KAREN REACHING AUTISM pt. 14
(Autistic author)
ᵂᵃʳⁿⁱⁿᵍˢ: ʰᵒˢᵖⁱᵗᵃˡ
They carefully lift
Plankton into the car,
his body tense with
pain. Sandy slides into
the driver's seat, her
hands gripping the wheel.
Her eyes meet Sponge
Bob's in the rearview
mirror, filled with
resolve.
"Ready?" she asks,
her voice a gentle
hum.
Sponge Bob nods,
his eyes never leaving
Plankton's face. "Ready."
Karen buckles Plankton
in as his eye flutters.
"Hold tight," Sandy
says, her voice a
steady rumble, as she
starts the engine. The
car's gentle purr is a
contrast to the
tension in the air.
Sponge Bob sits in
the back, his eyes
trained on Plankton's
face. His friend's
tiny body is a tapestry
of pain, but Sponge
Bob's touch is a soft,
steady beat, trying to
soothe him. "It's okay,
Plankton," he whispers,
his voice a comforting
whisper of reassurance.
Plankton's antennae
twitch, his eye
slightly focusing on
Sponge Bob. "Mph,"
he murmurs, his voice
a static hum of pain.
Sponge Bob nods,
his face a mask of
determined compassion.
"We're going to the
Quiet Bubble Clinic,"
he says, his voice
a soft, steady
wave. "They'll know
how to help you."
Sandy's eyes are
on the road ahead,
her driving slow and
precise. "Just hold on,
Plankton," she says,
her voice a comforting
hum. "We're almost
there."
The Quiet Bubble
Clinic comes into
view, a softly lit
building that seems to
pulse with a gentle calm.
Sandy parks the car
and they carefully
extract Plankton from
his seat, his tiny
body rigid.
They enter the
lobby, the air thick
with the scent of
calming essential oils.
The lights are low, and
the sounds muffled.
A nurse with a gentle
face approaches, her
voice a soothing
whisper. "What can we
help with?" she asks,
her eyes on Plankton's
twisted leg.
Sponge Bob explains
quickly, his voice
trembling with
concern. "Mr. Krabs
hurt his leg," he says,
his eyes wide. "Krabs
also hit his head with
a fry pan, which caused
Plankton autism as well
as the accompaniment
of sensitivities. But his
leg hurts and needs fixed!"
The nurse nods, her
movements slow and
deliberate. "We'll need
to be careful with
his heightened senses,"
she murmurs, her voice
a soft melody. "Let's
get him to a room."
They navigate the
hallways, the walls
lined with soothing
pictures and textures.
Plankton's body is
stiff with pain, his
voice a static hiss
with each step. "Please,"
he whispers, his antennae
waving weakly.
The nurse nods,
her touch gentle as
she leads them to
a quiet, dimly lit
exam room. "We need
to fix your leg,
sweetie," she says, her
voice a gentle breeze.
Plankton's eye
flutters open.
The nurse's voice
is a gentle lullaby.
"We're going to take
good care of you,"
she says, her eyes
kind and understanding.
Plankton's body
shakes with fear
and pain, his antennae
pressed against his
head.
Sponge Bob squeezes
his hand, his voice
a comforting whisper.
"You're going to be okay,
Plankton," he says,
his eyes filled with
concern.
The nurse nods, her
gloved hands
moving with precision.
"We're going to need to
put him under," she says,
her voice a soft
whisper. "It's the
safest way to manage
his pain and sensitivity."
Plankton's antennae
quiver with fear, his
single eye darting
back and forth.
"Under what," he whispers.
The nurse's smile
doesn't reach her eyes.
"Anesthesia," she says
softly, her voice a
comforting hum. "It'll
help you sleep through
the surgery."
Plankton's antennae
twitch with anxiety, his
voice a nervous
static. "Sleep?" he
repeats, his eye
doubtful. "Plankton
light sleeper."
The nurse nods,
her eyes calm. "We
understand, sweetie,"
she murmurs. "We'll
make sure you're
comfortable."
They prep him for
surgery, the air in
the room thick with
his fear. Sponge Bob
holds his hand, his
thumb rubbing gentle
circles on his palm.
"It'll be over soon," he
whispers, his voice
a soothing wave.
The doctor, a
kind-eyed squid,
enters the room, his
tentacles moving with
calming precision.
"We're going to give
you something to help
you relax," he says,
his voice a gentle
trill. "We've ways to
sedate. One, a pill
tablet. Two, a liquid
to drink. Three, nasally.
Four, cream gel to numb
the place the IV goes in
but, it'll be inserted after
he's asleep anyway. Now
the first two options are
taken orally, so they might
take a moment to work..."
"Drink; Plankton, drink.."
Plankton manages, looking at
a chart of diagrams which
illustrate each method.
The doctor nods, his
tentacles steadily
adjusting the bed.
"Very good," he says,
his voice a gentle
wave of reassurance.
He hands Plankton a
small cup. "This is a
special drink," he
explains, his eyes
meeting Plankton's. "It'll
help you relax before
surgery."
Plankton's antennae
twitch with anxiety
as he takes the cup.
He looks to Sponge
Bob, whose grip
on his hand tightens.
"It's okay," Sponge Bob
whispers, his voice
a calming static.
With a shaky
hand, Plankton brings
the cup to his mouth,
his eye squeezed shut.
He gulps down the
liquid as they give
him a blanket. He
finishes the drink and
hands the cup back.
Sponge Bob's grip
doesn't waver, his
thumb still moving
in soothing circles.
"Good job, buddy," he
whispers, his voice
a gentle sea breeze.
Sandy nods as Karen
gives Plankton a kiss.
The nurse's eyes
are warm and
comforting as she
checks his vitals.
"It won't be long
now," she murmurs,
her voice a soft
hum of reassurance.
Sponge Bob sits
by the bed, his
grip on Plankton's
hand firm but gentle.
"You're doing great,"
he says, his voice
a calming whisper.
Plankton's antennae
twitch with the
first wave of
drowsiness, his eye
slowly closing.
The world around
him begins to fade
into a soft, fuzzy
static.
Sponge Bob watches,
his grip on Plankton's
hand unyielding. "It's
going to be okay," he
whispers, his voice
a gentle rush of air.
The anesthesia starts
to take effect, Plankton's
body gradually
going slack, his
breathing deepening.
Sponge Bob's eyes
follow the rise and
fall of Plankton's
chest, his grip
on his hand tight.
"You're okay, buddy,"
he whispers, his voice
a gentle static.
Plankton's antennae
twitch one last time
before stilling, his
eye fully closed.
The nurse nods,
satisfied with his
vitals. "He's out," she
says as his soft snores
fill the room.