3/3 Emojis & Text

EACH WISDOM 3/3 The next morning, Plankton woke up on the couch. He looked around the room, blinking rapidly, trying to remember what had happened. "Karen?" He called out, his voice hoarse. She appeared from the kitchen, a knowing smile playing. "Good morning, sunshine," Karen says. "How's the mouth?" Plankton's hand shoots up to his jaw, his eye widening with remembrance. "Wisdom teeth," he mumbles, his speech still a bit slurred. He looks around the room, his gaze finally landing on the bowl of melted ice cream and the discarded gauze. "Whath's... whath happen'd?" Karen laughs lightly, handing him a glass of water. "You had your wisdom tee..." "Wisdom teeth," he finishes, his voice groggy. "I know." He sits up, wincing at the pain. "Buh I don't remember... goin’ home." His hand goes to his cheeks, feeling the swollen jaw. "Nor anything thereafter." Karen sets the glass on the coffee table, her eyes sparkling with mirth. "You had quite the adventure," she says. Plankton falters, his cheeks turning a shade of pink. "I... I did?" "Remember the wightsh?" Karen asks, her smile uncontainable. Plankton looks at her, confusion clouding his features. "Wightsh?" "The lights," she prompts, trying not to laugh. "When you thought they were coming for you?" Plankton's eye narrows as he tries to recall. "I... I don't remember any lights," he says slowly. "But I do remember something...about ice cream?" Karen laughs, a warm sound that fills the room. "Oh yes, you had quite the time with the ice cream," she says, shaking her head. "You were so excited." Plankton's cheeks flush a deeper shade of pink. "What...what do you mean?" He asks, his voice a mix of embarrassment and curiosity. Karen sits down next to him, her eyes dancing with amusement. "Let's just say you were feeling the love," she says, her smile wide. "I was?" Plankton's voice is filled with doubt. "For...for ice cream?" Karen nods. "Oh boy," he mumbles, burying his face in his hands. Karen knew better than to mention Mr. Krabs, especially if he's got no recollection. "How do you feel?" She asks instead, her voice filled with concern. Plankton's hand moves to his jaw, gently probing the swollen flesh. "It hurts," he says, his voice a whisper. "But I'm alive." He tries to stand, his legs wobbly, but Karen's hand is there to steady him. "You need to rest," she insists, helping him back onto the couch. "You had quite the surgery." Plankton nods, his eye glazed with pain. "But I don't remember anything after...after the chair." He looks around the room, noticing the pillow and the bowl of melted ice cream. "Did I do...that?" he asks, pointing to the mess. Karen laughs, her eyes shining with humor. "You certainly did," she says, her voice teasing. Plankton's cheeks flush, and he sinks back into the couch, his hand covering his mouth. "What did I do?" He whispers to himself, his voice filled with a mix of embarrassment and dread. Karen just shakes her head. "You don't remember anything?" She asks, her voice light. Plankton shakes his head, his expression sheepish. "I just remember... being in the chair, and then... everything's fuzzy." Karen nods, her smile fading to a more serious expression. "You were pretty out of it, Plankton." Her hand reaches over to his, giving it a gentle squeeze. "But you're okay now." Plankton looks at her, his gaze intense. "But what did I say?" He asks, his voice filled with dread. "What did I do?" Karen's laugh fades, and she looks at him, her expression sympathetic. "You were just a little...loopy," she says, choosing her words carefully. "You talked about lights and riding sheep, and... well, you had a good time with the ice cream." He nods slowly, trying to piece together the fragmented memories. "But no...no important secrets?" His voice is hopeful, his eye searching hers for reassurance. Karen shakes her head. "No, Plankton. Nothing important." Then a card slides under the front door. Karen picks it up, her eyes widening. It's from Mr. Krabs and his employees. It's a get well card signed by Mr. Krabs, who also had Squidward and SpongeBob sign it. Plankton stares at it, his mind racing. "How'd they know about..." "Mr. Krabs must've told," Karen says. "It's okay, Plankton. Sometimes it's better not to remember every...." "WHAT?" Plankton's mind is racing. How could he have forgotten so much? He's always so sharp, so calculating. This was unlike anything he'd ever experienced. How's Mr. Krabs know? He takes the card from Karen's hand, his heart racing. He tries to read the words, but his mind's a blur. "What's it say?" He asks, his voice a mix of fear and hope. Karen's smile softens. "It's a get-well card," she says gently. "From Mr. Krabs and the crew at the Krusty Krab." Plankton's eye widens in shock. "They know?" He whispers. Karen nods. "It seems so." Plankton sinks back into the sofa, his mind racing. How could he have been so...so...out of it? He's the one with the plans, the schemes, the...what was that word he was thinking of? "Loopy," he murmurs to himself. That's it. He was loopy, he must've been. He needs to confront Mr. Krabs! He starts to get up, but Karen intercepts. "Plankton, you're still recovering," she says firmly. "Let's just rest today, okay?" But Plankton's mind is made up. "I need to know," he says. "I can't just...just rest without knowing!" With a sigh, Karen helps him to his feet. His legs wobble again, but he's determined. He has to find out what happened. Karen watches him shuffle to the door, her heart torn between laughing and worrying. "Take it easy," she calls after him. Plankton steps out into the bright daylight, squinting. Everything seems so much more... vivid than he remembers. He walks slowly down the street, his mind racing with questions. What did he say to Mr. Krabs? What did he do? The thought of his usual enemy seeing him in such a weakened state is...disturbing. As he nears the Krabby Patty restaurant, he sees Mr. Krabs through the window, his claws moving swiftly as he prepares lunch orders. Plankton's heart thuds in his chest. What if Krabs knows something, something he said? He takes a deep breath, steeling himself for whatever may come. He pushes open the door, the bell jingling. Mr. Krabs looks up, his expression unreadable. Plankton's eye darts around, searching for any sign of his earlier antics. "Krabs," he says, trying to keep his voice steady. Mr. Krabs looks over, his eye twitching. "Plankton!" He calls out, his voice a mix of surprise and something else. Plankton can't quite place it. "How's the mouth?" Mr. Krabs asks, his voice a tad too cheerful. Plankton's grip on his crutch tightens. "It'sh...it's fine," he says, his speech still slurred. "But...what happened yesterday?" "Oh, you don't remember?" Plankton's cheeks burn. "What do you mean?" He asks, his voice smaller than he'd like. Just then, Pearl comes in with the three selfies. "Look what Daddy found on his phone," she says, her voice filled with laughter. Plankton's heart drops as he sees himself in a variety of silly poses, his mouth full of gauze and his eye wide with wonder in the first photo. He takes the phone, his hand shaking slightly. The second picture shows him with the bowl of ice cream, his mouth open in what must be a squeal of joy. The third one...he's snuggled against Mr. Krabs, his head on his shoulder, drooling. "What...what's going on here?" He stammers, his mind racing. Mr. Krabs clears his throat, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Well, Plankton, it seems you had quite the experience after the surgery," he says, his voice filled with mirth. "You were pretty loopy." Plankton's hand shoots up to his mouth, his heart racing. "But...but I don't remember anything," he stammers, his eye wide. "It's all...all fuzzy." Mr. Krabs nods. "That's what the anesthesia does to ya." Pearl laughs, showing the photos around to the other employees. "Look at Plankton!" She says, her voice filled with mirth. "He's so...so... cute!" Plankton's cheeks burn with embarrassment as the room fills with chuckles. Squidward smirks from behind the cash register. "Looks like someone had a wild time," he says, his tone sarcastic. Plankton's mind is racing. He can't believe he's become the butt of the joke, even in his own state of vulnerability. But Mr. Krabs' expression softens, and he claps a claw on Plankton's shoulder. "Don't worry, buddy," he says, his voice surprisingly gentle. "It happens to the best of us." Plankton can't help but feel a flicker of...gratitude? Towards Mr. Krabs? It's a sensation so foreign, he almost dismisses it. "Let me tell you, you had us all in stitches," Krabs says, his laugh genuine. "You talked about being friends and wanting to play with marbles. And that ice cream...oh, how you loved that ice cream." Plankton's cheeks burn even more as the room continues to laugh. He tries to recall anything about the day before, but his mind is a complete blank. It's as if the anesthesia had erased all memory of his post-surgery adventure. "I...I don't remember any of that," he says, his voice small. Mr. Krabs' grin fades, and he looks at Plankton with a hint of...was it pity? "It's okay," he says, his voice softer. "You were pretty out of it." Plankton nods, trying to understand. "But we're not...not really friends, are we?" He asks, his voice hopeful. Mr. Krabs' smile turns genuine. "No, we're not, Plankton," he says, his claws tightening slightly on Plankton's shoulder. "But for one day, we were."

ᵀʰᵉ ᴬᶜᶜⁱᵈᵉⁿᵗ ⁽ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᴮᵒᵇ ᶠᵃⁿᶠⁱᶜ⁾ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʷᵃˢ ʰⁱᵗ ᵇʸ ᵃ ʷᵃᵛᵉ ᵏⁿᵒᶜᵏᵉᵈ ᵒᵘᵗ⸴ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ⁿᵒᵗⁱᶜᵉᵈ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ˢᵃʷ ʰⁱᵐ ᵍᵉᵗ ᵗʳᵃᵖᵖᵉᵈ ᵘⁿᵈᵉʳ ᵗʰᵉ ᶜᵘʳʳᵉⁿᵗ ˢᵘʳᵖʳⁱˢⁱⁿᵍ ᴸᵃʳʳʸ ᵃˢ ʰᵉ ˢʰᵒʷᵉᵈ ᶜᵒⁿᶜᵉʳⁿ ᵗᵒ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵒᶠ ᵃˡˡ ᵖᵉᵒᵖˡᵉ‧ "ᔆʰᵉˡᵈᵒⁿ‧‧‧" ᴬᶠᵗᵉʳ ˢᵉᵉⁱⁿᵍ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵖᵒⁱⁿᵗ ᵒᵘᵗ ᴸᵃʳʳʸ ᵈⁱᵛᵉᵈ ⁱⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ʷᵃᵗᵉʳ ˢᵃᵛⁱⁿᵍ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᶠʳᵒᵐ ᵇᵉⁱⁿᵍ ˡᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵗ ˢᵉᵃ‧ ᴴᵒʷᵉᵛᵉʳ⸴ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵈⁱᵈⁿ'ᵗ ʳᵉˢᵖᵒⁿᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵃⁿʸ ᵗʰⁱⁿᵍ‧ "ᴵ'ᵛᵉ ᵈᵒⁿᵉ ᵃˡˡ ᴵ ᶜᵃⁿ‧‧‧" ᴸᵃʳʳʸ ˢᵃⁱᵈ‧ "ᴵ'ˡˡ ᶜᵃˡˡ ᔆᵃⁿᵈʸ!" ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ˢᵃⁱᵈ ᵏⁿᵒʷⁱⁿᵍ ˢʰᵉ ʰᵃᵈ ᵏⁿᵒʷˡᵉᵈᵍᵉ ᵗᵒ ᵖᵒˢˢⁱᵇˡʸ ʰᵉˡᵖ‧ ᔆᵃⁿᵈʸ ᶜᵃᵐᵉ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵒⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ʷᵃʸ‧ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ˢᶜᵃⁿⁿᵉᵈ ʰⁱᵐ ᶠᵒʳ ⁱⁿᵗᵉʳⁿᵃˡ ᵈᵃᵐᵃᵍᵉ ᵃˢ ˢᵃⁿᵈʸ ᵃᵗᵗᵉᵐᵖᵗᵉᵈ ʳᵉˢᵘˢᶜⁱᵗᵃᵗⁱᵒⁿ‧ "ᴴⁱˢ ˡᵉᵍ ˢˡᵃᵐᵐᵉᵈ ᵃᵍᵃⁱⁿˢᵗ ᵃ ʳᵒᶜᵏ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᵉⁿᵒᵘᵍʰ ᶠᵒʳᶜᵉ ᶜʳᵃᶜᵏ‧‧‧" ᴳᵉᵗᵗⁱⁿᵍ ᵇᵃⁿᵈᵃᵍᵉˢ⸴ ᵗʰᵉʸ ˡᵉᵗ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ᵃ ᵐᵒᵐᵉⁿᵗ ᵃˡᵒⁿᵉ ʷⁱᵗʰ ʰⁱᵐ ʲᵘˢᵗ ⁱⁿ ᶜᵃˢᵉ‧‧‧ ᴱᵛᵉⁿᵗᵘᵃˡˡʸ⸴ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʷᵃˢ ˢʰᵒʷⁱⁿᵍ ˢⁱᵍⁿˢ ᵒᶠ ʳᵉᶜᵒᵛᵉʳʸ‧ ᶠᵉᵉˡⁱⁿᵍ ᵇᵒᵐᵇᵃʳᵈᵉᵈ ʰᵉ ᵗʳⁱᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵐᵒᵛᵉ ʷʰᵉⁿ ᵖᵃⁱⁿ ᵒᵛᵉʳʷʰᵉˡᵐᵉᵈ ʰⁱᵐ‧ "ᴴⁱ‧‧‧" ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ˢᵃⁱᵈ‧ "ᵂʰᵒ‧‧‧" "ʸᵒᵘ ᵍᵒᵗᵗᵃ ᵗᵃᵏᵉ ⁱᵗ ᵉᵃˢʸ⸴ ᵖᵃˡ!" ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵗʳⁱᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ʰⁱᵈᵉ ʰⁱˢ ᵗᵉᵃʳˢ ᶠʳᵒᵐ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵃˢ ʰᵉ ʰᵃᵈ ᔆᵃⁿᵈʸ ᵃⁿᵈ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᶜᵒᵐᵉ ˢᵉᵉ‧ "ᴱᵘᵍᵉⁿᵉ ˡᵉᵗ'ˢ ᵍⁱᵛᵉ ʰⁱᵐ ʳᵉˢᵗ‧ ᴿᵉᵃᵈʸ ᵗᵒ ᵍᵒ ʰᵒᵐᵉ?" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵒᶠᶠᵉʳᵉᵈ ʰᵉʳ ʰᵃⁿᵈ‧ "ʸᵃ ˡᵘᶜᵏʸ ᵗᵒ ᵇᵉ ᵃˡⁱᵛᵉ ᵃˢ ʸᵒᵘ'ᵈ ᵇᵉ ᵍᵒⁿᵉ⸴ ᵇᵘᵗ ʸᵃ ᵈⁱᵈ ᶠʳᵃᶜᵗᵘʳᵉ ˡᵉᵍ‧‧‧" ᔆᵃⁿᵈʸ ᵉˣᵖˡᵃⁱⁿᵉᵈ‧ ᵂᵃᵛⁱⁿᵍ ᵇʸᵉ ᵗᵒ ᴸᵃʳʳʸ⸴ ᵗʰᵉʸ ᵃˡˡ ʷᵉⁿᵗ ᵗᵒ ᵗʰᵉⁱʳ ʳᵉˢᵖᵉᶜᵗⁱᵛᵉ ʰᵒᵐᵉˢ ʳᵉˢᵖᵉᶜᵗⁱᵛᵉˡʸ‧ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ʰᵉˡᵖᵉᵈ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵗᵒ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ᵃ ˢᵉᵃᵗ‧ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ˡᵉᵗ ᔆᵖᵒᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ᵃᵐᵒᵉᵇᵃ ᵖᵘᵖᵖʸ ˢᵗᵃʸ ʷⁱᵗʰ ʰⁱᵐ‧ "ᴵˢ ʰᵉ ᶠᵉᵉˡⁱⁿᵍ ᵃⁿʸ ᵇᵉᵗᵗᵉʳ?" ᴬˢᵏᵉᵈ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ‧ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵃⁿᵈ ᔆᵖᵒᵗ ʷᵉʳᵉ ˢᵗⁱˡˡ ʷʰᵉʳᵉ ᵗʰᵉʸ ʷᵉʳᵉ ᵍᵉᵗᵗⁱⁿᵍ ʳᵉˢᵗ‧ "ᔆᵒᵘⁿᵈˢ ˡⁱᵏᵉ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵐᵘˢᵗ'ᵛᵉ ᵈᵒᶻᵉᵈ ᵒᶠᶠ‧‧‧" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵒᵇˢᵉʳᵛᵉᵈ ʰᵉᵃʳⁱⁿᵍ ʰⁱˢ ᑫᵘⁱᵉᵗ ˢᵗᵉʳᵗᵒʳˢ‧ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ˢᵃʷ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ'ˢ ᵃʳᵐ ᵃʳᵒᵘⁿᵈ ᔆᵖᵒᵗ⸴ ˡᵉᵍ ᵉˡᵉᵛᵃᵗᵉᵈ‧ "ᴵ'ᵛᵉ ᵇʳᵒᵘᵍʰᵗ ᵃ ᵍⁱᶠᵗ ᶠᵒʳ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ‧‧‧" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ʷᵃˢ ʰᵃⁿᵈᵉᵈ ᵃ ᴷʳᵃᵇᵇʸ ᴾᵃᵗᵗʸ‧ "ᴵᵗ'ˢ ᶠᵒʳ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵗᵒ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵉⁿʲᵒʸ⸴ ˢᵃᵛᵉ ⁱᵗ ᶠᵒʳ ʰⁱᵐ‧‧‧" "ʸᵒᵘ ᵃʳᵉ ᵍᵒⁿⁿᵃ ˡᵉᵃᵛᵉ ʰⁱᵐ ʷⁱᵗʰ ⁱᵗ? ᴮᵘᵗ ʰᵉ'ˢ ʸᵒᵘʳ ʳⁱᵛᵃˡ⸴ ᵃⁿᵈ‧‧‧" "ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ⸴ ᴵ ᵈᵒⁿ'ᵗ ᵐⁱⁿᵈ ⁱᶠ ʰᵉ ᶠⁱᵍᵘʳᵉˢ ᵒᵘᵗ ᵐᵉ ᶠᵒʳᵐᵘˡᵃᵉ; ᴵ ᶜᵒᵘˡᵈ'ᵛᵉ ˡᵒˢᵗ ʰⁱᵐ ᵗᵒᵈᵃʸ⸴ ᵃⁿᵈ ʰᵉ ᵈᵉˢᵉʳᵛᵉˢ ᵃ ᵗʳᵉᵃᵗ‧" "ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᶜᵃᵐᵉ ʷʰⁱˡˢᵗ ʸᵒᵘ'ʳᵉ ᵃˢˡᵉᵉᵖ‧‧‧" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵗᵒˡᵈ ʰᵉʳ ʰᵘˢᵇᵃⁿᵈ ᵃˢ ʰᵉ ʰᵃᵈ ʷᵒᵏᵉⁿ ᵘᵖ‧ "ᵂʰᵃ‧‧‧" "ᴴᵉ ʷᵃⁿᵗᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵍⁱᵛᵉ ʸᵒᵘ ˢᵒᵐᵉᵗʰⁱⁿᵍ‧‧‧" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵍᵃᵛᵉ ʰⁱᵐ ᵗʰᵉ ᵖᵃᵗᵗʸ‧ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵗʳⁱᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ʰᵒᵖ ᵘᵖ ᵒⁿˡʸ ᵗᵒ ᶠᵃˡˡ ᵇᵃᶜᵏ ⁱⁿ ʰⁱˢ ˢᵉᵃᵗ‧ "ᶜᵃʳᵉᶠᵘˡ ᵇᵘᵈ‧‧‧" "ᶜᵘᵗ ⁱᵗ ⁱⁿ ʰᵃˡᶠ ˢᵒ ᴵ ᶜᵃⁿ ᵉᵃᵗ ᵒⁿᵉ ʰᵃˡᶠ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵃⁿᵃˡʸˢᵉ ᵗʰᵉ ᵒᵗʰᵉʳ‧‧‧" ᴬᶠᵗᵉʳ ᵃⁿᵃˡʸˢⁱⁿᵍ ᵃⁿᵈ ᶜᵒⁿˢᵘᵐⁱⁿᵍ ᵗʰᵉ ᵖᵃᵗᵗʸ⸴ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʷᵃⁿᵗᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵗᵃˡᵏ ᵗᵒ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵖⁱᶜᵏᵉᵈ ᵘᵖ ʰⁱˢ ᵖʰᵒⁿᵉ ᵗᵒ ᶠⁱⁿᵈ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵒⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ᵒᵗʰᵉʳ ᵉⁿᵈ‧ "ᴴᵉʸ⸴ ᴱᵘᵍᵉⁿᵉ‧‧‧" "ᴴᵒʷ ʸᵃ ᶠᵉᵉˡⁱⁿᵍ?" "ᴵ ʰᵉᵃʳᵈ ʸᵒᵘ ᵛⁱˢⁱᵗᵉᵈ ᵐᵉ‧‧‧" "ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᴵ ʷᵃⁿⁿᵃ ᵒᶠᶠᵉʳ ᵃ ᵗʳᵘᶜᵉ ⁱⁿᵈᵉᶠⁱⁿⁱᵗᵉˡʸ‧ ᵂʰⁱˡˢᵗ ʸᵒᵘ ʰᵉᵃˡ ᵃᵗ ˡᵉᵃˢᵗ‧‧‧" "ᵂᵉˡˡ ᴵ ᶜᵒᵘˡᵈⁿ'ᵗ ʳᵘⁿ ᵃᵍᵃⁱⁿˢᵗ ʸᵒᵘʳ ᵇᵘˢⁱⁿᵉˢˢ ʷʰᵉⁿ ᴵ ᶜᵃⁿⁿᵒᵗ ʷᵃˡᵏ‧‧‧" "ᴵ ʷᵃⁿⁿᵃ ᵖˡᵃʸ ⁱᵗ ᶠᵃⁱʳ⸴ ᔆʰᵉˡᵈᵒⁿ‧‧‧" "ʸᵒᵘ ᵐᵉᵃⁿ ⁱᵗ?" "ᴼᶠ ᶜᵒᵘʳˢᵉ! ᔆᵒ⸴ ᵃʳᵉ ʷᵉ ᵍᵒᵒᵈ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ?" "ᴵ'ᵐ ᵍˡᵃᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵏⁿᵒʷ ᵒᵘʳ ᶠᵉᵉˡⁱⁿᵍˢ ᵃʳᵉ ᵐᵘᵗᵘᵃˡ‧‧‧" "ᴵ ᶜᵃⁿ ᶜᵒᵐᵉ ᵇʸ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵛⁱˢⁱᵗ ʸᵒᵘ ᵃⁿʸ ᵗⁱᵐᵉ⸴ ᵃᵗ ˡᵉᵃˢᵗ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵈᵘʳⁱⁿᵍ ᵇᵘˢⁱⁿᵉˢˢ ʰᵒᵘʳˢ ᵃᵗ ˡᵉᵃˢᵗ‧‧‧" "ᴵ ᵈᵒⁿ'ᵗ ʳᵉᶜᵃˡˡ ⁱᶠ ᴵ ᵖʳᵒᵖᵉʳˡʸ ᵗʰᵃⁿᵏᵉᵈ ʸᵒᵘ ᴱᵘᵍᵉⁿᵉ⸴ ˢᵒ ᵗʰᵃⁿᵏˢ‧‧‧" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ˢᵃʷ ʰᵉʳ ʰᵘˢᵇᵃⁿᵈ ᵃˢ ᵗʰᵉ ᶜᵃˡˡ ᵉⁿᵈᵉᵈ ˢⁱᵍʰ ʷʰⁱˡˢᵗ ᵖᵉᵗᵗⁱⁿᵍ ᔆᵖᵒᵗ⸴ ʷʰᵒ ˢᵗⁱˡˡ ˢᵗᵃʸᵉᵈ ᵇʸ ʰⁱᵐ‧

ᵀʰᵉ ᴬᶜᶜⁱᵈᵉⁿᵗ ⁽ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᴮᵒᵇ ᶠᵃⁿᶠⁱᶜ⁾ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʷᵃˢ ʰⁱᵗ ᵇʸ ᵃ ʷᵃᵛᵉ ᵏⁿᵒᶜᵏᵉᵈ ᵒᵘᵗ⸴ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ⁿᵒᵗⁱᶜᵉᵈ ʰⁱᵐ ᵍᵉᵗ ᵗʳᵃᵖᵖᵉᵈ ᵘⁿᵈᵉʳ ᵗʰᵉ ᶜᵘʳʳᵉⁿᵗ‧ "ᔆʰᵉˡᵈᵒⁿ‧‧‧" ᴬᶠᵗᵉʳ ˢᵉᵉⁱⁿᵍ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵖᵒⁱⁿᵗ ᵒᵘᵗ ᴸᵃʳʳʸ ᵈⁱᵛᵉᵈ ⁱⁿ‧ ᴴᵒʷᵉᵛᵉʳ⸴ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵈⁱᵈⁿ'ᵗ ʳᵉˢᵖᵒⁿᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵃⁿʸ ᵗʰⁱⁿᵍ‧ "ᴵ'ᵛᵉ ᵈᵒⁿᵉ ᵃˡˡ ᴵ ᶜᵃⁿ‧‧‧" ᴸᵃʳʳʸ ˢᵃⁱᵈ‧ "ᴵ'ˡˡ ᶜᵃˡˡ ᔆᵃⁿᵈʸ!" ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ˢᵃⁱᵈ‧ ᔆᵃⁿᵈʸ ᶜᵃᵐᵉ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵒⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ʷᵃʸ‧ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ˢᶜᵃⁿⁿᵉᵈ ʰⁱᵐ ᶠᵒʳ ⁱⁿᵗᵉʳⁿᵃˡ ᵈᵃᵐᵃᵍᵉ ᵃˢ ˢᵃⁿᵈʸ ᵃᵗᵗᵉᵐᵖᵗᵉᵈ ʳᵉˢᵘˢᶜⁱᵗᵃᵗⁱᵒⁿ‧ "ᴴⁱˢ ˡᵉᵍ ˢˡᵃᵐᵐᵉᵈ ᵃᵍᵃⁱⁿˢᵗ ᵃ ʳᵒᶜᵏ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᵉⁿᵒᵘᵍʰ ᶠᵒʳᶜᵉ ᶜʳᵃᶜᵏ‧‧‧" ᴳᵉᵗᵗⁱⁿᵍ ᵇᵃⁿᵈᵃᵍᵉˢ⸴ ᵗʰᵉʸ ˡᵉᵗ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ᵃ ᵐᵒᵐᵉⁿᵗ ᵃˡᵒⁿᵉ ʷⁱᵗʰ ʰⁱᵐ‧‧‧ ᴱᵛᵉⁿᵗᵘᵃˡˡʸ⸴ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʷᵃˢ ˢʰᵒʷⁱⁿᵍ ˢⁱᵍⁿˢ ᵒᶠ ʳᵉᶜᵒᵛᵉʳʸ‧ ᶠᵉᵉˡⁱⁿᵍ ᵇᵒᵐᵇᵃʳᵈᵉᵈ ʰᵉ ᵗʳⁱᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵐᵒᵛᵉ ʷʰᵉⁿ ᵖᵃⁱⁿ ᵒᵛᵉʳʷʰᵉˡᵐᵉᵈ ʰⁱᵐ‧ "ᵂʰᵒ‧‧‧" ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵗʳⁱᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ʰⁱᵈᵉ ʰⁱˢ ᵗᵉᵃʳˢ ᶠʳᵒᵐ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵃˢ ʰᵉ ʰᵃᵈ ᔆᵃⁿᵈʸ ᵃⁿᵈ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᶜᵒᵐᵉ‧ "ᴿᵉᵃᵈʸ ᵗᵒ ᵍᵒ ʰᵒᵐᵉ?" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵒᶠᶠᵉʳᵉᵈ ʰᵉʳ ʰᵃⁿᵈ‧ "ʸᵃ ˡᵘᶜᵏʸ ᵗᵒ ᵇᵉ ᵃˡⁱᵛᵉ ᵃˢ ʸᵒᵘ'ᵈ ᵇᵉ ᵍᵒⁿᵉ⸴ ᵇᵘᵗ ʸᵃ ᵈⁱᵈ ᶠʳᵃᶜᵗᵘʳᵉ ˡᵉᵍ‧‧‧" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ʰᵉˡᵖᵉᵈ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵗᵒ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ᵃ ˢᵉᵃᵗ‧ ᵃⁿᵈ ʰᵃᵈ ᔆᵖᵒᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ᵃᵐᵒᵉᵇᵃ ᵖᵘᵖᵖʸ ˢⁱᵗ ᵇʸ ʰⁱᵐ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ˢᵃᵗ ᵇʸ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ'ˢ ᵒᵗʰᵉʳ ˢⁱᵈᵉ‧ "ᴵ ᵈᵒⁿ'ᵗ ʳᵉᶜᵃˡˡ ⁱᶠ ᴵ ᵖʳᵒᵖᵉʳˡʸ ᵗʰᵃⁿᵏᵉᵈ ʸᵒᵘ ᴱᵘᵍᵉⁿᵉ⸴ ˢᵒ ᵗʰᵃⁿᵏˢ‧‧‧" ᔆᵐⁱˡᵉᵈ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʷᵉᵃᵏˡʸ ᵇᵘᵗ ᵍᵉⁿᵘⁱⁿᵉ‧ "ᴴᵒʷ ᵃʳᵉ ʸᵒᵘ⸴ ᵖᵃⁱⁿ ʷⁱˢᵉ?" "ᴹʸ ˡᵉᵍ ˢᵗⁱˡˡ ʰᵘʳᵗˢ‧‧‧" "ᴵ ᶜᵃⁿ ᵗʳʸ ᵗᵒ ᵐᵃˢˢᵃᵍᵉ ⁱᵗ; ᴵ'ˡˡ ᵇᵉ ᶜᵃʳᵉᶠᵘˡ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᵐᵉ ᶜˡᵃʷˢ ᵗʰᵒ‧‧‧" "ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ⸴ ⁱˢ ᵗʰᵉʳᵉ ᵃ ᶜᵃᵗᶜʰ ˡⁱᵏᵉ ᵃ 'ʸᵒᵘ ᵒʷᵉ ᵐᵉ' ˢᵒʳᵗᵃ ᵗʰⁱⁿᵍ ᵗᵒ ᵘˢᵉ ᵃᵍᵃⁱⁿˢᵗ ᵐᵉ?" "ᴵ ᶜᵃⁿ ˢᵉᵉ ʷʰʸ ʸᵉ ᵃˢᵏ⸴ ᵍⁱᵛᵉⁿ ᵒᵘʳ ᶜᵃᵗ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵐᵒᵘˢᵉ ʳᵉˡᵃᵗⁱᵒⁿˢʰⁱᵖ⸴ ᵇᵘᵗ ⁱᵗ ᵃⁱⁿ'ᵗ ˢᵒ ᶠᵃⁱʳ ᶠᵘⁿ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵍᵃᵐᵉˢ ʷʰᵉⁿ ʸᵉ ʳⁱᵛᵃˡ'ˢ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵃᵗ ᵇᵉˢᵗ‧‧‧" "ᴵ ᵍᵘᵉˢˢ ⁱᵗ ᵐᵃᵏᵉˢ ˢᵉⁿˢᵉ‧‧‧" ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʳᵉᵖˡⁱᵉᵈ ᵈʳᵒʷˢⁱˡʸ‧ "ᴶᵘˢᵗ ˡᵉᵗ ᵐᵉ ᵏⁿᵒʷ ᵒⁿᶜᵉ ʸᵒᵘ'ᵈ ˡⁱᵏᵉ ᵐᵉ ᵗᵒ ˢᵗᵒᵖ‧‧‧" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᶜᵃᵐᵉ ᵇᵃᶜᵏ ᵗᵒ ᶜʰᵉᶜᵏ ⁱⁿ ᵒⁿ ᵗᵒ ᶠⁱⁿᵈ ᔆᵖᵒᵗ ʷᵃᵍᵍⁱⁿᵍ ʰⁱˢ ᵗᵃⁱˡ ᵃˢ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵍᵉⁿᵗˡʸ ʳᵘᵇᵇⁱⁿᵍ ᵗʰᵉ ʰᵘʳᵗ ˡᵉᵍ ᵒᶠ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ⸴ ʷʰᵒ'ˢ ᶠᵃˢᵗ ᵃˢˡᵉᵉᵖ‧ "ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ‧‧‧" ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ʷʰⁱˢᵖᵉʳᵉᵈ⸴ ˡᵉᵃⁿⁱⁿᵍ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵇᵃᶜᵏ ⁱⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ˢᵉᵃᵗ ʰᵉ'ˢ ˢᵗⁱˡˡ ᵃᵗ‧ "ʸᵉˢ?" "ᴵ ʷᵃⁿᵗ ʰⁱᵐ ᵗᵒ ʳᵉᵐᵃⁱⁿ ⁱⁿ ᵇᵒᵗʰᵉʳᵉᵈ ᵃˢ ᴵ ˢᵖᵉᵃᵏ ʷⁱᵗʰ ʸᵒᵘ‧‧‧" ᵀʰᵉʸ ʷᵉⁿᵗ ⁱⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ᵃᵈʲᵃᶜᵉⁿᵗ ʳᵒᵒᵐ ᑫᵘⁱᵉᵗˡʸ‧ "ᴵ'ᵐ ᵍᵒⁿⁿᵃ ᵗᵉˡˡ ʸᵒᵘ ˢᵒᵐᵉᵗʰⁱⁿᵍ ᵗᵒ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ⁱⁿ ʸᵒᵘʳ ᶠⁱˡᵉˢ ᶠᵒʳ ʸᵒᵘʳ ʰᵘˢᵇᵃⁿᵈ‧‧‧" ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ʷʰⁱˢᵖᵉʳᵉᵈ ᵃˢ ʰᵉ ᵖʳᵒᶜᵉᵉᵈᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ʷʰⁱˢᵖᵉʳ ᵗʰᵉ ˢᵉᶜʳᵉᵗ ᵗᵒ ᵗʰᵉ ᵏʳᵃᵇᵇʸ ᵖᵃᵗᵗʸ‧ "ᴱᵘᵍᵉⁿᵉ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ‧‧‧" ᔆʰᵘˢʰⁱⁿᵍ ʰᵉʳ⸴ ʰᵉ ᵍᵉˢᵗᵘʳᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵐᵒᵗⁱᵒⁿⁱⁿᵍ ʰᵉʳ ᵗᵒ ˢᵖᵉᵃᵏ ˢᵒᶠᵗˡʸ ˢᵒ ᵃˢ ᵗᵒ ⁿᵒᵗ ˢᵗᵃʳᵗˡᵉ ᵒʳ ᵃᵍⁱᵗᵃᵗᵉ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ‧ "ᴵᵗ'ˢ ʷʰᵃᵗ ᴵ ʷᵃⁿᵗ⸴ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ‧‧‧"

ᵀʰᵉ ᴬᶜᶜⁱᵈᵉⁿᵗ ⁽ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᴮᵒᵇ ᶠᵃⁿᶠⁱᶜ⁾ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ˢᵃʷ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵍᵉᵗ ᵗʳᵃᵖᵖᵉᵈ ᵘⁿᵈᵉʳ ᵗʰᵉ ᶜᵘʳʳᵉⁿᵗ‧ "ᔆʰᵉˡᵈᵒⁿ‧‧‧" ᴬᶠᵗᵉʳ ˢᵉᵉⁱⁿᵍ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵖᵒⁱⁿᵗ ᵒᵘᵗ ᴸᵃʳʳʸ ᵈⁱᵛᵉᵈ ⁱⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ʷᵃᵗᵉʳ ˢᵃᵛⁱⁿᵍ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᶠʳᵒᵐ ᵇᵉⁱⁿᵍ ˡᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵗ ˢᵉᵃ‧ ᴴᵒʷᵉᵛᵉʳ⸴ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ’ˢ ʳᵉⁿᵈᵉʳᵉᵈ ᵏⁿᵒᶜᵏᵉᵈ ᵒᵘᵗ ᶜᵒˡᵈ‧ "ᴵ'ᵛᵉ ᵈᵒⁿᵉ ᵃˡˡ ᴵ ᶜᵃⁿ‧‧‧" ᴸᵃʳʳʸ ˢᵃⁱᵈ‧ "ᴵ'ˡˡ ᶜᵃˡˡ ᔆᵃⁿᵈʸ!" ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ˢᵃⁱᵈ ᵏⁿᵒʷⁱⁿᵍ ˢʰᵉ ʰᵃᵈ ᵏⁿᵒʷˡᵉᵈᵍᵉ ᵗᵒ ᵖᵒˢˢⁱᵇˡʸ ʰᵉˡᵖ‧ ᔆᵃⁿᵈʸ ᶜᵃᵐᵉ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵒⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ʷᵃʸ‧ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ˢᶜᵃⁿⁿᵉᵈ ʰⁱᵐ ᶠᵒʳ ⁱⁿᵗᵉʳⁿᵃˡ ᵈᵃᵐᵃᵍᵉ ᵃˢ ˢᵃⁿᵈʸ ᵃᵗᵗᵉᵐᵖᵗᵉᵈ ʳᵉˢᵘˢᶜⁱᵗᵃᵗⁱᵒⁿ‧ "ᴴⁱˢ ˡᵉᵍ ˢˡᵃᵐᵐᵉᵈ ᵃᵍᵃⁱⁿˢᵗ ᵃ ʳᵒᶜᵏ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᵉⁿᵒᵘᵍʰ ᶠᵒʳᶜᵉ ᵗᵒ, ʷᵉˡˡ‧‧‧" ᴳᵉᵗᵗⁱⁿᵍ ᵇᵃⁿᵈᵃᵍᵉˢ⸴ ᵗʰᵉʸ ˢᵃʷ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʷᵃˢ ˢʰᵒʷⁱⁿᵍ ˢⁱᵍⁿˢ ᵒᶠ ʳᵉᶜᵒᵛᵉʳʸ‧ ᶠᵉᵉˡⁱⁿᵍ ᵇᵒᵐᵇᵃʳᵈᵉᵈ ʰᵉ ᵗʳⁱᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵐᵒᵛᵉ ʷʰᵉⁿ ᵖᵃⁱⁿ ᵒᵛᵉʳʷʰᵉˡᵐᵉᵈ ʰⁱᵐ‧ "ᴴⁱ‧‧‧" ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ˢᵃⁱᵈ‧ "ᵂʰᵒ‧‧‧" "ʸᵒᵘ ᵍᵒᵗᵗᵃ ᵗᵃᵏᵉ ⁱᵗ ᵉᵃˢʸ⸴ ᵖᵃˡ!" ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵗʳⁱᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ʰⁱᵈᵉ ʰⁱˢ ᵗᵉᵃʳˢ ᶠʳᵒᵐ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵃˢ ʰᵉ ʰᵃᵈ ᔆᵃⁿᵈʸ ᵃⁿᵈ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᶜᵒᵐᵉ ˢᵉᵉ‧ "ᴱᵘᵍᵉⁿᵉ ˡᵉᵗ'ˢ ᵍⁱᵛᵉ ʰⁱᵐ ʳᵉˢᵗ‧ ᴿᵉᵃᵈʸ ᵗᵒ ᵍᵒ ʰᵒᵐᵉ?" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵒᶠᶠᵉʳᵉᵈ ʰᵉʳ ʰᵃⁿᵈ‧ "ʸᵃ ˡᵘᶜᵏʸ ᵗᵒ ᵇᵉ ᵃˡⁱᵛᵉ ᵃˢ ʸᵒᵘ'ᵈ ᵇᵉ ᵍᵒⁿᵉ⸴ ᵇᵘᵗ ʸᵃ ᵈⁱᵈ ᶠʳᵃᶜᵗᵘʳᵉ ˡᵉᵍ‧‧‧" ᔆᵃⁿᵈʸ ᵉˣᵖˡᵃⁱⁿᵉᵈ‧ ᵂᵃᵛⁱⁿᵍ ᵇʸᵉ ᵗᵒ ᴸᵃʳʳʸ⸴ ᵗʰᵉʸ ᵃˡˡ ʷᵉⁿᵗ ᵗᵒ ᵗʰᵉⁱʳ ʰᵒᵐᵉˢ‧ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ʰᵉˡᵖᵉᵈ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵗᵒ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ᵃ ˢᵉᵃᵗ‧ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ˡᵉᵗ ᔆᵖᵒᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ᵃᵐᵒᵉᵇᵃ ᵖᵘᵖᵖʸ ˢᵗᵃʸ ʷⁱᵗʰ ʰⁱᵐ‧ "ᴵˢ ʰᵉ ᶠᵉᵉˡⁱⁿᵍ ᵃⁿʸ ᵇᵉᵗᵗᵉʳ?" ᴬˢᵏᵉᵈ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ‧ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵃⁿᵈ ᔆᵖᵒᵗ ʷᵉʳᵉ ˢᵗⁱˡˡ ʷʰᵉʳᵉ ᵗʰᵉʸ ʷᵉʳᵉ ᵍᵉᵗᵗⁱⁿᵍ ʳᵉˢᵗ‧ "ᔆᵒᵘⁿᵈˢ ˡⁱᵏᵉ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵐᵘˢᵗ'ᵛᵉ ᵈᵒᶻᵉᵈ‧‧‧" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵒᵇˢᵉʳᵛᵉᵈ ʰᵉᵃʳⁱⁿᵍ ʰⁱᵐ ˢᵗᵉʳᵗᵒʳ ᑫᵘⁱᵉᵗˡʸ‧ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ˢᵃʷ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ'ˢ ᵃʳᵐ ᵃʳᵒᵘⁿᵈ ᔆᵖᵒᵗ⸴ ˡᵉᵍ ᵉˡᵉᵛᵃᵗᵉᵈ‧ "ᴵ'ᵛᵉ ᵇʳᵒᵘᵍʰᵗ ᵃ ᵍⁱᶠᵗ ᶠᵒʳ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ‧‧‧" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ʷᵃˢ ʰᵃⁿᵈᵉᵈ ᵃ ᴷʳᵃᵇᵇʸ ᴾᵃᵗᵗʸ‧ "ᴵᵗ'ˢ ᶠᵒʳ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵗᵒ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵉⁿʲᵒʸ⸴ ˢᵃᵛᵉ ⁱᵗ ᶠᵒʳ ʰⁱᵐ‧‧‧" "ʸᵒᵘ ᵃʳᵉ ᵍᵒⁿⁿᵃ ˡᵉᵃᵛᵉ ʰⁱᵐ ʷⁱᵗʰ ⁱᵗ? ᴮᵘᵗ ʰᵉ'ˢ ʸᵒᵘʳ ʳⁱᵛᵃˡ⸴ ᵃⁿᵈ‧‧‧" "ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ⸴ ᴵ ᵈᵒⁿ'ᵗ ᵐⁱⁿᵈ ⁱᶠ ʰᵉ ᶠⁱᵍᵘʳᵉˢ ᵒᵘᵗ ᵐᵉ ᶠᵒʳᵐᵘˡᵃᵉ; ᴵ ᶜᵒᵘˡᵈ'ᵛᵉ ˡᵒˢᵗ ʰⁱᵐ ᵗᵒᵈᵃʸ‧" "ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᶜᵃᵐᵉ ʷʰⁱˡˢᵗ ʸᵒᵘ'ʳᵉ ˢⁿᵒᵒᶻⁱⁿᵍ ᵃʷᵃʸ‧‧‧" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵗᵒˡᵈ ʰᵉʳ ʰᵘˢᵇᵃⁿᵈ ᵃˢ ʰᵉ ʰᵃᵈ ʷᵒᵏᵉⁿ ᵘᵖ‧ "ᵂʰᵃ‧‧‧" "ᴴᵉ ʷᵃⁿᵗᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵍⁱᵛᵉ ʸᵒᵘ ˢᵒᵐᵉᵗʰⁱⁿᵍ‧‧‧" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵍᵃᵛᵉ ʰⁱᵐ ᵗʰᵉ ᵖᵃᵗᵗʸ‧ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵗʳⁱᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ʰᵒᵖ ᵘᵖ ᵒⁿˡʸ ᵗᵒ ᶜᵒˡˡᵃᵖˢᵉ ᵇᵃᶜᵏ ʷᵉᵃᵏˡʸ ⁱⁿᵗᵒ ʰⁱˢ ˢᵉᵃᵗ‧ "ᶜᵃʳᵉᶠᵘˡ ʰᵒⁿ‧‧‧" “ᴵ ᶜᵃⁿ ᵉᵃᵗ ᵒⁿᵉ ʰᵃˡᶠ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵃⁿᵃˡʸˢᵉ ᵗʰᵉ ᵒᵗʰᵉʳ‧‧‧" ᴬᶠᵗᵉʳ ᵃⁿᵃˡʸˢⁱⁿᵍ ᵃⁿᵈ ᶜᵒⁿˢᵘᵐⁱⁿᵍ ᵗʰᵉ ᵖᵃᵗᵗʸ⸴ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʷᵃⁿᵗᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵗᵃˡᵏ ᵗᵒ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵖⁱᶜᵏᵉᵈ ᵘᵖ ʰⁱˢ ᵖʰᵒⁿᵉ‧ "ᴴᵉʸ⸴ ᴱᵘᵍᵉⁿᵉ‧‧‧" "ᴴᵒʷ ʸᵃ ᶠᵉᵉˡⁱⁿᵍ?" "ᴵ ʰᵉᵃʳᵈ ʸᵒᵘ ᵛⁱˢⁱᵗᵉᵈ ᵐᵉ‧‧‧" "ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᴵ ʷᵃⁿⁿᵃ ᵒᶠᶠᵉʳ ᵃ ᵗʳᵘᶜᵉ ⁱⁿᵈᵉᶠⁱⁿⁱᵗᵉˡʸ‧ ᵂʰⁱˡˢᵗ ʸᵒᵘ ʰᵉᵃˡ ᵃᵗ ˡᵉᵃˢᵗ‧ ᴵ ʷᵃⁿⁿᵃ ᵖˡᵃʸ ⁱᵗ ᶠᵃⁱʳ⸴ ᔆʰᵉˡᵈᵒⁿ‧‧‧" "ʸᵒᵘ ᵐᵉᵃⁿ ⁱᵗ?" "ᴼᶠ ᶜᵒᵘʳˢᵉ! ᴵ ᶜᵃⁿ ᶜᵒᵐᵉ ᵇʸ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵛⁱˢⁱᵗ ʸᵒᵘ‧‧‧" "ᴵ ᵈᵒⁿ'ᵗ ʳᵉᶜᵃˡˡ ⁱᶠ ᴵ ᵖʳᵒᵖᵉʳˡʸ ᵗʰᵃⁿᵏᵉᵈ ʸᵒᵘ ᴱᵘᵍᵉⁿᵉ⸴ ˢᵒ ᵗʰᵃⁿᵏˢ‧‧‧" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ˢᵃʷ ʰᵉʳ ʰᵘˢᵇᵃⁿᵈ ˢⁱᵍʰ ᵃˢ ᵗʰᵉ ᶜᵃˡˡ ᵉⁿᵈᵉᵈ ʷʰⁱˡˢᵗ ᵖᵉᵗᵗⁱⁿᵍ ᔆᵖᵒᵗ⸴ ʷʰᵒ ˢᵗⁱˡˡ ˢᵗᵃʸᵉᵈ ⁿᵉˣᵗ ᵗᵒ ʰⁱᵐ‧ “ᵂᵃⁿᵗ ᵗᵉˡᵉᵛⁱˢⁱᵒⁿ?” “ᴵ ʷᵃⁿⁿᵃ ˢᵉᵉ ᴱᵘᵍᵉⁿᵉ…” “ʸᵒᵘ ʷᵃⁿᵗ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵗᵒ ᵛⁱˢⁱᵗ? ʸᵒᵘ ᵐᵘˢᵗ ᵇᵉ ᵗᵒ ᵈᵃᶻᵉᵈ ⁱᶠ ʸᵒᵘ ʷᵃⁿᵗ ʰⁱᵐ ᵗᵒ ᶜᵒᵐᵉ ʰᵉʳᵉ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵛⁱˢⁱᵗ ᵐᵒʳᵉ ᵗʰᵃⁿ ᵒⁿᶜᵉ ⁱⁿ ᵒⁿᵉ ᵈᵃʸ…” ᴱᵘᵍᵉⁿᵉ ᵃʳʳⁱᵛᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ˢᵉᵉ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʷᵃᵛᵉ ᵃᵗ ʰⁱᵐ ᶠʳᵒᵐ ʷʰᵉʳᵉ ʰᵉ ˢᵗⁱˡˡ ʷᵃˢ ᵉᵃʳˡⁱᵉʳ‧ “ᴵ ᶜᵃⁿⁿᵒᵗ ˢᵃʸ ᶠᵒʳ ᵗʰᵉ ᶠᵘᵗᵘʳᵉ ᵇᵘᵗ ᶠᵒʳ ⁿᵒʷ ⁱⁿ ᵐʸ ˢᵗᵃᵗᵉ ᴵ ʷᵃⁿᵗ ᵘˢ ᵗᵒ ˢᵉᵗ ᵃˢⁱᵈᵉ ᵒᵘʳ ᵈⁱᶠᶠᵉʳᵉⁿᶜᵉˢ ᵃˢⁱᵈᵉ‧” “ᔆᵘʳᵉ, ᔆʰᵉˡᵈᵒⁿ…”

Tʜᴇ Aᴄᴄɪᴅᴇɴᴛ (SᴘᴏɴɢᴇBᴏʙ ғᴀɴғɪᴄ) Mʀ. Kʀᴀʙs ᴍᴏʟᴅᴇᴅ ʜɪs sʜᴇʟʟ, ᴀɴᴅ ɪᴛ ɢʀᴇᴡ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴛᴏ ɴᴏʀᴍᴀʟ. Hᴏᴡᴇᴠᴇʀ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏʟᴅᴇᴅ sʜᴇʟʟ ʀᴇᴍᴀɪɴs ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴅɪsᴄᴏᴠᴇʀᴇᴅ ғᴀᴄᴇ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ʙʏ Pʟᴀɴᴋᴛᴏɴ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴏᴏ ʟᴀɢᴏᴏɴ ʙᴇᴀᴄʜ. "Kʀᴀʙs?" Pʟᴀɴᴋᴛᴏɴ sᴀᴡ ʜɪs ʟɪғᴇʟᴇss sʜᴇʟʟ ᴏᴜᴛʟɪɴᴇ ʙᴇ sᴡᴇᴘᴛ ᴀᴡᴀʏ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴄᴇᴀɴ ᴄᴜʀʀᴇɴᴛ, sʟᴀᴍᴍɪɴɢ ᴀɢᴀɪɴsᴛ ᴀ ʀᴏᴄᴋ ɪɴ ᴛᴏ ᴘɪᴇᴄᴇs. Oғ ᴄᴏᴜʀsᴇ, Pʟᴀɴᴋᴛᴏɴ's ɴᴏ ᴋɴᴏᴡʟᴇᴅɢᴇ ᴏғ ᴍᴏʟᴅɪɴɢ. "Eᴜɢᴇɴᴇ! Iғ I'ᴅ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ sᴏᴏɴᴇʀ, ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ..." ʏᴏᴜ sᴇᴇ Pʟᴀɴᴋᴛᴏɴ ᴜsᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ғʀɪᴇɴᴅs ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜɪᴍ ᴀs ᴀ sᴄʜᴏᴏʟʙᴏʏ ʙᴜᴛ ᴊᴇᴀʟᴏᴜs ᴇɴᴠʏ ʀᴜɪɴᴇᴅ ɪᴛ. Nᴏʀᴍᴀʟʟʏ, ᴀ sᴇᴛʙᴀᴄᴋ ғᴏʀ Kʀᴀʙs ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ Pʟᴀɴᴋᴛᴏɴ ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ, ɴᴏᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ ᴜsɪɴɢ ɪᴛ ᴛᴏ ʜɪs ᴀᴅᴠᴀɴᴛᴀɢᴇ. "I ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴏ ᴀs ʏᴏᴜ'ʀᴇ ɢᴏɴᴇ?" Pʟᴀɴᴋᴛᴏɴ ᴋɴᴇʟᴛ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ɪɴ ᴛᴇᴀʀs. "I ᴄᴀᴍᴇ ʜᴇʀᴇ ᴛᴏ ʜᴀᴠᴇ sᴏᴍᴇ sᴘᴀᴄᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ᴜᴘ ᴀ sᴄʜᴇᴍᴇ..." Mʀ. Kʀᴀʙs, ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ sɪɢʜᴛ, sᴀᴡ ʙɪᴛs ᴏғ ʜɪs sʜᴇʟʟ ᴡɪᴛʜ Pʟᴀɴᴋᴛᴏɴ ɪɴ ᴇᴀʀsʜᴏᴛ. "I ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴡᴇ'ᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴀᴛ ɪᴛ... I ᴊᴜsᴛ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴡɪsʜᴇᴅ sᴜᴄʜ ᴀ ᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴ!" Mʀ. Kʀᴀʙs ʟᴇғᴛ ᴄᴏɴғʟɪᴄᴛᴇᴅ. Rᴇᴛᴜʀɴɪɴɢ, Pʟᴀɴᴋᴛᴏɴ ᴛʀɪᴇᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ᴛᴏ ɢʟᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇsᴛᴀᴜʀᴀɴᴛ ᴀᴄʀᴏss ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏᴀᴅ. "Sʜᴇʟᴅᴏɴ, ʏᴏᴜ'ᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ɢᴏɴᴇ ғᴏʀ sᴜᴄʜ ᴀ ʟᴏɴɢ ᴛɪᴍᴇ..." Kᴀʀᴇɴ ɴᴏᴛɪᴄᴇᴅ Pʟᴀɴᴋᴛᴏɴ ʟᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢ sᴀᴅ. "ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀɴ ᴛᴀʟᴋ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇ ᴏɴᴄᴇ ʏᴏᴜ'ʀᴇ ʀᴇᴀᴅʏ..." "I ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴘʀᴏᴄᴇss sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴘᴇʀʜᴀᴘs ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ." Pʟᴀɴᴋᴛᴏɴ ᴡᴀs ᴜᴘ ᴀʟʟ ɴɪɢʜᴛ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴋɴᴏᴡʟᴇᴅɢᴇ ᴏғ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴏɴᴇ ᴛᴏ sᴇᴇ ᴛʜᴇ sʜᴇʟʟ ᴄʀᴀsʜ ᴀɢᴀɪɴsᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴏᴜʟᴅᴇʀ. "I'ᴍ ɢᴏɴɴᴀ ɢᴏ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴇᴀᴄʜ..." Pʟᴀɴᴋᴛᴏɴ ᴛᴏʟᴅ Kᴀʀᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴇxᴛ ᴍᴏʀɴɪɴɢ. "Pᴇʀʜᴀᴘs sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴏᴄᴄᴜʀʀᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ Kʀᴀʙs..." Kᴀʀᴇɴ ᴡᴇɴᴛ ᴛᴏ Mʀ. Kʀᴀʙs ᴛᴏ sᴇᴇ ɪғ ʜᴇ'ᴅ ᴋɴᴏᴡ... "I ᴍᴏʟᴅ ᴍᴇ sʜᴇʟʟ..." Mʀ. Kʀᴀʙs ᴇxᴘʟᴀɪɴᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ Kᴀʀᴇɴ ᴀs ʜᴇ ᴘʀᴏᴄᴇᴇᴅᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴇʟʟ ʜᴇʀ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʜᴇ ᴡɪᴛɴᴇssᴇᴅ. "Hᴇ ᴡᴇɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴇᴀᴄʜ..." "I'ʟʟ ɢᴏ sᴇᴇ ᴛᴏ ʜɪᴍ." Mʀ. Kʀᴀʙs sᴀɪᴅ. Kʀᴀʙs ᴀʀʀɪᴠᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ғɪɴᴅ Pʟᴀɴᴋᴛᴏɴ ᴘᴜᴛᴛɪɴɢ ғʟᴏᴡᴇʀs ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴄᴇᴀɴ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʀᴀsʜ ᴡᴇɴᴛ ᴅᴏᴡɴ. Lᴀʀʀʏ ᴛʜᴇ Lᴏʙsᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇɴ ᴀʀʀɪᴠᴇᴅ ʜɪs sʜɪғᴛ ᴀs ᴀ ʟɪғᴇɢᴜᴀʀᴅ. Wʜɪʟsᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴡᴏ ɢʀᴇᴇᴛᴇᴅ ᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ Pʟᴀɴᴋᴛᴏɴ ᴡᴀs ʜɪᴛ ʙʏ ᴀ ᴡᴀᴠᴇ, ʀᴇɴᴅᴇʀᴇᴅ ʜᴇʟᴘʟᴇss. Kʀᴀʙs sᴀᴡ ʜɪᴍ ɢᴇᴛ ᴛʀᴀᴘᴘᴇᴅ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴜʀʀᴇɴᴛ. "Sʜᴇʟᴅᴏɴ..." Aғᴛᴇʀ sᴇᴇɪɴɢ Mʀ. Kʀᴀʙs ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ ᴏᴜᴛ Lᴀʀʀʏ ᴅɪᴠᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀᴛᴇʀ sᴀᴠɪɴɢ Pʟᴀɴᴋᴛᴏɴ ғʀᴏᴍ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ʟᴏsᴛ ᴀᴛ sᴇᴀ. Hᴏᴡᴇᴠᴇʀ, Pʟᴀɴᴋᴛᴏɴ ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ᴡᴀᴋᴇ ᴜᴘ ғᴏʀ Lᴀʀʀʏ. "I'ᴠᴇ ᴅᴏɴᴇ ᴀʟʟ I ᴄᴀɴ..." Lᴀʀʀʏ sᴀɪᴅ. "I'ʟʟ ᴄᴀʟʟ Sᴀɴᴅʏ!" Mʀ. Kʀᴀʙs sᴀɪᴅ ᴋɴᴏᴡɪɴɢ sʜᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴋɴᴏᴡʟᴇᴅɢᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴘᴏssɪʙʟʏ ʜᴇʟᴘ. Sᴀɴᴅʏ ᴄᴀᴍᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴀʟʟᴇᴅ Kᴀʀᴇɴ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʏ. Kᴀʀᴇɴ sᴄᴀɴɴᴇᴅ ʜɪᴍ ғᴏʀ ᴀɴʏ ɪɴᴛᴇʀɴᴀʟ ᴅᴀᴍᴀɢᴇ ᴀs sᴀɴᴅʏ ᴛʀɪᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴠɪᴠᴇ ʜɪᴍ. "I ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ʜɪs ʟᴇɢ ʜɪᴛ ᴀɢᴀɪɴsᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏᴄᴋ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴇɴᴏᴜɢʜ ғᴏʀᴄᴇ ᴛᴏ ғʀᴀᴄᴛᴜʀᴇ... Gᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ ʙᴀɴᴅᴀɢᴇs, ᴛʜᴇʏ ʟᴇᴛ Kʀᴀʙs ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴀ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛ ᴀʟᴏɴᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜɪᴍ ᴊᴜsᴛ ɪɴ ᴄᴀsᴇ... Aғᴛᴇʀ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴄᴏʟᴅ, Pʟᴀɴᴋᴛᴏɴ ᴡᴀs sʜᴏᴡɪɴɢ sɪɢɴs ᴏғ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴠᴇʀʏ. ғᴇᴇʟɪɴɢ ʙᴏᴍʙᴀʀᴅᴇᴅ, ʜᴇ ᴛʀɪᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴏᴠᴇ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴘᴀɪɴ ᴏᴠᴇʀᴡʜᴇʟᴍᴇᴅ ʜɪᴍ. "Eʜ... " "Rᴇᴀᴅʏ ᴛᴏ ɢᴏ ʜᴏᴍᴇ?" Kᴀʀᴇɴ ᴛᴏᴏᴋ ʜɪᴍ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴜᴍ ʙᴜᴄᴋᴇᴛ. Kᴀʀᴇɴ ʜᴇʟᴘᴇᴅ sᴛɪʟʟ ᴅɪsᴄᴏɴᴄᴇʀᴛᴇᴅ Pʟᴀɴᴋᴛᴏɴ ɪɴ ᴛᴏ sᴇᴀᴛ. "Kʀᴀʙs ᴍᴏʟᴅᴇᴅ ʜɪs sʜᴇʟʟ; ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴍᴜsᴛ ʜᴀᴠᴇ sᴇᴇɴ ᴡᴀs ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʜᴇ sʜᴇᴅ..." Kᴀʀᴇɴ ᴇxᴘʟᴀɪɴᴇᴅ, ʟᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ Sᴘᴏᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴇᴛ ᴀᴍᴏᴇʙᴀ ᴘᴜᴘᴘʏ sᴛᴀʏ ʙʏ ʜɪᴍ. "Is ʜᴇ ғᴇᴇʟɪɴɢ ᴀɴʏ ʙᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ?" Asᴋᴇᴅ Kʀᴀʙs ᴠɪsɪᴛɪɴɢ ʜɪᴍ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ ᴀғᴛᴇʀɴᴏᴏɴ. Pʟᴀɴᴋᴛᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ Sᴘᴏᴛ ᴡᴇʀᴇ sᴛɪʟʟ ʀɪɢʜᴛ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴇʀᴇ, ɢᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ ʀᴇsᴛ. "Sᴏᴜɴᴅs ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴍᴜsᴛ'ᴠᴇ ᴅᴏᴢᴇᴅ..." Kᴀʀᴇɴ ᴏʙsᴇʀᴠᴇᴅ ʜᴇᴀʀɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏ̨ᴜɪᴇᴛ sᴛᴇʀᴛᴏʀs ᴏғ ʜᴇʀ ʜᴜsʙᴀɴᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴍᴏᴇʙᴀ ᴘᴜᴘᴘʏ. Mʀ. Kʀᴀʙs sᴀᴡ Pʟᴀɴᴋᴛᴏɴ's ᴀʀᴍ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ Sᴘᴏᴛ, ʟᴇɢ ᴇʟᴇᴠᴀᴛᴇᴅ. "I'ᴠᴇ ʙʀᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ᴀ ɢɪғᴛ ғᴏʀ Pʟᴀɴᴋᴛᴏɴ..." Kᴀʀᴇɴ ᴡᴀs ʜᴀɴᴅᴇᴅ ᴀ Kʀᴀʙʙʏ Pᴀᴛᴛʏ. "Iᴛ's ғᴏʀ Pʟᴀɴᴋᴛᴏɴ ᴛᴏ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏ, sᴀᴠᴇ ɪᴛ ғᴏʀ ʜɪᴍ..." Mʀ. Kʀᴀʙs ᴡᴀs ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ᴛᴏ ʟᴇᴀᴠᴇ ʜɪᴍ ᴡɪᴛʜ ɪᴛ.

EACH WISDOM ⅓ "Karen, we finished up your husband Plankton's wisdom teeth extraction. It went perfectly and he's doing well. He's not awake yet, but you can come in to see him now." Karen nods. She follows the nurse, a kind-faced woman named Becky. Becky smiles at Karen. "He'll be a bit groggy at first. Just talk to him calmly. He's still asleep." Karen steps into the recovery room. Plankton lies on a bed, his mouth slightly ajar. Karen approaches his bedside and takes his hand. She looks at Becky, who nods reassuringly. "He did great. After he wakes up, his mouth will still numb from the surgery. And he might act loopy from the lingering anesthesia. You can just talk to him calmly Karen." Becky says. The door opens, and the young dentist, Dr. Marlin, enters. He checks the monitors and nods to Karen. "Everything is normal," he says in a calm voice. "He should wake soon, but if you want to talk to him, that's fine. Sometimes hearing a familiar voice can help." Karen squeezes Plankton's hand and whispers, "You're ok, sweetie. It's all done now. You're going to be ok, Plankton. You're going to be ok." Yet Plankton's chest rises and falls gently, a soft snore escaping his mouth every few seconds. A droplet of saliva forms at the corner of Plankton's mouth, then slowly travels down his chin. Karen reaches over with a soft tissue and gently wipes it away. Her eyes are filled with affection, yet a hint of amusement flits across her screen. Plankton had been so nervous about the surgery, now he's snoring peacefully while she's the one worrying. Another droplet forms at the corner of his mouth. Karen reaches for the tissue once more, dabbing it away as gently as she would a tear. The action is almost maternal, and she can't help but feel a warmth spread through her chest. This tiny creature, her husband, so brave in his own way, even when unconscious. Dr. Marlin looks up from his clipboard, a slight smile playing on his lips. "He's really out, huh?" He says. "It's completely normal after wisdom tooth surgery." Karen nods, the smile lingering. "Never has been a heavy sleeper," she murmurs, squeezing Plankton's hand. The room remains hushed, the only sound the rhythmic hum of the heart monitor and the occasional snore. The drool starts to form a tiny puddle on the pillow. The nurse, Becky, glances up from her paperwork. "We can turn him onto his side if it bothering you," she suggests, sympathy in her voice. But Karen shakes her head, smiling softly. "It's okay," she whispers. "It's kind of...cute." Her screen never left Plankton's face, love unmistakable. The snores grow a little louder, and Dr. Marlin chuckles quietly. "It's the anesthesia," he explains. "It'll wear off soon." He checks his watch and makes a note. Karen continues to watch Plankton, the drool now forming a small river on the pillow. Her smile widens as she remembers their first date, his nervousness, his awkwardness, his endearing way of trying to impress her. And here he is, still making her laugh, even in his most vulnerable state. The nurse, Becky, finishes her notes and stands. She crosses the room, adjusting the IV tube. "If you want to talk to him, it's fine," she says. "Sometimes they can hear you even if they're asleep." Karen leans in closer. "You know what, Plankton?" She says, her eyes dancing with mirth. "I'm going to tell everyone how you snored through your wisdom teeth removal. It'll be our little secret." She giggles quietly. The snoring crescendos, and Plankton's head rolls to the side. The drool now forms a puddle, spilling onto the clean white linen. Karen's smile falters for a second, but she quickly recovers, using the tissue to absorb the moisture. The nurse, Becky, watches with a knowing look. "It's alright, dear," she says gently. "It's normal. It's just his body's way of dealing with the anesthesia as it wears off." Dr. Marlin returns with a roll of gauze. "Let's get him more upright," he says. They carefully elevate the back of Plankton's bed. The snoring subsides a bit, but doesn't disappear entirely. "This will help with any excess bleeding," the dentist says. Plankton's body tenses, but he doesn't wake as gauze is placed with precision, each pad strategically positioned to absorb the blood and encourage clotting. Karen watches, a mix of fascination and concern etched on her screen. "It's ok," she whispers, more to herself than to him. "Almost done." The gauze is in place, and Becky smiles. The snoring quiets to a gentle purr. Plankton's eye begins to flicker under his eyelid, a sign that consciousness is slowly seeping back into him. Karen sits up straight as she anticipates his awakening. She holds his hand tighter, eager to see his reaction to the successful surgery. Dr. Marlin nods at her, his eyes saying it's time to prepare. Plankton's eyelid flutters, and his snoring turns into a quiet moan. He starts to stir, his eye opening just a crack. The room seems to spin around him, but his gaze finally settles on Karen's. Her voice is the first thing he hears through the fog. "Hey, sleepyhead," she says, her tone filled with relief and affection. Plankton tries to speak, "Mmph?" He tries to sit up, but the world spins faster. Karen gently pushes him back down, her hand on his shoulder. "Take it easy, honey," she says. "Your mouth's numb. You just had your wisdom teeth out." Plankton's eye widens. "Wha..." he mumbles, thick and slurred. Karen giggles, the tension in the room dissipating as she sees his groggy state. "Your mouth is all numb," she explains, her voice soothing. "You had your wisdom teeth out, remember?" Plankton nods slowly, his eye still glazed over. He tries to speak again. "Ish ok?" Karen laughs lightly. "Yes, it's ok. You did great," she reassures. The nurse, Becky, chuckles at his slurred speech. "It's the medicine," she explains. "It'll wear off soon." "Karen, dish you thee the... the... big wight?" Plankton's voice is childlike. Karen's smile widens, and she nods. "Yes, I saw the light. It was beautiful, wasn't it?" she teases. Plankton looks confused. "Big... white... thing... wook... took... my teef!" He giggles. Becky and Dr. Marlin exchange amused glances. "Those were the surgical lights, Plankton," Dr. Marlin says. "Not heavenly beings." Plankton giggles again, his hands reaching up to feel his swollen jaw. "Ith... ith... sho fat!" He says, his speech slurred and slow. Karen can't help but laugh, the sound echoing in the sterile room. "Yeah, your mouth's pretty puffy," she says, her screen shining with amusement. "But it's okay, the swelling will go down soon." She squeezes his hand. Plankton tries to move his jaw, wincing at the pressure. "Can I... can I hash ish cweam?" Becky laughs and nods. "Once the bleeding stops, you can have all the ice cream you want." "Goog, 'cause I wanna eat ith all," he mumbles, his eye half-closed. "What fwavor?" Karen raises an eyebrow, her smile growing. "How about mint chocolate chip?" She suggests. Plankton nods eagerly. "Mith mint chocothate chip! Yesh!" "And remember, no straws," Dr. Marlin adds with a smile. "Sucking can dislodge the blood clots and delay healing." Plankton nods, his tongue playing with his numb cheek. "Ish okay," he slurs. "I don't wanna make ith wowse." Karen nods solemnly, suppressing a laugh. The nurse, Becky, brings over a wheelchair. "Here, let's get you to your car," she says, helping him into a slightly elevated position. Plankton's eye widens. "Weh... weh... weh... we're going foe ice cweam, wight?" his voice lilts with a childish innocence that's both endearing and comical. Karen nods, smothering a giggle. "First, we go home," she says firmly, but her voice is filled with affection. "Then, when the bleeding stops, we can have all the ice cream you want." Becky wheels him out. "Look, Karen! Ith a... a... a... bithy pithter!" he exclaims, pointing to a painting on the wall. Karen follows his gaze and sees a serene seascape, but she plays along, nodding and smiling. "Very pretty," she agrees. "Bithy, no?" he asks, grinning. The nurse laughs. "Very pretty," she repeats. They arrive at the elevator, and Plankton's eye widens as it opens with a soft ding. "Ish... an... elevathor!" his voice filled with wonder. Karen rolls her eyes, but her heart swells. He was always so reserved, but not now. They settle into the elevator, and Plankton's eye glue to the descending numbers. "Wook, Karen!" He points. "We're going down, down, down!" The doors open with a gentle whoosh, and Plankton clumsily claps his hands. "Wow!" He exclaims, looking around the lobby. Karen can't help but watch her usually stoic husband act like a toddler on a sugar rush. They make their way to the parking lot, Becky pushing the wheelchair. "Wheeee!" Plankton says, his voice squeaking. Karen laughs, her eyes sparkling with joy. Despite the circumstances, it's a refreshing change to see his usual seriousness replaced with such childlike wonder. They reach the car, and Becky helpfully opens the door. Plankton tries to climb out of the wheelchair, but his legs seem to have forgotten how to work. Karen helps him, her laughs mixing with his giggles. "Easy there, Plank..." "Ish okay," he says, interrupting her. "I got thish." Plankton tries to stand, but his legs wobble. Karen steadies him, her own laughter bubbling up as she watches his determined expression. "Let me help," she offers, taking his arm. He nods, leaning heavily on her as they make their way to the car. "Tank youw," he slurs. "Ish wike... wike... wike I'm talkin' wiff my mouf fowl of... fowl of marshmallows!"

EACH WISDOM ⅔ The cool evening air hits Plankton, and his eye widens with delight. "Look, Karen!" He points to a tree. "Itsh got weaves!" The leaves rustle gently in the breeze, and Plankton watches with the fascination of a child. Karen laughs, the tension of the day melting away as she helps him into the passenger seat. "Ish a... a... a bwue caw!" He giggles. Starting the engine, Karen glances at her still-woozy husband, his cheeks bulging like a chipmunk with gauze. "Ready to go?" She asks. Plankton nods, his eye still on the tree. "Weee!" He says as they pull out of the parking lot. "Mooo!" He exclaims. "What?" Karen asks, smiling. Plankton points out the window. "Itsh a caw," he insists, his voice slurred. "Are you buckled in Plankton?" She says. He nods. The car rolls on, Plankton's head lolling as he tries to take in the world around him. "Wook, Karen! Itsh a... a... a... b...b...big...bwue...b...b...ball!" He squeals, pointing at the sky. Karen laughs. His hand reaches out to touch it, smacking against the car window. "It's okay, it won't come in the car." He giggles, satisfied with her explanation. "The wightsh awe twinkling!" He says, his voice filled with amazement. They drive past a playground, and his gaze lingers on the swings. "Can we stob?" he asks, his words still thick. Karen laughs. "Not now, honey." "But I wanna go widing on the sheeping sheep!" His voice is plaintive, like a child denied a favorite toy. She shakes her head. "Your mouth needs to rest," she says. He pouts, his bottom lip sticking out. "But I can't feel it," he whines, his speech still slurred. "It's okay," she soothes, her voice calm and loving. "We'll go to the park another day." As they pull into their driveway, Plankton's eye light up again. "Home!" he exclaims. Karen helps him out of the car, his legs still unsteady, when they see Mr. Krabs, Plankton's rival. But he waves. "Hi, Mr. Kwabby!" Karen stifles a laugh. "Hi, Mr. Krabs," she says politely. "Plankton's had his wisdom teeth out." Mr. Krabs looks surprised, then chuckles. "Looks like he's lost his marbles too," he jokes. Plankton frowns, then smiles. "Marbulls?" He tries to laugh. "I wike marbulls! Can Krabs play wif me?" He giggles. So Mr. Krabs follows them inside. Karen helps Plankton into the house, his arms wrapped around her like a child seeking comfort. "Wook, Karen!" He says, pointing at their couch. "It'sh our shofa! So shofy!" Krabs sits beside him while Karen gets Plankton comfortable. "Now, just rest," she says, placing a pillow under his head. "You need to take it easy." Plankton nods, his eye already half-closed. "But I'm not tidewed, I'm all woke up!" He protests, his voice still high and slurred. Mr. Krabs chuckles. "It's the drugs, Plankton. They make you feel weird." "Weirdish?" Plankton repeats, his eye opening wider. "Yeah, weirdish," Krabs confirms. "Karen, ish thish wove?" He asks. Karen chuckles to herself, shaking her head. "It's a pillow, honey," she calls out. "Ish a wove!" Plankton declares, his voice filled with excitement. "It's so...so...so flaffy!" His hand waves in the air, trying to grasp the concept. Mr. Krabs laughs, snapping a selfie of them. "Look, I got you a surprise," Karen says, bringing in a bowl of ice cream. Plankton's eye lights up. "But remember, no straws," she warns, handing him a spoon. He takes it eagerly, his eyes never leaving the frozen treat as she removes his gauze. Mr. Krabs watches with amusement as Plankton's face contorts in an attempt to scoop out a bite. The first taste hits his numb tongue, and he makes a sound between a moan and a squeal. "It'sh sho cold!" He laughs, the sound high and unexpected from his throat. Karen and Krabs exchange a knowing glance. "Careful, Plankton," she says, a mix of laughter and concern in her voice. Plankton takes another bite, his face a mask of pure bliss. He turns to Mr. Krabs, his speech still slurred. "Tank youw for wooking after me, Mr. Kwabby," he says, his voice thick with affection. Mr. Krabs is taken aback by the sudden warmth, not used to such kindness from his rival. He clears his throat, unsure of how to respond. "You're welcome, Plankton," Krabs says awkwardly. Plankton reaches over and pats Krabs on the arm. "Ish... ish... ish wike youw my... my... my besht fwiend!" He giggles, his speech barely coherent. Karen watches the exchange with wonder. "You guys okay over there?" she asks, smiling. Plankton nods vigorously, his spoonful of ice cream threatening to topple. "Wesh fine! Besht fwends!" Mr. Krabs coughs, looking a bit uncomfortable. "Well, I should...uh... get go..." But Plankton, in his loopy state, isn't ready to let go. "No, no, Mr. Kwabby!" He grabs Krabs' arm. "Youw gotta shay! We're besht fwiends!" Mr. Krabs is torn between laughing and being touched by Plankton's sudden affection. He's never seen the tiny creature like this before, and it's a side of him he never knew existed. "Okay, okay," he says, patting Plankton on the shoulder. "I'll stay for a little bit." "Tank you, Mr. Kwabby," he slurs, his voice filled with genuine gratitude. "You're a gwed one." Karen watches, her heart swelling with love. And Mr. Krabs, despite his usual gruff demeanor, can't help but feel a warmth spread through him as Plankton snuggles closer, his head lolling onto him. "You know," Plankton says, his voice drowsy and slurred, "Ish always wanted to be wike you, Mr. Kwabby. Big and stwong." Mr. Krabs looks surprised, then his expression softens. "Is that right?" He snaps another selfie. Plankton's eye droops heavily. "Ish...so...tiwed..." he mumbles. Karen chuckles, watching her husband's antics, his head falling onto Mr. Krabs' shoulder. Krabs, not expecting the sudden weight, jolts a bit. "Plankton?" But Plankton's snores are the only response. His mouth is still open, a small trickle of drool escaping onto Mr. Krabs' shirt. Karen laughs, shaking her head. "Looks like he's out," she says. Mr. Krabs looks at her, a hint of surprise in his eye. "Well, I guess I should...uh...go?" But Karen just smiles, taking the bowl of ice cream from Plankton's limp hand. "You can stay if you want. He'll be out for a bit." The room is quiet except for the occasional snore. Plankton's body relaxes into Krabs' side, his breathing deep and even. Karen watches them, her mind racing with thoughts. The sight of her usually scheming husband, now a babbling, sleeping mess, is both comforting and bizarre. Mr. Krabs snaps the third selfie. "I guess I should go," Mr. Krabs says, his voice slightly awkward. "But it's good to see him like this." Karen nods, her smile tender. "He's always so... so... Plankton," she says, searching for the right words. "But this is... refreshing." Mr. Krabs looks at her, his own smile growing. "I know what you mean," he says. "He's usually got his head in his schemes." Karen nods again. "But now he's just... loopy." She giggles. Plankton's snores grow louder, his body going slack against Krabs. "Looks like he's really out for the count," Krabs says, his voice a mix of amusement and concern. "Do you need any help getting him to bed?" Karen smiles, the corners of her eyes crinkling with affection. "No, I got it. But thank you for offering." She gently lifts Plankton's head, moving it to a more comfortable angle on the pillow. His snores don't even falter. Mr. Krabs nods, standing up. "Okay, well, if you need anything, just call." He starts to leave, his eyes lingering on the unusual sight of Plankton, his usual adversary, so vulnerable. "Thanks, Mr. Krabs," Karen says sincerely. "It really means a lot." He pauses at the door, turning back. "Karen... about what he said... about wanting to be big and strong like me. I know we've had our...differences, but Plankton's got his own strengths. He's... he's pretty clever, you know?" Karen nods. "I know, Mr. Krabs. He's got a heart of gold, even if it's wrapped in a bit of... mischief." Mr. Krabs chuckles. "That he does." They stand in companionable silence for a moment before Mr. Krabs clears his throat. "Well, I'd better get going." Karen nods, her eyes never leaving Plankton's peaceful face. "Thank you again for everything." Mr. Krabs nods, a hint of a smile on his own face. "No problem, Karen. Take care of him." With that, he leaves, closing the door gently behind him. Karen looks down at Plankton, his chest rising and falling with each deep breath. The sight of him, so defenseless, makes her feel a mix of concern and warmth. As Krabs goes to his own house, he can't shake the image of Plankton, so trusting, so innocent in his anesthesia-induced stupor. It's not often he sees this side of him, and it's strange to realize that even his worst enemy can be... cute. Krabs shakes his head, trying to push the thought away. He's got a Krabby Patty empire to run, after all, no time for sentimentality, right? Krabs can't help but feel a twinge of something...soft. He sighs, his claws tapping on the countertop. The sight of the empty cash register brings him back to reality. Plankton might be vulnerable now, but come morning, he'll be as usual. But will Plankton even recall the day's events? He absentmindedly charges his phone before going into his own bedroom. He doesn't know his teenage daughter, Pearl, finds the three selfies on his phone..

ᵂᵒʳˢᵗ ᴱⁿᵉᵐʸ 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕: 𝟗𝟑𝟎 ⁽ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ᶠᵃⁿᶠⁱᶜ⁾ .ೃ࿐ 𝚃𝚠: 𝙱𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚍 ᔆᑫᵘⁱᵈʷᵃʳᵈ ᵃⁿᵈ ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ʷᵉʳᵉ ᵒᵘᵗ ᵒⁿ ᵉᵐᵖˡᵒʸᵉᵉ ʳᵉᵗʳᵉᵃᵗ; ᵃ ᵖᵉʳᶠᵉᶜᵗ ᵗⁱᵐᵉ ᶠᵒʳ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵗᵒ ˢᵗʳⁱᵏᵉ‧ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵃᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ᵏʳᵘˢᵗʸ ᵏʳᵃᵇ ᵇʸ ʰⁱᵐˢᵉˡᶠ‧ "ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ⸴ ᴵ ⁿᵉᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵗᵃˡᵏ ᵗᵒ ʸᵒᵘ!" ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᶜᵃˡˡᵉᵈ ᵒᵘᵗ‧ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᶜᵃᵐᵉ ᵗᵒ ˢᵉᵉ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᶜᵒᵐᵉ ⁱⁿ ʰⁱˢ ᵒᶠᶠⁱᶜᵉ‧ "ᴵ'ᵐ ᵒⁿˡʸ ᵗᵉˡˡⁱⁿᵍ ʸᵒᵘ ᵇᵉᶠᵒʳᵉ ᴵ ˢᵗᵉᵃˡ ᵗʰᵉ ⁱⁿᵍʳᵉᵈⁱᵉⁿᵗˢ; ʷᵉ ⁿᵉᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᶜʰᵃⁿᵍᵉ ᵘᵖ ᵗʰᵉ ʳᵘˡᵉˢ‧ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ʲᵘˢᵗ ˢᶜᵃⁿⁿᵉᵈ ᵐᵉ ᶠᵒʳ ⁱⁿᵗᵉʳⁿᵃˡ ᵈᵃᵐᵃᵍᵉ ᵃⁿᵈ ᴵ'ᵛᵉ ʷᵉᵃᵏⁿᵉˢˢ ᵗʰᵉ ʰᵉᵃᵈ ˢᵒ ʸᵒᵘ ᶜᵃⁿ ᵈᵒ ʷʰᵃᵗᵉᵛᵉʳ ᵗᵒ ˢᵗᵒᵖ ᵐᵉ ᵉˣᶜᵉᵖᵗ ᶠᵒʳ‧‧‧" "ʸᵒᵘ ᵃᶜᵗᵘᵃˡˡʸ ᵗʰⁱⁿᵏ ᴵ'ˡˡ ᵇᵉˡⁱᵉᵛᵉ? ʸᵒᵘ ʲᵘˢᵗ ʷᵃⁿⁿᵃ ᵍᵉᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ⁱⁿᵍʳᵉᵈⁱᵉⁿᵗˢ; ᴵ ᵏⁿᵒʷ ʸᵒᵘ ᵘˢᵉᵈ ˢʸᵐᵖᵃᵗʰʸ ᵇᵉᶠᵒʳᵉ ⁱⁿ ʸᵒᵘʳ ᵖˡᵃⁿˢ!" ᴹʳ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ˢᵃʷ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ˢᵗᵃʳᵗ ᵗᵒ ᶜʳʸ‧ "ᴾˡᵉᵃˢᵉ!" "ʸᵒᵘ ᶜʰⁱᶜᵏᵉⁿ‧‧‧" ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵏⁱᶜᵏᵉᵈ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᵃˡˡ ʰⁱˢ ᵐⁱᵍʰᵗ ᶠᵒʳ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵗᵒ ᶠˡʸ ᵇᵃᶜᵏ ᵃⁿᵈ ʰⁱᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ʷᵃˡˡ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᵃ ᵗʰᵘᵈ‧ "ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ⸴ ʸᵒᵘ ᵃᶜᵗᵘᵃˡˡʸ ᵗʰⁱⁿᵏ‧‧‧" ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ʷᵃˢ ᵍᵒⁱⁿᵍ ᵗᵒ ʰⁱᵐ ʷʰᵉⁿ ʰᵉ ˢᵘᵈᵈᵉⁿˡʸ ˢᵗᵒᵖᵖᵉᵈ ⁱⁿ ʰⁱˢ ᵗʳᵃᶜᵏˢ; ⁿᵒᵗ ᵒⁿˡʸ ᵈⁱᵈ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵐᵒᵛᵉ⸴ ᵇᵘᵗ ᵃˡˢᵒ ᵇˡᵉᵈ ᵒᵘᵗ ᵒᶠ ʰⁱˢ ᵐᵒᵘᵗʰ ᵗᵒ‧ "ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ?" ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵏⁿᵉˡᵗ ᶜˡᵒˢᵉʳ‧ "ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ!" ᴴᵉ ᵇᵉⁿᵗ ᵈᵒʷⁿ⸴ ʳᵉᵃˡⁱˢⁱⁿᵍ ᵗᵒ ˡᵃᵗᵉ ʷʰᵃᵗ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ˢᵃⁱᵈ ʷᵃˢ ᵗʰᵉ ᵗʳᵘᵗʰ‧ "ᴼʰ‧‧‧" ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ˢᵒᵇᵇᵉᵈ‧ "ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ‧‧‧" ᔆᵗⁱˡˡ ᶜʳʸⁱⁿᵍ⸴ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ˡᵉᵃⁿᵉᵈ ᶜˡᵒˢᵉʳ ᵗᵒ ʰᵉᵃʳ ˢʰᵃˡˡᵒʷ ᵇʳᵉᵃᵗʰⁱⁿᵍ‧ ᴴᵉ ᵍᵒᵗ ᵘᵖ ᵈᵉˢᵖᵉʳᵃᵗᵉ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵍʳᵃᵇᵇᵉᵈ ᵃ ᵖᵃᵗᵗʸ⸴ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵗᵃᵘⁿᵗⁱⁿᵍ ᵇᵘᵗ ʰᵒᵖⁱⁿᵍ ʰᵉ'ᵈ ᵃʷᵃᵏᵉⁿ‧ "ᶜᵃⁿ ᵃ ᵏʳᵃᵇᵇʸ ᵖᵃᵗᵗʸ ˢᶜᵉⁿᵗ ᵒᶠ ˢᵐᵉˡˡ ʷᵃᵏᵉ ʸᵒᵘ ᵘᵖ?" ᴺᵒ ⁱⁿᵈⁱᶜᵃᵗⁱᵒⁿ ᶠʳᵒᵐ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʷʰᵃᵗˢᵒᵉᵛᵉʳ‧ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ˡᵒᵒᵏᵉᵈ ᵘᵖ ᵗʰᵉ ᶜʰᵘᵐ ᵇᵘᶜᵏᵉᵗ ᵖʰᵒⁿᵉ ⁿᵘᵐᵇᵉʳ ᵃⁿᵈ ᶜᵃˡˡᵉᵈ‧ "ᴴᵉˡˡᵒ‧‧‧" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵃⁿˢʷᵉʳᵉᵈ‧ "ʸᵒᵘʳ ʰᵉˡᵖ ⁱˢ ⁿᵉᵉᵈᵉᵈ‧" "ᴰⁱᵈ ᵐʸ ʰᵘˢᵇᵃⁿᵈ ᵗᵉˡˡ ʸᵒᵘ ᵃᵇᵒᵘᵗ ʰⁱˢ ʳⁱˢᵏ ᵇʳᵃⁱⁿ ᵈᵃᵐᵃᵍᵉ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵃˢᵗʰᵐᵃ?" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵃˢᵏᵉᵈ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵃᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ᶜʰᵘᵐ ᵇᵘᶜᵏᵉᵗ‧ "ᴴᵉ ᵈⁱᵈⁿ'ᵗ ᵍᵉᵗ ᵗᵒ ᵗᵉˡˡ ᵐᵉ ᵃᵇᵒᵘᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ᵃˢᵗʰᵐᵃ⸴ ᵃˢ ᴵ ʰᵘʳᵗ ʰⁱᵐ ᵒⁿᶜᵉ ʰᵉ ᵗᵒˡᵈ ᵐᵉ ᵃᵇᵒᵘᵗ ʰⁱˢ ʰᵉᵃᵈ‧‧‧" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵒⁿˡʸ ⁿᵒᵈᵈᵉᵈ ʳᵉˢᵖᵒⁿˢᵉ‧ "ᴵ'ᵐ ˢᵒ ˢᵒʳʳʸ; ᴵ'ᵈ ᵈᵒ ᵃⁿʸᵗʰⁱⁿᵍ ᵗᵒ ᵘⁿᵈᵒ ʷʰᵃᵗ ʲᵘˢᵗ‧‧‧" "ʸᵒᵘ ᵈⁱᵈⁿ'ᵗ ᵏⁿᵒʷ⸴ ᵃⁿᵈ ʰᵉ ᶜᵃⁿ ᵇᵉ ᶜᵒⁿⁿⁱᵛⁱⁿᵍ‧" ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ʳᵉᵐᵉᵐᵇᵉʳᵉᵈ ᵗʰᵉ ˡᵒᵒᵏ ⁱⁿ ʰⁱˢ ᵉʸᵉ⸴ ᵖˡᵉᵃᵈⁱⁿᵍ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵇᵉᵍᵍⁱⁿᵍ ʰⁱˢ ʷᵒʳˢᵗ ᵉⁿᵉᵐʸ ᵗᵒ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ˢᵒᵐᵉ ᵉᵐᵖᵃᵗʰʸ‧ "ᴴᵉ ᵈⁱᵈⁿ'ᵗ ᵉᵛᵉⁿ ˢⁿᵉᵃᵏ ⁱⁿ⸴ ᵇᵘᵗ ʰᵉ ʲᵘˢᵗ ᵃⁿⁿᵒᵘⁿᶜᵉᵈ‧‧‧" ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵇᵃʷˡᵉᵈ‧ "ᴴᵉ ᵃˢᵏᵉᵈ⸴ ᵃⁿᵈ ᴵ ᶜᵃˡˡᵉᵈ ʰⁱᵐ ᵃ ᶜʰⁱᶜᵏᵉⁿ ʳⁱᵍʰᵗ‧‧‧" "ʸᵒᵘ ᵏⁿᵒʷ⸴ ʰᵉ ᵗᵒˡᵈ ᵐᵉ ʳⁱᵍʰᵗ ᵇᵉᶠᵒʳᵉ ˡᵉᵃᵛⁱⁿᵍ ᵗᵒ ʸᵒᵘʳ ʳᵉˢᵗᵃᵘʳᵃⁿᵗ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵗᵒ ʷᵒʳʳʸ‧ ᴺᵒʷ⸴ ˡᵒᵒᵏ!" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ'ˢ ᵛᵒⁱᶜᵉ ʷᵃᵛᵉʳᵉᵈ ᵃˢ ˢʰᵉ ˢᶜᵃⁿⁿᵉᵈ ʰⁱᵐ‧ "ᵂʰᵃᵗ'ˢ ˢᶜᵃⁿ ˢᵃʸ⸴ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ?" ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵃˢᵏᵉᵈ‧ "ᶜᵒᵐᵃ‧‧‧" ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵃⁿᵈ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ˢᵗᵒᵒᵈ ⁱⁿ ᵘᵗᵗᵉʳ ˢʰᵒᶜᵏᵉᵈ ˢⁱˡᵉⁿᶜᵉ ᵒⁿᶜᵉ ᵗʰᵉ ˢᶜᵃⁿˢ ⁱⁿᵈⁱᶜᵃᵗᵉᵈ ᶜᵒᵐᵃ‧ "ᴴⁱˢ ᵇʳᵉᵃᵗʰˢ ᵍᵉᵗᵗⁱⁿᵍ ʷᵉᵃᵏᵉʳ‧‧‧" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ʷᵉⁿᵗ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵍᵒᵗ ˢᵒᵐᵉ ᵉᑫᵘⁱᵖᵐᵉⁿᵗ ᵗᵒ ʰᵉˡᵖ ʰⁱᵐ ᵇʳᵉᵃᵗʰᵉ‧ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵗʰᵒᵘᵍʰᵗ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ˡᵒᵒᵏ ⁱⁿ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ'ˢ ᵉʸᵉ ʳⁱᵍʰᵗ ᵇᵉᶠᵒʳᵉ ᵗʰᵉ ᵘⁿᶜᵒⁿˢᶜⁱᵒᵘˢⁿᵉˢˢ‧ ᴴᵉ ᵗʰᵒᵘᵍʰᵗ ᵒᶠ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ˢʰᵘᵗ ᵒᶠᶠ ᶠʳᵒᵐ ᵗʰᵉ ʷᵒʳˡᵈ‧ ᴴᵉ ᵗʰᵒᵘᵍʰᵗ ᵒᶠ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʷʰᵉⁿ ᵗʰᵉʸ ʷᵉʳᵉ ʸᵒᵘⁿᵍ ᵃˢ ᶠʳⁱᵉⁿᵈˢ ᵇᵉᶠᵒʳᵉ ᵗʰᵉ ᶠᵒᵒᵈ ᵇᵘˢⁱⁿᵉˢˢ ˢᵖˡⁱᵗ ᵗʰᵉⁱʳ ᶠʳⁱᵉⁿᵈˢʰⁱᵖ‧ "ᴬˢˢᵘᵐⁱⁿᵍ ʰᵉ'ᵈ ʷᵃᵏᵉ ᵘᵖ⸴ ᵈᵒ ʸᵒᵘ ᵗʰⁱⁿᵏ ʰᵉ'ˡˡ ʳᵉᵐᵉᵐᵇᵉʳ‧‧‧" "ᴵ ᵈᵒ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵏⁿᵒʷ‧‧‧" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵃᵈᵐⁱᵗᵗᵉᵈ‧ ᵀʰᵉ ⁿᵉˣᵗ ᵈᵃʸ⸴ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵗᵒˡᵈ ʰⁱˢ ᵇᵒᵗʰ ᵉᵐᵖˡᵒʸᵉᵉˢ ᵗʰᵉ ᴷʳᵘˢᵗʸ ᴷʳᵃᵇ'ˢ ᶜˡᵒˢᵉᵈ ᵘⁿᵗⁱˡ ᶠᵘʳᵗʰᵉʳ ⁿᵒᵗⁱᶜᵉ‧ ᴴᵉ ᵗʰᵉⁿ ʷᵉⁿᵗ ᵗᵒ ᵗʰᵉ ᶜʰᵘᵐ ᵇᵘᶜᵏᵉᵗ⸴ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ˢᵗⁱˡˡ ⁿᵒ ᵇᵉᵗᵗᵉʳ ᵗʰᵃⁿ ʰᵉ ˡᵃˢᵗ ˢᵃʷ ʰⁱᵐ‧ "ᴵ ᵏⁿᵒʷ ʸᵒᵘ ᵐⁱᵍʰᵗ ⁿᵒᵗ ʰᵉᵃʳ ᵐᵉ⸴ ᵃⁿᵈ ᴵ ʷⁱˡˡ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵇˡᵃᵐᵉ ʸᵒᵘ ⁱᶠ ʸᵒᵘ'ᵈ ᶠᵉᵉˡ ᵘᵖˢᵉᵗ‧‧‧" ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵃⁿˣⁱᵒᵘˢˡʸ ᵗᵃˡᵏᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʷʰᵒ'ˢ ˢᵗⁱˡˡ ᵘⁿᵃʷᵃʳᵉ‧ "ᴵ ᵐⁱˢˢ ʷʰᵉⁿ ʷᵉ'ʳᵉ ᶠʳⁱᵉⁿᵈˢ⸴ ᵇᵉᶠᵒʳᵉ ᵐʸ ˡᵒᵛᵉ ᶠᵒʳ ᵐᵒⁿᵉʸ ᶜᵒⁿˢᵘᵐᵉᵈ ᵐᵉ‧ ᴮᵉᶠᵒʳᵉ ʸᵒᵘ'ʳᵉ ⁿᵒʷ ᵈʸⁱⁿᵍ ᵃˡˡ ᵇᵉᶜᵃᵘˢᵉ ᵒᶠ ᵐᵉ‧ ᴵ ᵗʰⁱⁿᵏ ʸᵒᵘʳ ʷⁱᶠᵉ ᵉᵛᵉⁿ ᵐⁱˢˢᵉˢ ʸᵒᵘʳ ⁿᵃᵍᵍⁱⁿᵍ‧‧" ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵃʷᵏʷᵃʳᵈˡʸ ˡᵉᵗ ᵒᵘᵗ ᵃ ᵍⁱᵍᵍˡᵉ‧ "ᴵ ⁿᵉᵛᵉʳ ᵐᵉᵃⁿᵗ ᶠᵒʳ ˢᵘᶜʰ ᵃ ᵗʰⁱⁿᵍ ᵗᵒ ʰᵃᵖᵖᵉⁿ‧‧‧" ᔆᵗᵃʳᵗⁱⁿᵍ ᵗᵒ ᶜʳʸ ᵃᵍᵃⁱⁿ⸴ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵗʳⁱᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵗʰⁱⁿᵏ ᵘᵖ ᵒᶠ ˢᵒᵐᵉ ᵐᵉᵐᵒʳⁱᵉˢ‧ "ᴵ ᵗʰᵒᵘᵍʰᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ⁱᵈᵉᵃ ᵗᵒ ᵖʳᵃⁿᵏ ᵗʰᵉ ˢᶜʰᵒᵒˡ ʷᵃˢ ˢᵒ ᶠᵘⁿⁿʸ⸴ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵗʰᵉ ˡᵒᵒᵏ ᵒⁿ ᵗʰᵉⁱʳ ᶠᵃᶜᵉˢ‧‧‧" ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ˢᵐⁱˡᵉᵈ‧ "ᵂᵉ ᵇᵒᵗʰ ᶜᵒᵘˡᵈ'ᵛᵉ ˢʰᵒʷⁿ ᵒᵘʳ ᵖᵉᵉʳˢ ʰᵒʷ ᵗᵒ ᵍᵉᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ʲᵒᵇ ᵈᵒⁿᵉ‧‧‧" ᶜʰᵘᶜᵏˡⁱⁿᵍ ⁿᵒʷ‧ "ᔆʰᵒʷ 'ᵉᵐ ʷʰᵒ'ᵈ ᵍᵉᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ˡᵃˢᵗ ˡᵃᵘᵍʰ‧‧‧" ᔆᵒᵐᵉ ᵗᵉᵃʳˢ ʷᵉˡˡᵉᵈ ᵘᵖ ⁱⁿ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵉʸᵉˢ‧ "ᴵ'ᵈ ᵍⁱᵛᵉ ᵃˡˡ ᵐʸ ᵐᵒⁿᵉʸ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵉᵛᵉⁿ ᵐʸ ˡⁱᶠᵉ ᵗᵒ ʸᵒᵘ‧‧‧" ᵀʰᵉ ᶠⁱʳˢᵗ ᵗʰⁱⁿᵍ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ⁿᵒᵗⁱᶜᵉᵈ ᵃˢ ʰᵉ ᵍʳᵃᵈᵘᵃˡˡʸ ʳᵉᵍᵃⁱⁿᵉᵈ ʰⁱˢ ᶜᵒⁿˢᶜⁱᵒᵘˢⁿᵉˢˢ ʰᵉᵃʳⁱⁿᵍ ᵃ ᶠᵃʳᵃʷᵃʸ ᵛᵒⁱᶜᵉ⸴ ᵗʰᵒᵘᵍʰ ʰᵉ ᵈⁱᵈⁿ'ᵗ ᵇᵉ ᵃᵇˡᵉ ᵗᵒ ʳᵉᶜᵒᵍⁿⁱˢᵉ ⁱᵗ ᵃˢ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ⸴ ⁿᵒʳ ʷʰᵃᵗ'ˢ ᵇᵉᵉⁿ ˢᵃⁱᵈ‧ ᔆᵗⁱˡˡ ˡⁱᵐᵇᵒˡⁱᵏᵉ⸴ ʰᵉ ᵈⁱᵈⁿ'ᵗ ʸᵉᵗ ᵏⁿᵒʷ ʰⁱˢ ˢᵘʳʳᵒᵘⁿᵈⁱⁿᵍˢ⸴ ᵉʸᵉ ˢᵗⁱˡˡ ˢʰᵘᵗ‧ ᵀʰᵉⁿ ʷᵒʳᵈˢ ᵇᵉᶜᵃᵐᵉ ᶜˡᵉᵃʳᵉʳ⸴ ᵇᵘᵗ ˢᵗⁱˡˡ ᶠᵃʳᵃʷᵃʸ‧ ᴴᵉ ʰᵉᵃʳᵈ ᵗʰᵉ ʷᵒʳᵈˢ ˡⁱᵏᵉ 'ˢᵒʳʳʸ' ᵃⁿᵈ 'ᵖˡᵉᵃˢᵉ' ᵃⁿᵈ 'ᶠʳⁱᵉⁿᵈ' ᵇᵘᵗ ˢᵗⁱˡˡ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵏⁿᵒʷⁱⁿᵍ ʷʰᵒ ˢᵖᵒᵏᵉ ˢᵃⁱᵈ ʷᵒʳᵈˢ‧ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵐᵒⁿⁱᵗᵒʳᵉᵈ ʰᵉʳ ʰᵘˢᵇᵃⁿᵈ⸴ ˢᵒ ˢʰᵉ ʳᵉᵃˡⁱˢᵉᵈ ᵗʰᵉʳᵉ'ˢ ᵃ ᶜʰᵃⁿᵍᵉ ʰᵃᵖᵖᵉⁿⁱⁿᵍ‧ "ᴵ'ᵐ ᵈᵉᵗᵉᶜᵗⁱⁿᵍ ᵖᵒˢˢⁱᵇˡᵉ ʳᵉᵛⁱᵛᵃˡ‧‧‧" ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ʷᵃˢ ˢⁱᵗᵗⁱⁿᵍ ᵘᵖ ˢᵗʳᵃⁱᵍʰᵗᵉʳ‧ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ˢᵗⁱˡˡ ᵈⁱᵈⁿ'ᵗ ᵐᵒᵛᵉ ʸᵉᵗ⸴ ᵇᵘᵗ ʰᵉ ˢᵗᵃʳᵗᵉᵈ ᵇʳᵉᵃᵗʰⁱⁿᵍ ᵇᵉᵗᵗᵉʳ; ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ʳᵉᵐᵒᵛᵉᵈ ᵗʰᵉ ᵇʳᵉᵃᵗʰⁱⁿᵍ ᵉᑫᵘⁱᵖᵐᵉⁿᵗ ᵇᵉᶠᵒʳᵉ ʰᵉ'ᵈ ᶠᵉᵉˡ ⁱᵗ‧ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᶜʳⁱᵉˢ ᵇᵉᶜᵃᵐᵉ ˡᵉˢˢ ᵈⁱˢᵗᵃⁿᵗ ˢᵒᵘⁿᵈⁱⁿᵍ ᵃˢ ʰⁱˢ ˢᵉⁿˢᵉˢ ʳᵉᵗᵘʳⁿᵉᵈ‧ ᴺᵒʷ ʷᵃᵏⁱⁿᵍ⸴ ʰⁱˢ ᵉʸᵉ ᵗʰᵉⁿ ᵐᵃⁿᵃᵍᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᶠˡᵘᵗᵗᵉʳ ᵒᵖᵉⁿ‧ "ᴬᵘ‧‧‧" ᔆⁱᵍʰᵗ ʳᵉᵗᵘʳⁿᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ⸴ ⁿᵒᵗ ʸᵉᵗ ʳᵉᵍⁱˢᵗᵉʳⁱⁿᵍ ʷʰᵒ'ˢ ⁿᵉˣᵗ ᵗᵒ ʰⁱᵐ‧ "ᵂʰᵃᵗ ⁱⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ʷʰᵃᵗ‧‧‧" ᶠⁱⁿᵃˡˡʸ ᵃʷᵃᵏᵉ⸴ ʰᵉ ˢᵃʷ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵃⁿᵈ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ˢᵐⁱˡⁱⁿᵍ ᵃᵗ ʰⁱᵐ‧ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʳᵉᵐᵃⁱⁿᵉᵈ ᶜᵒⁿᶠᵘˢᵉᵈ‧ "ᴴⁱ⸴ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ! ᴰᵒ ʸᵒᵘ ᵏⁿᵒʷ ʷʰᵉʳᵉ ʸᵒᵘ ᵃʳᵉ?" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ˢʷᵉᵉᵗˡʸ ᵃˢᵏᵉᵈ ʰᵉʳ ʰᵘˢᵇᵃⁿᵈ‧ "ᶜᵃⁿ ʸᵒᵘ ˢᵃʸ ʷʰᵃᵗ ʸᵒᵘ'ʳᵉ ᵗʰⁱⁿᵏⁱⁿᵍ?" ᴬˢᵏᵉᵈ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ‧ ᔆᵗⁱˡˡ ⁿᵒᵗ ᶜᵒᵐᵖˡᵉᵗᵉˡʸ ᵇᵃᶜᵏ ᵗᵒ ⁿᵒʳᵐᵃˡ⸴ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵗʰᵒᵘᵍʰᵗ ʰᵃʳᵈ ᵃˢ ʰᵉ ˢᵗʳᵘᵍᵍˡᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ʳᵉᵐᵉᵐᵇᵉʳ‧ "ʸᵒᵘ ᶜᵃⁿ ᵗᵃᵏᵉ ʸᵒᵘʳ ᵗⁱᵐᵉ‧‧‧" ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʰᵉᵃʳᵈ ᵃˢ ʰᵉ ʳᵉᵐᵃⁱⁿᵉᵈ ᵍʳᵒᵍᵍʸ‧ ᴹᵉᵐᵒʳⁱᵉˢ ˢᵘᵈᵈᵉⁿˡʸ ᶜᵃᵐᵉ ᵃˢ ʷʰᵉⁿ ʰᵉ ʷᵉⁿᵗ ᵗᵒ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵇᵉᶠᵒʳᵉ ᵇᵉⁱⁿᵍ ᶜᵃˡˡᵉᵈ ᶜʰⁱᶜᵏᵉⁿ‧ ᴴᵉ ᵈⁱᵈⁿ'ᵗ ᵏⁿᵒʷ ʷʰᵃᵗ ʰᵃᵖᵖᵉⁿᵉᵈ ⁱⁿ ᵇᵉᵗʷᵉᵉⁿ⸴ ⁿᵒʳ ʰᵒʷ ᵐᵘᶜʰ ᵗⁱᵐᵉ ʰᵃˢ ᵖᵃˢˢᵉᵈ‧ ᴴᵉ ⁿᵃʳʳᵒʷᵉᵈ ʰⁱˢ ᵉʸᵉ ᵃˢ ʰᵉ ˢᵃⁱᵈ "ᶜʰⁱᶜᵏᵉⁿ" ᵗᵒ ᵗʰᵉᵐ‧ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵗʰᵉⁿ ᵖʳᵒᶜᵉᵉᵈᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵗᵉˡˡ ʰⁱᵐ ᵉᵛᵉʳʸᵗʰⁱⁿᵍ ᵃˢ ʰᵉ ᶜʳⁱᵉᵈ‧ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʳᵉᵃᶜʰᵉᵈ ʰⁱˢ ʰᵃⁿᵈ ᵒᵘᵗ ᶠᵒʳ ᵗᵒ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ⸴ ʷʰᵒ ᵉᵐᵇʳᵃᶜᵉᵈ ʰⁱˢ ᶠᵒʳᵐᵉʳ ᵉⁿᵉᵐʸ‧ "ᴵ ᶠᵒʳᵍⁱᵛᵉ ʸᵒᵘ‧‧‧"

A LIFE OF DIVERSITY ix (Autistic author) With newfound enthusiasm, Plankton began to organize the mini jellyfish in the box, his antennae quivering as he meticulously arranged them by species and size. Each figurine was carefully placed, his movements deliberate and precise. "Jellyfish... special," he murmured, his monotone voice filled with a hint of wonder. Sandy watched, her eyes shining with admiration. "You're really good at this," she said, her voice filled with warmth. "Good at jellyfish," Plankton murmured, antennae waving slightly with pride. "Plankton's special place." Sandy nodded, her tail swishing with excitement. "Yes," she said, her voice filled with encouragement. "You have a special place in the world, Plankton, and jellyfish are your thing." As Plankton continued to organize his new collection, his movements grew more animated, his antennae quivering with purpose. Each jellyfish was placed with such precision that it was as if they were living beings in a miniature ocean. His eye never left his task, his mind fully engrossed in the world of jellyfish. It was as if by organizing them, he was somehow bringing order to his own chaotic thoughts. "Plankton," Karen said softly, "I know this is a big change for you. But you know what? Maybe this is your chance to do something amazing with your life." Sandy nodded, her eyes shining. "Let's go outside." Plankton looked up from his box, his antennae twitching with excitement. "Outside?" "Yes, Plankton," Karen said, her smile warm. They made their way outside, with Plankton carrying his precious box of jellyfish figurines, his antennae quivering with excitement at the prospect of sharing his knowledge. The sun was setting, casting a warm glow over Bikini Bottom as the trio strolled down the sidewalk. Their peaceful evening was abruptly interrupted when they rounded the corner to find Mr. Krabs, his eyes wide with surprise at the sight of Plankton in the company of Karen and Sandy. "What's all this?" he barked, voice gruff. Plankton's antennae drooped slightly, but he held his ground, his box of jellyfish figurines clutched tightly. "Mr. Krabs," he murmured, monotone voice cracking. Mr. Krabs squinted at Plankton, his claw resting on his chin. "Well, if it isn't the little troublemaker," he said with a gruff chuckle. "What brings you out of the Chum Bucket?" Karen's forced a smile. "We're just out for a little stroll Krabs," she said. "Plankton's found a new hobby." Mr. Krabs's eyes narrowed, curiosity piqued by the unusual sight of Plankton engaged in something other than his usual Krabby Patty obsession. "What kind of hobby?" he asks. Plankton's antennae quivered as he held up his box of jellyfish figurines. "Jellyfish," he murmured, his monotone voice filled with a hint of pride. Mr. Krabs's eyebrows shot up. "Jellyfish?" he repeated, his voice incredulous. "What's gotten into you, Plankton? You're not planning to use them for some crazy Krabby Patty scheme are you?" Plankton's antennae twitched, but he remained calm. "No, Mr. Krabs," he murmured, voice firm. "Plankton loves jellyfish." Mr. Krabs squinted at him, his claw tapping against his chin as he tried to process this new piece of information. "You love jellyfish?" he said, his voice filled with skepticism. "What's so special about jellyfish?" Plankton's antennae waved slightly as he thought about how to explain it. "Jellyfish... unique," he murmured. "Different. Like Plankton." Mr. Krabs's eyes narrowed. "Different, you say?" he repeated, his claw stroking his chin as he contemplated this revelation. "Well I'll be a barnacle's uncle. I never knew you had an interest in any thing but stealing me secret recipe." Karen stepped forward, her tentacles waving gently. "Mr. Krabs, when Plankton hit his head because of you and when I took him to the hospital, well let's just say things are a little different now." Mr. Krabs's eyes widened, his claw freezing mid-stroke. "Different? What do you mean, different?" Karen's tentacles waved in a calming gesture. "Plankton was diagnosed with autism after the incident with your cash register," she said gently. Mr. Krabs's eyes bulged, and his claws clutched at his chest dramatically. "Autism? What?" he bellowed. Sandy stepped forward, her voice firm and steady. "It's ok, Mr. Krabs," she said, her eyes on the crab. "It just means Plankton's brain works differently than ours. But he's still the same Plankton we know, and he's found something that makes him really happy." Mr. Krabs's eyes darting between Plankton and his box of jellyfish. "Well, I'll be a sea cucumber's uncle," he murmured, his expression a mix of shock and confusion. As they talked, a group of kids playing catch nearby accidentally bumped into Plankton, their laughter and shouts of excitement cutting through the air. In an instant, the delicate balance of jellyfish figurines was disrupted, and they spilled out of the box, scattered across the sidewalk. The children's ball rolled into the mix, coming to a stop. Plankton froze on the ground, antennae shooting straight up, eye unblinking as he stared at the chaos before him. The children looked up, their laughter fading as they took in the scene. "Plankton?" Karen's voice was gentle, but it was lost, mind racing as he tried to make sense of the sudden disarray. The children stared, their laughter dying in their throats as they saw the tiny plankton's distress. One brave soul reached out to help, but pulled back when Plankton didn't react. Karen and Sandy exchanged a worried glance. "Plankton?" Karen called again, her voice a little louder this time. The children watched, their curiosity piqued by the sight. One by one, they cautiously approached, their eyes wide with a mix of fear and fascination. "What's wrong with him?" a young fish whispered to another, their eyes darting from Plankton to the scattered jellyfish figurines. "I think he's in shock," Krabs murmured, his own eyes filled with concern. "The disorganization of his jellyfish is really bothering him.." Sandy nodded, her eyes on the children. "Why don't you guys help Plankton?" she suggested. "You can put the jellyfish back in the box. Let's all put them back the way he had them!" The children looked at each other, then back at Plankton, who was still frozen on the ground. Slowly, they began to pick up the scattered figurines, their little hands moving with care as they tried to mimic the order Plankton had created. They whispered to each other, comparing notes and asking questions, their curiosity overcoming their initial fear. Karen watched them work, her tentacles relaxing slightly as she saw the concern in their eyes. "Good job," she murmured, her voice gentle. "You're all helping out." The children nodded, their eyes never leaving Plankton as they carefully placed each jellyfish back in the box. They worked in silence, their movements a mix of awe and caution. The sight of Plankton's intense focus on his jellyfish had left an impression on them, and they were determined to help him restore order to his miniature world. One by one, the jellyfish returned to their spots, each figure a silent testament to Plankton's knowledge and passion. The children looked at each other, then back at Plankton, who hadn't moved a muscle, still rigid, his eye unblinking. "Is he okay?" the bravest one asked, holding out a tentative fin. Plankton remained unmoving, his antennae quivering slightly. The children's gentle whispers and the soft patter of their flippers on the pavement was the only sound as they worked. The last jellyfish was placed back into the box, the figure of Burgessomedusa phasmiformis nestling into its spot among the others. The children held their breath, waiting for some sign from Plankton that he noticed their efforts. Slowly, Plankton's antennae lowered, and he blinked once, then twice. He looked down into the box, his eyes scanning the neat rows of jellyfish. The children watched as a slight smile graced his lips, and he let out a sigh of relief. The children beamed, their eyes shining with pride, stepping back to give him space. Mr. Krabs, still looking slightly stunned, took a tentative step forward. "Plankton?" he asked, his voice gruff but concerned. Plankton's antennae quivered slightly as he looked up, his one eye focusing on the crab. "Mr. Krabs," he murmured, his monotone voice still present but with a hint of warmth. Mr. Krabs's claw hovered over the box, unsure of what to say. "I had no idea Plankton," he murmured, his eyes on the meticulously organized jellyfish. "It's ok," Plankton said, his monotone voice tinged with sadness. "Mr. Krabs didn't know." Karen stepped in gently. "Krabs is just surprised," she explained. "He's never seen you like this before." Mr. Krabs nodded, his expression softening slightly. "That's right," he said, his voice no longer filled with anger. "I've never seen you so... focused on something other than Krabby Patties." "Jellyfish special," Plankton murmured, his antennae waving slightly. "I didn't mean to cause you brain damage, Plankton.." Mr. Krabs says. "It's okay," Plankton murmured, his antennae twitching slightly.

COPEPOD AUTISM pt. 4 (Neurodivergent author) Mr. Krabs's expression shifts from shock to one of bewilderment. "Plankton, I don't understand," he says, his voice barely a whisper. Plankton shakes his head, his antennae trembling. "You never did," he snaps back. The accusations come out in a torrent, each one cutting deeper than the last. "You used me, manipulated me, all for your stupid secret formula!" His voice shakes with anger, his eye filling with unshed tears. Karen's grip tightens on his arm, but she doesn't speak, knowing he needs this moment of release. Mr. Krabs's face falls, the weight of Plankton's words a blow he wasn't expecting. "I-I-I've always treated ya like a friend!" he stammers, his claws grabbing Plankton's shoulders. And that's what did it. Plankton's body tenses, and his eye rolls back in his head. A chilling silence descends as his legs give out, and he crashes to the floor. His body convulses, limbs flailing uncontrollably. Karen knew it'd happen, but seeing it happen to Plankton is a horror she wasn't emotionally prepared for, but she knew to stay calm. She knew the protocol. Mr. Krabs, still in shock from Plankton's accusations, watches the scene unfold with horror. "What's happening?" he stammers, his claws hovering uselessly. Karen's voice is a beacon of calm amidst the chaos. "It's a seizure," she explains, kneeling beside her husband. "I need you to stay calm." Her voice is steady, her eyes never leaving Plankton's contorting form. Mr. Krabs nods, his eyes widening with fear. He's read about this, seen it once in a medical textbook, but never thought it would happen to someone so close. He watches as Karen carefully moves any objects out of harm's way, cushioning Plankton's head with a pillow. The room seems to spin around them, each second stretching into eternity. The seizure lasts only a few moments, but to Karen, it feels like hours. When it's over, Plankton's body goes still, his breathing shallow. Her hand shakes as she checks his pulse, feeling the thunder of her own heart in her chest. "It's okay," she whispers, her voice trembling. "You're okay." Mr. Krabs is unsure. "It's okay," she murmurs, her hand stroking his antennae. "It's over now." Plankton's breathing deepens, his body slowly relaxing with a twitch. She looks at Mr. Krabs, her expression a mix of relief and exhaustion. "He'll be okay," she assures, her voice a lifeline in the storm of silence. Mr. Krabs nods, still in shock. "What...what do we do?" he asks, his voice barely above a whisper. Karen sighs, knowing the road ahead won't be easy, but she's determined to navigate it with Plankton. They manage to get Plankton to his feet, his body weak and his mind still groggy from the seizure. His eye darts around the room, trying to make sense of his surroundings. Karen's voice is soft, a gentle guide leading him back to reality. "Let's go to the couch," she says, her arm supporting his weight. Mr. Krabs watches, his claws fidgeting nervously. "Should I... call someone?" he asks, his voice full of uncertainty. Karen shakes her head. "We have to keep it calm," she whispers. "The aftermath can be just as overwhelming." They sit on the couch, Plankton's body leaning heavily into hers. Her arm is around him, her hand stroking his antennae in a rhythm designed to soothe. He looks up at her, his eye still a little wild. "What happened?" he asks, his voice barely above a whisper. "You had a seizure," Karen explains gently, her voice a balm to his frayed nerves. "It's part of your autism, sweetie. It's okay." She can see the fear in his gaze, the unspoken questions. She pulls a blanket over his shoulders, his body shaking from the residual adrenaline. Plankton nods, his antennae twitching as he tries to process the information. He looks down at his trembling hands, wondering how they could have betrayed him so suddenly. Karen hands him a glass of water, her fingers brushing against his in a silent promise of support. He takes a sip, the cool liquid sliding down his throat, helping to clear the fog in his mind. "I'm...sorry," Plankton mumbles, his voice barely a whisper. He looks up at Mr. Krabs, who's still standing awkwardly by the door. "I didn't mean to...to accuse you..." His antennae droop with regret. Mr. Krabs's expression softens, his eyes filling with understanding. "It's okay, Plankton," he says, his voice gentle. "We all have our moments." He takes a tentative step forward. "What can I do?" Karen glances at him, gratitude warring with the protectiveness she feels for Plankton. "Just give us some space," she says, her tone firm but not unkind. "We need to get him through this." Mr. Krabs nods slowly, his face a mix of sadness and concern. "I understand," he says, his voice thick. He backs out of the room, his eyes never leaving Plankton's huddled form. The door clicks shut, and the room feels smaller, safer. Karen's arm tightens around his shoulders, her warmth a shield against the cold world outside. Plankton leans into her, his body still shaking slightly. He starts to calm down, the tremors fading like ripples in a pond. "I'm...I'm okay," he whispers, his antennae stilling. Karen nods, her eyes searching his face for any sign of distress. "Do you want to take a nap?" she suggests softly. Plankton nods, his eye drooping with exhaustion. They move to the bedroom, the light dimming as they go. Karen helps him into bed, his limbs feeling like jelly. The blankets are a cocoon, his retreat from the world. Her hand brushes his antennae, a silent assurance as she leaves him to the embrace of slumber. He closes his eye, letting the comfort of the darkness envelop him. His body relaxes into the softness of the mattress, his muscles melting away the tension of the day. The bed's embrace is like a gentle whisper, telling his overstimulated mind to rest, to let go. He sighs, his antennae dropping to the pillow like tired leaves in the fall. Meanwhile, Karen goes to Mr. Krabs, who's waiting outside the chum bucket. "I'm sorry for Plankton's outburst," she says, her eyes apologetic. Mr. Krabs waves a dismissive claw. "Don't worry 'bout it," he says. "He's been through a lot today." Karen nods, her expression serious. "It's more than that," she says, her voice low. "He's autistic." Mr. Krabs's eyes widen, his understanding dawning, a newfound respect in his gaze. "I had no idea," he murmurs. "How can I help?" "Just be patient," Karen replies. "And maybe...maybe we can talk later, after he's had some rest." Mr. Krabs nods, his expression thoughtful. "Of course," he says, his voice subdued. "Whatever he needs."

NOTHING BUT THE WISDOM TRUTH vi "I... I just want to make sure he's ok," Krabs said. "He's not in a good place right now," Karen admitted. "Tell him... I didn't mean to embarrass him, that I'm sorry for... everything." "I'll let him know," she said. Heading into the bedroom she found Plankton fast asleep, his face a picture of peace amidst the chaos of his mind, a stark contrast to the turmoil she knew was churning within him. She knew waking him would only stir up more pain and anger, so she decided to let him rest. Karen sat on the edge of the bed, watching him sleep. His chest rose and fell with each breath, the gentle snores a soothing soundtrack to the quiet room. She reached out to brush his antennae, with love and concern. Karen knew this wisdom teeth extraction had taken a toll on him, but she had no idea the depth of his embarrassment til she saw the photo. The next morning, Plankton woke to Karen's gentle humming. The stiffness in his jaw had subsided to a dull throb. As he sat up, the events of the previous day crashed down on him like a tidal wave. Karen turned, her smile fading as she took in his expression. "You're up," she said tentatively. Plankton nodded, jaw still aching. "Krabs called," Karen said, breaking the silence. Plankton's eye snapped to hers, his body tensing. "What." Karen took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice calm. "He said he's sorry for everything," she replied, her voice measured. "And that he didn't mean to embarrass you." Plankton stared at her, his jaw clenched. Karen understood the depth of his pain. "Maybe it wasn't about embarrassment," she suggested gently. "Maybe he was just trying to help." Plankton snorted, but the anger in his eye was fading, replaced by something closer to defeat. "Help." he repeated. "From Krabs!" Karen nodded. "He seemed genuinely concerned," she said. "And he did bring over those jellyfish for you." Plankton's skeptical, but didn't argue. Mr. Krabs wasn't exactly known for warm and fuzzy moments. But the idea that he had shown any care was unsettling. He always seen Krabs as the epitome of greed and self-interest, this newer side as unwelcome as the pain in his mouth. But as the day wore on, Plankton couldn't shake the feeling there's more to the story. Despite pride, he was curious about what happened between them. He knew he had to confront Krabs to set things straight, to regain some semblance of control over. So, when Mr. Krabs appeared at the chum bucket door, unannounced and looking unusually nervous, Plankton's curiosity won over. He begrudgingly let him in, posture stiff. Mr. Krabs fidgeted, his claws twitching as he looked around the cluttered room. "Plankton," he began, his voice tentative. "I know I've not always been the... the most sensitive crab in the sea, but I never meant to cause ye distress." Plankton's eye narrowed. "What do you want?" he demanded, his voice gruff. Mr. Krabs took a deep breath, his claws fidgeting. "I just... I wanted to apologize," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "For the photo. For... everything." Plankton's eye never left Mr. Krabs' face. "You had no right," he said, his voice cold. Mr. Krabs swallowed. "I know," he admits. "But I didn't mean for it to go viral. Pearl... she's young, she doesn't understand the implications." Mr. Krabs shifted uncomfortably. "I don't expect anything," he said. "But I want to explain. You were in a lot of pain, and I just... I just wanted to help." Plankton's expression unyielding. "And what exactly?" Mr. Krabs took a step back, his eyes flickering with uncertainty. "Well, you were delirious," he began. "You talked a bit, but it was mostly nonsense." Plankton wasn't satisfied. "I want details?" Mr. Krabs sighed heavily, his shoulders dropping. "You talked about the good ol' days," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "And how, despite our rivalry, we've always had a... a sort of respect for each other." Plankton felt a flicker of something in his chest, but pushed it aside. "Respect?" he sneered. "You expect me to believe that?" Mr. Krabs nodded, his eyes earnest. "It's the truth," he said. "You talked about how we've been through a lot together, even though we're enemies." Plankton felt his anger dissipate with a strange curiosity. "Why?" he asked, his voice softer. "Why would I?" Mr. Krabs shrugged uncomfortably. "I don't know," he admitted. "Maybe anesthesia brought out some hidden feelings?" Plankton's antennae quivered with irritation. "Hidden feelings!" he echoed. "You're telling me I have feelings for you?" Mr. Krabs' face flushed a deep red. "No, no, no!" he sputtered, holding up his claws defensively. "It's just... you were out of it, Plankton, unable to know what you were saying." But Plankton wasn't letting it go. "I need to know," he insisted, his voice low and intense. "What did I say to you?" Mr. Krabs squirmed, his eyes darting around the room. "It's... it's nothing, really," he stammered. "Just random, incoherent babble." But Plankton's gaze was unyielding. "Tell me," he demanded. Mr. Krabs took a deep breath, eyes downcast. "You called me your... your best friend," he murmured. "And you said you admire me." Plankton's eye bulged, his antennae standing straight up. "Admired you?" he echoed, his voice incredulous. Mr. Krabs nodded, his cheeks burning. "Yes," he said, his voice barely audible. "But it was just the medication, I'm sure." Plankton's mind reeled at the revelation. Best friend? Admired? Inconceivable. He had spent his life plotting against Mr. Krabs, trying to steal the Krabby Patty secret, and here he was, confessing his admiration and friendship? A nightmare. "Why would I?" he croaked, his voice a mix of disbelief and anger. Mr. Krabs shuffled his feet. "I told ya," he repeated. "You were out of it, babbling about all sorts of things." But Plankton's mind was racing, trying to piece together the puzzle of his subconscious. "What else did I do?" he pressed, his voice tight. Mr. Krabs fidgeted, his eyes darting around the room. "You... you also thanked me," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "For being here." Plankton's jaw dropped, his arms flailing. "Thanked you?" he echoed, his voice filled with disbelief. "What, exactly?" Mr. Krabs squirmed, his eyes darting around the room. "You said I was a... friend," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "And that you were grateful for my help." Plankton quivered with rage. "Grateful?" he spat, his voice filled with revulsion. "To you?" Mr. Krabs looked down at his claws, his eyes pleading. "I know it's hard to believe," he said. "But you were in a lot of pain, and the medication can do funny things." Plankton's mind raced, trying to process this new information. He had always seen Mr. Krabs as the epitome of everything he despised: greedy, selfish, and always one step ahead in their eternal dance for the Krabby Patty secret. But here he was, describing a moment Plankton couldn't even remember. "What else?" Plankton demanded, his voice low and dangerous. "What other humiliating things?" Mr. Krabs took a deep breath, his eyes flicking up to meet Plankton's. "Well, you dozed off during my story," he admitted, his voice trembling slightly. "You leaned against me, and before I knew it, you were out cold." Plankton's tentacles stilled, his mind racing with the absurdity of the situation. "Story time?" he echoed, his voice laced with disbelief. "I fell asleep on your shoulder?" Mr. Krabs nodded, his face a picture of awkwardness. "It was quite... unexpected," he said, his eyes darting around the room. "But you seemed to enjoy it." Plankton stared at him, his mind reeling. "What was the story?" he asked, his voice a hoarse whisper. Mr. Krabs' cheeks turned an even deeper shade of red. "It was about... You, per your request." Plankton's eye widened. Mr. Krabs nodded, turning a shade of red that matched his shell. "Yeah," he said, his voice small. "You said you liked the sound of my voice. It's the anesthesia," he said, his voice gentle. "It can do funny things to a body, make 'em say and do things they wouldn't normally." Plankton tightened around the ice pack, his mind racing. He had always seen Mr. Krabs as his sworn enemy, the one who stood between him and the Krabby Patty secret. But here was Krabs, describing a moment of intimacy that was as far from their usual interactions as the moon was from the ocean floor. Mr. Krabs cleared his throat, in discomfort. "It's alright, Plankton," he said, his voice gruff. "It's not something anyone needs to know about." But Plankton was insistent, his curiosity piqued. "I need to know," he said, his voice a mix of anger and desperation. "How did it happen?" Mr. Krabs sighed, eyes dropping to the floor. "Well," he began, his voice halting. "You seemed to get tired," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Your eye closed, and your head just... kind of fell onto my shoulder." Plankton's antennae twitched with discomfort, his cheeks burning. "And?" "Well, you were in pain," he said, his voice gruff. "I didn't want to disturb you ." Karen watched the exchange from the doorway. She knew Plankton was tough, but this was a side of him she had never seen before. Vulnerable and exposed. "Mr. Krabs," she said, her voice firm but gentle. "Thank you for coming over." Mr. Krabs looked up, his eyes darting to her before returning to Plankton. "It's no trouble, Karen," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I just wanted to make sure he's okay." Karen nodded, her gaze never leaving Plankton's face. "I think we can handle it from here," she said, her tone firm but not unkind. Mr. Krabs' eyes darted between the two of them, fidgeting. "If... if there's anything I can do," he offered, his voice trailing off. Karen gave a small smile filled with gratitude. "I think we got it from here," she said. "But thank you for caring."

COPEPOD AUTISM pt. 3 (Neurodivergent author) After breakfast, Plankton looks up from his plate, his gaze meeting Karen's. "Karen," he says, his voice clearer now. "Plankton want outside." Karen nods, recognizing the need for a change of environment. They head out to the backyard, where the morning air is cool and the sun's rays cast dappled patterns on the grass. Plankton sits on a bench, his eye scanning the garden, taking in the sights. He points to a scallop, its wings a blur of color. "Beautiful," he says, his voice filled with awe. Karen nods, understanding that his heightened senses are allowing him to experience the world in a way she can't fully comprehend. The sound of Mr. Krabs’s lawnmower starts up, and Plankton flinches, his hands flying to cover his head. Karen quickly moves to his side, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "It's ok," she says, her voice calm and soothing. "It's just Mr. Krabs." Plankton's humming starts up again, his body rocking slightly with each engine's roar. She squeezes his shoulder, reminding him of her presence. Together, they sit on the bench, Karen's hand on his back, as he tries to ground himself with the feel of her touch and the rhythm of his humming. The lawnmower's noise gradually becomes louder. Plankton's body tenses, and he starts to rock faster, Karen notices. "Let's go inside," she suggests gently, reading his distress. The moment they step back into the house, the noise dims. He leans into her, his body seeking the comfort of her nearness. Karen leads him to the couch, where he curls into a small ball, his hands over his ears. "It's ok," she repeats, her voice a lullaby. "We can go to the quietest room." They move to the study, a place where Plankton's favorite books reside. He nods, his body still tense with the memory of the mower's invasive sound. Karen closes the door, cutting off the outside noise, and sits beside him on the floor. She opens a drawing book she knows he loves, filled with scenes from his favorite movies. Plankton's hands drop from his ears as he focuses on the images, his breathing steadying. Karen picks up a pack of colored pencils, handing them to him without a word. He selects a blue one and starts to trace the outline of a jellyfish, his hand shaking slightly. The mower's drone outside becomes a distant hum, the pages of the book a barricade against the sensory assault. He colors in the jellyfish, his strokes becoming more confident, his breaths deep and even. Karen watches him, seeing the world through his eye, feeling his discomfort slowly ebb away. The blue pencil moves with purpose, filling in the intricate details of the jellyfish's bell. Plankton's focus is so intense it's as if he's drawing a map to navigate his new reality. Each stroke is deliberate, a silent protest against the chaos that had invaded their morning. The mower's noise grows fainter, a fading memory. In the quiet of the study, his mind finds refuge. The colors swirl and blend, a symphony of order amidst the cacophony of sensations. Karen watches him, her own hands resting in her lap, giving him the space he needs. His coloring becomes a form of therapy, a way to communicate without words, to express his feelings when speech fails. The blue pencil moves to a green one, then a red, each color adding layers to the picture. The jellyfish comes to life under his touch, a silent companion that doesn't judge or overwhelm. The doorbell rings, a sharp intrusion into their sanctuary. Plankton's body jerks at the sound, his hand slipping, leaving a smudge on the page. Karen sighs, knowing it's Mr. Krabs, probably coming over to check on them. She glances at Plankton, his body coiled tightly, his eye fixed. "It's okay," she whispers, placing a hand on his arm. "It's just Mr. Krabs." The doorbell rings again, more insistent this time. Plankton's antennae droop, his body taut with anxiety. He starts to rock, his humming picking up speed. Karen rises, leaving the colored pencils behind. She moves to the door, each step deliberate. Mr. Krabs's face appears through the peephole, his expression a mix of concern and curiosity. She takes a deep breath, preparing herself for the interaction she's read so much about. How to explain Plankton's condition without causing more stress? When she opens the door, Mr. Krabs's eyes widen, noticing Plankton. "Ye drawing a jellyfish? Absurd!" He cackles, causing further distress; Plankton sees where his drawing messed up and the harsh sound of Krabs laughter, and can't take it anymore. He throws the colored pencils across the room, each one a silent shout of frustration. "Leave me alone!" he yells, his voice cracking. Mr. Krabs's laughter dies instantly, his face morphing into one of shock. "Plankton, buddy, what's gotten into ya?" he asks, his voice thick with amused confusion. The question is a spark to Plankton's already frayed nerves. He feels his body tense further, his voice rising. "You don't know anything about me!" Plankton shouts at Mr. Krabs, his words a jumbled mess of anger and hurt. "You think you can just come in here and laugh at me?" Mr. Krabs's claws freeze in midair, his laughter choked off by the unexpected outburst. He stammers, trying to find the words to respond, but Plankton cuts him off. "You think I'm a joke? That my brain is a punchline for your entertainment?" Plankton's voice is a mix of anger and pain, each word a knife thrown with precision. Mr. Krabs, taken aback, takes a step backward. His face is a mask of surprise, his mouth agape like a fish out of water. "No, no, Plankton," he stammers, his claws raised in a defensive gesture. "I didn't mean to—" But Plankton isn't listening, his eye blazing with a fury Karen's never seen before. "You never knew me!" he cries, his voice echoing through the hallway. "You just saw what you wanted to see!" Each word is a whip crack in the tense silence. Mr. Krabs opens his mouth to speak, but Plankton's words continue to fly like shrapnel. "You only see what you want to see!" Plankton's voice cracks with emotion. "You see a business rival, not a friend, not someone who's hurting!" He stands up, his body trembling. Karen steps in, her hand on his arm, trying to calm him. "Let's go back to the study," she tries to suggest. But Plankton is beyond listening. The dam of his emotions has broken, and he's lost in a flood of words and accusations. "You only cared about your Krabby Patties, your greed!" Plankton's voice rises, each syllable a dagger. Mr. Krabs's eyes dart around, unsure how to respond to the raw pain in his friend's words. So he reaches his claw out hoping to calm him, but it's giving the opposite effect. "My whole life, you've used me!" Plankton's accusations fly like shrapnel in the quiet room. Karen's heart aches, but she knows this is a release he needs. She remains silent, her hand a comforting weight on his back, grounding him.

ᶠʳᵉⁿᵉᵐʸ ᴿᵉᵘⁿⁱᵒⁿ ⁽ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᴮᵒᵇ ᶠᵃⁿᶠⁱᶜ⁾ 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 𝟗𝟑𝟗 "ᴴᵉ ᵐᵘˢᵗ ᵇᵉ ᵖˡᵃⁿⁿⁱⁿᵍ ˢᵒᵐᵉ ᵗʰⁱⁿᵍ ᵇⁱᵍ‧‧" ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵗᵒˡᵈ ʰⁱˢ ᵉᵐᵖˡᵒʸᵉᵉˢ ᵃᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ᵏʳᵘˢᵗʸ ᵏʳᵃᵇ‧ ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ʷᵃⁿᵗᵉᵈ ᵗʰᵉ ʳⁱᵛᵃˡˢ ᵗᵒ ᵗʳʸ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵇᵉ ᵐᵒʳᵉ ᵃᵐⁱᶜᵃᵇˡᵉ ᵗᵒ ᵉᵃᶜʰ ᵒᵗʰᵉʳ‧ ᔆᵒ ˢᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ⁿᵒʷ ʲᵘˢᵗ ˢᵉᵗ ᵘᵖ ᵃ ᵖˡᵃⁿ ᵗᵒ ʰᵉˡᵖ‧ ᴬᶠᵗᵉʳ ʰⁱˢ ˢʰⁱᶠᵗ ᵉⁿᵈᵉᵈ⸴ ʰᵉ ᶜᵃˡˡᵉᵈ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ‧ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ'ˢ ᶜᵒᵐᵖᵘᵗᵉʳ ʷⁱᶠᵉ ᵃⁿˢʷᵉʳᵉᵈ‧ 'ᵂʰᵉⁿ ᵈᵒ ʸᵒᵘ ⁱˢ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᶠʳᵉᵉ' "ᴵ'ˡˡ ˢᵉᵉ ᵗᵒ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ʰⁱᵐ ᵗᵒᵐᵒʳʳᵒʷ" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵗᵒˡᵈ ˢᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ⸴ ʰᵃⁿᵍⁱⁿᵍ ᵘᵖ‧ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ʷᵉⁿᵗ ᵗᵒ ˢᵉᵉ ᵗᵒ ʰᵉʳ ʰᵘˢᵇᵃⁿᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵗᵉˡˡ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵃᵇᵒᵘᵗ‧ ᔆʰᵉ ᶠᵒᵘⁿᵈ ʰⁱᵐ ˡᵉᵃⁿⁱⁿᵍ ᵒⁿ ᵒᵛᵉʳ ᵒⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ᶜᵒᶠᶠᵉᵉ ᵗᵃᵇˡᵉ ᵃˢ ʰᵉ ˢⁱᵗ ᵒⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ᶜᵒᵘᶜʰ ᵃˢˡᵉᵉᵖ‧ ᴷⁿᵒʷⁱⁿᵍ ʰⁱᵐ ˢʰᵉ ᵏⁿᵉʷ ᵇᵉᵗᵗᵉʳ ᵗʰᵃⁿ ᵗᵒ ʲᵘˢᵗ ˢᵗᵃʳᵗˡᵉ ʰⁱᵐ⸴ ˢᵒ ˢʰᵉ'ᵈ ᵗᵉˡˡ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʷʰᵉⁿᵉᵛᵉʳ ᵗʰᵉʸ ⁿᵉˣᵗ ᵗᵃˡᵏᵉᵈ ᵃᶠᵗᵉʳ ʰᵉ ʷᵃᵏᵉˢ ᵘᵖ ᵃᵍᵃⁱⁿ‧ ᴺᵒʷ ⁱⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ᵐᵉᵃⁿ ᵗⁱᵐᵉ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵈʳᵃᵖᵉᵈ ᶜᵒᵛᵉʳˢ ᵃ ᵇˡᵃⁿᵏᵉᵗ ᵒᵛᵉʳ⸴ ᵇᵃʳᵉˡʸ ᵗʷⁱᵗᶜʰ ʷʰᵉⁿ ˢʰᵉ ʳᵉᵐᵒᵛᵉᵈ ʰⁱˢ ⁿᵒᵗᵉ ᵇᵒᵒᵏ ᶠʳᵒᵐ ʷʰᵉⁿᶜᵉ ᵈʳᵒᵒˡˢ‧ ᵀʰᵉ ⁿᵉˣᵗ ᵈᵃʸ⸴ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᶠᵒᵘⁿᵈ ˢᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ʳᵘⁿˢ ᵘᵖ ʳⁱᵍʰᵗ ᵗᵒ ʰⁱᵐ‧ "ᴵ'ᵛᵉ ᵃ ˢᵘʳᵖʳⁱˢᵉ ʲᵘˢᵗ ᶠᵒʳ ʸᵒᵘ!" "ᵂʰᵃᵗ‧‧" "ᴵ ʰᵉᵃʳ ʸᵒᵘʳ ᵈᵃᵘᵍʰᵗᵉʳ ᴾᵉᵃʳˡ'ˢ ᵒⁿ ᵃ ᵈᵃᵗᵉ⸴ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᵃ ᵇᵒʸ!" ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ᶠᵉˡᵗ ᵇᵃᵈ ᶠᵒʳ ˡʸⁱⁿᵍ ᵗᵒ ᵇᵘᵗ ʷᵃⁿᵗ ᵗᵒ ˡᵘʳᵉ ʰⁱˢ ᵇᵒˢˢ ᵐᵃᵏᵉ ᵘᵖ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ‧ "ᵀᵉˡˡ ᵐᵉ⸴ ʷʰ‧‧‧" "ᴵ'ˡˡ ᵗᵃᵏᵉ ʸᵒᵘ!" ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᶠˡⁱⁿᶜʰᵉᵈ ᵃˢ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ'ˢ ᵗᵒᵘᶜʰⁱⁿᵍ ʰⁱˢ ˢʰᵒᵘˡᵈᵉʳ ⁱⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ᵐᵉᵃⁿ ᵗⁱᵐᵉ ˢᵒ ᵗᵒ ᵍᵉᵗ ʰⁱᵐ‧ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ˢᵗᵃʳᵗᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵐᵒᵛᵉ ᵃˢ ʷᵃᵏⁱⁿᵍ ᵘᵖ‧ "ᴴᵒⁿᵉʸ ʸᵒᵘ ⁿᵉᵉᵈ ᵗⁱᵐᵉ ᵗᵒ ᵍᵉᵗ ʸᵒᵘʳ ˢᵉˡᶠ ᵘᵖ ⁿᵒʷ⸴ ᵐʸ ˢʷᵉᵉᵗˢ‧‧" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ'ˢ ᵛᵒⁱᶜᵉ⸴ ᑫᵘⁱᵉᵗˡʸ⸴ ⁿᵒʷ ᶜᵒᵃˣᵉᵈ ʰⁱᵐ‧ "ᴴᵘʰ?" "ʸᵒᵘ ᵍᵒᵗ ⁱⁿᵛⁱᵗᵉᵈ⸴ ᵇᵘᵗ ᴵ ᵏⁿᵒʷ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵗᵒ ⁱᵐᵖᵉᵈᵉ ᵒⁿ ʸᵒᵘʳ ᵖᵉʳˢᵒⁿᵃˡ ᵖˡᵃⁿˢ ᵇᵘᵗ ᵃˡˡ ᴵ ᵏⁿᵒʷ ⁱˢ⸴ ʸᵒᵘ ⁿᵉᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵍᵒ ˢᵒ ᵍᵉᵗ ᵗᵒ ᑫᵘⁱᶜᵏˡʸ‧" ᴮᵒᵗʰ ⁿᵉᵐᵉˢᵉˢ ᵃʳʳⁱᵛᵉᵈ ᵃᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ᵉˣᵃᶜᵗ ˢᵃᵐᵉ ᵗⁱᵐᵉ‧ "ʸᵒᵘ‽" "ᴮᵉᶠᵒʳᵉ ᵃⁿʸ ᵗʰⁱⁿᵍ ᴵ'ᵐ ᵗʰᵉ ᵒⁿᵉ ˡᵘʳᵉ ʸᵒᵘ ᵇᵒᵗʰ ᵗᵃˡᵏ‧" ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ᵉˣᵖˡᵃⁱⁿᵉᵈ ᵃˢ ᵗʰᵉʸ ˢᵃᵗ ᵈᵒʷⁿ ᵗᵒᵍᵉᵗʰᵉʳ‧ "ᴵ'ˡˡ ᵇᵉ ᵗʰᵉ ᵐᵉᵈⁱᵃᵗᵒʳ ˡⁱᵏᵉ ᵃ ʳᵉᶠ ᶠᵒʳ ᵇᵒᵗʰ‧ ᴱᵃᶜʰ ᵉˣᵖˡᵃⁱⁿ ᶠᵉᵉˡⁱⁿᵍˢ ⁱⁿ ʷᵒʳᵈˢ‧‧" ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉ ᵇᵒᵇ ᵗᵒˡᵈ ᵃˢ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵗᵘʳⁿˢ ᵗᵒ ᵍˡᵃʳᵉ ᵃᵗ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ‧ "ʸᵒᵘ ᵗʰⁱⁿᵏ ᴵ'ᵐ ʰᵃᵖᵖʸ ᵃᵇᵒᵘᵗ ⁱᵗ‽" "ᴵ'ᵛᵉ ˢᵉᵗ ᵘᵖ ᵃ ᶜᵉⁿᵗʳᵉ ⁱᶠ ᵃⁿʸ ᵒᶠ ʸᵒᵘ ᵍᵉᵗ ᵘᵖˢᵉᵗ ˢᵒ ᵗᵒ ᶜᵒᵒˡ ᵈᵒʷⁿ‧" "ᴸᵒᵒᵏ ᵏⁱᵈ⸴ ᴵ ᵏⁿᵒʷ ʸᵒᵘ ʷᵃⁿⁿᵃ ʰᵉˡᵖ ᵘˢ ᵇᵘᵗ ᵈᵒⁿ'ᵗ ᵍᵉᵗ ʸᵒᵘʳ ʰᵒᵖᵉˢ ᵘᵖ‧‧‧" "ᴵ ᶜᵃⁿ ᵉᵛᵉⁿᵗᵘᵃˡˡʸ ˡᵉᵃᵛᵉ ᵇᵒᵗʰ ᵃˡᵒⁿᵉ ᶠᵒʳ ᵖʳⁱᵛᵃᶜʸ ᵇᵘᵗ ᴵ ʷᵃⁿᵗ ᵗᵒ ˢᵉᵉ ʸᵒᵘ ᵇᵒᵗʰ ᵒⁿ ʳᵉˡᵃᵗⁱᵛᵉˡʸ ᵍᵒᵒᵈ ᵗᵉʳᵐˢ ᵖʳᵒᵍʳᵉˢˢ‧‧" ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉ ᵇᵒᵇ ʳᵉˢᵖᵒⁿᵈˢ ᵗᵒ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ‧ "ᵂᵉˡˡ ᴵ ᶠᵉᵉˡ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵇᵉᵗᵗᵉʳ ˡᵉᵃʳⁿ ʷʰᵃᵗ'ˢ ᵍᵒᵒᵈ ᶠᵒʳ ʰⁱᵐ; ᴵ ʷᵒⁿ'ᵗ ᵍⁱᵛᵉ ʸᵒᵘ ⁱⁿᵍʳᵉᵈⁱᵉⁿᵗˢ‧ ʸᵒᵘ ᶜᵃⁿ'ᵗ ʰᵃⁿᵈˡᵉ ʰᵒʷ ʸᵒᵘ ˡᵒˢˢ ʸᵒᵘʳ ⁿᵉʳᵛᵉ‧ ᵀʳᵘᵗʰ ʰᵘʳᵗˢ‧ ᴵⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ʳᵉᵃˡ ʷᵒʳˡᵈ ⁿᵒ ᵐᵉᵃⁿˢ ⁿᵒ ˢᵒ ᵇᵃᶜᵏ ᵒᶠᶠ!" ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ʸᵉˡˡᵉᵈ‧ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᶠᵉˡˡ ᵒᶠᶠ ʰⁱˢ ᶜʰᵃⁱʳ ᵃˢ ⁱⁿ ᵘᵗᵗᵉʳ ˢʰᵒᶜᵏ‧ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ⁱˢ ⁿᵒʷ ᵖⁱᶜᵏⁱⁿᵍ ᵘᵖ ʰⁱˢ ᶜʰᵃⁱʳ ᵗᵒ ˢʷⁱⁿᵍ ᵇᵘᵗ ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ʳᵃⁿ ⁱⁿ ᶠʳᵒⁿᵗ ᵒᶠ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ‧ "ᔆᵗᵒᵖ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵖˡᵉᵃˢᵉ ⁿᵒ!" ᴮᵘᵗ ⁱᵗ'ˢ ᵗᵒ ˡᵃᵗᵉ ᵃˢ ʰᵉ ⁿᵒʷ ʰⁱᵗ ˢᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ‧ ᴬˢ ˢᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ᵗᵒᵒᵏ ᵗʰᵉ ʰⁱᵗ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ⁱᵐᵐᵉᵈⁱᵃᵗᵉˡʸ ˢᵃʷ ʰᵉ ʰᵘʳᵗ ᵇᵃᵈˡʸ‧ "ʸᵒᵘ ᵐᵒⁿˢᵗᵉʳ! ᴬˡˡ ʰᵉ ʷᵃⁿᵗᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ʰᵉˡᵖ ᵒᵘʳ ᵒʷⁿ ᵖʳᵒᵇˡᵉᵐˢ ᵇᵉᵗʷᵉᵉⁿ ᵘˢ ᵃˢ ʰᵉ'ˢ ⁿᵒʷ ᵇᵉᶜᵃᵘˢᵉ ᵒᶠ ʸᵒᵘ ᵗᵒᵒᵏ ᵗʰᵉ ᵇʳᵘⁿᵗ ᵒᶠ ⁱᵗ⸴ ˢᵒ ʰᵒʷ ᵈᵃʳᵉ ʸᵒᵘ‧‧‧" ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᶜʳⁱᵉᵈ⸴ ˡᵒᵒᵏⁱⁿᵍ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᵗᵉᵃʳˢ ᶠᵒʳᵐ ʰⁱˢ ᵉʸᵉ‧ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ˢᵗᵃʳᵉᵈ ᵐᵒᵘᵗʰ ᵃᵍᵃᵖᵉ‧ ᴴᵉ ʷᵃˢ ᵃᵇᵒᵘᵗ ᵗᵒ ᶜᵒⁿˢⁱᵈᵉʳ ᵗʳʸⁱⁿᵍ ᵗᵒ ʰⁱᵗ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵃᵍᵃⁱⁿ ᵇᵘᵗ ʰᵉ ᵏⁿᵉˡᵗ ᵇʸ ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ʷʰⁱˡˢᵗ ʰᵉˡᵈ ᵗʰᵉ ᶠʳʸ ᶜᵒᵒᵏ'ˢ ʰᵃⁿᵈ‧ "ᴾˡᵉᵃˢᵉ⸴ ᵏⁱᵈ; ᴵ'ᵐ ˢᵒʳʳʸ‧‧" ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʷʰⁱᵐᵖᵉʳᵉᵈ ᵃˢ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ʳᵉᵃˡⁱˢᵉᵈ ᵗʰᵉ ᵍʳᵃᵛⁱᵗʸ ᶜᵒⁿˢᵉᑫᵘᵉⁿᶜᵉˢ ᵒᶠ‧ "ᴾˡᵉᵃˢᵉ ᵒʰ ᵖˡᵉᵃˢᵉ ʰᵉˡᵖ!" ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᶜᵃˡˡᵉᵈ ᵒᵘᵗ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᵃ ˢᵉⁿˢᵉ ᵒᶠ ᵘʳᵍᵉⁿᶜʸ‧ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ⁿᵉᵛᵉʳ ʰᵉᵃʳᵈ ʰⁱᵐ ˢᵒᵘⁿᵈ ˢᵒ ᵇʳᵒᵏᵉⁿ⸴ ᵉᵛᵉⁿ ʷʰᵉⁿ ʰᵉ'ᵈ ᵇᵉᵍ ᶠᵒʳ ᵗʰᵉ ⁱⁿᵍʳᵉᵈⁱᵉⁿᵗˢ ᵒʳ ᵍᵉᵗᵗⁱⁿᵍ ˢᵗᵒᵐᵖᵉᵈ ᵒⁿ‧ "ᴵ ʲᵘˢᵗ ʷᵃⁿᵗ ʸᵒᵘ ᵗᵒ‧‧‧" "ʸᵒᵘ ᵃʳᵉⁿ'ᵗ ʰᵉˡᵖ ʰⁱᵐ ᵇʸ ʲᵘˢᵗ‧‧‧" "ᴵ ᶜᵃⁿ'ᵗ ʲᵘˢᵗ ˡᵉᵗ ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ˢᵘᶠᶠᵉʳ! ᴱᵛᵉⁿ ʷʰᵉⁿ ᴵ'ᵈ ᵗʳʸ ᵗᵒ ᵍᵉᵗ ⁱⁿᵍʳᵉᵈⁱᵉⁿᵗˢ⸴ ᴵ'ˡˡ ˢᵖᵃʳᵉ ʰⁱᵐ ᵇᵉᶜᵃᵘˢᵉ ᵘⁿˡⁱᵏᵉ ʸᵒᵘ ᴵ ᶜᵃʳᵉ ᶠᵒʳ ᵃᵇᵒᵘᵗ ʰⁱᵐ! ᴺᵒ ᵐᵒⁿᵉʸ ⁱⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ʷᵒʳˡᵈ ᵐᵃᵗᵗᵉʳᵉᵈ ᵐᵒʳᵉ ᵗʰᵃⁿ ⁱⁿⁿᵒᶜᵉⁿᵗ ˢᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉ‧‧" ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ʳᵉᵃˡⁱˢᵉᵈ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ'ˢ ʳⁱᵍʰᵗ‧ ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ʳᵉᵛⁱᵛᵉᵈ ᵃˢ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ'ˢ ˢᵒᵇˢ ˢᵗᵃʳᵗⁱⁿᵍ ᵗᵘʳⁿᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵇᵃʷˡⁱⁿᵍ‧ "ᴴᵉʸ‧‧" "ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ‽" ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʰᵉᵃʳᵈ ˢᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ'ˢ ᵛᵒⁱᶜᵉ‧ "ᴵ ᵃᵐ ˢᵒ‧‧‧" "ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʲᵘˢᵗ ˡᵉᵗ ᵐᵉ ᶠʳʸ ᶜᵒᵒᵏ ʳᵉᶜᵒᵛᵉʳ ᵇᵉᶠᵒʳᵉ ʸᵒᵘ ˢᵗᵃʳᵗ ʸᵒᵘʳ ᵖⁱᵗʸ ᵖᵃʳᵗʸ‧" "ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᴵ'ᵐ ᵗʰᵉ ᵒⁿᵉ ʷʰᵒ‧‧‧" "ʸᵒᵘ ᵈⁱᵈⁿ'ᵗ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ᵗᵒ ᵈᵒ ˢᵘᶜʰ ᵃ ᵗʰⁱⁿᵍ ᶠᵒʳ ᵐᵉ ˢᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉ ᵇᵒᵇ ᵇᵘᵗ ᴵ'ˡˡ ᵗʳʸ ᵗᵒ ᵇᵉ ᵇᵉᵗᵗᵉʳ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᶠᵒʳ ʸᵒᵘ‧‧" "ʸᵒᵘ ʲᵘˢᵗ ᵍᵒᵗᵗᵃ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ᵗʰᵉ ˡᵃˢᵗ ʷᵒʳᵈ ᵃˢ ᵘˢᵘᵃˡ ᵈᵒⁿ'ᵗ ʸᵒᵘ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ‽ ʸᵒᵘ ʷᵃⁿⁿᵃ ʰᵉˡᵖ ʰⁱᵐ ˢᵒ ᵇᵃᵈ⸴ ˡᵉᵃᵛᵉ⸴ ʸᵒᵘ ᶜᵃⁿ ʲᵘˢᵗ ʰᵉˡᵖ ʰⁱᵐ ᵇʸ ˡᵉᵃᵛⁱⁿᵍ ˢᵒ ʰᵉ ᵈᵒᵉˢⁿ'ᵗ ᵉⁿᵈ ᵘᵖ ʰᵘʳᵗ‧ ᔆᵒ⸴ ᵍᵉᵗ! ᴺᵒʷ⸴ ᴵ ˢᵃʸ! ᴮᵉᵃᵗ ⁱᵗ⸴ ⁿᵒʷ!" ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵗᵒˡᵈ ʰⁱᵐ ˢᵗʳᵉˢˢᵉᵈ ᵒᵘᵗ‧ ᵂⁱᵗʰ ᵃ ʷʰⁱᵐᵖᵉʳ ʰᵉ ˡᵉᶠᵗ 'ᵉᵐ ᵃˢ ʰᵉ ᶜʳⁱᵉᵈ ᵃⁿᵈ ʳᵃⁿ ᵇᵃᶜᵏ ᵗᵒ ᵗʰᵉ ᶜʰᵘᵐ ᵇᵘᶜᵏᵉᵗ ˢᵗⁱˡˡ ᵘᵖˢᵉᵗ‧‧ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ˢᵃʷ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵇᵃᶜᵏ ᵃˢ ʰᵉ ˢʰᵉᵈ ᵗᵉᵃʳˢ‧ "ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ⸴ ᵒʰ ˢʷᵉᵉᵗⁱᵉ‧‧" ᔆʰᵉ ʷᵃⁿᵗᵉᵈ ʰⁱᵐ ᵗᵒ ᶠᵉᵉˡ ᵇᵉᵗᵗᵉʳ ᵇᵘᵗ ˢʰᵉ ᵈⁱᵈⁿ'ᵗ ᵏⁿᵒʷ ʲᵘˢᵗ ʷʰʸ ʰᵉ'ˢ ᵘᵖˢᵉᵗ; ˢʰᵉ ᶠⁱᵍᵘʳᵉᵈ ᵗʰᵉ ᵐᵉᵉᵗⁱⁿᵍ'ˢ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵍᵒⁿᵉ ʷᵉˡˡ ⁿᵒʷ‧ "ᵂʰᵃᵗ ᶜᵃⁿ ᴵ ᵈᵒ‧‧‧" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ˢᵗᵃʳᵗᵉᵈ ᵇᵘᵗ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ'ˢ ᵗᵃⁿᵗʳᵘᵐ ᵘⁿˡⁱᵏᵉ ᵃⁿʸ ᵗʰⁱⁿᵍ ˢʰᵉ'ˢ ˢᵉᵉⁿ ᵇᵉᶠᵒʳᵉ⸴ ᵃⁿᵈ ʰᵉ'ˢ ᵍᵒᵗ ᵘⁿˢᵗᵃᵇˡᵉ ᵗᵉᵐᵖᵉʳ⸴ ˢʰᵉ ᵏⁿᵉʷ‧ "ᵀᵉˡˡ ᵐᵉ⸴ ᵖˡᵉᵃˢᵉ; ʸᵒᵘ'ʳᵉ ᵇᵉⁱⁿᵍ ᵈᵉˢᵗʳᵘᶜᵗⁱᵛᵉ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵈᵒⁿ'ᵗ ˡⁱᵏᵉ ᵗᵒ ᶜˡᵉᵃⁿ‧‧‧" "ᴵ ᑫᵘⁱᵗ!" ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ˢⁿᵃᵖˢ ᵃˢ ʰᵉ ʷⁱˡᵈˡʸ ᵍᵒᵗ ʳⁱᵈ ᵒᶠ ʰⁱˢ ᵈⁱᵃʳʸ ʲᵒᵘʳⁿᵃˡ ᵒᶠ ˢᶜʰᵉᵐᵉˢ‧ "ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ‽" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ʸᵉˡˡᵉᵈ ᵇᵉᶠᵒʳᵉ ᵖⁱᶜᵏⁱⁿᵍ ᵘᵖ ʰⁱᵐ ᵘᵖ‧ "ᴰᵒⁿ'ᵗ ᶠⁱᵍʰᵗ ˢᵗʳᵘᵍᵍˡᵉ‧‧" ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᶜᵃᵐᵉ ⁱⁿ ʷʰⁱˡˢᵗ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ'ˢ ʰᵃⁿᵈˡⁱⁿᵍ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ‧ "ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᴵ⸴ ʷᵉˡˡ ᴵ ʷᵃⁿᵗᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵃᵖᵒˡᵒᵍⁱˢᵉ ᵗᵒ ˢᵃʸ⸴ ᴵ'ᵐ ˢᵒʳʳʸ‧‧" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ˢᵉᵗ ᵈᵒʷⁿ ʰᵉʳ ʰᵘˢᵇᵃⁿᵈ ᵈᵒʷⁿ ᵗᵒ‧ "ᴵᵗ'ˢ ᵃˡˡ ᵐʸ ᶠᵃᵘˡᵗ⸴ ʸᵒᵘ ᵏⁿᵒʷ‧ ᴵ'ᵐ ᵗʰᵉ ᵒⁿᵉ ʷʰᵒ ⁿᵉᵉᵈˢ ᵗᵒ ˡᵉᵃʳⁿ; ᴵ'ᵐ ᵗʰᵉ ᵒⁿᵉ ʷʰᵒ ʰᵘʳᵗ ˢᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ‧‧" ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ʷⁱᵖᵉᵈ ᵃʷᵃʸ ᵃ ᵗᵉᵃʳ‧ "ᴵ'ᵐ ᵗʰᵉ ᵒⁿᵉ ʷʰᵒ ⁿᵉᵉᵈˢ ᵗᵒ ʳᵉᵃˡⁱˢᵉ ʰᵒʷ ᴵ ʰᵘʳᵗ ʸᵒᵘ‧" ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʷᵃˢ ˢⁱˡᵉⁿᵗ‧ "ᴵ'ᵐ ⁿᵒᵗ ˢᵘʳᵉ ⁱᵗ'ˢ ᵖᵒˢˢⁱᵇˡᵉ ᵗᵒ ᵘⁿᵈᵒ ᵃˡˡ ᵐⁱˢᵗᵃᵏᵉˢ ᵇᵘᵗ ᴵ ʷᵃⁿᵗ ᵘˢ ᵇᵒᵗʰ ᵗᵒ ᵇᵉ ᵐᵒʳᵉ ᶜⁱᵛⁱˡ‧ ᵂᵉ ᵐᵃʸ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵉᵛᵉʳ ᵇᵉ ᵗʰᵉ ᵇᵉˢᵗ ᵒᶠ ᶠʳⁱᵉⁿᵈˢ ʸᵉᵗ ᴵ ᵃᵐ ᶜᵒᵒˡ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᵇᵉⁱⁿᵍ ᶠʳᵉⁿᵉᵐⁱᵉˢ‧" "ᴰᵒᵉ‧‧‧" "ʸᵉˢ ᴵ'ᵛᵉ ᵗᵒˡᵈ ˢᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ‧" ᵀʰᵉʸ ˢʰᵒᵒᵏ ʰᵃⁿᵈˢ ᵃⁿᵈ ʰᵘᵍᵍᵉᵈ‧

ᴰᵒᵘᵇˡᵉ ⁱˢ ᵗʰᵉ ᵀʳᵒᵘᵇˡᵉ ⁽ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᴮᵒᵇ ᶠᵃⁿᶠⁱᶜ⁾ Part 1 ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ'ˢ ᶜᵒᵐᵖᵘᵗᵉʳ ʷⁱᶠᵉ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ʰᵉᵃʳˢ ᵗʰᵉ ᵖʰᵒⁿᵉ ʳⁱⁿᵍ ˢᵒ ˢʰᵉ ᵃⁿˢʷᵉʳᵉᵈ ⁱᵗ‧ 'ᴹᵘˢᵗ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ʷʳᵒⁿᵍ ⁿᵘᵐᵇᵉʳ ᵒʳ ᶠᵒᵒᵈ ᵖᵒⁱˢᵒⁿⁱⁿᵍ' ˢʰᵉ ᶠⁱᵍᵘʳᵉˢ‧ "ᵂᵉ'ʳᵉ ᴮⁱᵏⁱⁿⁱ ᴮᵒᵗᵗᵒᵐ ʰᵒˢᵖⁱᵗᵃˡ‧" 'ᴹᵘˢᵗ ᵇᵉ ᶠᵒᵒᵈ ᵖᵒⁱˢᵒⁿⁱⁿᵍ‧ ᴮᵘᵗ ʷᵉ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ⁿᵒᵗ ˢᵒˡᵈ ᵃⁿʸ ᶜʰᵘᵐ! ᔆʰᵉˡᵈᵒⁿ ᵈⁱᵈ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵇʳⁱⁿᵍ ᵃⁿʸ ʷᵉᵃᵖᵒⁿʳʸ ʷⁱᵗʰ ʰⁱᵐ ʷʰᵉⁿ ʰᵉ ˡᵉᶠᵗ ᵗᵒ ᵗʰᵉ ᴷʳᵘˢᵗʸ ᴷʳᵃᵇ‧' "ᴴᵉˡˡᵒ ᴵ'ᵐ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ‧ ᴴᵒʷ ᶜᵃⁿ ᴵ ʰᵉˡᵖ ʸᵒᵘ?" "ᴵᵗ'ˢ ᵃᵇᵒᵘᵗ ʸᵒᵘʳ ʰᵘˢᵇᵃⁿᵈ‧" "ᴴᵉ'ˢ ⁿᵉᵛᵉʳ ʰᵒˢᵖⁱᵗᵃˡⁱˢᵉᵈ ᵃⁿʸ ᵖᵃᵗʳᵒⁿˢ‧‧‧" "ʸᵒᵘʳ ʰᵘˢᵇᵃⁿᵈ⸴ ʰᵉ'ˢ ⁱⁿ ᵉᵐᵉʳᵍᵉⁿᶜʸ ˢᵘʳᵍᵉʳʸ‧" 'ᵂʰᵃᵗ‽' "ᔆʰᵉˡᵈᵒⁿ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ'ˢ ʷⁱˢᵈᵒᵐ ᵗᵉᵉᵗʰ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ᵇᵉᵉⁿ ⁱʳʳⁱᵗᵃᵗᵉᵈ ᶠʳᵒᵐ ᵃ ᵏⁱᶜᵏ ᵗᵒ ᵗʰᵉ ᶠᵃᶜᵉ ᵇʸ ᴱᵘᵍᵉⁿᵉ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ⸴ ᵇᵘᵗ ⁱⁿ ᵈᵉᶠᵉⁿᶜᵉ ᵃˢ ʰᵉ ᵗʳⁱᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ˢᵗᵉᵃˡ ᵗʰᵉ ᵖᵃᵗᵗʸ‧‧‧" "ᴵ'ˡˡ ᵇᵉ ʳⁱᵍʰᵗ ᵒᵛᵉʳ ᵗᵒ!" ᔆʰᵉ ᵃʳʳⁱᵛᵉᵈ‧ "ᴴⁱˢ ʷⁱˢᵈᵒᵐ ᵗᵉᵉᵗʰ ʷᵉʳᵉ ᵃᵇᵒᵘᵗ ᵗᵒ ˢᵗᵃʳᵗ ᵉʳᵘᵖᵗⁱⁿᵍ ᵗʰʳᵒᵘᵍʰ ᵗʰᵉ ᵍᵘᵐˢ ᵇᵉᶠᵒʳᵉ ᵍᵉᵗᵗⁱⁿᵍ ʰᵘʳᵗ‧ ᴴᵉ'ˢ ᵇᵉᵉⁿ ᵘⁿᶜᵒⁿˢᶜⁱᵒᵘˢ ˢⁱⁿᶜᵉ ᵇᵉⁱⁿᵍ ʰⁱᵗ ᵃⁿᵈ ʷᵉ'ᵛᵉ ᵃⁿᵃᵉˢᵗʰᵉᵗⁱˢᵉᵈ ʰⁱᵐ ᶠᵒʳ ᵗʰᵉ ᵉˣᵗʳᵃᶜᵗⁱᵒⁿˢ ˢᵒ ʰᵉ ᵐⁱᵍʰᵗ ᵇᵉ ᵃⁿˣⁱᵒᵘˢ ʷʰᵉⁿ ᵉᵛᵉʳ ʰᵉ ʷᵃᵏᵉˢ ᵘᵖ ᵃᵍᵃⁱⁿ‧" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ʳᵉᶜᵉⁱᵛᵉᵈ ᵃ ᵖᵃᵐᵖʰˡᵉᵗ ᵃⁿᵈ ʷᵉⁿᵗ ⁱⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ʳᵒᵒᵐ ᵃˢ ᵗʰᵉʸ ʲᵘˢᵗ ᶠⁱⁿⁱˢʰᵉᵈ ᵘᵖ‧ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵈⁱᵈⁿ'ᵗ ᵐᵃᵏᵉ ᵃⁿʸ ⁿᵒⁱˢᵉ‧ ᴴⁱˢ ᵐᵒᵘᵗʰ ʳᵉᵐᵃⁱⁿˢ ᵒᵖᵉⁿ ᵃⁿᵈ ʰⁱˢ ᵉʸᵉ ᵇʳᵒʷ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵉᵛᵉⁿ ᶠᵘʳʳᵒʷⁱⁿᵍ⸴ ⁿᵒᵗ ʸᵉᵗ‧ ᵀʰᵉʸ ʰᵃˡᵗᵉᵈ ᵃⁿᵃᵉˢᵗʰᵉᵗⁱˢᵃᵗⁱᵒⁿ ᵃⁿᵈ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ʳᵉᵃˡⁱˢᵉᵈ ʰᵉ ᵐⁱᵍʰᵗ ᵃᶜᵗ ᵘᵖ ᵈᵘᵉ ᵗᵒ ⁱᵗ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵗʰᵉ ʰᵉᵃᵈ ⁱⁿʲᵘʳʸ⸴ ᵇᵘᵗ ᵗʰᵉʸ ᵗᵒˡᵈ ʰᵉʳ ⁱᵗ'ᵈ ˡᵃˢᵗ ᵒⁿˡʸ ᵃᵇᵒᵘᵗ ᵒⁿᵉ ᵈᵃʸ ᵇᵉᶠᵒʳᵉ ʰᵉ'ˢ ⁿᵒ ˡᵒⁿᵍᵉʳ ᵘⁿᵈᵉʳ ⁱᵗ'ˢ ⁱⁿᶠˡᵘᵉⁿᶜᵉ ᵒʳ ⁿᵘᵐᵇᵉᵈ‧ ᔆʰᵉ ʰᵉˡᵈ ʰⁱˢ ʰᵃⁿᵈ‧ "ᴺⁿʰ‧‧‧" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ʰᵉᵃʳˢ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʷᵃᵏⁱⁿᵍ ᵘᵖ‧ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ'ˢ ᵉʸᵉ ˢᵗᵃʳᵗᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᶠˡᵘᵗᵗᵉʳ ᵒᵖᵉⁿ‧ "ᵂʰᵘʰ? ᵂʷᵘʰ ʷʰ⁻ʷʰᵃᵗ'ˢ ᵍᵒⁱⁿ’ ᵒⁿ‧‧‧" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵖᵃᵗˢ ʰⁱˢ ʰᵃⁿᵈ ˢʰᵉ ʰᵉˡᵈ‧ "ᴴⁱ⸴ ˢʷᵉᵉᵗˢ‧‧" ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʰᵉᵃʳˢ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ‧ "ᴷᵃʳᵉ⁻⁻⁻⁻ ᴷ⁻ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ; ʷʰᵃ⁻ʷʰᵃᵗ ʰᵃᵖᵖᵉⁿᵉᵈ‽" 'ᵂᵃⁱᵗ ʷʰᵉʳᵉ ᵃᵐ ᴵ' "ʸᵒᵘ ᵏⁿᵒʷ ʷʰᵉʳᵉ ʷᵉ ᵃʳᵉ?" ᴬ ⁿᵘʳˢᵉ ᵃˢᵏᵉᵈ ʰⁱᵐ‧ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵈⁱᵈⁿ'ᵗ ʷᵃⁿⁿᵃ ᶠʳᵘˢᵗʳᵃᵗᵉ ʰⁱᵐ‧ "ᴵᵗ'ˢ ᵃˡˡ ᵍᵒᵒᵈ‧‧" ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᶠᵉˡᵗ ʰⁱᵐˢᵉˡᶠ ᵍᵉᵗ ˡᵉᵃⁿᵉᵈ ᵘᵖ ⁱⁿ ᵗᵒ ᵃ ˢⁱᵗᵗⁱⁿᵍ ᵖᵒˢⁱᵗⁱᵒⁿ‧ "ᴵ'ˡˡ ᶜᵃʳʳʸ‧‧‧" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ˢᵗᵃʳᵗᵉᵈ⸴ ᵇᵘᵗ ᵗʰᵉʸ'ʳᵉ ᵖᵘᵗᵗⁱⁿᵍ ᵍᵃᵘᶻᵉ ⁿᵒʷ‧ "ᴬ ᵏʳᵃᵇᵇʸ ᵖᵃᵗᵗʸ! ᴮᵘ’ ʷʰʸ ᶜᵃⁿ'ᵗ ᴵ ᵗᵃˢᵗᵉ ⁱᵗ⁻ᵗ?" "ʸᵒᵘ'ʳᵉ ⁿᵘᵐᵇ ᵃⁿᵈ ⁱᵗ'ˢ ⁿᵒᵗ ᶠᵒᵒᵈ‧" ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵖᵘᵗ ʰⁱˢ ʰᵃⁿᵈˢ ᵗᵒ ʰⁱˢ ᶜʰᵉᵉᵏˢ‧ "ᴰⁱ⁻ ᴵ ᵇᵉᶜᵒᵐᵉ ᵃ ᶜʰⁱᶜᵏ ᵐᵒⁿᵏ ʷⁱᵏᵉ ᔆᵃⁿᵈʸ?" "ᔆʰᵉ'ˢ ᵃ ˢᑫᵘⁱʳʳᵉˡ ᵃⁿᵈ ⁿᵒ‧" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵖⁱᶜᵏˢ ʰⁱᵐ ᵘᵖ ᵗᵒ ˡᵉᵃᵛᵉ‧ ᴴᵉ ᶠᵉˡˡ ᵃˢˡᵉᵉᵖ ⁱⁿ ʰᵉʳ ʰᵃⁿᵈ ʷʰⁱˡˢᵗ ᵈʳᵒᵒˡⁱⁿᵍ‧ ᴬᶠᵗᵉʳ ᵗʰᵉʸ ˡᵉᵗ ᵗʰᵉᵐ ᵍᵒ ˢʰᵉ ᵗᵒᵒᵏ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ˢᵗʳᵃⁱᵍʰᵗ ᵗᵒ ᵗʰᵉ ᶜʰᵘᵐ ᵇᵘᶜᵏᵉᵗ ᵗᵒ ʰⁱˢ ᵇᵉᵈ ⁱⁿ ᵗʰᵉⁱʳ ʳᵒᵒᵐ‧ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʷᵒᵏᵉ ᵃˢ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵖᵘᵗ ʰⁱᵐ ᵈᵒʷⁿ‧ "ᵂᵉ'ʳᵉ ᵇᵃᶜᵏ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ!" "ᴾˡᴬⁿᵏᵀᵒᴺ?" ᴴᵉ ᵃˢᵏˢ‧ "ᵂʰᵃᵗ ᵐⁱᵍʰᵗ ʸᵒᵘ ˡⁱᵏᵉ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ?" "ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʷⁱᵏᵉˢ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ˢᵗᵃʸ‧" "ʸᵒᵘ'ᵈ ˡⁱᵏᵉ ᶠᵒʳ ᵐᵉ ᵗᵒ ˢᵗᵃʸ ʷⁱᵗʰ‧‧‧" "ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ˢ⁻ᵃʷ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵇⁱᵍ‧ ᴮⁱᵍ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ˢᵐᵃʷʷ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ‧ ᴴᵘʳᵗ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ‧ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᶜᵃᵐᵉ‧" ᴴᵉ ʳᵃᵐᵇˡᵉᵈ‧ "ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ˡᵒᵛᵉᵈ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ?" "ʸᵉˢ ᵒᶠ ᶜᵒᵘʳˢᵉ ᴵ ˡᵒᵛᵉ ʸᵒᵘ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ! ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ'ˢ ⁱⁿ ˡᵒᵛᵉ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ‧" "ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵗᵒ ˢᵐᵃʷʷ?" "ᴺᵒᵗ ᵗᵒ ˢᵐᵃˡˡ‧" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵏⁿᵉʷ ʰᵉ'ᵈ ᵇᵉ ᶜᵒⁿᶠᵘˢᵉᵈ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵃˡˢᵒ ˢᵘʳᵖʳⁱˢᵉᵈ ʷʰᵉⁿᶜᵉ ʰᵉ'ᵈ ᵍᵉᵗ ᵒᵛᵉʳ ᵃˡˡ ᵗʰᵉ ᵐᵉᵈⁱᶜᵃᵗⁱᵒⁿ ᵗʰᵉʸ ᵍᵃᵛᵉ ʰⁱᵐ ᵗᵒᵈᵃʸ‧ ᔆʰᵉ ᵈⁱᵈⁿ'ᵗ ᵏⁿᵒʷ ʷʰᵃᵗ ʰᵉ'ᵈ ᵇᵉ ᵃᵇˡᵉ ᵗᵒ ʳᵉᶜᵃˡˡ‧ "ᔆᵉᵉⁱⁿᵍ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ?" "ᵂʰᵃᵗ?" "ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʷⁱˢʰ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵇʷⁱⁿᵍˢ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵗᵒ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᶠᵒʷ ᵗᵃˡᵏ‧" "ʸᵒᵘ ʲᵘˢᵗ ˢᵃⁱᵈ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ʰᵘʳᵗ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵇᵘᵗ ⁿᵒʷ ʸᵒᵘ'ᵈ ˡⁱᵏᵉ‧‧‧" "ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵖʷᵉᵃˢᵉ⸴ ˢᵒ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵗᵃˡᵏ ᵗᵒ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ‧" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ˢⁱᵍʰˢ‧ "ᴵ ᶜᵃⁿ ᵍᵉᵗ ʰⁱᵐ ᵒⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ᵖʰᵒⁿᵉ‧" ᴴᵉ ᵖⁱᶜᵏᵉᵈ ᵘᵖ‧ "ᴷʳᵘˢᵗʸ ᴷʳᵃᵇ?" "ʸᵉˢ ᵐʸ ʰᵘˢᵇᵃⁿᵈ ʷⁱˢʰᵉˢ ᵗᵒ ˢᵖᵉᵃᵏ‧‧‧" "ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᶜᵒᵐᵉ‧" "ᴵ'ᵛᵉ ˢᵉᵉⁿ ᵉⁿᵒᵘᵍʰ ᵒᶠ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᶠᵒʳ‧‧‧" "ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ˢᵒʷʷʸ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ʰᵉᵃʳᵉᵗʰ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵃⁿᵈ ᶜᵒᵐᵉᵗʰ ᵒᵛᵉʳ‧ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʷⁱᵏᵉ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ʰᵘᵍ‧" "ᴵ ᵈᵒⁿ'ᵗ ᵇᵉˡⁱᵉᵛᵉ ʸᵒᵘ; ⁿⁱᶜᵉ ᵗʳʸ!" "ᴶᵘˢᵗ ᵗᵃˡᵏ ᵗᵒ ʰⁱᵐ‧‧‧" "ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʷᵉⁿᵗ ˢᵘʳᵍᵉʳʸ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵇⁱᵍ‧ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ'ˢ ˢᵐᵃʷʷ⸴ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵇˡᵃᵐⁱⁿᵍ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵇᵘᵗ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵃⁿᵈ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵇᵉᵗᵗᵃ ʰᵘᵍ?" ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᶜʳⁱᵉᵈ‧ "ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵇᵉˢᵗ ᵉᵛᵉʳ! ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʰᵘʳᵗ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵇᵉ ᶠʳᵉⁿ'ˢ⸴ ˢʰᵒʷ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʷᵘᵛ?" "ᴬᵇˢᵒˡᵘᵗᵉˡʸ ⁿᵒᵗ‧" ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ˢᵃʸˢ⸴ ᵒᶠᶠᵉⁿᵈⁱⁿᵍ ʰⁱᵐ‧ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵗᵃᵏᵉˢ ᵗʰᵉ ᵖʰᵒⁿᵉ‧ "ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ?" "ᵂʰᵃᵗ ⁱˢ ⁱᵗ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ?" ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵖᵃᵘˢᵉᵈ ᵐᵒᵐᵉⁿᵗᵃʳⁱˡʸ ᵗᵒ ᵗʰⁱⁿᵏ ᵒᶠ ʰᵒʷ ᵗᵒ ᵃʳᵗⁱᶜᵘˡᵃᵗᵉ‧ "ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵐⁱˢˢ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵗᵒ?" "ᴺᵒ ᴵ ᵈⁱᵈⁿ'ᵗ ᵐⁱˢˢ⸴ ᴵ ᵏⁱᶜᵏᵉᵈ ʸᵒᵘ ᵃⁿᵈ ʰⁱᵗ ʸᵒᵘ ᵒⁿ ᶠⁱʳˢᵗ ᵗʳʸ!" "ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵐⁱˢˢ‧‧‧" "ʸᵒᵘ ᵗʳʸⁱⁿᵍ ᵗᵒ ᵃᵈᵐⁱᵗ ᵈᵉᶠᵉᵃᵗ? ᴵ ᵃᶜᶜᵉᵖᵗ‧‧" "‧‧‧ᴵ ᵐⁱˢˢ ᵇᵉⁱⁿ⁻ ʰᵃᵛ⁻ ᵘˢ ᵇᵉ ᶠʷᵉⁿˢ!" ᶜʳⁱᵉˢ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ⸴ ʰᵃⁿᵍⁱⁿᵍ ᵘᵖ ᵗʰᵉ ᵖʰᵒⁿᵉ ᵃˢ ʰⁱˢ ᵉʸᵉ ᶠˡᵘᵗᵗᵉʳˢ‧ "ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᶠᵒʳᵍⁱᵛᵉᵗʰ ⁿᵒʷ ᵇᴱᶜᴬᵘᔆᵉ⸴ ᵇᵉᶜᵃᵘ…" "‧‧‧ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ?" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵃˢᵏᵉᵈ⸴ ᵃˢ ʰᵉ ᵗʳᵃⁱˡᵉᵈ ᵒᶠᶠ ᵗᵒ ˢⁿᵒʳⁱⁿᵍ ⁿᵒʷ‧ ᔆʰᵉ ᵃˢˢᵘᵐᵉᵈ ʰᵉ'ᵈ ᵇᵉ ᵐᵒʳᵉ ʳᵉˢᵉʳᵛᵉᵈ ᵃᶠᵗᵉʳ ᵃⁿᵃᵉˢᵗʰᵉᵗⁱˢᵃᵗⁱᵒⁿ ᵇᵘᵗ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵏⁿᵉʷ ʰᵉ'ᵈ ᵇᵉ ˢᵒʳᵉ‧ ᔆʰᵉ ᵗʰᵒᵘᵍʰᵗ ᵃᵇᵒᵘᵗ ᵍᵉᵗᵗⁱⁿᵍ ʳᵉᵖˡᵃᶜᵉ ᵗʰᵉ ᵍᵃᵘᶻᵉ ᵗʰᵉʸ ᵍᵃᵛᵉ ᵇᵘᵗ ᶠᵉˡᵗ ⁱᵗ ᵘⁿⁿᵉᶜᵉˢˢᵃʳʸ ᵗᵒ ʷᵃᵏᵉ ʰⁱᵐ ᵘᵖ ᵗᵒⁿⁱᵍʰᵗ‧ ᵂʰᵉⁿᶜᵉ ᵐᵒʳⁿⁱⁿᵍ ᶜᵃᵐᵉ⸴ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵃʷᵃᵏᵉˢ ᵇᵉᶠᵒʳᵉ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ‧ ᔆʰᵉ ᶜˡᵉᵃⁿᵉᵈ ᵘᵖ ˢᵒᵐᵉ ʰⁱˢ ᵈʳᵒᵒˡ ᵒᶠᶠ ⁿᵒʷ‧ ᴱᵛᵉⁿᵗᵘᵃˡˡʸ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵒᵖᵉⁿᵉᵈ ʰⁱˢ ᵉʸᵉ‧ "ᴹᵒʳⁿⁱⁿᵍ⸴ ᔆʰᵉˡᵈᵒⁿ!" 'ᴵ ᵈᵒᵘᵇᵗ ʰᵉ ʳᵉᵐᵉᵐᵇᵉʳˢ ᵗʰᵉ ʳᵘᵖᵗᵘʳᵉ ᵒᶠ ʷʰᵃᵗ ᵉᵛᵉʳ ʷⁱᵗʰ ʰⁱˢ ʷⁱˢᵈᵒᵐ ᵗᵉᵉᵗʰ' ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵗʰᵒᵘᵍʰᵗ‧ 'ᵂʰᵃᵗ ⁱˢ ʰᵃᵖᵖᵉ— ᵈᵒ ᴵ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ˢᵒᵐᵉ ᵗʰⁱⁿᵍ ˢᵒᵍᵍʸ ⁱⁿ ᵐʸ ᵐᵒᵘᵗʰ? ᴵ ᵃᵐ ᵘⁿˢᵘʳᵉ ᵒᶠ ʷʰᵃᵗ ᴵ ˡᵃˢᵗ ʳᵉᵐᵉᵐᵇᵉʳ!' ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʳᵉᵃᶜʰᵉᵈ ᶠᵒʳ ʷʰᵃᵗ'ˢ ⁱⁿ ʰⁱˢ ᵐᵒᵘᵗʰ ˢᵘʳᵖʳⁱˢᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ˢᵉᵉ ʳᵉᵈ ᵍᵃᵘᶻᵉ‧ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵍᵉᵗˢ ⁱᵗ ᵗᵒ ʳⁱᵈ ᵒᶠ ⁱᵗ ᵃˢ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᶠᵉᵉˡˢ ᵈⁱˢᶜᵒᵐᶠᵒʳᵗ‧ ᔆʰᵉ ᵗʰᵉⁿ ᵍⁱᵛᵉˢ ʰᵉʳ ʰᵘˢᵇᵃⁿᵈ ᵃ ᶜᵒᵐᵖʳᵉˢˢ ⁿᵒʷ‧ ᴼⁿˡʸ ᶠʳᵃᵍᵐᵉⁿᵗˢ ᵒᶠ ʸᵉˢᵗᵉʳᵈᵃʸ ᶜᵃᵐᵉ ᵗᵒ ᵐⁱⁿᵈ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵃᵇᵒᵘᵗ ᵗᵒ ʰᵘʳᵗ ʰⁱᵐ‧ ᵀʰᵉⁿ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ⸴ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᵐᵉᵈⁱᶜˢ? ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵗᵘᶜᵏⁱⁿᵍ ʰⁱᵐ ⁱⁿ ˢʷᵉᵉᵗˡʸ‧ ᴺᵒᵗʰⁱⁿᵍ ᵉˡˢᵉ‧ ᴬᵗ‧ ᴬˡˡ‧ ᴰⁱᵈ ʰᵉ ᵈʳᵉᵃᵐ ⁱᵗ ᵒʳ ʷᵃˢ ʰᵉ ˢᵗⁱˡˡ ᵃˢˡᵉᵉᵖ? 'ᴵ ᵈᵒ ⁿᵒᵗ ʳᵉᵐᵉᵐᵇᵉʳ ˢˡᵉᵉᵖⁱⁿᵍ‧‧' "ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵒᵖᵉⁿ ᵘᵖ ʸᵒᵘʳ ᵐᵒᵘᵗʰ ˢᵒ ᴵ ᶜᵃⁿ ᵖᵘᵗ ⁿᵉʷ ᵍᵃᵘᶻᵉ ⁱⁿ⸴ ʸᵒᵘ'ʳᵉ ˢᵗⁱˡˡ ᵇˡᵉᵉᵈⁱⁿᵍ ˢᵒ ᵒᵖᵉⁿ ʷⁱᵈᵉ‧" "ᴮˡᵉᵉᵈⁱⁿᵍ‽" "ᴺᵒᵗ ᵗᵒ ᵇᵃᵈ‧" ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᶠˡⁱⁿᶜʰᵉᵈ ᵃˢ ˢʰᵉ ᵈⁱᵈ ˢᵒ‧ "ᴰᵒⁿᵉ!" ᔆᵃʸˢ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ⸴ ᵃᶠᵗᵉʳ ᵖᵘᵗᵗⁱⁿᵍ ᵍᵃᵘᶻᵉ ⁱⁿ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵗᵃᵏⁱⁿᵍ ʰᵉʳ ᶠⁱⁿᵍᵉʳˢ ᵒᵘᵗ‧ ᴬ ᵗʳᵃⁱˡ ᵒᶠ ᵈʳᵒᵒˡ ᶠᵒˡˡᵒʷᵉᵈ‧ "ᵁⁿʰ‧" ᴴᵉ ˡᵉᵃⁿˢ ᵇᵃᶜᵏ‧ "ᵂʰʸ͏‧‧‧" "ʸᵉˢᵗᵉʳᵈᵃʸ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵇᵉᵃᵗ ʸᵒᵘ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵈⁱˢˡᵒᵈᵍᵉᵈ ʸᵒᵘʳ ᵍʳᵒʷⁱⁿᵍ ʷⁱˢᵈᵒᵐ ᵗᵉᵉᵗʰ ʷʰⁱᶜʰ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ᵇᵉᵉⁿ ˢᵘʳᵍⁱᶜᵃˡˡʸ ʳᵉᵐᵒᵛᵉᵈ‧" "ᵂʰᵉⁿ ᴵ'ᵐ ᵇᵉᵗᵗᵃ⸴ ᴵ'ᵈ ᵇʳᵉᵃᵏ ˢᵒᵐᵉ ᵒᶠ ʰⁱˢ ᵒʷⁿ ᵗᵉᵉᵗʰ!" 'ᴺᵒᵗ ʷʰᵃᵗ ʸᵒᵘ ˢᵃⁱᵈ ᵒⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ᵖʰᵒⁿᵉ ʷⁱᵗʰ ʰⁱᵐ ᵇᵘᵗ ᴵ ᵃᵐ ᵍˡᵃᵈ ᵗᵒ ˢᵉᵉ ʸᵒᵘ ᵇᵃᶜᵏ ᵗᵒ ᵇᵉⁱⁿᵍ ʸᵒᵘʳˢᵉˡᶠ ᵃᵍᵃⁱⁿ' ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵗʰᵒᵘᵍʰᵗ⸴ ᵏⁿᵒʷⁱⁿᵍ ʰᵉʳ ʰᵘˢᵇᵃⁿᵈ‧ "ᔆᵘʳᵉ‧‧" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵏⁿᵉʷ ʰᵉ'ᵈ ᵇᵉ ᵃᵖᵖᵃˡˡᵉᵈ ᵃⁿᵈ ᶠᵘʳⁱᵒᵘˢ ⁱᶠ ʰᵉ ᵒⁿˡʸ ᵏⁿᵉʷ‧ 'ᴮᵉᵗ ʸᵃᵖᵖⁱⁿᵍ ᵍᵃᵛᵉ ʰⁱᵐ ᵐᵒʳᵉ ˢᵒʳᵉⁿᵉˢˢ‧' "ᴶᵘˢᵗ ʳᵉˢᵗ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ‧" "ᴵ ᵏⁿᵒʷ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵗᵒ ᵍᵒ ˢᶜʰᵉᵐᵉ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ‧ ᴬⁿᵈ ᵇᵉˢⁱᵈᵉˢ⸴ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵗʰᵉ ʷᵒʳˢᵗ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵐᵘˢᵗ ⁿᵒᵗ ˢᵉᵉ ᵐᵉ ᵛᵘˡⁿᵉʳᵃᵇˡᵉ! ᴺᵒᵗ ᵗᵒ ᵐᵉⁿᵗⁱᵒⁿ ⁱᶠ ʰᵉ ᶠᵒᵘⁿᵈ ᵒᵘᵗ ᵃᵇᵒᵘᵗ ᵐʸ ˢᵘʳᵍᵉʳʸ!" ᔆᵃʸˢ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ⸴ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵏⁿᵒʷⁱⁿᵍ ʷʰⁱˡˢᵗ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ˢᵐⁱˡᵉˢ‧ "ᴵᵐᵃᵍⁱⁿᵉ ⁱᶠ ʰᵉ ᵏⁿᵉʷ ᵃᵇᵒᵘᵗ ᵐʸ ʰᵒˢᵖⁱᵗᵃˡⁱˢᵃᵗⁱᵒⁿ ᴵ'ᵈ ⁿᵉᵛ’ʳ ˡⁱᵛᵉ ⁱᵗ ᵈᵒʷⁿ! ᴬⁿᵈ ᵐᵉ ᵗᵃʷᵏⁱⁿᵍ ʷᵉⁱʷᵈ‧" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ⁿᵒᵈᵈᵉᵈ ᵃˢ ʰᵉʳ ʰᵘˢᵇᵃⁿᵈ ˢⁱᵍʰˢ‧ "ᴵᵗ ʰᵘʳᵗˢ‧" "ᵂᵉˡˡ ᵍᵉᵗᵗⁱⁿᵍ ʸᵒᵘʳˢᵉˡᶠ ʷᵒʳᵏᵉᵈ ᵘᵖ ᵒᵛᵉʳ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ʷᵒⁿ'ᵗ ʰᵉˡᵖ!" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵗᵒˡᵈ‧ "ʸᵒᵘʷ ʷⁱᵍʰᵗ ᵃⁿᵈ ʰᵉ'ˢ ⁿᵒᵗ ʷᵒʳᵗʰ ⁱᵗ‧ ᵁʳᵍʰ ᵐʸ ᶜʰᵉᵉᵏˢ ˢᵉᵉᵐ ᵖᵘᶠᶠʸ‧‧" "ʸᵒᵘ'ʳᵉ ˢᵗᵃʳᵗⁱⁿᵍ ᵗᵒ ᵇʳᵘⁱˢᵉ ᶠᵒʳᵐⁱⁿᵍ ᵇᵘᵗ ⁱᵗ'ˢ ᵃˡˡ ⁿᵒʳᵐᵃˡ‧ ᴵᵗ'ˡˡ ᵍᵉᵗ ᵇᵉᵗᵗᵉʳ ᵇʸ ⁿᵉˣᵗ ʷᵉᵉᵏ‧" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵗᵉˡˡˢ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵇᵉᶠᵒʳᵉ ʰᵉᵃʳⁱⁿᵍ ᵗʰᵉ ᵈᵒᵒʳ‧ "ᵀᵉˡˡ 'ᵉᵐ ⁿᵒᵗʰⁱⁿᵍ ᵘⁿˡᵉˢˢ ⁱᵗ'ˢ ᵗᵒ ᵍᵉᵗ ˡᵒˢᵗ‧" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ˡᵉᶠᵗ⸴ ⁿᵒʷ ᵒᵖᵉⁿⁱⁿᵍ ᵗʰᵉⁱʳ ᶠʳᵒⁿᵗ ᵈᵒᵒʳ ᵗᵒ ˢᵉᵉ ᴱᵘᵍᵉⁿᵉ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ‧ cont. pt. two

NOTHING BUT THE WISDOM TRUTH iii Just as Karen's about to leave the room to let him sleep, the doorbell rang. It was Mr. Krabs, eyes looking concerned. She opened the door, whispering, "Shh, he's asleep." Mr. Krabs nodded, his usual gruffness replaced with a rare display of compassion. He held a bag of ice. "Thought he might need these," he said. Karen took the bag gratefully. "Thank you," she whispered. "He's in the living room." Mr. Krabs nodded again and followed her into the room. He took in the sight of Plankton, sprawled out on the couch with his mouth slightly open, snoring softly. "Tough day, eh?" he murmured. "You have no idea," Karen replied, her voice tinged with exhaustion. She took the gauze out of Plankton's swollen cheeks. He stirred but didn't wake. Mr. Krabs took a seat in the chair opposite the couch, fidgeting nervously. "How's he been?" he asked. "In and out," Karen replied, watching as Plankton shifted slightly. Mr. Krabs leaned forward, his eyes narrowing with curiosity. "And what'd they say?" Karen sighed, the weight of the day settling on her shoulders. "It went well, the doctor said. They had to remove all four of his wisdom teeth. It wasn't easy, but he was pretty out of it. They had to give him extra sedative." Mr. Krabs' eyebrows shot up. "Plankton, out of it?" Karen nodded, a small smile playing on her lips despite the situation. "Just sleeping, drooling a bit.." Mr. Krabs chuckled quietly. "I think this really knocked him out." Karen nodded, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "Yeah, he's been pretty out of it since he went under," she whispered. "But it's ok, it's just til the anesthesia wears off." Mr. Krabs leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving Plankton's sleeping form. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but...he looks peaceful." Karen chuckled softly. "He's not one to sit still, so it's definitely a rare sight." She took the bag of ice from Mr. Krabs and placed it gently on Plankton's swollen cheek. He didn't even flinch, lost in a world of drug-induced slumber. They sat in companionable silence for a few minutes, the only sound being Plankton's rhythmic snores. Eventually, Plankton's eye opens. "K-Krabs?" he slurred, his voice groggy. Mr. Krabs jolted upright, his claws clutching the chair's armrests. "Yes, yes, it's me," he said, his voice a mix of surprise and awkwardness. Plankton's eye searched the room, his gaze landing on the bag of ice on his cheek. He reached up to touch it, his hand wobbly. "What...happened?" "You had your wisdom teeth out, honey," Karen said, her voice soothing. "Remember?" Plankton's expression grew comically confused. "Wish-dish...teef?" Mr. Krabs coughed, clearing his throat. "Ah, yes, your wisdom teeth," he said. "Yes, those pesky things," he said. "But don't worry, they're gone now." Plankton's eye widened slightly, and he tried to sit up, only to wince in pain. "Oh, wight," he murmured, his hand moving to his mouth. Karen quickly leaned over and pushed him back down gently. "Easy, you need to rest," she said. Plankton's eye searched the room again before focusing on Mr. Krabs. "K-Krabs?" he slurred, a hint of a smile forming. "Youw here?" Mr. Krabs nodded, his expression a mix of amusement and concern. "Yes, I am. Thought I'd check on my favorite...uh, rival." Karen couldn't help but chuckle at the awkwardness, but Plankton's face lit up. "You're my best fwiend," he slurred, his arm reaching out to pat Mr. Krabs' hand. Mr. Krabs looked down at the small, tentacle-like hand on his arm, and for a brief moment, his usual stern expression softened. "Plankton, I...I'm just here to check on you," he said, his voice gruff but not unkind. Plankton's smile grew wider, his one eye shining with what could only be described as affection. "Mr. Kwabs, you're the best," he slurred, his voice thick with the remnants of the anesthesia. Mr. Krabs looked at Karen, his beady eyes wide with surprise. "Is he...is he okay?" he whispered. Karen nodded, her own smile growing. "It's just the anesthesia. He'll be back to his usual self in no time." Plankton's hand remained on Mr. Krabs' arm, his grip tightening slightly. Mr. Krabs' shell flushed, unused to such affection from his nemesis. "Th-thank you, Plankton," he stuttered. "Just get some rest now." Just something endearing about Plankton's vulnerability in this state. She knew Mr. Krabs felt it too, his gruff exterior melting away like the ice on Plankton's cheek. "Mr. Kwabs," Plankton mumbled again. Mr. Krabs cleared his throat, his pinchers fidgeting with the chair's armrest. "Yes, Plankton?" "Can you...tell me a stowwy?" Plankton's voice was barely audible, his one eye pleading. Mr. Krabs' eyebrows shot up. "A story?" he repeated, surprised. "It'd help him relax," Karen shrugs. "Just something simple." Mr. Krabs took a deep breath, his mind racing for a suitable tale. "Once upon a time," he began, his voice softer than usual, "there was a tiny plankton named... Sheldon." Plankton's eye fluttered open, a smile spreading across his swollen face. "Thath's me!" he exclaimed, his voice still slurred. Mr. Krabs chuckled, his usual stern expression replaced with a warm smile. "Indeed it is," he said, his eyes crinkling at the edges. He took a deep breath and continued, "Sheldon Plankton lived in a big, blue sea. And he had the most amazing plan." Plankton's eye remained open, focusing on Mr. Krabs as best he could. "Whath's the plan?" he mumbled. Mr. Krabs paused, surprised by Plankton's interest. "Well, Plankton had the most ingenious plan to become the best chef in the sea," he said, his voice taking on a storytelling lilt. Plankton's eye fluttered, his gaze fixed on Mr. Krabs. "Chef?" he repeated, his voice a hopeful murmur. Mr. Krabs nodded, his smile growing. "Yes, a chef," he said. "And every day, Sheldon would try new recipes, searching for the perfect Krabby Patty secret." Plankton's grip on Mr. Krabs' tightened. "Mr. Kwabs," he slurred again, his voice thick with emotion. "You're...you're the besht...the beth...chef." Mr. Krabs blinked, his eyes misting over. It was the closest thing to a compliment he had ever received from Plankton, and it was enough to make his heart swell. "Why, thank you, Plankton," he said, his voice cracking slightly. Karen watched the scene unfold with a warm smile. It was clear that despite their rivalry, Plankton looked up to Mr. Krabs in some way. It anesthetic loopiness was a side of him she had never seen before. "You...you're wike a fath-ther to me," he mumbled, his grip on Mr. Krabs' arm tightening. Mr. Krabs was taken aback, his claws patting Plankton's awkwardly. "Plankton," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "You're like...a...a...uh, a...uh, a...challenge," he finished lamely, not quite able to express the feelings that Plankton's words had stirred in him. Plankton's smile grew, his one eye gleaming with happiness. "I wike you." Mr. Krabs nodded, his heart feeling lighter than it had in a long time. "So, Sheldon Plankton," he began, his voice soothing. "He worked tirelessly, trying to outdo the Krabby Patty with his own secret recipe." Plankton's head lolled back against Mr. Krabs' arm, his breathing growing shallower. His grip on Mr. Krabs' hand loosened, and his eyelid began to droop again. Mr. Krabs noticed the change and paused his story, watching him carefully. "Don't stop," Karen whispered, brimming with tears. "It's helping him relax." Mr. Krabs nodded, understanding the unspoken request. He took a deep breath and resumed the tale. "But no matter how hard Sheldon Plankton tried, he just couldn't crack the code. One day, he stumbled upon an ancient scroll..." Mr. Krabs' voice droned on. Plankton's breathing grew more rhythmic, his grip on Mr. Krabs' arm loosening. His head slowly sank against Mr. Krabs' chest, and his eye closed completely. Mr. Krabs felt the weight of his rival, his own heart beating a little faster. He'd never had Plankton this close, this...trusting. The room grew quiet, only the occasional snore from Plankton piercing the silence. Mr. Krabs paused in his storytelling, his pinchers hovering over the bowl of soup. He looked down at Plankton, his expression a mix of confusion and something else. Something he couldn't quite put his claw on. "Should we get him to bed?" he whispered to Karen. "Yes," she said, pixelated eyes shining with unshed tears. "Let's get him comfortable." They carefully lifted Plankton from the couch. Karen picked up Spot, cradling him in her arms as they moved to the bedroom. Mr. Krabs took the lead. Plankton's snores grew louder as they climbed the stairs, each step a test of their coordination. Karen followed closely behind, her eyes never leaving Plankton's peaceful face. She couldn't remember the last time she had seen him so at ease, so vulnerable. It was a side of him she had rarely glimpsed, and it filled her with a warmth she hadn't expected. They laid Plankton down gently, his body sinking into the mattress with a sigh. Spot squirmed in Karen's arms, sensing the shift in his owner's condition. She placed the amoeba pup on the bed beside Plankton, who automatically curled into the warm blob, his snores growing quieter. Mr. Krabs hovered over the bed, his claws twitching as he surveyed the scene. "Is he...is he okay?" he asked, his voice a whisper. Karen nodded, a gentle smile playing on her lips. "He's just sleeping," she assured him. "Thanks for staying." Mr. Krabs nodded, his eyes lingering on the sleeping Plankton. "Of course," he said gruffly. "Can't have you two dealing with this alone." Karen tucked the blankets around him, smoothing out the wrinkles with a gentle hand.

ᴹʸ ᴮᵃᵈ ❥𝚆𝚘𝚛𝚍 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝 - 𝟼𝟶𝟹 ⁽ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᴮᵒᵇ ᶠᵃⁿᶠⁱᶜ⁾ "ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʷʰʸ ᵈᵒ ʸᵒᵘ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ᵒⁿ ᴹⁱᶜʰᵃᵉˡ ᴶ‧‧‧" "ᴵ'ᵐ ᵍᵉᵗᵗⁱⁿᵍ ⁱⁿ ᵐʸ ˢᵉˡᶠ ᵖᵘᵐᵖᵉᵈ ᵐᵒᵒᵈ! ᴺᵒʷ ᵗᵒ ᵍᵒ ᵍᵉᵗ ⁱⁿᵍʳᵉᵈⁱᵉⁿᵗˢ‧‧‧" ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵗᵒˡᵈ ʰⁱˢ ᶜᵒᵐᵖᵘᵗᵉʳ ʷⁱᶠᵉ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ‧ ᴴᵉ ˢᵃʷ ᵗʰᵉ ˡᵘⁿᶜʰ ʳᵘˢʰ⸴ ˢᵏⁱᵖᵖⁱⁿᵍ ᵗᵒ ʷʰⁱˡˢᵗ ʰᵘᵐᵐⁱⁿᵍ ᵗʰᵉ ᵗᵘⁿᵉ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ˢᵒⁿᵍ‧ "ᴵ'ᵐ ᵇᵃᵈ; ʸᵒᵘ ᵏⁿᵒʷ ⁱᵗ‧‧" ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵐᵒᵒⁿ ʷᵃˡᵏᵉᵈ ᵇᵃᶜᵏˢ ᵗᵒ ᵗʰᵉ ʷᵃˡˡ‧ ᴴᵉ ᵉᵈᵍᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵇʸ ᵗʰᵉ ᵒᶠᶠⁱᶜᵉ ᵈᵒᵒʳ‧ "ᴺᵒʷ ʷʰᵒ'ˢ ᵇᵃ‧‧‧ ᴬᴬᴬ!" ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵍᵒᵗ ʰⁱᵗ ᵃˢ ʰᵉ ᵗᵘʳⁿᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵗʰᵉ ᵒᶠᶠⁱᶜᵉ ᵇʸ ᵗʰᵉ ᵈᵒᵒʳ ʷʰᵉⁿ ⁱᵗ ˢʷⁱⁿᵍ ᵒᵖᵉⁿ ˢˡᵃᵐᵐⁱⁿᵍ ʰⁱᵐ ⁱⁿ ʰᵃʳᵈ ⁱⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ʰᵉᵃᵈ‧ ᵀʰᵉ ˡᵃˢᵗ ᵗʰⁱⁿᵍ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʳᵉᵍⁱˢᵗᵉʳᵉᵈ ᵗʰᵉ ᵈᵒᵒʳ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵗʰᵉ ʰⁱᵗ ʰⁱᵐ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵇˡᵃᶜᵏᵉᵈ ᵒᵘᵗ ᵇᵉᶠᵒʳᵉ ᶠᵃˡˡⁱⁿᵍ ˡⁱᵐᵖ‧ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ʰᵉᵃᵛᵉᵈ ᵗʰᵉ ᵈᵒᵒʳ ᵒᵖᵉⁿ ᵗᵒ ʰᵉᵃʳ ᵃ ʰⁱᵗᶜʰᵉᵈ ᶜʳʸ ᵘᵗᵗᵉʳᵉᵈ ᵇʸ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʷʰᵒ ᵗʰᵉⁿᶜᵉ ᶠᵃˡᵗᵉʳᵉᵈ‧ "ʸᵒᵘ ᶠᵃᵏᵉ ᶠᵃⁱⁿᵗⁱⁿᵍ; ʰᵒʷ ˡᵒʷ⸴ ᵉᵛᵉⁿ ᶠᵒʳ ʸᵒᵘ‧‧" ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ˢᵗᵃʳᵗᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ˢᵃʸ ᵇᵉᶠᵒʳᵉ ʰᵉ ʳᵉᵃˡⁱˢᵉᵈ ʰᵒʷ ˡⁱᵗᵉʳᵃˡˡʸ ˡᵉᶠᵗ ᵃ ᵐᵃʳᵏ‧ ᴴᵉ ˢᵃʷ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵘᵗᵗᵉʳˡʸ ᵏⁿᵒᶜᵏᵉᵈ ᵒᵘᵗ ᵘⁿᶜᵒⁿˢᶜⁱᵒᵘˢ ⁱⁿˢᵗᵃⁿᵗˡʸ ʰᵘʳᵗ ʳᵉᵃˡ ᵇᵃᵈ‧ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ˢᵗᵒᵒᵈ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᵐᵒᵘᵗʰ ᵃᵍᵃᵖᵉ ⁱⁿ ˢʰᵒᶜᵏ ᵃˢ ʰᵉ ⁱⁿᵗᵉʳⁿᵃˡˡʸ ᵖᵃⁿⁱᶜᵏᵉᵈ ᵐᵒᵐᵉⁿᵗᵃʳⁱˡʸ‧ ᵀʰᵉ ᵉᵈᵍᵉ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ᵈᵒᵒʳ ʳⁱᵈᵍᵉ ⁿᵒʷ ˢʰᵒʷˢ ᵃ ᵈᵉⁿᵗ ʷʰᵉʳᵉ ⁱᵗ ʰⁱᵗ ʰⁱᵐ‧ ᴱᵛᵉⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ᶜᵘˢᵗᵒᵐᵉʳˢ ˢᵗᵃʸᵉᵈ ˢⁱˡᵉⁿᵗ ⁱⁿ ˢᵘˢᵖᵉⁿˢᵉ ᵃˢ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ˢᵗⁱˡˡ ˢᵗᵒᵒᵈ ʰᵒᵛᵉʳⁱⁿᵍ ᵒᵛᵉʳ ᵗʰᵉ ᵇ⁰ᵈʸ‧‧ "ᶠᵉᵗᶜʰ ᵗʰᵉ ˢᵐᵉˡˡⁱⁿᵍ ˢᵃˡᵗˢ!" ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵈⁱᵈⁿ'ᵗ ʳᵉˢᵖᵒⁿᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵗʰᵉᵐ‧ ᴬ ᶜᵘˢᵗᵒᵐᵉʳ ʷʰᵒ ʰᵃᵖᵖᵉⁿᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ˢᵒᵐᵉ ᵐᵉᵈⁱᶜᵃˡ ᵉˣᵖᵉʳᵗⁱˢᵉ ʷᵉⁿᵗ ᵘᵖ ᵗᵒ ᵗᵃᵏᵉ ᵃ ˡᵒᵒᵏ‧ "ᴴᵉ ⁱˢ ᵇʳᵉᵃᵗʰⁱⁿᵍ ᵇᵘᵗ ʷᵒⁿ'ᵗ ʳᵒᵘˢᵉ ᶠᵒʳ ᵃᵗ ˡᵉᵃˢᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ᵉᵛᵉⁿⁱⁿᵍ‧ ᴵ ᶜᵃⁿ ˢᵃʸ ʰᵉ ᵗᵒᵒᵏ ᑫᵘⁱᵗᵉ ʰⁱᵗ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵐᵘˢᵗ'ᵛᵉ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵉᵛᵉⁿ ʳᵉᵍⁱˢᵗᵉʳ ᶠᵃˡˡⁱⁿᵍ ᵒᵛᵉʳ‧ ᴴᵉ ᵐⁱᵍʰᵗ ᵒʳ ᵐⁱᵍʰᵗ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵉⁿᵈ ᵘᵖ ᵉᵛᵉⁿ ʳᵉᵐᵉᵐᵇᵉʳⁱⁿᵍ ᵗʰᵉ ᵈᵒᵒʳ ˢˡᵃᵐ ᵇᵘᵗ ᶜᵃⁿ'ᵗ ᵗᵉˡˡ ʸᵉᵗ‧ ʸᵒᵘ ᶜᵃⁿ ˢᵗᵃʸ ᵇʸ ʰⁱˢ ˢⁱᵈᵉ ᵇᵘᵗ ˡᵉᵗ'ˢ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵇᵒᵐᵇᵃʳᵈ ʰⁱᵐ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᶜʳᵒʷᵈⁱⁿᵍ ᵖᵉᵒᵖˡᵉ ᵃʳᵒᵘⁿᵈ ʰⁱᵐ‧ ᔆᵉᵉ ᵗʰᵉ ˢˡⁱᵍʰᵗ ˢʷᵉˡˡⁱⁿᵍ? ᴵᵗ'ˡˡ ᵈⁱᵉ ᵈᵒʷⁿ ᵇᵘᵗ ʰᵉ'ˢ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵍᵒⁿⁿᵃ ʳᵉᵍᵃⁱⁿ ʰⁱˢ ᶜᵒⁿˢᶜⁱᵒᵘˢⁿᵉˢˢ ᵇᵉᶠᵒʳᵉ ⁱᵗ ᵍᵒᵉˢ ᵃʷᵃʸ ᵒʳ ᵗᵘʳⁿˢ ᵗᵒ ᵃ ᵇʳᵘⁱˢᵉ‧" ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ʷᵃⁿᵗᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ʳᵉˡⁱᵉᵛᵉ ᵃⁿʸ ᵗʰᵉ ᵖʳᵉˢˢᵘʳᵉ ᶠʳᵒᵐ ˢʷᵉˡˡⁱⁿᵍ ᵇᵘᵗ ⁿᵉᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ˡᵉᵗ ⁱᵗ ʰᵉᵃˡ ⁱᶠ ʷᵃⁿᵗⁱⁿᵍ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵗᵒ ʷᵃᵏᵉ ᵘᵖ‧ 'ᶜᵒᵐᵉ ᵒⁿ ᵃⁿᵈ ˢʷᵉˡˡ ᵈᵒʷⁿ ˢᵒ ʰᵉ ᶜᵃⁿ ˢᵗⁱʳ ᵍʳᵃᵈᵘᵃˡˡʸ ᵃᵇˡᵉ ᵗᵒ ʷᵃᵏᵉ‧‧‧' ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ˢⁱˡᵉⁿᵗˡʸ ʰᵒᵖᵉᵈ‧ ᴱᵛᵉⁿᵗᵘᵃˡˡʸ ʰᵉ ᵈⁱᵈ ˢᵗᵃʳᵗ ᵗᵒ ᵗʷⁱᵗᶜʰ ᵃˢ ˢʷᵉˡˡⁱⁿᵍ ʷᵉⁿᵗ ᵈᵒʷⁿ ᵇᵘᵗ ⁿᵒᵗ ʸᵉᵗ ᵃʷᵃᵏᵉ ʸᵉᵗ‧ ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵉᵛᵉⁿ ᔆᑫᵘⁱᵈʷᵃʳᵈ ᵃʷᵃⁱᵗᵉᵈ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᵃⁿˣⁱᵉᵗʸ ᶠᵒʳ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ‧ ᔆʷᵉˡˡⁱⁿᵍ ˢᵗᵒᵖᵖᵉᵈ ⁿᵒ ˡᵒⁿᵍᵉʳ ˢʷᵉˡˡˢ‧‧‧ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ'ˢ ᵉʸᵉᵇʳᵒʷ ˢˡⁱᵍʰᵗˡʸ ˢᵗᵃʳᵗᵉᵈ ᶠᵘʳʳᵒʷⁱⁿᵍ ᵃʳᵒᵘⁿᵈ ᶜˡᵒˢⁱⁿᵍ ᵗⁱᵐᵉ‧ ᴱᵐᵖˡᵒʸᵉᵉˢ ʷᵃᵗᶜʰᵉᵈ⸴ ᵍⁱᵛⁱⁿᵍ ʰⁱᵐ ˢᵖᵃᶜᵉ‧ ᴿᵉᵗᵘʳⁿⁱⁿᵍ ᵗᵒ ʰⁱˢ ˢᵉⁿˢᵉˢ ᶜᵃᵐᵉ ᵇᵃᶜᵏ ᵗᵒ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ‧ "ᵁʰʰʰʰʰʰʰʰ‧‧‧" ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ˢⁱᵍʰᵉᵈ ʷⁱᵗʰ ˢᵒᵐᵉ ᵈⁱᶠᶠⁱᶜᵘˡᵗʸ ʷᵃᵏⁱⁿᵍ ᵘᵖ‧ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ˢᵗʳᵘᵍᵍˡᵉᵈ ᵃˢ ʰᵉ ᵗʳⁱᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᶜᵒᵐᵖʳᵉʰᵉⁿᵈ‧ ᴴⁱˢ ʰᵉᵃᵈ ⁿᵒʷ ᵗʰʳᵒᵇˢ ᵃˢ ᵖᵃⁱⁿ ʳᵃᵈⁱᵃᵗᵉᵈ ᶠʳᵒᵐ ʷʰᵉⁿᶜᵉ ʰᵉ ᵍᵒᵗ ʰⁱᵗ‧ "ᴼʳᵍ; ʷʰ‧‧‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ‽" ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʳᵉᶜᵒᵍⁿⁱˢᵉᵈ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ˢᵗᵃⁿᵈⁱⁿᵍ ᵇᵉᶠᵒʳᵉ ʰⁱᵐ‧ "ᴳᵉᵗ ˢᵒᵐᵉ ᵖᵘᵗ ⁱᶜᵉ ᵗᵒ ʸᵒᵘʳ ʰᵉᵃᵈ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ⁱᵗ'ˡˡ ʰᵉˡᵖ ᶠᵉᵉˡ ᵇᵉᵗᵗᵉʳ‧‧" ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵒᶠᶠᵉʳᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ʰᵉˡᵖ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵘᵖ ᵇᵘᵗ ʰᵉ ˡᵒᵒᵏᵉᵈ ᵃʷᵃʸ ᶠʳᵒᵐ ʰⁱᵐ‧ "ᴵ'ᵐ ˢᵒ ˢᵒʳʳʸ ᵃᵇᵒᵘᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ᵈᵒᵒʳ‧‧‧" "ᔆʰᵉˡᵈᵒⁿ ʷʰᵉʳᵉ‧‧‧ ᔆʰᵉˡᵈᵒⁿ ᴵ'ᵛᵉ ᵇᵉᵉⁿ ʷᵃⁱᵗⁱⁿᵍ ᵃˡˡ ᵈᵃʸ ᶠᵒʳ‧‧‧ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʷʰᵃᵗ ʰᵃᵖᵖᵉⁿᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ʸᵒᵘ‽" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᶜᵃᵐᵉ⸴ ⁱⁿᵗᵉʳʳᵘᵖᵗⁱⁿᵍ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ˢᵉᵉⁱⁿᵍ ᵗʰᵉᵐ‧ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵖᵘᵗ ʰᵉʳ ʰᵘˢᵇᵃⁿᵈ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ⁱⁿ ʰⁱˢ ᵇᵉᵈ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᵃ ˢᵒᶠᵗ ᵖⁱˡˡᵒʷ ᵃˢ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵗᵒˡᵈ ʷʰᵃᵗ ʰᵃᵖᵖᵉⁿᵉᵈ‧ "ᴵ ⁿᵉᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ʷᵃᵗᶜʰ ʷʰᵉʳᵉ ᴵ'ᵐ ᵍᵒⁱⁿᵍ ⁿᵉˣᵗ ᵗⁱᵐᵉ‧‧" ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ˢᵃʸˢ ᵃˢ ʰᵉ ˢᵗᵃʳᵗᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵈᵒᶻᵉ ᵒᶠᶠ ᵗᵒ ˢˡᵉᵉᵖ‧ "ᴳᵉᵗ ʳᵉˢᵗ‧ ᴵ ᶜᵃⁿ ᶜʰᵉᶜᵏ ᵇᵃᶜᵏ ᵘᵖ ᵒⁿ ʸᵒᵘ ᵗᵒᵐᵒʳʳᵒʷ ⁱᶠ ʸᵒᵘ‧‧‧" ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵗᵒˡᵈ ʰⁱᵐ ᵇᵘᵗ ʰᵉˢⁱᵗᵃᵗᵉᵈ ᵃˢ ʰᵉ ˢᵃʷ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵛⁱˢⁱᵇˡʸ ʳᵉˡᵃˣ‧ "ᴵ'ᵐ ʲᵘˢᵗ ᵃˢᵏⁱⁿᵍ ᶠᵒʳ ʰⁱˢ ᶠᵒʳᵍⁱᵛᵉⁿᵉˢˢ ᵇᵘᵗ ᴵ‧‧‧" "ᴵ ᵏⁿᵒʷ ᵃⁿᵈ ᴵ'ᵐ ˢᵘʳᵉ ʰᵉ ᵏⁿᵒʷˢ‧" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ˢᵃⁱᵈ ᵃˢ ˢʰᵉ ᶜᵃˡᵐˡʸ ᵖᵃᵗᵗᵉᵈ ʰᵉʳ ʰᵘˢᵇᵃⁿᵈ‧ "ᵂᵉˡˡ ᴵ ᵗʰⁱⁿᵏ ʰᵉ'ˢ ᵃˢˡᵉᵉᵖ ᵇᵘᵗ ʷʰᵉⁿᵉᵛᵉʳ ʰᵉ ʷᵃᵏᵉˢ ᵘᵖ ᴵ'ˡˡ ᵗᵉˡˡ ʰⁱᵐ‧" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵗᵒˡᵈ‧ "ᵀʰᵃⁿᵏˢ⸴ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ‧‧" ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ˢᵃʸˢ ᵃˢ ʰᵉ ˡᵉᶠᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ᶜʰᵘᵐ ᵇᵘᶜᵏᵉᵗ‧

ᴾᵃʸ ᵀʰᵉ ᴮⁱˡˡ ⁽ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᴮᵒᵇ ᶠᵃⁿᶠⁱᶜ⁾ ᴮⁱˡˡʸ ʷᵃˢ ᵗʰᵉ ʰᵉᵃᵈ ʰᵒⁿᶜʰᵒ ʳⁱⁿᵍ ˡᵉᵃᵈᵉʳ ʷʰᵒ ᵗᵃᵘⁿᵗᵉᵈ ᔆʰᵉˡᵈᵒⁿ ᴶᵃʸ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵃⁿᵈ ᴱᵘᵍᵉⁿᵉ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵃˢ ˢᶜʰᵒᵒˡ ᶜʰⁱˡᵈʳᵉⁿ‧ ᴴᵉ ᵐᵒᵛᵉᵈ ᵃᶠᵗᵉʳ ᵍʳᵃᵈᵘᵃᵗⁱᵒⁿ ᵇᵘᵗ ʰᵉ ʲᵘˢᵗ ᶜᵃᵐᵉ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵐᵒᵛᵉᵈ ᵇᵃᶜᵏ ᵗᵒ ᴮⁱᵏⁱⁿⁱ ᴮᵒᵗᵗᵒᵐ! "ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ'ˢ ⁿᵒʷ ᵉⁿᵉᵐⁱᵉˢ ʷⁱᵗʰ‧‧‧" ᴮⁱˡˡʸ ˢᵃʷ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᶠᵒʳᶜᵉ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵒᵘᵗ ᵒᶠ ʰⁱˢ ᵒʷⁿ ʳᵉˢᵗᵃᵘʳᵃⁿᵗ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᵃ ˢᵐⁱʳᵏ‧ "ᶜʰᵘᵐ ᴮᵘᶜᵏᵉᵗ? ᵀʰᵉ ᵏʳᵘˢᵗʸ ᵏʳᵃᵇ? ᴵ ˢᵉᵉ ⁿᵒʷ ᵖᵒᵒʳ ᵒˡᵈ ʳᵃᵍ ᵇᵒʸ'ˢ ʳⁱᶜʰ‧ ᴸᵒᵒᵏ ʷʰᵉʳᵉ ᵇᵉⁱⁿᵍ ᵃ ⁿᵉʳᵈ ᵍᵒᵗ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ!" ᴮⁱˡˡʸ ˢᵃʷ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᶜʳʸⁱⁿᵍ ᵃˢ ʰᵉ ʷᵉⁿᵗ ᵗᵒ ʰⁱˢ ᵒʷⁿ ʳᵉˢᵗᵃᵘʳᵃⁿᵗ‧ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ᶜᵒᵐᵖᵘᵗᵉʳ ˢᵃʷ ʰᵉʳ ʰᵘˢᵇᵃⁿᵈ ⁱⁿ ᵗᵉᵃʳˢ ᵃˢ ˢᵖᵒᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ᵃᵐᵒᵉᵇᵃ ᵖᵘᵖᵖʸ ᵇᵒᵘⁿᶜᵉᵈ ᵒᵛᵉʳ ᵗᵒ ʰⁱᵐ‧ ᔆʰᵉ ᵏⁿᵉʷ ᵇᵉᵗᵗᵉʳ ᵗʰᵃⁿ ᵗᵒ ᵖʳʸ ʷʰᵉⁿ ʰᵉ'ˢ ᵘᵖˢᵉᵗ⸴ ˢᵒ ˢʰᵉ ʲᵘˢᵗ ʷᵃᵛᵉᵈ‧ ᔆᵖᵒᵗ ˡⁱᶜᵏᵉᵈ ᵃʷᵃʸ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ'ˢ ᵗᵉᵃʳˢ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᵏⁱˢˢᵉˢ ᵃˢ ʰᵉ ᵍᵃᵛᵉ ʰⁱᵐ ᵃ ˢᵃᵈ ˢᵐⁱˡᵉ‧ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵉᵐᵇʳᵃᶜᵉᵈ ˢᵖᵒᵗ ᵃˢ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵍᵃᵛᵉ ʰⁱᵐ ˢᵒᵐᵉ ˢᵖᵃᶜᵉ‧ "ᴬʰ⸴ ᔆᵖᵒᵗ‧‧‧" ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵍᵃᵛᵉ ʰⁱᵐ ˢᵒᵐᵉ ˡᵒᵛᵉ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵖᵉᵗˢ ᵃˢ ʰᵉ ᵍᵒᵗ ᵇᵃᶜᵏ ᵘᵖ‧ "ᴵ ⁿᵉᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵗᵃᵏᵉ ᵒᵘᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ᵗʳᵃˢʰ ⁿᵒʷ ᵇᵉᶠᵒʳᵉ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵍᵉᵗˢ ᵒⁿ ᵐʸ ᶜᵃˢᵉ‧" ᴴᵉ ᵗᵒᵒᵏ ᵗʰᵉ ᵍᵃʳᵇᵃᵍᵉ ᵇᵃᵍ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵗʰʳᵉʷ ⁱᵗ ⁱⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ᵈᵘᵐᵖˢᵗᵉʳ‧ ᴮⁱˡˡʸ ᶜᵃᵐᵉ ᵘᵖ ᵗᵒ ʰⁱᵐ‧ "ᴾᵉᵃ ᵇʳᵃⁱⁿ! ʸᵒᵘ ˢʰᵒᵘˡᵈ'ᵛᵉ ᵉᵃᵗᵉⁿ ʸᵒᵘʳ ᵛᵉᵍᵍⁱᵉˢ!" ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ˢᵃʷ ᴮⁱˡˡʸ ᵃⁿᵈ ʳᵉᶜᵒᵍⁿⁱˢᵉᵈ ʰⁱᵐ‧ ᴮⁱˡˡʸ ʳᵃⁿ ᵒᶠᶠ ᵃˢ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ʷᵉⁿᵗ ᵗᵒ ᶜʰᵉᶜᵏ ᵒⁿ ʰᵉʳ ʰᵘˢᵇᵃⁿᵈ‧ ᴬˢ ʰᵉ ᵍᵃˢᵖᵉᵈ ᶠᵒʳ ᵇʳᵉᵃᵗʰ⸴ ʰᵉ ˢᵃʷ ʰⁱˢ ᶜᵒᵐᵖᵘᵗᵉʳ ʷⁱᶠᵉ‧ "ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ‽" ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ʷᵉⁿᵗ ʰᵒᵐᵉ ᶠʳᵒᵐ ʰⁱˢ ʷᵒʳᵏ ʷʰᵉⁿ ʰⁱˢ ᵖʰᵒⁿᵉ ˢᵗᵃʳᵗᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ʳⁱⁿᵍ ᵃˢ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᶜᵃˡˡᵉᵈ‧ "ᴮⁱˡˡʸ'ˢ ᵇᵃᶜᵏ‧" ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵗᵒˡᵈ ʰⁱᵐ ʷᵉᵃᵏˡʸ ᵒᵛᵉʳ ᵗʰᵉ ᵖʰᵒⁿᵉ‧ "ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ˡⁱˢᵗᵉⁿ ᵘᵖ ᵗᵒ ᵐᵉ!" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ˢᵃⁱᵈ ᵃˢ ˢʰᵉ ᵗᵒᵒᵏ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ'ˢ ᵖʰᵒⁿᵉ‧ "ᴵ ᵖʳᵒᵐⁱˢᵉ ʸᵒᵘ ʰᵉ'ˢ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵐᵃᵏⁱⁿᵍ ᵘᵖ ˢᵒᵐᵉ ᵖᵃᵗᵗʸ ˢᶜʰᵉᵐᵉ ᵇᵉᶜᵃᵘˢᵉ ᴵ ˢᵃʷ ʰⁱᵐ ᵇᵃʳᵉˡʸ ᵃᵇˡᵉ ᵗᵒ ˡⁱᶠᵗ ʰⁱˢ ʰᵉᵃᵈ ᵘᵖ‧ ᴱᵛᵉⁿ ᵃᶠᵗᵉʳ ʸᵉᵃʳˢ ᵒᶠ ᵐᵃʳʳⁱᵃᵍᵉ ᴵ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ⁿᵉᵛᵉʳ ˢᵉᵉⁿ ʰⁱᵐ ˢᵒ ᵇᵃᵈˡʸ ᵇᵉᵃᵗᵉⁿ ᵘᵖ‧ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵗᵒˡᵈ ᵐᵉ ᵃᵇᵒᵘᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ˢᶜʰᵒᵒˡ ᵇᵘˡˡʸ ʷʰᵒ ᵗᵃᵘⁿᵗᵉᵈ ʸᵒᵘ ᵇᵒᵗʰ‧ ʸᵒᵘ ᵐᵃʸ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵇᵉ ᵍᵒᵒᵈ ᶠʳⁱᵉⁿᵈˢ ᵇᵘᵗ ᵖˡᵉᵃˢᵉ ᵖᵘᵗ ʸᵒᵘʳ ʳⁱᵛᵃˡʳʸ ᵃˢⁱᵈᵉ ᶠᵒʳ ⁿᵒʷ‧‧‧" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ˢᵃⁱᵈ‧ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ʷᵉⁿᵗ ᵗᵒ ᵗʰᵉ ᶜʰᵘᵐ ᵇᵘᶜᵏᵉᵗ ᵃˢ ᵒⁿᶜᵉ ʰᵉ ʰᵉᵃʳᵈ ᵗʰᵉ ⁿᵉʷˢ‧ ᔆᵖᵒᵗ ˢᵃᵗ ᵇʸ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵒⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ᵇᵉᵈ‧ "ᴴᵉʸ⸴ ᔆʰᵉˡᵈᵒⁿ‧‧‧" ᔆᵗⁱˡˡ ᵗᵒ ˢᵒʳᵉ ᵃⁿᵈ ʷᵉᵃᵏ ᵗᵒ ˢⁱᵗ ʰⁱᵐˢᵉˡᶠ ᵘᵖ ʳⁱᵍʰᵗ ⁿᵒʷ⸴ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʳᵉᶜᵒᵍⁿⁱˢᵉᵈ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ‧ "ᴵ ᵏⁿᵒʷ ʷᵉ'ᵛᵉ ᵇᵉᵉⁿ ᵃᵗ ⁱᵗ ᶠⁱᵍʰᵗⁱⁿᵍ ᶠᵒʳ ʸᵉᵃʳˢ ᵇᵘᵗ ᴮⁱˡˡʸ'ˢ ⁿᵒ ᶠʳⁱᵉⁿᵈ ᵒᶠ ᵐⁱⁿᵉ‧ ᴴᵉ'ˢ ʷᵒʳˢᵉ ᵗʰᵃⁿ ʸᵒᵘ ᵃʳᵉ ⁱⁿ ᵐʸ ᵉʸᵉˢ⸴ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵃ ᵍʳᵉᵃᵗᵉʳ ᵉⁿᵉᵐʸ‧‧‧" "ʸᵒᵘ ᵏⁿᵒʷ⸴ ᴵ ʰᵉᵃʳᵈ ᵃ ᶜᵒᵐᵐᵒⁿ ᵉⁿᵉᵐʸ ʷⁱᵗʰ ʸᵒᵘʳ ᵉⁿᵉᵐʸ⸴ ˡⁱᵏᵉ ʰᵉ'ˢ ᵗʰᵉ ᶠⁱⁿᵃˡ ᵇᵒˢˢ‧‧‧" "ᴵ ᵏⁿᵒʷ⸴ ᵃ ᵍʳᵉᵃᵗᵉʳ ᵉⁿᵉᵐʸ ᵗʰᵃⁿ ᵘʳˢ‧ ᴼⁿˡʸ ᴵ ᶜᵃⁿ ᵇᵉ ᵗʰᵉ ᵒⁿᵉ ᵗᵒ ᶜᵃˡˡ ʸᵒᵘʳ ʳⁱᵛᵃˡ⸴ ⁿᵒᵗ ʰⁱᵐ! ᔆᵒ ʰᵒʷ‧‧‧" ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵍᵒᵗ ⁱⁿᵗᵉʳʳᵘᵖᵗᵉᵈ ᵃˢ ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ᶜᵃᵐᵉ ⁱⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ʳᵒᵒᵐ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᴮⁱˡˡʸ‧ "ᵀᵉˡˡ ᵗʰᵉᵐ!" "ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ᵗᵒˡᵈ ᵐᵉ ʸᵒᵘ ʷᵉⁿᵗ ᵗᵒ ᶜᵒˡˡᵉᵍᵉ ᵃⁿᵈ ʰᵉ ᵍᵃᵛᵉ ᵐᵉ ᵃ ᵏʳᵃᵇᵇʸ ᵖᵃᵗᵗʸ‧ ᴵ ʷᵃⁿᵗᵉᵈ ᵐᵒʳᵉ ᵇᵘᵗ ʰᵉ ᵗᵒˡᵈ ᵐᵉ ᵃˢ ˡᵒⁿᵍ ᵃˢ ᴵ ᵇᵘˡˡʸ ʸᵒᵘ ᴵ'ᵐ ᵇᵃⁿⁿᵉᵈ ᶠʳᵒᵐ ᵗʰᵉ ᵏʳᵘˢᵗʸ ᵏʳᵃᵇ‧ ᴵ ᵍᵘᵉˢˢ ᴵ ᶜᵃᵐᵉ ᵗᵒ ˢᵃʸ ᴵ ᵃᵖᵒˡᵒᵍⁱˢᵉ‧ ᴵ ⁿᵉᵛᵉʳ ᵈⁱᵈ ʷᵉˡˡ ⁱⁿ ˢᶜʰᵒᵒˡ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵗᵒᵒᵏ ⁱᵗ ᵒᵘᵗ ᵒⁿ ʸᵒᵘ‧ ᴵ ʷᵒⁿ'ᵗ ᵇᵒᵗʰᵉʳ ʸᵒᵘ ᵃⁿʸ ᵐᵒʳᵉ ᵇᵉᶜᵃᵘˢᵉ ᴵ'ᵐ ᵐᵒᵛⁱⁿᵍ ᵃᵍᵃⁱⁿ‧"

NOTHING BUT THE WISDOM TRUTH iv "Thanks for staying." Mr. Krabs nodded, his eyes lingering on the sleeping Plankton. "Of course," he said gruffly. "Can't have you two dealing it alone." Karen tucked the blankets around him, smoothing out the wrinkles with a gentle hand. The next day, Plankton woke, all traces of anesthesia worn off, cheeks tender to the touch. He vaguely remembered surgery, but everything after was a blur. "Morning," Karen said. She sat beside the bed, her screen warm with concern. "How are you feeling?" Plankton blinked. "K-Karen?" he asked. "Whath's...what happened?" "You had wisdom teeth removed, darling," she said softly. "You're going to be fine." The memory of surgery rushed back to Plankton in fragments—the operating room, machines, and then Karen holding his hand as he woke up. Wincing, he reached to tentatively touch his swollen face, the pain a reminder of his ordeal. Karen noticed his discomfort and handed him water. "Take it slow," she advised, watching him intently. Plankton took a sip, the cool liquid soothing. He leaned back into the pillows with a sigh. "Do you remember surgery?" she asked, stroking his arm. "It's all a bit fuzzy," he admitted. "Just going in, waking up. Going in the car to drive home? But nothing else.." The surgery had gone well. Karen knew Plankton and Krabs had a frenemy relationship, at best; but she had never considered the possibility that Plankton could harbor any genuine feelings for the crab, delirious or not. Now, as she watched him suffer, she debated whether to tell him. Would it help? Would it hurt? She didn't know. But Plankton's curiosity was piqued. "What's going on?" he asked, trying to read her expression. "Did I do something weird?" "It's nothing," she said, forcing a laugh. "Just the usual post-surgery confusion." Plankton's eye wandered around the room, and his gaze landed on a bouquet of jellyfish on the nightstand. "Who sent those?" he asked, his voice still hoarse. Karen looked at the jellyfish, then back at him. "Mr. Krabs," she said. Plankton's eyebrow shot up. "Krabs? Why would he send me jellyfish?" Plankton's eye narrowed slightly. "Does he know about the surgery?" he asked, a hint of concerned horror in his voice. Karen nodded, "I didn't know who else to turn to," she said, her voice filled with a mix of gratitude and trepidation, her voice wavering slightly, "after you were admitted, I called him. I didn't know who else to call for help. You know, with the recovery necessities." Plankton felt his stomach drop. He had hoped that his arch-nemesis, Mr. Krabs, had been blissfully unaware of his weakened state. The thought of Krabs even knowing he was laid up and helpless was more than he could bear. "You called Krabs?" he croaked, disbelief etched into his features. Karen nodded again, gently placing a hand on his shoulder. "He was the only one I could think of who could help us. And he was so kind, Plankton. He didn't even make fun of you." Plankton's mind raced. The mere thought of Krabs seeing him in such a vulnerable condition was almost too much to handle. He had always prided himself on being the smarter, more cunning one, the one who could outwit Krabs at every turn. Now, here he was, unable to chew, looking like a balloon with legs, and being witnessed by the very crab he had spent his life trying to outdo. "What did he see?" Plankton managed to ask, trying to keep the irritation out of his voice. Karen looked surprised. "What do you mean?" "I mean, what did he see me?" Plankton's voice grew more urgent, the fear of humiliation coloring his words. "He saw you sleeping," she said gently. "But you were out of it. You don't have to worry about him." Plankton felt a wave of embarrassment. "How did I look?" "Looked like you were sleeping peacefully," Karen said, trying to reassure him. But she knew that wasn't what he wanted to hear. He wanted to hear that he looked strong, in control, not like the blubbering mess he actually was. Plankton sighed, the sound a sad, defeated hiss. "I can't believe you called him," he said, his voice filled with a mix of pain and annoyance. Karen's hand tightened on his shoulder. "I had to," she said firmly. "You needed someone, and he was the only one I could think of who would help." Plankton's gaze fell to the bouquet of jellyfish. "I hope I didn't budge or talk?" he asked, his voice tight. Karen squeezed his hand. "You were completely out of it," she assured him. "He said you looked tired." Plankton's eye searched hers for any hint of mockery, but all he found was sincerity. He took a deep breath, the pain in his cheeks flaring up, and nodded. He knew he had to accept help, but the thought of Krabs knowing he was down, even for a moment, was maddening. He shifted, trying to find a position that didn't make his mouth throb. "What else happened, with Krabs?" he asked, his voice strained. "He just dropped off the jellyfish and said to tell you to get better soon," Karen said, not giving answers. "I've said all I can say." The silence grew tense as Plankton's mind whirled with scenarios of what Krabs might have seen or heard. He knew his rival had a knack exploiting weakness, and he couldn't let his guard down, even in a state like this. He had to recover quickly, be sharp, to ensure that Krabs didn't use this moment of vulnerability against him. He also knew Karen's not gonna tell him whatever went down. Karen, noticing his discomfort, decided to change the subject. "I'll go grab some ice cream for you," she offered, standing up. "It'll help with the swelling, but don't do anything foolish while I'm gone." Plankton nodded, his thoughts racing. As soon as the door clicked shut behind her, he began to formulate a plan. He had to speak to Krabs, to make sure there were no misunderstandings, no ammo for future taunts. Wincing, he swung his legs over the side of the bed, using the momentum to stand up. He wobbled for a moment, his head spinning, but steadied himself against the wall. In his office at the krusty krab, Mr. Krabs sat at the table, sipping a cup of tea and staring at the floor. He had hoped Plankton's odd behavior was just the drugs talking, but deep down, he couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between them. He had felt a strange warmth when Plankton had called him 'my dearest friend' in his delirious state. But friends? That was a concept that seemed as foreign to him as a day without the Krabby Patty. He sighed, setting the cup down. It was nonsense, of course. Plankton was just confused. He had to be. After all, they had spent years in a cutthroat competition, stealing ideals, customers, the occasional secret ingredient. The thought of Plankton actually caring for him was absurd. But as he sat, Krabs couldn't help but feel a twinge of something he hadn't felt in a long time—awkward. But Plankton wasn't one to let things go easily. After a few moments of gathering his strength, he shuffled out of the bedroom, the pain in his mouth a distant second to the urgency of his mission. He goes to the Krusty Krab. He pushed open the door to the restaurant, the bell jingling overhead. Mr. Krabs looked up from his ledger, his heart skipping a beat as he saw Plankton stumble in. "What are you doing here?" he exclaimed, jumping to his feet. "You should be resting!" Plankton's eye narrowed, his jaw clenched in pain. "I need to talk to you," he ground out, each word a challenge. Mr. Krabs' claws clutched the edge of the table, twitching nervously. "Sure, sure," he said, trying to sound casual. "What's on your mind?" "Not here," Plankton hissed, gesturing to the open restaurant. The last thing he wanted was for their conversation to be overheard by prying ears, especially not by customers. Mr. Krabs, visibly confused, nodded and led him out back. The tension in the air was palpable. "Alright, what's so important?" he asked, trying to keep his cool. Plankton took a deep breath, his cheeks flushing with pain. "What did I say to you after the surgery?" he demanded, his voice gruff. "What do you mean?" he stalled, heart racing. Plankton's voice was low and intense. "You know what I mean," he said. "What happened at the house?" Mr. Krabs' eyes searched Plankton's for any hint of a bluff, but found only pain and determination. He took a deep breath, feeling the weight of his secret lift slightly. "You don't remember?" he asked, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. Plankton's gaze was unwavering. "I remember enough," he said, voice tight. "I just know you were there. Don't gloat. Spill." Mr. Krabs looked at him, realization sinking in. He met Plankton's gaze. "You were in a bit of pain," he said, his voice carefully measured. "You were talking nonsense." "What kind of nonsense?" he demanded. Mr. Krabs took a step back, his eyes darting around the alleyway. "Oh, you know, the usual post-surgery babble," he said, trying to play it off. "Nothing important." But Plankton wasn't buying it. He could see relief in Krabs' eyes, and it made him more nervous. "I need to know," he insisted, his voice hoarse. "What did I say?" Mr. Krabs took a deep breath, his claws drumming on the counter. "Said something about how we've been through a lot together?" But Pearl, Mr. Krabs' daughter, interrupted, wandering in, phone in hand, scrolling through images. "Daddy!" she exclaimed. "Look what I found on the phone!" Mr. Krabs' heart sank as he realized what's happening. He turned to see Pearl holding up a phone showing a photo of Plankton, post-surgery, asleep with his head resting on Krabs' elbow.

A LIFE OF DIVERSITY i (Autistic author) "You know, Shel, just put yourself out there. You think to much! Just steal a patty from the krusty krab, and bring it back. No inventions, just believe. I'll wait out front." Karen says. Sheldon Plankton, whose ambition often outstripped his grasp, took a deep breath and nodded. It was a simple enough plan, he thought, and maybe, just maybe, it would be enough. For years he'd been trying to outsmart Mr. Krabs, crafting ingenious contraptions and elaborate schemes to swipe the Krabby Patty secret formula. Yet here he was, standing in the shadow of the gleaming neon sign of the Chum Bucket, his own restaurant, contemplating the unthinkable: a straight-up heist. He tiptoed to the Krabby Krab, eye darting back and forth for any signs of movement. Karen, ever the impatient one, was pacing back and forth outside the Chum Bucket. She had been waiting for what felt like an eternity. "What's taking him so long?" she murmured to herself, her frustration building. Meanwhile, Plankton took a final shaky breath and slid open the kitchen window, his heart racing. The scent of greasy fryers and salty ocean air filled his nostrils. He reached out, his tiny hand trembling, and snatched the Krabby Patty that lay unguarded on the counter. With the stolen patty in hand, Plankton's confidence grew. He had done it; the secret was within his grasp! He turned to leave, but his elation was cut short when a shadow fell over him. He looked up to find Mr. Krabs standing there, his eyes narrowed and his claw raised. "Plankton, I knew it was you!" he bellowed. Plankton froze. Mr. Krabs lunged at him, but Plankton was quick. He dashed under the cash register, the Krabby Patty clutched to his chest like a football player crossing the finish line. "You'll never get me!" he yelled, his voice echoing in the quiet restaurant. But Krabs was persistent, his claws snapping shut just millimeters from Plankton's antennae. With a cunning smile, Mr. Krabs stepped back eyeing the cash register. "Maybe not," he said reaching over the counter and hoisting the heavy metal contraption off its stand. Plankton's eye went wide with horror as he realized what Krabs intended to do. He tried to dodge, but the space was too cramped, and the cash register came down on him like a guillotine blade. The sound of metal on metal reverberated through the kitchen, and the Krabby Patty went flying out of his grasp. Mr. Krabs' victory roar filled the room as Plankton crumpled to the floor, stars dancing in his vision. The impact had been tremendous, and for a moment, he lay dazed and defeated. The cash register's heavy weight had not only knocked him out cold but also left a sizable dent in the floorboards. Outside, Karen's pacing grew more erratic. as "What's keeping him?" she groused. Just as she was about to storm inside, she hears the cash register, which hit Plankton's head. Peering in she saw Plankton lying on the floor. "Plankton?" she shrieked, her voice cracking with panic. Karen opens the door and goes to him. "Plankton! Oh no!" she screamed, voice shaking the very foundation of the Krabby Krab. She rushed over to him, shaking with fear. Plankton's eye closed, and his body was completely still. The Patty lay forgotten. Panic set in, and she began to pat his face. "Plankton, wake up!!" she yelled, echoing through the deserted kitchen. She knew that Plankton could be dramatic, but this was unlike him. He'd always bounced back from Mr. Krabs' traps before, albeit with a bruised ego. There was a pulse, faint but steady. "Thank Neptune," she whispered, her relief palpable. "Plankton, please," Karen begged, a mix of desperation and fear. She knew she had to do something, and fast. But what? Her medical expertise was limited to patching up her husband's bruises from past failed schemes, not dealing with a concussion from a cash register to the head. She then managed to scoop up her unconscious husband and sprinted to the Bikini Bottom Hospital. Once inside the hospital, she explained what happened with the cash register. "We'll do a brain scan." They said. Karen laid Plankton on the hospital bed. Finally a doctor approached with a solemn expression. "The brain scan results are in." Karen nodded for him to go on. "It seems your husband has suffered significant brain damage from impact," the doctor continued, fidgeting with a clipboard. "The good news is that he will wake up, but... your husband has experienced severe brain trauma. While he will regain consciousness, it appears that he may have developed permanent autism." "What does that mean?" she managed to whisper. The doctor explained that while Plankton would still be able to talk and/or communicate, his interactions and reactions to sensory would be significantly affected. "But he'll still be the same Plankton?" The doctor nods. "In many ways, yes. His personality, his memories, they should all be intact. But his ability to process, to understand and respond appropriately... those might be altered. It's a complex condition, Mrs. Plankton. He can go home whence he wakes up." Karen nodded numbly, mind racing with the implications. As she sat by Plankton's bedside the hospital lights flickered, and the constant beeping of the heart monitor was the only company she had. The quiet was broken her husband's eye fluttering open. "Karen?" he croaked, his voice hoarse from the trauma. Her heart leaped at the sound, and she took his hand, squeezing it tightly. "I'm here," she said, her voice cracking. "How do you feel?" Plankton's gaze darted around the room. "Where am I?" he asked, his voice a mix of confusion and fear. "You're at the hospital, sweetie," Karen replied, voice gentle and soothing. "You had hit your head on the cash register at the Krabby Krab." Karen said, her voice shaking slightly. "Mr. Krabs hit you." Plankton blinked rapidly, trying to process her words. "Cash... register?" he murmured, voice sounding distant and confused. Karen nodded, her eyes never leaving his. The room was a cacophony of sounds: the beep of the monitor, the rustle of nurses' shoes, and the distant wail of a siren. Plankton's senses seemed to amplify, each noise stabbing at his brain like a thousand tiny needles. "What happened to me?" he asked, voice small and scared. Karen took a deep breath preparing herself to explain the gravity of the situation. "You hit your head," she began, "and now, the doctor says you have... acquired a neurodisability." Plankton stared at her, his eyes unfocused. "Neuro... what?" he repeated. Karen took a deep breath, her heart heavy. "It's like your brain is wired differently now. You might see things, hear things, feel things more intensely. And sometimes, you might not understand people, or process differently." "Does it... does it mean I'm broken?" he asked, voice barely a whisper. "No, Plankton," she said firmly, "You're not broken. You're just... different. And we'll figure this out together."