Craig T. Crocodile

While the others worked on the lab report, Sadness walked upstairs and quietly entered Joy's room. Inside, Joy was quietly sitting at the side of his bed, hanging his head low. He didn't even turn to face Sadness as he entered the room.

"Joy...?" Sadness asked softly. "Are you alright?"

Joy acknowledged the sound of Sadness' soft voice, but didn't look at him. "I'm fine, Sadness," he responded. "Let me be."

Sadness was not fooled for one second. Something was definitely bothering Joy right now, and it wasn't like Joy to be this way. He approached the bed. "You haven't been at the console all day. Something's bothering you, Joy. Just tell me."

"What's it to you?" Joy answered. "You think I'm hurting Bryan, don't you? You think I'm leading us astray!" His voice became upset in tone.

Sadness sat up on the bed next to Joy. "No, I don't," Sadness said. "I think that you're doing a wonderful job at keeping Bryan happy."

"Too good of a job," Joy said in melancholy. "I'm keeping us from being a success in life. I've been valuing fun more than work." He sighed sadly. "Anger's right; I'm keeping Bryan from being an adult."

Sadness looked at Joy with concern. "Don't say things like that, Joy. This isn't like you. The Joy I know would always find the fun in life."

"I have been finding the fun in life," Joy responded. "But none of it relates to our life in college. We're gonna flunk out of college, and it's all because of me!" He sniffled as a tear streamed down his cheek.

Sadness hugged Joy. "Don't think that way, Joy!" he said. "You've managed to keep Bryan happy for 19 years. Sure, we've run into problems and tough times life has thrown at us; but we still made it through them all with a smile. We've gotten this far, and we can't give up now. Besides," he smiled a little, "being sad is my job."