D O U B L E T R O U B L E
(When one is not enough ...)
© August 2016 Written by David Wicker
Please do not reprint without permission
CHAPTER 6 - "Homesick"
* * *
This chapter is Rated: EVERYONE
I licked my lips looking at the fine selection. After my meeting with horrible Doctor Amputation earlier, I thought surely the food would be miserable.
But no such bad luck. Instead there were huge trays laid out. Corndogs, hotdogs, hamburgers, submarine sandwiches ready made and prepared, french fries, onion rings, tater tots, tossed salad, and seasoned vegetables of every kind.
For dessert they had cinnamon, cherry, and vanilla ice cream. Several types of pie including lemon chess, banana custard, and mandarin orange. Lining the aisles were ice cold bowls of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry pudding.
There was a big sheet cake too. On the front of it, it said, "Welcome."
Clearly I was the new person. "For me ?" I asked the woman working behind the counter.
She shook her head, "Naww. We get new arrivals every day - so I have to make a Welcome cake every day."
I pulled out my selection and went to sit at a table away from the others. I heard rude laughter in my direction, something about me being too good to sit with the others, then they were quiet.
I had taken a salad and hamburger and wanted to put the salad in my burger when I felt a gentle tugging at my ankle.
It was Dollface. I peered down to look.
She said in a pert and cheery voice, "Hey, you don't need to be alone. Come sit and eat with me !"
Curious I picked up my tray and followed her. Finally we went to a corner where I noticed several small doll's cups, saucers, and dishes were.
Feeling more than a little singled out I pulled up a chair and towered over her holding the tray in my lap.
"No no." she insisted. "Come down here. Sit Japanese style - no chair."
I watched her and her dainty form sat down on the floor on a very small mat with her legs tucked beneath her.
I grabbed a covering from a table and made a rectangle of it on the ground. Then I sat as she did - on my legs.
I heard more laughter from the others but not as distinct.
"Isn't this grand ?" she asked. I saw her pick up one of the teacups, take a sip, then lifted a tiny bit of cake and took a bite.
I started to put my hamburger together again. One of the earlier teenagers walked by me.
"Don't eat too much cake or you'll get fat, Raggedy A*s !" he told Dollface rudely.
She set down her cake and retorted, "You're to speak, chubby !"
He didn't reply to that as he did seem a bit pot-bellied. Self-conscious he huffed in a puff of air to flatten his tummy and walked on.
I watched Dollface for a minute. Then I realized there was no tea in her cup nor was the cake she was eating real, it was plastic.
"You should try the cake !" she offered to me. "It had a great flavor and texture." Then she held out her hand and I took the plastic bit from her.
I looked at her expectantly. I had plastic in my hand and she wanted me to eat it ? I continued to stare at her until she fluttered her hands in front and said, "Go on go on, it's great !"
Not really sure how to handle this I put the piece lips I said, "Om nom nom nom. Yeah that is good."
Suddenly she broke into a peal of laughter, not mean or anything, just amused.
"You silly ! Can't you see that I don't eat or drink ? I'm a doll after all."
"I was wondering." I said as I set the plastic piece on my tray.
The conversation was quiet so I thought I would ask some questions.
"Is Dr. Cadaver on the level ?" I asked her.
"Who ? Oh, you mean the scare guy you meet to begin with ? No. He's not. They stocked a room full of scary stuff and threaten to do who knows what to you - but they won't. It's just a method of theirs to ensure noobs don't try to run off or escape on the first few days."
"And after that ?"
"They have enough amusement here for kids and teens that you won't want to leave. They have clearly seen to that."
"What about family ?"
She set down her teacup, still empty. Then she scratched her Barbie chin thoughtfully. "Well, there was one fellow. He was a real crybaby. About 8-years old I think. He wanted his Mother. Even rude laughter from the other tenants didn't quiet him down."
She looked away wistfully, "I'm not sure what happened to him. Some say they sent him back to his parents. Others - well - they said all kinds of things in here."
"Like what ?"
"Nothing pleasant. Listen, you do what you're told here and you get rewarded, like this great dinner you're having. You DON'T do as you're told and - well - I heard they have ways of making you behave. Honestly, I don't know what they are though."
That answered the bulk of my questions about what was going to happen to me. I took a bite out of my salad-burger. It was totally delish ! The lettuce was at the peak of crispness. I finished it off with a half dozen onion rings. Then tried some of the "Welcome" cake. And like the other food it was absolutely divine.
"Doll ?" I asked her.
"Yes ?"
"I'm just thinking. You're not really a doll, are you ? I mean, that's - ahh - you're not human. And - how do you get to move around anyways ? Is it magic ?"
She got quiet and serious looking straight at me. "I'll tell you when I'm ready. And right now, I'm not ready."
She put the teacup and fake food aside. "Isn't it well enough that you are friends with me as I am to you ?"
"Sure." I said, and then couldn't think of anything more to say.
I finished my great dinner in silence as she hummed a familiar tune that reminded me of being a baby, but I couldn't place it.
With Dollface as small as she is, I wondered if she got bullied a lot by the others. But then likely there were security guards here to make sure everyone stayed safe.
I stood up and almost tripped over the wheelchair that was set behind me. It was Margot.
"Done with your meal ?" she asked. "Don't worry about the dishes. We'll take care of them. It's time you go to your room and see what is offered there."
"Can't I look around a bit ?" I asked her.
* * *
She shook her head. "Not on your first day. You need to do and mind what we say now. Once we see you're not going to give us any trouble, we'll give you more allowances. But you have to earn them."
I waved to Dollface. "See you later." I told her.
"You can count on it, cutie !" she told me and somehow managed to wink her eye while adding a cheery smile.
Margot then addressed Dollface. "Doll ? If you're done greeting our new guest, we need you in room C7 right now."
"Yes ma'am." she said respectfully and got up to leave.
Margot turned the wheelchair around. I looked to the others who were still eating and tossing paper and trash at each other - clearly bored and just horsing around.
I held my tongue until I was out the door. Then I spoke.
"Is dollface a real living doll ?" I asked Margot.
Margot didn't break her stride and continued on. "I'll let her tell you that herself when she's ready."
I started to speak to ask about magnet girl when I was interrupted by Margot, "- and NO, I'm not going to tell you anything about anyone else. Once you get to your room you may find several of your questions will be answered."
It was a short trip. My room number was 437. So - were there at least 500 people here ?
She used a security card by her hip on a short skirt and the door electronically opened up.
It was pitch dark inside until she touched a switch and the lights came on.
Inside - well, I guess it was every 10-year old's dream. There were 3 full old-time arcade machines like you find at the shopping mall. Strider, Wizard Of Wor, and Venture, and they were in silent demo mode, their screens flashing inviting colors.
"No coins needed." Margot said noticing I was eying the game consoles with great interest.
I got out of the wheelchair and looked further. There was a chest full of different kinds of stuffed animals, a shelf that had several board games for 2 or more players, and my bed itself looked like a rocketship ready for launch.
"Cool !" I said and flopped hard on the bed. It's powerful springs bounced back on me and I was airborne for a moment before finally settling on it.
"It's late Margot." said professionally. "You'll do well to get some sleep now. We'll have you performing tomorrow."
That one word didn't settle well with me.
"Per - performing ?" I asked.
She sighed and spoke and when she did it was as if by rote, "Welcome to your new home. We hope you are comfortable. While you are here your powers and/or abilities will be tested and recorded to see if they can be beneficial to for what you will refer to from now on as 'The Company.' "
I started to ask something but she continued on relentlessly. "Any questions you may have will likely be answered by your console HERE." and she pointed to a keyboard and screen. The computer was nowhere in sight.
"Speak or type your query and it may be answered."
I was quiet.
Margot turned and said, "Yeah well, goodnight." and was out the door. I heard a powerful click as she left.
So then I tried the door handle and sure enough it was locked. It wasn't a normal lock either, but felt like a very heavy deadbolt of immensely thick steel.
Maybe it was late at night and maybe I was locked in a room, but I had to explore !
I went up to the Wizard Of Wor console. There were a few switches added. One was labeled CREDIT, the other was AUDIO.
I hit the audio and was greeted to the grainy synthesized voice, "Remember, I am a winner. Not You. Hahaha."
"You think so tough guy ?" I told the device challengingly.
I hit CREDIT and there was a soft pop as the coin return was triggered. Then I started the game. I got past the initial Worriors and heard the synthesized voice again, "Garwor and Gorwor are invisible. Hahaha."
I lurked at the bottom of the screen and using the miniature scanner to show enemy movement, invisible or not, waited for these special monsters to line up with my firing lane. I nailed them both.
A new level appeared followed by more speech from the Wizard, "If you get too powerful, I shall take care of you myself. Hahaha."
After 3 games and nailing the Wizard once, I claimed victory to the fiasco and finally decided to sleep.
I went over to the toy chest and digging around in it pulled out an especially huggable teddy bear. Then I got in the bed and noticed at once there was this curious chandelier above me.
It wasn't like a regular chandelier but had seven gray glass globes all around it, and one black one in the middle.
In the bed itself was a switch box on a thick cable like you might have in a hospital to call a nurse.
I hit one of the switches that had an icon of the sun and the lights dimmed to half level. I hit it again and the lights went out completely. It was pitch black all except for a vertical rectangular blue light that appeared by the locked door near the handle.
Apparently that would help someone see the security slot for a card even with the lights completely out. I wondered if I would be visited in the night.
Dismissing that though, I undressed in bed completely and flung my clothes and underwear out the side. Then I pulled up the covers noting they were very soft and comfortable. So was the pillow. I hugged the teddy bear and that's when it began.
I started to cry. Not a bunch, but a little. I missed Mom and Dad. I even missed my mean sister !
Suddenly a harsh white light shone on me from the seven globes of the strange chandelier above me almost reflecting heat down on me. A polite woman's voice spoke loudly from a speaker, "David. Are you okay ? Is there a problem ?"
I pulled the sheets closer to me not at all prepared for this invasion of privacy.
"No ma'am, I'm fine." I managed to mumble, my face turning red hoping she couldn't see under the covers with an X-ray lens.
There was no reply. Just a harsh click of the intercom and the lights from the chandelier above turned off leaving an afterglow in my eye's sights.
Finally I leaned back my head, curled up with the teddy bear, and slept.
Then I woke up from this extended dream. I splashed a little water on my face, had some cold milk to drink, then went back to sleep.
(to be continued ...)
END OF CHAPTER 6
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