xp_logs | dead rats and crying girls

Look! Jamie and Kitty and no sugar overdose!

*Wednesday evening, aproximately 9 pm, outside Jamie's bedroom*

x_kitten (9:20:55 PM): *Kitty is standing in front of the door, quiet tears running down her cheeks, something clutched to her cheast.*
x_kitten (9:21:09 PM): *she raises her hand and knocks on the door* Jamie?

x_crowdofone (9:22:05 PM): Hey, Kitty, come on in. I could use a break from the history assignment.

x_kitten (9:22:49 PM): *she pushes at the door, letting it swing open, and glances into the room. Moving quietly she slips inside, closing the door and leaning against it*

x_crowdofone (9:23:59 PM): *Jamie's happy grin at her appearance shifts instantly to a look of concern when he catches her expression, and his history book drops to the floor as he stands up.* What's wrong?

x_kitten (9:25:32 PM): *she sniffs quietly, biting her lip, a few more tears slipping down her cheek. She carefully moves her hands away and opens them, letting Jamie see the small, crushed ball of fur she'd been clutching* I... *her voice cracks* I killed Algernon.

x_crowdofone (9:27:50 PM): Oh, man--well, okay, come over and sit down-- *Jamie guides her over to his vacated chair, and dumps a half-empty tin of fudge onto the desk.* Put him in here, we can figure out what to do with him later. Are _you_ okay?

x_kitten (9:29:42 PM): *she lets him guide her, dropping into his chair and carefully putting the little ball into the offered tin. Her chin's quivering, but she manages not to cry for a little bit* Yeah... I'm fine. *sniffles* I... I dropped him. *she closes her eyes and her shoulders shake a little* I dropped him. *she whispers again*

x_crowdofone (9:33:48 PM): *Jamie takes a quick look into the tin, then pops the lid on and sticks it in a desk drawer with no other visible reaction, then hooks Artie's chair with an ankle and sits down, putting a tentative arm around her shoulders* It'll be okay.

x_kitten (9:36:12 PM): *she leans into him, tears once more falling, although she doesn't make a sound. A quiet sniff and then* Dr. Essex said I was making so much progress, but he was surprised I hadn't tried anything harder. I wanted to prove I could do it, so I tried to take him through a wall... But... but... he was squirming about and I just couldn't keep hold of him. *a little gasp* I dropped him into the wall! *with a little noise she curls up in his arms, crying into his shoulder*

x_crowdofone (9:39:27 PM): Ssh, it's okay, it'll be all right. *pats her hair awkwardly, obviously a lot more nervous about dealing with a crying girl than a dead rat* That's why you were using him in the first place, remember, in case something happened? You did everything you could, it was just an accident.

x_kitten (9:41:21 PM): Yeah... yeah, I know... *she sniffles a little more, snuggling a little closer* But... but I feel so bad.

x_crowdofone (9:47:52 PM): Well, yeah, of course. I always felt awful when Tyke actually caught a squirrel. But look on the bright side, you must've phased him okay to start with, so you really _can_ do it.

x_kitten (9:49:25 PM): Yeah... but... if I can't hold onto a rat how'm I gonna keep hold of a person. And I can't lose someone! I just can't! *she sits up suddenly, sniffing again and looking anguished*

x_crowdofone (9:50:22 PM): People don't squirm. And they hold back. I'd go with you, if you wanted, anytime.

x_kitten (9:51:05 PM): *the anguish turns quickly to something that looks like fear* No... no I can't... I couldn't... *another tear slipps out*

x_crowdofone (9:52:55 PM): Well, we don't have to. No pressure. *hugs her* I just wanted to say I'd trust you not to drop me, that's all.

x_kitten (9:53:34 PM): *hugs back, clutching at him* *whispered* I wouldn't. I wouldn't ever.

x_crowdofone (9:55:49 PM): *whispered back* I know you wouldn't. *just holds her for a while, then finally* . . . Do lab rats get funerals?

x_kitten (9:57:12 PM): *nods* Algernon does.

x_crowdofone (10:00:17 PM): Okay. We can use that tin, maybe--do you want to go find a spot now? I don't think we should label him fish sticks and put him in the freezer, and we can't really leave him in my desk for very long.

x_kitten (10:01:13 PM): *sniffles again* Yeah... yeah we ought to.
x_kitten (10:01:31 PM): *she rubs at her eyes, brushing away a few more tears*

x_crowdofone (10:02:32 PM): We'll give him a good send-off, I've done a lot of squirrel funerals. *smiles tentatively* Flowers and everything.

x_kitten (10:03:16 PM): Yeah... *smiles back faintly* Flowers for Algernon... I should have known better than to name him that.

x_crowdofone (10:10:07 PM): Well, he was a pretty smart rat. And he went out the way he would've wanted to, I bet, helping somebody learn. That's what he was for.

x_kitten (10:12:37 PM): *she sniffles again, and stands up* Yeah... *she still sounds really down, but isn't actually crying anymore* We should find a good spot... It's going to be dark out there.

x_crowdofone (10:19:32 PM): I've got a flashlight. And then after . . . well, I'm kinda bad at this, so you'll have to tell me what I can do to help you feel better, okay? I'm all yours the rest of the evening, most of my homework is done and you're more important anyway.

x_kitten (10:22:19 PM): Thank you. *her lip quivers a little again, but she manages to smile at him* We can go say good bye and then... and then will you just hold me for awhile? *she bites her lip and looks up at him* I want to know I'm solid...

x_crowdofone (10:29:57 PM): That I can definitely do. *takes her hand* Feels solid to me. *smiles, and grabs the tin and a flashlight out of the desk drawer* I think I know a good spot, over by the new trees. Nice and shady, and the garden's on the way so we can get flowers. How's that sound?

x_kitten (10:30:55 PM): Sounds lovely. *A quiet sniff, and a soft squeeze of his hand. Her other hand tucks a lose strand of hair behind her ear and she nods* Let's go.