Chapter 2 – Hello, my new friend

Gobby turned around and saw a shocking sight – the boy, stunned, had dropped the pie from his hands. THE PIE – ON THE GROUND!  The bitten pie lay alone in the puddle, soaked and miserable.

The boy was so shaken by what he saw that he was literally gasping for air. He tried to say something, stumbling over his words:

– You went whoosh, then bam, and then… boom! How?!

But Gobby, still frowning at the ruined pie, didn’t even think of answering. For a few heartbeats, he just stood there, staring at the puddle. Then, in a low mutter, he said: “That strawberry jam was just perfect”.

The boy still tried to say something, but Gobby, having resigned himself to the loss of the pie, swung off his backpack, pulled off his wet, dirty T-shirt, took a towel out of the backpack, and began wiping himself off.

As he cleaned up, it was clear he was calming down: blood circulation restored, his skin regained its color, his muscles relaxed, and his body gradually returned to normal.

Finishing up, he pulled out a clean T-shirt from his backpack – still with the same colorful logo: I am Gobby! – and put it on. He picked up the pie from the ground, walked over to the trash can, and carefully placed it on the edge, saying:

– Maybe someone can still enjoy it.

Exhaling, he turned back to the boy and asked:

– Are you okay?

The boy finally snapped out of his shock and was able to take a proper look at the stranger.
Gobby looked quite extraordinary – a chubby guy with messy hair, about 176 cm tall, wearing a ridiculous T-shirt that was clearly hand-decorated.

The boy stood up, hesitated for a moment, then reached out his hand and said:

– Thank you. My name is German.

Gobby glanced at the hand, then at German – he looked like a little professor: a blue classic shirt, neat trousers, about 165 cm tall, with a head proportionally larger than the body. The only thing missing was glasses to complete the image. Gobby smiled broadly, with dimples, and shook the boy’s hand. German dusted himself off and walked over to the trash containers. Searching there, he found his glasses – cracked right down the middle.

– Are these yours?

– Yeah.

Gobby laughed: “Now you REALLY look like a professor! My name’s Gobby”.

– Yeah, but it looks like my glasses won’t last long.

– Wait, I’ve got an idea!

Gobby dug into his backpack and pulled out a whole bunch of kids’ medical plasters – all with colorful pictures.

Handing them to German, he said:

– Will this help?

German took one and started taping the crack on his glasses:

– Why do you have so many?

– Ah, don’t worry about it. Stuff just… happens around me.

Gobby slung his backpack on, grabbed the bag of pies, and was about to head toward the exit of the alley – when he noticed German’s hesitation. German had never been in a situation like this and simply didn’t know what to do next.

Gobby looked at German, then at the kittens:

– Listen, German, is it just me, or do you have some kittens hidden there? I LOVE animals. How about we take them to a shelter together where they can be cared for?

German carefully picked up the kitten, placed it back into the box, and, avoiding the bullies (who were only now beginning to recover), rushed after Gobby.

Gobby walked one step ahead, happily munching on his pie, looking forward and smiling. German followed behind, carrying the box, overwhelmed by a kaleidoscope of emotions. A million questions raced through his mind – but he didn’t have the courage to ask any of them. So, staying silent, he tried to figure it all out by himself. At some point, Gobby, having finished half his pie, turned his head slightly and asked:

– How did you end up there?

He didn’t realize it yet – but with that simple question, Gobby had cracked open Pandora’s box.
He had broken through something inside German, lifting a barrier and giving him permission to speak.

German hesitated for a second, about to start telling his whole story, and ask the endless stream of questions boiling in his mind – How did you transform? How did you fight? Who are you?! But then he froze.

He realized…he had forgotten Gobby’s name.

German knew that, according to proper manners, he had to apologize first – and ask again before launching into his speech.

– Sorry… what’s your name again?

Gobby stopped, turned around, and muttered something like:

– It’s written right here…

– Huh?

Gobby pointed at his T-shirt. Only now did German realize that it wasn’t just a messy design –
it was a colorful inscription: “I’m Gobby!”

– That’s your name!

– Exactly! Isn’t it genius?!

– What do you mean? German asked, puzzled.

Gobby puffed out his chest proudly:

– Think about it! I hate introductions. Hate meeting new people. It’s always awkward and uncomfortable.

– So I found the perfect solution! When I join a new class or a group, I don’t have to say a word. I just point to my T-shirt, and boom – everyone knows my name!

– And if they forget, they can just look again. Genius, right?!

German listened, nodding slowly, but his mind was somewhere else – a blur of pain… his hands… his head… the kittens… the chubby guy… smashing everyone… transforming… changing… what WAS that? Who IS he?

– I’m Gobba! – Gobby shouted brightly, cutting through German’s whirlwind of thoughts.

German snapped back to reality and muttered thoughtfully:

– Yeah… that’s genius. (Though, in German’s mind, the real genius lay in what had just happened – not in Gobby’s quirky ideas.)

A soft meow sounded from the box, reminding the two rescuers that they had tiny lives depending on them.

– She’s right, Gobby smiled. We need to keep moving.

They continued walking. German finally decided to tell Gobby everything – how he heard the kittens crying, how he gathered his courage, how he tried to protect them, how his strength wasn’t enough, and how Gobby appeared out of nowhere and destroyed the bullies. As German started pouring out the whole story, Gobby’s attention span quickly wore thin. He stopped again, stuffed a pie into German’s hands, and said:

– EAT.

Normally, German would never, ever eat food bitten by someone else. He was a perfectionist – a real neat freak. But this time… he didn’t even hesitate.

Maybe because he needed the break, too. Maybe because trying to structure the chaos inside his head felt harder than anything he’d ever faced.

After all, he was a little scientist at heart. And this… this was not a world he had been prepared for.

German wasn’t the most socially active guy. He didn’t talk much to his peers and wasn’t exactly skilled at starting or keeping a conversation. Still, after what happened in the alley, he knew one thing for sure – if he hadn’t backed down from a gang of aggressive teenagers, there was no reason to be afraid of talking to his rescuer now. German’s mind was buzzing with excitement – What if he was about to make the discovery of a lifetime?

Before taking a bite of the pie, he glanced at Gobby and asked quietly:

– Um… Gobby… well… I don’t even know how to put it… you kind of… changed… I honestly didn’t quite understand what happened… maybe I imagined it… but your body… it really changed, right?

Gobby scratched the back of his head and smiled sheepishly:

– Ah, that… sorry. I hope I didn’t scare you too much?

– No, not scared exactly… more like… amazed. Do you know what it was?

– Yeah, sure. My mom says I’m special. My dad just calls me “chubby muscleman”.

– Wait, what?

Gobby chuckled and patted his belly:

– Well… my body’s just like an Olympian’s – full of muscles. You just can’t see them cause they’re covered with a little layer of love.

German squinted at him seriously:

– Gobby… I don’t think that’s it. I’ve seen Olympians. And they’re definitely not like you. Your body literally transformed – you got faster, smaller, stronger – even your skin changed. And there was something else.

– Something else?

– Yeah… for a second, I thought I saw a shadow over you.

– Huh. No idea. I trust my parents.

German stared at him. It was clear to German now – HE HAS NO IDEA WHO HE REALLY IS... He doesn’t realize what he could mean for the world of science.

German would have a long and meticulous task ahead of him – he would have to find out everything about Gobby. Somehow. But for now, it was impossible to get anything more out of him. They kept walking. Soon they approached the entrance to the shelter. And there – guarding the door – was a gang of cats. Leading them was an unmistakable figure: a scruffy, one-eyed ginger tom, with matted fur, sitting proudly like a general. He let out a loud, gruff meow to greet the newcomers.

– Hey, Pirate! We brought you some new friends. Hope you’ll help them settle in! – Gobby called out, smiling.

Pirate winked back at him. Gobby walked up the steps and rang the bell. German tried to follow, but Pirate hissed and smacked his sneaker with his paw, making it clear – Entry denied.

German froze, thinking: I had a tarantula once. Even he wasn’t that bold.

Gobby chuckled:

– Pirate’s the local security. He needs to check you first before you can come in. Just give him your hand – let him sniff you.

– And if I offer him my hand… he won’t bite it off, right? German asked cautiously.

– Well… if you’re too slow, maybe.

– But don’t worry. He’s not a big fan of human meat.

German hesitated, then broke off a piece of pie, leaned down, and awkwardly held it out to Pirate. The cat, with the dignified air of a restaurant critic, sniffed the pie, gave German’s hand a delicate lick, snatched the treat, gulped it down – and winked approvingly.

– Congrats, Gobby grinned. You’re officially accepted. You’re one of us now.

Just then, the shelter’s front door swung open. In the doorway stood a thin, nervous woman in her early forties, dressed all in black. She gave Gobby a sharp look, then peered into the box, then looked back at Gobby again.

– Hi, Auntie! Gobby chirped. We brought a kitten that got into trouble. Can you help?

The woman let out a long, heavy sigh:

– Gobby! Where do you keep finding them? I’m already packed full!

– Well… if you’re too busy, I guess we’ll go to Miss Belly instead… he said, pretending to turn away.

– STOP! she barked. No way you’re taking them to that monster! She doesn’t even brush them out – she just feeds them the cheapest, nastiest garbage!

Then she turned her gaze to German, inspecting him from head to toe:

– Is that your new friend?

German reacted quickly, introduced himself, and was about to say something –
but the woman, gently stroking his hair, cut him off:

– Come in, boys.

While leading them inside, she threw a glance at German and added:

– I’m Mary. I run this shelter.

The moment the door closed behind them, Mary was already giving out orders:

– Gobba, go to the storage room and grab the food from the pink can. Then hit the bathroom and bring me a towel soaked in warm water. You, German – follow Gobby, stay in the bathroom, and clean yourself up. Honestly, you smell worse than the kittens.

German blushed. Only now did he realize what kind of smell he was carrying.

Mary wasn’t done:

– Gobba, give him some trousers. And you, German – don’t even ask why I happen to have pants exactly your size here. Right, Gobba? – she added with a mischievous smile, clearly teasing him.

They took care of the kittens first. Sometime later, as the boys were stepping out of the house, Mary called after them:

– Don’t forget to tell the people you trust that the kittens will be ready for adoption in about three months. Got it?

– Got it, auntie. Thanks! Oh, and keep the grey one for German – they already love each other, – Gobby winked.

German gave Gobby a surprised look… And then thought to himself: He’s right. I really do like that little grey kitten.

Mary closed the door behind them. Gobby stood there, watching German thoughtfully.

– Maybe we grab a bite again? – he suggested.

– Still got some pies left. They taste better hot, though.

– No, thanks. You bought them for yourself.

– Come on! Rescuing lives burns a ton of calories! Let’s celebrate properly. The best pies on the quay – you in?

German gave in. They sat down by the waterfront and devoured the pies together. After that, they parted ways, agreeing to meet up the next day – to visit the shelter and check how the kittens were doing. German didn’t ask Gobby any more questions about his… unusual abilities. And there was a reason for that: GOBBY DIDN’T EVEN REALIZE HE WAS DIFFERENT.

Later that evening.

German came home, his head still spinning from the day’s adventures. He walked up to his desk, tore off a small piece of paper, and scribbled something on it. Opening a drawer, he pulled out a notebook – and carefully stuck the note to the cover.

The note said:

Subject No. 1: Gobby.