All I want to know is how the world goes 'round...

[noimpulsecontrol]

Worming information out of her youngest son was not easy, but nothing could stop Della Duck. It may have taken about a month to ease him into opening up about just who - and what, as it turned out - his new friend was, but it was well worth it; Louie brought up Gobo comfortably around her now. It was clear that the Fraggle'd had a strong impact on him - not that briefly being the Richest Duck in the World hadn't, but still, there was definitely more to Louie coming into his own lately than that whole adventure. In fact, Louie wasn't like Della, or most of the others in the family. Adventure didn't have the deep effect on him it did on the rest.

Della loved her boys unconditionally, even when they were causing disasters. But Louie... He didn't just seem to have grown, he seemed to be happier lately. So, if nothing else, she wanted to meet Gobo. Louie had rolled his eyes and protested a bit - "Mom, you don't have to run checks on my friends, that's such an Uncle Donald thing..." - but he'd shared the location of the nearest Fraggle Hole with her. Now she stood outside, hands on her knees so she could get a better view inside, calling down. "Hello! Is there a Gobo Fraggle down there?"

Comments

[noimpulsecontrol]

"Really. And no, I should be thanking you, Gobo... Aw, come here." She pulled him in close again. "You know, the way Louie talked about you... I knew you had to be someone special, but- Wow."

[gobetween]

He laughed gently, shifting enough that he could somewhat glance toward her. "Louie's someone special too, I'm really happy I've gotten to know him."

[noimpulsecontrol]

"Oh, I know he is," Della assured him with a little nod. "I'm just glad you see it, too." A little while longer for the hug, and then she stepped back and stood straight.

"Well, come on. We've got tunnels to see."

[gobetween]

"Right! Tunnels." He laughed softly, turning and gesturing her to walk with him. As he went though, he pulled his sleeve down a bit further so he could wipe at his eyes. While doing that though, he lifted his head some.

"Oh-! I've got the perfect place. I think you're really gonna love it."

[noimpulsecontrol]

"Sounds good to me, what kind of place are we talking about? Ooh, or is it a surprise?" she asked, eager and excited as she followed him.

[gobetween]

"It's a surprise!" He winked and grinned, waving a finger. "Trust me though, just follow me. I won't lead you wrong."

Never one to have his guitar far from hand, he idly played it as they walked, and it wasn't long before he found a specific song, nor until he started singing it.

♫ Every day the world begins again
Sunny skies or rain
Come and follow me
Every sunrise shows me more and more
So much to explore
Come and follow me

Every morning, every day
Every evening, calling me away

While the sun goes 'round
I'll still be found
Following the sound
Something's calling me
When the world goes drifting back to bed
Memories in my head
Wonders follow me

Every morning, every day
Every evening, calling me away
Every morning, every day
Every evening, calling me away ♪

[noimpulsecontrol]

Della smiled and nodded. "I'm sure you won't, Gobo." She ruffled his hair as they continued on. As he started the song, she was quiet - for once - listening to him play and sing.

She put an arm around his shoulder once he was done, and gave him a little shake. "You're talented! My brother does some music stuff, too, but he is not that good!" she laughed.

[gobetween]

Gobo laughed some himself, giving her a bright smile. "Gee, thanks! It's just me being a Fraggle, though. Music's the biggest part of our whole society, and just about everybody can sing or play an instrument!"

[noimpulsecontrol]

"Huh, that's cool - sounds like a fun way to live, really!" Della said brightly. She leaned in to take a closer look at the gourdtar. "And you make the instruments yourselves, huh?"

[gobetween]

He smiled, lifting the strap over his head and passing the guitar up to her to look at personally.

"Yep, sure do! From gourds like that one, or whatever wood, cloth, or other things we can collect around Fraggle Rock."

[noimpulsecontrol]

"Skilled and adaptive?" Della ran a hand over the back of the guitar. "Fraggles are great! Hey, you gotta teach me how to play something like this. Could you?"

[gobetween]

"Fraggles make do," is what he said, but he was clearly glowing from the praise.

"You wanna learn how to play an instrument?"

[noimpulsecontrol]

"You bet I do!" Della exclaimed, handing him back his guitar. "Donald always said I wasn't allowed to touch his guitar - he was convinced I'd break it, or something."

[gobetween]

He threaded himself through the strap and adjusted it until the gourdtar rested well around his shoulders.

"I can see where he's coming from, bein' protective over a guitar or something. Mine's been with me for years! And, I'm not much of a teacher, but I bet I could at least help you find out what instrument to play. You might be surprised, something completely different than a guitar could be waiting to sing inside you."

[noimpulsecontrol]

"I like the way you put that... Waiting to sing inside me," she repeated. "Well, I'm willing to try 'em all out!"

Or maybe she'd lose patience after three instruments, but hey, points for enthusiasm, right?

[gobetween]

"You know, I betcha Bridge can help out with that. He's got a lot of instruments, and he might be willing to let you experiment!"

[noimpulsecontrol]

"Oh, well... Maybe!" Della said, her words a bit stilted. She liked Bridge, and they got on well now that he'd opened up to her, but she didn't want to push his comfort level with her, either. She chuckled, awkwardly, and shook her head. "I didn't know you knew Bridge."

[gobetween]

"Yeah, I know a few of them over there. Scrooge lets me raid his garden for spare vegetables." He strummed the guitar, then laughed. "After Louie, your Louie, caught me in a trap one day. Did he tell you how we met?"

[noimpulsecontrol]

"Caught you in a trap? He mentioned he set you up with Scrooge's garden, but nothing about that, no."

[gobetween]

He laughed again and nodded. "Yeah! I don't hold it against him, a'course. He'd heard about Fraggles from the other Louie, and I guess something he heard must've appealled to him because he 'borrowed' Scrooge's yard to set up a few traps. I was actually having fun springing them, but then Scrooge stepped in to help, and that one was the one that got me."

[noimpulsecontrol]

"Makes sense! The Scrooges didn't get to be so rich without being sharper and smarter than the rest," she laughed, nodding. "But man... What did Louie think he was going to do with a captured Fraggle?"

[gobetween]

"I don't think he figured that far ahead, honestly." He snickered some. "Scrooge wanted me caught because, according to some, Fraggles are garden pests." Dismissive sniff. "But I think Louie was just curious?"

[noimpulsecontrol]

"Aw, Louie!" Della laughed, clearly delighted. "What a chip off the ol' block he can be!" She shrugged, then. "But garden pests? That seems like it sells you guys pretty short."

[gobetween]

"Thank you!" He laughed some. "We're definitely more than something you've gotta guard your radishes against, though you wouldn't know it from the stories you hear."

[noimpulsecontrol]

Della grinned. "Hey, sometimes people are gonna make their assumptions - that just means you've gotta prove them wrong!"