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Cassini90125 · 06-12-2008, 10:27 PM

Foster's Valley - "Retribution, Part Four: The wrath of Madame Foster"

Mr. Herriman sat alone on the third floor, drinking an espresso, waiting for what would happen next:

It was a tense time in the House, what with the truth about Goofball's antics from years ago finally being revealed and everyone realizing just how much Frankie had endured because of his oblivious, uncaring attitude, and how hard she worked everyday to keep the House running. All the cooking, the endless cleaning, so many trips to the market, the repairs, all of it... everyone was feeling more than a little guilty for taking her for granted for so very long. Madame Foster in particular was feeling sick about it, knowing her actions with Cartoon Network and bringing Bloo into the House had only coumpounded Frankie's already heavy load. And letting Goofball back in the House, costing Frankie her badly-needed vacation through no fault of her own, she couldn't take anymore. Time for action, she thought. Time to set things right, time to deal with that slacker pest once and for all, time to save her relationship with her granddaughter. Time for Batty Madame:

Armed with a pink stick that originated in another cartoon entirely, she left her sanity in her dresser and went to Dr. von Kohl's house. The device she'd requested was ready; she handed him a check and was off to the mall. Once there, it didn't take her long to find a disheveled-looking Goofball, who had a black eye and was having a horrible day himself; seems that while Madame Foster was making her way to the mall, Frankie had posted Imposter's Home on YouTube and word of Goofball's behaviour was starting to spread and the entire Valley was slowly starting to turn on him. He spotted Madame Foster and ran to her:

"Hey, Madame! What's wrong with everyone? People've been glarin' at me all day, givin' me the finger, smackin me around and throwin' things at me, and a couple of kids spit on me! And whazzername, that woman with the blue hair, man, she called me every rude name you've ever heard and she hit me! Wha'd I do? Uh, Madame? Hey, why's that thing on your head sparkin' like that?" A moment later he got a rather shocking answer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnC7K2NdZiw

"That's for what you did to my granddaughter! And this-" she blasted him again "- is for the hell my family is in because of you!" Slow-witted though he was, Goofball realized that he was in serious trouble and ran, Madame Foster right behind him, chasing him all around the mall and zapping him repeatedly, much to the amusement of the other shoppers. He ran back to Foster's and up the stairs, Madame Foster in hot pursuit. Wilt, Eduardo, and Coco saw them run past and looked at each other in surprise. Without a word, they agreed to stay out of it; sometimes it was better to let Madame Foster handle things her own way. They smiled and went to go distract Mr. Herriman. Goofball, meanwhile, found himself trapped on the third floor with no way out. Madame Foster smiled a grim smile, took off the lightning helmet, and drew forth the pink stick, intent on caving in his skull with it. "This once belonged to some anime woman," she informed him. "I don't know what it does but I bet it'll hurt when it goes upside your head. Say your prayers, boy." She advanced on him and Goofball dropped to his knees, sobbing and begging for mercy.
"Grandma, don't!" Frankie said frantically:

"Got to, dear," said Madame Foster. "I can't let him get away with what he's done to you. Not again."
"He's been punished. Wilt told me what's been going on, what he and the rest did, and Derek called from the mall while you were chasing him. He's been through hell."
"So have you, because of him. And because of me. I need to set things right!"
"And this is how you'll do it? By killing him? You'll never forgive yourself. And I won't be able to live with myself, knowing you did it for me. I wanted him to suffer, and he has. But I don't want him dead. I never have. This isn't what we're about, and this isn't what Foster's is about. We save Imaginary Friends, we don't hurt them, no matter how bad they are. Please, Grandma, put down the stick and let this end. Please."
Madame Foster paused, letting Frankie's words sink in. Oh, what she'd almost done... she went to Frankie and the two stood there, holding each other, crying and trying to comfort each other.
"Frankie, I'm sorry! I'm sorry about Cartoon Network, I'm sorry I let him back in the House, I'm sorry I wasn't there the first time he was here! Please, forgive me!"
"I do, Grandma, I do," Frankie cried in response. They stood there and cried in each others arms for several minutes. Eventually, they got back to the business at hand and turned to Goofball. "Th-thank you, Frankie," he said in a quivering voice. Finally, he'd gotten her name right.
"What do you want to do with him?" Madame Foster asked.
"I want him out of the House," was Frankie's response. "But first I want him to watch something."

And then it was Goofball's turn to watch Imposter's Home For Make-'em Up Pals:

Elsie Ray, visiting Coco at the time, was drafted to supervise Goofball and make sure he watched. No one else wanted to do it; they didn't want to see it again. Ever. As for Elsie, all she had to say was, "That's how you act when you're someone's guest? You're such a jackass!" Having seen what he put Frankie through, he couldn't really argue the point.

Throwing Goofball out of Foster's was one thing, but finding a place to throw him was another matter. Ever resourceful, Frankie found someone to take him in:

"Hey, great to see you again, Frankie! Look, I'm real sorry about what happened at Futurpoup that night but really, I'm a changed guy!"
"Sure you are, Dylan. Look, you want to make it up to me? Then take in Goofball until we can find a permanent home for him. Believe me, you'll love having him around; you two deserve each other."
"Sure, no problem, I love Imaginary Friends! I told you that once, right?"
"Among other things. Just keep him fed and housed, okay?"
"Hey, anything for you, babe."
"Don't call me that."
"Sorry. So, um, can I call you sometime?"
"You can call."
"Doing anything tonight?"
"Don't push your luck, Dylan."

And so Goofball ended up at the home of Dylan Lee, and in short order it was his turn to do the cooking and the cleaning:

And justice was served.

Back at Foster's, Frankie and Madame Foster started the work of putting their relationship back together.
"I really am sorry about everything, Frankie. I don't know what gets into my head sometimes."
"It's because you think with your heart half the time, not your head," said Frankie. "Same as me. And you've always been a little crazy. I mean, 'Batty Madame'? How did you ever come up with that in the first place?"
"It's a long story," Madame Foster smiled slightly. "Maybe I'll tell you someday." She sighed. "Are we good?"
"Not completely," said Frankie. Then it was her turn to smile slightly, "But we will be." And for both, for now, that was enough.

But the story doesn't end there.

Goofball's callous actions hurt a lot of people. I've heard people say that Imposter's wasn't really that bad. They're right, but they're wrong, too. It wasn't that bad for them; for Frankie, it most certainly was that bad. She suffered because of Goofball's clueless insensitivity, and those of us who love her and care about her suffered alongside her, and the fact that he got away with it made it all the worse. In writing this story, which was personally very hard on me, I have attempted to set things right, to bring a sense of justice where there was none before, and perhaps a sense of closure for those who need it. It's almost certain that Cartoon Network will not do so in the few remaining episodes, so in a way I had to do this, for both my beloved Frankie and for her long-suffering fanboys. Whether or not I have succeeded to any degree is up to each reader to decide for him or herself. In the end I let Goofball live because I know Frankie would want it that way, and she's what's important here, not Goofball. She just never wants to see him again. I won't kill him, but then again, I won't tolerate his presence in the Valley, either. And that I can certainly do something about:

Take him away, boys!

And Goofball John McGee was never seen again.

Back at the House, Frankie took out the trash and marvelled at how things had all worked out. Her grandmother had sold her life story to Cartoon Network, that was true. Yet if she hadn't, there would be no Imposter's eepisode, nothing to prove she wasn't exaggerating things. The Imaginary Friends finally understood how hard she worked in the House, day in and day out. This time, she'd turned things around. Definitely something to smile about. And best of all, in light of everything that had happened, Mr. Herriman reinstated her vacation without a second's hesitation. Frankie had been through hell, but in the end she came out a winner:

Of course, she's always a winner to me.

I love you always, Frankie Foster. Always.

06-12-2008, 10:27 PM	#533
Cassini90125 The Postmaster Love gives you courage that's stronger than anything! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Saturn Posts: 6,658	5000 *Foster's Valley - "Retribution, Part Four: The wrath of Madame Foster"* Mr. Herriman sat alone on the third floor, drinking an espresso, waiting for what would happen next: It was a tense time in the House, what with the truth about Goofball's antics from years ago finally being revealed and everyone realizing just how much Frankie had endured because of his oblivious, uncaring attitude, and how hard she worked everyday to keep the House running. All the cooking, the endless cleaning, so many trips to the market, the repairs, all of it... everyone was feeling more than a little guilty for taking her for granted for so very long. Madame Foster in particular was feeling sick about it, knowing her actions with Cartoon Network and bringing Bloo into the House had only coumpounded Frankie's already heavy load. And letting Goofball back in the House, costing Frankie her badly-needed vacation through no fault of her own, she couldn't take anymore. Time for action, she thought. Time to set things right, time to deal with that slacker pest once and for all, time to save her relationship with her granddaughter. Time for Batty Madame: Armed with a pink stick that originated in another cartoon entirely, she left her sanity in her dresser and went to Dr. von Kohl's house. The device she'd requested was ready; she handed him a check and was off to the mall. Once there, it didn't take her long to find a disheveled-looking Goofball, who had a black eye and was having a horrible day himself; seems that while Madame Foster was making her way to the mall, Frankie had posted Imposter's Home on YouTube and word of Goofball's behaviour was starting to spread and the entire Valley was slowly starting to turn on him. He spotted Madame Foster and ran to her: "Hey, Madame! What's wrong with everyone? People've been glarin' at me all day, givin' me the finger, smackin me around and throwin' things at me, and a couple of kids spit on me! And whazzername, that woman with the blue hair, man, she called me every rude name you've ever heard and she hit me! Wha'd I do? Uh, Madame? Hey, why's that thing on your head sparkin' like that?" A moment later he got a rather shocking answer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnC7K2NdZiw "That's for what you did to my granddaughter! And this-" she blasted him again "- is for the hell my family is in because of you!" Slow-witted though he was, Goofball realized that he was in serious trouble and ran, Madame Foster right behind him, chasing him all around the mall and zapping him repeatedly, much to the amusement of the other shoppers. He ran back to Foster's and up the stairs, Madame Foster in hot pursuit. Wilt, Eduardo, and Coco saw them run past and looked at each other in surprise. Without a word, they agreed to stay out of it; sometimes it was better to let Madame Foster handle things her own way. They smiled and went to go distract Mr. Herriman. Goofball, meanwhile, found himself trapped on the third floor with no way out. Madame Foster smiled a grim smile, took off the lightning helmet, and drew forth the pink stick, intent on caving in his skull with it. "This once belonged to some anime woman," she informed him. "I don't know what it does but I bet it'll hurt when it goes upside your head. Say your prayers, boy." She advanced on him and Goofball dropped to his knees, sobbing and begging for mercy. "Grandma, don't!" Frankie said frantically: "Got to, dear," said Madame Foster. "I can't let him get away with what he's done to you. Not again." "He's been punished. Wilt told me what's been going on, what he and the rest did, and Derek called from the mall while you were chasing him. He's been through hell." "So have you, because of him. And because of me. I need to set things right!" "And this is how you'll do it? By killing him? You'll never forgive yourself. And I won't be able to live with myself, knowing you did it for me. I wanted him to suffer, and he has. But I don't want him dead. I never have. This isn't what we're about, and this isn't what Foster's is about. We save Imaginary Friends, we don't hurt them, no matter how bad they are. Please, Grandma, put down the stick and let this end. Please." Madame Foster paused, letting Frankie's words sink in. Oh, what she'd almost done... she went to Frankie and the two stood there, holding each other, crying and trying to comfort each other. "Frankie, I'm sorry! I'm sorry about Cartoon Network, I'm sorry I let him back in the House, I'm sorry I wasn't there the first time he was here! Please, forgive me!" "I do, Grandma, I do," Frankie cried in response. They stood there and cried in each others arms for several minutes. Eventually, they got back to the business at hand and turned to Goofball. "Th-thank you, Frankie," he said in a quivering voice. Finally, he'd gotten her name right. "What do you want to do with him?" Madame Foster asked. "I want him out of the House," was Frankie's response. "But first I want him to watch something." And then it was Goofball's turn to watch Imposter's Home For Make-'em Up Pals: Elsie Ray, visiting Coco at the time, was drafted to supervise Goofball and make sure he watched. No one else wanted to do it; they didn't want to see it again. Ever. As for Elsie, all she had to say was, "That's how you act when you're someone's guest? You're such a jackass!" Having seen what he put Frankie through, he couldn't really argue the point. Throwing Goofball out of Foster's was one thing, but finding a place to throw him was another matter. Ever resourceful, Frankie found someone to take him in: "Hey, great to see you again, Frankie! Look, I'm real sorry about what happened at Futurpoup that night but really, I'm a changed guy!" "Sure you are, Dylan. Look, you want to make it up to me? Then take in Goofball until we can find a permanent home for him. Believe me, you'll love having him around; you two deserve each other." "Sure, no problem, I love Imaginary Friends! I told you that once, right?" "Among other things. Just keep him fed and housed, okay?" "Hey, anything for you, babe." "Don't call me that." "Sorry. So, um, can I call you sometime?" "You can call." "Doing anything tonight?" "Don't push your luck, Dylan." And so Goofball ended up at the home of Dylan Lee, and in short order it was his turn to do the cooking and the cleaning: And justice was served. Back at Foster's, Frankie and Madame Foster started the work of putting their relationship back together. "I really am sorry about everything, Frankie. I don't know what gets into my head sometimes." "It's because you think with your heart half the time, not your head," said Frankie. "Same as me. And you've always been a little crazy. I mean, 'Batty Madame'? How did you ever come up with that in the first place?" "It's a long story," Madame Foster smiled slightly. "Maybe I'll tell you someday." She sighed. "Are we good?" "Not completely," said Frankie. Then it was her turn to smile slightly, "But we will be." And for both, for now, that was enough. But the story doesn't end there. Goofball's callous actions hurt a lot of people. I've heard people say that Imposter's wasn't really that bad. They're right, but they're wrong, too. It wasn't that bad for them; for Frankie, it most certainly was that bad. She suffered because of Goofball's clueless insensitivity, and those of us who love her and care about her suffered alongside her, and the fact that he got away with it made it all the worse. In writing this story, which was personally very hard on me, I have attempted to set things right, to bring a sense of justice where there was none before, and perhaps a sense of closure for those who need it. It's almost certain that Cartoon Network will not do so in the few remaining episodes, so in a way I had to do this, for both my beloved Frankie and for her long-suffering fanboys. Whether or not I have succeeded to any degree is up to each reader to decide for him or herself. In the end I let Goofball live because I know Frankie would want it that way, and she's what's important here, not Goofball. She just never wants to see him again. I won't kill him, but then again, I won't tolerate his presence in the Valley, either. And that I can certainly do something about: Take him away, boys! And Goofball John McGee was never seen again. Back at the House, Frankie took out the trash and marvelled at how things had all worked out. Her grandmother had sold her life story to Cartoon Network, that was true. Yet if she hadn't, there would be no Imposter's eepisode, nothing to prove she wasn't exaggerating things. The Imaginary Friends finally understood how hard she worked in the House, day in and day out. This time, she'd turned things around. Definitely something to smile about. And best of all, in light of everything that had happened, Mr. Herriman reinstated her vacation without a second's hesitation. Frankie had been through hell, but in the end she came out a winner: Of course, she's always a winner to me. I love you always, Frankie Foster. Always. __________________ "Frankie! That weird kid is using a flower pot for a cup!" Sailor Moon. Best Anime EVER. Last edited by Cassini90125; 01-24-2009 at 02:12 PM. Reason: Corrected spelling error.