Obtaining Information - A Molly Story

Taking the dog to the vet today since it's been acting listless. I don't think it likes the dry food? Not sure if a vet would know how to treat this but maybe they'll know how I can get into contact with people who know how to take care of weird dogs. Saw some other weird animals in the city but for the most part ignored them until this one showed up. Not really any in this neighborhood except for a weird cat we've seen at a distance. Heh, I think the dog might have wobbled right out of the harness to try to get to it. Luckily the harness works, though I worry the dog might not like it. Might need something more specialized, going to ask about that too.

Don't know about talking to them, though. Haven't been outside much since this whole thing started, but the dog needs to go out and one has to admit the weather is nice. Nothing like a good fall breeze to smarten one's senses. It's been a while.

Getting the dog into the car was tricky as it kept trying to wobble out of my arms. I don't think it likes being picked up. I put a dog toy on a string and it crawled in just fine though, which is good, because someone like me can't stand to lose a dog to whatever is going on with this one. Still haven't named it, need to get on that...

Waiting in the car to get called into the office. I think they're overbooked? Figures. Just when I need help with my dog.

My dog?

Hmm.

----

These people are too slow.

----

So apparently I could have looked this stuff up on the internet the entire time.

Sure I know how to use the internet. I'm not 80! I've barely even reached my 30s, I just… don't get people. No need for a way to connect and definitely no need for a smart-mouth upstart youth who claims a veterinary license doesn't qualify them to even look at my dog. Said to give it vitamins or something. Do I look like I have those lying around?

Got a reference to a place that looks promising. Going to be a bit of a drive but I'll do it for my dog.

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The entry point of the JellLab looks like a sterile lab entrance and sounds like the entrance to a menagerie. That is, a menagerie with… weird sounds. The receptionist barely looks up as a swarm of some sort of floating jelly bean floats past their head. Then they look up again and put on a charming smile as they see the newest visitor… and the smile falls flat as they see the state of the animal the visitor is carrying.

Oh no.

"It's bad, isn't it?"

The receptionist nods sadly… then cracks up.

> Oh man. Your face. Oh my god.

They can't stop giggling. What is this?!

>Okay. It's okay. We can still save it. Let me guess, you just found it on the street?

(Yes)

(It came to my door though-)

"No."

>Okay. Don't glare at me. It's just that JellHeads becoming more mainstream is a thing but they're still somewhat expensive and--- and---

They are giggling still.

>And this one looks like it hasn't been cared for and you...youdidfinditonthestreetdidn'tyou-?

"No."

>These aren't just easy pets, you know, you can't just take one in and baby it like a lost puppy.

(It is a lost puppy. What of it?)

"I'm not."

>Ohh man you really don't know what you're doing. Oh my gosh. And that JellHead is still alive in your care. That's amazing. Heckin' amazing.

You dislike this person immensely.

>You do know you need a license in this county for one, right? It could be dangerous. It could have escaped from a JellLab. You do know what a JellLab is, right? Gosh you're so out of touch if you don't know JellLabs. Like super old lady out of touch. Which is weird because you're not that old judging by your looks but your expression- HOO boy. You're gonna have a lot of work cut out for you. Why not just give it up and let us handle it? Go back to your video games or whatever it is you do in your basement. In your parent's house. Alone. Oh my gosh, your face is so red. You really need to control your expression, y'know? It's like Goliath staring down at David being like "I'm gonna eat you" except you can't because then I'll call security and then you'll blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah

You HATE this person.

This is why you don't do people. Why do they have to TALK so much? Acting like they know better than you because they're the one sitting in the chair behind the desk. They have the means to help your dog and they're just sitting there-- wait.

Give it up?

"Just. Tell me how to fix my dog. Please."

>and blah blah blah mosquitos and blah blah tiny microscopic JellBeans and do you know what that's LIKE dealing with the tardigrades and who knows what else

"My dog! Fix her!"

>not to mention the paperwork when you accidentally squash a bugger and I'll say I'm not QUALIFIED for paperwork but noooo~ I just get to watch as they do all the fun stuff and I'm just an INTERN and what do I know? I'm just an assistant. One of many. TOO many and wait are you crying-?

It's been a long day, your dog is dying, and you don't want to give up but this person is *incomprehensible* and you're tired, so tired, and you just want to protect her. You didn't go outside for a year before her. You hid from the world before her. You want to help YOUR DOG and this upstart teen is rambling about who-knows-what and you just… gods, you want to fix your dog and it's not happening and why couldn't you do better, why couldn't you BE better, and it's just like your mom said, and your dog is trying to wobble at you- probably wants a treat- and it doesn't know how horrible you are, how freaking horrible--

>HEY

If only your dog had found someone else, someone better for it who would make it happy and help it wobble the way it did (was it for joy) when it found you- when she found you- and when you went to get groceries instead of ordering it was so EXCITED to see you but was it really, was it--

>HEY THERE

--and now it's going to DIE and you'll be once again ALONE and for the first time in--

--in how many days--

--how many MONTHS--

--you don't want to be.

>I CAN FIX YOUR DOG--

The receptionist looks breathless from all that shouting, but the first thing you notice is that they're crying too.

>It's hazing okay? I was just jealous you got a JellHead without having to pay for one and I was hazing you! I'm a horrible nasty person and I promise you it's going to be fine! God! I'm so sorry, please just… stop crying and come with me. I know some people who can help.

---

You manage to compose yourself by the time you meet the other JellScientists. The intern/receptionist's face is very red but they don't say anything. They seem relieved when you don't mention the "hazing" incident to their superiors, who measure and examine your dog and feed her something that makes her very jiggly for a brief time- perhaps she likes it. One makes a note of how well the JellHead seems to be behaving during the examination process. They ask if she's done this before and if you know where she was originally made, but seem to respect that you're her caretaker now, despite that. Overall the scientists are friendly, if more than a little odd- but they're JellScientists; they deal with weird all the time. They seem to appreciate your weird dog- your JellHead- and you feel more comfortable with them than you've felt with other people in a long time, even when one of them asks for a taste of the Jell. You know, for science.

You refuse, but are polite about it.

---

Well after that… episode, of sorts, I think I have the basics. I really could have looked this up on the internet, but I'm glad to see my dog is feeling much better sooner rather than later. Apparently there's some sort of nutrient mix that you can just buy at the store? I'm just glad she's fine and happier now. She's currently wobbling around the yard, getting leaves stuck in her Jell and jiggling rudely at the smashed pumpkin from the costume fiasco. I'm glad that didn't cause any serious damage- and at least I know better now. Got her some bat wings for Halloween, and I think I saw that cat JellHead again? Not sure if she saw it, but she did pause to jiggle at the fence so I think she knows it's there. This might become an issue if i take her around the neighborhood more, but I have a license now and I know people are more accepting these days of JellHeads and other weird things- perhaps even weird people- than I thought. We might go out more after all. My dog seems to like it.

People say JellHeads aren't intelligent, and that even the "natural" ones are one-track-minded, but now I finally know where my slippers went and, aside from the oddness of the Jell, it's clear that Molly is 100 percent Dog.