Playtime with Percy; Before Playtime

Saturday; Irritating Return

June 1, 9:19, 2002

" Charlie, we need to go." Percy interrupted, tugging Charlie's arm.

" Huh?" Charlie asked, puzzled. The ringmaster looked at Percy with confused eyes.

" We need to go," Percy repeated. Charlie crossed his arms.

" Why?" He asked, annoyed. Percy glanced around the Circus for Quinn or Dory. Nothing but the Ringmaster's dog was rolling the beach ball that it stood on in the sandy circle.

"I-I got my glove fixed." Percy held his hand up and twisted it all around so Charlie could better understand it. " See? Good as new. Now let's go." He tugged Charlie's arm even more.

"Why do we have to leave right now? What's the hurry?" Charlie asked, trying to pull his arm back from Percy's grip.

" I-" He started, then looked at the ringmaster. He began to stand up, looking at the two animatronics curiously. He didn't say anything but stared at the two like one of them was going to say something. Percy knew that the Ringmaster would be furious if he learned Dory was leaving, but Dory would be as mad as him if Percy told him anyway.

" I'll tell you later." Percy's final sentence was. He pulled on Charlie's arm so hard that he hauled Charlie out of his seat on the bleachers.

" Okay, Okay! I'll come with you! Just don't pull my arm off!" Charlie exclaimed. He pulled his arm back from Percy's tight grip. He looked at the ringmaster and sighed.

" You can go along with your friend. I have some things I need to do and..." The ringmaster started, but his words trailed off into nothing. His expression faded into anxiousness. His eyes looked like he was about to cry and his lips started to quiver in a scared way. " I need to talk with John." He finished.

Charlie gave a nervous look.

" Not about what happened a few days ago!" He took a few steps closer to him, shaking his head and hands. "I mean, it's something personal. I've been having... Weird dreams lately." He took off his top hat and held it close to his puffed chest. He looked down sorrowfully.

" I can't seem to take my mind off it. But John will probably brush it off and say I can't have little kiddie nightmares."

" Oh, don't think that! I'm sure he will understand, with the demolition and everything." Charlie comforted the ringmaster, placing his hand on his top hat. The ringmaster looked up, his face brightening a bit. "You think so?" He asked softly.

Definitely not. Percy thought. He held the urge to cross his arms and roll his eyes. After the fight yesterday with John, Percy was sure that John wouldn't listen to the ringmaster about "Little kiddie dreams" and the cause of them.

" I'm sure of it." Charlie smiled. Percy pulled his arm back as the dog-hybrid nuzzled up to the ringmaster's leg.

" Great pep talk, Charlie! Now let's get going." Percy said with a fake happy facade. He tugged Charlie's arm and jogged towards the exit, leaving the ringmaster in a slight joyfulness.

Percy shoved the door open, its thick metal plating making the creaking sound it always does. Percy stepped on an air pocket in the carpet on the way out. He didn't even notice that there were barely any workers there, and all of the tables were packed into trucks, as well as the selves. Percy jogged to the wide hallway, where once there he leaned on the left wall, ruffling the pictures that children made. The backpack on Percy was smushed against the wall. Charlie shoved his arm away, looking frustrated. As Charlie put his hands on his hips, Percy sighed.

Percy's head started to swirl with the events that just happened. The Contest. The fight with John. He nearly lost his collar. His glove beginning ripped. Him being stuck in that dreadful, tight area.