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“Gee, Frisk, you’re so lucky! I wish it was my turn to take Humphrey home,” Kaida said.
You took him home two weeks ago!
“I know, but I really love him! He’s super cute and fluffy. I wish he was mine.”
Frisk paused in their preparation to take home their biology class’s hamster. They could plainly hear the longing in Kaida’s voice. I can ask Mom if you can stay over for the weekend, and you can help me take care of him?
“Would you do that?” Kaida’s eyes sparkled. “I’d love that! Thanks, Frisk!” They quickly pecked Frisk’s cheek. “I’m gonna get my stuff now! Meet you downstairs!”
Frisk shook their head affectionately as Kaida rushed out of the room, tripping over their own feet and catching themself with their prosthetic arms.
Kaida and Frisk had been “dating,” sort of, for the past several weeks. Of course, being middle schoolers, there wasn’t a whole lot to their relationship other than shy cheek kisses every once in a while, along with even more hanging out than they otherwise would have, but it was the principle of the thing. It made both of them feel quite grown up. Neither of them had said anything to their parents, fearing embarrassing behavior from them, but Frisk thought Toriel might know more than she was letting on. They hoped she wouldn’t be suspicious about them asking her to let Kaida stay over, for the fifth time in three weeks.
When Frisk called and asked her, though, she was fine with the idea, as long as Kaida’s parents agreed.
Frisk made their way down to the school parking lot, where Kaida was waiting as promised. “Great news, Frisk! Mom said it was okay as long as I get all my homework done. You got Humphrey?”
Frisk held up the cage, where the little hamster was curled up in a corner.
“Aw, I think he’s scared right now. Well, we should get him home and play with him! I bet he’ll feel better.”
Kaida and Frisk sat outside until Toriel and Kaida’s mother arrived to pick them up. “See you in an hour, Frisk!” Kaida waved.
An hour later, Frisk and Kaida were completing homework on the floor in the living room, with Humphrey’s cage sitting between them.
“Man, I hate essays,” Kaida groaned. Frisk nodded glumly.
“We should take a break and play with Humphrey. He’s out of the corner now!” Kaida rose to their knees and looked more closely into the cage. “Aw, he’s drinking his water.”
If we don’t get through this now, we’ll never get done, signed Frisk.
Kaida sighed. “Okay.”
After a while, Frisk left to go to the bathroom. When they returned, Kaida was looking under the couch, eyes wide.
“Oh, man, Frisk. I didn’t mean to, I just—I wanted to check on Humphrey and he jumped out of my hands!” they said. “I think he went under the couch.”
Frisk grabbed a flashlight from the laundry room and shined it into the dark space underneath the couch. They couldn’t see anything.
“This is all my fault!” Kaida moaned. “What are we gonna do if we can’t find him? Will we have to buy another hamster?”
Frisk patted Kaida’s shoulder. I’m going to get Mom.
“Will she be mad?”
Frisk shook their head.
Toriel seemed very eager to find the hamster when Frisk told her. They tore the living room couch apart, but found nothing. Kaida was near tears at this point.
“Do not worry, dear. He cannot have gone far. We will find him,” Toriel promised.
However, an hour passed, and there was no sign of Humphrey.
“I dunno what I’m gonna do, Frisk,” Kaida cried as they sat in the kitchen. Frisk had no answer but a long hug.
They too were very concerned by this point. Humphrey was so small, they risked stepping on him if he happened to dash out at the wrong moment.
Frisk looked out the glass back doors and realized it was raining. Hm, it had been rather cold today… was it possible Humphrey had gone to look for someplace warm?
At that moment, the house’s furnace turned off, and it was very quiet, aside from Kaida’s sniffles.
Frisk jumped up. I think I know where he might be!
“What?” Kaida said, but Frisk was already back in the living room, looking behind the couch.
Sure enough, there was Humphrey, dozing on the warm floor vent.
Frisk waved their arms wildly, and Kaida came over and looked. “Humphrey!”
Toriel barreled into the room. “Did you find him?”
Frisk pointed behind the couch.
“Frisk is a genius!” Kaida shouted.
Toriel carefully moved the couch and caught Humphrey before he could run away again. Safely back in his cage, the hamster crawled into his little plastic hut and went back to sleep.
“Let us be more careful from now on, yes?” Toriel said.
“Yes, ma’am,” promised Kaida.
It was hard to get back to homework after all that excitement. Both kids dawdled for a while over their books, until Kaida said, “I really meant it, Frisk, you are a genius. I’m sorry I wasn’t careful. Thanks for helping.”
Frisk patted Kaida’s hand. It’s okay. Things happen. Next time, we’ll both watch. And there won’t be any trouble.