Hey, so this is a scene from "Rewriting the Program" that didn't quite make it into chapter two, because it would have made the chapter way too long. I was planning on using it as a flashback in the future, but I don't think I will be squeezing it in there either. So, for your reading pleasure, here it is anyway.
Rewriting the Program
Deleted Scene: Chapter Two
"Hey, TJ, come here and I'll show you how my BuzzPhone works!"
TJ obediently flew over and settled himself down onto Ralph's knee. The little Cybug hybrid weighed nothing, absolutely nothing. He weighed less than a brick, really. He pointed a curious finger at the mobile device. "Fooooon?"
"Yes, that's right, phone." Pinching it carefully between finger and thumb, Ralph held it up for TJ to see. "This is a maaaaaaaaagical box where I can talk to my friend Vanellope! It can also play videos, and music, and all kinds of neat stuff! Isn't that cool?!"
"Mu-sic!" TJ cried excitedly, reaching out for the wrecker's treasured phone. "Wanna mu-sic!"
At once Ralph jerked his hand back. He couldn't risk TJ breaking the phone, or even tampering with it. It was his only way of contact with the little girl who still held his heart hostage. "No, don't touch! We can play music later! First, we're gonna talk to Vanellope, because she's gonna call us, allllllllllll the way from the internet!"
At least, she said she would call at this time. She promised she would. And his Little Miss Fart Feathers always kept her promises…well, eighty percent of the time, she did.
It hit the exact minute she was supposed to call. "Aaaaaaaaaaany second now, here we go, here comes Vanellope!"
They waited for the ring. They waited to see her face on the screen. Neither came. "Any…any second now…" Ralph muttered hopefully. TJ, being a toddler with a short attention span, was already beginning to get bored, but he was also well-disciplined, so he didn't move.
Another minute passed, so they waited another one. After all, it was unrealistic for someone to call right on the dot, wasn't it? So they waited…
And they waited…
And they waited…
And they waited…
TJ swung his tiny legs back and forth as he stared at the phone confusedly. "No Nella-pee?" he asked.
Ralph clutched his free fist anxiously and tapped his foot. "Yes, Nella-pee. Just wait, buddy. She's gonna call."
But she didn't. Ralph swallowed a lump that had grown in his throat. "Well, she…probably got caught up in a car chase or something…" He sighed, and quickly stashed the phone away in his pocket.
This wasn't the first time she'd forgotten to call him, and it wouldn't be the last. She had a new, exciting, free and independent life now, with daredevil racers, hip, glamorous princesses, and endless games and websites to explore…while he was just a boring old babysitter…a babysitter to an adorable little tyke, but a babysitter all the same. He didn't have any updates to offer except for some new words TJ had learned to say, or a game he'd learned to play. No wonder she didn't want to take time out of her busy schedule to talk to him. If he was in her place, he wouldn't want to talk to himself either.
Ralph couldn't help it, but a few hurt tears sprang to his eyes. I miss her. I miss her so much. With the tears came back the recurring heart murmur, and the self-pity. Why wasn't I enough for her? The tears involuntarily escaped and ran down his cheeks.
"Wecka-Ra, no sad!" Little TJ exclaimed, alarmed, when he saw Ralph's tears. He reached out to wipe them away with his hands, which were so small and soft, it like being brushed with flower petals. He scolded him further. "No, no, NO sad!"
Ralph sniffled, and pulled the little guy to him gently for a bear hug. "Thanks, buddy. You're right. No sad. No more sad."
"TJ is here," the boy said matter-of-factly, resting his head against Ralph's chest, feeling gloriously content and warm, even if his bad guy friend was not. Ralph's eyes shot open.
"What did you just say?!" Had TJ just spoken his first full sentence?! The wrecker's mind was off Vanellope in an instant. "Say it again!"
TJ looked up and blinked. "TJ is here," he repeated, pointing to himself, thinking that maybe Ralph hadn't understood him.
Ralph laughed joyously and jumped to his feet with TJ cupped in his hands. TJ joined in laughing with him as Ralph spun him around.
"You're talking! Like a grownup!" Ralph cried, coming to an abrupt halt, because he was getting dizzy, and he didn't want TJ to get dizzy and throw up either. "This is great! Soon you'll be giving TED Talks and writing hit songs, my little genius!"
TJ didn't quite understand what he'd done to make Ralph so happy, but he was glad to have done so. He didn't want his big best friend to cry. Together, they ran off to find TJ's marine uncles.
"Guys! Guys! Listen to what TJ just said! He's talking! He said a whole sentence! He's learning so fast!"
End of Deleted Scene
If I have any more deleted scenes I want to add on, I'll put them here. Hope you liked it.
