My name is Jacqueline Mannequin; I am 16 and I live in Geneva, Switzerland with my grandfather and my brother, Jacques Henri Mannequin, who is 18. We were so extremely bored here and our only refuge was the attic. Grandfather had so many neat things up there--we occupied ourselves for hours just looking through all the boxes of random stuff. He had many scientific books that really interested my brother. One day, while we were searching through an old trunk, Jacques found the most peculiar looking book--the cover was so tattered and the name on the inside cover read: V. Frankenstein. Jacques immediately began reading the little journal; he was so intrigued by it that his eyes remained glued to the pages even when I left to go downstairs and ask Grandfather about V. Frankenstein.
"Who, dear?" his hearing was not as good as it used to be.
"V. Frankenstein--who was he?" I repeated louder and slower. His eyes opened wide in recognition and then they were softened by sorrow.
"V. Frankenstein was an old friend of mine when I was a oung globe trotter. Why do you ask?"
"No reason--just Jacques found what looks like an old notebook of his." Grandfather looked at me smiling as if he knew something I did not.
I returned to the attic to find my brother in the exact same place as when I had left him. I cleared my throat three times before he looked up. His eyes sparkled with childish delight as he told me his discovery. I stared at him wide-eyed as he told me he found a way to re-animate lifeless matter.
"Well, what do you think?! Isn't this magnificent?!" I continued to stare at him--speechless. "C'mon. You got to admit this is pretty cool."
"I really don't know what to think. Personally, I find the whole idea repulsive. What is that face for?" he was frowning at me.
"I want to try it." He said, "You know, as an experiment." He added quickly in response to the look of horror on my face. "Will you help me please?"
"NO WAY! ARE YOU CRAZY?!" I yelled then he made the most despondent face I had ever seen. "Fine. I'll help--but I'm not doing anything gross--understand?" he assented and we shook on it.
Over the course of the next few months, Jacques worked diligently on consructing our being while I sewed clothes for it and decided on a name. I told Jacques I did not want to see the thing until it was time.
Finally the day had come--a thunderstorm had been brewing all week and today was the day it was going to lash out at the world. Jacques dressed the creature and then I came to witness the secret of life. My brother had made a device to channel the energy from the lightning to the beast lying on the operating table. The thing was covered with a white sheet so I could not see it yet. Jacques was so excited and I was so much so that I had my fingers crossed. All of a sudden, the electricity hit and we waited for some sign of life. Then it happened. The thing under the sheet sat up and as it did, the sheet fell off. I gasped--this being was hideous beyond compare. The first thing it laid eyes on was me and right then I knew I should run, but he beat me to action. He sprang off the operating table, grabbed me and ran.
"JACQUES!!!!!" I yelled. However, the beast was already out the attic window and into the forest before Jacques could fully comprehend what had happened. I saw him at the window and then heard him yell something, but because the thunder was so loud, it drowned out all other noises. I struggled, but ultimately gave up because the creature was too strong. Eventually the torrential downpour of the rain and the steady breathing of the monster put me to sleep. When I awoke, I found myself in a cave with a fire in the center and the fiend lying asleep in front of the fire. I got up quietly, intent on running, but then the voice of reason spoke to me--I had no idea where I was and I was probably safer here than out in the woods.
The beast heard me. His eyes shot open and then he sprang to his feet to prevent me from escaping. I sat down and made it cleat I would behave. He understood my gesture and then sat opposite me. My stomach grumbled and he realized what it meant--he was smart and understood. He communicated to me that if I remained he would fetch some food. I nodded in assent and he left. He came back with some fruits and nuts. I was pleased and said thank you. He repeated what I said and then it hit me--I could teach this creature to be civilized and to be a friendly being. It was worth a shot anyway and so I began to teach him and in exchange he bgan to let me walk around outside. We began to trust each other and I began to find beauty in him. After a few weeks, he was speaking like an adult and I was content and he had a friend who cared.
It had been about two months or so and I was outside collecting food when I heard a voice that sounded like Jacues'.
"Jacques?!" I yelled. Then he appeared from behind some bushes. "Jacques!" I ran to him and he caught me in his arms.
"I thought you were gone--maybe dead, but I never gave up hope." Jacques stiffened up. "Stay behind me, Jacqueline. There is the fiend that took you from me." He snarled.
"No, Jacques, don't hurt him!" I ran to defend the creature. "He's my friend and I care for him as I do you." Jacques slowly put down his weapon; not sure of what I was playing at, but when he saw the honesty in my eyes, he loosened up. He approached and I introduced the two. They seemed to get along pretty well and I had high hopes for the future. I implored my brother to build a little cottage out here for our friend. He agreed. We are all good friends and my brother and I come to visit our friend, Frank, frequently.
