After their funeral session a few hours passed and before anyone knew, it was morning. Sharp yawned, opening his eyes and stretching. He got up and spun around, looking around the room. Cheesy was out of his bed by the water cap, quenching his thirst and Burrow had his hindleg kicking in the air, still deep asleep.
"Morning Cheester" Sharp greeted, Cheesy returning the greeting and continuing to drink. He passed Cheesy and went to the food knapsack to get some bread, but when he got there and looked into it, he realized it was empty.
''Food's all done Cheesy. Let's go out and get some breakfast before Burrow wakes up shan't we??" Sharp asks, Cheesy eyes lightened up as he nodded.
"A Sharp and Cheesy adventure???" Cheesy asked enthusiastically.
"A Sharp and Cheesy adventure" Sharp responded, nodding his head and laughing.
............................................
Sharp whizzed across the clean space of the Mahogany floor, Cheesy right on his tail. They stood in the walkway between the island counter and the Kitchen counter attached to the wall, empty knapsacks slung across their backs.
"You go on the Island, there's bound to be some scarps in the sink. I'll search the sink over here. And get whatever else you can find on the counter. " Sharp instructed while turning away, both went their separate ways. Cheesy got to the end of the counter and sunk his claws into the wooden cupboard, making his way up to the island.
Right before he reached, he noticed a round, silver button between a crevice where the two cupboards below met. He accentuated his eyebrow, observing the strange thing curiously.
"Hmmmm...never saw that before" he mumbled to himself.
Taking it as just another silly thing the Giants engaged in, he shrugged his shoulders and pushed himself up.
"Ahhhhhh wooooww weee. What do we have here??" before him there was two metallic sinks, filled with plates that had marcels of food all over them.
Three blue plates decorated with rice grains and black beans slathered in thick, curried gravy, bits and pieces of potatoes, chunks of curried goat, chicken and coleslaw. Cheesy hurried and grabbed as much as he could in his sack.
He peered over into the miniature sink beside it, there was cups turned over in all sorts of directions, droplets of red wine dripping out of them into the drain. Knives covered in clumpy peanut butter and jam, forks with rice grains and carrots bits. Chessy rubbed his hands together as if he were praying, shaking them vigorously to the sky.
"Yess!! Thank you!!" he said, continuing to stack food into his bag. Sharp stood on the other counter with his paws on his hips, watching Cheesy, reflecting on how much growth he had seen in him.
His mind flashed to how big and grouchy Cheesy was before. How much pushing it took him just to run around that same island. How he had to stand on top of that very counter, wagging a wad of Cheese just to motivate the greedy rodent to climb.
"Now he's mounting up counters and walls effortlessly. Gosh he's come so far " Sharp felt a sense of inflated pride whenever he watched his brother. Looking back at how difficult it proved to be at the time, he was glad that Burrow and him decided not to give up. Sharp turned to look in the sink in front of him and saw barely anything, but one sizeable chunk of cheese, with ham.
"I'll get this for him specially, since he's doing so well" Sharp slide down into the sink, grabbing the cheese and ham, stashing it in his bag.
"Jeez. Just cheese and ham. Maybe more luck in the cupboards??"he turned his head up to see the glossy, furnished wooden ceiling above his head. He reached up on his hind legs and grabbed the edge of the cupboard door, lifting himself off of his legs to stick on the board.
Without notice, sounds of clanks and jangling metals came from the front door in the living room.
The two brothers paused where they separately were, their focus bound to the twisting silver knob out yonder.
''Drats!!! Hide Chessy!" Sharp warned, dropping on to his feet. He ran off into a basket filled with onions that was close by, digging to the very bottom and hiding under them.
Cheesy stood at the margin of the sink, looking around urgently for an escape plan.
His eyes crossed the dark hole of the drain deep within the island's sink, below the cluster of plates that camped in it.
Further out in the living room, light came through the front door as it creaked open, the outline of the Giant at the side of it.
"This'll just have to do!!" Cheesy jumped on the plate and slid across the gravy saturated expanse, going across rice grains, potatoes and all bits of food. His feet hit the metallic floor of the sink by the drain, shivering at how cold and wet it was.
He took a moment to notice how dark the narrowed hole was before him. A chilly feeling emanated from him. He stepped forward and hovered his foot over the whole, a chilly, unsettling feeling emanated from him, and he drew it back just as quickly.
Instantly he heard the door close with a bang; without thought he flung his skepticism away and dropped, easing himself off and lowering himself into the black space of the deep, dark hole of the sink drain.
..............................................................................
PERKINS POV
Perkins wrapped his calloused hands around the doorknob, pushing the door open.
Droopy eyes surveyed the empty space before him.
Everything looked much of the same. The living room with its two, old-fashioned floral-patterned casings to the right and left of him, the red rug beneath his feet, the table with its vase.
The giant peered out into the Kitchen, swearing that he heard something rattling. Like plates.
He moved to the middle of the Kitchen, his tall, lanky figure covered in dirt studded overalls, trudging mud all over the floor with every step of his heavy, size 11 boots.
"Where are yuh???I know it's some of em dusty, germ-infested pests. Sick a this shit.." he cursed.
He leaned on the island counter in front of him for a moment, his eyes slowly gazing down to the sink filled with thousands of dirty plates that he hadn't cleaned. His friends were over, and they had a feast last night.
"None of em ain't even stay behind to help me clean the Kitchen, bastards they are."
Perkins took the plates out of the sink one by one and rested them on the counter, using a dirty fork to scrap all the grains of food into the drain.
Meanwhile, Cheesy's limbs were outstretched to each side, claws scrapping against the metal walls, trying desperately to keep himself up in the narrow channel of the drain.
"Ugghhhh....plates. Shoulda hired a maid. Or get a woman.." he muttered.
Grains of food dropped on his head Perkins scrapped the bits and pieces off of the plates, standing there tirelessly, continuing to complain about how unkind his friends were.
The tired farmer yawned and stretched his arms out into the air, feeling all the aches and pains in his body from the strenuous work he did throughout the day. After a mouthful of a yawn, the man rested his arms on the counter, catching his breath for a moment and staring out into space. He bent over a bit and placed his hands under the counter, feeling for something right below the crevice of the island, where the cupboards met.
"Where is tha dogone button to turn this shit on??? All dis damn technology jus ta clean food going down da drain..." After a few minutes of his fingers feeling about and finding nothing, his chafed index finger finally found the silver button and pressed down on it.
"Yes!!!" he celebrated, a low mechanical humming sounding below Cheesy, coming up from the drain. In curiosity the rodent shifted his head down to see what noise made that sound beneath him, the grains of rice and shredded chicken that were piled on him falling down the drain.
Two miniature blades came up from each side: both of them having rough, ragged edges. The crumbs of food landed on top of the two blades, and in the blink of an eye the sharp, rugged blades spun wildly; Like a tornado or a twister they turned around and around rapidly, slicing the already small grains into atomic pieces of nothingness.
"Drats...just what is that...." Chessy wondered, his stomach falling to the floor as he watched the sharpened blades whirling around in circular motion.
Instinctively Chessy tussled to climb out of the tube to get away from this contraption, but he stopped, remembering that the Giant was right above him, over the sink. If he got out now, he may startle the Giant and get attacked.
But if he stayed in this position long enough, he knew he was bond to fall down the drain and be sliced and shredded up by whatever that thing a ma jiggy was.
He weighed his options. So which death was harder? Being shredded to mush by this..machine?? Or being stomped on and slapped to death by the Giant.? Just how long could he hold himself up?? Burrow and Sharp had trained him endlessly in perfecting his upper body strength, but who knows how long the Giant would stand there???
Cheesy closed his eyes and prayed to God, his body going down an inch further as his claws slipped down the sides of the channel.
''Oh god no..." he murmured, icing up his tail even more in the cramped space. His tail hovered directly above the roaring blades, him trying his best to bend it too shorten its length. It hit the cramped curvature of the drain wall, positioned in the most awkward way.
...............................................................................
Perkins stood over the counter, looking at his watch and shaking his head slowly at the time.
''I can afford a drink before I get back to that misruble farm" he went over to the fridge on the other side and opened it, taking some juice out, placing it on the counter, then opening the cupboard above his head and taking down a glass bottle of gin to spice up his drink.
Buried in the basket of shallot onions, Sharp shifted the onion skins to the side and peeped through the holes in the basket, worried about Cheesy.
"Come ooonn Cheese man! Hold it together for just a little bit more...you can do it" Sharp whispered to himself, crossing his fingers and hoping the man would leave soon.
Perkins sighed, going back to the island and swirling the cup around in his hand, sipping it slowly.
"Ahhhhhhhh...so refreshing" he clapped his lips casually. He closed his eyes and headed the drink, his Adams' apple going up and down while he gulped away.
Cheesy's arms were beginning to shake from being in the same position. He could feel the strain on his arms from holding his body. He bit his lip to somehow handle the strain, thinking about how impossible this situation was.
If this giant doesn't leave right now, I may become minced rat meat. Damn you big giant turn it off!! He panicked, everything in his body revolting form the swarming rings of death that vibrated under. A horrific image of him falling and having his ass and tail sliced to bloody pepper minced meats flashed in his mind, just then short sticks of stabbing pain pricked in his core form the strain.
His body slipped further down, the pain waving through him. He etched his tail up even more, feeling uncomfortable as it bent like a worm.
"Come on come on come on!! For rodents' sake!!" Sharp felt an uneasy feeling in his stomach watching how easily the Giant moved, taking his time as if he were planning to stay. Perkins stopped drinking from the cup in his hand, swirling it around and throwing the rest of the drink along with the melted ice cube down the drain.
Cheesy felt the frigid cold liquid pour over his head, leaking down to his body. A tiny chunk of ice knocked him in his head, the icey pinch sitting between his ears and melting.
"Ahhh! Coold coold cold cold!" he muttered. He slanted his head to the side slightly, the ice falling down to the grinder below him.
"How much longer will I have to do this.." Cheesy bellowed, his body slipping even more to the swishing fast blades grinding and slicing below him.
He was in a state of extreme nervousness and anxiety, the pain in his stomach getting worse. His body shocked from the cold.
The Farmer placed the cup on the counter and sniffed, turning away and heading to the door.
Chessy's body slipped even more as his arms trembled terribly, his heart beating so fast as he watched the blade only inches below him, his body inching closer and closer down, his claw's grips loosening more and more.
With a jangle of a cluster of keys Perkins had in his hand, the man made his way to the door, wrapping his hand around the doorknob and going out, closing it behind him.
The shredder roared underneath Chessy's shaking feet, the poor rodent buckling at his wit's end. He could feel his claws breaking under the crippling pressure of having to keep himself up for such a long time, his arms giving up on him, and so was his feet.
Sharp stepped out as the man left, scrambling to climb down to the cupboard to get to Cheesy.
"I'm coming Cheesy!! Just hang on!!" he reassured, belting across the Kitchen floor.
Meanwhile Cheesy whispered his prayers, his body slipping down even further. He was so close that he could see his worried reflection off the swirling blades that was just a sneeze away from his ass.
"Oh dear me...'' his voice trembled. Cheesy began to blink back tears, the aching in his chest gripping him tightly.
Sharp bounced off of the floor to hook himself into the island cupboard and climb up.
"Don't you worry Cheesey I'm coming hold on!!' he screamed. Right as he was about to climb, the front door slammed open.
''Oh geez!!" Perkins stomped through the door, jogging quickly around the corner to the island counter. He bent over it, his fingers feeling for the silver button he had found before.
Cheesy's arms wobbled about like strings in the wind, his legs shaking horribly. He peered down to the swish swooshing blades moving nonstop, bails of sweat leaking down his head.
"Sharp, Burrow...I'm sorry" He whispered. His hands slipped off the metallic wall, his body descending further and further down to the sharp, unforgiving blades. Cheesy closed his eyes, picturing his Mother's face as he fell into the shredder.
Perkins finally found the silver button, his index finger pressing down on it. Just as he did the contraption stopped.
Then, there was silence. Cheesy landed on the metal, his eyes glued shut. He didn't hear the sound of the machine anymore, and he didn't feel the blades slicing through his soft flesh of his bum. It felt a little warm under there, but he felt nothing.
He opened his eyes slowly, looking down to see that the blades had stopped. He felt his body and saw that he didn't get slice or injured, patting himself down in disbelief.
"Geez!! Can't believe a almos forgot to turn dat darn thiiiiing off. Ma bill would've climbed up to a fortune..." The man complained. Having done that he turned off, running out the door and latching the lock with his key.
The silence that followed the man's exit lasted for a short time, but it felt like hours for Chessy.
The frightened rodent sat there; his mind phased out in utter disbelief.
"I'm..alive?...I'm alive..." he asked, rubbing himself down yet again. There were no cuts. No bruises. No burns, no scraps.
Cheesy began laughing hysterically, glad that he was unsliced, and his body was intact.
"Thank you, Mother Mince, for your spirit protects me every day!!" he shouted, holding up his hands to the ceiling and laughing uncontrollably.
Sharp came over the entrance of the drain, peeking out his head to Cheesy, laughing like buffoon. He sighed in relief, glad that his brother was still alive.
''Cheesy ol buddy ol pal!! Oh thank goodness you're okay!!!" Sharp bawled out, looking down into the darkness and seeing Chessy's exasperated face.
"I'm here Sharp!! I'm alive and kicking brothhaaa!!!" Cheesy exclaimed.
"Good! I forgot to tell you not to go down the drain on the island!! It's dangerous" Sharp bellowed.
"Ohhh. Well that certainly woulda helped before this. Now, please, get me outta here!!" Cheesy shouted back, getting on his legs and pushing himself forward but failing back. Sharp looked around and found a nearby cloth, taking the cloth and shoved it down the drain for Cheesy to climb up.
"Hurry up Cheesy we need to get out a here" Sharp reminded him, Cheesy still snickering away like a fool.
"Okay okay..let's go" Cheesy breathlessly agreed, zooming his way up the path. ...................................................................................
Just then the cat strolled through his cat door, coming into the house and going on the couch, to finish his morning rest.
"Hmmmm...I wonder if it tastes like chicken? I'd be disappointed if it does'' To-mas spoke to himself, turning around and around in a circle and plopping his body to lay down. Just before he closed his eyes, he saw something out of the corner of it. He peaked his head up, peaking his ears up at the sounds. They were familiar noises.
Rat noises.
''Hmmm..well I certainly have not had breakfast yet" The cat jumped off of the couch quietly, walking his way to the counter without a sound.
Cheesy was having trouble climbing up the cloth, the muscles in his arms tired from all the body lifting he did.
''For the love you- you slow poke!!! It has cheese up here waiting for you and you're taking so darn long. Do you want the Giant to come back?'' Sharp asked impatiently, Cheesy holding on and breaking for a minute.
"You try holding up your body weight for as long as I did!! And with food coming on top of you!!And cold water!!" Cheesy yelled back.
Unbeknownst to the two rodents, To-mas was right below the island in the Kitchen, looking up at them silently. He waved his tail playfully, gearing himself to launch up the cupboard in the most stealth, quiet way.
Sharp had his back turned, struggling to help Cheesy out the drain.
" Well!!ugh. Just hurry up okay??" The cat lurched behind Sharp as he yelled back, Sharp's full attention still on Cheesy. The cat slowly tip toed, only steps away from him.
Cheesy was finally at the top of the cloth, Sharp stretching out his hand as he grabbed it. Sharp pulled him up out of the mouth of the drain.
"Drats Sharp. Your more impatient than a cat wanting his-" Just as Cheesy climbed up he saw two glowing eyes looking down at them, fangs bared inches away from Sharp's head.
"Cat!!! Caaaaaaaaatttt! Ahhhhhh!!" Sharp sprung around as Cheesy shouted this and saw
To-mas looming above them in the sink.
"Drats!!" Sharp ducked his head and rolled, missing the swing of To-mas' paw by a breadth. Cheesy jumped, almost falling back into the drain before Sharp grabbed his hand.
They both zoomed out of the sink quickly and climbed around to the front of it, crawling into a medium sized hole in the side of the island, going into the cupboards below.
They reached under the cupboard where the pipes were connected, deciding that they would stay there and wait it out until he was gone. Both of them examined their surroundings, noticing the cluster of pots, pans, saucers, metal spoons and other cutlery stashed inside the cupboard. They made their way cautiously through the cupboard, careful not to step on any pots, or pans.
"How long was that damned cat behind me???" Sharp asked himself out loud, jumping over a screwdriver and resting in a mini teapot.
"Ohh idk maybe you should've looked back every now and again! "Cheesy taunted Sharp as he sat against a metal pipe, both of them gasping for air, holding each other's shoulders for support.
"Boy...I've never been the religious type but Mother must really be watching us Cheesy" Sharp retorted, Cheesy staggering over to the pipe that came in the middle of the room and sliding down against it, until he was flat on his back.
"I know what you men...If it wasn't for her I would've been minced meat Sharp. I saw my life flash before my eyes today" he reasoned, a sense of sadness in his voice.
"I was holding on to dear life keeping myself up like that for such a long time, worrying and frighting that my grip would slip, and I would fall splat on that spinning blade. I could see the image of myself being sliced through by those blades. And the fact that the Giant was throwing foods and drinks down the sink while I tried to keep myself up didn't help at all" Sharp's eyes narrowed as he said that, rubbing Cheese's shoulder affectionately.
"I was going to die today Sharp. I saw it." Cheesy paused, breathing deeply as he said that.
"But I could still hear her voice in my head. Encouraging me, telling me not to give up, to be strong. Telling me that this wasn't the end of me. So, I did what she told me to brother. And she gave me the strength to get through that life-or-death challenge" The atmosphere had gotten serious now, Cheesy's usual jovial tone replaced with a serious one.
"I still don't regret coming out here with you Sharp. I'm happy we had this Cheesy and Sharp adventure.' As Cheesy said that something clicked in the back of his mind and he sat up, glaring straight at Burrow.
"Do you have any Cheese on you??'' Cheesy blurted out, Sharp peering back at Cheesy with the most, nonchalant, unamused expression.
"You almost died and your asking bout some damn Cheese????" At that the corners of Cheesy's face began to rise slowly, in a smile. He folded his lips and tried to conceal it, but Sharp looked at him and started laughing. Cheesy busted out laughing as well, both of the brothers laughing at the situation, realizing how ludicrous it was.
"No matter how much me and Burrow tried we couldn't get the love of Cheese out of you, no matter what "Sharp said, raising his knapsack that was slung around his shoulder and gently hitting the bag of Cheese. Cheesy began talking about something else again, and Sharp sat in a nearby pot, feeling very emotional. If he had died on that day when the Giant caught him in the cage, and then the cat, he would've never been here to see how much his brother had grown. Cheesy had become so strong and quicker than he was when they first began their journey; and he was such a caring and kind spirit. Sharp closed his eyes and listened to his brother talk, praying, and being grateful to God that he had protected Cheesy. After all, he had to thank him for using Mother's spirit for saving his brother for yet another day.
In the meantime....
To-mas jumped down from the counter, looking at a latch that was on the door of the cupboard, and brushing his paw against it.
'If I could just get this stupid thing to open..." he murmured to himself, cursing those rats for being so small and able to squeeze into spaces he couldn't reach.
The brothers heisted up as they heard the cupboard door jangling.
"Damned annoying rats...starving me of my food" he muttered to himself, yawning as he stared at the door that he was determined to open on his own.
"Screw these parasites. I'll get them another day. Gotta catch some Zzzz's" Just as To-mas was about to walk off, he heard the sound of the front door opening, and after a few clicks the Giant came marching in again.
"Hey pretty Kitty. I forgot ma tools!!" The giant said, coming around the counter and bending down beside the cat, flicking the notch open. He forgot that he left his screwdriver under the pots from fixing the leaking sink the last time.
The cat waved his tail in delight as he watched the door swing open.