Brett, picking up the bowl and its tiny occupant, walked across the living room toward the front door.
In the bowl, the tiny white mouse slipped and slid across the slick surface with every step. The entire time Brett kept reassuring the tiny rodent. "Shhh, don't worry, little guy."
But Nathan was worried. What had Brett done to the controls of the Chronivac? He squeaked as loudly as he could manage. "Let me out of this fucking bowl!"
His wish was soon granted. Brett opened the door, exited the house, and stooped on the sidewalk at the base of the front steps before he tilted the bowl.
Nathan felt himself sliding over the lip of the crystal bowl. He dropped with a lurch but only dropped a short distance to the grass by the edge of the concrete walkway. Once he got his bearings, he stared up at his enormous friend. "What the hell?" Nathan squeaked.
He watched Brett return inside the house without bothering to shut the door. Nathan made ready to follow him but was defeated by the two steps leading up to the porch. Traversing these steps had been nothing as a human. It loomed like a wall in front of him now. Before he had time to think, Brett returned, without the bowl, and closed the door behind him.
He looked down and noticed the tiny mouse lingering near the steps. "You're free little guy," he said. "Now don't go trying to get back inside. I'd hate for Nathan's cat to get you."
"I don't want to be free!" Nathan's squeaks hit a frantic pitch. "I need the Chronivac!"
But by this point, disappointed at not finding his friend home, Brett was already traveling down the sidewalk toward the curb.