Introducing Brigid and Zoe
I said I was thinking of posting some of these really short stories here, so this is kind of a test to see how well they go over. Just an introductory short featuring two characters I recently created.
Just so it's clear, Brigid is mute and Zoe often acts a type of interpreter, as they both learned ASL. And they also cause lots of trouble around school. XD
For more of my little snippets, you can always check out my Tumblr! darkhomwrites.tumblr.com
I've also turned my Patreon into a tip jar! If you like my stuff, feel free to tip! https://www.patreon.com/darkhom
"I trust you ladies know why you're here today?"
The somewhat portly porcupine turned his stern gaze over the young girls sitting quietly on the other side of his neatly organized desk. The two teens, wearing the matching schools uniforms they'd been assigned, looked back up at him blankly, neither one responding to his questioning statement. He snorted at their silence, staring down first the coyote, then the opossum. They seemed innocent enough, maintaining proper posture and waiting attentively for him to speak again. But the man had been working in the school system long enough to know that looks could be deceiving.
"I know what you may be thinking," he continued, pacing towards the small window of his office, "I'm the new guy. Fresh meat ready to be taunted and ridiculed, but in his place. But I'm not some substitute teacher or temp. I'm the new vice principal of this school, and I will not tolerate such antics under my watch.
"Welcome new Vice Principal Dr. Phil Rickles." The porcupine continued, turning his bespectacled gaze back to the girls. "That's what the sign out front used to say. It was a nice greeting, and a kind gesture. But do you know what it says now?" The young students remained silent, though he could see them trying hard to repress their chuckling. "Welcome new Vice Principal Dr. Lil Prick."
They lost their composure then, the opossum snorting out a suppressed chuckle as a wide grin spread across the coyote's muzzle. Their mirth only served to deepen the man's scowl.
"You find this amusing?" He stormed over to the canine, the young girl snapping back to attention as he glowered over her. "I take this insult a bit more seriously. Word around this school is you two are often involved in such pranks, so I would be very surprised indeed if you had nothing to do with this slander. So tell me young lady, do you know anything about this little prank?"
The coyote shrugged, keep her trap shut on the matter.
"Oh come now, you're silence isn't helping you. If you know anything, or can prove your innocence, then it's best to be out with it now. So speak up!"
"She can't."
The irate doctor snapped his attention towards the opossum, Zoe. "What do you mean, 'she can't?' Is someone threatening you two?"
"Of course not." The young woman replied with a role of her eyes. "But Brigid isn't going to tell you anything. Ever. She's mute."
"Mute?" He looked back to the coyote, who was nodding emphatically. "So, you can't say a word then? Teachers must love you."
He backed off then, Brigid silently flipping him off when he turned his back to her. Returning to his seat, Dr. Rickles picked up the folders placed neatly on his desk, flipping through one then the other. "Brigid, let's see here... Ah yes, there's a note about a disability. Doesn't say how you became mute, though."
"It's a sad tale." Zoe started, Brigid bowing her head somberly. "She wasn't mute all her life, of course. Poor Brigid was born able to speak like any of us normal folk. Until she was involved in a horrific accident when she was a mere four years old. Her parents had taken her to her first ballgame, so she could experience the glorious American pastime in person. A local minor league game full of popcorn and hotdogs and excitement. Little Brigid even got to her enjoy her first game from right behind right field. Behind the foul line, right? Yeah, real close to the field. Perfect seats. That was until a line drive came flying right at her and SMACK! Hit the poor girl right in the throat. The impact was so brutal that it permanently damaged her vocal cords and silencing her sweet young voice forever. But really, she was incredibly lucky the ball didn't sever her spine or something. The doctors said, if she had been hit just a hair to either side, she could have been paralyzed, or worse."
As Zoe told the story, Brigid nodded along, a sad look in her eyes as the memories were brought back. She sniffled, her big brown eyes glancing up at the new vice principal with just a hint of moisture in the corner of her eyes.
"Well, that is an unfortunate tale." He admitted. "But that doesn't excuse you from any inappropriate behavior. And Zoe... no disabilities listed here. But there seem to be mentions in both your records connecting you to various pranks throughout your school careers."
"We've never been convicted of anything." Zoe insisted, Brigid nodding in agreement. "Just because we happen to be around when someone plays a prank or whatever, doesn't mean we were involved. I swear, Dr. Rickles, Brigid and I had nothing to do with the horrendous defamation of the school's signboard. But if we knew anything about who did do it, we would absolutely tell you so the perpetrators could be taught the lesson they deserved. Huh? What's that, Brigid?"
The coyote had tapped Zoe on the shoulder, getting her attention before her hands began moving in a flurry of activity. Without a word, she weaved a tale with her hands, signing faster than Rickles could have ever hoped to keep up with, even if he knew how to interpret her gestures. Zoe seemed to latch on to every word, nodding and occasionally signing back in response to whatever she was saying.
"So, what's she saying?" The porcupine interjected as his patience began to wear thin. They had begun signing back and forth, clearly lost in a private conversation, and he didn't have all day to wait for them to regain focus. "Does she know anything about the vandalism? Anything she has to say?"
"Oh, yeah. No, she doesn't know anything either."
The porcupine stare at her, dumbfounded for a moment. "All of that signing just to say she doesn't know anything?"
"Well, she started with that, but then Brigid expressed some concern about us possibly missing orchestra practice this evening. We have a concert coming up next month and we need all the practice we can get. We've got so many new songs to practice, and honestly the percussion section has been dragging on this one, but if any of us don't show up we'll get in trouble with Miss Aurus, and we don't want that. So Brigid was asking how much longer this is gonna take, with all respect, Sir."
Dr. Rickles let out a heavy sigh, rubbing his eyes in frustration."Fine. You two can go. There's no evidence specifically placing you two at the scene of the crime anyway, other than some rumors. But just remember: I'll be keeping my eye on you two, so watch yourselves and behave."
"Yes, Dr. Pri- I mean, Dr. Rickles."
He sneered as the young ladies left his office, not missing the slight but letting it slide for now.
As soon as they were out of his office, the girls let out their laughter, Brigid silently rolling her shoulders as Zoe snorted and chuckled. "Oh man, Dr. Prick's gonna be on our ass all year, huh?"
Brigid nodded with a wide grin, pulling the remaining letters from the signboard out of her backpack and tossing them in a nearby trashcan. She flashed some signs, a questioning look in her eyes.
"Oh yeah, he totally bought it. They always do. Guy's a total baseball fan, too. You saw the pennants in his office? I bet it really stung him inside to hear his favorite team may have permanently crippled a defenseless little girl."
Brigid swatted Zoe on the arm before signing "You know I don't like being called crippled!"
"I know, but you know what I mean. Come on, let's get to the orchestra room quick. I wasn't lying when I said Miss Aurus would tan our hides if we were late, again."
The young coyote nodded, and the two rushed off to the orchestra room, giggling together as they plotted more fun shenanigans to pull on the stuffy new vice principal.