JUST A TOUCH ii
(Autistic author)
Plankton began to sit up,
his movements were methodical,
each action deliberate and
precise. His antennae twitched
as he took in the sights and
sounds of the hospital room,
his eye searching for familiarity
in the unfamiliar setting. "Home?"
he asked, his voice a mix
of confusion and urgency.
Karen's screen filled with
understanding. "We're not home,
sweetie. We need to stay here
until the doctors are sure
you're okay." She kept her tone
soft and even, hoping to
soothe his growing anxiety.
Plankton's gaze remained fixed
on her, his expression unreadable.
"You've acquired Autism."
The doctor nodded in
agreement. "It's important
that he feels secure and
comfortable in this new
environment. Let's start with
some simple questions to gauge
his cognitive function." He
turned to Plankton. "Can you
tell me your name?" Plankton's
response was immediate and
crystal clear. "Sheldon J. Plankton."
Karen's heart skipped
a beat at the formality in his
tone. This was her husband,
but the way he spoke was
unlike anything she had
heard from him before. The
doctor's smile remained,
but his eyes were assessing.
"And who is this lovely
lady next to you?" Plankton
paused, his antennae quivering.
"Karen," he said, his voice
slightly softer, "Plankton's
computer wife." He
was stating facts, not sharing
his emotions. The doctor
noted the exchange and
nodded. "It's alright, Karen.
This is all part of the
adjustment."
He then turned to Plankton.
"Can you tell me what you see
around you?" Plankton's eye
darted around the room again,
his antennae twitching rapidly.
"White walls. Blue floor.
Bright lights. Machines," he listed,
his voice devoid of inflection.
The doctor jotted down notes,
his gaze thoughtful. "Good,
good. Now, can you tell me
how you feel?"
Plankton's response was
quick and specific. "Plankton feel the
coolness of the air conditioner, hear the
hum of the lights above.
Plankton's hand is
clammy. Your hand is dry."
Karen felt a pang of sadness
at his lack of emotional
description.
The doctor nodded,
his gaze shifting to Karen.
"It's not uncommon for
individuals with Acquired
Autism to speak in a
matter-of-fact manner,
especially when they're
trying to make sense of
their surroundings."
Karen felt a tear
slip down her screen as she
forced a smile for Plankton.
"Okay, we can handle this,"
she thought, wiping it away.
Plankton's gaze never left
the doctor, his eye
scanning every tentacle
as he spoke. "Now, let's check
your coordination," the doctor
said, handing him a simple
puzzle.
Plankton took the puzzle
pieces in his tiny hands and
began to assemble them with
lightning speed. The doctor
watched in amazement as the
intricate pattern emerged,
each piece fitting perfectly.
"Remarkable," he murmured. "It seems
his problem-solving abilities
have indeed been enhanced."
Karen couldn't help but
smile through her tears as she
saw Plankton's meticulous
movements, the way his
fingers danced over the
plastic pieces. It was as if he
saw a pattern that she couldn't.
As the puzzle came together,
she noticed his breathing had
evened out, his movements
more fluid, as if the task
provided him some semblance
of peace.
But when the doctor tried
to take the puzzle away to
test another cognitive
function, Plankton's hand shot
out, his grip tightening on
the last piece. "No," he
said firmly, his voice edged
with something new, something
akin to panic. "It's not finished."
The doctor exchanged
a look with Karen, who nodded
slowly. They had to respect
his new boundaries. "Alright,
Plankton, take your time,"
she said, her voice calm.
The doctor stepped back,
allowing Plankton to complete
his task. With a final snap,
the puzzle was done. Plankton
stared at it, his chest rising
and falling rapidly.
Once the puzzle was
complete, he handed it back
to the doctor with a nod.
The doctor took it with a
smile. "Very good, Plankton."
Karen felt a swell of pride
mixed with the fear.
"Now, let's move on to some
memory recall," the doctor
suggested, his tentacles holding
a series of cards with images.
"I'm going to ask you..."
But before the doctor could
finish, Plankton's antennae shot
up, his eye widening as he
spotted a smudge on the wall.
"Clean," he murmured, his gaze
firmly locked on the imperfection.
Karen's heart sank as she watched
his obsession take hold.
The doctor paused,
sensing the shift in Plankton's
focus. "It appears Plankton has
developed some OCD tendencies
alongside his Autism," he
said gently to Karen. "It's not
unusual for them to fixate
on certain things."
Karen nodded, her eyes
never leaving Plankton's as
his gaze remained glued to
the smudge. "It's okay, Plankton,"
she said, her voice soothing.
"We can get someone to clean
it." Plankton's antennae twitched,
his body visibly relaxing at
the thought. The doctor nodded
at a nearby janitor, who quickly
came over and wiped the smudge
away, leaving the wall gleaming.
With the wall back to its
pristine state, Plankton's eye
moved back to the cards. He took
them in his hands and studied
each image intently, his antennae
quivering with concentration. "Ready?"
Karen asked, hopeful that this
part of the assessment would go
smoothly. But Plankton's gaze
shifted to the floor, focusing
on the tiles. Each one was
perfectly aligned, except for
a single one slightly askew.
"Crooked," he said, his voice
laced with distress. Karen's
heart broke as she watched him
struggle with the internal conflict
of wanting to fix it and knowing
he couldn't. The doctor,
noticing the shift in mood, stepped
in. "It's alright, Plankton.
Let's focus on..."
But Plankton's eye was
already darting around the room,
spotting every imperfection,
his anxiety rising. Karen knew
they had to get home, to a place
where he could find peace. "Doctor,
can we go?" she interrupted, her
voice tight with urgency.
The doctor nodded,
his smile understanding. "Yes,
you can take him home. Remember,
patience is key. His world has
changed, and he needs a stable
environment to adjust." Karen
stood, cradling Plankton in her
arms once again. He felt lighter,
his body more rigid than usual.
As they left the hospital,
the chaotic world of Bikini
Bottom rushed in, a cacophony
of sounds and lights. Plankton's
eye widened, his antennae
quivering. Karen could feel his
discomfort, his body tensing with
each step they took closer to the
noisy, bustling streets.