The Morning After
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Jack found Cal in his usual spot on the couch. He was wrapped in his fuzzy pink blanket; the blanket he always used when he watched TV. But he wasn't watching TV now. He was staring at the silent TV with a blank expression.
Jack sighed. Something had to be done about him, but what? He had lain on the couch for hours, not even bothering to eat. "Cal," Jack said gently. Cal's head jerked up. He stared at Jack with wide, terrified eyes. Jack walked across the room. He sat down on the couch beside him.
"Cal, you have to get off this couch," Jack's voice was level. "But the remote,"Cal's voice trembled. "Look, I'll show you how to change the TV without it." Cal hesitated. "And I'll get you more doughnuts," Jack added quickly. "Ok."
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"Jack," Rose began slowly. Jack eyed her warily. This was not good. Rose was not wearing her top hat. She always wore her top hat. "Well, I have to go away for the weekend-" "WHAT??" Rose's face was pained. "I have to, it's for work!" "I know," Jack's voice was full of defeat. Rose picked up his hand. "It's ok, I'll only be gone for a few days." Jack nodded. "I know, but we've never been apart, and I really don't wanna stay here alone with them!"
Rose smiled, choosing to ignore the last half of his sentence. Jack smiled back; maybe a weekend without Rose wouldn't be total hell, after all there was always the garage if Cal and Fabrizo got too insane. "So, you're ok with it?"
Fortunately, he was spared having to reply. With a CRASH Fabrizo burst into the room. "Why was the door locked?" he asked. He looked around. "What were you doing?" "We were trying to have some privacy," Jack said irritably. "Oh, why?" Jack opened his mouth to answer, but Rose beat him to it. "Because I'm leaving for the weekend."
Fabrizo looked confused for a moment, but his face lit up. "Oh, goody!" he shrieked. "We can eat doughnuts and paint our toes and everything!!" He clapped his hands happily. "Now, when you say "we" you don't mean me to, do you?" Jack asked.
Fabrizo looked stricken. "Of course I do! We'll have so much fun, but first we'll have to fix Cal." "Well, at least you'll have something to do," Rose said. Rose considered shoving him out and locking the door, but then she remembered that the lock was broken.
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Two days later
Cal was still lying on the couch, only now he was starting to smell. This was made worse by the fact that the other members of the house had had to for themselves in the cooking area, causing several complaints from the neighbors. Jack, hadn't shown him how to change the TV, so he had been staring into space all that time.
Jack, had been too busy trying to think of ways to keep Rose form leaving to do anything. So far, his best plan was to throw himself down and beg. She might stay if he did that, but it was more likely that she would kiss him again and leave quickly.
He did not want this. "Jack," Rose called up the stairs. "I'm leaving now." Jack jumped out of the chair and ran down the stairs. He was going too fast to stop, so he crashed into Rose. They fell against the wall. "Rose, are you ok?" he asked hesitantly. She nodded.
"I'm fine Jack." Jack looked disappointed. "You wanted me to be hurt?" "No, but if you were then…." Jack let the sentence hang. "Ah, I see." "Well, couldn't you-" "No, Jack." "But-" "Jack, I don't want to go-"
"Well then don't. Stay here. With ME!!" "I CAN'T" "Can I play?" Fabrizo asked. Both stared at him. He was standing at the bottom of the stairs, holding a large Super-Soaker. It was aimed at them.
"We're not playing a game," Jack said. "Oh, what are you doing?" "I'm trying to leave for my trip." "Cool. Hey, will you bring me back some of those wooden shoes?" Rose looked confused. "Wooden shoes?" "From Holland." "But I'm-"
"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" an anguished scream filled the house. It was coming from the living room. Cal. "I'll go." Fabrizo ran into the other room. "Jack, I really want to stay, but I can't so I'm going." Rose had taken advantage of Jack's ;lack of attentiveness due to Cal's scream and had gotten up.
She kissed him. "I love you. Don't kill them." Jack grinned. "I love you too." Rose kissed him again. "Bye." Rose slipped out the door. Jack leaned against the wall. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad. He could get Cal off the couch and fix the bathroom ceiling…….
Another scream of anguish, this time from Fabrizo interrupted his thoughts. Maybe not.
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