＃ＫｎｅｅＳｕｒｇｅｒｙ pt. 11
The next morning,
Plankton wakes up to
see Karen still sleeping.
The cast on his leg
feels heavier than ever,
a stark reminder of
his current state. He
shifts slightly, and
the plaster shifts with
his movement, a dull
throb pulsing through
his body. He sighs,
his antennae drooping.
As he looks around
the room, his gaze
lands on the crutches
by the bedside.
With a grunt of
effort, he pulls
them closer and
hoists himself
upright, his arms
shaking slightly
from the weight.
He glances at the
wheelchair in the
corner, but uses
his crutches
instead.
With a clank,
he attaches the
crutches to his
arms and swings
his cast-covered leg
out of the bed. The
pain is a dull
reminder of his
injury, but he refuses
to let it win.
He hobbles
to the window.
Through the
glass, Plankton sees
Squidward walking by,
his tentacles wrapped
around a morning
newspaper. His heart
sinks. "Ugh," he
mumbles to himself.
Squidward, the neighbor
SpongeBob loves to annoy.
Squidward, who's
always complaining about
his quiet, orderly world
being disrupted by
Sponge Bob's boundless
energy. Plankton
sighs.
He watches Squidward's
silhouette pass
by, his antennae
twitching.
Why can't Squidward
just appreciate the
simplicity of life, he
thinks. But even as
the thought passes
his mind, Plankton knows
deep down, he's not
so different. Both of
them crave success,
both of them have
their quirks, their
obsessions.
He hobbles
back to the
bed, when Karen
awakes to her
phone lighting up.
"It's Hanna," she
says, her eyes
still sleepy. "Her
home needs repair
and she's on her way.
I don't think you've
met.."
Plankton's heart
sinks. "What?" he
asks, his voice
rasped with irritation.
"You didn't tell me
anyone was coming."
Karen sits up,
apologetic. "I didn't know,
sorry," she says. "It's
just Hanna. She
needs a place to stay."
Plankton's antennae
twitch with annoyance.
"Now?" he asks,
his voice tight. "I can't
even wa-"
Karen cuts him off
with a firm look. "Plankton,
she's my friend," she
says, her voice calm
but firm. "And she needs
our help." Plankton
sighs, his antennae
dropping. He knows
he can't win this one.
The doorbell rings,
interrupting their
exchange. Karen
hops out of bed.
Plankton sighs heavily.
Hanna enters inside. "Karen!
Thanks for letting me in."
Karen smiles. "Of course,
Hanna. You're welcome any
time." She hugs her as
Plankton emerges with his
crutches.
Hanna's eyes widen at
the sight of Plankton,
his cast a stark contrast
to the vibrant decor.
"Oh, who's this?" she
asks, her voice
sweet. Plankton scowls.
"This is Plankton,"
Karen says, her voice
cheerful. "My husband,"
she adds, her smile
bright. Hanna's eyes
widen further. "Oh!
Hi there," she says,
extending a hand.
Plankton looks at it
skeptically before shaking
it with a grunt. "Hi,"
he says, his voice
less than enthusiastic.
Hanna's smile doesn't
waver. "How are y-you
feeling?" she asks,
trying not to glance
at the cast.
"Just fine,"
Plankton responds.
He adjusts his grip
on the crutches.
Karen sighs. "Hanna, this
is my husband,
Plankton," she repeats,
forcing a smile.
"And Plankton, this
is Hanna," she says,
trying to keep the
peace.
Hanna's smile
doesn't falter. "It's
s-so nice to finally meet
you," she says, her eyes
averting the cast. Plankton
can feel her curiosity,
but he refuses to
explain his predicament.
"Likewise," he
mutters, his tone
dry. Karen's eyes
dance with a mix of
amusement and
concern. She knows
his pride is wounded,
but Karen also knows
how much he loves herself
and will tolerate for her own
sake, even though he's not
to excited with Hanna.
Hanna's gaze
flits from Karen
to Plankton, her
face a canvas of
uncertainty. "I'm
glad to stay here
with you and sorry
for the short notice,"
she says, her voice
slightly too cheerful.
Plankton nods,
his antennae barely
moving. "Where's
your stuff?"
Hanna gestures
to the suitcase
behind her. "Just
this," she says, her
smile still in place.
"So uh, where do
I put it?" Karen points
to the couch. "You
can leave it there for
now," she says. "We'll
find you a place
to stay."
Hanna's eyes
light up. "Thank
you," she says, her
voice filled with
gratitude. Plankton
shifts his weight
on his crutches,
his expression
still unreadable.
"So, Plankton,"
Hanna says, her
voice bright. "What
kind of things do
you like to do around
h-here?" Plankton
glances at her,
his antennae twitching.
"Not much," he says,
his voice tight.
Karen gives him
a knowing look. "Plankton
can be a bit of a
homebody," she says,
her voice gentle.
Hanna nods, her
eyes still wide
with curiosity.
"Oh, I see," she
says. "Well, I'm
s-sure we'll find
something fun
to do together-er.."
Plankton's antennae
quiver. Karen
shoots him a look.
Plankton sighs,
begrudging.
Hanna looks
between them,
her smile still
in place. "Well, I-I'm
sure we'll g-get along,"
she says. Plankton
rolls his eye, his
discomfort palpable.
Karen clears
her throat, trying
to ease the
tension. "Why don't we
all sit down?"
she suggests, her
voice bright.
Hanna nods eagerly,
her eyes still on
Plankton. He
reluctantly follows,
his crutches tapping
against the floor.
They settle into the
living room, Plankton
carefully placing
his casted leg
on the coffee table.
The silence
hangs heavy for a
moment before
Hanna jumps in. "So,
w-what’s your favorite
hobby, P-Plankton?" she asks,
her voice a mix of
eagerness and nerves.
Plankton looks at
her, his eye
narrowing. "My favorite
hobby?" he repeats.
"Yes," she says,
awkwardly. "What do
you like to do i-in
your free t-time?"
Plankton's antennae
wobble slightly. "Things,"
Plankton says, his voice
clipped. "Just...things."
Hanna nods, her smile
still in place despite
his curtness. "Oh," she
says. "Well, I lo-ove to
read a-and cook. Do
you like t-to read?"
Plankton's antennae
still, his eye blinking, his
tone flat. "I guess so," he
says.
Hanna's smile falters
for a split second before
she recovers. "Great,"
she says, her voice
cheery. "Maybe w-we
c-can swap book
recommendations later.."
Hanna's eyes dart to
his cast quickly before
snapping back up to
his face. Plankton
notices the glance, his
expression unreadable.
Karen watches the
interaction with a
mixture of amusement
and concern. She
knows Hanna's intentions
are pure, but Plankton's
pride is not easily
soothed.
Hanna jumps to her
feet. "Would you
like to talk about
anything specific?" she
asks, her voice
perky.
Plankton considers
for a moment before
shaking his head. "No,
just...things," he says,
his voice trailing off.
Hanna nods, her
cheerfulness unflagging.
"Well, I've been
reading this amazing
book on jellyfish
migration patterns," she
says, her eyes
sparkling. "Did you know
that jellyfish can
travel for thousands of
miles?"
Karen watches as
Plankton's eye twitches.
"That's...fascinating,"
he says, his tone
devoid of enthusiasm.
Hanna doesn't
seem to notice, her
excitement bubbling over.
"It really is," she says.
"They're such
wonderful creatures.
Have you gone jellyfishing?"
Plankton's antennae
quiver. He shakes his
head. "Can't say
I really have," he says,
his voice flat.
Hanna nods, her
smile never wavering.
"It's something you
have to try," she says.
"Unless your le- I mean,
unless you'd rather not?"
Hanna blushes, trying to
force a chuckle. Plankton
shifts his weight
on the crutches,
his patience wearing
thin. Karen sighs
silently, watching
the awkward exchange.