Chapter 9: The Letter
Josie wrote some things down on her notepad as she sat down on the couch. She was working for the newspaper and had to do a story. She decided to do a story about Ruby and her family.
Ruby only agreed to do it if she decided on what the article should have in it. Ruby would write down what she wanted and give the paper to Josie.
Josie waited for Ruby to give her the note. She looked up the flight of stairs, wondering what she was doing.
Ruby was writing in her journal. She was writing about someone she had a crush on. She stopped writing once she saw the paper she was supposed to give to Josie. She finished writing in her journal and went to writing the article for Josie.
She heard Peter call her name, but it wasn't angry. It was calm.
"Yeah?" she called back.
"Where's the silverware?" he asked.
"Top drawer, but the big spoons are in the drawer below it!" Ruby shouted back.
"Thank you," he said. Then, she heard Peter yell angrily. Ruby snickered.
She had put a jumping frog toy in the drawer to spring out at him and give him a good scare. She heard him calling her down and she just rolled her eyes. She quickly grabbed the paper and went downstairs. But, what she didn't know is she accidently got the page for her journal.
She carelessly threw it at Josie and trudged over to Peter. "Why are you doing this to us?"
"Because I want my family to come back so you can leave," she said.
Peter just sighed. "Ruby, they'll be back in two days. Just relax, will you?"
"Nope," she siad simply.
He narrowed his eyes and pointed towards the corner. "Sit down!"
"Sure," she said sitting in the corner.
It really didn't phase her. She needed a good rest from pranking anyways. She sighed in relief, leaned against the wall, and closed her eyes.
Josie thought it was odd for Ruby to want to put this in her newspaper and asked her, "Are you sure you want this in my newspaper?"
"Yes," Ruby said.
Josie shrugged. Why should she argue? She didn't want to get pranked by that red fox.
Meanwhile, Zenghui leaned against the bamboo tree. He still couldn't find anything. He saw the doors from the council's building open. People flooded out from the building and they talked to one another before going theri seperate ways.
As he was about to go back to his parents, he heard someone whisper to him, "Hey! You!"
He turned his attention to the bamboo forest. "Hello?"
No answer. He continued to walk on. "Zenghui!"
His ears jerked up. "Ruby?"
"Yeah! Come and catch me!" the voice called out.
"Ruby! Why'd you come here? Ruby!" he said going into the forest.
Mr. and Mrs. Xiaolin came out of the building and went to the hotel to see if their son was in the room. When they entered, he wasn't there. The cleaning lady had already come and they saw Zenghui had gotten his sword.
They decided to go look by the forest.
Zenghui chased the voice of his sister deeper and deeper into the forest. The voice was above him, behind him, everywhere! He soon stopped and took a deep breath. He looked around. He saw something run through the forest. "Ruby! Get back here!"
He followed the sound of her laughter and giggles. He looked around. Bamboo trees everywhere he turned. He started to get dizzy. He had turned left, right, forward, and went back. He panted and fell to his knees. He put his paw on his head and tried to take it all in.
Then he looked around. Where was he? He looked behind him. He didn't see the town or the way he came in.
He looked up at the bamboo trees to see where his sister was. "Ruby?" he called out.
There was no respond. He narrowed his coal black eyes and slashed a bamboo sword in frustration. It fell and crashed into other trees.
He sighed. He looked for a way out, but kept going in circles. "Ruby!" he shouted.
In Gongmen City, Ruby shivered. She looked around. Valerie asked what was wrong. "I don't know. Something feels wrong," Ruby said.
Valerie just said while wiping the table, "It's probably the guilt building up inside you since you keep pulling pranks on us."
Ruby shook her head no. "No, that's not it. Whenever I prank you all I get all nice and fuzzy inside."
Valerie just looked at her flatly and said, "Well then I guess it's just you."
Ruby looked out the window, still sitting in the corner. She wondered how her brother was doing. He's probably doing well in the meeting. Mother and Father are bragging away about how well behaved and smart he is and they'll mention that he will be eighteen soon, Ruby thought glumly.
She was happy for him, but she just wanted to be apart of the fun. Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard Josie shout out, "I did it!"
Everyone looked at her in confusion. "I finally finished the newspaper article. I'm going to go and send it out now," she said running out of the house.
Ruby rolled her eyes. She continued to sharpen her arrows and hum a little tune.
Valerie saw the cleaner for the table was almost empty. "Do you have any more of this?" she asked holding up the can that they sprayed on the paper towels and dust cloths.
Ruby tried not to smile and pointed to the drawer next to Valerie. She reached in and grabbed it. She shook it and sprayed some of the cleaner on the cloth. She wiped it and smiled. Valerie was surprised Ruby didn't trick her.
"Thanks," Valerie said.
"No, no," Ruby said smiling. "Thank you."
Valerie had a nervous feeling in her. What did she mean? Then, Josie came running back in and said, "It'll be in by tomorrow!"
Valerie smiled. "That's great, Josie."
She saw it was getting late out. "Okay, I have dinner all ready. Let's eat!"
Peter came out with the food with Valerie's help. Ruby looked out the window and saw the sun set. "Valerie, can we turn out all the lights?"
Valerie shivered slightly. "No," she said immediately.
"Oh C'mon, I'm not going to harm you. I just want this to be special," Ruby said with a fake sweet smile.
Valerie skeptically turned off the lights. Then she narrowed her eyes at the red fox as she saw what Ruby had done. "Ruby!" Peter yelled.
Ruby smiled as she looked at the wooden table that now glowed. She had infused some glow in the dark chemicals with the cleaner. "Oh Valerie, it looks just wonderful!"
Valerie growled and pointed for her to sit down. Ruby laughed and sat down. They ate dinner and went to bed.
The next day, Valerie shuttered when she saw the newspaper. "Josie!" she screamed.
Peter and Josie came running over. "What's wrong?" asked Josie.
She handed the newspaper to Josie. "What?" asked Peter. Then his eyes got wide once he saw the article. "Why'd you write this?"
"Ruby told me to!" Josie said.
"Ruby wouldn't tell you to write this!" said Valerie swiping it from Peter's paw. Valerie felt like hyperventilating. Peter began doing the same as well.
"What's the matter?" asked Josie.
Valerie and Peter glared at her. "Ruby does things to us just because we're here. Do you know what she'd do after she sees this?"
Josie was silent, trying to think, and then screamed at the top of her lungs. "We're doomed!"
"That's what I'm saying!" Valerie shouted back.
Ruby walked down the stairs and said with a yawn, "What's going on?"
Peter used his claws to tear the paper to pieces. "We're just screaming happily," he said and they all smiled nervously.
Ruby narrowed her eyes. Something was very wrong. She saw the newspaper torn to shreds. Something was in that paper that they didn't want her to see.
She got some cereal and saw they were all huddled together whispering about something. She moved her ears to try and see if she could pick up what they were saying.
She could only hear one thing. And the only thing she heard was, "Well at least we're going home really soon."
She finished her cereal and went to go to town for the newspaper. Josie blocked her path. "How about we play a game?"
She pushed her aside and reached for the door, but Peter blocked her path now. "How about we arm wrestle?" He held out his hand.
She grabbed it and twisted it. "Ow!" he cringed, moving aside.
She gripped the door. Valerie blocked her path. "How about you wait until it stops snowing?"
She yanked the door and it pushed Valerie away. She went out and the three were panicking. "Don't worry, we'll be leaving soon," Josie said again.
Then, a messenger duck came flying in and handed them a letter. "It's from Mr. Xiaolin," he said. He flew away.
Valerie opened it and shrieked, "No!"
Peter grabbed it and read it aloud, "Dear Valerie, I hope everything is going well. I just know Ruby is probably very fond of you right now and I think you are friends with her as well. But there is some unfortunate news I must share with you. Our son, Zenghui has gone missing and we can't find him. We will have to extend our trip so we will be able to find our son. Yours truly, Mr. Xiaolin."
Peter and Josie shivered. Valerie covered her face in her paws. "What are we going to do?"
"Prepare for the unimaginable," said Josie. They saw her expression. She was in shock. She pointed towards the person in the distance. It was Ruby coming back with the newspaper in her paw. She seemed depressed.
She walked past them without saying a word. She looked like she was going to cry even.
The feeling of worry washed away from Valerie. "Ruby? Ruby, are you alright?"
Valerie went to put her paw on Ruby's shoulder, but Ruby smacked it. "Who wrote this?"
They all pointed to Josie. She swallowed hard. Ruby shook slightly. "How could you?"
And with that, she ran off with tears streaming down her face. Valerie went to go and comfort her, but the door was slammed in her face. "Ruby, can't I just help you?"
"Go away!" she shouted.
Valerie tried again, "How about some cocoa?"
"How about water?" Ruby asked angrily. She opened the door and through a bucket of water at Valerie.
Valerie shivered. She hated getting wet. She would've screamed at the top of her lungs, but she felt bad for Ruby. Valerie had to make up to Ruby somehow, while also avoiding traps and pranks.
