Chapter 3/Up for the Challenge
I need to get some people together. Maybe, all together, we can pull Stampy out of this hole. It's going to take a lot of time and support, but it'll all be worth it in the end.
After sunset, when Squid knew Stampy would not leave his room, he gathered a few helpers for a meeting. This small party included Sqaishey, Amy, Rosie, Netty, Choo Choo, and Finnball. They all snuck up to the clubhouse, and Squid prayed tonight would not be the one night that Stampy got out of bed for anything.
"I'm sure you all know why you're here," Squid began when everyone sat down. He started off by explaining the encounter between him and Stampy earlier that day. "I'm not angry with him. I understand why he was upset. I want to make him happy again. I know it will take some time and we'll need to give him the space he deserves and the emotional support he needs. But I'm hoping you all will take part in my little challenge."
"We're here to help Stampy, not win a game show!" Netty exclaimed. "What do you mean, challenge?!"
"Sorry, I didn't mean it like that." Squid blushed. Maybe he should have worded that better.
"What did you have in mind?" Choo Choo asked.
"Stampy barely comes out of his room, and he tries to be alone when he does come out. I can't tell you how many times I've seen him outside actually interacting with someone, but it's only been a handful," Finnball added.
"What makes you think he even wants us around now?" Sqaishey asked quietly, her eyes glued to the table. Squid knew everyone was thinking the same thing, but he also knew they wanted to help their friend.
"Listen guys, it won't be the easiest task, but I know it's going to work. If we let him keep himself locked up, he's going to keep starving himself and he'll suffer the same fate as our old friend, Lee." Squid sighed. "But, I think we should all shelter close for now and try to persuade Stamps to come out and enjoy himself in the Funland, or maybe take a walk with him and see if we can get him to talk to us. Once he knows we're here for him, he'll realize we mean well and start coming to us when he is feeling down."
""He'll feel more comfortable coming outside," Rosie added, her eyes glowing as she realized Squid might be right. "He'll slowly start feeling better and...and maybe he'll start seeing us as family again!"
Amy, who sat quietly the whole time, looked up with bright eyes. "I'm up for your challenge, Squid. If it doesn't work, we at least gave our best efforts." She looked at the others around the table. "I also believe our friends here would like to have our happy little cat back." Everyone nodded in agreement. Squid smiled, glad to have such wonderful people by his side.
Stampy sat in the corner of Lee's small bedroom, once again known as the Room of no Requirement. He didn't want to sleep tonight. As tears ran down his face and he sobbed into his paws, he tried to gather his thoughts.
Squid probably hates me now. I know he means well, but maybe I took things too far. Lee would know what to do. I've been stressing over nothing. Why do I still feel sad? It feels like it's been ages since I've last known what happy feels like. I can't believe I haven't run out of tears yet.
He cleared his throat and silenced himself when he heard whispering. Sniffling once more, he listened closely, wondering if he was just hearing things. But then the whispers grew a bit louder and he heard a sharp sshhhhhhhh.
Curious, he wandered downstairs and slowly opened the door to see seven silhouettes wandering from one side of the main hall to the other. Who could that be? he wondered. After they were all out of sight, he slipped through the door and followed them. It looked as though they came in through the entrance to the Love Garden, but where were they going? He continued to follow them as they wandered up the stairs to the clubhouse.
As they all settled down at the table usually used for Christmas dinner, he heard some familiar voices. Oddly enough, it wasn't the voices that he was paying attention to, but their words. "What makes you think he even wants us around now?" That was Sqaishey's voice, and her words made Stampy's heart drop. Of course he wanted his friends around!
"...If we let him keep himself locked up, he's going to keep starving himself and he'll suffer the same fate as our old friend, Lee." That isn't true!...Is it? He sat there and listened to the rest of the conversation, holding back tears, but not the same tears as before. I can't believe they'd go through all of this trouble to try and make me happy again...
A/N: Sorry this is a short chapter and I probably have a lot of punctuation problems. I've been trying not to get caught writing, only because i'm easily embarrassed and don't take criticism well. Also, I'm sorry I missed last weeks update. I tried, but I couldn't get a computer.