Exploding Computers, Nudge, and Ari

"So how'd you blow up the computer?" the Gasman was persistent.

"Funny story, that." Iggy said. One of the whitecoats had stupidly left out matches after testing Iggy's ability to deal with heat (which ended quickly due to Iggy's yells) and had left the room. Iggy had taken them and, copying the whitecoat, rubbed its tip… against the computer. The whole thing was up in flames before the whitecoat could come running back and practically throw Iggy into his crate.

"But what about me?" Nudge wheedled. "How'd I get my name? I don't remember."

"Well, that happened about a year after the exploding computer incident…"

It had been a while since the whitecoats had done anything OVERLY horrible to us, and for that we were thankful. But it also was a little nerve-wracking… why were they doing this?

Our questions were answered a few days post. The School had acquired another girl… she was given wings, too!

"What should we call her?" Fang asked.

"You make her sound like a pet," Iggy giggled. Not that we'd ever had a pet before, or anything. It was still funny though.

The new girl was very open with us. She would always poke us to get our attention, and then wave her hands or point at something to communicate.

One day she was doing just the same thing, but Iggy, who she was "speaking" with, was half-asleep. She nudged him insistently.

Groggy, Iggy tried to say 'No nudging!' but it came out as "No, nudge!"

"Nudge?" I asked. "Why'd you name her that?"

"What?" Iggy looked confused. "I didn't name her. I wanted her to stop nudging me!"

"She does do that a lot," Fang piped in. He had a point.

"Maybe we should call her Nudge." I said, glancing at her.

"Cause she'll love us for giving her a name like that." Fang rolled his eyes.

I glared at him.

"But I like my name!" Nudge grinned happily. "I didn't know that's why I was named Nudge. Have you ever noticed that my name rhymes with fudge? We should get fudge. I really like fudge, especially the chocolate type…" She stopped at the looks on our faces.

"Let's see, we've done me, Fang, Iggy, and Nudge. Gazzy's next…" I faltered. "Do I really need to explain this one?" Iggy and the Gasman cracked up, and even Fang grinned slightly. I sighed. Boys…

"I'll explain." Iggy offered. I nodded. "But first, I have another story… one I think you guys won't know, as only me, Fang, and Max were discussing it. Gazzy had just been born, but he hadn't joined us and Nudge yet."

Four whole years later, and Nudge could talk… joy. She would never shut up! I constantly wished the whitecoats had tried to "improve" my hearing, rather than my sight!

I heard the seven-year-old Fang walked over to me. "Hey," he said. "Anything wrong?"

I couldn't come up with a lie. "Yes, actually. I heard Jeb talking about someone. He said something about 'not experimenting'…"

Fang was silent for a moment. "Max and I heard that too. The thing is, Jeb has a son."

I couldn't help it. I snorted. "Jeb. He has a son? I didn't know that… what's his name? It can't be anything as crazy as ours, no doubt."

"Actually… his name is Ari. I think it means lion."

Max had joined in the conversation. "What make you think that?" she asked, curious.

I heard Fang sigh. "I heard Jeb SAY it meant lion. But I don't thin that's why he was named that." He looked thoughtful. "You know how Jeb, well… practically gushes over us?" Max and I nodded in unison. (Well, at least I did. I don't know about Max.) "I think that because we have wings, we'll be able to fly someday!"

Max laughed. "How long did it take you to figure that one out? Wait…"

"What?" Fang and I chorused together.

"Air!" Max triumphantly called out in a sing-song voice. "If you change the last two letters of air, you get Ari!"

"That's what I thought!" Fang muttered indignantly.

"Imagine that," I giggled. (Yes, giggled. Does anyone have a problem with that?) "You, actually thinking. That's a good one!"

Fang groaned and I could imagine him rolling his eyes. I grinned.

TBC