Gerald's Story

Chapter 7

"Master Sensei dude?" Gerald asked.

Viggo looked up from his sewing and blinked. "What did you just call me?"

"Master Sensei dude."

Viggo squinted at him. "Did you forget my name?" He was sitting in his room on a chair, mending one of his shirts by putting a button back on it. Gerald was sitting cross legged on Viggo's bed, watching him.

"No."

Viggo shook his head as he looked back at his work. "Lying isn't cool, Gerald."

"I'm not lying." Gerald said seriously. "I just...calling you by your first name just seems so familiar. You're so...much above me...and I don't know your last name."

Viggo gave him a small smile. "I'm just a man, Gerald. Please, call me Viggo."

Gerald didn't say anything, just looked to the wood floor. He'd been at the cabin for a few hours. In which time Viggo had taken him around, introduced him to the other inhabitants, and showed him the place, including the room that was now his. Gerald had already found himself kind of awestruck with Viggo. The way he dealt with everyone...it was like no one he'd seen before. No one had ever been so calm and kind...Gerald respected that a lot.

But something wouldn't stop bothering Gerald. It was a thought he wished he could push away. Being up in the cabin in the mountain, it was easy to pretend that The Takeover was nothing more than a bad dream. But Gerald knew it wasn't, and he needed answers.

"Master Sensei Dude, you all..."

Viggo looked up.

"...know about The Takeover, right?"

Viggo tilted his head to the side. "The Takeover?"

Gerald's stomach knotted. "Yeah...the thing that's going on right now. The Oompa Loompa Takeover. Where they poisoned everyone and started trying to kill us?"

Viggo looked confused. "The Oompa Loompas? Those little guys that work in Willy Wonka's factory? They're responsible for what happened?"

"Well...yeah." Gerald tried his best to explain what had happened. When he was done, Viggo's eyes were sad and distant.

"We weren't exactly sure what had happened." Viggo admitted. "I go down every month or so if we need certain supplies we can't make ourselves. When I went down a few weeks ago...I saw how desolate everything was. It was a terrible sight. I...I buried those I found..." Viggo looked off for a moment and sighed. "I had no idea what had happened though. We had our ideas but this..?" He shook his head before his eyes found Gerald's. "Thank you for telling me. It explains what you were talking about earlier. I wanted to ask you...but I didn't know how hard it would be for you."

Gerald knotted his fingers together. "It's fine."

"Do you want to talk about your experiences? If you are willing, I think it'd be good for you. And good for everyone else to hear it. It's kind of what we do in our group therapy sessions."

Gerald thought for a long moment. "Okay. Yeah, I'll tell everyone."

Viggo nodded then. "Sounds good. Next group meeting then." He picked back up his needle and began putting in the final stitches. "So Gerald...do you have any hobbies?"

"Hobbies?"

"Yeah. Like painting or playing the guitar. I myself like to do a little wood carving."

"No." Gerald shook his head. "I used to play video games a lot." He thought for a moment. "I think I also liked reading books."

Viggo frowned. "That's just consuming, that's not really doing anything. Real joy and satisfaction lies in creating."

Gerald shrugged.

"You need a way to express yourself." Viggo said purposefully. "Have you ever wanted to play an instrument? Have you ever been interested in art?"

Gerald shifted his eyes. "No."

"Hmmm..." Viggo hummed, his brow creased. "We need to find something for you. Something you can put your teen angst and energy into..." He muttered. "Oh well, we'll figure something out."

"Hey guys." Tanya said, leaning in through the doorway. Her dark hair had been gathered into a sleek ponytail, and she was grinning. "Lunch is almost ready."

Viggo looked up and smiled back. "Thank you, we'll be there shortly."

"Okay." She disappeared.

Gerald's eyes were narrowed as he stared at Viggo.

"What?" Viggo said.

"I've been watching you two...you like her don't you?"

Viggo sighed and almost seemed to deflate as he threw his sewing to the bed. "Is it that obvious? Christ, you just got here..."

"I dunno." Gerald said. "I just got my thinkin' beanie on and a pair of shipper eyes."

Viggo dragged a hand down his face. "Uggg..."

"Hey, what's with the stress?" Gerald asked.

Viggo sighed, then rose and closed the door to his bedroom. "Tanya and I...we just aren't going to happen."

"Why not?"

"She's...been here for almost a year now and is really making a good recovery. She's found herself and her center. She's regained her confidence and self worth and is thriving as an individual." Viggo sighed. "That last thing she needs is to have that all messed up."

"I don't understand." Gerald said, his brown eyes confused.

Viggo slumped back down in his chair. "Tanya came here after some douche bag pop star guy got her pregnant and then dropped her on her ass when she had a miscarriage. She came with a lot of emotional baggage, a broken heart, and severe depression. She's a very special lady...she deserved so much better. And she certainly deserves better than me."

Gerald scoffed. "What the hell? You are like the nicest guy I've ever met."

Viggo shook his head at him. "Gerald...you don't know me."

Gerald frowned.

"And if I did tell her how I felt..." Viggo added. "Then she would feel pressure to stay...and she's still young and deserves to live the rest of her life however she chooses."

Gerald gave him a look. "Dude. In case you haven't noticed, the world is toast. Where would she want to go? This place has everything. Out there, it's shit."

Viggo arched an eyebrow at him. "You do have a point there. But still," He pointed at Gerald. "I'm not saying anything to her and you aren't either."

Gerald squinted at him, his lips pooched. "I make no promises."

"Gerald..." Viggo warned. "I may seem like a pretty cool guy, but you do not want to mess with me."

Gerald rose and walked backwards to the door before bowing, palms pressed together. "Master Sensei Dude." He said before exiting and leaving Viggo in a state of confusion.