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Leafpool sighs and
Chatterbox: Chirp at Cricket
Leafpool sighs and
Leafpool sighs and turns off her computer, standing up. She looks sadly at the blank screen, thinking of all the people who are leaving the Chatterbox. Then an idea pops into her head. She pulls her favorite blue jacket off a hook, practically stampeding down the stairs as she thrusts her hands into the arms.
As she steps out the door into the darkness, she takes a deep breath of the cold night air. Blue skies in, grey skies out, She reminds herself. She turns and hurries down the deserted sidewalk.
A small bell tinkles as a shadowy figure pushes her way through a door, into a small room. She pushes her hood off her head and steps forward, into the middle of the room. A table is in the middle, with a glass case on top of it. The girl smiles through her tears at the nameplate, barely visible in the darkness. Abigail's Soapbox, 2016, it read. She gently lifts the top off of the case and reached in, pulling out a battered, crumpled, duck-taped soapbox. She puts it into the pocket of her jacket and leaves the room.
She walks quickly toward the town square, the cold stinging her cheeks. The square is completely deserted as she puts the soapbox down on the pavement and steps onto it, wincing as it makes a small cracking noise. She clears her throat and closes her eyes.
"Hello. I don't know if anyone is listening, but I have something to say."
Silence.
She takes another breath.
"Has anyone noticed that after Mei-xue left the Chatterbox, many other awesome people followed her example, leaving us and going away? How do you think that made me- and many other people- feel? You know how it feels to have your best friend stop wanting to hang out with you? It's worse than that. You know how it feels to have your older siblings move away to another country? It's worse than that.
"I've tried to be strong and bear it, but it's just too much. Why have so many people left? It's breaking my heart."
She pauses.
"I love you all. You are like my online family, helping me along. I count each and every one of you as a close family member, and when someone leaves- well, it hurts. It really hurts."
She straightens up, her voice becoming stronger.
"And I will never leave you, no matter what, because I have learned what it is to feel pain this August, and I wouldn't want to cause others the same amount of pain.
"You know the Inkwell? Many people think it's too slow. Well, I disagree. When I first came on here, I was really annoyed because every day, there would be more threads that would push the old RPs to the second or third page, making it hard to continue them. With there not being so many threads, there is an opportunity to really work hard on RPs without them dying."
Leafpool looks up at the stars, twinkling brightly in the dark sky.
"I ask for no more people to leave permanently for a while. I don't think anyone here wants that. It's really not fair for all the other people to have to bear all this, over and over again. I ask this on the behalf of not only me, but everyone else on the Chatterbox."
A slight wind picks up, causing her to shiver and pull her jacket closer as she continues.
"This is originally by Rachel Platten. I changed it a bit, and I hope you see how it applies to this situation.
"Like a small boat
On the ocean
Sending big waves
And emotion
Like how a single word
Can make a heart open
I might only have one match
But I can make an explosion
And all those things I didn’t say
Sadness is inside my brain
I will say it loud tonight
Can you hear my voice this time?
This is my fight song
Take back my life song
Prove I'm alright song
My power's turned on
Starting right now I'll try to be strong
I'll play my fight song
And I don't really care if nobody else believes
'Cause I've still got a lot of spirit left in me
Losing friends and losing sleep
Yet no one’s worried about me
I’m in too deep
Say I'm in too deep (in too deep)
And it's been so long since I started this mess
And the people are getting less and less
Yet I still believe
Yeah, I still believe
And all those things I didn't say
Sadness is inside my brain
I will say it loud tonight
Can you hear my voice this time?
This is my fight song
Take back my life song
Prove I'm alright song
My power's turned on
Starting right now I'll try to be strong
I'll play my fight song
And I don't really care if nobody else believes
'Cause I've still got a lot of spirit left in me
A lot of fight left in me
Like a small boat
On the ocean
Sending big waves
And emotion
Like how a single word
Can make a heart open
I might only have one match
But I can make an explosion
This is my fight song
Take back my life song
Prove I'm alright song
My power's turned on
Starting right now I'll try to be strong (try to be strong)
I'll play my fight song
And I don't really care if nobody else believes
'Cause I've still got a lot of spirit left in me
Know I've still got a lot of spirit left in me"
She steps off the soapbox, casts one last look behind her, and melts quietly into the darkness.
submitted by Leafpool
(September 3, 2016 - 2:04 pm)
(September 3, 2016 - 2:04 pm)
That was beautiful, and no, I won't leave. I'll stay here as long as I possibly can. Thx leafpool.
(September 3, 2016 - 2:37 pm)
You deserve a hug for that, Leafpool. *hugs* I couldn't agree more. It hurts me most when people leave because they "have nothing left to stay for". School, being busy, trying to cut down on computer time. . . All that I understand, but it really hurts to be left behind. I don't think I will ever leave. I may grow less active, but you guys will always be in my heart, and I could never turn away completely. <3
(September 3, 2016 - 5:10 pm)
First of all: oh my, you had me worried there that you were leaving. Phew!
Second of all: I completely agree with what you said and applaud you for it.
i feel we need to take action. Kinda refresh and renew the CB. Start over. I think we all need to step back, take a deep breath, and truly see what is happening to our beloved CB. I've tried ignoring the slow but steady decline in quality and quantity of the CB. It doesn't work. I'm asking you all to help us reform the CB, before more people leave.
You know what? It's much easier to leave the CB when it is dissatisfying. If we all work together to improve it, less people will leave. Please help me. Copy and paste this
#MakeCBgreatagain
all over the CB with me!
(September 3, 2016 - 6:05 pm)
Ahem...
You know that hashtag...
Current American Politics...
May offend people...
(September 5, 2016 - 8:59 am)
That was very well-written- I almost cried! Don't worry, I won't be leaving anytime soon.
(September 3, 2016 - 6:46 pm)
I really liked that, Leafpool! Don't worry, I won't leave.
#MakeCBgreatagain!!!!!!
(September 4, 2016 - 11:48 am)
That was an amazing song and speech. Thanks so much for it. We all needed that.
(September 3, 2016 - 7:02 pm)
Well, this should make you happy. I recently realized I was wrong. I may not have much time for the CB, but ... how do I say this .... people have been saying that they need me. We needed Danie last year, but she wouldn't stay. The CB changed- in ways both good and bad.
I'm staying.
(September 3, 2016 - 7:05 pm)
Aww, Leafpool, that was so sweet! So heartfelt. I feel the same way.
(September 3, 2016 - 9:13 pm)
Your message was poignant and beautiful. I'm glad you're not leaving us, Leafpool. I don't plan to leave either, not if I can help it. Hopefully, no one else will. I came onto the CB when Everinne, who was a great CBer in her day, left. Everyone was sad, there was talk of reforms the CB the what eit once was. Nobody could seem to get past her loss. Though losing Everinne, and now Mei-Xue, Joan, Cho, Brookeira, Booksy, Joss, and possibly others (Oy vey, that's a lot of people), was a huge loss, we still have the power to create a wonderful, welcoming, and happy community here.
(September 4, 2016 - 6:48 am)
l'm not trying to undermine your words, but.....Sheesh.
Don't you think that's a bit too melodramatic and unnecssary? Everyone who left had their own reasons to, whatever it may be. You're kind of mountaineering a mole hill here.
And before you think l'm just picking on yoy, l've seen tens of these types of these threads in conflict. And guess what? They do nothing.
(September 4, 2016 - 9:56 am)
At first, I thought you were leaving. I was terrified...
But now I'm OK. Thanks Leafpool! :-)
(September 4, 2016 - 10:43 am)
That was so sweet! You're amazing. (No worries, I'm staying)
(September 4, 2016 - 12:01 pm)
You managed to make me cry as I was reading that. I understand why people have been leaving - I have my own reasons for it, too - but I do understand it affects people greatly. That is why we need to stand up and hold strong. You almost made me second guess my leaving as well. I'm still going to be more of the Weekends crew, but... maybe I'll pick myself up to be here on the weekdays if possible. Thanks, Leafpool, for writing this! It made me see another point of view...
#MakeCBgreatagain
(September 4, 2016 - 12:46 pm)
That was great Leafpool, Im glad you wrote it. I havent't been on the CB to often lately, so I had no idea that Mei had left. I promise that I won't leave (at least not for a while). I'm not as active on here as I used to be, and I admit that I almost did leave abot a month ago, but when Katydid and sooooo many other awesome people left, I knew that I had to stay. Please CBers, it doesn't matter if you have been here for years or if you just sarted yesterday, you need to stay because the CB is an amazing place and you make it better! Please don't leave because we have lost so many CBers and all of them were kind and unique and amazig and awesome and I should probably stop now because if I don't this wil go on forever! Anyway people, PLEASE DON'T LEAVE!!!
(September 4, 2016 - 7:42 pm)