A TOOTHY STORY pt. 5
Karen watches him drift
back into sleep, her heart
swelling with love. His snores
have turned into gentle snuffles,
his antennae still occasionally
twitching in his sleep. The nurse,
Nina, smiles at her. "It's okay,
he's just tired," she says. "Let's
get him standing."
They help Plankton into a
sitting position, his body
uncooperative and limp. His
eye open and close, trying to
stay awake. "Pway?" he mumbles
again, his voice a sleepy
whisper. Karen laughs, her eyes
sparkling with affection. "Later,
sweetheart, after you're all
better."
Nina, the nurse, nods. "Let's get
you on your feet," she says,
offering her fin for support.
Plankton wobbles, his legs like
jello. Karen takes his other arm,
steadying him. "One step at a time,"
she says, her voice a gentle guide.
They shuffle to the door,
his feet moving as if through
water. His head lolls, his antennae
drooping with exhaustion as
he falls asleep, but Karen and Nina
quickly react, holding him upright. "It's
normal for the anesthesia to
make him so tired." Nina says over
Plankton's snores as he's snoring deeply.
Karen nods, her grip firm
on his arm. "Let's get you
to the car," she says. "Wake
up, Plankton. Just a little
more."
With a snort, Plankton's eye
opens again, blinking sleepily. "Wha...?"
he says, looking around the room.
Karen's smile is like the sun
breaking through the clouds. "It's time
to go home, sweetie," she says.
They make their way to the
car, Plankton leaning heavily
on Karen's arm. The nurse,
Nina, gives them both a nod
of encouragement. "Call us
if you need anything," she says.
The sun is blinding as they
walk out of the clinic, its
rays piercing through the
clouds like a spotlight. Plankton
squints, his eye watering.
"Hone," he mumbles, his voice
a sleepy sigh.
Karen laughs, her arm
around his waist. "Home,
Plankton," she says, her voice
like a lullaby. "We're going
home now."
They reach the car,
his legs wobbly as a newborn's.
Karen opens the door,
guiding him in. Plankton
fumbles with the seatbelt,
his fingers refusing to cooperate.
"Let me," she says, her touch
gentle as she secures him in.
The drive home is quiet,
his snores punctuating the
hum of the engine.
Karen watches him,
his mouth slack, the gauze
still in place.
"Almost there, Plankton,"
she says, her voice soothing.
The car's smooth movement
lulls him further into sleep.
Karen sighs, her eyes on the
road ahead, her mind racing
with thoughts of care and comfort
for her recovering husband.
When they arrive home,
she gently wakes him, his
eye fluttering open. "Who...?"
he mumbles, his voice a
slurry whisper.
"It's me, Karen," she says,
smiling. "We're home, Plankton."
He blinks, his mind still foggy.
"Hone?" he repeats, his voice
barely audible. Karen nods.
"Yes, sweetheart, we're home."
They enter their home, the
familiar scent of home wrapping
around them like a warm embrace.
Plankton stumbles, his legs
like jelly under him. "Bath-tub,"
he mumbles, pointing in the
direction of their bedroom.
Karen laughs, her heart
swelling with love for her
confused husband. "No, Plankton,"
she says, her voice
a gentle reminder. "Let's get
you to the couch."
They shuffle through the house,
his eye half-closed, his words
slurred. "Muff-muff...tub?"
he repeats, his thoughts jumbled.
Karen laughs, her voice
like a warm current in the
cool ocean. "No, Plankton,
the couch," she says, guiding
his unsteady steps.
He nods, his antennae
drooping. "C-c-couch,"
he repeats, his words like
bubbles rising to the surface.
Karen helps him settle,
his body collapsing into
the plush cushions with a
sigh. His snores resume,
his mouth open, and drool
pooling on the pillow.
Plankton's eyes flicker open,
his gaze unfocused. "Tish...?"
he mumbles, reaching up
to touch his mouth. Karen
laughs, taking his hand. "No,
Plankton," she says, her voice
a gentle stream. "Let's keep those
hands down."
He frowns, his mind a fog.
"Whath...whathapened?" he asks,
his speech still slurred. Karen
smiles, her voice a warm
caress. "You had your wisdom
teeth taken out, sweetheart."
Plankton's eye widens.
"B-but...muh...muh..."
his words a jumble.
Karen giggles with warmth. "What
are you trying to say, Plankton?"
she asks, her voice sweet as
a lullaby.
He tries to sit up, his
body still groggy. "Baf...baf...
baf," he babbles. Karen's
laughter is a gentle wave,
lapping at the shores of his
confusion. "It's okay," she says,
her hand a steady rock. "Your mouth
is just numb."
Plankton's antennae wave
weakly, his eye still unfocused.
"Mumf?" he mumbles, his voice
like a baby's coo. "Mumf?"
Karen laughs softly, her heart
filled with love and amusement.
"What's 'mumf', Plankton?" she asks,
her voice a gentle ripple in the
sea of his confusion.
He blinks, his mouth moving
in a silent attempt to form
words. "Mumf," he repeats,
his voice a sleepy murmur. "Muff...muf..."
his words trailing off.
Karen laughs, her voice
a soothing whisper. "What's 'mumf',
sweetheart?" she asks, her eyes
twinkling with mirth.
Plankton blinks, his antennae
twitching. "Nun," he
slurs, his mind swimming in a sea
of anesthesia. "Why my moufs nun."
Karen laughs, her eyes sparkling.
"Your mouth is numb, Plankton,"
she explains, her voice a gentle
wave. "It'll wear off by the morning."
He nods, his antennae
drooping. "Mouf numb," he echoes,
his tongue still thick. "Mm...numb."
He giggles to himself. "Numb."
Karen laughs, her voice
like the tinkling of a bell. "Yes,
Plankton, your mouth is numb,"
she says, her words a gentle
soothing rain. "It's from the
surgery."
Plankton's antennae perk up,
his eye finally focusing. "Sur...surg...
surgery?" he asks, his voice
a tentative question. Karen nods,
wiping at his drool with a
tissue. "It's okay, you're all done
now."
He giggles, his words a slur.
"Sur...surgery," he repeats,
his mind still in a haze. Karen
smiles, her voice a gentle
lullaby. "Wisdom teeth," she says,
"They're out, and you're all better."
Plankton nods, his antennae
twitching with curiosity. "Tweef?"
he mumbles, his tongue thick.
Karen nods, her voice like
a gentle wave. "Yes, sweetie," she says,
"The doctor took your big teef out."
He giggles again, his mind
still foggy. "Big...big teef," he says,
his voice a babyish coo. "Tweef."
Karen laughs, her voice
a soothing breeze. "Yes, Plankton,
your big teeth are gone."
"How many fing-- fingers awe you
holding up?" He asks, but looking at his
own hand.
Karen laughs, her voice a delightful
chime in the quiet room. "I'm not
holding up any fingers, Plankton."
Plankton's antennae twitch, his
eye still unfocused. "But...but..."
his words trail off as he tries
to process her response.
"That's your hand, not mine!"
She laughs.
Plankton giggles, his eye
half-closed. "M-mine?"
he asks, his voice a sleepy
mumble. Karen nods, her smile
never leaving her face.
"Yes, love, your hand."
He looks down at his
hand, his fingers splayed.
"Twee," he murmurs, his voice
a slurred whisper. "Two big
teef gone."
Karen laughs, her voice gentle as
she shakes her head. "All four
wisdom teethies."
Plankton blinks, his mind
clearing slightly. "Oh,"
he says, his voice a soft
wave. "Twee big teefies."
Karen nods, her eyes sparkling
with humor. "Yes, Plankton,
all your wisdom teeth are out."
He giggles, his speech
still slurred. "Widom...teefies,"
he mumbles. "Widom."
Karen laughs, her heart
warm with love. "That's right,"
she says, her voice a gentle
current. "Wisdom teethies."
Plankton's antennae droop
again, his eye heavy with sleep.
"M-more?" he asks, his voice
like a sleepy drone.
Karen smiles, her voice
a soothing melody. "No more,
sweetie," she says, stroking his
antennas. "You're all done."