Feels like forever. And it's two against one: me and my belly. He smirked.
Yuki narrowed her eyes mischievously. -Fine. I'll cook your favorite dishes today and tomorrow—if we go find someone else to help. This time we'll act properly, so it really makes a difference.
-For beets? Anything! Lil C. agreed. And off they went again, strolling the streets of their little town.
Only a second had passed since they'd returned from Archie's mind. Nothing in the real world had changed. The sun hadn't even reached noon yet, and a hot, prickly wind brushed against their faces. They ducked into a corner shop for bottled water, then stepped outside again and spotted the fence across the street.
Next to it bustled a tiny, fiery grandma. Her broom swept as if it had a life of its own, moving so fast she still had time to pat the little dog rubbing against her leg.
As the kids drew closer, they heard her humming a beautiful tune. Her voice was high and soulful, and every time she sang she transformed into an opera diva.
But it lasted only a few lines. Then she'd hunch down, glance around nervously, and lower her eyes to the ground with guilt. It was clear that singing lifted her up, yet something quickly clipped her wings and weighed her down.
-We have to help her. That kind of talent can't go to waste! Yuki decided. -You can't be afraid of your real self. She's singing from the heart, you can tell.
-Well said. Lil C. nodded. -Kinda corny, like a movie line—I can't remember which one—but yeah, I agree.
-So, are we doing this? Yuki asked directly.
-Oh yeah.
Through the prism of their glasses, they looked at the old lady—and Yuki gave the order:
-Dive deep!
Even as the familiar gum stuck to their eyelids, Lil C. was already shouting: -No breaks! Straight ahead!
Third Fix
Apparently, the green curtains in this realm had bad tempers. They wrapped around Lil C.'s head, and for a full minute he struggled to escape, while Yuki giggled and helped untangle him.
This time the kids landed in a very strange place.
Below stretched a boundless plain, like a sea—but with no water, no shells, nothing from the -Mandatory Sea Starter Pack. No waves at all, just endless smooth sand. A brand-new kind of desert.
-Whoa, looks like some giant pupper drank up all the water here, Lil C. marveled.
-Yeah… that's one big dog bowl, Yuki agreed. They fixed their eyes forward and kept walking. No use trying to figure out directions—they couldn't anyway. Forward was enough.
They hadn't gone a hundred steps when they heard loud music. It came from behind a massive sand mound, clearly piled up on purpose. Rounding the strange ridge, they came upon the heart of this dry ocean—a wooden stage gleaming with lacquered veins.
On it strutted woodpeckers in work overalls, drumming precise rhythms with their beaks. They'd pause, then hammer out another beat. Off to the side stood a coffee machine on two bulging legs, wheezing and puffing steam in time with the percussion. Each breath laid down a bass track that shook the air.
Also on the platform, giant mosquitoes in ballet tutus squeaked in harmony, tiptoeing hand in hand to match the music. The guitar solos came from two performers: a green crab, carefully cradling his instrument in his claws, plucking strings while adjusting the amp—and beside him sat a pale young man with a thin, artistic face. He shouted,
-I majored in bassoon at the conservatory and was supposed to play at La Scala! But I swear—this is the best gig of my life! And he shredded his guitar, lost in the frenzy.
Beneath the stage, on warm sand (the kids kicked off their shoes to feel the heat), sat Pom-Pom, buried to his ears in popcorn boxes, clearly waiting for the soundcheck to end. Spotting the twins, he waved a tub without pausing his crunching.
-Take a seat… nom nom… cheese, bacon, or licorice? Licorice's trending right now.
-I'll take anything! Lil C. cheered, throwing dignity aside and diving headfirst into the snacks. Yuki picked only a few kernels—one turned into a fork, another into asparagus, which instantly skewered itself.
-Figures, she frowned, setting the fork aside, waiting for the show to begin.
-And where's Mami? she asked Pom-Pom.
-Right there. Conducting the orchestra!
Rising up a bit, Yuki finally noticed Glasses darting back and forth with a stick tied to her left lens, waving it like a baton and barking at the musicians.
-Ladies and gentlemen, you're too slow and clumsy. A demanding audience that bought tickets to our show will not forgive such sloppiness. She scolded a drowsy baby hippo with a flute and his partner. -Every move here must be precise—this is a musical, after all. I won't allow my favorite genre to be desecrated, do you hear me? Where's the emcee? When is she crawling in already?!
On the long stage stretching into the sand hill, green curtains materialized.
-Ah, you again! I'll get you one of these days! Lil C. threatened with his mouth full of popcorn, still wrestling Pom-Pom for the tastiest bag.
The curtains parted theatrically, and out slithered a massive snake, winding its coils lazily—except for Mami's constant yelling to hurry up. The music stopped. Everyone waited patiently as the snake made her way to the mic stand.