Oh. My. Gosh.
I am walking beside this person who gives me butterflies.
CALM DOWN. DON'T PANIC. YOU'LL BE FINE.
Oh wait, I was supposed to be talking to him.
"S-Sorry, I was lost in thought," he stammered. "A-Anyway... What other Toppats have you met already?"
"Some brown haired girl with a purple top hat, an orange haired guy with a small green top hat, some guy with a cheese top hat..." Burt trailed off.
Hat Girl, Leprechaun, and Fredrick Muenster.
"There's somebody named Carol Cross that you haven't met yet, I don't think," Sven thought aloud. "Though they're in my office, and I don't think they'll be too happy to see me..."
"Why not?" Burt blinked, puzzled.
"Because... Well, I've been working in my office for the past..." Sven ruffled his own hair and shook his head. "I can't even remember... They forced me out to go interact with my clan... That's how I met you... And I don't think they'll welcome me back into the office so soon."
"Huh... For that reason, I almost don't want you to go back," Burt replied.
"Wait, why?" Sven turned to Burt and looked up at him.
"If you can't remember how long you've been in your office, it's been a really long time," Burt pointed out. "And if I want anybody to stay healthy and safe, it's you."
"Why?" Sven was a bit confused, but also flustered.
"Because it's my job to protect the leader of the Toppats at all costs." Burt looked right into Sven's eyes.
He's doing that on purpose.
"What were you even doing in your office?" the Toppat asked.
"W-Well..." Sven sighed and looked down. "The government's after us... Again... And everybody expects me to know exactly what to do about it. But the truth is... I don't have a clue. I-I'm letting everybody down... The Toppat clan'll soon fall down to the government, and we'll be gone. I-I-"
Sven couldn't handle it anymore and gripped Burt's jacket, crying into his chest.
He felt Burt tense up and immediately reeled away.
"I-I-I'm s-s-so sorry, I-I don't know wh-what I-I-I was th-thinking-" he stuttered.
"No, no, it's okay," Burt said softly. "Like I said, it's my job to protect the Toppat leader at all costs. Physical, mental, or emotionally. I'm not gonna shun you out for crying, this is a big thing on your shoulders. If you need to let it out, I'm here."
Sven did just as Burt suggested.
"I-I-It's just..." He hiccuped. "It's just that everybody e-e-expects me to do g-great, like all the other previous leaders... B-B-But I can't even take the f-f-f-f-first step..."
"Maybe you need help. Have you ever... Asked for it..?"
Sven silently shook his head and hiccuped again.
"Well, fine. I'll help."
YOU ARE READING
The New Toppat (Curtisson)
ספרות חובביםThe government is on their tail. Sven's so overworked and stressed, and nothing can help him. Everybody's assuring him but none are getting to him. He believes that it's all his fault because he failed to be the leader they thought he would be. He i...
