Young Writers Society

When I was younger, for a time, I found myself entwine, in a collection of stories writ and bind by John F. a potential mastermind.

He wrote within boxes but did not suffer, on most occasions, but there were other.

The sneaks were clever, the knights were loud, the barons were fat and the kings were proud. Horses were sarcastic girls were tough, old women were wise and men were gruff.

And the villains always, handsome traitors or devious invaders, some would go on to repent or to earn favors, but most t’would die, in many flavors.

A duel is common, an arrow is too, a fire took one, but poisoned bolt pierced two.

For it seemed when I read, that I was also pinned to that throne. Instant and unfeeling, and with a disappointed groan. Ferris, the fool, died as he lived, a cowardly shell of his superior twin.

I have fought tooth and nail for him, I have shouted and screamed, but met with pure disregard, rage, or chuckling agreement, the highest point in my crusade was when a stranger sketched him holding my cat.

I cannot seem to make another understand, my Ferris wheel, the pitiful man, he was fat hateful, and terribly afraid, he did not want to die, and died all the same. Listen then, as I have long moved past, my last attempt to have another hold him fast.

We know nothing of him in the fifty pages that he lives, twice we see him, once is dead, he is an old man filled with dread, will not look another in the eye, in fear that they will see his lie.

he has no wife, nor child, his nephew is heir, Sean seems to be the only one he does not fear. He uses his power without regard, his kingdom will crumble and still, people mumble.

He was a terrible king and worse brother, but who is Ferris? Who could he be? We hear of his best and see his worst, there is no box for Ferris, 'cept for his hearse.

Halt, his twin, says to the knight, that his brother was cunning and dangerous and bright, that Ferris was favored prince of the land, for his smiles and laughter and skill and his might, that is not the Ferris we know tonight.

By seven minutes lost, the race for birth, Ferris was second, and Halt was first, Halt, the ranger who lurks in the dark, who deals not with strangers unless they his mark.

Is it strange to think, or hard to imagine, what Ferris might have thought? His brother, the quiet and reflective lot, what king he’d make, and Ferris be forgot.

Is it not tragic to think of one born as two, at first so close, then so few? How old do you think, was Ferris when he learned, to hate his brother, whose affection he spurned?

Do you think that when Halt grew ill, from poisoned food, Ferris stayed near, and made sure his loving veneer?

Do you think that when Halt, lying in bed, from ceramic wounds, toe to head, Ferris sat by and told him he’d get better and hoped twas a lie?

Do you think that when Halt braided their sister’s hair, Ferris brought flowers to be placed there?

Do you think that when Halt began to advance, to become silent and muscled- when he suddenly shifted from shy to observant, do you think Ferris was afraid or nervous?

Do you think that when Ferris asked his twin if he would like to go fishing with him, if Halt breathed a silent sigh, that perhaps this would be what fixed their farness, and maybe he’d be able to find Ferris again, instead of the boy who had replaced him?

Do you think that when Halt, climbed to the bank, dripping with water and dripping with rage, and Ferris said that he didn’t mean to push him aside, Ferris hoped that Halt would believe him and it’d all be fine? Not out of fear, but more genuine?

Do you think that when Halt ran away, that Ferris was terrified for the whole day? He continued with his plan and said he had drown, but he knew he’d committed treason, and without much reason, so he hid in his room, so no one could guess.

Do you think that night, Ferris lay awake, because Halt might come and put his head on a stake?

Do you think that Ferris, when he took his brother’s crown, thought for a moment what if he put it down?

We know that he searched for Halt and that assassins were sent, but what do you think would happen if brothers once more met?

Do you think that Halt mourned Ferris, as much as he could?

Do you think that Ferris could have been saved? If he learned the error of his way, if someone reached out to him and taught him to trust? If Ferris didn’t die, and instead had to flee, if he had met someone like me?

Could I have looked past what he is as a man, and love him as I do, as a story and a fan? Could I have been patient and held his hand? Could I have loved him, if he was real? Even if knew him, as I do now, if he appeared, and knocked at my door, would I be able to be that cure? Could I smile at him invite him inside, and wait until he trusts me enough to meet my eye? Could I help this broken, pitiful, and regretful man? Is it prideful of me to think I can? How hard could it be to lend an ear? To try and pierce that frail veneer?

I haven’t said all I could, but words don’t rhyme unless they should, so I have stayed for years in this state, never meeting another who shares my fate, he is not hated, because he is a fool, he is not loved, because he is pathetic, but I look at Ferris O’Carrick and see, someone who could very easily be me, and I want to reach into my book, and hold, this grotesque man long cold.

I alone seem to cradle his head, even his brother doesn’t seem to terribly mind him dead, and I cannot blame him, as I previously said, instead with his melancholy words I end,

“He was not the best brother, but he was the only one I had.”

And then, as more than ten books have passed, and all the gruff and wise are near or dead, and the young are old and their children wed, Ferris O'Carrick was never mentioned again.

A/N: Oh BOY, this is the longest and least rhyme-y poem I've probably ever written, and, I'd like to point out that I have actually had someone draw Ferris holding my cat, no prompting, I have never gotten down from this high, I'm going to try and set the picture as the PFP for this story if I can do that? IDK how this website works, if anyone wants to buff out their word count in the reviews PLEASE explain how to use this thing.