Orange Frenzy

In this Our World story, the Flame family attempts to cope with divorce.

This is a transcript from Discord.

Back in the day, Rosie would often say, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." Those were both metaphorical, I suppose, though she sure did make lemonade a lot.

Rose:
I don't say that anymore. All that time trying to put up with this big lemon here taught me different. Sometimes life gives you more lemons than you can process, and it won't stop till you put your foot down and say NO MORE.

Gordon:
I've got a different phrase for ya. When life gives you flowers... take care of them. Don't let 'em wilt. And don't you *ever* take 'em for granted. 'Cause what life gives you, it can take away...
There ain't another woman like my Rosie...

We go back now to a time long gone. A house you may have seen before, which looks almost exactly the same in this time, over twenty years ago.
The scene around the dinner table is quiet... but not for long.

Flame:
*Finishes everything except the veggies.*
*Gets up.*

Rose:
"Did you eat everything on your plate?"

Flame:
"No, and I ain't gonna."

Rose:
"Yes you will! Sit back down!"

Flame:
"You can't make me!"

Rose:
*Also stands.* "Don't make me grab the spoon!"

Flame:
*Sets plate down and bolts for his room.*

Rose:
"SONNY GORDON! Get back here right now!"

Flame:
*Closes his door and locks it.*
*Having once learned the hard way that his mother can use a key, Sonny starts to barricade the door, starting with his nightstand.*
*Drags his chair over before realizing that Rose isn't coming.*

Rose:
*Is still at the table, staring in the direction Sonny ran.* "If your father were here..."
*Lowers head and starts crying.*

Tulip:
"Should... I eat his veggies?"

Rose:
"Whatever. I don't care..."

Tulip:
"..."
*Gets up and hugs her mom.*

Rose:
*Sighs.*
"Just... go to your room and start packing."

Tulip:
"Packing? Where're we going?"

Rose:
"Away. We're goin' away."

Tulip:
(Ooh, a surprise...)
"...How long? How much do I pack?"

Rose:
"Very long. Pack whatever you wanna keep."

Tulip:
*Confused, but doesn't question this.*
"Should I tell Sonny?"

Rose:
"No. I'll tell 'im what he needs to know."

Tulip:
*Goes to her room to start packing.*

Rose:
(It's better for all of us if he knows nothing...)

After dealing with those dishes, Rose also begins packing.

Rose:
(No more... I can't take another day of this...)

Eventually, Gordon finally comes home. He pauses as he passes Tulip's room.

Gordon:
"Whatcha doin'?"

Tulip:
"Ma told me to pack. Some sorta surprise trip!"

Gordon:
"..."
"It's a surprise to me..."
*Goes to his bedroom and opens the door to see Rose also packing.*
"Rosie? What's this about?"

Rose:
"I'm leaving."

Gordon:
"I gathered that much... Where to?"

Rose:
"Maybe you'd know if you ever listened to me!"

Gordon:
"I'd know if you told me about this. You sure you didn't forget to tell me?"

Rose:
"I didn't forget. There was no point in tellin' you. You're not changing my mind. I'm done."

Gordon:
"You can't just decide on a family trip without my input."

Rose:
"It ain't a family trip! You're staying in your house. I'm leaving, and Tulip's coming with me."

Gordon:
"My point still stands. Where do you think you're going?"

Rose:
*Facepalms.*
"You still don't get it. It's not vacation. This is **divorce**."

Gordon:
"..."
"Wha...?"

In Gordon's stunned silence, Rose continues packing.

Gordon:
"But... Our marriage was a promise. That we'll always be together."

Rose:
"We're already not always together! You're never here!"

Gordon:
"That's obviously not true."

Rose:
"It might as well be! You leave in the morning, return in the evening, leavin' me all day alone with those kids!"

Gordon:
"That's how it works. I bring in money for the family."

Rose:
"I never wanted your money... I wanted *you*."

Gordon:
"..."
"I'm here now..."

Rose:
"No. I'm done tryin'."

Gordon:
*Is silenced again, trying to process, trying to understand.*

Flame:
*Finishes pulling the stuff away from his door and comes out, curious what his mom's yelling about.*

Rose:
*Still packing, doesn't notice Sonny peeking through the doorway.*

Gordon:
"What about the kids?"

Rose:
"I already told you. Tulip's coming with me. You get to deal with the terror."

Gordon:
"You can't do that to them! They're already losin' a parent. You can't make 'em lose each other too!"

Rose:
"It'll be better for Tulip being away from you two!"

Flame:
"DON'T TAKE TULIP AWAY FROM ME!!"

Rose:
"..."

Gordon:
"..."

Flame:
*Rage.*

Tulip:
*Hurries over from her room.* "They won't take me away from you."

Flame:
"No, they won't..."
*Clings to Tulip, giving his mother a death glare.* "I ain't letting 'em!"

Rose:
*Closes her bags.*

Gordon:
"Rosie... How could you turn away from your own kid?"

Rose:
"He's *your* kid. Everything about you and worse."
*Walks past the kids with her things.*

Tulip:
*Attempts to separate from Sonny.* "I didn't finish packing yet..."

Flame:
*Clings tighter and starts crying.* "NO!!"

Tulip:
"What's wrong? You don't wanna go on the trip?"

Flame:
"Don't leave me!"

Tulip:
"I'll come back."

Flame:
"When?"

Tulip:
"Uh, Ma didn't say..."

Gordon:
"She didn't tell you what was really goin' on, did she?"

Tulip:
"Not really."

Gordon:
*Comes closer.* "Listen to me, kids. Marriage is a sacred promise, and your ma's breakin' it. Don't you EVER do that."

Tulip:
"Ma's... leavin' you? Why?"

Gordon:
"I dunno..."

Tulip:
"Is she coming back?"

Gordon:
"Prob'ly not..."
*Stares in the direction Rose left, tearing up.*
"We've still got each other. We'll get through this... W-we have to..."

Tulip:
*Hugs her dad, even as Sonny still clings to her.*

Gordon:
*Sigh.*
(I don't even know what to do... but I WILL figure it out. I've got to for these kids...)
*Soon goes to his room.*

Tulip:
"Well, it's gettin' late, we best go to sleep."

Flame:
"When I wake up tomorrow... are you gonna be here?"

Tulip:
"Of course, Sonny. I'm not going anywhere." *Smiles, and hugs him again.* "Goodnight."

They separate and go to their rooms. The three Flames lie down to sleep, all trying to make sense of what just happened. In a moment, their lives had changed forever. Stay tuned to Our World for more...

```

### Part 2

```
We return to Verdant Valley a few days later. At the school, kids are beginning to leave the building. It's Friday! Some hurry away, while others linger with friends.

Clover:
*Starts singing.* "Weekend, weekend, weekend is here!"

The other green sheep, Clover's relatives, echo the chorus.

Flame:
"SHUT UP! Your singing stinks!"

The green sheep collectively gasp.

Clover:
*Continues singing.* "You insult, insult our song! Most here will agree, you are very wrong!"

A few bystanders nod.

Flame:
"Like I care what they think! IF YOU DON'T SHUT UP I'LL MAKE YOU!"

Clover:
"Silence, silence we will not! Be quiet and listen you ought!"

Flame:
"GRAAAAH!" *Leaps and tackles Clover.*

Clover:
*Struggles to fend off the raging lamb.*

A few of Clover's older cousins jump into the fight, overpowering Sonny.

Flame:
*Is far past caring about his safety.*

Citizen:
*A teacher arrives and pulls Sonny from the fight.*

Flame:
*Attacks the teacher.*

Tulip:
*Meanwhile, Tulip was chatting with friends when she heard her brother start screaming.* (Oh dear...)
"Erm, I better go..."
*Hurries over to the scene.*

Flame:
*Is now being held by two teachers, failing to escape their grip.*

Tulip:
"Sonny! Just stop fighting and they'll let you go!"

Flame:
*Screams again, but starts to calm.*

Tulip:
*Glances up at the teachers.* "Sorry... He's been worse ever since Ma left..."

Flame:
"..."

Once Sonny stills, the teachers release him.

Tulip:
"Come on, let's just go home."

Flame:
*Glares at the Patricks momentarily before stomping away.*

Tulip:
*Also looks at them, about to apologize, but then sees that they're all smiling.*

Clover:
*Even Clover smiles, despite being visibly wounded.*

Tulip:
*Simply mouths "sorry" before hurrying to catch up with Sonny.*

The walk to their home isn't too long. While Tulip goes inside, Sonny heads straight for the shed.

Flame:
*Walks past his father's various equipment, going to the back corner.*

In this corner is a scarecrow, one which had proven ineffective against crows. Now, in the Flames' shed, it has a new job.

Flame:
*Screams again and tackles the helpless scarecrow.*

Later that day, we find Sonny rolling a toy tank toward Tulip's room.

Tulip:
*From inside.* "Somebody help!!"

Flame:
*Rolls the tank into the room.*

Tulip:
*Stomps a dragon toy toward a princess doll.* "Rawr! I will eat you now!"

Flame:
"There it is! Charge!" *Shooting noises.*

Tulip:
*Flies the dragon up and passes over the tank.*
*Breathing noises.*

Flame:
*Opens up the tank and grabs out a few toy soldiers.*

Tulip:
*The dragon pauses in midair as Tulip looks up through the doorway.* "Hi, Pa!"

Gordon:
*Is now standing there, staring displeased at Sonny.* "Son. Come here."

Flame:
*Knows from the look in Gordon's eyes what's coming, and stays put.*

Gordon:
"I ain't askin' again..." *Glances at Tulip and points a thumb backward.*

Tulip:
*Also knows what's coming, and leaves the room as instructed.*

Sonny is now alone in the room with his father.

Gordon:
"I'm told you got into a fight at school, with the Patrick boys *and* a teacher. What do you got to say for yourself?"

Flame:
"..."

Gordon:
"You know that's unacceptable."

Flame:
"..."

Gordon:
"And you know what happens when you decide to do it anyway."
*Closes the door and advances.*
*Spankings commence.*

Flame:
*Squirming and screaming.*

This continues until both of them are exhausted.

Gordon:
"Boy! You are rotten! I'm startin' to see why your ma didn't want you."

Flame:
*Eyes widen.*

Gordon:
"Don't look so shocked. You ain't gonna succeed as an adult if nobody likes you."

Flame:
*Trying to hold back tears.*

Gordon:
"That's why I'm tryin' to teach you to be better."

Flame:
"..."
*Fails to keep himself from crying.*

Gordon:
"One day you gotta grow up and become a man."

Flame:
"I-I miss Ma..."

Gordon:
"We all do."

Flame:
"I didn't mean to scare 'er away..."

Gordon:
"..."
*Gordon's expression softens as he realizes the issue.*
"Don't blame yourself for that, Son. She left me."

Flame:
"It's... not my fault? What did *you* do?"

Gordon:
"I'm still tryin' to understand... Maybe it's more what I *didn't* do? Didn't spend enough time with 'er and you kids. She said she was alone."

Flame:
"..."

Gordon:
"Learn from my mistakes, Son. When you grow up and you find the woman of your life, you make sure she's happy, be there for her."

Flame:
*Shaky nod.*

Gordon:
*Pats Sonny's shoulder before leaving the room.*

Flame:
(But it wasn't just you... Ma wanted Tulip... She didn't want me...)
*Sits on the bed as he continues crying.*

Tulip:
*Peeks in.*
"Pa whoop you that bad?"

Flame:
*Stiffens, though he's still crying.* "I can take a whoopin'."

Tulip:
*Sits next to him.* "Then what's wrong?"

Flame:
"If I... ever did something *really* rotten... would you leave me?"

Tulip:
"Never." *Side-hugs him.* "I'm always here for you, Sonny."

Flame:
*Hugs her back.*
*Sniffle.*

The scene changes drastically. The remains of a GUN mech splash into the Golden City bay. However, one thing remains the same: Sonny's pain.

Flame:
*Swims up to the surface.*
*Climbs atop the wreckage and looks out toward the dock. At the rascals who blew up his mech... and the traitor...*

Hannah:
*Stares back at him.*
(What happened to you? We're supposed to be friends. You used to care about me...)

Flame:
(I should've known you would turn on me... This is inevitable... The only reason Tulip didn't leave me must be because she died before she got the chance...)

Fade to black.

```

## Characters

*In order of appearance:*

* Gordon Flame
* Rose Meadows
* Sonny Flame
* Tulip Flame
* Clover Patrick
* Hannah Dash