William Wharton - Franky Furbo

‘Yes, Franky, but I feel so strange in these soft clothes, these soft boots. What kind of uniform is this? It’s somewhat like Bavarian clothes but much softer. What is this?’

‘Let’s just say it is a peace uniform, Wilhelm, that, for a while anyway, we three are in an army for peace.’

Franky wrinkles his nose again. I smile, then laugh, and Wilhelm joins us. I smile at Wilhelm. It seems a great idea to me. I would definitely not be happy putting on my old dirty olive drabs and going out to war again. Wilhelm looks down at himself in his peace costume.

‘Well, it’s better than being dead, I must say. I was tired and scared by the war, anyway. I’m proud to be a member of our peace army. Can you really make us invisible?’

‘If you want.’

‘But we will be able to see each other?’

‘Oh yes. You won’t feel a thing. We won’t know we’re invisible unless somebody else tries to see us.’

‘OK, let’s be invisible. I’m ready.’

Wilhelm rises and stands to attention. I stand up, too, just to be sociable. Franky wiggles his nose and laughs.

‘OK, you’re invisible, both of you. I am too.’

Wilhelm looks down at himself.

‘How do I know I’m invisible? I can see myself.’

‘OK, if you want to be invisible to yourself, fine.’

Franky waves his hand as if he’s brushing away a fly. I think he’s failed for once, because Wilhelm is still standing there. Then I watch Wilhelm. His face is pale. He’s holding out his hands, touching them together; they’re shaking. He looks down at his legs.

‘Where am I? I’m gone. You did it. I’m invisible!’

‘Only to yourself. We see him, don’t we, William?’

‘That’s right. Are you sure you can’t see yourself, Wilhelm? You’re right there.’

‘Right where? I’m nowhere, I’m nothing! Mr Furbo, Gott in Himmel , make me come back, make me visible again.’

‘Do you want to be visible to everybody, just to the three of us or only to yourself?’

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