＃ＫｎｅｅＳｕｒｇｅｒｙ pt. 7
Karen nods, her eyes
filled with gratitude.
"Thank you for coming
to check on him," she says.
"I know it's not easy for
you."
Mr. Krabs shrugs.
"We're...frenemies,"
he says awkwardly. "Besides,
I wouldn't wish a broken
leg on anyone."
Sandy and Karen exchange
relieved glances.
As Mr. Krabs leaves,
Sandy moves closer to
Plankton, her voice
concerned. "Are you okay?"
she asks. Plankton's antennae
drop slightly. "Fine," he
mutters. "Just feeling a bit
restless."
Karen nods,
understanding his
frustration. "Why don't
we get you off the couch?"
Sandy and Karen
help him stand, his
good leg wobbling. "Where
to?" he asks, his voice
still gruff.
"How about the
wheelchair?" Karen
suggests, pointing to
where it's parked.
Plankton sighs, but
doesn't argue. "Fine."
They manage to get him
situated in it.
"Where to?" Sandy
asks, her voice
gentle. "Anything
you want to do?"
Plankton looks around
the room, his eye
falling on the
unfinished board game.
"Just...move that
out of the way."
They clear the
living room, the
game pieces tucked
away in their box,
the board put aside.
He wheels himself
towards the window,
his gaze drifting outside
to his friend Sponge Bob
who so happens to walk by
oblivious to Plankton's longing
gaze.
Sandy notices
his expression. "Do you
want to go outside?" she asks.
"It might be good for you."
Plankton considers it. "Yeah,"
he says. "A bit of fresh
air." But he actually wants to
visit with SpongeBob.
They make their way
to the door, Karen
pushing him in the
wheelchair. Plankton's
heart sinks when he sees
the stairs leading
down to the sidewalk.
"I'll get the crutches,"
Sandy says, already on her
way. She returns quickly,
handing them over. Plankton
takes them, his grip tight.
Karen opens the door,
the cool sea breeze
wafting in, bringing
with it the faint
laughter of Patrick Star
and SpongeBob SquarePants
playing in the distance.
Plankton's eye narrows.
"Let's go," he says,
determined to ignore
the pain. With Sandy
and Karen on either side,
supporting him, he hobbles
outside. The salty air
fills his lungs, and despite
his discomfort, he feels
a flicker of excitement
at the prospect of seeing
his neighbor.
The moment they
reach the sidewalk,
SpongeBob and Patrick
spot them. They stop their
game of catch mid-toss,
their eyes widening at
the sight of Plankton's cast.
"Plankton! What happened?"
Sponge Bob cries out,
running over with Patrick
in tow.
Plankton's antennae
twitch awkwardly. "I had
a little accident," he
mutters, avoiding eye
contact. Sandy and Karen
exchange a knowing look,
but they keep their
mouths shut.
"Oh no," Sponge Bob says,
his eyes wide with concern.
"Are you okay?"
Patrick, ever the
slow one, takes a moment
to process. "You got a
boo-boo?" he asks
finally, his voice
sympathetic.
But Plankton's just wanting
SpongeBob come in.
He'd rather not have
Patrick around, his simple-
mindedness only serving
to annoy him more.
"What's with the
crutches?" Patrick asks,
his voice booming. Plankton
grimaces. "I broke my
leg," he says, his tone
strained.
Patrick's eyes go wide.
"Cool!" he says, his
enthusiasm grating on
Plankton's nerves. "Does
it hurt-"
"Yes, it hurts," Plankton
snaps, his antennae
twitching with annoyance.
"Now, if you don't
mind, I'd like for you to
leave me alone."
Sponge Bob blinks,
his expression
confused. "But Patrick's
my friend, Plankton," he
protests.
Karen steps in,
seeing the tension.
"Why don't you go ask
Patrick to help you
with something, Sandy?"
she suggests, giving
Sandy a knowing nod.
Sandy nods, catching
on quickly. "Come on,
Patrick, let's go find
some jellyfish for
Plankton!"
Patrick's face lights up
at the mention of jellyfish.
"Jellyfish! Yes!" he
exclaims, following Sandy
as they walk away.
Sponge Bob stays, his
concern for Plankton
genuine as they go back in.
Inside, Plankton
sighs heavily, his
frustration at being
dependent and unable
to move freely palpable.
Sponge Bob watches
his friend struggle, his
own heart aching.
"Is there anything
I can do to help?"
Sponge Bob asks, his
voice gentle. Plankton
looks up at him, his
single eye filled with
gratitude.
"I...I just want
to sit," Plankton says,
his voice barely a whisper.
Sponge Bob nods, moving
quickly to help him
back with Karen.
They settle on the floor.
"Thanks," Plankton
mutters, his antennae
drooping. Sponge Bob
sits cross-legged beside
his friend. "You don't have
to do this," Plankton says.
"I know you're busy wi-"
"Nonsense," Sponge
Bob interrupts, his
eyes wide with sincerity.
"You're my neighbor and
friend, Plankton. I'm here
to help."
Plankton's antennae
twitch, and a rare
smile appears on his
face. "Thanks, Sponge
Bob. I appreciate it."
Sponge Bob nods, his
curiosity bubbling up. "So,
what happened exactly?"
he asks, leaning in.
Karen interjects,
her voice calm. "It's a
long story, Sponge..."
But Plankton waves
her off. "It's okay."
He takes a deep
breath and starts to
explain, his voice
steady. "It was a...
falling accident," he
starts. Sponge Bob's eyes widen
even more. "Well, you're
so...small."
"I know," Plankton
sighs. "It's not easy
being my size, but I manage."
Sponge Bob nods, his
thoughts racing. "But did you
need a medic or wh-"
"Sponge Bob," Karen
interrupts, her
tone firm but gentle.
"Let's not overwhelm him
with questions."
Sponge Bob's face falls,
his curiosity momentarily
squashed. "Oh, right," he
says, looking at the floor.
"I'm sor-" "Karen, I'm ok,"
Plankton says, his antennae
waving slightly. "I don't
mind Sponge Bob."
He looks back
at his friend.
Sponge Bob nods, his
thoughts swirling. "But
what was it like? What
happened next at
the hospital?"
Plankton's expression
softens, and for a moment,
he seems lost in thought.
"Well, they had to put
me to sleep," he says,
his voice quiet. "They gave
me some meds. And then...nothing.
I just...fell asleep. It was...
weird," he admits. "Different
from a normal sleep. Like
being in a deep, deep
dreamless nap."
Sponge Bob listens
intently, his curiosity
unfettered.
"It was...strange," he
says, his antennae
twitching. "I remember
being in a lot of pain,
and then everything went
black. When I came to,
I had this giant cast on.
It goes from my toes
to my hip," he says.
Sponge Bob nods,
his gaze drifting to
the cast. "Can I...can
I?" he asks tentatively.
Plankton looks at him
for a moment, then nods.
"Sure," he says. "Just be careful."
Sponge Bob reaches
out gently, his
spongy hand brushing
against the hard plaster.
"Wow," he whispers.
"It's so...heavy."
Plankton laughs, a
tiny sound that ends
in a wince. "Yeah, it's
not exactly comfortable,"
he says. "But it's what
I need to get better."
Sponge Bob nods,
his eyes wide. "How long
until you can walk
without it?"
"Six weeks," Plankton
sighs. "But I'll be
stuck in this chair
or on crutches."
Sponge Bob's eyes
widen. "That's a
long time," he says,
his voice filled with
sympathy. "But I'm sure
you'll get through it.
You're so...resilient."
Plankton looks at
his friend, a hint of a
smile on his face. "Thanks,
Sponge Bob."
Karen watches the
exchange from the
corner of her eye,
surprised by Plankton's
eagerness to open up
to Sponge Bob. Despite
his usual cautious
nature and competitive
spirit, there's something
different about the way
he talks to him now—
a vulnerability she
hasn't seen much.
"What did they do
to your leg?" Sponge
Bob asks, his voice
soft with concern.
Plankton takes a deep
breath, his antennae
quivering. "They had to
set and glue the bone," he
explains, his voice
strained. "And then they
put on this cast to keep
it still." Sponge Bob's eyes
widen.
"It must have been so
scary," Sponge Bob says.
Plankton nods. "It was,"
he admits. "But Karen
was with me." He looks
up at her, and she smiles
reassuringly. "And now
you're here."
Sponge Bob nods. "And
I won't leave you
hangin'." Plankton's smile
grows. "Thanks, buddy."