The Planeteers - In Search Of Greatness

Part 6

He noticed how small her hands were as they were typing on the keyboard. As an impulsive reaction, he looked at his hands from the jacket pocket. They were strong, with dirt collected as a crescent over the nails from the construction work. He slid them back into the pocket and cleaned the nails.

"Anything else sir?", asked pouting her red lips.

"No, that would be all. Thank you!", he replied taking out the cash from his pocket and concealing his nails.

"One black coffee for the customer", she shouted out to her colleague, who was on other side. "That way please and have a great day!"

Kwame just smiled and went over to the coffee counter. He hoped that the strong coffee would dissolve all the energy, such that he didn't have to think of anything more. He had deliberately gone into the construction work at wee hours to take some time to delve into the situation.

Everything bothered him, death of Ma-Ti, Nitra's reaction and Suchi's position among the Planeteers. He was inline with others on many topics, but opinion on Suchi wasn't exactly inline. The problem was that all the Planeteers loved him, and he wasn't to sure about himself. To him, Suchi was that kind of a friend who you would hang out after office hours, but not the one who you would drink with. He couldn't place the exact feeling he had towards Suchi. He didnt hate the guy, but wasn't very enthusiastic about him being within the group.

'Was it jealousy? Am I feeling insecure?'

Kwame had nothing to be jealous of Suchi. Kwame was strong – in will and in physic and often could think for the entire group. Suchi on other hand was an emotional bomb.

"One black coffee for Mr.Kwame", the lady at the coffee counter shouted and he was woken from his thoughts.

"Thank you, have a great day", he replied taking the coffee and walking out to the sun. Whatever be the case, he needed to accept that there was no one else to be the bearer of the Heart ring. But, he just wished there was someone else.

***

The table made a squeaking noise as Linka rubbed hard with the clothe. She saw very tiny strands of the clothe layer over the table as she cleaned it. She looked up at her husband with side glances and he was buried behind the newspaper.

"Wheeler can't do a simple job properly, I said soap, and not just water. Why doesn't this man just listen to me ? Ma-Ti would understand. He always understood me"

Ma-Ti always had listened to Linka, as an older sister. He valued her opinions, took her suggestions and respected her arguments. Suchi was same, and this was the reason she wanted him to be the next bearer. And faster. However, she didn't understand Wheeler's view on it.

'Does he like him ? why the hell doesn't he share these things with me?'

Wheeler has never been vocal about other people, but deep inside she knew he wasn't found of Suchi as much as he was fond of Ma-Ti. But, there was nothing that can be done now. She knew only Suchi could be the next bearer, and she was glad. She continued to create the squeakish noises on the table.

"Suchi will be the new Planeteer, and I don't care what Wheeler thinks!"

*** 'I care about what she says! What does she mean by I didn't use soap? I used soap! You can literally smell it!'

The words were framed inside his head, but he didn't dare look up from the newspaper. Wheeler had been staring at the photo of Ma-Ti in the obituary column of the newspaper for an unusually long time. He was also hiding from his wife who had been continuously reprimanding him for not using soap. It wasn't that he couldn't speak, he didn't bother to. There were way too many sensitivities to deal with, let alone talk about using soap.

Wheeler knew he under reacted on matters where Linka overreacted, and he believed that was the secret to their happy marriage. Each of their characters, balanced out the other. While Linka was way too vocal about many things, Wheeler assumed that staying quiet and agreeing with her was the solution.

Like all other things, he simply didn't care if Suchi was to be the next bearer or not. It wasn't like he wasn't saddened by the death of Ma-Ti, he didn't have any strong feelings over Suchi. To him, Suchi was just another buddy, a good person and soul.

He slowly folded one corner of the newspaper, and looked at his wife who was furiously rubbing the table.

'I am okay with any decision, as long as it makes Linka happy'

*** 'This is not fair. He just pops out of nowhere, and gets the ring ?'

Gi was bent over in half, relaxing her muscles. She stretched to touch her knees with her face. Her bangs were pinned up with lot of clips, but still one clump poked out. This bothered her, but not as much as Suchi getting the Heart ring.

She took a step forward and lunged into another yoga position.

She loved Ma-Ti with all her heart. He was her little brother, a sunshine. Always eager to learn, but slightly over enthusiastic with Linka's words. He was her happy place, but on other hand, she didn't feel so secure about Suchi.

She had hardly made any conversations with Suchi, not because there weren't any, but he had no contributions to make. Suchi was all about heart, goodness that was overwhelmingly irritating.

'He has no brains! He isn't smart'

To her, every bearer must be able to bring something to the table, and not just use his goodness as a tool. What is good for someone, is not for another. Ma-Ti was a meek kid, but he had great skills. She moved into another position of yoga.

'Ma-Ti was kind and resourceful. Suchi is nothing like that! He doesn't deserve the ring'

*** Gaia knew why Ma-Ti was given the ring, and not Suchi. She also knew Suchi needed to step up faster. If he didn't, her son would never be summoned as Captain Planet from wherever he was. He could just return to Hope Island as a Captain, but not one with the super powers of the five elements. World in its worst destruction needed the Captain Planet's powers. There can be nothing achieved from being just the Captain,Gaia loved each of the Planeteer dearly, along with other human beings. She was a kind soul on a whole. So, to her, it didn't matter if Ma-Ti had the ring, Suchi, or anyone else. It only mattered to her that they could summon the Captain Planet. And do that, someone had to be the bearer of the Heart ring.

'Suchi, this is not the time to be a wimpy kid. Buckle up and show some strength!'

She understood some decision had to be made by today. And she was looking forward to it.