October 21, 2016“Look at the at the spotted one in the corner.”
“Yes, I see what you mean.”
“He appears as if he’s learning. He is becoming quite familiar with the layout.”
“And he was the slow one at first.”
“The white one loves to share. It’s peculiar–it’s as if he won’t allow his well-being until the others are taken care of.”
“Truly confounding.”
“The grey one seems indifferent.”
“Indifferent or detached?”
“Good point.”
***
“You assholes still here? Frank, for crying out loud…your wife is gonna leave you if you continue to seek the company of rodents instead of her. I wouldn’t keep her waiting. Not with those legs. Man, can she walk in those heels!”
“Hey, Saul, just observing here…their personalities are really coming through now.”
“Harry, isn’t your mom waiting for you? Then again, she might be asleep now–only so many I Love Lucy episodes a person can watch, I suppose.”
“Bite me, Saul. Some of us have family and friends, you know, not just a passing piece of ass. Besides, the doctors don’t think it’s a good idea her living alone. Not with her eyesight failing her now on top of everything else.”
“Passing’? Some of them come back you know? If they leave an article of clothing behind or an ear ring. Of course, at times I think they leave these things on purpose. I brought a pizza if you guys are hungry. Sorry, just cheese.”
***
“So, what’s new with our little friends?”
“Well, Mr. White has somehow taken it upon himself to ensure the other rats get fed just as much as he does or more so. Surprisingly to the risk of his own well-being.”
“And Mr. Brown–our spotted friend?”
“Yes, Mr. Brown. He is the productive one; always busy, busy, busy, on the go, constantly moving within the maze. It appears as if he doesn’t care in what he does as much as he just wants to do.”
“Mr. Grey seems at peace. Or detached, like he has something figured out. He will visit the others from time to time but functions well without them. The others are the ones that usually seek him out. Remind you of somebody, Saul?”
***
“Too bad Lilith isn’t here to see this.”
“I heard she got a better paying job elsewhere. Like eight figures better.”
“Oh, shit, Frank, maybe she’s smarter than all of us and ran for her life. This goddamn place.”
“Whatever happened to Mr. Black, you guys here anything from the lab? I really liked the little guy.”
“I thought you knew.”
“Me? I thought one of you assholes was taking care of it.”
“Geez, Saul, honestly. So where the hell is he?”
“I brought him back a few days ago, Harry. You were out to lunch, I suppose.”
“So, where the hell is he now?”
“Great. Don’t panic. Let’s all of us go around the maze and take a closer look.”
***
“Fuck.”
“What is it, Frank?”
“There’s a hole in the corner of the maze over here!”
“The little guy made it out?”
“But…he was so quiet. Shy.”
“Don’t be so loud. Grab some of the tape from the back and help me seal this hole.”
“It’s a good thing they’re sleeping.”
“Speaking of which, it’s about that time fellas.”
“Yeah, we were just about to call it a day.”
“Long day tomorrow.”
“I hear you, I have to take mother to church in the morning.”
∞
