Chapter Ten: And they were roommates

Sissy Spacek began to laugh. She laughed as if she was the author of this fanfic when they won a game of monopoly. That is to say, she laughed like a madman, but also kind of sexy in a lesbian way, even though Sissy Spacek is straight both in real life and in this fanfic. Dumbo had had enough of this nonsense and put his trunk on his forehead. This ordeal was going to be very stressful for him.

"I don't have anything against your friends, Dumbo! I did this to get your attention! You owe me my half of the security deposit," Sissy Spacek said in wild jest.

"What is she talking about?" Pope Francis implored. "Security deposit? This isn't about an apartment! Dumbo is a homeowner!"

"Well I mean, technically the bank owns the home because I'm still paying my mortgage off," Dumbo said quickly. His face was flushed.

"What am I talking about?!" Sissy Spacek roared. "I was talking about when Dumbo and I lived… and laughed…"

"And loved together." Dumbo completed her sentence resolutely. Everyone looked awestruck. "It was 20 years ago. We were just middle aged adults back then, still trying to figure everything out… then we found each other…"

~`*flashback*~

I was born to Mama Jumbo in a circus much like any other circus, just with more animation. There was also a superfund site close to the mom would go and play in it when she was pregnant with me. Well, that's what the Bearded Mule would always tell me. He did a lot of talking because he was the least visited animal in Dumbo's circus. I mean, who hasn't seen a mule with a big ol' Gandalf beard? (Probably Jackie Gleason.)

"DUMBO!"

Dumbo was shaken from his intense flashback. He was glad he had paid a company to be able to light a flashback scene on demand. It was an expensive service because they had to get special sunglasses for everyone around. These sunglasses made everything black and white, and added a grainy texture. They also played a short tune at the beginning and end of the flashback. Dumbo felt that the service was necessary for times like this.

"What's that, Pope Francis?" Dumbo answered the Pope.

"We've all seen your movie," the Pope sighed. "Right now, we just need to know about your relationship with Sissy Spacek."

"Oh, , let's jump forward in this flashback then," said Dumbo.

Dumbo was walking through the Bed section of the Bed Bath and Beyond when he saw Sissy Spacek walking out of the Beyond section of the store. Dumbo was awestruck. He had never seen a more beautiful woman than this stranger.

Dumbo had his hands full of candles from the Bed section, and when he made brief, meaningless eye contact with Sissy Spacek, he dropped all of them. He was so embarrassed. But he was glad none of them were lit, because then the Bed, Bath, and Beyond would be on fire, and then people would die (probably not from the fire, but from the intense smell). Dumbo began to pick up the bits of broken candle. Sissy Spacek came over, crouched down next to him, and began helping him.

"You're the elephant that can fly? Y'all elephants are so cool-like!" Her light Southern or Texas or Boston accent came through. Dumbo was surprised. They lived in the hills of Los Angeles, not Louisville, Kentucky or Des Moines, Idaho.

"I mean, yeah, that's what they say about me." Dumbo got this a lot. He hated to be known as the elephant that could fly. Dumbo played the stock market and made just as much money as Warren Buffet, probably. Dumbo had been a manager of a Burger King for 16 years - no one ever asked about that! Dumbo could fucking juggle. He had a whole life outside of being cool and flying.

"You say that as if it's not the most interesting thing about you," Sissy Spacek remarked. Dumbo wondered if not getting taken to the prom was the most interesting thing that had happened to her. He thought this in a very mean way until he looked up and saw Sissy Spacek's grey-blue eyes. There were small flecks of gold in her eyes. Dumbo could just get lost in them. They were absolutely piercing. Dumbo liked how when Sissy Spacek smiled, he was able to see all of her teeth.

"Maybe it's not...maybe if we had dinner together, you could find out some of the more interesting things about me," Dumbo said, rising above his juggling-related insecurities. Dumbo could juggle, but he wasn't the best at juggling. He had never even juggled something that was on fire before.

"Fuck yeah, Dumbo," Sissy Spacek replied. And that's how they found themselves at an Applebees on a Tuesday afternoon, telling each other their life stories. Dumbo talked about how he learned to fly, and Sissy Spacek told Dumbo about what it was like to play Carrie in the movie Carrie.

"I've never been to Applebees before," Dumbo said after he ate his food.

"Neither have I," Sissy Spacek said.

"It was kind of…"

"God-awful?" suggested Sissy. They both laughed. They vowed never to go to another Applebees ever again. It was an easy decision. Sissy Spacek was so charming and easy to laugh with, and Dumbo usually hated laughing.

"Have you ever seen Badlands?" Sissy Spacek asked Dumbo.

"No," Dumbo replied. He secretly wished he had seen more than just Mike Leigh movies and his own animated feature.

"I have to go to the premier tonight. I was in it," Sissy Spacek mentioned offhandedly.

Dumbo blinked. "Wow."

"Do you want to go with me?" Sissy asked.

Dumbo could have had a heart attack. This was not due to excitement or anything, just the idea of being with a lady. It made him think about his health and what he was putting in his he continued to disrespect his body, he might not make it to date night.

"Yes," he replied, still thinking about his health.

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!" said Sissy Spacek, and off they went to prepare for the premiere.