＃ＫｎｅｅＳｕｒｇｅｒｙ pt. 9
Plankton's eyelid
grows heavier, and
Patrick lets out
a chuckle.
Plankton's antennae
twitch in surprise.
He opens his eye halfway.
"What?" he asks, his
voice slurred.
"You're falling asleep,"
Patrick says, his laughter
bubbling.
Sponge Bob watches
his friend's struggle
with a mix of
concern and
understanding. He knows
Plankton's pride won't
let him admit defeat
so easily. So his eyes
narrow slightly as
a warning to Patrick.
"I'm not sleepy,"
Plankton insists, his voice
barely above a whisper.
But his protests are
met with Patrick's
laugh.
"I said, I'm not
sleepy," Plankton
insists, his eyelid
drooping.
"rIgHt," Patrick says,
condescending.
Plankton's antennae
twitch in irritation. "I'm
not sleepy," he says,
his voice slurred. But
his eyelid continues to
drop, and Patrick notices.
"You totally are,"
Patrick giggles.
Plankton's antennae
drop, still trying
to battle with
sleep. "Maybe you should
just admit it, Plankie.."
"Patrick," Sponge
Bob warns, his tone
a mix of concern and
amusement. But Patrick's
laughter fills
the room, echoing
off the walls.
"Look, Plankton's
going nighty-night,"
Patrick coos.
Plankton grits
his teeth, his
eyelid flickering.
"I'm not," he
slurs, his voice
barely audible.
Sponge Bob tries
to hold in a chuckle,
his spongy cheeks
twitching.
Patrick leans in
closer, his grin
spreading wide. "You know,
for a big, strong
guy like you, you sure
are tired," he says,
his voice teasing.
Plankton's antennae
wobble in annoyance. "I'm not
a baby, Patrick," he murmurs,
his voice barely
above a whisper.
But his protest is
weak, his eyelid
already half-closed.
Sponge Bob bites his
tongue, his own
amusement bubbling
up despite the
situation. None of
them know Karen's
secretly filming this,
turning video on.
Patrick starts
to mimic a lullaby,
his deep, booming voice
filling the room. "Hush
little Plankton, don't
say a word, mama's
going to buy you all the
candy in the sea..."
Patrick's in his
element, his
imagination running
wild and continues
his nursery rhyme,
his voice now a
whisper. "And if that
candy's not enough,
then mama's going to
buy you a new submarine..."
"I said, I'm not a
baby," he says, his
voice gruff. But his
stubbornness is no
match for the medication,
and his eyelid
droops again.
Sponge Bob watches,
his own smile
suppressed as he tries
to keep the peace.
Patrick's lullaby
continues. "And
if that new submarine
doesn't make you fly,
mama's going to catch
you a jellyfish from the sky..."
Plankton's antennae
twitch. Sponge
Bob's eyes widen
slightly at the absurdity
of it all, but he
can't help but be
touched by Patrick's
efforts, however misguided.
Patrick's lullaby
continues, his voice
now a gentle
whisper. "And if that
jellyfish's sting isn't
right, mama's going to
kiss it all better, goodnight..."
Sponge Bob's smile
spreads despite himself.
He can see the
caring intention behind
Patrick's annoying
persistence.
Plankton's eye
remains half-open,
his antennae drooping.
"I-I'm n-not sleepy,"
he mumbles, his words
slurring together.
Patrick's grin
doesn't fade. "Hush,
hush," he sings. "Don't
you cry. Mama's gonna
sing you to sleep, and
when you wake up, you'll
have jellyfish pie. And
if that pie isn't sweet
enough, mama's going
to catch you a star..."
Sponge Bob's cheeks
are now shaking
with suppressed laughter.
Patrick's voice
has turned into
a soft, lilting melody.
"And if that star
doesn't shine, mama's
going to build you a
sandcastle so fine..." Plankton's
eye closes completely despite
his protests. Sponge Bob
quickly claps his
hands over his mouth
to stifle a snicker.
Patrick, oblivious
to the effect
his song is having,
continues to serenade
his sleepy friend.
"And if that sand
doesn't sparkle, mama's
going to make it rain jelly..."
Sponge Bob's shoulders
shake with silent mirth.
Plankton's breathing
evened out, his antennae
still, finally succumbing
to sleep. "And
if that rain isn't
wet, mama's going to
make you a sea...of...puddles...
an—"
Patrick's voice
trails off as he looks
down. "Plankton?" he whispers,
noticing Plankton's chest
rising and falling
evenly. Plankton's
snores answer for
him, a soft sound
that fills the room.
Sponge Bob's
laughter bubbles over,
his eyes watering.
"Looks like he's out,"
he says, his voice
still low so as not
to disturb him. Patrick
blinks in confusion,
his smile fading. "But
I wasn't done singing!"
he protests, as Karen
ends the video.
Sponge Bob looks
up at her, his smile
now a chuckle. "Maybe
you should save
that for later," he
suggests. Karen
nods, her eyes sparkling
with mirth. "Or never,"
she says, her voice
a whisper.
Patrick pouts,
his eyes on
Plankton's sleeping
form. "But I wanted
to make him feel better,"
he says, his voice
sulky. Sponge Bob nods.
"Of course, Patrick," he says,
his voice gentle. "He's
asleep now, and that's
the best thing for
him."
Patrick's eyes
widen with curiosity.
"But why does he
snore like that?" he whispers.
Sponge Bob looks at
Plankton, his mind racing.
"Well, everyone sleeps
differently," he says,
his voice hushed. "It's
just how his body
breathes when he's
asleep."
Patrick nods, his
finger hovering near
Plankton's cast. "Can
I touch the cast?" he asks,
his voice filled with
wonder. Sponge Bob's
eyes dart to Karen,
who nods slightly.
"Just be gentle,"
she warns.
Patrick's finger
taps the plaster lightly,
his curiosity
piqued. "It's so hard,"
he says, his voice
filled with amazement.
Plankton's antennae
twitch in his sleep,
and Sponge Bob
quickly intervenes,
placing a hand over
Patrick's. "Let's not
disturb him," he whispers.
Patrick nods, his eyes
still wide with interest.
"What's it made of?"
he asks. Sponge Bob
thinks for a moment.
"It's like...a super
strong paste," he
explains. "They use it
to keep his leg still
while it heals."
Patrick nods.
Patrick's
finger hovers over
Plankton's cast. "But why
does it make him snore?"
he whispers. Sponge
Bob chuckles, his
spongy body shaking
slightly. "Well, it's not
the cast," he says,
his voice a soft
whisper. "It's just how
Plankton snores when
he breathes in his sleep,"
he explains. "So it's not
because of his leg?"
he asks, his curiosity
peaking. Sponge Bob
shakes his head. "Nope,
it's just the way
he sleeps."
Patrick looks
thoughtful for
a moment,
his curiosity not
sated. "But how?"
he presses.
Sponge Bob leans in,
his voice low. "Well,
when we sleep, our
bodies relax, right?"
Patrick nods, his
attention fully on
his friend's words.
"But does he
snore like that when
he's not hurt?"
Sponge Bob shrugs.
"It's just his way
of breathing when
he's sleeping deeply,"
he says, his eyes
on Plankton's chest
as it rises and
falls.
Patrick's curiosity
doesn't wane. "But why?"
he whispers.
Sponge Bob
thinks for a moment,
his spongy brow
furrowing. "It's
because of the
medicine," he explains.
"It helps with the pain,
but it makes him
sleepy. It's like
when you're sleeping
so soundly that you
don't even know
you're snoring," he says.
"It's just his body's
way of getting air."
Patrick nods,
his eyes never
leaving Plankton's
face, his eyes
studying Plankton's
slightly parted mouth.
"But why does he
make that noise?"
Patrick asks,
his curiosity
boundless. Sponge
Bob sighs. "Well,
sometimes when we
sleep, our throats
relax and vibrate,"
he says, his voice
soothing. "It's like
when you're trying
to make a funny
sound, but it just
happens when we're
asleep, Patrick,
snoring is something
our bodies just do
when we're really
relaxed," Sponge Bob
explains, his voice
patient.
Patrick nods, his
finger still hovering
over Plankton's cast.
"But what about his
leg?" he whispers.
"Is it okay to sleep
like this?"
Sponge Bob nods,
his eyes on Plankton's
chest rising and
falling with each
snore. "It's fine,"
he says. "The cast
is designed to keep
his leg still. It's
important for healing."
Patrick's eyes
move to Plankton's
face, his gaze
lingering on his
mouth. "What's with
the mouth?" he asks,
his voice filled with
wonder. Sponge Bob
chuckles. "It's just
his mouth relaxing,"
he says. "Everyone's
face looks a bit
different when
they're sleeping.
It's all part of
his body getting
the rest it needs."
Patrick nods,
his eyes now on
Plankton's antennae,
which are twitching
slightly. "What
about those?" he
whispers. "Do they
move in his sleep?"
Karen smiles. "Sometimes,"
she says. "They can
move when he's
dreaming. Sometimes,
when we dream, our
bodies react to what's
happening in our minds."
Patrick's eyes
light up with
interest. "What do
you think he's
dreaming about?"
he asks, his voice
barely above a
whisper.
Sponge Bob
shrugs. "Could be
anything," he says.
"Maybe he's dreaming
about inventing the
best Krabby Patty ever.
Everyone's body
does something
different when
they're asleep."
"But why does his
mouth hang open?"
he asks, his voice
filled with curiosity.
Sponge Bob
explains, "It's like
when you're sleeping,
and you don't realize
your mouth is open,"
he says. "It's just
his way of breathing
when he's in a deep
sleep. And,
when we're asleep,
our muscles relax,
including the ones
that keep our mouths
closed." Patrick nods,
his gaze
still fixed on Plankton's
open mouth.