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Glick woke with a start. He was alone in the dark, again, but this time pain was shooting through his leg. He’d climbed that great big cage and had slipped. He’d thought he was dead, especially when the Guard had found him, but instead of killing him, they’d helped him. It didn’t make sense.
He was in the small cage now, not the beaker. He dragged himself to the side and rolled so his back was against the wall. He used his arms to push himself upward. His body throbbed an insistent rhythm of pain, but he had to get up. If he didn’t, he’d die. He knew it. It was in his blood, his every cell. Injured and down meant death. He sat, panting, his back braced against the side. Now, came the hard part. He started walking his way up the wall with his hands, using his injured leg as little as possible. The pressure and the weight on his lower half made the previous pain seem like the slightest prick of a thorn. He closed his eyes, fighting the blackness that called to him, promising a respite from this agony. He had to stand. He had to. He gave one last push and cried out, but he was on his feet. He’d done it. He’d fought this battle and won. Bumpers would be proud of him. He closed his eyes, waiting for the sharp agony to dull.
He had no idea how long he stood, straining to hear but the only sounds were the soft movements of the Brush-Men in the other enclosure. He should be used to it, but he hated being alone. He missed Flea’s laughter and Speckles’ doom and gloom attitude but mostly he missed Bumpers. It should’ve been him who’d died not them.
There was a click and then footsteps. His body trembled, causing the pain to ramp back up into a roaring flood of anguish. Someone was coming. He prayed it was Charlie or McBrid, but it could be Scottsmoor or his Guards. Something scraped the cabinet and the drawer slid open, the bright light, causing him to shade his eyes.
“Hey, you’re up.” It was Charlie’s voice.
His heart slowed. It was his friend, not Stink or Topper. He blinked, opening his eyes a little. The Guard was smiling at him and he smiled back. He’d never imagined that he’d consider a Guard a friend but Charlie wasn’t like the others.
“Are you hungry?” Charlie lifted the cage from the drawer.
Glick nodded. He was starving.
“Here.” Charlie placed him on the counter, pried open a corner at the top and dropped a piece of meat. It landed near Glick’s feet but bounced away.
Glick stepped forward and it was like someone torched his limbs with fire. He quickly leaned against the wall, removing the weight from his bad leg.
“Still unsteady? Let me help.” Charlie stuck his hand inside the cage and Glick latched onto his finger.
He wanted to race over and stuff all that delicious, bloody meat into his mouth, but Charlie moved slow and steady. When they were finally there, he tried to squat but the tape kept his leg straight. He bent at the waist, stretching his arm but the meat was too far away. Drool dripped from his mouth and his stomach growled. “Please. I’m starving.” He flapped his hand, but all he could do was hit the meat with the tips of his fingers.
“Hmm. I shouldn’t do this,” mumbled Charlie as he cupped his hand. “Promise you won’t run away.”
Glick tore his eyes from the meat, staring up at his friend. Honestly, he had nowhere to go. He nodded.
“Get on.” Charlie waggled his fingers.
Glick turned, sitting on the Guard’s hand.
“You good?”
Glick tried to push himself farther back on Charlie’s palm but his leg was sticking straight out and his arms trembled, weak from his earlier climb up the wall.
“Let me.” Charlie used his thumb to gently scoot Glick toward the center of his hand. “How’s that?”
“Perfect.” Glick nodded so the Guard would understand him.
Charlie lifted him out of the cage. Glick stared down at the world. It was wonderful being this big. Bumpers would’ve loved it.
Charlie lifted the meat and handed it to him. “Here.”
He grabbed it, keeping one arm wrapped around the Guard’s finger. He lowered his face, tearing into the food. It was so good and juicy. He ate faster and in no time, it was gone. He licked his lips and his fingers.
“All done?”
He nodded, smiling at the Guard.
Charlie started to lower his hand.
“No. Stop.” He didn’t want to go back inside the cage, inside the cabinet where it was dark. He shook his head. “Please, don’t make me go back. Not yet. Please.”
“What’s wrong?” Charlie’s brow was wrinkled with confusion. “Are you sick? The meat wasn’t bad. It was fresh.”
The Guard didn’t understand. Glick pointed at the cage and shook his head.
“Oh. That. I’m sorry, but I have to. McBrid will be furious if I don’t put you back.”
“Don’t tell him. I won’t say anything,” Glick chittered as he wrapped his arms around Charlie’s finger.
“I suppose, I can leave you out while I clean the lab, but you have to swear you won’t run away.”
“I won’t. I promise.” Glick nodded, his cheek rubbing against the Guard’s smooth skin.
“Don’t make me sorry I did this.”
“I won’t.” Glick patted Charlie’s finger.
The Guard walked to the cleaning cart and stopped. “I can’t clean with you in my hand.”
“You promised.” Glick tightened his grip.
“I got it.” Charlie lifted him and slipped him into his shirt pocket. “How’s that? Are you comfortable?”
Glick clung to the top part of the cloth, his head and arms sticking out so he could see. This was wonderful. It was like being a giant. He nodded.
“Great. Now, what’s your name? I can’t keep calling you little guy or something like that.”
“Glick,” he chirped.
“I didn’t understand that.” Charlie grabbed the spray bottle and wet the counter.
“G...l...ick,” Glick said it slower.
“Chirp?”
Glick shook his head and said his name again.
Charlie made some weird noise.
Glick elbowed him.
“I’m trying.”
Glick poked him with his claw.
“Hey, I said I was trying.” Charlie took him out of his pocket.
Glick pointed to his face and said his name very, very slowly.
Charlie’s giant, brown eyes narrowed. “Ick?”
Glick frowned and shook his head. He looked around and pointed at the glass beakers.
“Beakers?”
He nodded.
“What you said didn’t sound anything like beaker.”
Glick shook his head and pointed at the beakers again. When the Guard just stared at him, he pointed at his eyes and then the beakers.
“You want to see them?”
“Yes.” He nodded.
Charlie carried him to the counter. Glick motioned for the Guard to pick up one.
“I don’t know how this is going to help.” Charlie held it out to Glick.
Glick tapped it and said his name.
“Yeah, it’s glass. They make that noise when tapped with a nail or claw.”
“Come on. Listen to me.” Glick took a deep breath. This wasn’t that hard. He pointed to himself and then tapped the glass, saying his name.
“I don’t understand. It sounds like Ick to me.”
“Close.” He tapped the glass again.
“Ding-ick?”
“No.” He shook his head, tapping the glass furiously.
“Stop it. You’re going to break the gl...”
Glick bit Charlie’s finger.
“Ouch! Why’d you do that?”
He slowly repeated the “gl” sound while tapping the glass.
Charlie’s eyes darted between the glass and Glick’s face. “Are you...Glass-ick?”
“Nooo. Just Glick.”
“Gl..ass..ick.”
Glick motioned for Charlie to come closer before saying his name again.
“Gl...”
Glick grabbed Charlie’s lip.
“Why’d you do that?” Charlie mumbled against Glick’s hand.
“Gl...ick.” He pointed at the beaker. “Gl”—he pointed at himself—“ick.”
Charlie pursed his lips. “Gl...”
Glick grabbed his lips again.
“Gl? That’s a weird name.”
“Yes, it is and it’s not mine.” Glick took a deep breath.
“I’m trying.”
“I know.” He pointed at the glass again. “Gl...ick.”
“Gl...ass...ick.”
Glick dropped his head in his hands.
“I’m sorry.”
“I know.” Glick patted Charlie’s lip.
“Is it okay if I call you Glassick?”
Glick rolled his eyes but nodded.
“I’m sorry I don’t understand you.”
Glick shrugged. Not much he could do about that.
“I do have to get to work.”
Glick nodded and Charlie slipped him into his pocket before starting to clean the lab. Glick listened while the Guard talked about his life, his brother and things he’d read in books. Glick only understood some of the words Charlie used, but he enjoyed every second in that pocket with the beat of Charlie’s heart so close to his back and the heat from the Guard keeping him warm.