Earl Harlan's story (Some spoilers through ep. 23)

“Good morning, Night Vale High Scorpions, and good morning to all the students, faculty, and hooded figures of Night Vale High School,” Cecil Baldwin’s voice flowed out of the school speakers. Despite the cracking and fizzing of the ancient PA system, or the almost-overwhelming scent of burning hair coming from the speakers in clouds, one could tell that Cecil’s voice was charming, and calming. He had been the school announcer for all four years he had been in attendance at NVHS. As he continued speaking, most students only continued listening if they knew they would be mentioned, or were being forced to listen in the abandoned mineshaft for voting against the six foot long scorpion in the class presidential election. Only one student listened for the sake of listening. He was a classmate of Cecil, and he listened to the announcements with rapt attention.

"- and that's why you should avoid the school library at all costs. And remember, the student council still has a strict ban on all writing utensils, paper, and listening devices, including hearing aids. Good morning, Night Vale High. Good morning."

Earl Harlan sighed and traced hearts on his forearm with his index finger. Cecil walked into the room confidently and took his seat next to Earl. Earl waved goofily, and Cecil grinned as he waved back. Cecil then turned to the front, to where the teacher was yelling incomprehensibly and smacking the chalkboard with a meter stick. Earl looked around nervously, to make sure no hooded figures were in the room, and started gently tapping on the edge of his desk.

-.-. . -.-. .. .-.. --..-- / -.-. . -.-. .. .-.. --..-- / -.-. . -.-. .. .-.. --..-- / -.-. . -....-

(morsecode.scphillips.com/jtran…)

Earl saw the corner of Cecil’s mouth twitch up in a smile, and Cecil started tapping as well.

.. ... / - .... . .-. . / .- -. -.-- - .... .. -. --. / .. / -.-. .- -. / -.. --- / - --- / .... . .-.. .--. / -.-- --- ..- ..--..

A goofy grin spread across Earl’s face. He was actually talking to Cecil Baldwin! And Cecil was talking back! He laughed nervously as the teacher slapped the meter stick on his own desk before screaming and running out of the room. Another, more haggard looking teacher walked in moments later and started painting equations on the blackboard in blood. This woman didn’t turn around once as she dragged her bleeding finger across the black surface.

.. --..-- / ..- .... --..-- / .. / .-- .- -. - . -.. / - --- / - . .-.. .-.. / -.-- --- ..- / .. / - .... --- ..- --. .... - / -.-- --- ..- / -.. .. -.. / .- / .-. . .- .-.. .-.. -.-- / --. --- --- -.. / .--- --- -... / --- -. / - .... . / .- -. -. --- ..- -. -.-. . -- . -. - ... / - --- -.. .- -.-- .-.-.- / .-.. .. -.- . / -.-- --- ..- / -.. --- / . ...- . .-. -.-- / -.. .- -.-- .-.-.- / -.-- --- ..- .----. .-. . / --. --- --- -.. / .- - / .. - .-.-.-

Cecil grinned in response and looked at Earl out of the corner of his eye. Earl’s heart nearly stopped when he saw those piercing purple eyes framed by long black lashes. He almost missed Cecil’s response.

- .... .- -. -.- / -.-- --- ..- .-.-.- / .. / - .-. -.-- / -- -.-- / .... .- .-. -.. . ... - / .... . .-. . --..-- / -... . -.-. .- ..- ... . / .-- .... .- - / .. / .-. . .- .-.. .-.. -.-- / .-- .- -. - / - --- / -.. --- / .. ... / ... - .- .-. - / .-- --- .-. -.- .. -. --. / .- - / - .... . / -. .. --. .... - / ...- .- .-.. . / .--. ..- -... .-.. .. -.-. / .-. .- -.. .. --- / ... - .- - .. --- -. .-.-.- / .. ..-. / .. / -.-. .- -. / ... ..- .-. ...- .. ...- . / -- -.-- / .. -. - . .-. -. ... .... .. .--. --..-- / .. / .-. . .- .-.. .-.. -.-- / .-- .- -. - / - --- / -... . / .- / -. . .-- ... / .-. . .--. --- .-. - . .-. --..-- / .- -. -.. / .-- .... .- - / -... . - - . .-. / .--. .-.. .- -.-. . / - --- / .--. .-. .- -.-. - .. -.-. . / - .... .- -. / -- -.-- / ...- . .-. -.-- / --- .-- -. / ... -.-. .... --- --- .-.. ..--..

Earl nearly squealed with delight at the thought of hearing Cecil’s golden voice on the radio every day. He looked over at Cecil, who had turned to face him and was waiting for a response.

-.-- --- ..- / .-- --- ..- .-.. -.. / -... . / .. -. -.-. .-. . -.. .. -... .-.. . / .- - / - .... .- - .-.-.- / .... . -.-- --..-- / ..- -- --..-- / -.. --- / -.-- --- ..- / .-- .- -. - / - --- / -- .- -.-- -... . / - .- .-.. -.- / .- - / .-.. ..- -. -.-. .... ..--.. / -.-. .-.. .- ... ... / .. ... / .- .-.. -- --- ... - / --- ...- . .-. --..-- / .- -. -.. / .-- . .-.. .-.. --..-- / .. / -.-. --- ..- .-.. -.. -. .----. - / --. . - / -- -.-- / -- --- -- / - --- / ... .. --. -. / - .... . / .--. . .-. -- .. ... ... .. --- -. / ... .-.. .. .--. / ..-. --- .-. / -- -.-- / - .-. --- --- .--. .----. ... / ..-. .. . .-.. -.. / - .-. .. .--. --..-- / ... --- / --- - .... . .-. .-- .. ... . / .. .----. -- / . .- - .. -. --. / .- .-.. --- -. . .-.-.-

Cecil looked taken aback for a moment, then smiled, and Earl’s knees felt weak, and the Eagle Scout was glad he was sitting down. Cecil laughed as he tapped his response, and it was music to Earl’s ears.

.. .----. -.. / .-.. --- ...- . / - --- .-.-.- / .-- . / -.-. .- -. / --. --- / ..-. .-. --- -- / .... . .-. . .-.-.- / .. -. / - .... . / -- . .- -. - .. -- . --..-- / .-- . / ... .... --- ..- .-.. -.. / - .-. -.-- / - --- / -- . -- --- .-. .. --.. . / - .... . / . --.- ..- .- - .. --- -. ... / --- -. / - .... . / -... --- .- .-. -.. .-.-.-

Earl blushed and nodded with a smile. he stared at the board, but the figures just didn’t make sense. He was too absorbed in the realization that he had a lunch date with Cecil Baldwin! When the bell rang, sounding more like the tortured cries of those dragged to detention and never seen again, Earl waited for Cecil to pack his things before the two boys walked to the lunch room. They sat at the nearest empty table and both pulled out packed lunches. The last batch of students to risk eating the hot lunches had to be hospitalized, then placed in a mental institution for claims of being able to see sounds, hear flavors, taste sensations, feel scents, and smell shapes.

“So, um, you want to be a radio news reporter?” Earl bit his lip as Cecil tore into a cold slice of Big Rico’s pizza with bacon and ham. “That’s really cool. It seems like it would fit you so well.”

"Thanks, Earl," Cecil covered his mouth to answer, knowing it was rude to speak with food in his mouth. He swallowed, put his hand down, and grinned. "I just want to make a living doing what I love, making the daily happenings of our beautiful town known to all it's beautiful citizens."

Earl sighed happily and grinned back. "I-I really want to be a Troop Leader when I grow up. I mean, it's a great organization, and I want to pass on my passion for the cause. Although, I wouldn't mind making my own group either, a gender-equal group with three uniforms: a shirt and shorts, a dress, or a jumpsuit. The kids could pick what they want, whether they classify as boys, girls, both, or neither. It would be non-binary friendly and accepting of all sexualities or lack thereof. I would need city permission to do that though."

"Still, it's a great idea," Cecil had a thoughtful smile on his face as he took a sip of his Sierra Mist. "I'll mention it on the afternoon announcements to see if anyone would be willing to sign the necessary petition. It would have to be in blood on a roll of fabric to be legal under school rules, but that would just make it all the more convincing, don't you think?"

"R-really?" Earl gaped, his face turning pink.

"Yeah," Cecil smiled and nodded his head. "I'll help you any way I can."

"Thanks, Cecil!" Earl practically bounced in his seat. "That's so nice of you!"

"No pro-" Cecil grinned at Earl, but he saw someone over his peer's shoulder and grimaced. "Steve Carlsburg. what do you want, Steve? You treacherous monster."

"Oh, I just wanted to see how the two school gay boys were getting along," Steve sneered. Earl flushed a dark red and tried to stammer a response, but Cecil held his ground and Earl's.

"Just fine, Steve," Cecil glared. "We're just fine. Now leave, Steve Carlsburg. You are not wanted here."

Steve looked like he wanted to argue, but saw the look on Cecil's face and realized that Cecil would win any argument.

"Whatever," Steve turned and walked away. "See you around, ladies."

Earl snarled and stood before yelling across the cafeteria. "I'll take that as a compliment, Steve Carlsburg! Women are strong and intelligent, and I find being equated to one the highest praise! If you want to insult me, try telling me that you and I are the same species! That will offend me."

Several guys and all the girls cheered for a moment before the hooded figures rose from their spots in the corners of the room. Dead silence filled the cafeteria as Earl sat back down. Cecil grinned at him and gave him a thumbs up. The rest of lunch passed in the same eerie silence. Before Earl and Cecil split up to go to their classes, Cecil leaned over and whispered in Earl's ear.

"Meet me out front after school, we can walk home together."

Earl almost cried with joy. He nodded rapidly and walked off to class. Later, during the last class of the day, the school PA system came on with an unholy wail of pain and sorrow.

"Good afternoon, ladies, gentlemen, and those who identify as both or neither," Cecil spoke. Earl could practically hear the smile on Cecil's face. "Speaking of gender identification, there is a long strip of fabric posted outside the announcements room, next to the cafeteria. Our own brilliant Earl Harlan would like to start a club that accepts anyone, regardless of gender identity or sexuality. If you would like to give your future children this amazing opportunity, prick your finger and sign the petition. I already have. My future adopted children will be in the best club in the best city. Now for the news."

A few people turned to look at Earl and tell him of their intent to sign the petition. Earl grinned, and as soon as class ended, he ran to the front of the school. Cecil was waiting for him.

"Thank you, Cecil," Earl grinned.

"You're very welcome," Cecil readjusted his backpack and started walking.

"Hey, um...do you...do you want to, I don't know, see a movie or something with me this Friday?"

Earl was staring at his shoes, and didn't see the look of worry and panic that flashed momentarily across Cecil's face. It hurt Cecil to lie to the other young man, but he grinned, threw an arm around Earl's shoulders and laughed.

"I'd love to! Two best friends, just hanging out, making a day of just enjoying each other's friendship!" Cecil's heart broke for Earl when he felt the slump of the slightly shorter man's shoulders. It wasn't that Cecil didn't find Earl attractive, or worthy of dating, but Cecil was a true believer in love at first sight. If you don't fall in love with someone within a week of knowing them, it's not true love. He didn't want to toy with Earl in the hopes that he would fall in love, only to break Earl's heart later on.

Earl took a deep breath and straightened up. At the very least, he would be able to spend some alone time with Cecil. He grinned at the thought. Maybe, just maybe, he could lift the arm rest between their seats and sit just a little closer to him.

“That sounds so awesome!” Earl bumped Cecil’s shoulder with his own. “We should head to the theater right after school, so we miss the crowd. Unless you like the crowds.”

“Nah,” Cecil sighed in relief. “I’d prefer to miss the crowds. You know, if you wanted, you could do a review of the movie and I can put it on the school blog.”

“That would be cool,” Earl ran his hands through his hair as his cheeks turned red. “Well, thanks for walking home with me, Cecil.”

“No problem,” Cecil grinned and hugged Earl without thinking. He winced internally when he realized he was probably giving the poor boy mixed signals. “See you tomorrow, buddy.”

“B-bye!” Earl waved spastically. He practically bounced inside. “Hello, Nana Inferus, wherever you are!”

Earl bounded to his room and pulled out his computer. He opened the multiple password-encoded file on his computer and started typing the adventures of the day in backwards text.

“.yraid ,gninetsil rof sknahT .tiaw t'nac I dna ,yadirF siht etad-ton eivom a evah eW .mih evol I tub ,mih llet ot deracs oot m'I .mih evol I ,yraiD .stuocS elpoeP ,puorg ym trats em pleh ot gniog s'eH .dlrow siht ni tsixe nac dnik os enoemos woh dnatsrednu t'nod I .gnieb namuh gnizama tsom eht si niwdlaB liceC ,yraiD raeD”

(www.togglecase.com/convert_to_…)

Earl closed the file, shut down his computer, and got up to make a snack and start dinner.