𝖠𝖴𝖳𝖨𝖲𝖬 𝖫𝖮𝖵𝖤 Pt. 16
(𝖡𝗒 𝖭𝖾𝗎𝗋𝗈𝖥𝖺𝖻𝗎𝗅𝗈𝗎𝗌)
They decide on a board
game, one with clear
rules and minimal talking.
As they sit around the
coffee table, setting up the
board, Hanna watches, trying
to follow their silent
conversation. Karen sees
her curiosity and smiles,
explaining, "We're playing
his favorite." She signs 'Your
Turn'.
Plankton nods, picking
up a piece with trembling
hands. His moves are
precise, almost ritualistic.
Chip and Hanna observe,
trying to understand the
unspoken language between
the couple. The storm
outside grows louder, the
thunder rumbling closer.
Plankton's antennae twitch.
Karen notices his tension.
Her hand covers his, steadying
his movements. She signs,
'It's okay. We're safe here'.
Plankton relaxes a fraction.
Their silent communication
flows easily, a dance they've
performed some rare times
before. Chip watches, feeling
his own anxiety ease.
The thunder rolls closer,
the home shaking slightly.
Plankton's antennae shoot up.
He signs 'Love', his eye
locking with Karen's. She nods,
understanding that he's
asking for comfort. She reaches
out, her hand on his back,
gently rubbing in circles.
Hanna, who's still watching,
doesn't get the silent
conversation. "Is he okay?"
she asks again, her voice
barely above a whisper.
Karen nods. "Yeah," she says.
"He's just really sensitive
to loud noises. The earbuds
help, yet he can't hear us
with them in." Hanna nods.
The thunderstorm outside
intensifies, the sound of
hail pelting the windows.
Plankton's antennae quiver
with every loud crash. Hanna
looks at Plankton. "So, you
guys use sign language?"
Karen nods, her eyes on the
game board. "Only when he
needs it," she says. "It's
his way of communicating
when words are too much."
Plankton's hand moves again.
'What are you saying?' His sign
is directed at Hanna. Karen
translates, keeping her voice
low. "He wants to know
what we're saying."
Hanna nods. "Tell him I
just asked if he's okay."
Karen repeats the message
in ASL. Plankton signs
back, 'I'm okay', his gaze
never leaving the board.
Karen translates for Hanna.
The storm's crescendo
matches the tension in the
room. Plankton's antennae
twitch faster, his eye
flicking between the
game and the window.
Hanna tries to keep her
voice calm. "Is there anything
I can do to help?" she asks,
looking from Karen to Plankton.
Karen's hands move in a
flurry of signs. "Just keep
it quiet," she tells her. "He's
already... overstimulated."
Hanna nods. "Okay," she mouths,
even though Plankton can't hear
it. She sits on the couch,
picking up a book to read.
Chip watches as the storm
outside grows louder, the
hailstones sounding like
tiny explosions. Plankton's
gaze is fixed on the window.
The game finishes up.
"Why don't we watch
something?" Hanna suggests.
Karen smiles. They pick a
show with subtitles for
Plankton. As they settle in,
Karen notices the
uncertainty. "You can sit
by him if you like," she
suggests. "Just be quiet."
Hanna nods, sitting down
next to Plankton. She reaches
for his hand, but he flinches
away. She pulls back, her
cheeks red. "It's okay,"
Karen says. "Just let him know
you're here." Plankton's antennae
twitch. He signs 'Space'. Karen
translates this to Hanna.
Hanna nods again, moving a
little farther from him. They
begin the movie, the subtitles
flipping across the screen.
Plankton's antennae quiver as
he watches, his gaze never
leaving the TV. Chip sits on
the other side.
As the minutes tick by,
Plankton's eyelid starts to
droop. Karen notices the
change, a small smile
touching her lips. "He's
getting tired," she says
to Chip and Hanna. Yet
Plankton is trying to stay
awake. His antennae slowed
their twitching. Karen
signs to him, 'You can go
to sleep if you need to'.
Plankton's antennae twitch.
'No', his hand signs firmly.
He tries to keep watching.
Karen nods, her gaze
soft. She keeps her voice
low. "It's okay if you want to
rest," she says. Plankton
shakes his head. 'Movie', he
signs. Karen nods.
The film's plot unfolds,
its intensity rising with each
passing minute. Chip's eyes
are glued to the screen,
his heart racing. Yet Plankton's
lid grows heavier. Karen
chuckles, her gaze
affectionate. She knew he'd
refuse to admit or show
any vulnerability.
They all focus on the film.
Plankton's eye struggles to
stay open. But he stays quiet.
Hanna's voice breaks the
silence. "Is he okay?" she
whispers, nodding to Plankton.
Karen nods. "He's just
really tired," she says, her voice
soft. "The storm's noise can
wear him out." Hanna nods,
keeping her voice low.
As the minutes stretch on,
Plankton's head begins to nod.
Karen notices, her hand
moving to cover her mouth.
She giggles. Plankton jolts
upright, his antennae shooting
straight up. He signs 'I'm fine'.
Yet his hand's movement
is sluggish. Karen looks at
Hanna, who's staring at the
screen. Yet Plankton fights
against his body's urge to
rest. But his eyelid droops again.
Chip looks from his dad to his
mom. "Should we let him
sleep?" he asks. Karen nods.
"Let's keep watching," she
whispers. "We'll leave him
alone." Plankton's antennae
twitch with determination,
his eye wide open. But the
rain's rhythm seems to lull
him despite his efforts.
Plankton's eyelid flickers,
his antennae droop slightly.
Karen's eyes fill with love.
She knows his stubbornness.
Plankton's fighting sleep, but
his body won't cooperate as
they all continue to be
increasingly engrossed in
the film.
The room is quiet except
for the storm's sounds.
Plankton's breathing deepens,
his head tilts back. His hand
slips from his knee, hitting
the cushions with a soft thud.
Chip stifles a laugh. Karen
shakes her head, smiling.
His head lolls back against
the couch, his mouth hanging
slightly open.
Hanna watches him, her
eyes wide. "Is he okay?"
she whispers. Karen nods.
"He's just really tired," she
says, her voice soft. "It's been
a long day." Hanna nods, but
her gaze remains fixed on
Plankton. "I've never seen
anyone fight sleep like that,"
she says, her voice filled with
wonder. Karen chuckles,
shaking her head as she turns
off the TV off.
Chip gently lifts his dad's
hand, placing it in his lap.
Plankton doesn't stir. "Let's
move him to bed," Karen
whispers. They work
together, lifting him with
careful grace. Plankton's body
is heavy with sleep. They
navigate the quiet house,
avoiding any creaks or
bumps that might disturb
his slumber.
Once in the bedroom, they
help him into bed. Karen pulls
the covers over him, her
hand lingering on his shoulder.
Chip watches, his heart
filled with a newfound
compassion. They leave the
room, closing the door
softly. In the hallway, Karen
turns to Hanna.
"He's pretty amazing, isn't
he?" she says, her voice
proud. Hanna nods. "I've never
seen anything like it," she
says. "He's so... intense."
Karen smiles. "That's just
Plankton," she says. "He feels
things so deeply, sometimes
it's just too much."
They stand in the hallway,
listening to the storm. "Well
it's getting late, and the storm
is gone through." Hanna said.
Karen nods. She turns to Chip.
"We're all going to bed.."
The next morning, Plankton
awakes in his bed by Karen's.
Last he remembered, they
were watching a movie. How'd
he end up here? He takes
his earbuds out. He noticed the quiet.
The storm's gone. His antennae
twitch with relief. He looks
around, his gaze landing
on Karen's sleeping form in the
other bed.
He tries to get out of bed,
his body protesting from the
lack of movement. He's tired.
But he's also aware of the
silence. The absence of
storm's noise is like a
blanket of peace. He gets up,
his legs wobbly. He walks
towards the door, opening
it quietly.