A preview for an upcoming commission featuring a pool toy gaining new life.
Man, this… this was a mistake… Wes took a huge, deep breath, his face red as hell and body weary. He leaned in, stuck the nozzle into his mouth, and blew with all his might. The orca-shaped, cartoony-looking pool toy slowly got a little bit bigger.
He pinched the nozzle closed, gasping for more air and huffing away. Shoulda… shoulda just got a damn air pump. Woulda… woulda been e-easier…
He was at the end of the line. All around him were inflatable pool chairs, rings, and other toys that he had personally blown up. He was proud of that, happy that he was going to have everything for the best pool party ever. He couldn't wait to see what his friends thought when they came over to his house.
But, at the very end of it all, he had hit his limit. He could not puff anymore. He managed to close the nozzle on this orca before falling onto his butt, the toy falling beside him as well.
Wes fell further, lying on his back and panting for air. He looked at his partially inflated sea life and sighed. In hindsight, he should've, perhaps, inflated it first.
He had seen the pool toy the other day at the store when shopping for supplies. The cute, happy little face on it? It just drew him in, along with something else he couldn't quite put his finger on. He just felt he had to have it as the final, perfect touch for his party.
Well… Wes huffed and huffed. This… this will have to do. He wiped his brow. Maybe next time, orca pal. Maybe next-
At that moment, an odd chill passed him by. It was so sharp and cool that it made him shiver, rubbing his arms. It was so bright and sunny out, leaving him guessing on where it could've come from.
“This is it!” Wes flinched, the chill instantly erased from his mind,
A strange, highish pitch voice had suddenly spoken up. He sat up, looking around. He could see no one around. No one around but him and his pool toy that is.
He glanced at the pool toy, his mind quieting down as he did so. The toy was perfectly still, solidly half deflated as before.
Then it wobbled. “EEP! Wes scrambled away on his hands, his feet and legs not working. “Wha-what the hell?!”
A moment later, the imprinted eyes of the toy blinked. The line representing its mouth moved, opening and closing like a 2D drawn cartoon. A voice came from it as its flat mouth moved. “This is just what I've been looking for!”