Prologue:

'Moving' one simple word a verb. Arthur sighed as he packed up his belongings the young nine year old was depressed and all it took was that simple word. He and his family were moving away from Elwood City to Berkeley, California along the west coast.

"Are you sure you have to move", asked Buster who was sitting on his bed.

Arthur nodded saying, "Mom's accepted the job offer and it's really nice."

Buster suggested, "Couldn't you live with your Grandmother?" Arthur shook his head saying, "I'm moving Buster."

Closing the last box with his belongings, "End of story", he continued, "There's nothing you or I or anyone else can do to change that."

Buster responded, "It was worth a shot", hopping off the bed asking, "But we'll still keep in touch right?"

Arthur answered, "Always", before saying, "Hey we could be pen pals kind of like with me and Adil."

"That sounds good", responded Buster, "We could write letters and e-mail and everything", added Arthur smiling and Buster returned it.

"Best friends forever", said Buster.

Arthur answered, "Best friends forever."

The two shook hands sharing a quick hug before they broke apart and Buster had to go home while Arthur carried the last box down to the moving truck where his mom, dad, and sisters were.

Handing the last box to the mover Arthur looked at his mom who smiled albeit a little sadly saying, "Don't worry Arthur."

"I know mom", answered Arthur as he followed her to the car where the others waited getting in the back seat while his mom got in the front seat.

Once everyone was buckled in Arthur having made sure to grab one of his books to read his dad pulled out of the driveway and they were on their way driving past the sugar bowl where Arthur spotted his friends he waved slightly, but they must not have seen him.

Soon the Reads were on the high way and on their way to California leaving behind their home in Elwood City and their old lives Arthur opened his book to read while they drove next to him sat Kate in her car seat and D.W sat on the other side of Kate who was asleep.

Arthur looked at Pal who was asleep as well next to him subconsciously Arthur scratched him behind the ear for a moment before going back to his book The Time Machine by H.G Wells one of his favorite authors actually, settling back in his seat Arthur read silently.

The hours past by as they drove Arthur closed his book settling down to go to sleep as D.W was already asleep and he was pretty tired and it was dark outside now so after removing his glasses and handing them to his mom for safe keeping he closed his eyes drifting off.

"Arthur", spoke his mother's voice, "wake up honey we're here."

Arthur opened his eyes his vision blurry until his mom handed him his glasses and he put them on stepping out of the car allowing his mother to get Kate out of her car seat while he looked at their new home after four days of driving.

The nine year old smiled it was a really nice place Arthur looked down at Pal who barked happily wagging his tail and Arthur looked at his mom asking, "Can I go look around mom?"

"Sure", answered his mom, "Why don't you go pick out your room", suggested his dad.

"We can pick our own rooms", asked D.W.

Both of their parents nodded and exchanging looks Arthur and D.W took off for the house hoping to get the good room David shook his head slightly glancing at his wife asking, "Some things will never change?"

"No", answered Jane.

Carrying Kate smiling as she and her husband followed the two inside. Upstairs Arthur had found and staked his claim on his new room with a smile it was spacious he could probably get a desk up here, a bookshelf too and he had his own bathroom too, 'score', he thought.

His mom knocked on his door before coming in saying, "I see you picked your room."

"Yes mom", answered Arthur.

"Alright", said his mom, "Well the moving truck is here so you can come down and help bring in some boxes."

"Alright mom", responded Arthur.

The two headed downstairs and Arthur helped bring in some boxes before bringing his own upstairs to his new room soon his bed was set up and Arthur started unpacking his belongings while Pal watched from his dog bed.

The unpacking process was long and boring but Arthur soon had his bedroom set up the way he wanted it and soon his parents called him down for lunch and Arthur headed downstairs to eat with his family.

Later that night having crawled into bed ready to go to sleep Arthur looked at his buddy Pal saying, "Maybe this moving thing isn't so bad, huh Pal", the dog barked slightly and Arthur smiled saying, "I think things are going to be ok."

Removing his glasses he set them aside before settling down to go to sleep snuggled under his covers thinking of next week when he would start at his new school wondering if he would make some new friends, slowly Arthur drifted off to the world of unconsciousness…