Morty has a minion!

Bessie the White Silkie

Morty may not look like it now, but he was a ladies man. In fact, he was the swellest catch since Vernon Yun in his town. And despite his slightly grizzled looks and thinning fur, he is still the talk of Whispering Oaks. What's that you say? Well that is the most exclusive retirement home on Delphi Beach! Well...maybe not most exclusive or even the nicest, but with residents like Morty, Gerry and Doris, who can complain? Gerry and Doris are Morty's two best friends at the Oaks. I think that Gerry may be hanging around him for more than friendship, but hey, there is nothing wrong with a bit of harmless flirting right? And although Gerry can come on a little strong sometimes, she is mostly harmless. Doris on the other hand, is the most dangerous sort...the kind of woman that oozes charm without even knowing it! On the outside, she is nothing but a sweet, clueless little thing with an amazing talent for baking. Deep inside though, she has poor Morty wrapped around her finger. But he is too much of a gentleman to ever try anything. So he just hangs around with the two ladies, basking in their attention, enjoying the sea breeze that drifts lazily around his front porch.

And his shy demeanor hasn't always held him back. When he was a spry kumos of 23 (that is in kumos years of course!), he was madly in love with the most beautiful jollin at university, a lass named Raven. All the guys lusted after her for her looks, but Morty was in love with her personality. She was the most kind and humble being he had ever met. Her parents were well off, so she spent her weekends doing charity work. Sometimes you would see her bringing a group of orphans to a museum and then to the soda shop! Or near winter, she would help knit woolly scarves and gloves for the homeless. She just beamed with selflessness. But all most could see was that she was a pretty face...not the beautiful soul that Morty could see. And since he was such a shy boy, he thought he would never get the chance to date such a wonderful girl even if he was the cutest man in town. Instead, he focused on helping in the same circles that she did. Even if they weren't meant to be, he could be near her. For a while that was enough and Morty watched her already large heart grow even bigger.

One night, a group of students were walking home from a very loud party. Morty wasn't usually the party type but Raven had gone and he thought maybe if he had a few beers, it would loosen him up enough to just talk to her. No such luck...he couldn't even get the first drink down and spent the whole time sulking. But afterwards, he was in the group walking back to the dorm rooms. She was there too, chatting with a bunch of girls. You could tell she was inebriated. Slowly the number of students dwindled as they passed the various dorms. Soon it was time for Morty to go to his room. But he was worried because Raven was still walking and she seemed to be having trouble. So he decided to follow at a distance to make sure she got back safe...it was only a few more blocks. It was a lucky thing he did because the cad that was helping her home had decided that since they were all alone, he'd try and steer her to his room instead. She was trying to get away, but kept stumbling into the guy. Exhausted and drunk, she gave up and he dragged her away. Morty was so full of anger as he lept in front of the pair, his fur standing on edge. The craven student backed away and threw Raven to the ground before running off into the night. Morty slowy lifted the poor girl and carried to her dorm. Her roommates were grateful and insisted he stay until he could see she was awake and ok.

The next day, Raven awoke groggy and sore. Morty and her friends told her what had happened and she listened, her mouth agape at his heroics. She rewarded him with a kiss on the cheek and the promise of a date! Morty was beside himself! He finally had the chance to be with Raven! That Saturday, he picked her up and drove her to dinner at a tiny Saheric style restaurant that is famous for its spiced meat pies and lavish desserts. After that, they sat close together at the movies...a romantic comedy of course! Next came the finale...a special drive under the stars. Given the past weekend, Raven was a little afraid when Morty was driving so far into the countryside near Peka Glade. He patted her hand in reassurance and drove up to a secluded spot. He stopped the car and looked over at his date with a twinkle in his eye. Raven suddenly had a flashback of her attacked and bolted from the car. He ran after her and finally caught up to her when she got the banks of a lake. She was still shivering and scared. Morty slowly approached, promising that he was not going to harm her. She didn't seem to believe her and he stopped. He figured now was a good time to explain why he had taken her here.

"When I was a young pup, my mom and dad were together and happy. I had a sister and two brothers. Things couldn't have been more peaceful. One day she brought me here to this lake. She showed me how wonderful it was, so full of life and peace. The fish and the beavers and the insects, all somehow working together and keeping the whole ecosystem in balance. She told me that sometimes, the city is the opposite. Everyone is at odds with each other and there is filth and fighting in the streets. But no matter how tough things got, I could always come back to the lake and be safe from the horrors. She showed me the stars at night and how strong they sparkled in the Peka sky at night. They she looked at me with a serious face. She made me promise that if I ever felt that I was in danger, that I would come here by any means necessary. I didn't understand what she could have meant that night but it didn't take long for me to find out. I was walking home from elementary school a few weeks later and as I was nearing the house, I hear screams and cries coming from the living room. I quietly padded around to the back and peeked in the window. There was my whole family, tied up, being threatened by some hooded figures. I was only a tiny schoolboy and so afraid. I ran away until I could no longer run. And then I'd rest and run again. Finally by nightfall I made it to the lake. There it was...still as peaceful as ever. The next day, my grandmother found me sleeping up in a tree. I was a wonder I hadn't fallen. She never talked about what happened that day and I never saw my family again. But this has always been my safe spot and I wanted to share it with you...so that you may feel safe again too!"

Tears rolled down Raven's face and she ran towards Morty to comfort him and thank him for such a gift. It didn't take long after that for Raven to feel so safe in his arms, that she accepted his marriage proposal a few months after graduation. They were happy and they had 6 pups. Morty never thought that he would ever be so happy. But like most stories, this one too has an ending. Raven remained the same kind and loving jollin that he had met in college and Morty remained the same scruffy and handsome kumos that he was when they met. Time passed and they both grew old together for a time. But four years ago, time decided that Raven was set to move on to another life, and Morty was left alone in this one. He escaped to his safe place and refused to talk to anyone. This was bound to take its toll on him and he started to become ornery and difficult to deal with. His kids passed him off from one to the other until it was decided that he needed a better situation than any one of them could provide. So they booked him a small cottage at Whispering Oaks and dropped him off with his worldly possessions...which was not a lot. He shuffled everything inside and remained there like a hermit for weeks, only emerging for an occasional meal and to stretch his legs.

This is where Doris and Gerry come in. They had seen Morty pull up with his kids while playing badminton next door. They shared a cottage since neither of them liked to be alone. And that was fine for them since Doris made sure there were always plenty of cakes and cookies around the house and Gerry always made sure that she had the latest fashion in aprons. Opposites definitely attract because the two were so different! They were very curious about the new resident and after giving him some room for a week or two, decided to visit the new hottie next door. Doris was a little unsure since he seemed to be crotchety, but Gerry assured her that he just needed the right sort of friends to get him out of the funk. So they knocked at his door with a plate full of cookies as a peace offering. After many grunts and grumbles, he finally made it to the door. He rolled his eyes when he answered the door and saw the equivalent of Blanche Devereaux and Rose Nylund. They didn't take offense, but instead pushed past him and went to work. Within minutes, he was begrudgingly watching the pair give his cottage a "feminine touch" while he was cozy in his armchair munching on an oatmeal raisin cookie...his favorite. After that day, the two ladies would visit him everyday and get him to go out for walks, bring him to bingo and got him back to a glimmer of his old self.

Eventually, his sadness started to fade. He would never stop loving Raven or even forget their happy life together. But he was at least able to find peace again with his new friends. And one day he might even bring both Gerry and Doris to that wonderful lake...to show them how beautiful they have made his life again.


Morty's story, concept, and profile by me. Morty's Overlay by josi. Background created at patterncooler.com.

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