Chapter 6: Something To Tell

Vinnie walked into the Pet Shop with his head held high. This day was going to be different. Today he was going to tell a certain orange pet how he felt about her. He did not know why he had wanted to tell her so badly that day. It might have been the fact that Sunil was still in India. Sunil was always hanging out with him and Mango. Or maybe it was Vinnie that kept hanging around them. He frowned for a moment. He did not like it when it was put that way. It made him look like the clingy third wheel. But it wasn't fair to make Sunil look like the clingy third wheel either. He stopped for a moment to think. Mango couldn't be the clingy third wheel because she was the center for both of them. So who was?

No matter which way he put it the answer always came out wrong. He thought some more. Then he decided that there was no third wheel. Whatever vehicle they were only had three wheels. Like a wheelbarrow. He thought some more and realized that wheelbarrows had one wheel. But despite that, it was encouraging to know that it would only be him and Mango. He had a day to win her over. That way when Sunil came back from his trip, Mango would be his. Vinnie stopped walking again. That was not the kind of thought that a best friend should have. Vinnie decided that he just wanted to surprise Sunil with the good news. Because Sunil would think that it was good news. He would think that Vinnie stealing away Mango when he was on a trip to India was good news.

Vinnie decided that he would just stop thinking about it.

When he walked into the day camp area he was pleased. All the pets were busy doing their own things and no one was paying any attention to Mango. He would be able to serenade her in peace. No one noticed as he walked in, not even the pet he was looking at. She was hunched over a small yellow book. It looked like she was writing in it but he could not make out what was being written. He arched his head to try and get a quick peek. But before he could see anything Mango slammed the book shut and turned around. Her face turned from one of anger to surprise.

"Vinnie! You're back! That is so great I have something I need to tell you." Mango began speaking quickly without even stopping to take a breath.

Vinnie stepped back a little. He loved Mango but she could be a little overwhelming when she was excited. "Great because I have something that I need to tell you too."

He led Mango away to a far off corner of the Pet Shop. He planned to just tell her what he thought of her and that he loved her. Then she would yell out that she loved him too. She would hug him and be only his. He would sweep her off of her feet and dance with her. A smooth, flowing, rocking dance that held their bodies close together. She would lean her head on his shoulder and look up at him with adoring yellow eyes. Then he would bend his face down toward hers and-

"Vinnie, are you okay? You look a little red."

Vinnie snapped out of his daydream. He could feel his face heating up. He looked over at Mango then snapped his head back in front of him. He decided that he was just not going to look at Mango for the rest of the trip. When they reached the corner he turned back toward her. Vinnie could feel his heart pounding. His hands sweating. His throat became dry and scratchy. Mango was staring at him, waiting for him to tell her something. He began to panic. On the way to the Pet Shop he had planned everything that he would say to her. All of that planning flew out the window. He couldn't remember anything. Panicking, he tried to think of something, anything, that would save him. Then he remembered that Mango had said she had something she needed to tell him. If she went first he would have time to compose himself.

"Why don't you say what you need to say first. Then I can go." He said as smoothly as he could. Which was not very smooth at all.

"Okay. Vinnie, guess what?" Mango's tail began to wag faster and faster. "We are going to throw Sunil a birthday party!"

"We are?" Vinnie was confused at first. Then he began to get excited. A party for his best buddy was perfect. Sunil was missing his birthday at the Pet Shop and Vinnie knew that he would be disappointed if he didn't get to celebrate with his friends.

"Yes! Russell had the idea and we all are pitching in on it. Maybe you can help out by putting together a show for Sunil and you need to find a DJ for the party too. You also need to think of a birthday present for him. The party is two days after Sunil shows up. It will be in the morning so be ready." Mango said with a beaming smile. She knew that Vinnie would think the party was a splendid idea.

"I will. I'll make a special dance for the party. Then I'll go and get him a great gift." Vinnie said while doing little bounces up and down.

"Aren't you going to make a gift?" Mango asked. She was trying to act uninterested but internally she was dying to know the answer.

"I think I'll just buy him something. I'm not very artsy and I know he will appreciate it if I just get him something he'll like. Trust me. I know Sunil and Sunil wants something he can actually use." Vinnie told Mango while trying out a few dance steps.

Mango's ears began to lower but she forced them to stay up. She did not want to bother Vinnie with her troubles. He already had enough to do for the party. She opened her mouth to say something cheery to show Vinnie that she was ok, but he was already racing away to another corner of the Pet Shop. He called back over his shoulder. "Got to get started on the dance. Talk to ya later Mango!" He waved good bye and she waved back. It wasn't until a few minutes later that Mango realized Vinnie had never said what he wanted to tell her.

Vinnie made it to the far off corner of the Pet Shop. He began rehearsing some new dance moves he had thought of before he suddenly stopped. His mouth dropped open. He never told her.