Me, Myself and Pinky

by Bob1

Summary:

Brain decides he is going to use the gene splicer to slice himself in half. In theory, he will separate himself so the part of him who wants global domination can take over the world. Pinky will be in charge of making sure the plan to take over the world happens like it's supposed to. What could go wrong?

Chapter 1: Chapter One

Chapter One of Pinky and the Brain-beta read by AliceFlex and Crazyhotsoup and Alluring Bones

 

 

Acme labs was devoid of any scientists in the area where two white lab mice who were cage mates were engaged in different activities.

 

 

 

The tall lanky mouse known as Pinky was jumping rope in front of a video playing on a cellphone.

 

 

His smaller companion was the megalomaniac mouse known as Brain who was sitting muttering mathematical equations, “Y goes here,” and “the derivative is X”.

 

 

Sunlight poured through the glass windows of the lab casting shadows over the shelf surface that the two mice occupied.

 

 

 

Their cage door was open from where Brain had picked the lock so he and Pinky could escape their confinement.

 

 

All of the other genetically altered animals sat away in their cages occupied with their own activities.

 

 

 

None of the other animals paid the two lab mice any heed seeing them out of their cage. Pinky and Brain leaving their cage when all the scientists were gone was a regular occurrence for all the animals to see.

 

 

 

 The only two animals Pinky and Brain did communicate with on a regular basis were Gerry the male genetically modified gerbil and Billie the female genetically modified mouse. Sometimes, Gerry watched over Pinky and Brain’s cage when they took long trips.

 

 

 

Billie had been an on and off love interest for Brain. At one point, she had also been passionately interested in Snowball, Pinky and Romey. Thankfully, the romantic tension had fizzled out for Billie in all those relationship departments resulting in her pursing other interests.

 

 

 

Brain had his back to Billie, Gerry and the other animals not paying any attention to them. Neither, did Pinky who was mimicking the dancers in the video he was watching with a jump rope Brain had bought him.

 

 

 

Pinky fondly recalled the day Brain had gotten the jump rope for him.

 

 

 

One day, Pinky and Brain had gone to the Toysrus store in New Jersey since all the Toysrus stores had shutdown save for one other store location.

 

 

 

That day, Pinky had wanted to go on a shopping spree as a break from one of Brain’s plots for taking over the world.

 

 

 

Reluctantly, Brain agreed with the taller mouse pulling him in the store. Instantly, Pinky’s eyes lit up when he saw rows of dolls available for purchase on a shelf.

 

 

 

“Brain, Brain, can I have a doll?” Pinky begged, pointing to a Princess Leia Barbie doll adored with two hair buns and dressed in a long white robe.

 

 

 

Annoyed, Brain wrenched himself out of Pinky’s grasp while crossing his arms defensively, “Pinky, you already have toys like the ball I bought you.”

 

 

Tears had welled up in Pinky’s eyes and passing customers stopped to watch the bucktooth mouse have an emotional outburst, “It’s always about what you want! What about me? What about my wants?”

 

 

 

Sweat dripped down the smaller mouse’s large cranium head as he glanced uneasily at the customers and staff giving him disapproving looks.

 

 

 

“Look, Pinky, that’s something you don’t have,” Brain plastered a smile on his face, beckoning the sniffling childish mouse to follow his pink extended finger.

 

 

 

“Narf,” Pinky drawled, his mouth open in awe at the pile of brightly colored jump ropes he saw concealed in plastic packaging.

 

 

 

“Why don’t you get something new since you already have dolls?” Brain suggested loudly in hopes the bystanders would lose interest in him and Pinky.

 

 

 

“But, Brain, you don’t want me moving around too much while you work,” Pinky sniffled, wiping away his tears.

 

 

 

Sure enough, the humans watching grew slightly bored seeing Pinky calm down and returned to their shopping.

 

 

 

“True, but you could use a toy that provides an outlet for your excessive energy,” Brain admitted, posture slumping in defeat to the future purchase he was going to make.

 

 

 

 

“Oh, thank you Brain!” Pinky shouted, scooping Brain up in a bear tight hug.

 

 

 

 

“Yes, now let us get your item before making haste to get out of here,” Brain coughed, pushing himself out of Pinky’s embrace.

 

 

 

 

Overjoyed, the energetic mouse ran over to the jump rope of his choice while Brain stared at him somewhat exasperated by the turbulence from Pinky’s mood swings.

 

 

 

 

“Where have you been all my life?” Pinky dramatically questioned the jump rope wrapping his arms around the package in a dreamy fashion.

 

 

 

 

“Pinky!” Brain thundered, gritting his teeth in anger, a seeable vein throbbing on his forehead.

 

 

 

“Ha-ha-oh right, got to get this and leave,” Pinky nervously laughed grabbing his newfound treasure and hurrying over to the small grumpy mouse.

 

 

 

“Preciously,” Brain growled, forcefully grabbing Pinky’s hand dragging him striding determinedly to a line of people waiting for the cashier to check them out.

 

 

 

Pinky just quietly giggled holding his new jump rope as he watched the fuming Brain yell, “Greetings!” to the female cashier holding out a few green dollar bills.

 

 

 

“Aren’t you two a little small to be buying toys by yourself?” the cashier asked, bending down so she could take the paper bills from Brain’s outstretched hand.

 

 

 

 

“Ma’am, we are actually two genetically altered lab mice trying to take over the world,” Brain explained, taking coins the cashier had counted out for his change.  

 

 

 

 

“Little people sure have a great sense of humor,” the cashier complimented, smiling to a non-pulsed Brain grabbing Pinky by the nose who had started to insist what Brain said was true.

 

 

 

 

“Farewell,” Brain politely replied, dragging his unlikely giggling friend out of the store.

 

 

 

 

The cashier waved goodbye before returning to her impatient customers eager to finish their spending transactions.  

 

 

 

 

Back at the lab, Pinky blew off steam jumping rope giving Brain space to generate his thoughts on paper for a global domination scheme.

 

 

 

 

The day ended with the two of them going to bed together pleased for different reasons. Brain was able to sleep soundly due to be being given the gift of silence since Pinky was exhausted from his jump roping activity.

 

 

 

 

For Pinky, he was pleased by Brain’s generosity in giving him presents like a dinosaur sticker stamp, a T-shirt from Dollyood, and other wonderful trinkets Brain just knew he would enjoy. He went to sleep pleased his best friend put so much thought into his gifts.

 

 

Smiling, Pinky returned to the present realizing he had slowed down in jumping rope.

 

 

What is Brain doing?” Pinky wondered, noticing his friend was sitting with his back turned to him.

 

 

I’ll go see what he is doing, Pinky impulsively decided, his jump roping speed picking back up as he headed over to where Brain was sitting.

 

 

 Upon closer inspection, the Brain was drawing out his latest plan to take over the world in a notebook while muttering numbers and words Pinky heard but didn’t understand.

 

 

 Brain’s solitude only lasted a few more seconds before Pinky came over jumping rope.

 

 

Grunting, the small megalomanic mouse continued drawing ignoring the hyperactive mouse jumping rope next to him.

 

 

 “Egad, Brain,” Pinky chirped, jumping rope, “are you practicing doodles?”

 

 

 “Yes, Pinky, I have just been drawing doodles for the last couple hours,” Brain sarcastically remarked, viewing Pinky with distaste while continuing his scheme in pencil.

 

 

 “Oh wonderful, Brain!” Pinky gushed, jumping without missing a beat, “Can you draw me a puppy?”

 

 

 Brain paused a moment before commenting, “Oh yes, Pinky,” his face twisting into a big fake smile, “and while I’m at it, why don’t I draw flowers and rainbows around it?”

 

 

 Pinky giggled, “That would just be fabulous Brain and unicorns and ponies and – ”

 

 

Brain interrupted.

 

 

 “Come here Pinky,” He ordered, clearing his throat.

 

 

“Okay-troz,” He obediently jumped over to where Brain was holding his pencil.

 

 

 

 Brain whacked Pinky on the head with his pencil resulting in a giant pink lump erupting out of Pinky’s head with Pinky saying “Narf,” in peals of laughter.

 

 

 

Brain glared at Pinky who resumed jumping rope.

 

 

 

 “Is there any reason, old friend, you have decided to partake in an activity elementary school children do?” Brain asked, watching Pinky while putting his pencil down on the notebook.

 

 

 

“Jump rope helps strengthen your feet for ballet,” Pinky gushed, jumping merrily with his rope.

 

 

 

“Your basis for this?” Brain asked, furrowing his brow. Pinky quit jumping to point to a giant cellphone propped up against a shelf.

 

 

 

 Brain followed the direction of Pinky’s pointing to see a You Tube video was playing on the cellphone screen. The video showed light-skinned girls with their hair pinned up by pink ribbons.

 

 

 

Their outfits consisted of pink leotards, purple dresses, and pink ballet shoes. The girls were jumping rope to a song – which mildly interested Brain – when he saw how the girls could jump in sync to the music without missing a beat.

 

 

 

 

“I’m going to be just as flexible as them when I grow up,” Pinky declared, who had started jumping again in an attempt to mimic the girls on screen.

 

 

 

 “Pinky,” Brain stated, pressing his hand to his large cranium because a headache was coming on, "those girls are children and their bones allow them to be flexible because of their age.”

 

 

 

Pinky replied, “Hmm, I never noticed,” scrunching his face up while jumping rope.

 

 

 

 “Of course, you didn’t, also you are an adult mouse who has reached the current level of how strong your bones are,” Brain quipped icily, giving Pinky a stern look.

 

 

 

 

 “Right, there you have it then,” Pinky commented, laughing nervously under Brain’s glare and stopping his jump rope activity.

 

 

 

“Sometimes, I wonder how it is for you to be a blank slate every day Pinky,” Brain questioned, returning his attention to plotting out his scheme.

 

 

 

“I say being a metamorphic rock is quite furry,” Pinky declared seriously, running his pink hands down his white body.

 

 

 

“Stop your foolishness or I will have to hurt you Pinky,” Brain warned, while continuing to fill in his scheme with his pencil.

 

 

 

 

 

 “Right-o!", Pinky agreed, coming over to view Brain’s activity with his jump rope in one hand. "So what are you doing?”

 

 

 

“Behold my latest plan”, Brain revealed, a grin spreading across his face. “Oh, is this the plan where you explain how to get monkeys to stop jumping off the bed by giving them cans of squeeze cheese?”

 

 

 

 “No, Pinky, the other plan,” Brain corrected, giving Pinky an odd look but still gesturing at his drawing.

 

 

 

 “My plan to take over the world,” Brain finished, with his hand in a confident fist – pleased he had Pinky’s full attention.

 

 

 

“So, what is it?” Pinky asked, tilting his head in a puzzled manner.

 

 

 

Brain leaned on his standing pencil, “Guess,”

 

 

 

Pinky eyed the drawing which he could tell was some sort of machine shaped like a giant box with screws and lights.

 

 

 

 “I feel like I’ve seen this before,” Pinky recalled, scratching his hand in bewilderment.

 

 

 

 Brain rolled his eyes.

 

 

“No, wait, don’t tell me,” Pinky protested, holding up his hand to stall the words Brain was about to utter.

 

 

 

“Egad, I’ve-got it-it’s a car wash that tiny little cars can go through,” Pinky declared, proud of himself for coming up with an answer.

 

 

 

“No, Pinky,” Brain said, shaking his head annoyed, it’s the gene splicer that gave us our intelligence. New and improved.”

 

 

 

“Right,” Pinky said uncertainly, recalling the memories of the bitter cat, Precious, attempting to put him, Brain, and Snowball through the conveyor belt to reverse the effects of them having intelligence.

 

 

 

Well, Snowball had been permanently altered through the machine running away from the lawyers he screwed over.

 

 

 

After the incident, Pinky had suggested to Brain they find a home for Snowball since he was just a cuddly, friendly hamster who wasn’t dangerous anymore. Brain had agreed and given Snowball away to the first person interested in him to get the hamster out of his sight.

 

 

 

 “I have modified the machine so that I can go through it without losing my intellect,” Brain further clarified, noticing Pinky’s look of discomfort.

 

 

 

 “That’s good Brain,” Pinky dejectedly stated, scratching the back of his head with his eyes downcast.

 

 

 

 “Something ails you 'old friend'?” Brain asked, disappointed Pinky wasn’t showing much enthusiasm for his plan so far.

 

 

 

 

“No, thank you on the ale, Brain. It’s just whatever happens with the machine seems like it changes you or anyone in a terrible way zort,” Pinky’s face was all serious while grabbing at his jump rope anxiously.

 

 

 

 “I appreciate the concern but those setbacks won’t happen this time,” Brain explained confidently. " I have reset the configurations of the gene splicer to separate my atoms rather than my aptitude.”

 

 

 

 
“Um…” Pinky hummed, twirling his jump rope in confusion.

 

 

 

 Brain sighed, “Let me put this in terms even you can understand Pinky,” pointing to his drawing of the gene splicer and himself with his pencil.

 

 

 

 “I’m listening,” Pinky asserted, giving Brain his full attention sensing how serious Brain was.

 

 

 “I’m splitting my good and bad self-up into two mice,” Brain explained, smiling in anticipation to what he was going to do.

 

 

 

 “Egad, Brain…but why? You are perfect the way you are,” Pinky asked, looking at his best friend in bewilderment.

 

 

 

 Brain looked away from Pinky, cheeks coloring red slightly.

 

 

 

 “Yes, well remember when I made you smart?” Brain asked, clearing his throat to hide his sudden warmth from Pinky’s praise. Pinky nodded as he commented, “Oh, point, it wasn’t much fun.”

 

 

 

 “No, it wasn’t,” Brain agreed. “It took me forever to rebuild the equipment to make myself smart again.”

 

 

 

“We also didn’t try to take over the world once that night,” Pinky recalled, scrunching his face up.

 

 

 

 “You made some calculations as to why our plans fail before you turned yourself into a nitwit again,” Brain stated, looking at the floor.

 

 

 

“Troz, right I did but I never did hit the button on the calculator to see what I came up with,” Pinky mused, looking up at the ceiling in thought. Brain took a deep breath not really liking where this conversation was going.

 

 

  “Pinky, I hit the button,” Brain muttered, piquing Pinky’s interest.

 

 

“You did? What did you see Brain?” Pinky asked, jumping from one foot to the other in excitement.

 

 

 

“Myself,” Brain muttered through clenched teeth.

 

 

“Sorry, I didn’t quite hear you-“ Pinky apologized , leaning in with his hand against his ear to hear Brain better.

 

 

“Myself-I saw myself,” Brain yelled, causing Pinky to fall back in surprise.

 

 

 “You-you mean,” Pinky gasped, looking at Brain wide eyed.

 

 

  “Yes, Pinky. I’m the reason why all the plans have failed,”, Brain revealed bitterly, sitting down on the floor.

 

 

 “I’m flawed old friend,” Brain went on, counting his flaws off his fingers, “too suborn, too vain, too selfish…”

 

 

An angry look crossed Pinky’s face, eyes narrowing as he glared at his friend, “Stop Brain.”

 

 

“Too much book reading…no patience…” Brain ranted, oblivious to Pinky’s anger until Pinky grabbed him by the shoulders.

 

 

“Brain, stop!” Pinky yelled, which startled Brain given Pinky’s close proximity to him.

 

 

“Look, Brain," Pinky argued, grasping Brain’s shoulders and looking him dead in the eye, "maybe you do have all these big words you are using but your plans don’t always fail because of you.”

 

  

Pinky sighed and his ears drooped, “A lot of your plans seem to go wrong when I want to have silly nilly fun,” he continued, keeping a firm grasp on Brain’s shoulders, "So me and you and the world are part of why your plans fail.”

 

 

“Thank you for attempting to take some of the blame Pinky,” Brain gulped, swallowing at the protective tightness of which Pinky was grabbing his shoulders.

 

 

 

“It’s not being sorry Brain," Pinky admonished softly, his bright blue eyes shining emotionally, “I’m just saying how things are.”

 

 

 

Brain could feel warmth seeping into his fur from Pinky’s touch. He wiggled free of Pinky’s grasp to clear his mind.

 

 

 

“Pinky, I need to separate myself from whatever I have that is stopping me from taking over the world,” Brain intoned taking a deep breath.

 

 

 

Pinky looked at him silently letting his hands drop to his sides.

 

 

 

“That’s why I need this plan to succeed. Either, you are with me or against me.. Which is it?” Brain asked, crossing his arms.

 

 

 

“I’ll help you Brain,” Pinky agreed, going over where his jump rope was and clutching it like a teddy bear.

 

 

 

“Excellent! We shall execute the plan tonight!” Brain exclaimed , grabbing his pencil and modifying some parts of his plan with the eraser.< /p>

“The quantum energy of the…” Brain trailed off saying a string of calculations he was doing on paper. Unbeknownst to Brain, Pinky was looking at Brain’s back, ears and tail drooping.

 

 

 

“I know he really wants this jumpy,” Pinky confessed, speaking to his jump rope. He turned his head sideways to look at Brain. “This plan doesn’t seem safe,” He whispered more to himself than to jumpy. “I just want my best friend to be safe.”

 

 

 

There certainly couldn’t be another mouse in the world that deserved to be safer than Brain,  Pinky thought as Brain called his name to go get a tool.<

 

 

/p>

Pinky walked over to  Brain with Jumpy  trailing behind him. No matter what happened, Pinky would always help his best friend.

/p>

 

 

 

 

Chapter 2: Chapter Two

Chapter Two edited by Alluring Bones

 

 

 

Sunlight had changed from early to late afternoon.  White clouds and blue sky could still dominated the view from the lab window.

 

 

The two lab mice were on the lab floor. The modified gene splicer had been uncloaked with a remote-control Brain pressed much to Pinky’s delight. Pinky clapped while Brain explained the machine had been hidden away by the invisibility setting on the remote control.

 

 

 

Again, none of the lab animals paid attention to the unfurling of the giant machine or what the two lab mice did. Whatever antics the dynamic mouse duo committed was an everyday occurrence for the lab animal residents.

 

 

 

Pleased, Brain smiled as Pinky unabashedly complimented Brain on his brilliance. Really, he did appreciate his colleague’s devotion, not that Brain was voicing his appreciation aloud.

 

 

<Brain's face grew serious as he put the remote control away in a cabinet drawer.>

 

 

Clearing his throat, Brain ordered Pinky to retrieve a toolbox and leave his jump rope on the ground. Surprisingly, Pinky left the jump rope without fuss to go locate the toolbox Brain requested.

 

 

The small mouse brought out a plastic lightweight chair situated among the black cushion seats the scientists used for work. He positioned the chair next to the gene splicer.

 

 

 

Amazingly, Pinky brought the toolbox without any trouble Brain was anticipating. The tall mouse set the toolbox next to the jump rope and waited for Brain’s orders.<

/p>

 < /p>

 

However, Brain told Pinky to wait while he changed.

 

 

“You can go through the gene splicer naked Brain.  It’s seen all of you before,” the tall bucktooth mouse pointed out, confusedly scratching his head.

 

 

Immediately, the small genius mouse felt his face flame hearing the immodesty in Pinky’s comment.

 

 

“It’s for safety precautions ‘old friend,’ the flaming mouse emphasized, turning so all Pinky viewed was his zig zag tail.

 

 

“Say Brain? Your-“Pinky paused in mid-sentence about saying Brain’s tail had suddenly become red realizing the small mouse had retreated to the closet where the lab safety coats hung on plastic hangers.

 

 

 

Silently, Pinky approached the anxious mouse who had procured a lab coat his size off a hanger, latex gloves, safety googles from a designated drawer.

 

 

 

He opened his mouth to speak only to find Brain sweat profusely upon seeing him. Oddly, the small mouse was nervously clutching items to his chest.

 

 

 

 

Haltingly, Pinky’s speech died in his throat. He found himself understanding somehow, he made Brain uncomfortable.

 

 

 

 

No explanation came since Brain just looked at him mouth agape.  

 

 

Pinky began to sweat. He could handle Brain bopping him on the head or saying insulting words to him. This silence from his cagemate was not within his comfort zone.

 

 

The two mice continued to stare at each feeling the tension build between them.

 

 

Finally, Brain held up his pink hand when Pinky opened his mouth to apologize for whatever had upset Brain so much.

 

 

“Old friend’, I’m going to change in there,” Brain abruptly announced, doing an imitation of an opposable thumb towards the lab bathroom bewildering the taller mouse.

 

 

“Kay,” Pinky nodded, wondering why his cagemate ran top speed towards the human bathroom door displaying the white symbol of a man and woman against a black back ground.

 

 

Breathing heavily, Brain shut the door behind him dropping safety equipment items to the ground.  

 

 

 

Those few minutes of us looking at each other felt like the longest moments of my life, Brain thought, placing a hand against his hammering chest.

 

 

“Why am I getting so worked up over some stupid question Pinky asked?” the small megalomaniac genius fumed, putting a hand against the toilet to steady himself.

 

 

He said you were naked, the unbidden thought came into his head.

 

 

Brain’s eyes widened. Then, he slapped his cheeks to clear his thoughts.

 

 

“I ran away from Pinky like some human with modesty issues,” he chided, lecturing himself that he was a mouse meaning he had no human qualities whatsoever.

 

 

Eyes narrowing, the small mouse started dressing himself so he could resume his work on the gene splicer.

 

 

Outside the bathroom, Pinky waited for Brain, his eyes sparkling with tears, his ears drooping and clutching his tail somehow tighter.

 

 

“Come out Brain! Whatever I said-I’m so sorry!” Pinky wailed, letting go of his tail before pounding on the bathroom door.

 

 

The door swung open and Brain stepped out.

 

 

“Oh Brain! You came back!” Pinky sobbed, flinging his arms around Brain’s neck slumping his body to the floor. “Those were the longest hours of my life.’’

 

 

“Pinky, those hours were approximately only six minutes,” Brain voiced, his tone dangerously calm, stiffening in Pinky’s dramatic embrace.

 

 

“Those minutes were so long with you gone,” Pinky recanted, burying his face into the smaller mouse’s shoulder.

 

 

“Let go of me Pinky!” Brain ordered, his patience growing thin at Pinky’s emotional display of outburst. “Zort, whatever you say,” Pinky beamed, relieved the small back was back to his old self.

 

 

Releasing Brain, Pinky stepped back to look at what ensemble Brain had put together.

 

 

Brain was wearing plastic safety googles strapped to his face.

 

 

 He was dressed in a white lab coat and had on blue latex gloves for the safety precautions he had mentioned earlier.

 

 

“Oh, you look like a researcher Brain,” Pinky laughed, winking at Brain flirtishly.

 

 

 “All bookish with your coat and those googles giving you a knowing look,” Pinky crowed on, grinning widely at the angry mouse rapping his knuckles.

 

 

“End your asinine babble,” Brain acidly ordered, punching Pinky in the face.

 

 

Dazed, Pinky staggered around Brain seeing a ring of tiny birds flying.

 

 

“Pretty birdies,” the tall mouse cooed, tongue hanging out gazing at the imaginary birds.

 

 

“Yes, pretty birdie,” the small genius snorted, waiting for his cagemate to regain his senses.

 

 

Within a few moments, he regained his composure. Brain started walking back towards the machine with Pinky by his side.

 

 

“E-gad Brain, do I need a costume like yours?” Pinky asked, delighted by the prospect of playing dress up.

 

 

 

“No, Pinky,” Brain answered, shaking his head.

 

 

Brain explained to Pinky that the job of handing over tools meant putting on lab safety equipment was irrelevant.

 

 

Privately, Brain also felt Pinky would be safer just handing him tools and not performing any direct labor on the machine.

 

 

He needn’t suffer any shocks, Brain thought, glancing sideways at his goofy friend ranting about how he could pull off a saucy look in a lab coat.

 

 

 

Although disappointed, Pinky accepted Brain’s explanation as he could sense the smaller mouse was itching to resume work on the machine.

 

 

Soon, Pinky was sitting by the tool box awaiting orders while Brain was using pliers to assemble some wires within the machine standing on his chair platform.

 

Brain looked at the pliers he was holding and decided he needed a screw driver.

 

 

 

“Pinky, put these back,” Brain ordered, holding the pliers out towards Pinky.

 

 

 

“Aye-aye captain,” Pinky saluted, Brain before taking the pliers.

 

 

 

“Just put them away Pinky,” Brain griped, rolling his eyes.

 

 

 

“E-gad Brain, I will!” Pinky yelled, throwing the pliers in the toolbox.

 

 

 

“Screwdriver!” Brain called, adjusting screws with pliers on the remodified gene splicer from his platform location.

 

 

 

Plastic would help any high voltage that might occur. He didn’t want a stray volt to flow straight through him – killing him in the process.

 

 

 

“Screw-dri-ver?” Pinky asked, his eyes cast upward while slowly sounding out the syllables.

 

 

 

“Yes, screwdriver,” Brain growled, clenching his teeth in frustration.

 

 

 

“How are you going to get a screw to drive, Brain?” Pinky asked, sticking a finger in his ear.

 

 

 

Brain exasperatedly ran a pink hand down his face.

 

 

 

“With plenty of love and tender care, I’m sure you can get a screw- “Pinky ranted, using his hands to illustrate an imaginary screw driving.

 

 

“Cease your tom foolery Pinky or I’ll be hitting you so your head loses a few screws,” Brain interrupted, shaking a fist towards Pinky.

 

 

 

“Kay-but where do I find you a screwdriver?” Pinky asked, looking at the toolbox.

 

 

“It’s the little plastic bottom nub that has a metal stick pointing out of it,” Brain sighed in exasperation.

 

 

“Here it is narf,” Pinky declared, grabbing the screwdriver from the toolbox.

 

 

 

“Very good Pinky, now give it to me,” Brain ordered,, holding his hand out for the tool.

 

 

“Here you go Brain,” Pinky said, handing him a screwdriver. “You could have just said that was what you wanted.”

 

 

 

“Pinky, I’m beginning to think there aren’t any screws in your head to get loose,” Brain stated dryly, as he took the screwdriver from Pinky.

 

 

 

“What a relief! Phew! It’s awful to lose things,” Pinky said, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

 

 

 

“Indeed,” Brain said, taking the screwdriver and using the end to turn the screws.

 

 

Pinky watched Brain as he worked on the machine while sitting next to a metal red toolbox.

 

 

While watching, Pinky picked Jumpy up who he had left near the toolbox. He draped Jump over his shoulders like a feather boa.

 

 

Absentmindedly, Pinky began twirling both ends of Jumpy while moving his left foot in and right foot out to an imaginary song.

 

 

“Say Brain,” he began hesitantly, putting his hands behind his back and nervously moving his left foot back and forth.

 

 

“What is it Pinky?” Brain asked, turning his head from his labor.

 

 

“Ummm…do you think?” Pinky asked, “since there will be two of you…” 

 

He shyly lowered his head while still twirling one end of his jump rope behind his back.

 

 

“Spit it out Pinky,” Brain said, furrowing his brow in confusion at Pinky’s unexpected bashfulness and the jump rope being worn like a feather boa.

 

 

Eyes downcast, Pinky slipped Jumpy off his shoulders under the small mouse’s questioning stare.

 

 

The jump rope clattered to the floor from Pinky’s nervously shaking hand.

 

 

Puzzled, the smaller mouse warily watched his taller companion take a deep breath readying himself to speak.

 

 

 

“Do you think you two could hold one end of the jump rope and move it while I jump?” Pinky burst forth, clasping his pink hands together in a pleading manner. 

 

 

 

“I…Pinky…that’s,” Brain, slid a hand down his face, “has nothing to do with my plan today.”  

 

 

 

“It would only be a few minutes,” Pinky begged, pulling his mouth into a pout, “I promise.”

 

 

 

“Oh-all right fine!” Brain snapped, unable to deny the pleading blue eyes looking at him, “as long as it’s only a few minutes.” 

 

 

 

“Zort, how wonderful Brain!” Pinky gushed, all smiles twirling in a spin.

 

 

 

“Yes, yes, now return to your station,” Brain scowled, glaring at Pinky.

 

 

 

He could feel a headache coming on but he was somewhat consoled in that Pinky just wanted to play with him. 

 

 

 

Pinky returned to his spot near the toolbox but his big ears perked up hearing a sound from his favorite whirly pool he liked to paddle in.

 

 

 

To Pinky’s delight, the lab toilet began making an excessive running sound due to the flapper chain in the tank being too tight and preventing the valve from shutting all the way.

 

 

 

“The water in the toilet goes round and round,” Pinky sang, closing his eyes while rocking back and forth. 

 

 

“Pinky,” Brain called, feeling one of his eyes began to twitch. 

 

 

 

Pinky didn’t hear Brain. He was caught up in singing, “Round and round!”

 

 

 

“Pinky!” Brain yelled, his pink bloodshot eyes bulging with anger.

 

 

 

Pinky stopped singing to find Brain had jumped down from his plastic platform and was walking towards him. 

 

 

 

“Troz, oh-the plan ha ha-ha,” He laughed nervously, tugging at his neck as he saw Brain’s forehead furrowed with irritation.

 

 

 

“Want to see something that goes round and round Pinky?” Brain asked, using one of his gloved hands to making a hitting motion with the screwdriver he held in his hand.

 

 

 

“Yes, Brain-but where – ” Pinky asked, not getting a chance to finish his question when Brain bopped his head with the screwdriver.

 

 

 

Suddenly, Pinky saw pretty yellow stars going around his head. His eyes stared upward at the stars while he staggered around disoriented. 

 

 

 

“That’s where Pinky,” Brain mocked, leaving the screw driver on the ground and stomping off to one of the cabinets.

 

 

 

“So pretty,” Pinky breathed, weaving around in a loopily.

 

 

 

“Sometimes, I wonder if hot air just goes round and round in your head Pinky,” Brain remarked, opening one of the cabinet drawers. 

 

 

 

“I think I’d be a balloon Brain,” Pinky guessed, feeling less disoriented. 

 

 

 

“A balloon that could float away,” Brain retorted, while rummaging through the contents of the drawer.

 

 

 

Pinky watched Brain take a white crushed tablet out of a zip lock bag marked Not Safe To Eat Pinky! in big bold letters with a sharpie marker.

 

 

 

Some weeks back, Brain stole some aspirin from one of the scientists, crushed the tablets and deposited the contents into the plastic bag he had labeled with a sharpie marker.

 

 

 

“Should you be eating that Brain?” Pinky asked cautiously, eyeing the megalomaniac mouse popping the crushed tablet in his mouth.

 

 

“It’s aspirin you imbecile,” Brain icily explained, swallowing another bit for good measure. Hastily, Brain put the pill contents back into the bag, sealed the ziplock part, shoved the bag back into the cabinet drawer.

 

 

 

“Letter for mister Pinky,” a voice called from outside the lab door.

 

 

 

Pinky and Brain turned to look at the door to see if someone would open it.

 

 

 

All they saw was a bunch of envelopes shoot out through the slot before hearing the sound of a mail truck driving away. 

 

 

 

“Oh, the mail is here!” Pinky exclaimed, jumping down and running joyously over to the envelope pile lying on the floor. 

 

 

 

Brain furrowed his brow in puzzlement while making his way over to where Pinky was scanning over the letters’ contents of one of the opened envelopes. 

 

 

 

Within a few minutes, Brain was able to identify all of the envelopes coming from a school in Venice. 

 

 

 

“Who would be writing to you from Venice?” Brain wondered aloud, staring at Pinky with curiosity. 

 

 

 

“It’s Cupcake Brain,” Pinky answered, looking downcast at the ground.

 

 

 

“Snowball’s sister? Is she wanting to get back together with you?” Brain asked, putting his hands on his hips. 

 

 

 

“No... it’s not that Brain,” Pinky paused, his shoulders and ears slumped.

 

 

 

“There’s something you aren’t telling me,” Brain accused, studying Pinky cringing at the letter.

 

 

 

“You really aren’t going to like it,” Pinky warned, clutching the letter anxiously.

 

 

 

“Out with it Pinky!” Brain pressed, grabbing Pinky’s throat and pulling him down to eye level. 

 

 

 

“Zort, she wants us to take her to visit Snowball,” Pinky squeaked, face changing to a purplish hue face due to lack of oxygen.

 

 

 

“What?” Brain exclaimed, releasing his grip on Pinky who started gasping for air.

 

 

 

Almost immediately, Brain felt the strength leave his legs. He sat on the ground in shock. 

 

 

 

“She says she will be here today,” Pinky stated, holding his hand to his heaving chest.

 

 

 

“Of all days…it had to be today,” Brain mumbled, holding his face in his hands.

 

 

 

“Brain?” Pinky called, walking up to the smaller mouse whose zigzagged tail twitched in agitation.

 

 

 

“Pinky?” Brain asked,, blinking at Pinky who had put his hand on Brain’s forehead.

 

 

 

“Hmm…you don’t seem sick,” Pinky commented, frowning at Brain with concern.

 

 

 

Brain’s face turned bright red upon hearing Pinky’s words. This tall idiotic mouse was somehow able to emotionally affect Brain without even knowing it. 

 

 

 

“Of course, I’m fine,” Brain snapped, pushing Pinky’s hand away. 

 

 

 

“Thank goodness,” Pinky breathed, smiling at his best friend who seemed to have gotten his spirits back.

 

 

 

“Come Pinky, we must finish our preparations before Cupcake gets here,” Brain commanded, walking confidently back to the modified gene splicer.

 

 

 

“Coming Brain,” Pinky replied cheerily, running until he was beside his tiny dictator to assist in whatever task needed to be done.

 

 

 

Pinky might not know what to do when Cupcake came, but that was fine. Brain would know what to do and he would tell Pinky what to do. 

 

 

 

Everything would be fine as long as Brain knew what needed to be done was what Pinky concluded as he stood next to the toolbox.  

 

Chapter 3

Chapter Three Beta Edited by Bein00 and Gigantic BookWorm

Twilight colors showed through the glass window of the lab. The bright blue sky and white clouds were replaced by streaks of orange, purple and fading blue. All the scientists had driven home for the day. The lab animals were eating their dinner of various pellets or whatever feed was in their bowls.

 

 

Since afternoon, the pair of white mice had been working nonstop on the gene splicer. Pinky could feel his stomach growling. He glanced at Jumpy laying on the ground.

 

 

I can’t eat Jumpy, Pinky thought, putting a pink hand on his furry stomach.

 

 

“Say Brain?” Pinky looked up at the megalomaniac mouse putting a red and blue wire together.

 

 

“Yes, Pinky?” Brain stalled his labor to look down at Pinky from his chair.

 

 

“We haven’t eaten anything since lunch point,” Pinky answered, putting a finger to a buck tooth.

 

 

“Pinky, go nourish yourself,” Brain ordered, narrowing his eyes at Pinky.

 

 

“But Brain, aren’t you hungry?” Pinky inquired, wringing his hands together concerned.

 

 

“Pinky, I can keep working. Now go eat.” Brain turned back around to inserting the wires together.

 

 

“But- “the tall mouse protested, glancing sideways at the food pellet box sitting on a bottom shelf against the wall. Brain stopped moving. His zig zag tail visibly twitched.

 

 

The words died in Pinky’s throat. He gulped continuing his motion of wringing his hands together.

 

 

Slowly, the small mouse turned around. Through the safety googles, his pink blood eyes were burning in anger. His teeth were gnashed together.

 

 

Pinky shrank back which caused Brain to pause. Brain inhaled and exhaled to not further frighten the kindhearted mouse.

 

 

“Mice can go two to four days without food Pinky,” Brain explained calmly, shifting one of the wires to his other gloved hand.

“But-“ the taller mouse attempted to interject.

 

 

“I will be fine. Go feed yourself.” Brain then ordered, pointing to the food pellet box with his free hand.

 

 

“If you say so, Brain,” Pinky skeptically replied, walking towards the box but looking unhappily back at his overworked friend.

 

 

Unbeknownst to Pinky, the megalomaniac mouse was doing his best to ignore his growling stomach. Pausing, he put his gloved hand over his stomach.

 

 

Perhaps, Pinky is right about a break, Brain thought, glancing down at his sweat stained lab coat. The genius had been pushing himself to work without a break since the afternoon.

 

 

Brain then frowned, his face deep in thought.  Cupcake could come any minute. No, he would need to carry on with configuring the wires.

 

 

Just several feet away, the tall lanky mouse was identifying white tiny ceramic plates stacked on the shelf above the food pellet box. Monetarily, Pinky paused grabbing one plate for himself.

 

 

Brain is hungry, Pinky thought, frowning unhappily at the surface of the plate.

 

 

He knew Brain was too proud to admit having hunger pangs. Well, walking on eggshells around the tiny dictator wasn’t going to satisfy his stomach.

 

 

Determined, the tall buck tooth mouse’s expression grew serious as he grabbed a second plate from the shelf. He started heaping food pellets on the second plate for his cagemate.

 

 

Zort, Brain may get mad, Pinky reflected, while picking brown food pellets out of the cardboard box. However, he’d rather have an angry Brain than a starving Brain.

 

 

Soon enough, the consequences of Brain ignoring depriving himself of food caught up with him. Seething, Brain grinded his teeth viewing the wires he was holding not igniting a spark.

 

 

“Why won’t these confounded wires generate any energy?” Brain snarled, furiously jamming the wire ends together.

 

 

Little sparks flew off from the inserted ends.

 

 

“Yes! Yes!” Brain cried, holding his gloved hands up in triumph.

 

 

His temporary happiness was suspended when the little sparks transformed into glowing orange flames. One of the flames caught onto his lab coat sleeve.

 

 

“Ahh!”  Brain shed the lab coat and dropped the coat from his outstretched hand. Luckily for the tiny mouse, a ceiling sprinkler released water above him. A ringing sound went off as water rained down hard upon Brain, the plastic chair and the gene splicer. The rest of the lab remained dry.

 

 

Moaning, Brain looked down at his drenched fur. Water ran through the arranged parts of the gene splicer. His pink feet stood in a little pool of water on the chair surface.

 

 

The sprinkler turned off within a few seconds. Sighing, the megalomaniac mouse ripped his safety googles off his head. The googles fell to the floor next to the coat. He removed the latex gloves from his hands. The gloves fell next to the coat.

 

 

Maybe, I should have stopped, Brain grimaced, lifting his right foot out of the puddle he was standing in. Cranky, he jumped from the chair to the floor. His loyal cagemate was waiting for him holding two outstretched ceramic plates of brown food pellets.

 

 

“Uncooked or uncooked?” Pinky inquired, grinning sheepishly at his soaked friend sulkily slumping. “Either,” Brain replied, roughly grabbing one of the plates from his friend’s hand.

 

 

Wordlessly, he set the plate on the floor before he began cramming food pellets in his mouth. Pinky smiled somewhat relived the tiny dictator hadn’t gotten angry with them. The gangly mouse set his plate on the floor in front of him.

 

Then, Pinky ran comically fast towards the closet holding the lab coats on hangers. He grabbed a grey security blanket resting on the bottom of the closest. Blanket in possession, the lanky mouse ran back in a comically loopy fashion.

 

 

Meanwhile, Brain kept gouging himself on food pellets unaware of the sporadic movements of his companion.

 

 

Suddenly, he felt himself being wrapped in soft folds of one of the lab security blankets. Pink fingers holding a single food pellet stopped midway in his mouth.

 

 

The food pellet fell back unto the white plate. Brain’s bloodshot eyes widened as Pinky quietly continued wrapping him up in the blanket until he was completely cocooned.

 

 

“Pinky, what is the meaning of this?” Brain demanded, nervously craning his neck to see what his friend was doing.

 

 

“Brain, you need to dry off,” Pinky gently chided, drying Brain off with the encased blanket.

 

 

“Of course, don’t want to get pneumonia.” Brain surrendered to Pinky’s drying motions with the blanket. Closing his eyes, the tiny tense mouse allowed himself to relax. His jaw grew slack resulting in his mouth falling open. His neck and shoulders sagged releasing some built-up tautness.

 

Pinky can massage really well, Brain lazily thought, sinking into the comfort of the blanket and his friend’s pink nimble fingers.

 

Happily, Pinky moved his long fingers in semi-circles against the outline of the smaller mouse’s body wrapped in the blanket. He got into a comfortable sitting position bringing the drowsy Brain into his lap.

 

Hungrily, he used one of his hands to grab some food pellets while still using his other hand to massage Brain.

 

Pinky munched on his acquired food pellets enjoying the relaxing silence.

 

Pinky noticed his cocooned cagemate was lying relaxed against his chest.

 

Thump, Thump, Pinky’s heart began pounding hard in his chest.

 

Puzzled, Pinky scrunched his face looking down at his hands resting on Brain’s blanket covered shoulders.

 

Heat crept into Pinky’s cheeks. He averted his eyes away from his friend towards the gene splicer.

 

Why am I so nervous? Pinky wondered, bewilderment at his nerviness at having the tiny megalomaniac mouse lay against him.

 

Many times, Pinky had scooped up Brain, hugged Brain, and danced with Brain without any feelings of anxiety.

 

Egad, what’s so different about right now? Pinky mused, staring at his cagemate who had noticed Pinky’s nimble fingers had slowed down in their massaging movements.

 

Unusually, Pinky had been silent while drying Brain off. What is going on in Pinky’s mind? The genius found his sidekick to be presently unpredictable. Realizing this, Brain shook himself free of the confinement of the blanket.

 

 

He pushed Pinky’s hands off him resulting in Pinky protesting, “Brain, you stopped me from getting to the good part!”

 

The tall lanky mouse had his lips pulled into a pout and was holding the blanket against himself. There was a little color in his cheeks.

 

Shaking his fur, Brain could feel his mussy fur sticking out. To Pinky, the little mouse looked like a grumpy, dried off mess glaring at him.

 

“You look like a wet dog with your tongue hanging out!” Pinky face contorted into laughter, throwing the blanket aside.

 

“Pinky, what did you mean by good part?” Brain growled, grabbing Pinky by the nose. He wanted to know what was going on in the bumbling mouse’s head.

 

The heat in Pinky’s cheeks spread unto his whole face was red.

 

Surprised, Brain released Pinky’s red nose noticing Pinky back away, face entirely red, and fidgeting with his fingers. Pinky pulled on his ears. "Narf, I meant getting you to take a nap," he mumbled.

 

Incredulously, Brain just stared at Pinky who kept fidgeting his fingers together.

 

“You wanted me to massage me until I fell sleep in your lap?” Brain choked, understanding dawning on him.

 

“Well, you overworked yourself and-” Pinky explained, stopping upon seeing Brain’s flushed face.

 

Both mice looked away from each other. Brain found himself straightening his arms to compose himself. Pinky put his arms behind his back to relive some of his anxiety. The plates of food pellets lay forgotten on the floor. Neither mouse had an appetite anymore. Deep in thought, Brain was holding his hand against his head. Pinky was fanning himself with his right hand to calm himself down.

 

Finally, Brain lifted his head to look at Pinky. The tall mouse had regained the white color to his face, his blue eyes worried, awaiting whatever his friend had to say.

 

“You are right, old friend,’’ the small mouse admitted, feeling the burning emotions in his face fade away.

 

“I am?’’ Pinky squinted at Brain.

 

“Yes, I often work myself to the point of exhaustion,” Brain went on, gesturing towards the gene splicer.

 

“But I have a good friend like you to remind me that I need to take care of myself,” Brain confessed, his expression softening at Pinky.

 

Pinky found himself staring into Brain’s red eyes. Eyes that were a lovely shade of rose red.

 

Pinky murmured, “Brain…,” warming at the praise his best friend was giving him.

 

Just then, the two mice heard the sound of a taxi cab engine stop outside the lab. Alert, Brain quickly turned to the gene splicer machine.

 

“Pinky, there’s no more time! We must start the experiment!” Brain yelled, running towards the machine.

 

Pinky gnashed his fingers on his teeth, “But, what do I do Brain?” He looked at the lab door and at his best friend throwing switches starting up on the machine.

 

“Pull the red lever,” Brain ordered, no longer visible as he was carried away on the conveyor belt of the machine.

 

Gulping, Pinky noticed the bright red lever handle on the gene splicer. He ran towards the lever and pulled the lever down.

 

Smoke erupted from the machine. The glass lightbulb on top of the machine blew out. The last thing Pinky remembered was hearing Brain’s voice calling out as a gray metal machine wall chunk hit him. Everything went black after that.

 

Chapter 4

Beta edited by tricksterlovegodling and Rhuhenian

Pinky felt the weight of the machine wall weighing down on him.

Suddenly, he felt the metal wall piece come off him.

The tall lanky mouse moaned in pain, “What happened?”

His vision was blurry but he was able to see a pink hand outstretched towards him.

Gingerly, the lab mouse took the offered hand while nursing his throbbing head.

A concerned voice directed towards him inquired, “Pinky, Pinky, are you all right? Speak to me!”

Pinky squinted his eyes, vision becoming clearer, “Have I died and gone to Dennys?”

The small megalomaniac mouse before him breathed a sigh of relief, “Your asinine ramblings are music to my ears Pinky.”

“Not to mine,” another voice sharply asserted. The small mouse and tall mouse turned their heads turned to see another small, white megalomanic mouse scowling at them. Pinky tugged at his ears. “Egat! Two Brains! This is more mind blowing than Future Brain and Old Brain!’’ The smaller mouse before Pinky pulled the lanky mouse to a standing position, “Yes, I can understand your confusion-

The other mouse held up a palm, “Yes, yes, the idiotic bumbling twit is always confused.”

 

 

The other approachable mouse heaved a sigh before asking, “Must you patronize me?”

The rude mouse rolled his eyes, “Let’s skip to the short version, shall we? I’m Brain’s id, his wants and desires as you may call it.”

The other mouse smiled thinly at Pinky, “I’m Brain’s Ego-I consider wants and feelings of others as you may understand it.”

The tall lab mouse let go of his ears, eyes widening, “Two Brains. Same but not the same. It’s like looking in a mirror.”
The two-genius mice exchanged glances upon hearing Pinky’s confusing speech pattern since Pinky would be seeing himself when he looked in a mirror.

“He said that before when Brain met his future self,” the friendly mouse recalled, scrunching his brow in thought.

The irritated mouse wrinkled his nose in distaste at the memory. Brain’s future self-had sabotaged Brain’s latest plan to take over the world through winning an award at a movie festival award ceremony.

The future genius had taken the Brain of the present day back to Amce Labs in a limousine. Back, at the lab, the future Brains had tried to convince the present Brain Pinky was the reason Brain could never take over the world.

That future version of me was preposterous thinking I would just trust him because he had a cool looking scar, thought the annoyed mouse watching his friendly counterpart who appeared to be waiting for a reply.

“I assume there is a point to you bringing this up?” the angry mouse snapped, fixing his twin with an icy glare. Undeterred by the unwelcome glare, the more polite mouse met his twin’s frown smiling, “I was just going to say Brain never told Pinky had to properly form his sentences when Pinky made that comment before,”/ > “Oh, so Pinky needs to be educated every time he spews some damned nonsense from his mouth?”< “Who would like to try some of my yummy cheesecake recipe?” an annoying cheerful voice rang out.

Both genius mice stared blankly at Pinky.

During the whole conversation, Pinky had been watching the two mice talk while a sense of dread grew in his stomach. Anyone could tell a fight might potentially erupt between the two genius mice soon.

The lanky mouse attempted to school his features into a somewhat false cheerful expression in an attempt to diffuse the situation.

“Future Brain really liked it so you two would most definitely take a shine to it.”

A knock could be heard at the door. All previous conversations were instantly forgotten upon hearing the knock.< The three lab mice eyed the door knob before looking at each other.

The small assertive mouse pointed to the knob, “Pinky, go open the door.”

The other small mouse stood in front of the vexed tall mouse, “No, he doesn’t have to open the door if he doesn’t want to.”

Cautiously, the lanky mouse walked towards the door. “It’s fine other Brain. I got it.”

Pinky walked towards the door and turned the knob.

A brown female hamster with blond hair in a pony tail walked through the doorway.

She was wearing a pink sweatshirt and pink sweat pants.

Also, she carried two brown suitcases on either side of her indicating she was going to stay for some time.

Pinky was all smiles offering his two hands to help, “Hello, Cupcake, want me to get those for you?”

Cupcake shook her head, “Thanks, Pinky, I have it.”< She stared at the debris of machinery, tool box and tools scattered, jump rope, and the two small male mice silently looking at her with different expressions.

One mouse smiled politely, “Hello.”

The other mouse just scowled, saying nothing.

“Hello,” Cupcake replied to the friendly mouse, waving her hand.

Cupcake inched to Pinky whispering, “Did Brain clone himself or does he have a long-lost twin?”

Pinky looked at the two mice whispering, “He split himself in half.”

Understanding dawned on the female hamster. “He did an experiment splitting his personality.”

The taller mouse nodded, “Point, yes.”

The scowling mouse cupped his hands. “I know you two are whispering about me and him.”< > The lanky mouse gave his counterpart a withering look, “They aren’t mocking us. They are just trying to understand us.”

The other mouse with a somewhat unpleasant disposition threw out his hands exasperated, “Directly communicating with us would answer any questions they have.”

The other mouse who was more approachable crossed his arms, “Oh yes. And who would want to be direct with someone so negative?”

Angerly, the other short-tempered mouse clenched his fists, “Why, I ought a- “

“Boys!’ Cupcake’s voice shouted over the argument.

Both mice stopped talking; giving the tiny hamster their attention.

“How about we clean up this mess?” Cupcake suggested, gesturing toward the chair, googles, lab coat, tools, tool box and machine debris.

The tall lanky mouse came running with a tiny wooden broom that a human would define as a paint brush and garbage bag rodent sized.
Pinky happily agreed, “Wonderful, narf.”

The friendly genius mouse nodded his agreement, “Your assistance is most generous.”

The megalomaniac mouse genius straightened himself coolly replying, “I direct. You pick up.” > Angerly, Cupcake put her hands on her hips, “You give orders like we are your servants? No, that’s not going to work out.”

Frustrated, his counterpart breathed in and out before suggesting, “This will go much faster if we all clean up together. We can get to your plan for world domination faster.”

The other genius stroked his chin thoughtfully, “That option will do.”

Instantly, Pinky ran towards the janitor closest and came back with a trash bag and one wooden broom.

The friendly mouse and female hamster smiled at Pinky, “Thank you Pinky.”

The grumpy mouse had jumped off his chair. He scowled at Pinky without saying anything.

The lanky mouse halfheartedly grinned, “Don’t mention it, point.”

The small male mouse not scowling; fixed Pinky with a questioning stare, “What do you want us to do Pinky?”

The tall mouse’s eyes widened, “Egad, other Brain, you want me to decide what to do?”

The considerate mouse gestured towards the broom and trash bag, “Pinky, you got the cleaning supplies so you can pick what we do.”

The female hamster stretched her left side, “You are good at cleaning your cage Pinky,” she chimed in.< > Pinky chewed his fingers uncertainly, “Well…”

The small megalomaniac mouse burst into unpleasant laughter, “Pinky, organizing others and telling them what to do? I could use an evening of comedy to take the edge off.”

Somehow, the other mouse’s rude laughter irritated the lanky mouse.

Pinky’s expression hardened glaring at the impolite mouse, “What do I call you Zort?”

The impolite mouse’s anger halted as he stared blankly at the lanky mouse, “I beg your pardon?”

The polite mouse pointed to his counterpart and himself, “Pinky, wants to know what your name is and my name is.”< > The female hamster gave the male genius who just spoke a nod, “It would be nice to say something other than hey you.”

Reluctantly, the lanky mouse made an effort to smile at the rude mouse, “Righto, so what’s your name?”

The rude mouse scrunched his giant forehead in thought, “I could be Jimmy Brain.”

The friendly mouse looked at the wall for a moment before answering, “I could be Mr. Feldman.”

Mr. Feldman and Jimmy were names Brain chose for his disguises, Pinky thought, fondly recalling some of the outfits he and Brain had chosen for disguises going out in public.

Where did the name choices come from? Cupcake wondered, watching the two halves of Brain with interest. She could ask Pinky later.

Smiling, Pinky clapped his hands, “Wonderful, you both have names.”

The female hamster dryly replied, “Great, now we can get back to picking up this mess.”

The four rodents began cleaning in different ways.

Pinky began sweeping with the small wooden broom.

Mr. Feldman held the trash bag out to everyone could put their picked-up trash in there.

Jimmy and Cupcake picked up items off the floor.

Jimmy picked up the latex gloves, googles and lab coat and put the items back where he found them.

Cupcake put the broken pieces of machinery she found in the bag.

The next thirty minutes was spent in silence as the rodents finished the laborious task of cleaning up the lab room except for Pinky’s humming while he worked.

Chapter 5: Chapter Five

Within, the four rodents had everything squared away. Any bystander would notice Mr. Feldman, Pinky and Cupcake did more of the hands-on labor of putting away the cleaning supplies. Jimmy displayed all the traits of a freeloader not contributing to helping his associates.

Jimmy acted like he was helping by picking up items until he noticed the other three rodents weren’t paying attention to him due to being absorbed in their own tasks.

Silently, Jimmy abandoned the group to retrieve a notebook and pencil Brain had been using earlier when Pinky was irritating him. “That idiot thought Brain would actually draw him puppies,” Jimmy fumed, scowling at the memory tall lanky mouse’s stupidity. Then, he sat on the floor, writing out calculations to continue Brain’s plan for world domination.

The tiny megalomaniac genius was able to make progress until the three rodents were done cleaning.  “Phew, that’s finally done,” Cupcake exclaimed, shutting the door of the supply closest.

“I’ll say,” Pinky agreed, flopping down dramatically.

“Yes, and it’s all thanks to the three of us,” Mr. Feldman dryly aired, noticing his twin absorbed in writing in his notebook.< /p>

“Really Jimmy?” Cupcake admonished the genius mouse who glared up from his writing.

“What, I helped you cretins for a little bit.”

“You only helped until we stopped paying attention to you.”

“Three of you are more than enough to finish- “

“Stop,” Mr. Feldman and Pinky commanded at the same time. Mr. Feldman cast a curious glance at Pinky, wondering what he was going to say.

“Um...” Pinky began uncertainly, putting his pink fingers in between his teeth.

“Pinky, take your fingers out of your mouth and speak.” Mr. Feldman scolded, going over to the cabinet drawer where Brain kept his aspirin pills. He pulled out some baby wipes from a plastic bag marked with letters for Pinky in black sharpie.

“Egad, I just wanted to say Jimmy did help us.”< /

“Damn straight I did!”

“Ugh,” Cupcake shuddered, looking at Pinky’s fingers covered in spit. She wondered how often Pinky stuck his fingers in places covered with bacteria.”

Ignoring Jimmy, the small white genius, closed the bag, closed the cabinet drawer and walked over to the tall, lanky mouse apprehensively looking at him.

“Really, you don’t have to wipe me troz,” Pinky muttered.

“Bend down Pinky.”

The tall mouse obeyed, bent down to the small, kind hearted mouse who took hold of his pink fingers. Then, Mr. Feldman started wiping Pinky’s fingers in gentle circular motions.

A pleasant tingling sensation could be felt in Pinky’s fingers. Sometimes, Brain is gentle touching my hands, the bumbling sidekick recalled, studying the small, sighing mouse with his bright blue eyes.

Within seconds, the little mouse progressed from cleaning Pinky’s fingers to the palms of hands. He smiled, looking up at Pinky’s face.

“All done.”

Suddenly, Mr. Feldman realized his face was inches away from his tall friend who was studying him in silent thought.< /p>

“Umm…”

Beaded sweat broke out from the miniature mouse’s brow. His white cheeks turned a light shade of red. Immediately, the taller mouse he noticed the intellectual mouse’s discomfort and he had been staring at his friend.

“Sorry, troz, didn’t mean to- “

“No, it’s fine,”

“Thank you for making my hands clean, Mr. Feldman.”

“Oh, it’s no trouble,”

Mr. Feldman found himself staring at Pinky’s face. Did, I ever notice how perfectly proportioned Pinky’s buck teeth are? he wondered, fascinated by the lanky mouse’s pearly white teeth.

The other mouse felt sweat dripping down his neck. His whole face became a beet red. What is he doing? Pinky, silently panicked, entranced by the tiny mouse’s analytical gaze.

“Ah-hem.”

The tiny brown female hamster coughed, causing the two lab mice to snap out of their reverie. Pinky fell backwards. Startled, Mr. Feldman reared his head up to see Cupcake frowning at him.  Her whole face wore a look of disapproval. 

The genius felt something wet in his hand. Looking down, he noticed he had scrunched the wipe up in his clenched pink hand.< /p>

“I’m throwing this away.”

Before Cupcake could reply, the small mouse took off towards the metal, trashcan against the lab wall.

The female hamster shook her head at Mr. Feldman’s obvious avoidance of her. She focused her attention on the tall, lanky mouse who had arranged himself in a sitting position. He was gazing at the little moue’s retreating form in the distance. Concerned, she approached him tentatively, her steps slow not to vex her former boyfriend.

“Pinky…are you...”

“I’m fine, Cupcake.”

The quite reply said otherwise.< /p>

“Did he do anything that bothered you?”< /p>

“No.”

“Are you sure?”< /p>

“Dear sweet god, the moron said he’s fine, you empty headed hamster.”< /p>

Annoyed, the brown hamster tensed up, clenching her teeth. She slowly turned away from Pinky and looked at the brash, little mouse who had put down his notebook and pencil. A throbbing vein was visible from his head.

“I wanted to ask if Pinky was fine,” Cupcake growled, glaring at the tiny dictator who arched an eyebrow at her.

“And, why pray tell, wouldn’t he be fine? He’s not bleeding, not at death’s door, the perfect picture of health.”

A pause.

“Well, physical health. Can’t really say the same about his mental health since he thought he and a female sea lion could have romantic relations…”

“Wait, what? Never mind, I don’t want to know.  Pinky-did Mr. Feldman take advent- “

“Cupcake, can you get my jump rope?”

The female hamster threw a questioning look at the tall, mouse who was anxiously wringing his long tail.  Cupcake sighed, realizing her former love interest wasn’t going to answer her question about the seemingly friendly, smaller mouse taking advantage of him.

“Yes, I’ll go get it for you.”

“Thank you, I do appreciate you getting Jumpy,” Pinky politely smiled, letting go of his tail. His raised hand pointed to his plastic jump rope for Cupcake to retrieve.

Reluctantly, the hamster walked away leaving the tall, skinny mouse alone with smaller, ill-tempered mouse who leered at her. Pinky’s going to have to fight his own battles if he doesn’t want my help, Cupcake decided, lifting her head up high. Her short, furry legs moved determinedly towards the toy the sweet, childlike mouse had requested.

“Glad she’s finally gone for a second. Can’t get any plans done in peace with her being jealous of you and that pathetic excuse of a colleague about to get it on,”< /p>

The polite smile faded from Pinky’s face. Angrily, he narrowed his eyes at the mocking megalomaniac genius before him.

“I don’t know what you mean but she’s just being nice point. She’s not jealous. She was just worried- “< /p>

“You and Mr. Feldman were about to kiss?”

Shocked, Pinky just stared at Jimmy. The smaller mouse smiled arrogantly back at him.

“No, that’s not- “  

“Alright Pinky, that’s not it. You two don’t need to get a room and the sister of my former arch nemesis no longer has any feelings for you.”

Bored by the conversation, the smaller lab mouse resumed his focus on writing in his notebook. His statement left the tall, lanky mouse gaping at him.

“Egad, Jimmy, you-you can’t read minds and you don’t know what everyone is thinking or feeling.”

“You are correct old friend. I don’t need to know any one’s thoughts because everyone’s body language gives away what they are feeling eighty to ninety percent of the time.”

“What would Pinky do without a friend like you who verbally abuses him?”

Jimmy scowled hearing that voice which sounded exactly like his own speech. The other genius had returned. Mr. Feldman’s arms were crossed with his back to the teary-eyed tall mouse whose giant nose was sniffling.

“And, what would Pinky do without a friend like you who takes forever coming back from throwing away a baby wipe?”

“The trashcan was tall and I had a long way to climb-you know what? Pinky is what matters. Not your stupid speed critique for throwing away litter.”

The good-natured genius turned to Pinky who was quietly sniffling and wiping his nose. Hesitantly, he unfolded his arms. Taking a deep breath, he raised his arms while his cagemate tearfully watched his motions.

“Pinky, I’m sorry if I upset you before. Would you like…”

Mr. Feldman’s voice trailed off as he stood with his arms awkwardly outstretched. I really am no good at this, he lamented, limbs stiff awaiting the taller mouse’s response.

Pinky’s eyes widened, realizing what Mr. Feldman was trying to do.

“Troz, are you trying to give me a hug?”

“Y…Yes, if you want one. I’m really sorry I invaded your personal space earlier and- “< /p>

The tiny mouse’s words died in his throat. Two long skinny arms wrapped around him. Mr. Feldman found he was being pulled in a bear crushing hug by the tall, chipper mouse who had been sad moments ago.

“You have nothing to be sorry about! Point! I love hugs!”< /p>

“That’s…that’s good…”

The smaller mouse’s voice was muffled against Pinky’s arms.

“Egad, you were just helping me. I just got nervous cause Brain’s usually not super nice when wiping me and is usually grumpy saying don’t do this or that.”

“Pinky, I have your jump rope.”

Elated, the tall white mouse hoisted the socially awkward Mr. Feldman against his side like a teddy bear to free his other arm. He smiled down at the short brown hamster holding out his jump rope in her outstretched hand.

Pinky took the jump rope and placed his object of adoration at his feet.

Cupcake took in the sight of the small genius pinned like a toy against Pinky’s side and snorted.

“Looks like you two made up.”

“Cupcake, this doesn’t look like what you’re thinking and about before- “

“Egad, Mr. Feldman! I didn’t know you could read her mind, zort !”

“I can’t read minds Pinky. Now, Cupcake I wasn’t going to do whatever you were thinking earlier- “< /p>

The blond-haired hamster held up a hand to silence Mr. Feldman’s explanation.

“Honestly, that is between the two of you.”

“Huh?”

Both male mice scrunched their faces in confusion at the female rodent, not sure of what she was saying. Cupcake sighed, placing a furry hand to her forehead.

“What did I miss after the hug fest?’’

All three rodents saw Jimmy who had left during Pinky and Mr. Feldman’s hug. The bathroom door could be heard going back and forth on metal hinges.< /p>

“I had to take a piss,” the tiny dictator explained, showing his white square teeth in a smiling, repulsive manner. Undeterred by the three rodents glaring at him, he sat down, picked up his pencil and kept working in his notebook.

“Ugh…”

Cupcake shook her head and turned her attention back to the tall mouse who had let go of his smaller friend. Both male mice were silently awaiting her what she had been saying earlier.

“What I’m saying is that you two are adults and whatever happened is between the two of you.  I was wrong in jumping to conclusions to what happened without asking questions and I’m sorry.”

Mr. Feldman’s jaw dropped at the unexpected apology. Pinky fondly smiled at his ex-girlfriend.

“It’s okay Cupcake. You were just being a good friend when you were asking if I was okay point.”

“Pinky, as a good friend, it’s best for me to realize you are an adult who can speak up if you need help.”

“O-okay.”

“So, are you and I good?”

The small hamster looked at the small genius clearing his throat. She nodded her head in affirmation.

“Yes, we are good.”

“Wonderful, are you three going to hold hands and sing about world peace? If so, go away and leave me alone.”< /p>

The three rodents ignored Jimmy’s ill-tempered outburst.

Pinky’s gaze drifted to Cupcake’s suitcases resting on the floor. He brightened, a metaphorical lightbulb going off above his head.

“Uh, Cupcake, you said in your letters that you wanted to see where Snowball’s home is.”

“Yes, I do. Where is he?”

Mr. Feldman’s zigzagged tail twitched in annoyance. Jimmy clenched his teeth, seething in anger. I never wanted to hear that name again, Jimmy mulled, snapping his pencil in half.

“He is at our neighbor Mr. Sultana’s home. We can take you there in the morning.” Mr. Feldman declared, making a waving motion towards the door.

The blond-haired hamster caught the hint in the small mouse’s gesture.

“All right boys. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Cupcake walked over to her suitcases. Effortlessly, she was able to retrieve her baggage and move towards the exit door.

“Zort, do you want help carrying your things?”

Cupcake paused at the doorway. She smiled at her buck toothed friend who was holding out his hand to offer help. His face was lined with concern for her wellbeing.

“No, thank you Pinky. Good night,”

The female hamster gave the tall blue-eyed mouse a soft smile. Pinky smiled back at Cupcake, waving goodbye. Mr. Feldman politely waved goodbye to her. Jimmy just sarcastically said good riddance whiling aiming a broken pencil at the metal trashcan. Then, she turned away, holding her luggage and left. The three male lab mice looked at the lab windows. The sky had turned from daylight weather to black, night. All the other lab animals had gone to sleep in their cages. /

The moon could be seen hanging over the clouds. “So…about sleeping arrangements, how do you both want to sleep?” the small mild-mannered genius prompted, hands on his hips. Pinky shut his eyes, poking a finger into his head to think. Jimmy congratulated himself on successfully getting rid of his pencil. The tiny dictator and taller mouse paused, looked at Mr. Feldman, each other, the cage Brain and Pinky shared and back at Mr. Feldman.

“Separate beds!” Jimmy and Pinky shouted in unison.

“For once, we are in agreement on something.”< / p>

“Zort, I’ll say. I don’t want to sleep with a meanie.”< /p>

“Oh, that’s right. You want to cuddle up with the needy version of me.”

“Mr. Feldman, Jimmy’s being mean to me.”

“Children, stop.”<

Mr. Feldman felt a migraine forming in his temple. He took deep breaths to control his temper. Jimmy grinned, enjoying the look of irritation on his counterpart’s face.  Ears drooping, Pinky was somewhat crestfallen to see the friendly genius was irritated with him.

Mr. Feldman noticed the lanky mouse was clutching his jump rope like a teddy bear. The tiny dictator was staring at whatever he had written down in his notebook he had been holding the whole time. The mild-mannered mouse arranged his features into what he hoped looked like a more patient expression.

“Brain and Pinky slept in one bed together. Since, you both want separate beds, we will have to make them.”

Instantly, the tall mouse’s downcast look turned to pure joy. The smaller, arrogant mouse just rolled his eyes.< /p>

“Never saw that coming with the only other option being to sleep on the cold floor.”

“Mr. Feldman, does this mean we get to make a science project tonight? I really hope I make a good grade, point.”

“You’ll make a zero. No recess with that jump rope since you will automatically fail.”

“Oh, and I suppose you have already written out our science project in your notebook mister smarty pants.”

Mr. Feldman groaned, hearing his two companions’ bicker. Rubbing his forehead, he realized he was the only adult looking after two adult male mice who were mentally children. He was in for a long night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 6

Putting bunkbeds together was easier said than done. At least, in Pinky’s book. That is if Pinky had a book instead of a jump rope. Mr. Feldman and Jimmy said constructing bunkbeds was like riding a bicycle. Riding a bicycle was out of Pinky’s experience so he concluded the activity was just as difficult as building bunkbeds.

“Egat, how is putting together bunkbeds going to work?” the tall lanky mouse wandered aloud, the bicycle metaphor lost on him.

“We need popsicle sticks.” Jimmy declared, his magenta eyes lighting up at the prospect of designing his personal bed.

“And glue,” Mr. Feldman murmured, looking towards the Acme Lab drawers.

“That’s it?”

The tall, lanky mouse couldn’t believe those were the only items needed for his new bed.

“No, of course not you twit. We need two toilet paper rolls.”

“Zort, I see.” the taller of the speakers lied, smiling thinly.

“Hem, hem.”

“Someone needs a cough drop.”

“Someone needs to learn how to not bash everyone who can’t read their mind.”

The two small geniuses glared at each other, crackling tension filling the air.

“So, what else do we need?

Both mice turned to look at their tall companion, hands behind his back holding his plastic jump rope.

“A knife, a pencil, four toilet paper rolls,” Mr. Feldman said, holding up his fingers as he named items.

“Almost all items can be located in the drawers except the toilet paper rolls,” the megalomaniac genius grunted, looking disdainfully at the drawers.

“Narf, I have toilet paper,” Pinky announced, blue eyes shining with pride.

“Do I even want to know how you happen to have toilet paper when we conveniently need some?”

“Pinky, how did you get the toilet paper?” the kind hearted mouse inquired, ignoring his ill-tempered twin.

“One day, I was watching the telly and an ad for quilted northern came saying to purchase Charmin toilet paper for free off the charmin. com website. Point, I just adore those bears that show off the toilet paper. Always happy.”

“So, you went to the website and what happened?”

“Are we really listening to a backstory to how this numbskull got free paper for wiping asses?”

“Ignore him Pinky. Tell us what happened next.”

“Narf gladly. So, there I was, and decided to visit the happy bear’s website. I turned on the I-phone and- “

“You found free toilet paper on the website. Good god, can we move this along?”

“Now, someone’s being a mister smarty pants. Is someone upset about not finding free toilet paper?”

“Dear Pinky, he does have a point. We need to move on to making you two beds so we can all sleep.”

“Oh, poppycock. Well, I was getting to the end. I saw the most magical words free toilet paper and a shopping cart. I clicked add and the paper went in the cart. Then, I added the Acme labs address, clicked send, waited a few weeks and the toilet paper came.”

“That was quite resourceful my friend. You knew not to spend Brain’s credit card on any unauthorized purchases.”

“Why, thank you Mr. Feldman. Jimmy, what would you like to say?”

“How thankful I am that your explanation of getting paper products is over.”

“I-I see.

Pinky’s face fell. I just wanted Jimmy to say I was smart, he lamented, watching the tiny dictator who had turned his back to him. Jimmy was making his way to the drawers holding the needed supplies, to make the bunk beds.

The tall mouse’s downcast expressed didn’t go unnoticed by the small, good-natured genius. Sighing, he walked over to Pinky.

The bucktoothed mouse felt a hand patting his back. Looking up, Pinky found Mr. Feldman was fondly smiling at him.

“Old friend, you did well think about your wants and needs before making a purchase.”

“Zort, I know. I just wanted to hear both you and him say I did a good job.”

“Pinky, Jimmy has standards no one can live up to. You could go to the moon and back. That asshole wouldn’t have any words of praise for you.”

“But I’d like him to say nice things instead of mean things to me.”

“Oh yes. I’d like that too. It pains me to say it but I’m not sure that’s ever going to happen Pinky.”

“Doesn’t make what he does right, troz.”

“Are you two lovebirds coming or what?”

The tall and mouse jumped. They had been speaking in low voices. Both of them looked up to see the tiny ill-tempered mouse standing on top of the counter space. Scowling, he crossed his arms and tapped his foot impatiently.

“Coming, my humbling selfless colleague.”

“Har. Har. Get over here and help me make my bed.”

“Oh, I’ll get the toilet paper rolls I saved.”

Pinky took his jump rope he had been holding the whole time to jump skip to his assorted toilet paper collection. Mr. Feldman noted his friend was going to the janitor’s closet. That must be where he keeps his belly button lint and other collections I don’t want to know about, the tiny mouse shuddered, climbing his way to the counter top where Jimmy was.

The tiny, megalomaniac genius had several items laid out on a paper towel including popsicle sticks, a plastic container labeled Elmer’s glue, a metal knife and two pencils. He squinted scornfully at his panting twin who was covered profusely with sweat.

“Way to go on getting up those metal draw handles. Now, get the simpleton to deliver the toilet paper rolls we need.”

“You do realize I’m not going to do what you say right? And that so called simpleton is already retrieving the paper toilet rolls as we speak.”

“Narf, here I am.”

The tall, white mouse had tied the toilet paper rolls together with his jump rope. From the countertop view, the two small mice saw the toilet paper rolls were slung over Pinky’s shoulder. With cat like grace, the bucktooth mouse ascended the metal draw handles.

“Whew! That was quite a climb, Narf!”

“Yes, yes, now if you could- “

“Pinky, sit and take a breather.”

The mild-mannered mouse smiled pleasantly at his tall friend who sat down in exhaustion. The tiny dictator sneered at his other two associates.

“Interrupting what I say now are we?”

“No one wants to listen to someone who is a big meanie.”

“Pinky is right. As the great Ralph Waldo Emerson said, you cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.”

“That sounds lovely Mr. Feldman. What does it mean?”

“It means you should be kind for you will never know when it’s too late to be kind.”

“Don’t pay any attention to his drivel Pinky. Emerson was a crackpot minister who jumped from Christianity to Hinduism. He never knew what he believed when he was alive.”

“Egat, he’s dead? I never did give my condolences at his funeral.”

Mr. Feldman felt very tired all the sudden. He wanted to move forward with making the two bunkbeds for the childish mice in front of him.

I’m not going to say how Emerson died back in 1882, the tiny intellectual mouse mused, wiping the sweat from his face. Sighing, he waved his hand over the laid-out items on the paper towel.

“Let’s move on with making these bunk beds, shall we?”

Yes, let’s get a move on with this project.”

“Pinky, can you give us the paper towel rolls?”

“Egad! Right, here you are.”

Shaking his head, Pinky grabbed the paper towel rolls behind him. He untied the paper towel rolls from the jump rope. Then, he pushed the paper towel rolls towards the two expectant mice.

Jimmy grabbed one of the paper towels and draw a line on the paper towel roll. Likewise, Mr. Feldman copied his counterpart’s movements. Their tall associate frowned at them.

“How am I going to be helping, point?”

The irritated mouse’s ears shot up as he shot a sideways glance at Pinky.

“Just go play with your jump rope. My wishy-washy colleague and I can take over from here.”

“Mr. Feldman?”

“My dear friend, you have helped us enough getting the paper towel rolls. I’m sure you’d rather practice jump roping than design a bed.”

“O-okay.”

The tall mouse’s ears drooped as he watched the two small geniuses return to constructing the bunk beds. Neither, mouse noticed the sadness clouding his face. I just wanted to help you both, he silently pondered, standing up with his jump rope.

For a few minutes, Pinky watched his two small companions cut the pencil marked paper towels with the metal knife they shared. Wordlessly, the two geniuses took turns using the Elmer’s glue container to spread glue on the popsicle sticks. With synchronized movements, the tiny mice started placing the popsicle sticks against the paper towel rolls.

Realization dawned on the tall, bumbling mouse. They work as a team. No words are needed. Then, a troubling thought hit him. What do I do if they don’t need me?

These thoughts were getting too serious for Pinky. To cheer himself up, he started jump roping similar the ballerina girls in the purple leotards he had watched in the earlier video. Make my feet go in and out, he recalled, moving his feet in rhythm to his jump rope.

Out of the corner of his eye, Pinky noticed a bowl of fruit on a table. The table was positioned near the lab window. Moonlight splashed over the fruit bowl. A shadowed silhouette of the bowl outlined the table.

A memory surfaced within Pinky. Years ago, Brain had conjured a plan to melt the polar ice caps to take over the world. In his excitement, Brain had chattered about disguises he and Pinky would use for his plan. Bored, Pinky reached his fingers out towards the fruit.

Fruit floated up out of the bowl and around Brain. The megalomaniac genius had looked at his sidekick in amazement. Pinky recalled Brain’s words: How did you do that Pinky? Shrugging, the tall mouse responded: I don’t know. It comes and goes.

Scrunching up his face, Pinky wondered, Could I do make the fruit float now? Maybe Mr. Feldman and Jimmy would see him as useful if he could summon superpowers comparable to the comic book heroes he read about. Tentatively, he reached out a pink hand towards the fruit.

“What are you doing?”

The skinny, tall mouse whirled around to see two confused geniuses staring up at him. Looking over them, he saw the wooden popsicle sticks plastered against the paper towel rolls that hadn’t been cut up. The cut-out rolls acted as a platform to hoist up the wooden, makeshift popsicle bunkbeds.

Shifting uncomfortably under the two mice’s stares, Pinky clutched his jump rope to his side. He smiled nervously, letting out a giggle.

“Oh look, you both finished. Guess we can get back to the cage with the beds then zort.”

“Pinky, you are avoiding the question.”

“What-do you- “

“My friend, we can tell something is wrong. You can tell us or at least me what is bothering you.”

The mild-mannered mouse’s voice soothed the taller mouse whose cheerful façade fell apart. Tears filled Pinky’s bright blue eyes. The tall mouse’s dejection clutched at Mr. Feldman’s heart. How did I not see he was upset earlier? he chided himself, taking one of his friend’s clenched hands in his small pink hand.

Warm, compassionate magenta eyes looked up into the tall lanky mouse’s tear-filled face. His hands are warm, Pinky absently thought, feeling the smaller mouse pull him down to his height.

“Tell me what’s wrong.” Mr. Feldman, murmured, rubbing the taller moues hand in small circles. His hands moved from Pinky’s hands to his face. Slowly, the mouse relaxed, allowing the tiny genius to wipe away his tears. “I thought you didn’t need me since I’m not smart like you. So, I was trying to make the fruit float like the time Brain saw me do it,” he sniffled, leaning into the other mouse’s hand.

The closeness caught Mr. Feldman off guard. He’s a furnace, the genius briefly thought, enjoying his companion’s warmth until the meaning of Pinky’s words hit him.  The intellectual mouse stilled his hand on Pinky’s face.

“Wait, that was when Brain was going to melt the polar ice caps when he was Jimmy Brain…” he remembered, frowning at his tall, lanky colleague. He turned his head to look at Jimmy who had been watching him and Pinky with narrowed eyes. His arms were crossed in a tight posture.

“So, you felt useless and decided to attempt activating telekinesis powers you haven’t used in years?” the tiny dictator sneered, voice dripping in disgust.

The taller mouse looked downcast at the jump rope he held. He said nothing. Annoyance welled up in Mr. Feldman. He firmly grabbed Pinky’s face, startling the skinny mouse.

Pink, Magenta eyes glared into apprehensive, sky blue yes. “Mr. Feldman?” Pinky gasped, fearful of what the mouse was going to do.

“Pinky, you have nothing to be ashamed of. So, what if you were trying to summon your old powers and they didn’t work? It’s okay.”

“But, if I’m not useful to you and Jimmy, then I can’t help Brain in taking over the world. “

“Pinky, you are more important than Brain’s plans to take over the world. Who gives a damn about you being useful for world domination? I know I don’t. Jimmy, here may disagree but what matters is that you know how wonderful you are.”

The ill-tempered mouse rolled his eyes. He walked up to his two emotional companions, hitting them both on top of the head.

“Owww.” the two mice yelled, rubbing their heads while the tiny genius ranted at them.

“Sweet Susana, I can’t take anymore of this. Mr. Feldman, you are making me want to gag. Pinky, Brain never kept you around for being useful. He doesn’t give two fucks about you having powers or being the best assistant in helping with world domination.”

“You didn’t have to hit me to make your point.”

“Glarb, does my bop to the head mean I’m useful?”

“Christ, you both are idiots. I’m not answering a stupid question. Get your asses over here and help me lug these beds to the cage.”

“Did you hear that Mr. Feldman? I’m useful, point!”

“I’m glad you are happy Pinky.”

The three mice put the pencils, paper towel, container of Elmer’s glue and metal knife back in the cabinet drawers. None of them said a word as they hoisted the two bunkbeds up and down to the lab floor.

Pinky was able to carry one bunkbed by himself. He slid his jump rope inside the jumprope before carrying the wooden bed.  Mr. Feldman and Jimmy hoisted the other bunkbed each holding one far end.

Eventually, they reached the cage with the water bottle. “Home sweet home,” the tall mouse declared, dropping the wooden bunkbed to the cage ground. “Indeed,” the mild-mannered genius agreed, releasing his end of the bunkbed in the cage. “Goodbye forever until tomorrow morning,” the megalomaniac genius retorted, mimicking his twin’s hand movements with his end of the bunkbed also in the cage.

“Wait, who is going to sleep in the giant metal bed Brain and I shared?”

“Me.”

“No, I will be.”

“What makes you so deserving of a giant bed to yourself?”

“Oh-maybe, it’s because I’m going to be spending my whole day following your world domination plan and jump roping like Brain promised Pinky.”

“Narf, he has a point, Jimmy. He’s doing things we want tomorrow.”

“Oh, fine. I don’t care. Just give me a blanket.”

The cranky mouse held out an outstretched pink hand towards his exhausted counterpart. Mr. Feldman’s zig zag tail twitched.

“Here.” He threw a blanket from the giant metal bed at Jimmy who caught the object one handed.

“Thanks,” the tiny genius grudgingly commented, turning around and walking towards his chosen bunkbed. His zig zag tail sagged from possible fatigue.

The tall, lanky mouse watched his ill-tempered associate leave and turned his attention towards his tired friend. The small mouse had collapsed on the blankets in the metal bed. His limbs lay sprawled out.

“Um...Mr. Feldman?”

“Relax, old friend. I haven’t forgotten you. Here.”

A single pink hand raised up holding the soft end of a blanket.

Hesitantly, Pinky began twiddling his pink fingers together. His white ears flopped down. He began moving his body from side to side.

“Ah, thank you. But, that’s not what I wanted to ask you about zort.”

The hand let the blanket fall and waved for Pinky to proceed.

“Ask away. What is on your mind?”

“Egat, do you remember when Brain got nervous earlier when I was talking to him? He ran away to the bathroom.”

Instantly, Mr. Feldman’s head shot up. Heat crept up his neck. Awkwardly, he rubbed the back of his neck. Is he really going to say what I think he’s going to say? the tiny white mouse worried, breathing deeply to calm himself.

“And?”

“So, did he run away to the bathroom? All, I did was say he was naked.”

“It’s-it’s complicated.”

“How so?”

“It’s just hard Pinky.”

The tall, lanky mouse tilted his head in confusion. He frowned, his blue eyes furrowing puzzlement. In response, the other mouse sighed, letting his pink hands fall into his lap.

“Mr. Feldman, I don’t understand.”

“Look, it’s hard for Brain to use words for his feelings. I don’t know how to explain what he does based on his feelings.”

“Well, you don’t know unless you do it. It’s like what you said earlier. You can’t ride a bike until you do it.”

A smile tugged at the corner of Mr. Feldman’s lips. He patted the empty space next to him. “Come sit here Pinky.”

Beaming, Pinky sat down next to his companion. He put his arm around the little mouse who leaned against his side. He’s so soft, came the unbidden thought to the optimistic mouse’s mind. Shaking his head, he looked down at his friend who had his eyes shut contently.

“So,” the large mouse cleared his throat. The small mouse’s eyes snapped open. Cheeks burning, he coughed before speaking.

“It’s like this…Brain gets embarrassed sometimes.”

“Egat, embarrassed why?”

“He sometimes gets embarrassed if he feels he’s doing something he’s not supposed to do.”

“O-Okay, but what’s that got to do with him running to the bathroom?”

“You said it yourself Pinky. He ran when you said he was naked.”

“Narf, I don’t follow.”

“This is where it gets hard. Pinky, do you know how you and Brain sometimes dress up in clothes?”

“Point, yes.”

“Why do you both dress up in clothes?”

“Well, it’s fun and sometimes we just feel like we need to. Although, I think Brain’s reasons for dressing up are different from mine,”

“Right, so Brain had a moment where he felt he needed to wear clothes. You reminded him he was naked and he felt embarrassed.”

“But Brain walks around naked a lot of the time. So, do I. Why would he feel embarrassed about not wearing clothes?”

The small genius looked up at Pink with an unreadable expression. His unwavering gaze into Pinky’s blue eyes caused the taller mouse to gulp nervously.

“What else wears clothes old friend?”

“Umm…Humans.”

“Very good. You and Brain sometimes dress like humans. What else do you do like humans?”

“Hmm…I dance, watch television, surf the internet, eat candy, and- “

“Hold your thoughts. What does Brain do like humans?”

“Narf, oh that’s easy. He uses big, big words, writes down numbers, reads really big books, plots to take over the world, and- “

“Right, you are. And how do you feel sometimes?”

“Huh, now let’s see. Sometimes, I get sad, happy, angry, excited, bored and- “

“Correct. How does Brain sometimes feel?”

“Oh, now you are just asking silly questions Mr. Feldman. Brain sometimes gets angry, irritated, annoyed- “

“Okay, I think you can stop there. What else do you see around you that has those feelings?”

“Narf, people!”

“Now, we are getting somewhere. So, you and Brain have feelings and do things like people.”

“You-you mean we are people Mr. Feldman? Narf, far out.”

“What I mean to say is this: you and Brain are very similar to humans since you both went through the gene splicer.”

Blue eyes widened. Pinky revealed his buck teeth gasping, “So, Brain gets embarrassed like nudie humans when he sometimes doesn’t wear clothes.”

Magenta eyes crinkled with amusement. Mr. Feldman smiled, giving his friend a pat on the pat.

“Figured it out dear friend. Brain is lucky to have you as an assistant.”

“Gosh, I’m sleepy!” the tall lanky mouse yawned, stretching out his arms. The smaller mouse covered his mouth, stifling a yawn.

“I think it’s time we both get some sleep. Don’t forget your blanket.”

“Troz, I won’t. Goodnight Mr. Feldman!”

Pinky grabbed the soft blanket the tiny genius had offered him earlier. He gave his friend a big smile before going to his bunkbed. Likewise, Mr. Feldman returned the smile until Pinky was gone from his presence.

Then, the mild-mannered mouse exhaled, flopping back down on his blankets. Thank heaven, Pinky accepted the explanation given to him, the tiny mouse reflected, letting sleep overtake him. Somehow to Mr. Feldman, that explanation was better than revealing the entirety of Brain’s frame of mind.

In his bunkbed, the tall lanky mouse had tucked himself in with his plastic jumprope. He could Jimmy’s snores from the bunkbed next door to him. Grinning, he gazed up at the taped poster of the white blue-eyed horse named Phar Fignewton.

She does have stunning buck teeth. I bet that’s why she was a catch with that other horse who became her boyfriend, Pinky surmised, glad his ex-girlfriend had found happiness. Pinky hadn’t really been upset to find the horse had lost interest in him. He’d hardly visited her since he spent most of his time helping his best friend with world domination plans.

The tall mouse’s grin faded remembering Brain had left him in charge of making sure the mission to take over the world went right this time. “Jumpy, I know Mr. Feldman is hiding something about Brain from me. How can I help Brain if one part of Brain won’t tell me how to help Brain?” Pinky murmured, feeling his eyelids flutter shut. Sleep overtook him. Throughout the night, the three mice slept in the cage, unaware of what tomorrow would bring.