Sponge Noir

Chapter 8 - Tuesday (Week 2)

Since I went to bed early, I woke up well before my alarm. I was in too deep of a sleep to remember my dream. It must have been good because I no longer feel hatred toward myself. Have I really come to terms with my decisions? Maybe I dreamt of a better future that will come because of my actions. I hop out of bed and went to my closet. Without thinking, I pull my suit pants off the rack. I almost put it on out of habit but quickly correct myself and grab my square pants folded on the floor of the closet. I shake it to get the dust off then slowly put it on. It feels weird and unfamiliar but it also feels very right and brings a tear to my eye. I look out my window and see Patrick having a bonfire just outside his house roasting marshmallows. Who roasts marshmallows first thing in the morning? I guess I shouldn't be surprised 'cause ever since I introduced Patrick to bonfire-roasted marshmallows he's been hooked [31]. Did I know he would have a bonfire today? Did I know to wake up at this time? Doesn't matter. For some reason it feels like the perfect time to bond around a bonfire. I might as well rekindle our friendship right before work. I grab my suit pants, pull out the ring box from my pocket, and place it on my night stand. Then I quietly join Patrick who is staring at his marshmallow waiting for it to catch fire and burn before eating it [31]. When he sees me holding onto my suit pants, he doesn't even question it. He's completely oblivious to all the changes that have occurred to this city and the ones around it. But can you expect much else from someone living under a rock? I envy him in a way because to him, Bikini Bottom has always remained fun and games. Patrick is living proof that ignorance truly is bliss. He even failed to notice that I was working as a private investigator under a new name for over four years. But that's also because I told him I would be going on long business trips. Life became too busy and I knew it would be easier to distance myself than constantly explain my schedule to someone who will forget and frequently want to hang out. But what are you gonna do when a job forces you to be busy everyday figuring out all the right decisions and getting all the work done? Sacrifices are to be expected. But something as simple as staring into a fire next to my best friend put's my busy mind at ease helping me awkwardly start a long overdue conversation to repair a sacrificed friendship.

"You know Patrick, I regret not spending more time with you these past years but that's gonna change. We're gonna hang out like old times starting today after work. But instead of jellyfishing, I say we do something more mature. Teenage frat boys may have benders at the Goofy Goober but adults can still have a reasonable amount of fun there while maintaining a productive week", I exclaim winking at Patrick. "Maybe we can meet up with Larry at Muscle Beach and convince him to take a cheat day for some ice creams at the ol' Goober bar".

"Sounds like fun and that's a relief", he says with a chuckle. "I was beginning to worry you were never gonna be able to hang out again. Maybe we can get Sandy too like ol' times".

"Unfortunately she is no longer with us", I say without thinking.

"What do you mean?".

I'm quick on my feet but you don't have to be that quick with Patrick. "She's always wanted to move back to Texas. Once her dome sprung a leak she got out quickly and made the move. That's why she didn't even have time to say goodbye". A genuine tear filled my eye.

"Well, that's shitty that she just got up and left. There's nothing good in stupid Texas anyway." [59]. Sandy would be stirring in her grave right now. That reminds me. A proper private burial will be in order soon.

"You know Patrick, I initially took on this suit-wearing job because I knew flipping patties wouldn't make a difference in a city falling to corruption. But to say I've made a difference is an understatement. I lost count of how many times I've successfully served and protected this city and now all the localities".

"Sounds like you did a lot when you were away".

"Yup but duty made me also make hard decisions. Sometimes things I regret even though it was the right choice. The job was already stressful but once I knew I could feel awful doing the right thing, I had to get out. I needed an early retirement but my ego got in the way. So much so I was prepared to do it for the rest of my life. But retiring now was the best decision I made because I can't keep sacrificing one love for another. Now I get to just stay in Bikini Bottom at my stress-free job and hang out with you, buddy".

"I'm glad you're back from your overseas business trips too, pal".

"Overseas?", I laugh. "Patrick, we travel under the sea, mate".

"Oh yeah... that's right. I keep forgetting we're underwater ".

"Anyway time to toss my suit into the fire". I throw my suit pants into the bonfire causing the flame to grow. Pieces of my pants flake off then rise and fall with the smoke. After staring into the fire with a bit of comfortable silence, I break the silence with something I just thought of or maybe remembered. "You know Patrick, staring at this fire and watching my once cherished suit go up in smoke makes me wanna get something off my chest".

"What's that?".

"People come and go in our lifetime whether we wish to part ways or not but the only person we live with our whole lives is ourselves. So no matter how much you love someone, no matter how much you love what you do, stay true to yourself. If you have to choose between doing what's right for your conscience and hanging on to an external desire, you gotta do what's right. Even though what you desire is more enticing and seemingly what you want more than anything, choosing that over your conscience as a good moral person will cause you to slowly lose the love and respect you had for yourself. The bottom line is that you are the only person you can't walk away from if things get sour. So make sure when you show your love for someone or something, you never commit to anything that sacrifices the love you have for yourself".

"Huh?".

"Nevermind", I say with a grin as I stare into the fire. I stretch my hands out toward the flame with more comfortable silence while warming up. I look at my outstretched hands and see my wristwatch which alerts me of the time. "Oops. I'm gonna be late for work. Catch you later Patrick".

"See you tonight buddy!", he hollers as I take off jogging to the Krusty Krab.