The Rising Dawn, # 20— "Two Gimmicks"

The Rising Dawn— "Two Gimmicks"

[Short stories. Images generated by hotpot.ai]

It was doubted that The Study was Gifted, and it didn’t help that he was non-verbal. There were very few times that he’d speak, and 90% of the time it was in response to Grego The Trainer. However, The Rising Dawn loved him to death, although a number of times he angered Gimmick. Gimmick was stunted as a child because his parents were using drugs when he was given birth, but his art had the power to move mountains. Along with unknown troubles, he simply didn’t register how The Study was different, as yet unable to understand what he was.

Little things bothered Gimmick. He thought there should be no excuse for not using words, and The Study made him feel like he, Brandon, was dumber than someone who was already MR (‘mentally retarded’). Citizen Snow had once shown Gimmick how to treat Little Grego (he wouldn’t tell anyone his real name, and neither would Grego), but Brand saw it as her showing him more love than she had shown himself.

The Study cooed softly, tremulous as he pet one of the birds. The bird pecked him, and he made a scandalized ‘Wooooo!’ sound, hurling the bird, which used its wings to fly out of reach. He made a sound like a baby trying to communicate.

“He’s being mean to the birds,” said Gimmick.

“You don’t tell Little Grego. Say nice words,” said Grego.

“He was being mean to the bird!” said Brandon stubbornly.

Grego ignored Gimmick and began making a sound similar to the ‘wooo’ of the Study, only it sounded paternal. Then he said, “The sound of my voice is The Study’s choice.”

The Study seemed to understand this, while Gimmick softened even though he did not quite comprehend.

Grego sang in another language briefly after taking a bird in hand. Then he said, “This bird is not my friend!” After that, he cast the bird away, and it flew to a nearby roost.

“Yo-ou’re mean to the bird,” said Gimmick.

“We love birds. We’re teaching her to be my friend.”

The Study cooed in an exclamatory way.

Then The Trainer said something authoritatively in another language.

Immediately The Study moved in his own peculiar way to empty the rat cages and replace it with their nesting fodder.

Notably, Grego the Trainer knew English, but he embraced his dialect and origins when he was training, knowing acting naturally and simplicity were necessary assets in training animals.

Grego kneeled to face Gimmick directly.

“You need to say, nice things to the Gimmick.”

“But I’m Gimmick,” said Brandon.

“From now on, he is also Gimmick.”

“I’m Gimmick!”

Grego roared in another language, and Gimmick started shaking with tears.

The Trainer procured a bag of potato chips. “Here, have a reward. It is good to cry.”

Through tears, Gimmick devoured a small handful of addictive potato chips.

After this, his body language meant he wanted more. He held out his hand for more.

“More is coming for little things,” said Grego.

Gimmick trembled, anxious for more.

“Stop shake. I give you small handful for no more shake.”

Gimmick breathed a little, but his eyes sought more food. His face became a begging face, and he held out his hand with humility.

“Small handful,” said Grego, and gave him more.

He devoured it and wanted all the more.

“Please give,” said Gimmick tenderly.

“One little more,” said Grego, and gave more.

Gimmick smiled, and then did little hops, him being peckish before lunch.

“Tell me who you are,” said Grego.

“I’m Gimmick.”

“Who is also Gimmick?”

Gimmick thrust his hand to point at The Study, who was still doing his task.

“That is also true. Have two handfuls.”

Gimmick gratefully devoured the chips.

“Can I have more?”

“You must wait till lunch.”

“But I’m hungry now!”

“You spoil your appetite.”

Gimmick started whining and talking about things that had nothing to do with what Grego said.

“Play with Yuber for twenty minutes.”

Yuber was Grego’s play dog, and upon hearing his voice, he came bounding happily to Gimmick. He was irresistibly expressive, adorable, excited, and overjoyed for play time.

Gimmick was hungry, but the dog artfully cajoled him into throwing a tennis ball, using its lovely, expressive face and body language.

A smile escaped Gimmick’s face, and the dog was so excited to chase the ball it was absurd, which made Gimmick laugh.

“See? You wait like good boy,” said Trainer.

Gimmick seemed proud of himself.

The Study was now playing with one of the cats, using a little tuft of colorful fluff on a string to make it go amusingly wild.

Gimmick pointed, “I wanna try.”

“You can do it with a different cat,” said Grego.

Gimmick played for over an hour, one half-hour past lunch time. His preoccupation with the cats and other animals distracted him from his hunger.

At one point, Study was holding a hatchling, making very soft coos.

Gimmick said to The Study, “Gimmick, can I try?”

“The Study,” said The Study, and something came over Brandon, but he didn’t know what it was— however, what it was was The Study exactly imitated Gimmick’s voice; and then he handed the hatchling to Brandon so he could pet it.

And suddenly, he loved Little Grego. Or Gimmick. Or the Study.

He was a friend now.