After a saucy mess at the local pizza parlor, the Mangle family headed down to the local playground. Rachel and Ben ran to the swings, and It trailed behind. “Swings?” she asked.
“Yup, those are 100% real swings, kiddo!” Sam said. “Need someone to help you?”
It shook her head and climbed up, using her wings to propel her forward. Despite flying often, the old piece of equipment brought a smile to her face. “Dad! I can fly without wings!” she crowed.
Mangle smiled from the ground. “Nicely done, sweetheart!”
She leapt off the swing at the top of the ark and flew to the ground. Then she turned and flew to Rachel. “Want me to pull you to the top?” she offered.
Rachel nodded eagerly. It grabbed her chains and pulled back as high as she could, and let go. Rachel screamed in pure ecstasy. It went over to Ben and offered the same thing. “No thanks,” he answered politely. “I prefer to stay close to the ground.”
It nodded understandingly and politely gave him a few gentle pushes instead. Then she ran over to the other equipment, climbing up in the most difficult ways she could find, and pushing herself down the slide. While the kids entertained themselves, Sam made a quick stop at the restroom and Mangle found a bench to sit on. They stayed there for an easy hour, Ben, Rachel, and It wearing off all the spare energy they had from breakfast and using some of the new energy from lunch.
Sam and Mangle shared a look when Rachel nearly tripped and It slowed down for breath. It was time to go home. They made their way to the car, and drove back, It more or less passing out on the couch, Rachel going to the bathroom then joining her, and Ben flipping through TV channels to find something to watch. Mangle pulled the business card out of their pocket. “Sam? Can I ask your opinion on something?”
Sam yelled back from her bedroom, "I’m changing, but I can talk to you through the door!”
Mangle walked over and said softly, “A lady came up to me today asking me if It would like to share her story in the labs with this activist group.”
“Which group?” Sam asked.
“Um...Humans for a Better Tomorrow.”
Sam made a grunt of approval. “They’re good. Not too biased, they try to stay objective on the issues. Questioning whether you should say yes?”
“I’m...concerned,” Mangle admitted.
“Just as well,” Sam said. “If you didn’t adopt the girl, you could be accused of robbery.”
“What if the lab comes to take her back?” Mangle asked.
“Sue ‘em. Sue ‘em for everything they’ve got. You’d win. Let her speak. Something tells me she wants to get it off her chest.”
Mangle nodded. “Thanks, sis.”
“Anytime, sib.”
Mangle walked away and grabbed their tablet, e-mailing Ms. Limonte. She e-mailed back a bunch of questions. Mangle steeled themself and called, “It?”
It heard her name and came over. “Yeah, Dad?”
“Want to share your story?”
It nodded. “Yeah, I think it’d be good to.”
Mangle handed her the tablet. “Here are the questions. If you respond to them out loud, you’ll be recorded automatically.”
It nodded. “Okay.” She looked up. “Aren’t you going to be there?”
“They want your opinion, not mine.”
“And I want you with me,” It explained. “Just in case, you know?”
Mangle nodded. “Should we do this privately in my bedroom?”
It nodded. They went in and set up the list of questions. Mangle whistled when they read them.
1. What is your name?
2. How old are you?
3. What is your earliest memory?
4. How did the lab treat you?
5. How do people treat you today?
6. Were you ever threatened?
7. Did you fear for your life?
8. Would you change how you were if you could?
“And these are just basic questions?” Mangle asked.
It shrugged. “I’m okay with answering them. You’ll be here to support me.”
Mangle nodded. “Don’t you ever forget that.”
“I won’t.” It hit the ‘reply’ button under the e-mail and started speaking. “My name is Bethany It Mangle, and I am 4 years old. The people who treat me nicely and like a human being get to call me It. My earliest memory is...Dad helping to answer my questions, showing me rainbows and explaining how people gave the colors an order. I never thought they had one, but they always show up the same way in a rainbow. The lab...was okay, I guess. I didn’t know anything else. I’m still getting used to the rest of the world. Um...no one really thought I was human, even Dad was skeptical at first, but he came around. The others, not so much. I was kept in a 6 foot by 6 foot room with a cot and a desk and not much else. Though Dad would bring me toys and books to keep me busy. I...did get threatened. Multiple times. There was a doctor...Dr. Milbridge. He…” she took a shaky breath. “He nearly killed me once, and then refused to listen to me when I felt uncomfortable with him invading my personal space and stroking me. He’s a real creep. I didn’t like it there, especially when they ordered me terminated, and I’m glad I got out. But I wouldn’t change anything. If I did, I wouldn’t have an amazing dad, an aunt, 2 awesome cousins, grandparents I can’t wait to meet, and I wouldn’t be a car ride away from the beach right now. My life isn’t smooth sailing, but it’s still...pretty great. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
She clicked send. Mangle hugged her. “I’m glad you feel that way,” they murmured. “I wouldn’t trade this for the world.”
It hugged Mangle back. “I love you, Dad.”
Mangle’s heart swelled. “I love you too, sweetheart. More than you know.”
The tablet dinged with a reply almost immediately. It had a picture of Ms. Limonte in tears, presumably over It’s response.
It, you are such a brave young girl...I can’t imagine what it would be like to be in your shoes. You answered this so openly, so freely, I’m left stunned. I can’t believe anyone would do that. I’d like to invite you and your Dad to come to our local meeting out in Rehoboth. It’s a bit of a drive but it’s the closest we can get, to share your story. People need to know what is going on in those labs, and you’re the key to getting the message out there. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to, but keep it in mind. Our next meeting is Friday. Let me know if you can come.
-Emily Limonte
Mangle read it over It’s shoulder. “Want to go?”
It nodded. “Yeah. You’ll still support me, right?”
“Of course. I’ll help you write a speech, if you want.”
It nodded again. “When this meeting comes, we’re gonna have the whole audience in tears!”
Mangle laughed. “We’d better get started, then.”
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