The Unconvincing Turtle Drabbles: Michelangelo
Chapter 5 Early: Donatello
***
"Come on, Mike. Let's go." I poked my younger brother's bridge, knowing he was ticklish just below his arm. I was determined not to be late.
"Five more minutes, Leo," he grumbled, tugging the blanket tighter around himself and snuggling into the pillow.
"Come on, Mikey, get up," I prodded, nudging him again.
"Huh? What? How come, Donny?"
"Come on, Bro. We're gonna miss it if you don't get up. Let's go."
Still grumbling, Michelangelo sat up, stumbling a bit as he tried to tuck his nunchucks into his belt and tie his mask. He yawned, giving me an excellent view of his tonsils.
Fifteen minutes later we were on the roof across from the water tower, huddled inside an open-topped oversized box I'd built out of plywood. The city was at its darkest here, and it's the only place where you can get a really good view of the stars, anywhere in New York. The box helps block out any stray light, allowing us to actually see the stars.
"How come I had to get up so early, Donny?" whined Mike, shivering slightly in the cool morning air. "We're not even patrolling tonight."
"Because Leo said I couldn't go alone," I told him irritably, adjusting my small telescope.
"How'd I get elected for Donny-sitting duty?" he grumbled.
"You said you'd come with me if I fixed your game system, remember?"
"Oh. Hey, what's that?" He pointed.
I glanced up, distracted. "That's the north star, Mike."
"Oh. What's that one?"
"The big dipper."
"Hey!"
I sighed. "Not you, Mikey. The constellation. The grouping of stars. See? They kind of look like a big spoon." I went back to adjusting the calibration.
"Oooooh." He was quiet for all of a minute.
"How come the moon's gray? Last week it was yellow."
I hesitated, about to launch into an explanation of atmospheric gases and their effect on light. I caught myself just in time.
"Because moon dust is gray."
"Oh. Hmm. I wonder what moon dust is like. I mean, is it all sandy? Or…"
"It's actually really soft, Mike. Like baby powder."
"Really? Cool. So the moon smells like a baby's butt?"
I snorted. "No. Moon dust smells kind of like gunpowder because it has a high sulfur content."
"Donny?"
"Yes, Michelangelo?"
"I'm glad you're my brother."
I felt a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. "Yeah, Mikey, me too."
***
