January 8, 2025
Animal Party, Part 1
My friend and fellow Project 25:365 participant Cassidy has made some very cute animal friends. Cassidy gave me permission to write stories about them, so this will be episodic, developing as I try to figure out what these adorable creatures are all about.
Sampson
No one knew why Sampson looked so sick. He seemed fine when he arrived at the party, but an hour or so in he was on his back, rubbing his tummy, making burping sounds. For such a little mouse, he had some really loud burps.
No one knew what was wrong with Sampson, but they didn’t do anything to help, either. Except for Chloe. Chloe was used to being ignored, so she recognized the indifference of her fellow party-goers for what it was. Chloe disliked indifference, so she wriggled her way to Sampson and asked, “You good?”
Sampson struggled to transition from burps to words. He emitted a big belch and finally made words happen: “I drank the Kirschwasser.”
As a worm, Chloe was a natural teetotaler, so she didn’t fully understand, but she was sympathetic. She cared.
“You need some water?”
“I’m okay,” Sampson responded, getting a grip on language again.
He sighed and tasted the stale alcohol as he inhaled. “I thought it would be like the cheese. It’s Swiss.”
“Oh, I don’t think the Swiss cheese we have in America is the same as the Swiss cheese in Switzerland. It’s okay. It’s just a mistake. You’ll be okay.” Chloe scootched closer to Sampson. She hated seeing someone feeling sad.
“I should be more careful about what I drink,” Sampson said, the attention of a worm bringing his brain back to reality.
“Yes, you should,” Chloe said. Her tone wasn’t scolding. It was strangely compassionate. Chloe had the kind of compassion that only a worm could have.
They were both at the wrong party. It just took a Sampson burp to make them realize it.