"Sorry, Stephanie."
*Stab*
….*Accchuummmmckuummkummmcummmkummchhh.*
"Just trying a new approach to be honest. I just…"
*Stab*
…..Want to say that I shouldn't have called you weak."
*….*Accchuummmmckuummkummmcummmkummchhh.*
"No...no you shouldn't have."
"Friends?
Can you forgive me....Please?
*Errrrwiiiiaaaak*
Where are you going? Don't you want friends…..or do you think of us just as lowlifes who need a hand.....and nothing more."
"DON'T YOU THINK I WANT FRIENDS?
Phuuuuhhh....huuuuuuu.
We tried."
"Stephanie, we can…."
"Get your hands off of me.
We're adults; so if you want us to use that over the others, then…."
"Then what?
What, Stephanie?"
"I think she wants you to follow her."
"Then why didn't she say so, Theresa?"
"She did. In her own way."
"I can see you also talk in your own way."
"Oh….This?
This is nothing.
Elementary students learned how to draw colors."
"Colors?"
"Yeah. And they wanted to show them off. So I let them.
What I am trying to say is…..whatever she likes, just go with it."
"But she's like a squishy ball. She opens up, then goes back down. Opens up, then goes back down.
I don't even know what she likes."
"Ice cream is a good start."
"Rex...thank you."
"Do you want us to follow you?"
"She's just one girl. I don't need backup."
"If you say so.
We'll join you in a bit then. Don't want it to feel like we have abandoned the others. E vs H, you know."
"Roaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrr"
"Oooh, and the Kids are helping too.
Tigress, I am coming. It's ok. They didn't mean to stab you there."
"Well...uhhh…..Good luck, Iris."
"I'll try to walk slowly so the Ice cream doesn't fall over."
*.....Shove.*
"Aaaaaaaghh."
*Waatisssh*
*Splash*
"Thanks for the Ice Cream, Iris. Not sorry about the swim though."
"Stephanie, I can't swim."
"What was that?"
"I said I can't…..ablubblublublublu…I can't….ablublublublublu…I…..Huuuuuuuuuuuhhhh...Swim."
"There you go. All it takes is the first step. Get past your fears of nothing, and just stretch out your arm."
"But…."
"No butts. Doesn't matter if it's me, or anyone else. You don't criticize someone without then following up with how you want them to improve. You did neither...and now you shall be punished.
Earn my respect and my forgiveness. It may be a simple three word sentence, but just like spells...I am not giving them away for free."
"Stephanie....help!!!!!!!!! I'm drowning. I'm drowning."
"Maybe I shouldn't have taught you. Such high hopes for you."
"Out of the way, Stephanie. IRIS, HOLD ON. I'm coming."
*Splash*
"What's going on? What's going on?"
"Kids...….it's ok. Their is nothing to see here."
"Iris, can you grab onto my back? I'll pull you in."
"So..so….so….soo…..caa…coo….cooolld."
"Iris, stay with me. Don't you dare close your eyes."
"Is this your doing, Stephanie?"
"Don't get mad at me."
*Wack*
"Hey. That was mine. Iris gave it to me."
"And this is how you repay her?"
"At least she's not hurt."
"Why didn't her uniform inflate? It should have sensed danger."
"Here, hold onto this blanket as tight as you can. Let's warm you up in the Sauna."
"Well, are you happy now? All she wanted to be was a friend, and now you ruined that."
"She'll come around. Just give her time…..you'll see. Excuse me a sec."