Chapter 1: Alone
I was utterly and completely alone. The only pet in the entire world. Forced to spend the entire day without the company of a good friend. Two in fact. I looked around at my surroundings. The world was bleak and colorless. I felt no urge to run and jump and play like I normally did. My breath came out in large, pathetic bursts as I sighed. I was so lonely. So bored. I glanced up to see a pink monkey running toward me. My day just got worse. I knew that this monkey meant me no harm. That she was only trying to make me feel better. But when you are bored and alone for a long time you tend to get irritable.
Mango set down her pencil and looked up. She saw Minka racing to her. Her ears began to fall ever so slightly. She had nothing against Minka and considered her a very good friend. But she was not the friend that Mango wanted to see. She plastered a smile on her face once Minka stopped in front of her. Minka was a nice pet and Mango did not want to hurt her feelings by looking disappointed that she had arrived.
"Hiya Mango! Whatcha doin?" Minka practically screeched into Mango's ear. She had a pleasant voice most of the time, just not when she was excited.
Mango tried to ignore the ringing in her ears as she responded. "I was just writing in my journal." She pushed the yellow notebook toward Minka. It was small and covered in bright orange flowers. A blue ribbon stuck out of the top. It helped mark where Mango left off whenever she wanted to write in it. Even though she let Minka look at it, Mango kept one paw on the book so that it could not be grabbed. Everything in there was private and meant for one pet's eyes alone. She did not want Minka blabbing everything that she wrote to the other pets.
Minka's eyes grew larger and larger the longer she stared at the book. She began to reach for the blue ribbon. "What is that?"
Quickly, Mango snatched the book out of Minka's reach. She protected it with her body the way a mother protects her child. Her fur was standing on end. She forced it down and looked at Minka calmly. "Do not touch that. It marks my place and it is very special to me."
Minka nodded quietly. She itched to know why but kept her mouth shut. Even though she knew Mango would never do anything to hurt her she did not want to get her angry. Minka stood there for a few minutes quietly until she burst out, "Why aren't you playing?"
Mango was taken back by the sudden noise but composed herself quickly. "Because Sunil isn't here and Vinnie hasn't arrived yet. Everyone else is busy." She motioned toward the other pets who were all absorbed in their own thing.
Minka looked around and understood. Mango loved the other pets, but she felt most comfortable with the two she had named. The two that happened to not be there. She felt sorry for Mango and wanted to say something to cheer her up. Minka snapped her fingers as she thought of what to say. "Vinnie can play with you once he arrives!"
Mango began to smile at the thought of playing with Vinnie. Then they heard a noise from the front of the Pet Shop. It was Mrs. Twombly talking on the phone. Mango and Minka strained their ears to hear what she was saying.
"Vinnie won't be coming in today? That is too bad. Oh well, we will see him tomorrow."
Minka slowly turned to Mango. Mango looked like she was ready to snap. She slowly began to back away, laughing nervously the entire time. "So, uh, I gotta go. See ya later Mango!" With that Minka sprinted toward her tire swing. Behind her she could hear a howl of pure outrage.
I have just made the unfortunate discovery that one of my best friends will not be coming today. Vinnie has something that is keeping him away from the Pet Shop and me. I plan on asking him about it as soon as he arrives tomorrow. Unfortunately, that means I still have to make it through the entire day alone and abandoned. I can feel the cold, icy paws of boredom grabbing me now. This day is bound to be an uneventful one. My eyes are growing heavy. I can fight it no longer.
Mango gave a final moan, then collapsed to the ground. She could feel her eyes closing. Sleep was coming for her and she had no intention of escaping it. She gave one final sigh before she shut her eyes completely. Before she could fall asleep she heard paw steps coming her way. Opening one eye, she noticed a purple dog walking her way. Mango rolled her one eye and opened the other one. Even if she was not in the mood for company, besides her best friends, she did not want to be rude. Zoe walked and sat down in front of Mango just as Mango was beginning to sit up.
Zoe fluffed her ears while she talked to Mango. Mango wondered if she was ever not fluffing her ears. "Mango darling, I was wondering if you happened to see my squeaky lobster?"
Mango sighed and shook her head no. She had no idea where Zoe had left her lobster toy. Unfortunately for Zoe, Mango could not bring herself to care. Mango tried to keep her ears up as she looked at Zoe but they eventually fell down and lay flat on top of her head. Zoe noticed before she could bring them back up. Mango tried to keep her eyes from rolling as Zoe began to talk.
"Mango, is there something wrong?" Zoe asked. She stopped fluffing and began looking at Mango with concern.
"Yes." Mango said bluntly.
"What is it?" Zoe leaned forward. She loved gossip. Maybe Mango had a juicy secret to tell.
"I don't have a juicy secret." Mango replied through narrow eyes.
Zoe was taken aback. Sometimes Mango was scary. She still wanted to know what was wrong though, so she tried again. "If you tell me what is wrong maybe I can help you."
Mango sighed. "I am the universe's squeaky lobster."
"Come again?"
"The universe loves to bite into me over and over again just so it may have the pleasure of hearing me squeak. If it tries to bite into me one more time today I fear that my squeaker may run out. Now, please leave me alone to suffer." When she was done talking Mango collapsed onto the ground in front of Zoe.
Not knowing what else to say or do, Zoe slowly backed away from her troubled friend. As she turned around to walk away she murmured, "People say I'm dramatic."