A First Success

I've been avoiding Teressa's calls. I'd texted them that I was too busy but really I was just afraid I'd break down on the phone about Tennis Ball and Golfball. I didn't want that.

The morning was slow. I kept spacing out and staring at walls. My reflection in the mirror felt wrong. I don't remember my drive to work. But walking in and seeing that Dr. Foster was in the lab reminded me that we had a new creature today! I put my stuff down on my desk and ran over to the lab. Dr. Foster had just set the vile on the table.

"Look! He has arms!" Dr. Foster said smiling, a first I'd seen. Looking into the vile, they was right. The snowball had arms, and at the end of the thin arms were small orbs.

"So he's effective?" I asked as if I cared if they were effective or not. They nodded.

"The first success in a sea of failures." He said cheerfully, handing me the freshly born ball.

"And him? I want you to train him extra to be strong. I wanna see his strength." They said with an unsettling smile, leaving the room. Did they just leave me to put in the chip? Some sort of test? I was too scared to call him back. I used the towel to wipe him off, too scared to use water. I set him down on the table as he tried to grab at the towel that he laid on. I warily grabbed the tools we previously used. I looked over him. He looked calm. What a way to go into a world. Barely a minute of undisturbed calm before all this. I carefully used the retractors to open his eye. His small hands instantly went to touch the cold metal. Not too much success, as he was too weak. I took a few deep breaths before letting go of the retractors, which kept his eye open on its own, then using the flat metal to push a gap in between his eye and face. He instantly started crying and screaming, obviously in pain. I dropped the chip in and quickly pulled everything away. I wrapped him up and cradled him, trying to calm him.

"It's okay buddy, I got you!" I said softly, letting his upset hand grab my finger. I smiled and pet him with the finger he held. He giggled at my actions, despite his lack of real vision. I set him down in the second room. Once I let go of him he frowned.

"I'll be back in a minute," I reassured him. He started tearing up. I couldn't leave him here. I picked him up and carried him in my hand while it was in my coat pocket. I pushed the button and all the doors opened. Tennis Ball and Golfball quickly walked out, meeting together to walk as they talked.

"Good morning you two!" I said happily.

"Good morning Doctor!" Tennis Ball said, Golfball smiled.

"I want you two to both go into the first room there, I'll take you." I lead them to the first room.

"See that door, you guys can open and go in yourself." Tennis Ball used his well-adapted foot to pull open the door. They both walked in talking again. I'm glad they got along. I pulled my hand out and looked at the Snowball. He frowned, trying to bite at my fingers.

"Oh let's get you some food buddy," I said taking him to my office. I grabbed three bags of the little clumps and opened one of the bags for Snowball. I put the food ball to his mouth. He held the sides with his hands and began eating. I couldn't let go of it though because his arms weren't strong enough to hold it. While he ate I thought of what other things I could get. I'd have to go to the store and maybe buy stuff for the project. And today I'll have Tennis Ball taught first, then Golfball, but I'd keep Tennis Ball in the room with questions to answer. Easy. Like my own little class. Snowball finished his food and started hitting my hand.

"Yes? What's wrong?" I asked. He looked up at me with shock.

"Yes!" He yelled.

"Yes Yes!" He cheered, hitting my hands more. Energetic one isn't he? It's cute. He laughed wildly, trying to bite my thumb through my glove. I guess he'd be perfect for strength because this was starting to hurt. I used my opposite hand to lift him off me and he yelled.

"Yes! Yes!" He cried, knowing no other words.

"No Snowball! You can't do that or I'm putting you in your room!" He instantly stopped and started tearing up.

"Wait no! It's alright." He grabbed my thumb and cried into it. I pet him gently.

"It's alright buddy," I said putting him back in my pocket with my hand. I brought the two food balls to Tennis Ball and Golfballs room.

"Hey, guys! I brought food!" I said opened the emergency door. Golfball was standing on top of Tennis Ball, and they both fell over.

"Oh?" I said confused. Golfball stood up.

"I wanted to see if we could be taller! It was working for a second..." she said. I handed them their food balls. They both used their feet to hold the balls of food. I love how well they've adapted.

"Tennis Ball after you finish you're doing more learning out in the lab," I said calmly as he ate.

"And after Golfball can come out and learn too." She smiled.

"Yay! Learning seems so fun!" She said happily. I'm glad she's excited. Tennis Ball quickly finished.

"Alright, I'm ready!" He said standing confidently. So I started my teaching again.

After finishing both of their lessons I gave them separate questions to work on. Golfball set down her pencil.

"Dr. Xavier? Why do you have your hand in your pocket?" Tennis Ball joined in.

"Yeah! You haven't taken it out all day!" I thought for a moment before pulling out my hand.

"Come over and see!" I said kneeling down. They both ran over and stared in awe at the little white ball sleepily clinging my thumb.

"It has arms!" Golfball said surprised. I chuckled.

"Yes, he came out differently than you two!" I said looking down at him.

"So when can we play with him?" Tennis Ball asked.

"I'd say a couple of days. He needs time to grow." They both groaned.

"But he's so different! I want to hang out with him now!" Golfball whined. They were all sure to be great friends.

"Yes yes, but he can't talk, or walk, so you can't." I said, slightly stern to make a point.

"Oh ok..." Golfball said, disappointed. I sighed and put my hand and Snowball in my pocket.

"You guys may go back to your rooms now." I said. They both left on their own and went into their room. I went to my office and used my one hand to open my files so I could fill out Snowballs page. Since learning they grow I avoid the height label on the chart. I write his name, gender, that he's effective, and made notes on his neediness and resorting to violence when he doesn't get what he wants. This was all very difficult with one hand but I had no guts to mess with the innocent soul in my pocket. I took the time to write more notes on Tennis Ball and Golfball. Tennis Ball and Golfball got along very well, even better than I'd hoped. Golfball seemed to be some type of leader, despite being both smaller and younger. Either that, or Tennis Ball simply didn't want to lead, or he let her lead. It's cute to see them be buddies. Hopefully, they'd get along with Snowball. I know the arm thing might make him an outlier. But they seemed interested. So I could only hope.

I went to the sleeping room and opened all the doors to put the sleeping ball in his room. I put him in the third room on the first row. He clung to the grass in his sleep as I put him down in the room. The cutest little thing. I left the room to check on Tennis Ball and Golfball. They both seemed to be doing well. I didn't open any doors though so I had to assume by the occasional laughing I could hear. I gave them time to hang out while I continued to read over the overview packet I was supposed to finish at least 3 days ago. Yikes! It had a LOT of information. From smaller details like how the food they eat affects their overall performance to big things like how they can never know about what certain relationships are. I can't inform them about family bonds or romantic bonds. Easy enough. Good thing I knew that so I wouldn't use certain words or talk about my family in front of them. I pulled out my object files and started trying to make myself look busy. But my mind was kept on what I could use next for the project. Then I looked down at what I was holding. A pen. Perfect.

Before I left I gave Foster the pen and went on my way after putting the kids to bed. Some times I'm excited to work here. Of course, they might be taking more teeth. So I'll have to be ready to make everyone happy. Poor things.

Oh boy oh boy

Snowballs here and he's just a wee one aint he???

Nice little one he is

:•)