Hello hello! I'm happy to say that I'm doing a little better now (it
didn't take long, eh?). I haven't been taking my medicine so my spirits
aren't as high as they could be and I think you'll notice that as you read
on. Or maybe you won't. Hah, oh well, this chapter's kinda sad,
especially if you're a Dib fan. Again, not much really happening, but I
have some good ideas in mind for further chapters, so just hang in there.
And of course you guys will continue to assist with what happens! So just
enjoy it as it comes to ya.
Thanks for all the good reviews! Wow, at this rate I'm gonna turn into a conceited prep by the time I finish this. Wait. No. How can I say that. Damnit, someone flame me, quick! *L* No, don't! It's just that sometimes I resort to drastic measures when it comes to... preps... *Shudders* I hope I'm not offending anyone... I was a prep once, yes... *Nods solemnly*
It hurt.
Invader Jet: Meeeheeee, I hear that a lot, thanks =D
Thanks to all my other readers. I love you all. *Waves all beauty-pageant- like and blows kisses*
Dib pressed his back against the cold cement of the skool steps and closed his eyes, his cheeks burning. The way Zim acted like nothing ever happened pissed him off. It almost hurt him.
... Almost?
Dib sighed and looked down at his feet. Thousands of thoughts swam around in his mind, each one too confusing and painful to dwell on, and many too hard to put into words. Dib stood up slowly, feeling dizzy. He didn't need to be stressing over this, not now. He began walking home, taking the long way so that he wouldn't have to walk through Zim's neighborhood.
A couple blocks away, Zim was busy trying to hold back a robot in a soiled dog suit while he handed a wad of cash to yet another infuriated ice cream man. "THERE. Stupid human, that should take care of the damage."
The ice cream man grumbled and snatched the money from Zim's claw. He leafed through it a couple times, his face puckering in mentation as he went over the figures in his head. "Uhmn... good enough. Next time, keep that pup of yours tied up. This city has a leash law, ya know." The man turned and waddled back to ice cream van.
Zim blew a raspberry and walked toward his house, carrying GIR under his arm by the waist. "I'm thinking about executing that horrible ice cream servant's advice, GIR."
The oblivious SIR squealed with delight at the idea. "YAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!"
Zim ignored the shriek and walked up to his door. It opened presently and his robotic parents greeted him as warmly as an unfeeling voice recording could be. "Welcome home, son!"
Zim stepped passed them as GIR waved ecstatically. "HI MOM! HI DAD! WHERE'S MY SNACK?!"
Zim dropped GIR in the middle of the living room with a clang. He put his hands on his hips and looked down at his companion sternly. "Tomorrow I shall bind you to a lawn decoration, where you won't be able to create chaos among the world of ice cream marketing."
GIR suddenly comprehended what his master was getting at. "Awwwww noooooo! The Scary Monkey Show Marathon is on tomorrow!"
Zim blinked indifferently. "... Tomorrow I shall bind you to a lawn decoration, where you won't be able to create chaos among the world of ice cream marketing."
GIR wailed. "But -"
"TOMORROW I SHALL BIND YOU TO A LAWN DECORATION, WHERE YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO CREATE CHAOS AMONG THE WORLD OF ICE CREAM MARKETING!" Zim fumed, making sure he got the point across.
GIR screamed and jumped up and down. "I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HA - Oo look, a penny!"
Zim rolled his eyes and headed to his lab while GIR smiled cheerfully and picked the coin up off the floor.
Dib opened the door to his house and dragged his backpack inside tiredly. The long way home was a lot longer than he thought. With an exhausted grunt he heaved his bag onto the couch and was about to walk up to his room when a monotonous voice resounded from the kitchen. "Where were you?"
Dib froze.
Gaz appeared from around the wall with a piece of greasy cheese-dripping pizza. She looked more irate than usual. "Well?"
Dib felt his cheeks redden as he remembered where he was... and what he was doing... and who he was doing it with. "I-I got in t-trouble..."
Gaz raised an eyebrow, half-interested in Dib's reaction. "What happened?"
Dib blushed even more as he frantically searched for something so say. "Uh, well, I got in a fight, um, that's all, nothing else happened..."
Gaz smirked. "Dib, you're such a bad liar."
"I did..." Dib swallowed hard and rubbed his elbow, looking off to the side.
Gaz seemed somewhat surprised. "Did you win? ... Never mind, I already know the answer to that."
Dib shifted his weight to one side. His sibling took a bite of her pizza and eyed Dib suspiciously. "Who'd you fight?"
Dib smiled softly, a picture of Zim forming vaguely in his large head.
Gaz knew who Dib was thinking about, even though she was too busy playing with her Game Slave 2 at lunch earlier that day to pay attention to Zim's antics. But the smile that played on her brother's lips AS he thought of him weirded Gaz out. Without another word, she disappeared into the kitchen, leaving a trail of spookiness and pizza-cheese behind.
Dib walked up the stairs warily, beating himself up inside for sounding so stupid and making it so obvious. He entered his room and closed the door gently, not wanting his sister downstairs to think he had a reason for closing it. ... Even though he DID, just not the reason YOU sickos are thinking... cheese, I'm not getting THAT lemony... not yet, anyways... psh. *L* He sprawled out on his bed and stared up at the ceiling, letting his complex mind wander through 'if's and 'but's and 'maybe's and 'no's and 'kinda's and 'definitely's, all of them circling around Zim. After a while, his sentiments somehow lead him to start thinking about his mother. Dib's face, which had been peacefully aglow, became solemn and distressed. Images of when he found his mother dead flashed before his eyes, and he tried to shut them out, cringing. But they came back, and he was forced to relive that day.
Four red candles burned brightly on a dark blue cake. A gray flying saucer was carefully traced into the frosting among golden sprinkles that resembled stars and Froot Loops that acted as planets. Dib remembered the planets best because he found it peculiar that his cake was decorated with cereal until he learned that it was Gaz's idea. He then found it funny and gave his sister a hug.
"Go on, blow out the candles!"
Dib looked up at where the voice came from. It was so pretty; calm and serene in a world that was neither of those things. His mother's honey eyes sparkled with excitement. "C'mon! You can do it, Dibby!"
Dib smiled meekly at his mother's encouragement and took a deep breath. Gaz clapped and made a tiny squeal, then leaned forward, eager to help her older brother. They both blew simultaneously, though Dib's breath lasted longer than Gaz's. The candles flickered out slowly, then ignited themselves. Gaz clapped and laughed with joy and Dib stared in awe. His mother laughed and rubbed her son's shoulders. "Ooop! Better try again, little one!"
Dib grinned with determination and blew harder, this time with his mother's help. The candles went out completely.
"Yay! Good job! You too, Gaz! Now... who wants ice cream?"
The two kids cheered. After cake and ice cream, Dib's mother got up from the table and left the kitchen. She returned with a colorfully wrapped gift and set it on the table, right in front of Dib. He smiled up at her incredulously. "Another one?!"
His mother chuckled and lowered her voice. "This is one that I got especially for you." She winked and nodded at the present. "Aren'tcha gonna open it?"
Dib ripped away the wrapping paper and stared at the picture on the box. It was a red and yellow plastic lawnmower with bubbles floating around it. Dib frowned. It wasn't anything like the telescope his father got for him earlier. He glanced up at his mother, preparing to tell her that he didn't like it. But when he saw the joy that radiated from his mother's smile, he couldn't help but to lie. "It's... nice Mommy... thank you..." With that, Dib smiled and wrapped his arms around his mother's upper thigh. She ran her fingers through his hair and beamed down at him.
"I'm glad you like it, little one. Now, why don't we take it for a test run? I'm sure our grass could use some mowing right about now!"
After getting the bubble-mower all set and ready to use, Dib's mother carried it and Gaz out to the backyard, while Dib followed reluctantly. His mother put the mower down in the middle of the yard and stepped back. "Okay Dibby, do Mommy a favor and cut the grass!"
Dib giggled at the sense of responsibility that crept up his arms as he held the mower in front of him. He slowly pushed it forward, and as he did so, a couple bubbles popped out of the so-called motor. He stopped and stared at the bubbles that danced up to his face, and laughed gleefully when one landed on his nose without popping. "Mommy, look!"
His mother laughed. "Eat it!"
Dib opened his mouth and snapped at the bubble, causing it to pop near his mouth. His eyes widened and he giggled some more. Gaz reached for the other bubble that made its way over to her and mimicked her brother. "Mmm!"
Later that night, after Gaz was put to sleep, Dib's mother sat on the couch next to her child and turned off the TV that he was watching. Dib looked up at his mother questioningly. She wrapped an arm around him and drew him close, sighing. Dib sighed too, and buried his face into his mother's side. He loved the smell of her. Back then, everything smelled like her. Now her scent was only a sharp memory.
She stared straight ahead. "I'm sorry your father couldn't stay here long, Dibby."
Dib looked up at his mother, not knowing what to say. He was confused. Something sounded wrong. Something in his mom's voice. "Dun worry Mommy, he still loves you."
She looked down at him, a sad smile on her face. "I know baby, I know."
They sat in silence for a few moments until Dib's mother stood up slowly. "I'll be right back Dibby. Stay here."
Dib watched his mother walk up the stairs and heard the door to his parent's room close. He stared at the blank TV screen in front of him, waiting for his mother's return.
Time passed. Dib was too young to tell time, but he knew that a lot of it had gone by. He wanted to go up and join his mom, but her words replayed in his head.
"Stay here."
He shuffled around a bit. Picked his nose, cleaned his glasses, kicked off his shoes. Then he heard a faint thud from upstairs. Alarmed, Dib crawled off the couch and ran up the stairs as fast as his little legs could carry him. He knocked on his parent's door.
There was no answer.
Dib opened the door a crack. "Mommy?"
Still no answer.
He peeked through the crack and saw his mother lying on her belly in the middle of the floor. He stepped inside the room and tiptoed toward his mom's lifeless body, tripping over an empty bottle of pills. Dib stopped and looked down at the orange container, not really giving it a second thought. He knew those pills were to make his mother happy.
Dib crouched beside his mother and shook her shoulder. "Mommy? Mommy, wake up!"
Her smooth black hair fell over her colorless face. Dib cocked his head to one side, puzzled as to why his mother wouldn't get up. "Mommy, c'mon..." He continued to push down on his mother's shoulder, applying more force as the big hand on the clock went by. His cries became more urgent too, and soon he was yelling in his mother's ear. "MOMMY!"
With a defeated pout, Dib plopped down on his behind and stared at the body before him, painfully realizing that his mother wasn't going to wake up.
Dib wiped the tears from his cheeks and opened his eyes. Why was the memory of that day still with him? It was so crisp, like it had only happened yesterday. He hated it. But he was glad he still had the memory. It made him feel special. After all, he was the only one who could look back at it. His dad was at work and his sister was asleep. The fact that his face was the last face his mother smiled at made Dib feel special too. She was the only thing he had at the time, and he liked to think of her as all his. Dib knew it was selfish, but if his dad wouldn't take her, then he might as well keep her. His father didn't know what he had missed. Dib's mother was such a kind and gentle woman, and she was so cheerful... Dib now understood that all her smiles were there just to hide the hurt inside, but he treasured them because he knew how hard it must have been to put them on. She had a lot of problems. With too many personality disorders to list, the doctors all believed that she was beyond help. But she wasn't insane. She was as normal as any other middle-aged woman with a workaholic as a husband. She was just troubled. And after nine years of carrying the world on her shoulders, she couldn't take it anymore. That's why she ended it.
It hurt Dib more than anyone out of the family, mainly because his sister was only two at the time and his father was too busy with his work to really love the woman.
Dib felt that it was his own fault. He thought he could've done something that night to make her feel better, to prevent her suicide.
But then that would be like carrying the world on his shoulders. And his mother wouldn't want that.
"Chin up, little one! Tomorrow's a brand new day."
Dib smiled sadly and wiped the remainder of tears from his face, then curled up and fell asleep.
*Sniff*
Keep in mind that it's still the afternoon, Dib's just taking a nap. And it's Friday, a lot can happen with Zim and Dib between now and tomorrow... *Winks deviously* Oh man I'm naughty... so tell me, diligent reader, what's gonna happen next?
Is Dib going to wake up around sunset and go over Zim's house with the excuse of spying on him (but we all know the REAL reason =] )...?
Or...
Is GIR going to run to Dib's house and make Zim chase after him...? Which leads to other things... heh heh...
Sorry for the lack of choices this time... just pick one and tell me what you think of the story! I'll try to have another chapter up soon. Thank you for reading! *Throws out complimentary Santa hats*
- SwEeTiNsAnItY
Thanks for all the good reviews! Wow, at this rate I'm gonna turn into a conceited prep by the time I finish this. Wait. No. How can I say that. Damnit, someone flame me, quick! *L* No, don't! It's just that sometimes I resort to drastic measures when it comes to... preps... *Shudders* I hope I'm not offending anyone... I was a prep once, yes... *Nods solemnly*
It hurt.
Invader Jet: Meeeheeee, I hear that a lot, thanks =D
Thanks to all my other readers. I love you all. *Waves all beauty-pageant- like and blows kisses*
Dib pressed his back against the cold cement of the skool steps and closed his eyes, his cheeks burning. The way Zim acted like nothing ever happened pissed him off. It almost hurt him.
... Almost?
Dib sighed and looked down at his feet. Thousands of thoughts swam around in his mind, each one too confusing and painful to dwell on, and many too hard to put into words. Dib stood up slowly, feeling dizzy. He didn't need to be stressing over this, not now. He began walking home, taking the long way so that he wouldn't have to walk through Zim's neighborhood.
A couple blocks away, Zim was busy trying to hold back a robot in a soiled dog suit while he handed a wad of cash to yet another infuriated ice cream man. "THERE. Stupid human, that should take care of the damage."
The ice cream man grumbled and snatched the money from Zim's claw. He leafed through it a couple times, his face puckering in mentation as he went over the figures in his head. "Uhmn... good enough. Next time, keep that pup of yours tied up. This city has a leash law, ya know." The man turned and waddled back to ice cream van.
Zim blew a raspberry and walked toward his house, carrying GIR under his arm by the waist. "I'm thinking about executing that horrible ice cream servant's advice, GIR."
The oblivious SIR squealed with delight at the idea. "YAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!"
Zim ignored the shriek and walked up to his door. It opened presently and his robotic parents greeted him as warmly as an unfeeling voice recording could be. "Welcome home, son!"
Zim stepped passed them as GIR waved ecstatically. "HI MOM! HI DAD! WHERE'S MY SNACK?!"
Zim dropped GIR in the middle of the living room with a clang. He put his hands on his hips and looked down at his companion sternly. "Tomorrow I shall bind you to a lawn decoration, where you won't be able to create chaos among the world of ice cream marketing."
GIR suddenly comprehended what his master was getting at. "Awwwww noooooo! The Scary Monkey Show Marathon is on tomorrow!"
Zim blinked indifferently. "... Tomorrow I shall bind you to a lawn decoration, where you won't be able to create chaos among the world of ice cream marketing."
GIR wailed. "But -"
"TOMORROW I SHALL BIND YOU TO A LAWN DECORATION, WHERE YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO CREATE CHAOS AMONG THE WORLD OF ICE CREAM MARKETING!" Zim fumed, making sure he got the point across.
GIR screamed and jumped up and down. "I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HA - Oo look, a penny!"
Zim rolled his eyes and headed to his lab while GIR smiled cheerfully and picked the coin up off the floor.
Dib opened the door to his house and dragged his backpack inside tiredly. The long way home was a lot longer than he thought. With an exhausted grunt he heaved his bag onto the couch and was about to walk up to his room when a monotonous voice resounded from the kitchen. "Where were you?"
Dib froze.
Gaz appeared from around the wall with a piece of greasy cheese-dripping pizza. She looked more irate than usual. "Well?"
Dib felt his cheeks redden as he remembered where he was... and what he was doing... and who he was doing it with. "I-I got in t-trouble..."
Gaz raised an eyebrow, half-interested in Dib's reaction. "What happened?"
Dib blushed even more as he frantically searched for something so say. "Uh, well, I got in a fight, um, that's all, nothing else happened..."
Gaz smirked. "Dib, you're such a bad liar."
"I did..." Dib swallowed hard and rubbed his elbow, looking off to the side.
Gaz seemed somewhat surprised. "Did you win? ... Never mind, I already know the answer to that."
Dib shifted his weight to one side. His sibling took a bite of her pizza and eyed Dib suspiciously. "Who'd you fight?"
Dib smiled softly, a picture of Zim forming vaguely in his large head.
Gaz knew who Dib was thinking about, even though she was too busy playing with her Game Slave 2 at lunch earlier that day to pay attention to Zim's antics. But the smile that played on her brother's lips AS he thought of him weirded Gaz out. Without another word, she disappeared into the kitchen, leaving a trail of spookiness and pizza-cheese behind.
Dib walked up the stairs warily, beating himself up inside for sounding so stupid and making it so obvious. He entered his room and closed the door gently, not wanting his sister downstairs to think he had a reason for closing it. ... Even though he DID, just not the reason YOU sickos are thinking... cheese, I'm not getting THAT lemony... not yet, anyways... psh. *L* He sprawled out on his bed and stared up at the ceiling, letting his complex mind wander through 'if's and 'but's and 'maybe's and 'no's and 'kinda's and 'definitely's, all of them circling around Zim. After a while, his sentiments somehow lead him to start thinking about his mother. Dib's face, which had been peacefully aglow, became solemn and distressed. Images of when he found his mother dead flashed before his eyes, and he tried to shut them out, cringing. But they came back, and he was forced to relive that day.
Four red candles burned brightly on a dark blue cake. A gray flying saucer was carefully traced into the frosting among golden sprinkles that resembled stars and Froot Loops that acted as planets. Dib remembered the planets best because he found it peculiar that his cake was decorated with cereal until he learned that it was Gaz's idea. He then found it funny and gave his sister a hug.
"Go on, blow out the candles!"
Dib looked up at where the voice came from. It was so pretty; calm and serene in a world that was neither of those things. His mother's honey eyes sparkled with excitement. "C'mon! You can do it, Dibby!"
Dib smiled meekly at his mother's encouragement and took a deep breath. Gaz clapped and made a tiny squeal, then leaned forward, eager to help her older brother. They both blew simultaneously, though Dib's breath lasted longer than Gaz's. The candles flickered out slowly, then ignited themselves. Gaz clapped and laughed with joy and Dib stared in awe. His mother laughed and rubbed her son's shoulders. "Ooop! Better try again, little one!"
Dib grinned with determination and blew harder, this time with his mother's help. The candles went out completely.
"Yay! Good job! You too, Gaz! Now... who wants ice cream?"
The two kids cheered. After cake and ice cream, Dib's mother got up from the table and left the kitchen. She returned with a colorfully wrapped gift and set it on the table, right in front of Dib. He smiled up at her incredulously. "Another one?!"
His mother chuckled and lowered her voice. "This is one that I got especially for you." She winked and nodded at the present. "Aren'tcha gonna open it?"
Dib ripped away the wrapping paper and stared at the picture on the box. It was a red and yellow plastic lawnmower with bubbles floating around it. Dib frowned. It wasn't anything like the telescope his father got for him earlier. He glanced up at his mother, preparing to tell her that he didn't like it. But when he saw the joy that radiated from his mother's smile, he couldn't help but to lie. "It's... nice Mommy... thank you..." With that, Dib smiled and wrapped his arms around his mother's upper thigh. She ran her fingers through his hair and beamed down at him.
"I'm glad you like it, little one. Now, why don't we take it for a test run? I'm sure our grass could use some mowing right about now!"
After getting the bubble-mower all set and ready to use, Dib's mother carried it and Gaz out to the backyard, while Dib followed reluctantly. His mother put the mower down in the middle of the yard and stepped back. "Okay Dibby, do Mommy a favor and cut the grass!"
Dib giggled at the sense of responsibility that crept up his arms as he held the mower in front of him. He slowly pushed it forward, and as he did so, a couple bubbles popped out of the so-called motor. He stopped and stared at the bubbles that danced up to his face, and laughed gleefully when one landed on his nose without popping. "Mommy, look!"
His mother laughed. "Eat it!"
Dib opened his mouth and snapped at the bubble, causing it to pop near his mouth. His eyes widened and he giggled some more. Gaz reached for the other bubble that made its way over to her and mimicked her brother. "Mmm!"
Later that night, after Gaz was put to sleep, Dib's mother sat on the couch next to her child and turned off the TV that he was watching. Dib looked up at his mother questioningly. She wrapped an arm around him and drew him close, sighing. Dib sighed too, and buried his face into his mother's side. He loved the smell of her. Back then, everything smelled like her. Now her scent was only a sharp memory.
She stared straight ahead. "I'm sorry your father couldn't stay here long, Dibby."
Dib looked up at his mother, not knowing what to say. He was confused. Something sounded wrong. Something in his mom's voice. "Dun worry Mommy, he still loves you."
She looked down at him, a sad smile on her face. "I know baby, I know."
They sat in silence for a few moments until Dib's mother stood up slowly. "I'll be right back Dibby. Stay here."
Dib watched his mother walk up the stairs and heard the door to his parent's room close. He stared at the blank TV screen in front of him, waiting for his mother's return.
Time passed. Dib was too young to tell time, but he knew that a lot of it had gone by. He wanted to go up and join his mom, but her words replayed in his head.
"Stay here."
He shuffled around a bit. Picked his nose, cleaned his glasses, kicked off his shoes. Then he heard a faint thud from upstairs. Alarmed, Dib crawled off the couch and ran up the stairs as fast as his little legs could carry him. He knocked on his parent's door.
There was no answer.
Dib opened the door a crack. "Mommy?"
Still no answer.
He peeked through the crack and saw his mother lying on her belly in the middle of the floor. He stepped inside the room and tiptoed toward his mom's lifeless body, tripping over an empty bottle of pills. Dib stopped and looked down at the orange container, not really giving it a second thought. He knew those pills were to make his mother happy.
Dib crouched beside his mother and shook her shoulder. "Mommy? Mommy, wake up!"
Her smooth black hair fell over her colorless face. Dib cocked his head to one side, puzzled as to why his mother wouldn't get up. "Mommy, c'mon..." He continued to push down on his mother's shoulder, applying more force as the big hand on the clock went by. His cries became more urgent too, and soon he was yelling in his mother's ear. "MOMMY!"
With a defeated pout, Dib plopped down on his behind and stared at the body before him, painfully realizing that his mother wasn't going to wake up.
Dib wiped the tears from his cheeks and opened his eyes. Why was the memory of that day still with him? It was so crisp, like it had only happened yesterday. He hated it. But he was glad he still had the memory. It made him feel special. After all, he was the only one who could look back at it. His dad was at work and his sister was asleep. The fact that his face was the last face his mother smiled at made Dib feel special too. She was the only thing he had at the time, and he liked to think of her as all his. Dib knew it was selfish, but if his dad wouldn't take her, then he might as well keep her. His father didn't know what he had missed. Dib's mother was such a kind and gentle woman, and she was so cheerful... Dib now understood that all her smiles were there just to hide the hurt inside, but he treasured them because he knew how hard it must have been to put them on. She had a lot of problems. With too many personality disorders to list, the doctors all believed that she was beyond help. But she wasn't insane. She was as normal as any other middle-aged woman with a workaholic as a husband. She was just troubled. And after nine years of carrying the world on her shoulders, she couldn't take it anymore. That's why she ended it.
It hurt Dib more than anyone out of the family, mainly because his sister was only two at the time and his father was too busy with his work to really love the woman.
Dib felt that it was his own fault. He thought he could've done something that night to make her feel better, to prevent her suicide.
But then that would be like carrying the world on his shoulders. And his mother wouldn't want that.
"Chin up, little one! Tomorrow's a brand new day."
Dib smiled sadly and wiped the remainder of tears from his face, then curled up and fell asleep.
*Sniff*
Keep in mind that it's still the afternoon, Dib's just taking a nap. And it's Friday, a lot can happen with Zim and Dib between now and tomorrow... *Winks deviously* Oh man I'm naughty... so tell me, diligent reader, what's gonna happen next?
Is Dib going to wake up around sunset and go over Zim's house with the excuse of spying on him (but we all know the REAL reason =] )...?
Or...
Is GIR going to run to Dib's house and make Zim chase after him...? Which leads to other things... heh heh...
Sorry for the lack of choices this time... just pick one and tell me what you think of the story! I'll try to have another chapter up soon. Thank you for reading! *Throws out complimentary Santa hats*
- SwEeTiNsAnItY