The Wings of All Things

Chapter 3

"Are you disgusted with me? If you are, I can leave and never come back." The paper read out. MABSOOT shook her head at it. "Of courze not yah fricking idiot, what makez you think I-" She felt the hot bile rise up her throat. She leaned over the sink and hacked up more acid and groaned. "Look juzt... Juzt give me a... A minute to... Recollect myzelf." She muttered. Manny nodded before leaving the female to puke in peace. Walking down the dark stairs, he failed to notice a small black silhouette lying still in the middle. Tripping over it, Manny quickly caught himself by landing on his hands. With perfect balance, he flipped himself back up to his feet on the bottom step. Looking back at what it was he had tripped over in the darkness; two floating buttons stare back at him. They looked like they belonged to a taller figure until Manny flicked on a nearby light switch.

He was greeted by Bruno who sat in the middle of the stairway. The dog turned and headed up the stairs. Walking towards the bathroom, he commanded for entrance by scratching at the door and snorting. Within seconds the door opened. Allowing Bruno to slip inside at ease. Manny shrugged and plopped himself on the filthy couch. Slowly letting his head rest back on the cushion behind him. He started tapping his left foot rapidly on the wooden floor underneath his blue snicker. What was this feeling he knew too well? This feeling that was always close by in that wooden chest of his. Too close for his comfort now that he was freed.

Boredom. That is what it was called. This feeling always drove him mad. At least the positive side now was that he had room to fidget around. One moment he was lying back on the couch. The next he is slowly slithering himself to the ground. Landing on his side, he stretched his wooden limps outwards with a low creak until his joints popped. He started rolling along the floor when there was no more joints to crack for the next twenty minutes. Rolling unevenly, he caused himself to roll into the square pile of books MABSOOT had neatly placed earlier. He got up to his feet, turning to look at the pile fully. He started guessing the number of books that were in this pile.                                                                                                                                                                        All the books were around the same size, making it easier for him to do the math. Around a hundred books were in this pile. He lifted one up, but before he could even take a good look at the cover, he heard someone speak behind him.

"I wouldn't read thoze if I were you. But I'm not you. Zo go ahead." It belonged to MABSOOT. He was surprised with her sudden appearance. He never heard her walk down the creaking stairs. He turned around to scan her face. She looked better now. In fact, so much better now that she looked like she was never sick at all. Manny only nodded as MABSOOT sat down on the couch. Bruno instantly jumping on her lap where he rightfully belonged. Manny sat down next to her and began read the book. And yet again, to MABSOOT's knowledge, he sat too close. She would have scooted over but she was already squished against the armrest. She did not want to be rude and just stand up to go to the other side either. So instead she leaned forward to get the things she needed out of her backpack.

Sketchbook and pencil in hand, she started looking for a clean sheet to draw on before realizing that most of them were unmarked. She stared into the blankness of the page as an art block was born in her head. With all the art blocks she had in her life she could just make a tower so grand. It was actually a small tower since she never really drew that much but a tower is a tower and she wanted this tower to burn to the ground. She had not the slightest idea of what to draw. So instead, she just started doodling small weird creatures. Something would spark inspiration somehow. As she drew, Manny read through the pages. He did not understand why MABSOOT did not want him to read these pages until he came across a picture of a mutated dog mixed with what looked like a bird. Manny shut it closed. Not interested in the art the book had to offer. He tossed it it back into the pile before looking over to see what MABSOOT was sketching.