A Vision Of The Blue Moon/Part 4

"That was really unfortunate, that you had to give up Baby Smurf because his parents on Smurfling Island wanted him to return," Polaris said.

"This smurf can sympathize with Grouchy not wanting to give up Baby Smurf and doing everything he can to show how much the Smurfs would care for him," Empath said.

"Believe me, I would smurf myself in Grouchy's place if I understood at the time how much sending Baby Smurf back to Smurfling Island would not benefit him in the long run," Tapper said. "Fortunately Smurfette understood it enough to smurf the parents a very strongly-smurfed letter that went something like this:"


 * Dear Parents,
 * How could you smurf a child into the world and deny him the chance of ever growing up by smurfing him in a world where nobody ever ages? I think it is unfair, selfish, and unloving to smurf that to any child born on that island, and I wish you would reconsider smurfing that child away from Smurfs who would love him and care for him, to smurf him the kind of life that he deserves to smurf.
 * Yours truly, Smurfette.

"And Smurfette had the stork deliver this message along with Baby Smurf to the parents on Smurfing Island?" Polaris asked.

"Aye, that she did, and that we did, because we weren't going to let Baby Smurf go without such a word written on Baby Smurf's behalf," Tapper said. "And then we all gathered around the stork as we smurfed Baby Smurf back up in his blanket and basket to smurf him back home, and we all smurfed our goodbyes to him together."

"This smurf can sense that this part is not easy for you to tell, Tapper," Empath said. "This smurf and Polaris can come back later for you to tell the rest of the story if you want to."

"It's okay, Empath," Tapper said, trying to hold back a tear in his eye. "This needs to be told if we want to make sure we have the complete story. Besides, we wouldn't remain sad for very long." - As Tapper continued to tell the story, Empath and Polaris saw the Smurfs watching the stork carry away Baby Smurf in a basket which also had the letter Smurfette wrote to the parents. Everybody among them felt so depressed that Papa Smurf had to tell his little Smurfs that they should go to Tapper's Tavern for the rest of the day to mourn together and ease their burdens.

Into the night, Tapper watched as his fellow Smurfs just sat there with their drinks untouched, not saying a word. Some of them just buried his heads on the table, not wanting for anyone to see them cry. There was clearly no joy to be had knowing that Baby Smurf was now gone from their lives.

"Duncan, where did we go wrong in believing this vision of a little visitor that would smurf joy to the entire village?" Tapper said, finally breaking the silence.

"I don't think any of us were wrong in interpreting this sign, laddie," Duncan said. "I feel that this child was the fulfillment of that vision, but the vision never smurfed us for how long that joy would last."

"Maybe that's just it, that he was nothing more but a visitor in our lives, meant only to smurf us joy for a little while so we can appreciate what it would be like to be parents," Tapper said.

"I would appreciate being a parent much more if I could smurf more time with the little bairn," Duncan said. "I know Hefty was much happier having Baby here, and so were a lot of Smurfs in this village. And Smurfette...I could smurf it in her eyes that she truly felt like a Mama Smurf that would smurf anything for him."

"He would never be able to appreciate how many uncles he would have had if he was allowed to smurf in the village with us, now that he has a life where he will forever remain a child, smurfing no more than a day old," Tapper said. "Sometimes I think a child that smurfs away from life while still in the womb is more fortunate than a child like Baby Smurf that would never be able to smurf a full life from cradle to grave."

"But at least Baby Smurf has a life, for however long he will live it on Smurfling Island as a child, forever young," Duncan said.

Tapper sighed. "I think tonight we should close early, let everyone have a good night's sleep, and maybe in the morning we will all smurf a little better."

"Aye, laddie, I think it would be a good idea for all our sakes," Duncan said, nodding in agreement.

And after the Smurfs went home to their beds and said goodnight to each other, they all said together, "And goodnight, Baby Smurf, wherever you are." - "And so the Smurfs slept that night, wondering what tomorrow might bring, if things might be better for all of us without Baby Smurf," Tapper said. "It was early the next morning when we were greeted with a surprise."

As Tapper continued his story, Empath and Polaris saw that the basket had returned, only this time it appeared in front of Papa Smurf's doorstep. He peeked inside and saw that there was Baby Smurf, looking happy to be back in the Smurf Village again.

"My little Smurfs," Papa Smurf called out. "Baby Smurf has returned! I repeat, Baby Smurf has returned!"

Every Smurf heard the news and had gathered around Papa Smurf's house while he read the message that came with the basket:


 * Dear Smurfs,
 * As much as we love the child, we now see the wisdom that Smurfette has smurfed us and we do not wish to keep him from smurfing the kind of life that he should smurf. It is with sincere apologies and with our love that we smurf this baby Smurf back to you, to care for and to love as your very own. May he smurf well and long with you as part of your family.
 * Yours truly, the Parents.