Non-art book

TAKE DA WHIPSTITCH LORE

[TW: Heavy gore/blood]

"Andre! It's time to go!"

Andre's mother sounded from the other room.

"I'm coming!" Andre replied. The young girl was packing her things for school at the last minute, for she hadn't done it the night before. She was holding her breakfast - a cereal bar - in her mouth as she frantically searched the room for the last thing she needed. After throwing her covers off of her bed, she found it. A small plushie, in the form of a gray cat. Its seams were very visible and a bit messy, and it's right eye was replaced with a red button.

It wasn't very normal for a fifth grader to bring her stuffed animal to school, and Andre knew that other kids would most likely make fun of her - that's how it was last year, too. But it was special to her.

Andre had found it on the front steps of her house one day, not even in a box - just standing there. There was a small card under its paw that read "Whipstitch." She didn't know where the plushie had come from, but she loved it nonetheless. Of course, she had noticed the black streak stains under its eye and around the seams of its tail, mouth, and chest. But she assumed it may have gotten wet at some point, and it possibly didn't wash out.

"ANDRE!"

"I'M COMING!"

Andre grabbed her backpack and Whipstitch, stuffing the plushie in her jacket pocket before sprinting to the door, where her mother was impatiently waiting with Andre's brother. Her father was off at work, most likely.

"I thought I told you to pack your things last night!" Andre's mother scolded sharply.

Andre's brother, Cal, just rolled his eyes at Andre before slipping out the door to his own car. Andre quickly followed - Cal was the one who would have to take her to school.

Once they were in the car, Cal started the engine and Andre pulled Whipstitch out to hug him close. Cal noticed, and snorted.

"You still bring that thing to school with you?" he remarked.

"Of course. He's special to me," Andre replied.

"Why, because you're both weird?" Cal chuckled slightly as he said it.

"Hey!"

"It's true."

Andre sighed in annoyance, and sunk into her seat. Sometimes she wished Cal weren't such a jerk.

She didn't notice the slight flash in Whipstitch's glassy eye as she thought it.

--~=+=~--

Andre yelped as she fell, her head knocking the hard floor with a painful thud. Snickers were heard from behind her as she slowly sat back up. Whipstitch was thrown carelessly beside her as the three bullies walked away, still laughing and chatting amongst themselves.

She grabbed Whipstitch from next to her, observing him to make sure he hadn't been damaged. After assuring that he was still in one piece, she put him back in her pocket and walked with the mixed flow of Kindergarteners, first and all the way through fifth graders to the car pickup line.

Andre immediately saw Cal's car parked in a parking spot, as usual, not where the pickup cars were supposed to park. This was fairly normal, so Andre didn't question it as she walked to where he was parked.

Cal was on his phone, scrolling through some social media app Andre didn't recognize. She walked in and buckled the seat belt, still clutching Whipstitch to her chest. He looked up from his phone, noticing my entrance, but said nothing as he put his hand on the gear shift to put the car in reverse. Soon he was on the road, driving about ten miles per hour over the speed limit while looking at his phone still.