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"Phil!"
The yell echoed in the long corridor. Phil stopped whimpering and unintentionally hid deeper in a corner between a wall and unused properties. When the sound of going away footsteps reverberated, he sighed; of course, hiding wasn't the right choice, but getting another dose of censures with raised tones was the last thing he wanted, as well as feeling himself as a burden even more.
His glance catched a brightly-yellow star on one of carelessly dropped panels, and it made the lump in his throat even bigger; despite that he was almost the same age as WordGirl, she definitely wouldn't be beware of the same type situation; she would think out how to solve the problem — as she always does in fights with villains. Heck, any other child would be less weak than him — without mentioning Tommy.
But he can't do anything with it — words just stuck in his throat and his brain stops working properly, so he can't do anything but stay shut.
What, and now he knows surely, enrages everyone.
"Oh, c'mon, you must know it!"
"There is no too-hard-for-understanding words in this show!"
"You're not so stupid."
Angry Beau's tone still rings in his ears, shattering the barely established composure. The wish to cry out loudly became stronger, but Phil still didn't want to be seen like this, so he turned to wall and kept sobbing in the dark corner, all along with props.
Until the sound of his own name didn't make him twitch.
"Phil! Oh, thanks God you're found."
Phil turned his head and looked up; surprisingly, it was Beau. Honestly, he was expecting that Emily would find him first.
"Hey, buddy." Beau sat in front of him on one knee, still being on seemly distance. "I'm sorry for shouting at you. I'm getting a little too inpatient 'cause of headache, and it's not your fault. Either that you didn't know the meaning of the word. I... I shouldn't have expected from you an instant response, like from Tommy or Emily, and just because you're another doesn't make you less smart or resourceful."
At least, now he wasn't seemed so nervy as he was on stage. Phil took a deep breath, calming down, but still shaking.
"Actualy... I know it." He tried to speak firmly, but the voice was foully tremulous. "Meticulous means... It means to be strictly accurate with some things, and also... ugh... and also with treatment to every detail. Just like WordGirl is meticulous with words definition."
Regardless, his answer left a little smile on man's face.
"See, that's what I was talking about. Now we know the winner for today's episode." Phil blushed with humility, what made Beau to let a chuckle, but he quickly pulled himself together and continued more seriously. "But we need to come back — our time is running out, and audience has already been waiting for too long. And there's so dusty, Gosh, how were you sitting here..."
"And are you not going to yell anymore?" Phil wary asked.
"If there won't be any suitable situations." Beau answered droningly, "But seriously — I don't think I would do it again. I already took my painkiller."
Phil sighed with relief, and them both got up.
"Okay. Aaand.... I wanted to ask you..." the boy hesitated.
"What?" Beau looked at him inquired. After weighing the pros and cons, Phil carefully touched the sleeve of purple jacket, looking at him with pleading eyes.
Beau sighed, but let him take his hand.
"We better hurry. The advertisement will end soon."