"Are you comin?" David asked her.

"Yes," Ball said. She scampered over, and then followed him to the front door, where she placed the stone down and began to put her backpack on.

"You really think that stone has my soul in it?" He asked her calmly.

"I do. Diggs does not talk to us to trick us! I wish you would see that," Ball said more sternly. David rolled his eyes.

"Don't be so naive. You can't believe everything people tell you. That's how people take advantage of you," David said as he crossed his arms and leaned back and forth.

"Just take your soul back and stop arguing," Ball said. She had placed the stone back on top of her head, and put her bag back on her back.

"I need a moment," David walked off the porch and began to mumble and pace around the dirt mounds.

I hope I am not being tricked. It would make me seem really dumb.
She looked up best she could in association with the stone.
Are you even in there?

Ball jumped up almost like something burned her.

What the curse word was that!?

I still can't remember what that word was.

Oh no. David?

You hear me! Ah! Oh my god, you hear me! You hear me! I'VE BEEN DISEMBODIED!

Well, I do not mean to alarm you, but, not anymore.

… Ball...what do you mean?

Do anything.

David's soul lifted Ball's leg. (Which is one of the strangest sentences I've ever written.)

Oh. Oh, oh no. This is not right. Way to close for comfort. We're in the same body! How do I get out!?

Do you think I would know?

Right. Uh, man you're short.

David tried looking around.

We should go get Diggs. I don't know how to get myself back to normal now.

David walked back into the house slowly while using Ball's body.

This is unnerving.

You know what's more unnerving? not having arms. I feel like I'm gonna fall on my face and not know how to get up.

It is much simpler than it looks, but sometimes I make myself look helpless when I fall so that I will get affectionate attention.

Oh.

I did not mean to think that.

...I need to get out of here.

Why are you not panicking as much as you were in the tunnel? This is a much smaller space than before.

Uh, I'm not really sure. Maybe that was a thing that had to do with my body? I guess since it was a phobia, it was just in my head, but...i'm not in my head anymore. Is there anything you think I should be concerned about in here?

People, Judgement, Johnson, the lab,

Is it really that bad?

It is a stressful part of my day that you never witness.

They were looking around the trash and rooms for Diggs, but they didn't find her.

How do you find anything at this height?

When going into the room they last talked, it was obvious that Diggs had gone back down her tunnel. It was also easy to see from Ball's height. The shaft was under the bed after all.

I spoke too soon.

We can not get under there without your body, or an over complicated elevator-like device.

I don't think the other David is going to help us down there. I know.

I feel like you should talk to him, but I fear he will just think I am trying to trick him.

Eh, more like you're trying to shove a belief down his throat and tricking him. You're right, he won't like it. I hope there's not like a, 'if I'm in here till sunset I'll be stuck here-' type deal.

That would be bad.

I don't wanna…. If Diggs could do this to me than I guess all the other stuff she said was true. What does it even mean that I'm more like you than I was?
...It means I'm not eating any gummies anymore.

I thought that you would think that. You do not have to anymore. It is Johnson who is curious about your development. Dora does not have to eat them anymore either. I fear Johnson will be upset with me if he finds out about that, or about today.

What does he even do if he gets mad at you?

He scolds me and sends me to my room. It is more of a verbal punishment because my computer is in my room, and I can entertain myself by viewing videos about technological developments or watching lost episodes of Robot Jones.

Robot Jones?

Oscar introduced me. It is a cartoon about a robot who goes to school and has difficulties because the humans do not understand him, or the other way around.

Sounds familiar.

… yes.

"Ball?! Ball?!" The other David called into the house.

What should we do?

Just let me handle it.

The other David entered the room Ball was in. He leaned on the doorway.

"Where's Diggs?" the other David asked.

"I think she went back into her tunnels. I wanted to consult her on a new problem I am having," Ball said. "Well you can always just talk to me about it. What's the problem?" the other David asked. Ball walked around him and out into the hall. The other David followed causally.

"I do not know if you would like it," Ball said sighed.

"Why? Is it a magical problem?" the other David said whimsically.

"Yes,"

"Look, I don't wanna... argue about this. Can't we just talk about, anything else," He suggested. Ball thought about it for a moment.

"...Ok. What do you want to talk about?"

Ball, how are we ever going to get me back to normal if we don't talk about it?

You want you? to be mad with me? It is not smart.

Why? I'm not dangerous.

…

"Uh, are you ok? You're not saying anything," The other David said.

"Nothing. I just have a lot on my mind," Ball said looking up but not raising her head.

Har har.

"Let's go," David said using Ball's voice. They went out into the hall and let the other David follow them.

What are you doing?

I don't know I'm bored. I did say we were going out to eat on a qieifiwodbejdogjwjdogjn.

On a what.

Nothing. It's just my mind was being stupid so I blocked it with noise.- heh

Heh

Yeah

They walked outside in silence until they got to the sidewalk. An airplane leaving contrails was the only thing in the sky.

Your parents are gone..

Ball's thoughts came up with the statement inspired by the plane.

Well yeah. They kinda disappeared in a plane... I told you before.

How do you feel about that?

...It's in the past. I miss em, but there isn't anything I can do about it. You better not be thinking of bringing them back to life, because I just don't think it would be right at this point. They've been gone too long.

A feeling of stress and mourning fell onto both of them. It was minor, like a drop of cold water, yet ball had never felt that way dispite how small the shiver.

Where do you think they went?

Like, after they died or where the plane went?

Both.

Ball was originally talking about where the plane had gone, but the afterlife was something she would otherwise not think about. Hearing what David had to say about the afterlife was much more tolerable.

Well, with you I'm starting to see things normal people don't. Aliens, souls. I may be outside my body but, I haven't been in open air yet, or dead yet. I'm not exactly sure where I would go. If my body stopped working would I disappear?

I do not think it is like that. You have no association with your body for the moment. It seems to be going on autopilot.

I think you're right about the autopilot. I mean, I guess my body is just going off hormones and chemical reactions now. I always thought that that was the essence of what I was, but it seems like there is actually 2 of me… at least as long as I'm alive. Do you think the other me might start to act a little different than this me?

Mmm maybe. We will just have to watch and see.

Ball looked at the other David in particular as they went up the sidewalk.

"Ya'know I'm not really hungry anymore. You think maybe we could just go over to my place and talk or... something?" The other David said.

Speak of the devil. Not hungry!? I'm starving! I have been all morning since we ran out of eggs, and time!

Should not that be a body thing to be hungry?

What?

Shouldn't your body be hungry and not your soul?

Yeah, my body should be hungry!

Are you aware that I am never hungry?

I'm aware! And it's making me scared! At least for the state of my being. It all harkens back to what Diggs said!

We both know that we must get back to Diggs, but what about you? As in the other you?

We have to convince him that what is really going on is going on. Then maybe…

We can get him to take his soul back using a handshake. Even if it doesn't work we can just go get Diggs now that we have the other David on our side.

"You ok Ball? If the magic stuff is really bothering you than you can talk about it. I won't get mad, honest," the other David said raising his arms in a light gesture. Ball looked right up at him with a sting.

"You David, are missing your soul. In a mistake, now I have your soul and my soul as well. It is like having 2 minds in one body. Please take your soul back," Ball said bluntly.

"I don't really know how to do that," the other David said with respect.

"Try shaking my hand," David said using Ball's body they stopped walking as David stuck out Ball's foot to shake.

"You mean your foot?" the other David squatted down to her height in order to shake.

"Uh Yes!" David said. The other David shook the foot, but nothing happened.

"Looks like I got my soul back. Let's continue," David got back up and faced the way ahead.

I'm still here.

I know.

You think the handshake didn't work?

Not too sure. Diggs did say that David had to want it back, but I do not think he believes us. He can not want something he does not think he needs.

Well, I guess we can always try again.

Try and talk to him again. If he notices something up with me that I can not perform, than he might start to believe us.

"It didn't work," David said to himself.

"You sure?" the other David continued walking, but slower this time. David rolled Ball's eyes.

"I'm your soul. I'm talking to you through Ball! Take me back!" David said.

The other David stubbornly looked away, and didn't say anything.

Oh no! He thinks we are messing around!

No, he doesn't. He just doesn't know how to feel about it.

What?!

He doesn't want to live in a world with… magic. He's in denial.

What do you suggest we should do?

When a person is in denial they make up reasons not to believe something. If we keep just talking to him he'll explode! For now it just looks like I might be in here for longer than I hoped.

Is it because your body is going to explode?

… No…Why would you even?... It's because the only way for us to get David to come out of denial is to wait. But the problem is figuring out how long we should wait before bringing it up again. If it doesn't bother him, he won't learn to come out of denial.

What should I say now? I have really upset the other you, and it is making me feel just as bad!

It makes me feel bad too, but more on the lines of what he can do.

You think your body might hurt us!?

I would never do that, but without a soul I'm not too sure what that David will do.

Ball on the outside started to physically shiver. The awkwardness was crushing.
The other David looked back over to them to discover this physical demonstration of fear on their face. It surprised him.

My soul is in there isn't it? Oh, Diggs was right. Maybe there is something wrong with me. Something like Ball?... I can't just take it back after what I said. What'll even happen if I take it back? It's with her now after all. Will it inherit anything because of this? Uhg! Why was I so ignorant! And I was rude! ...Hopefully I'll be ok without my soul… for now.

He looked back over to the shivering souls.

"Chill out. I'm not mad," the other David said to try and calm them down.

"You are not?" Ball looked up at him weakly.

"No. It's… It's complicated," the other David said.

A car passing by slammed on its breaks and honked long and hard. The 2 stopped starstruck as Johnson burst out of his car and marched up to them. He pointed at Ball.

"Why aren't you in school?!" He asked panting. Both Ball and David's soul pushed each-other around to give the best reason why they were out.

"T-t-the I'm going out for lunch at the Creed house household," Ball stammered.

"Liar! Your lunch period isn't until this afternoon! Is he," Johnson pointed to the other David, "The reason you are skipping!? This isn't even like you! You love school!"

I like the learning, not the people.

"Johnson It was all my idea- I just wanted to get Ball out of the hostile environment that yoyle High can be to her," the other David said only using half logic.

"She needs to be in school, and she needs to be disciplined! I do not know who you think you are leading Ball all the way out here, so do not convince me that you are what your actions are leading me to believe!"

"... Pardon?" David was confused.

"Do not let me catch you doing this again," Johnson picked Ball up and walked over to the car. He then tossed them in the back seat (which was easy to do).

Oh no! What do we do?

Nothing. As long as Johnson is here, we are completely powerless. The only thing we can give him is something he finds interesting. He's a scientist.

What type of scientist?

I would assume he is a biologist or an engineer, although his work on animals has been very little lately.

He works on animals?

He calls them 'the gang'. They test against me, along with other humans. They are like a drop of water in the lake of things he cares about though.

If he doesn't care about you, or his animals, what DOES he care about?

I am not sure anything inspires him to care. I DO know that he cares for me at least a little. I also know that he cares about you.

Without saying anything Ball felt that David was confused.

He is the one who decided to give you the gummies in the first place, remember. He is interested in your development with the gummies added.

What does he say about me?

...He trusts you.

I meant more on the lines of my development.

Nothing.

"I can't believe you skipped school!" Johnson said hitting his steering wheel as he drove off.

"It has been done," Ball said suggesting that Johnson should face reality.

"You have to have an alternative motive," Johnson said analyzing the situation, "You are not one to go out just to have fun, so? What is it?"

Don't tell him. Rudd will be fired for sure!

I know.

"David forgot something at Oscar's house so we went to fetch it, but after that we just decided to go out for Lunch. We had no other plans," Ball lied.

"Unlikely, but I'll take it," Johnson said.

"Are you going to take us back to school?" Ball asked him.

"No, I am going to take you back home. You lied to me, so you're grounded," Johnson said.

On the other end of the story, David's body was left in the dust on his own.

Well that was unfortunate.
He thought to himself.