A TOOTHY STORY pt. 8
Outside the door, Hanna's
smile is a sad reflection
of the sea. "I'm sorry,"
she says, her voice a quiet
ripple. "I didn't mean to
upset him."
Karen's eyes are like a
calm lagoon, her voice a
soothing tide. "It's not
your fault, Hanna," she says.
"He's just in pain and
tired, and he's more of an
introvert. Let's give him space."
They move to the living room,
their voices a gentle murmur of
whispers. Plankton, alone with
his thoughts, feels his cheeks
burn with embarrassment. He can't
believe he snored, let alone in front of
someone. He tries to sit up
again, but the pain in his jaw
reminds him of the surgery.
The books and phone on the
nightstand beckon like distant
lighthouses in a foggy night. He
picks up the phone, his thumbs
fumbling over the screen. He
decides to check his social
media, to find he's tagged by
@ Hanna in a post..
He views it to find the selfie
he doesn't even know existed.
"What in barnacles.."
He's drooling in the picture
with gauze in his swelling
cheeks, up next to Hanna.
"Visiting Karen! Featuring
@ Plankton 😂🦷💊" Hanna
put as the caption.
Plankton's antennae quiver with
a mix of embarrassment and
curiosity as he goes to the
comment section.
The first one's from @ Squilliam :
"Looks like someone had a
tooth extraction party
and forgot to send me an
invite 😂"
Plankton's antennae quiver with
irritation. "Who is this guy?"
he grumbles, his voice a
distant thunder.
The next one's from @ LarryLobster:
"😂 I know that feel,
bro. Get well soon!"
Plankton's eye narrows, his antennae
twitching.
Then @ Patrick : "You look so
funny, Plankton! 😂😂"
One from @SpongeBob:
"Oh no, Plankton! Hope you
feel better soon, buddy! 💛"
It's a small comfort, sweet but
it's not enough to soothe his pride
and doesn't help his embarrassment.
Another one from @ Dennis :
"What happened to you, Plankton? 😂"
Plankton's antennae stiffen
with indignation. "I've had surgery!"
he wants to shout at the screen.
One from @ Squidward :
"Looks like someone's been to the
dentist! 😂 Get well,
Plankton! Maybe you'll stop
stealing Krabby Patties!"
Plankton's antennae quiver with
frustration. "This is not funny, did
I agree to that picture?" he mutters
to himself.
He scrolls down, seeing a comment from
@ Mrs. Puff: "Oh, you poor thing! I've
been there too! 😢 Take care of
yourself, Plankton!"
Plankton's antennae droop slightly.
Then @ Pearl Krabs: "You look
like you had more fun than me
at prom 💃😂 Get well soon,
Mr. Plankton!"
This one stings a bit more, as Plankton
thinks of Mr. Krabs and their
complicated relationship.
He sees one from @SandyCheeks:
"Aw, Plankton, I hope you're
feeling better! Surgery's a tough
nut to crack, even for a tiny
guy like you! 💪💃"
Plankton's antennae twitch with a
tiny spark of gratitude. At least
Sandy had some empathy. He reads
more, his eye flicking over the
various reactions to his post-
surgery selfie.
A comment from @MrKrabs catches
his eye, his antennae shooting up.
"Looks like you're out of commission
for a bit, eh, Plankton 💸👑"
Plankton's cheeks burn with a
combination of anger and
embarrassment. That sneaky crab!
But amidst the sea of joking
remarks, he finds a comment
that makes his antennae wiggle with
surprise. It's from @KarenPlankton.
"My brave @ Plankton had
wisdom teeth out, and it's
going to be just fine. When
he woke up, I was here, holding
his hand, and he was so sweet.
Love 💋💕💋"
Okay, then. Despite his
embarrassment, he feels a surge
of affection for Karen. She had
been there through it all so
he can't get to mad at her. Yet
why she felt the need to share
his post surgery face with the
entire ocean... He's always
been so meticulous about his
image, and now it's splattered
across the digital seabed.
He sighs, setting the phone
aside. He's too tired to
dwell on it.
He gently presses a cold pack
to his cheek.
The door opens with a soft
creak, and Karen's voice is a
soothing lullaby. "How are
you feeling, Plankton?"
He sighs, his antennae
drooping. "I'm fine," he mumbles,
his voice a sleepy wave. "Just...tired."
Hanna peeks in, her smile a warm
ray of sunshine. "Can I bring
you anything?" she asks, her voice a
gentle caress.
Plankton's antennae twitch, his
eye narrowing slightly. "No, thank
you," he says, his voice a polite
wave. "I'm okay."
Karen nods, her smile a comforting
sunrise. "Alright, just call if
you need anything," she says,
her voice a gentle reminder.
"Rest is key."
Plankton nods, his antennae
flopping with fatigue. "I will,"
he murmurs. "Thank you."
The door closes with a
soft click, leaving him alone
with his thoughts and the cold
comfort of the pack on his
swollen cheek. He closes his
eye, letting out a deep
breath.
The house is like a quiet
reef, the only sounds the faint
distant murmur of Karen
and Hanna's conversation.
Plankton's mind is a
whirlpool, thoughts swirling around
the surgery, the embarrassing
selfie, and the unwelcome
reminder of his vulnerability.
He decides to focus on the
now, the cold pack a small
comfort against the throb in
his jaw. He drifts in and out
of sleep, the pain ebbing and
flowing like the tides.
Sometime later, Karen and
Hanna tiptoe into the room.
Plankton's antenna twitches in
his sleep, his snores a gentle
whisper.
"How is he?" Hanna asks,
her voice a soft ripple.
Karen's smile is a gentle
wave. "Resting," she says,
her eyes on the sleeping Plankton.
"He's been through a lot, as
yesterday's surgery took it out
of him."
They tiptoe closer to the
bed, their movements quiet. Plankton's
snores are like a gentle
testament to his
deep slumber. Karen reaches out,
her hand stroking his antennae
gently.
"He's okay," she whispers to
Hanna. "Just needs some time
to heal."
They watch him for a moment,
his chest rising and falling in
a rhythm. Hanna's smile is sad.
"I'm sorry I upset him,"
she says.
Karen nods. "It's not your
fault, Hanna," she whispers.
"He's just not used to sharing
his vulnerable side."
They stand there, a silent guard
over his sleeping form. Hanna's
smile is a sad reflection of
the moon on the sea. "I didn't mean
to intrude," she says softly.
Karen's voice is a gentle current.
"You didn't," she assures her.
"Plankton's just...sensitive."
Hanna nods, her eyes a
sorrowful sea. "I understand,"
she whispers. "But I'll be
more careful."
They leave the room, their
footsteps like soft whispers
against the current of the
hallway. The door closes with
a gentle click, leaving Plankton
to the embrace of sleep and
the cold pack's comfort.
Hours pass, the sun's warmth
gradually fading into a
cool, soothing blue. Plankton
stirs, his eye fluttering open.
The pain has subsided to a
dull ache.
He tries to sit up, his body
protesting with a groan.
He looks at his phone again,
his antennae drooping.
The comments on the picture
are like a school of jellyfish,
stinging his ego.
He reads them one by one,
his emotions a stormy sea.
@BarneyRubble: "Oh no, Plankton!
You're not looking your usual
selfie-ready best! Get well soon,
buddy! 😂"
Plankton's antennae droop with
self-consciousness.
@Gil: "I bet he was dreaming of
stealing Krabby Patties with
those teeth! Get better soon,
little guy! 🐚😂"
This isn't helping
his mood.
@Spongegar: "Aw, poor
little Plankton! You'll be back
to your usual scheming self in no
time! 💃💃💃"
Plankton's antennae twitch
slightly at the well-meaning but
slightly patronizing remark.
@MermaidMan: "Remember when I
lost my teeth fighting a giant
clam? Good times. Get well soon,
buddy! 👨🦽💃🐢"
@ PatrickStar: "Who knew Plankton had
so many teeth? 🐛😂 Get well soon,
buddy! Maybe you'll finally
leave SpongeBob's house alone!
💃🏻"
Plankton knows he needs to
change the narrative. Perhaps
he can find something in his
camera roll gallery..
He scrolls through, his antennae
quivering with determination.
Ah-ha! Pictures of him and his
cuddly little amoeba puppy, Spot.
Spot's a good
boy, always there, always
loving. He's the one thing that
can make him feel like the hero
he's not.
He selects an old picture of
himself and Spot, taken during
a rare moment of peace. Spot is
looking up at him with his adoring
eye, his squishy tail wagging. Plankton's
expression is softer than usual,
his antennae relaxed.
He opens a new post, his
thumbs moving with purpose.
He captions it, "Throwback
to my best bud Spot, always ready
for an adventure! #planktonandspot
#goodtimes"
He hits post, the button
a beacon of hope in the
storm of his embarrassment.
He watches the likes and
comments roll in, his antennae
perking up slightly.
The first one from @SpongeBob:
"Aw, Spot looks adorable!
Miss you, buddy! 🐛💛"
This brings a smile to Plankton's
face.
The next comment from @
SquidwardTentacles is a sly dig.
"Looks like Spot's the only one
who doesn't know what a
failure you are, Plankton. 🐙👎"
Plankton's eye narrows, his
cheeks burning with irritation.
@MrKrabs weighs in:
"That's one fine looking
microbe you got there,
Plankton! Maybe he could help
you steal my Krabby Patties
one day! 🐚😂"
@SandyCheeks: " Spot's the cutest
little critter! Give him a hug
from me! 😂🐛🤗 #SpotTheAmoeba "
Plankton's smile grows, his antennae
twitching with each positive comment.
It's not just about the image or the jokes
anymore; it's about reclaiming his dignity.
He's not just the guy who got his teeth
pulled out and drooled all over the place—he's
a man with a loyal sidekick, a man who's lived
life of adventure and friendship.