Her captor didn’t see the inkblot dive into the drawer, his attention focused on the caged girl. “Songbird. I’ve got company tonight. As usual, you’ll be the entertainment. Don’t embarrass me and I’ll give you double rations for the week, understand? You know what’ll happen if you don’t, right?” 

Songbird chirped, nodding her head. She could answer him, but many of her captors didn’t like it when she spoke. He seemed satisfied with that, “Then someone will be in to get you ready. Can’t have you looking like I just picked you off the street.” He gave a sneer looking at her bedraggled state until something caught his attention. 

Fear flashed through Songbird as he picked up a spring that had been left behind after the repairman’s hasty clean up, but he didn’t comment on it. Instead, he went to put it away, in the very drawer the repairman hid in. “What? Did an inkwell leak?” He wondered, looking down at the blob of ink. Something seemed off about it.

From what he was hearing, the woman’s captor didn’t notice him. All he had to do was stay still…

And overhear everything. He gulped, hoping he could get her out of here soon. And maybe swipe some of those rations while he was at it…

He heard footsteps coming, so he stopped that train of thought and tried to hold still, in hopes this person wouldn’t notice him.

Despite the fact his eyes were firmly facing one of the drawer walls, he could hear the spring go “boiyoing” as the man waved it around. If he had a lip to bite, he would. No Toon could ignore such an easy gag.

And then the man asked if an inkwell leaked. He just couldn’t take it anymore.

An arm reached out and snatched the Spring, as the Repairman made an “mm-hmm” noise.

Once the spring was his again, he realized the issue.

Oh, please complete the joke….