. It was in an old box. My mommy told me not to touch it because it was very important. But I wanted to see what it was. When I opened the box, it had your name on it. I then said "Mommy can I look please?" She said "You can but be careful. Those papers are very old."

This was almost 50 years ago, a few days after my 900th birthday. After finding your papers, I asked mommy what they were. She told me that they were your mem-wars, and you never finished them. "Why did he write them?" I asked my mommy. "People write mem-wars when they are old to reflect on their years honey." She answered.

Having already known who you were, reading those memoirs made me remember even more. I read through every page, day by day. It took me 30 years. From reading about you growing up, I saw that you were a little different, like me. We both live in prisons. At least that's what I call it. When I told my mommy that my body is a prison, she didn't like it. But I told her "It's true! I've lived for hundreds of years and I'm still not an adult! But Uncle Zachary died! Why did he die and I'm still alive?" I think I know why. He escaped his prison. He found a way out.

But I'm still looking for my way out. After reading all of your memoirs, I know there's a way out. But I get sad every now and then. I'm on my 27th mommy (I know this because of your mem-wars) and I feel like I'm going to outlive her too. My mommy said that I'm probably going to live forever. I hope she's wrong. I'm tired of this prison and I want out.

Where was I? Oh yeah! Your mem-war. It's finished. It took me almost 30 years to put together. The reason why it took so long was because I had to find the stuff from the earlier years. A few details were missing from the earlier years and I had to look all over the place to find them. This took forever, since I had to beg my mommy to go to the town of Willowbrook to find the missing details from the Willowbrook Mansion. I got rid of the boring stuff. You know, the stuff about what you did in your later years. It sounded like I was reading it over and over, so I got rid of it. I hope you're not mad at me. I just wanted everyone to read all of the exciting stuff about you. I don't mind reading the boring stuff, but I'm sure that everyone who doesn't know you will.

Your mem-war also took so long because of all the hard words that I had to learn. There were so many hard words that I needed a dictionary to learn them all. Some of your mem-wars used your mommy's diary, and it took me a while to find that. I also used your mommy's books that she wrote about you when you and mommy were famous.

And Uncle Zachary, I'm not just writing to you but to my daughters Amy and Zelda. I'm sorry that I didn't tell you, but I'm a mommy too. It's strange being a mommy in this body. It also wasn't easy for them to make me a mommy. They had to do something different, since I couldn't have a kid the normal way. I wish I could, but it just wouldn't be right in this body. My mommy said that it also wouldn't be legal. It was painful to get them both out, but it was worth it.

Amy, take care of your sister Zelda for me. She's probably going to be a baby forever. Like me and Uncle Zachary, she is in a prison. Like Zachary, we will eventually learn how to break out. You would be a better mommy than me, since you will actually get older. Sadly, she wouldn't take me seriously.

So Uncle Zachary, this is for you. I want everyone to remember you the way I did. This mem-war was carefully put together into a narrative so everyone can remember your experiences. Even the ones that you had before I was born. You may not be here now, but I think of you everyday. And if you are watching, just know that I will never forget you.

Mommy and all the grownups think that I'm just playing a game with this whole mem-war thing. But they don't know how hard I have been working on it. They think that I'm just scribbling on paper, like I always do. But I'm not. I'm working on your mem-wars because I want everyone to see them. All the funner parts, at least.

Well, my mommy's calling me cause it's my naptime. Perfect timing too cause I'm getting sleepy. She's got a nice bottle of her milk prepared for me. Also, my ny-ny is in my crib so I really need it. I don't like this prison, but it has its fun times. I'll tell her about your mem-war tomorrow. I finished it and I want to tell her. When I do, I hope that we can share your story with the world.

I know that books are old-fashioned, but I don't trust computers. I would like a hard copy that I can read over and over again. A book that I will be reading until I can escape my prison. The prison of my little, helpless body.

Love you with all my heart! Hope the whole world can see this soon.

Lots of love always forever,

Your Favorite Niece,

Avery Oakendale

July 15, 2990