A/N: This was very random. The idea wouldn't leave me alone for weeks! I had the basic plot and got ideas for the rest. It's a little more modern than the ballet. Yes, the ballet, of the Nutcracker Suite.

An Unusual Friend

Ch1

A person can find a friend in the most unexpected ways. I found one in the most unlikely place you would ever expect. My name is Ariella and I'm friends with a rat. Before you start grossing out and put this book down, I want to tell you how this happened…

First, it will take a while to get to the point when I meet him.

Second, this is the 1930's, I was fourteen years old and had three best friends.

Now be patient and read the story, please.

I was hanging out with my two closest friends, Chip and Daphne…

"How many times do I have to tell you Daph? I don't like the attention like you do!" I stated as we were walking home from Coralatna High one day.

"Oh please," she said, waving a hand in the air. "You need a makeover. It will really help you get a date for Winter Formal." She said Winter Formal in a sing-song way.

"Daph just let it go. If Ari doesn't want to do it, she doesn't have to," Chip said as we turned the corner onto Mintwee Street. "You're the cheerleader who likes attention, I'm the soccer player who likes to work out and—!"

"And Ari is the girl who won't do anything," Daphne complained as we kept walking.

"Girl you need to get out there and do something. You love to write and draw, so join a club."

"Heck, you can even sing like an angel! Join choir." Chip was trying to encourage me. Sadly, it wasn't helping.

"Look guys," I said, stopping them. "I appreciate the help. But I'm not going to change how I look and I won't join a club. Sorry for the decline."

"We've known each other since third grade and we know you want more than that," Daphne said. It was true, I've these two since elementary and we've been through everything together, even the flu.

"Sorry Daph, I just don't feel like joining anything or changing my appearance just to boost my rep." I looked up at them both and smiled honestly.

Then something caught my attention when I looked past them. They both looked and we all saw a huge truck on the side of the road. Men were unloading boxes as we watched.

"Did anyone hear about a new family moving in?" Chip asked confusion in his voice and eyebrow raised.

"No, and my parents didn't hear anything," Daphne answered.

"Well, I think we're getting a new student." I looked closer at the house. "Wait a minute; I never saw a 'For Sale' sign at Ol' Man Trinsky's house. Did something happen to him?"

"Not that I know of," Chip replied. "The man was ancient but nice. He made me believe that nice people lived forever."

"Hm," I wondered what happened. "Maybe he moved or something."

"Or maybe that's his family," Daphne suggested. Chip and I looked at her. "Well, it looks like it and the woman out front looks sad."

I turned back to the house. She was right; a woman was on the yard with her hands to her face, almost like she was crying. Then an older man, maybe in his forty's or fifty's, walked out and led her inside.

We would have kept watching, but Daphne's senior football player brother pulled up in his shiny, black Chevrolet, the engine revving. He glanced at me and Chip then at Daphne.

"Come on sis!" He exclaimed over the engine. "Mom and Dad want us home before they leave tonight, remember?" He lowered his shades and eyed her angrily.

Daphne moaned and walked over. "Fine Zeke! I'm coming," she said as she opened the door. She stopped and turned to us. "I'll call you both tonight." With that, she got in and Zeke drove off.

"Well," Chip said after a long silence. "Why don't we go intro ourselves to the new kids on the block?"

"Sounds like a good idea Chip." I smiled as I faced him. "Let's go meet them."

Once Chip and I had crossed the street we headed for the new family's home. Moving men were still unloading the truck when we walked up. I saw a young boy sitting in the front yard and stopped at the fence. He seemed to have a sad expression. I guessed it was because he had to move away from everything he had ever known.

"Hi," I said with a warm smile. He looked up at me and Chip. "My name's Ariella and this is Chip." Chip waved at him with a grin. "What's your name?"

He stared blankly at us and waved timidly. Then he got up and walked toward us. When he reached the fence he looked me in the eye. I kept my smile on.

"You seem nice enough," he said with suspicion. "But are you really nice?"

Chip and I were taken aback by his question and exchanged a look of confusion.

"Ex-squeeze me?" Chip asked.

The boy laughed. "Just kidding! I'm Cork. Nice to meet ya!" he exclaimed with a salute. "My family just moved here because of my mom's job. The last time was because her boss wanted her to, uh, I forgot." He shrugged and scratched his, making me giggle. He blushed bright red and said with a sheepish grin, "You're kinda pretty Ariella."

I giggled some more while Chip seemed to raise his eyebrow at him. "Uh, aren't you a little young for saying that?" he finally asked.

Cork put his hands on his hips as if he were a teenager. "Are you her boyfriend or something?" he asked while pointing at him.

Chip blushed and looked away while putting a hand to his nose. I just lost it and started laughing as hard as I could. Cork may be young but he was a joker.

Chip cleared his throat as the woman from earlier walked out. "Cork? Are you making friends already?" she asked with a kind-hearted smile.

"Yeah mom! This is Ariella and her boyfriend Chip," he explained while pointing to us.

"Actually, I'm not her boyfriend. We've just been friends for a long time." Chip sounded a little scornful of the little guy.

"Cork," his mother said with arms crossed. "Are you making assumptions again?" Cork chuckled.

"It's okay, Mrs. uh," I scratched my head. "I'm sorry but we never did learn your name."

"Silly me," she chuckled. "I'm Mary Krulny and my husband is Gillen Krulny. We just came here from Hiltorm."

"I've never heard of that town," Chip said confusingly.

"It's a small town miles from here," Mary explained. "I came here for my job, but my husband had to because his father left him this house."

"Wait," I said quickly. "You mean your husband is the son of Ol' Man Trinsky?" She nodded. "The whole town thought he didn't have any family. No one has ever even asked about it before." I suddenly felt bad for him.

"It's alright. Gillen knew it would happen sooner or later. He was, after all, at least one hundred and three years old." She chuckled lightly. "Anyway, it doesn't matter now. This house is all my husband has left of him."

"I'm so sor—"

"Mary!" a man interrupted. "Mary what is going on out there?"

"Gillen, these are a couple of the neighbors. Why don—"

"I don't care," Gillen interrupted his wife. "Now can you please help me get the rest of this equipment in my new office room before they mix it all up?" Gillen seemed to be a little on the anxious side.

"Excuse me, but that's not a very nice way to treat your wife." Gillen glared at Chip. "Sir?"

"Dear please. They're just being nice." Mary tried to calm down her husband. Gillen glared coldly at her and then stormed into the house. Mary sighed. "Cork, why don't you stay with Ariella and Chip for a while?" She looked at me with a pleading gleam in her eyes.

"I don't mind. Chip and I could show him around town." I turned to Chip. "What do you say?"

Chip nodded his head a little. "Sure, why not?" He grinned at Cork.

"Thank you both," she said gratefully. She rubbed her son's shoulder and then hurried inside. I watched her with concern.

"I wanna see what you guys do for fun." Cork jumped up and down happily.

"Alright then," Chip said and looked at me. "Let's take him downtown to show him the big stuff."

"First we'll stop at my place and drop off our things." I smirked at him.

He frowned. "Fine. But I still wanna show him my fave shop in town," he complained as the three of us walked toward my house.

"You'll get to. We just need to pick up my little sis and I need to get my bike."

"I live right next door. I'll get my bike while you get yours." He grinned mischievously as I rolled my eyes.

"Alright."

"Sweet!" he exclaimed as he and Cork high-fived. I shook my head with a grin as we walked down Mintwee Street to my house.