Whid
“This crunchy crust is really great! See? It was a good choice to listen to the Pizza Hut lady!” Paul was visibly enjoying his pizza, but he was not the only satisfied person in the room: Hubert was busy destroying his fly-box, and Arthur had gone to work on a piece of lettuce. The room was filled with noises of chewing. “So, guys, I’ve heard rumours about you being the greatest developers of the whole company.”
“Mhm, of course.” Hubert’s tongue lashed out to catch another yummy fly while answering. Some part of him still remembered that he should be disgusted by even thinking about eating flies but he tried to shove those thoughts away. He was really getting the hang of being a magical frog.
“But Hubert, then why are you always so grumpy?” asked Paul. “You should be happy to be super-smart and brilliant and all. I know I would.”
“That’s easy!” Arthur replied. “Because the other people all disturb him with their stupid ideas, suggestions and requests instead of doing their jobs.”
Hubert nodded. “For once, well said, Arthur!”
“Take for example our new Organizational Change Specialist Manager,” continued the magical snail. “She could have used a million different time trackers doing exactly what she needed, but she had to come in, disturb our regular work. And not only that, she also had to make it extra difficult for us in making her wishes come true. To be honest, if I was Hubert, I would be grumpy too!”
“Makes sen…”
The cheerful conversation got interrupted by the slamming door.
“Paulie!!!”
The Parents arrived. (Yes, with capital. Don’t ask.)
“Mom!?” Paul shouldn’t have been so surprised, but still, he looked very much in shock.
“Paulie, get your stuff, we are leaving! Now!” ordered Mom. “Georgie, tell him!”
“Paul, do what your mother says,” George told him.
“No, mom, you don’t understand. My colleagues, Hubert and Arthur are in trouble. We have to finish this project until tomorrow.”
“I’m pretty sure they will manage without you. Especially as I can’t even see them! Are they on a coffee break or something, and left you here alone to do their work? Of course they did! Horrible people!” Mom was furious. She grabbed Paul’s arm and started pulling him out.
“No, they are here, they were just turned into a frog and a snail. Magical ones.” Paul was trying to get his arm out of his Mom’s grab, while he was explaining himself.
“The kid is right, we are here, working.” Hubert uncovered himself (although he was not really hiding in the first place), and caught another juicy fly.
“Eww!” said Mom. “That’s disgusting! And very unhealthy! You should not spend your time with magical toads! They might want to kiss you or something, with the same mouth that they use for eating those disgusting flies. And wait, what’s with that turning into animals!? Is it a regular thing in this company? You are quitting! Right now!”
“No-no-no, I have to help!” Paul was still trying to get out of Mom’s grip, but it was very firm.
“Whose flies are disgusting here?! Come on, kid, tell him that you are staying!” encouraged Hubert from the sideline.
“I want to stay!” Paul insisted.
“What!? Are you listening to them instead of me?? Are these people more important to you than your own mother!? Do you hear that, Georgie??” Mom’s voice went unnaturally high pitched.
“Paul, you should be nice to your mother,” added George.
“What..? No-no-no…”
“Paul, please, we need you!” begged Arthur, but it was not hearable anymore, as Mom started crying. Very dramatically.
“Oh no, Mom, stop crying… Whatever, I’m coming, I’m coming…”
“Noooo!” Hubert jumped on his chair and then to the ground, to stop Paul… But the door just shut in front of him. They had left.
They could still hear Mom’s slightly muffled crying from the other side, moving away.
“Oh my… Everything was going great, and now… We are doomed,” cried Arthur.
“Don’t be so dramatic, Arthur!” hissed Hubert. But then he added with resignation in his voice: “He is gone now.”
“Sure, because saying that ‘he is gone’ is the least dramatic expression you could choose.”
Hubert sighed. He was not in the mood to argue.
Silence fell over the room.