29 Years Apart: Candle in the Water

When Patty was younger, her mom would sing her this lullaby to help her sleep, "Candle in the Water" from Pete's Dragon, originally sung by Helen Reddy. This song's notable in her family for two reasons - "candle in water" was one of her first words, as a request for Sharon to sing it. If not, "wee sing 'gether" ("Wee Sing Together" from 1985 was the first thing she ever watched, and, since then, she would watch it, and the other Wee Sing titles, on repeat). The other reason was that 27 years ago when she was 4, she had a nightmare, so her mom sang it to soothe her back to sleep. The first picture is from 29 years ago, when Patty was almost 2.

The second was taken before the events of my story, "For Whom the Bell Tolls" (https://www.artstation.com/artwork/1NglZ3). Easton had read about the studies about Preschool Play hampering children's brain development when they were mentioned on Entertainment Examples, a website he visits whenever he's on the internet that mentions examples of things happening in different shows or movies. When something comes up, this little caterpillar always goes to his best friend, Patty Pig, and the Freedom Crusaders (which, again, are her, Noodle, and Banjo (who are best friends themselves)), so he screamed all the way to their clubhouse before his screams reduced to just crying, which themselves then reduced to just sniffling.

NOODLE: Easton, there you are!
PATTY: Something wrong?
EASTON: Well, yeah, I was on Entertainment Examples, I used to edit there and put Preschool Play on one of their pages as a suggestion for a YouTube video, and someone edited it mentioning the scandals saying the show's bad for kids!
PATTY: Oh, knock it off, Easton, Preschool Play's been around for 49 years and counting and it's very educational - you can learn colors, animal sounds, and things that go from the show!
NOODLE: Yeah, those weren't educational professionals, they were just pretending to be children's education experts. Everyone knows Preschool Play is good for kids!
EASTON: Yeah, but now I'm obsessed with Preschool Play, and, it still makes me sad, especially if it's true. (starts crying)
BANJO: Aww, don't cry, Easton.
NOODLE: How about we find something to make him feel better?
PATTY: I don't know, what?
BANJO: Maybe a lullaby would help.
PATTY: Oh, yeah, like this song my mom used to sing me to sleep with.
BANJO: Candle in the Water? I remember when YOU taught me that song!
EASTON: My own mom used to sing that to me, too.
PATTY: What a coincidence!

The three crusader girls got onto the couch with Easton nestled in Noodle's legs.

NOODLE: Okay, Easton, settle down, and let us sing you to sleep!
EASTON: Okay, I'm comfy.
NOODLE: Good.

PATTY: I'll be your candle on the water
My love for you will always burn
I know you're lost and drifting
But the clouds are lifting
Don't give up, you have somewhere to turn

I'll be your candle on the water
'Till every wave is warm and bright
My soul is there beside you
Let this candle guide you
Soon you'll see a golden stream of light

A cold and friendless tide has found you
Don't let the stormy darkness pull you down
I'll paint a ray of hope around you
Circling in the air
Lighted by a prayer

I'll be your candle on the water
This flame inside of me will grow
Keep holding on, you'll make it
Here's my hand so take it
Look for me, reaching out to show
As sure as rivers flow

I'll never let you go
I'll never let you go
I'll never let you go...

After the song, the girls noticed Easton was fast asleep and breathing slowly.

PATTY: It worked, he fell asleep!
BANJO: Oh, that's great!
NOODLE: Hey, mind if I take him home to his parents?
PATTY: Sure thing,
BANJO: See ya!

And with that, Noodle carried the slumbering caterpillar home and put him into his bed. The girls hoped that he would eventually forget about the Preschool Play scandals.

PATTY: Sweet dreams, Easton.
BANJO: Sleep now, Easton. Think happy thoughts!

About a week later, the events of "For Whom the Bell Tolls" would play out, as Easton would get laryngitis.

This is such a sweet song, and I bet "The Owner Song" (https://www.artstation.com/artwork/P6DJY8) (the lyrics, at least) was inspired by it.