Chapter Text
Frank Frankly's P.O.V.
I let the phone ring once before answering. "Hello, this is Frank Frankly speaking," I said.
This better not be a prank call like last time.
"Mr. Frankly, please get here quick! It's an emergency!" Eddie Dear's panicked voice all but shouted.
"An emergency you say? What kind of emergency?" I asked, intrigued. Why would he call me about an emergency, instead of someone bigger or more well-rounded like Barnaby or Howdy?
Eddie tried to take a deep breath. "Why, there's a-a, well I don't know, but it sure don't belong in my post office! Please get here and help me!" He pleaded.
"Alright, alright, I'll be there right away. Try to stay calm, Mr. Dear," I instructed, standing and grabbing my messenger bag.
"I can try," he responded, hanging up.
I wondered what the emergency was. Perhaps a bug issue, if he was calling me. But he sounded frightened. What was there to be frightened about with bugs?
I walked briskly to his post office, strolling through the door. "Hello? Mr. Dear? I'm here about your emergency," I said, scanning the room to find Eddie.
Eventually I saw him cowering behind the mail counter. What scared such a strong guy? I wondered.
"Oh, thank the stars you're here Frank! I-I mean, Mr. Frankly. We're in a heap of trouble! There’s some kinda, y'know... like a, er, like a, y'know, you ever seen like a... it's a whatchamacallit in here!" Eddie finally managed to stutter out. His accent was stronger when he was flustered like this. It was almost cute. Almost!
Upon closer inspection of the room, I saw a colorful beetle crawling near some stationary. Was this the emergency? I immediately calmed down. No need to worry about a harmless, likely friendly beetle.
"A whatchamacallit? I'm afraid I only deal with bugs, Mr. Dear," I teased, keeping a neutral expression.
"A bug, a critter, a guest or neighbor, whatever it is, it's upheavin' my whole post office! Just look at what it's done with the paper chains!" Eddie cried desperately, gesturing to the pile. The top chain did in fact have some bite marks in it.
That wouldn't be good for the beetles digestion. But with a few leaves it would be alright.
"It made these? It did a wonderful job! Maybe you should consider hiring it," I continued teasing, observing the paper chains. The bite marks even made a pattern; the bug really did have some talent. I glanced back up at Eddie, who looked even more exasperated.
"Oh, ugh! Real cute, I'm bein' serious here!" Eddie pleaded.
Being called cute by Eddie did nothing to me. My heart didn't beat faster and my stomach didn't do backflips. It would simply be ridiculous if that happened! He was just a neighbor!
"Oh, there's nothing to be so scared of! It's more frightened of you than you are of it, you know," I pointed out, raising a corner of my eyebrow.
Eddie seemed almost offended at the idea. "Scared? Of a friendly guy like me? I wouldn't even hurt a fly!" He defended. It was amusing how committed he was to being friendly. It was quite the contrast to my grumpier demeanor.
I smirked. "I don't think you could even look at a fly with how you're hiding from this beetle."
Eddie let out a quiet grumble. "Hey! Don't go knockin' a fellow down when he's in a fit of desperation! If you had a rogue envelope fluttering around your home I'd get there lickety split!"
I had to hold back a laugh at the idea. A letter fluttering around my house like a butterfly? How silly!
"I'll take that into consideration the next time that happens, Mr. Dear," I said sarcastically. Eddie narrowed his eyes, but said nothing.
The beetle was now approaching where I stood, next to a small craft table. I held out my hand and it scuttled on, it's thin legs tickling as it moved from my palm to the back of my hand.
It was rather large, and bright orange and red in color.
"See, not so intimidating, is it?" I said, holding the beetle up for Eddie to see. He slowly took a step away from the corner he had been pressed up against.
Eddie tilted his head, watching the beetle move between my hands. I smiled. It was no butterfly, but the little guy was quite pleasant.
"I-I suppose you're right. But it's easy for you to say so! I don't know these fellas on a first-name basis like you do," Eddie pointed out.
He did have a point. Actually, now that he mentioned it, we didn't refer to each other by first name. I had never thought much of the formality, but did it mean that we weren't close?
The thought made the smile fall right off my face.
Eddie was still watching me expectantly.
I considered what to say for a moment, watching the beetle. "You don't need to be familiar with them in order to get to know them better. They're just like you or me," I finally said.
Eddie considered the idea for a minute. "I suppose you're right. Well, Mr. Beetle, I'm Eddie Dear. I don't know much about you crawly critters, but if you ever needed mail delivered, I would do it lickety split!" He introduce himself to the beetle.
That was adorable.
I bit my lip. Julie introduced herself to flowers every day and I only found it tiring. Why was Eddie making me feel so... different from my other neighbors? Could it really be...
A crush?
Eddie's voice disrupted my thoughts. "Hey, uh, Mr. Frankly. Would you be interested in helping me make a replacement for that paper chain that your, uh, friend there ruined?" Eddie asked, seeming a bit nervous. I guess he still had some warming up to do when it came to bugs.
I pondered it for a moment. "You can call me Frank. And I suppose I don't have any other plans this afternoon. Perhaps a craft would be enjoyable."
Eddie's face lit up. "Alrighty Frank! You can call me Eddie."
"I think I will, Eddie. So, where's the construction paper?"