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.