" Do you remember? The 21st night of September? Love was changing the minds of pretenders, While chasing the clouds away!" "September" by Earth, Wind & Fire. Happy September my fellow readers! Hope you are having a nice day. Not me! Where I am, I need to deal with heat up to 113 degrees! So the point of this chapter is for Branch to realize that the snack packs life isn't what he thought it was. That even the happiest people can have problems.
TDICELEBRITY14 - The transfer is a crucial part of the story. You'll see that in the next chapter. Ane that "Knock Hard Life" song was suppose to be in this chapter but I had to cut this chapter short and moved that part to the last chapter. Glad you like it.
Atomochi - Glad to hear that I can make people laugh with my silly stories. And I use Google translater when I write in another language so even if you did speak Chinese you might not understand. Google translator isn't exact. And I know many other people who are also dead inside.
TAPDANCING GIRAF - Next chapter you'll see what life is like in Bergen town. I also looked up Fraggles and your right. They do have similarities . Chef isn't suppose to be likeable. She never was and I have no idea about her real name. I'm just going with what the movie gave us. The film has very strange names like Branch, Biggie, Fuzzbert. Theyre all items or an adjective. The only real names in the film are Cooper, Suki and Bridget. But that is a good question. And you kinda right about Creek. He is nicer than usual but he still wants Poppy.
Minecraft dude 1 - I dearly hope you and your friends didn't end up in bad homes like many others.
TheSnackPack - lol, don't we all? We'll see him again soon.
Bacon - It's always the innocent ones that have the darkest side. That's what I've been told. And about that " Mulan " comment, I think is was because my little sister was watching clips of the film on my computer. I never noticed until now. That happen at times. I listen to something and end up typing it. Just by this chapter can you guess what my sister was watching while I was typing this chapter. Don't know if it's obvious.
Alright. ON WITH... oh what ever
The sun was setting and the foster children were still working. Inside the kitchen, Cooper was sweeping the floor with an old broken broom.
"7 o clock in 5 minutes! All guest scram!" Chef shouted from the speakers. Hearing this, Cooper walked up to Suki who was washing dishes.
"Hey, you and the kids still coming over for the dinner?"
"And eat actual food? Yea," Suki cheered. For years, Suki and the foster kids would sneak out of the house and go to Cooper's house for dinner. It wasn't easy but it was worth it. Cooper went into the living room and rounded up his friend's.
"Come on guys. My family is having a get together tonight."
"Ooo, fun," Poppy cheered as she gathered her stuff.
"Your family won't mind us there?" Branch picked up his things and happily put all the cleaning supplies away.
"Nah, in a big family like mine, a few more guest isn't much,"
"Seven o clock! Get out or I'll make you!" Chef announced. Everyone got their bags and left the house. Cooper led the group to his house.
"You live right next to Suki?" Branch asked as they entered.
"Yea, we've been neighbors since we were 6," Cooper answered. Inside, everyone was running around with food in their hands. Cooper led his friends to the back yard. They ran past the family and headed to the gate. They all ducked down and slowly looked over the fence. Through the windows, they could see the foster kids running up stairs to their rooms. Cooper opened his backpack and took out a walkie talkie.
" Is everyone ready, over,"
"In a few. Principle Gristle is down stairs with his son right now, we can't make too much noise," Suki's voice came from the walkie talkie.
"Gristle?" Branch repeated the last name he wanted to hear.
"Chef works as the cafeteria lady in Bergen Town High School. She invited him to dinner so she can get promoted from a cafeteria lady to something better," Poppy explained. She looked back at the house to see Chef setting up the tables ," Even though that lady already gets over 100,000 dollars a year!"
"They're talking, we're coming out," Suki told her friends. From the second floor window, the foster kids started jumping out and slid down the downpipe of the gutter. Inside the foster house, Suki was trying to convince Bridget to come as well.
"I wish I can, but you know what would happen if Chef finds out we left?" Bridget denied.
"She thinks we're all asleep. She'll never know," Suki helped the kids out the window. Bridget stayed in thought for a moment. She never left with the foster kids to eat mainly out of fear. Bridget was the only foster kid in the house who hasn't been locked in the punish rooms. Before she can give an answer, a booming voice filled the house.
"GIDGET!" Chef call out to the chubby girl. Bridget made her way to the door.
"You go ahead. Chef is going to need me all night," without another word, Bridget opened the door and silently left. Suki felt disappointment about this. Bridget never got to experience the same happiness she and the foster kids felt. She didn't even go to Emerald School. She was born in Bergen Town forcing her to go to Bergen Town High School. If that wasn't too much for her to handle, She was treated worse in the house. Chef would always boss her around the most and give her the most chores.
"Suki! Come on," Harper urged her to hurry. Suki kept her eyes on the door before slowly backing away to the window. She climbed out and slid down with the rest of the kids. They made their way towards the fence and helped each other over it. Once on the other side, Cooper couldn't help but notice how disappointed Suki looked.
"Bridget couldn't come?" Cooper knew already.
"She never has the time," Suki sadly replied. She looked down at the ground thinking about how depressed Bridget always seemed. Just like the rest of the snack pack, she wondered why all the bergens were so unhappy and insecure.
In the foster home.
Bridget was wiping off the counters with a cloth and spray bottle. She was ordered to clean the kitchen up before they ate.
"And this is my lovely kitchen," Chef brought the Gristle family in," Where I cook my best meals."
"The foster children must love your cooking," Mr Gristle comment.
"They sure do. They can't help but gobble up the whole plate in a minute," Chef fibbed. Bridget scoffed at her comment. Maybe if she fed them more frequently, the starving kids wouldn't gobble up the food in a minute. After cleaning the counters, Bridget hurried her way to leave only to bump into Gristle. The collision caused the bottle in her hand to spray him.
"Opps! I'm so sorry!" Bridget tried to clean him dry with her cloth but that only got him wetter," Ooh, that didn't help."
" Do I know you?" Gristle seemed a bit irritated.
"I'm Bridget," she told him but Gristle still didn't get it," I go to your school…. We have like 3 classes together?"
Bridget tried to remind him but Gristle still had the same confused expression.
"We were lab partners a few days ago," Bridget still couldn't get Gristle to remember her.
"Bridget please," Chef came into the scene and pushed her away," Gristle is here to have a nice dinner. Not socialize with a foster kid."
With her head hung low Bridget walked to the back of the kitchen.
"Sorry about that, take a seat may you please," Chef sat the chubby boy down. Bridget watched as Chef fed them a big proper meal. While the smell of fresh healthy food filled the air, her eyes landed on something else besides the food. Gristle never seemed to notice her. Heck he doesn't even know that she's alive. She sighed in disappointment and started to do the dishes.
( Sing, bold for actions )
"I've been alone with you inside my mind,"
Bridget can see the boy's reflection on the clean dishes.
"and in my dreams I've kissed your lips,
A thousands times,"
She put everything away and made her way past the table.
" I sometimes see you walk outside past my door,"
Once out the door, she pressed her back against the wall and looked back in.
"Hello, is it me you're looking for,
I can see it in your eyes,
I can see it in your smile,"
Falling deeper into sadness, she made her way up the stairs.
"You're all I ever wanted,
And my arms are open wide!"
Her voice echoed on the walls of the dark empty hall. She entered her room.
"Cause you know what to say,
And you know what to do,"
She took out a diary and looked inside. In it was scribbles and doodles of her name and Gristles.
" and I want to tell you so much,
I love you,"
As she whispered the last line, Bridget threw her face into her pillows and cried herself to sleep.
( end )
Back at Coopers house
In the backyard, everyone was having a good time. Multiple tables were set up for everyone and people were starting to serve themselves.
"Anyone want the last piece of cheesecake!?" Coopers mom announced. Right next to her, Fuzzbert starter jumping up and down with his hands up.
"I'll take it!" Little Sushi cheered. Jazmin handed the plate to her to Fuzzberts disappointment. If only he can speak.
"Fuzzbert!" Smidge grabbed onto his arm and dragged him to the table. There, everyone was happily getting ready to eat. Poppy was about to pull out a chair.
"Allow me princess," Creek stopped her and pulled out a chair for her.
"Oh, thank you," Poppy blushed as she sat down and Creek pushed her in.
"Want a drink?" He asked like a gentleman.
"Cranberry juice?" Poppy asked.
"Anything," Creek tapped her nose making her chuckle. From the food table, Branch saw what Creek was doing.
"What was that about?" Branch asked when Creek walked up to the cooler.
"What? Can't a guy play the game?" Creek smirked.
"Play?" Branch was out of loop.
"Branch Branch Branch," Creek shook his head," You can't denie to me that Poppy has caught your eye."
Creek took out two bottles of cranberry juice and threw one to him.
"News for you, She may have caught mine as well," Creek gave his shoulder a light punch," Can't blame you. She's quite a catch isn't she?"
"What makes you think I like her that way?"
"Pretty clear if you ask me. You look at her the same way she looks at me," Creek gave him an innocent smile. Branch tried to progress what he just said. He knew that Poppy had a crush on him and yet he didn't do anything until now,"Now if you don't mind."
Creek walked back to the table. Branch stood their with an addled expression mixed with aggravations. He came out of it and went to sit. He took the seat next to Poppy but of course Creek took a seat to her other side. Branch couldn't help but feel a spark of jealousy inside. He figured out that Poppy had a crush on Creek but Creek never seemed to return the feelings until he showed up.
"Alright everyone, quiet down," Cooper's dad announced as he held hands with his family. Everyone around the tables did the same. Branch copied their movement's and held hands with Poppy. With just a touch from her he felt like he was home, " Let us give thanks for this bountiful food and…"
Unfortunately for Fuzzbert, he didn't hear a thing. He started stuffing his mouth with meat and drank down his soda.
"Fuzzbert!" Smidge tried to whisper to him but he kept eating. Knowing talking was useless, Smidge patted his shoulder. Fuzzbert stopped and looked at her. Smidge pointed around her to show that no one was eating yet. Instead everyone was holding hands with the person next to them. He quickly put everything down and held hands as well.
"Sorry," He said with his hands.
"That's alright. No one on earth is perfect. Like I was saying, let us give thanks for tonights bountiful food and for our new guest, " Samuel cleared his throat to talk again,"God, we thank you for this food. For rest and home and all things good. For wind and rain and sun above. But most of all for those we love."
"Amen!" Sushi cheered before digging into her food. When everyone started eating, Branch repeated the words in his head. "For rest and home and all things good…. But most of all for those we love" this surely felt like something Poppy would live by. Always caring for her friends and thankful for even the smallest things. During the feast, everyone was passing bowls of food to other tables.
"Anyone want some bread sticks?!" Samuel passed the basket to the snack packs table.
"Me me me!" Biggie took the bowl and placed some on his plate.
"I want some!" Poppy took some. One by one, All the snack pack took the bread. Almost all, Fuzzbert would try to reach in but he would get pushed out.
"Got some fruit salad, anyone want any?" Uncle Mac placed a bowl on a table. Fuzzbert got up to get some but was soon pushed to the side by a group of hungry people. Lucky for him, he didn't get harmed, unlike Uncle Mac who was trampled on. He tried to squeeze in but he had no way of communicating. No one could hear him. He couldn't speak up for what he wanted. Feeling defeated, he walked back to his table.
"Hey buddy, don't feel so down," Smidge patted his back. She cut her bread in half and handed him a piece. She couldn't see it but he was smiling. Branch observed the way Fuzzbert was pushed around. Not everyone seemed to take the time to communicate with the def boy. After eating, the foster kids were all running around with the other kids. Suki loved coming over to Cooper's house. They would get fed, play and relax after a hard day of work. If only they didn't have to do it in secret. Then she wouldn't be worrying about Chef.
"Relax," Cooper noticed her worry," Chef is probably working her butt off to impress Principle Gristle. She won't notice you and the kids are gone."
"No…. Wait…" a thought then shot into her," Working hard? We have to go!"
Suki stood up and rounded up the foster kids.
"Why?" Cooper followed her to the kids.
"Chef would never work hard unless we're there to help her," Suki had rounded up the last foster kid and was about to leave until the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it!" Sushi ran to the door. She opened it to reveal a frightening sight.
"Hello little girl," Chef leaned down to the young teen," are mommy and daddy here?"
"I'm fourteen not stupid," Sushi crossed her arms and glared at her. Chefs friendly face dropped into a mean one.
"Move it girl," Chef pushed her aside and entered the house.
"You're not allowed in this house!" she tried to get rid of her.
"Whatever! I'm here for my orphans," Chef searched the living room.
"Well there not here," Sushi lied to keep them safe.
"Really?" Chef turned to her," Then why weren't they in the house when I called for them?"
Sushi stood still for while. She couldn't let Chef find the kids here.
"Maybe your cooking send them running," Sushi insulted. This was her way of keeping her here.
"Look Susy!" Chef turned around to face her.
"Sushi!" She corrected
"Shut up, I'm trying to ask nicely," Chef took a cushion from the coach and squeezed it in her hand in anger.
"Nicely? Ha! If you're going to be two faced at least make one pretty," Sushi kept the insults coming. Before Chef can even rip the cushion apart, she came to a conclusion.
"I see, your stalling,"
"Stalling?" Sushi asked innocently.
"Yes, stalling,"
"I'm not stalling," Sushi shook her head no.
"You're doing it now," Chef shook her finger at her.
"You think, I'm stalling," Sushi kept up the act.
"Yes," Chef spat out with anger. Sushi placed a finger on her chin and looked up as if she was thinking.
"Stalling?" Sushi was stretching this as much as she could.
Backyard
Suki was lifting all the foster kids over the fence. She needed to get out before Chef found them.
"I can't believe I didn't think ahead," Suki lifted Harper over the fence.
"You can't keep living like this," Cooper helped the kids," Chef will only abuse you more as time goes on."
"Yea and possibly do something worse if we leave or ask for help," Suki was too afraid to do anything. If she were to reveal anything about the foster home then Chef might do something worse than death to them.
In the house
"So… what you're saying is that… I'm stalling," Sushi was still keeping up the act. Before her was an angered Chef.
"Yes!" Chef threw the cushion onto the floor and dug her face in her hands.
"One question,"
"What?!" Chef's angry eyes peeked out of her hands.
"What's stalling?" Sushi asked seriously. Chef stood there in disbelief.
"That's it!" Chef marched her way to the backyard. Sushi followed her out to see if the kids were still there," Where are they!?"
At the back Suki was the last one left, but her foster mother's voice froze her to the ground. She quickly ducked down and crawled under a table.
"Why, Ms Chef. What a pleasant surprise," Jazmin walked up to the lady with a basket of rolls," Would you be interested in some…"
"No!" Chef pushed her aside and scanned the area," You wouldn't happen to know where my foster kids went do you?"
"Foster kids? We don't recall any foster kids here," Jazmin acted. Chef was clearly not buying her story. Her eyes landed on the table where the snack pack was. Everyone waved at her like nothing was happening but Chef glared daggers at them," Where are they?"
"The foster kids? How am I supposed to know?" Cooper shrugged his shoulders. Chef gave a low growl. She looked down at the table and noticed the cloth was tugged on one side.
"Hmmm…" Chef grabbed the cloth and pulled it off making everything on it fall," Ahha! There you are!"
"I can explain!" Suki crawled out from under the table.
"Explain after your punishment!" Chef grabbed her arm and pulled her into the house. Fearing for her, Cooper was the first out of his chair and in the house.
"Cooper wait," His dad stopped him.
"She can't…"
"It's her daughter, we can't do anything," Samuel interrupted him.
"Starting tonight you are grounded! You hear me?!" Chef pulled onto her hard enough to knock her off her feet.
"Ow, you're hurting me!" Suki tried to get up. Feeling some anger build up Cooper was about to march to her but his friends held him back.
"Get up!" Chef pulled her to her feet and pushed her against the wall," You are this close to getting sent back to the foster system! And we both know that is not what you want. Right?"
Suki stayed silent from this question.
"Are you even listening?!" Chef shook her shoulders but still no response," You're pathetic!"
She opened the door and held onto Suki's arm again.
"You would be nothing right now if…. WHOA!" what ever she was about to say was interrupted when she felt the ground move. Chef fell back on her back and had a carpet thrown over her.
"Cooper!" His mom silently gasped at her son's actions. He had pulled the carpet she was on and made her fall. He stood there in shock at what he just did. Chef pushed the carpet off her and glared right at him.
"You shouldn't have done that!" Chef lifted herself up and confronted him," Your family can't afford to mess with me!"
"leave him alone," Jazmin hid her son behind her,"He never did anything to you."
" Ever since you and your family moved next door he's been nothing but trouble! Your family is nothing but trouble! Once I get back to my house I'm calling the authorities!" Chefs claim seemed to cause some panic.
"For what?" Branch spoke up.
"For what?! For kidnapping foster kids and assaulting a foster mother!"
"While you're at it, explain to them about the children's abuse," Branch walked to the front of the group.
"I don't know what your talking about," Chef was about to leave with Suki.
"I was just in your house,"
"Nothing wrong with a little work,"
"You stuffed a kid in a punishment room,"
"Discipline,"
"Physical abuse. Neglection!" Branch walked closer to the lady. Poppy tried to stop him by pulling his arm but he refused to stay put," If I remember correctly, the The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act was released not to long ago. 1974 to be exact."
"What are you getting at?" Chef was getting tired but at the same time worried.
"I don't know how you manage to hide what you're doing but you should know this! I'm not the type to keep my mouth shut. If you get the authorities here, I'll make sure they are informed of your unlawful behavior towards foster children."
"You're just a kid. You can never convince them," Chef started walking out with Suki in her hands.
"Maybe not!" Branch stood by the door," But you don't know what I'm capable of! I've studied law longer than you think. I know what I'm doing unlike you. You really want to take that risk!?"
Chef held onto Suki's arm even tighter. So tight that the foster girl had to flinch in pain. To her relief, Chef snapped her hand open letting the blood in her arm flow again. Without a word, Chef pushed Suki towards the house. Suki looked back behind her at all the shocked and worried expressions inside the house. The second the door to the foster home slam shut, Cooper darted upstairs.
"Cooper?" His mom called to him. Worried for their friend, The snack pack ran upstairs to his room. Inside, he was pacing back and forth and had his hands folding. He mumbled something that sounded like a prayer.
"Cooper take it easy," Guy Diamond watched his worried friend," Suki will be fine."
"Not after that. Chef might call the authorities on my family because of me!" Cooper panicked. He walked to his window and looked at the foster home. The light to Suki's room was dark. He opened the drawers next to him and rummaged his hands through the junk until he had a walkie talkie," Suki? You ok?"
"Relax buddy," Biggie placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. Cooper pushed it off and slammed the walkie talkie on his bed.
"That lady really gets on my nerves!" Cooper let out some anger.
"If your family is so aware of the abuse why doesn't anyone say anything?" Branch was confused.
"You don't think we tried. My family has a bad reputation with the police," Cooper flopped onto his bed," Ever since my parents dated, they had nothing but trouble! During the 60's my father and his family went on to protest segregation with my mom's family. You can safely bet every one of them went to jail, has their name on a list or had to leave town. Because of all the trouble my parents caused, the whole family is nothing but dirt to walk all over on for the police."
"Cooper… I know this might sound wrong but wouldn't the authorities be more accepting now that segregation is over? It's been twenty years already," Branch had to ask. He didn't want to believe that the people he wants to work for would treat his family awfully.
"I wish," Cooper sighed. He seemed to be calmer now," The law may have been a challenge to change but the real challenge is changing the hearts and minds of people."
With this last comment the room filled with silence. Everyone had nothing that'll lighten up the mood. After what seemed like minutes, the static from the walkie talkie broke the silence.
"I'm fine. No need to worry," Suki answered. In a millisecond Cooper had the walkie talkie in his hands.
"Suki! What happened!? Are you ok?"
"I'm fine really. But you might not see me inside my room again," Suki answered. Her tone sounded down and blue. The sentence confused her friend. Cooper was about to ask another question until Suki answered again," Look at where the attic is."
Everyone ran to the window and looked up. There at the small glass window in the attic was the orange hair girl. She opened the window and waved at them.
"She put you in the attic!" Cooper shouted at her.
"Pretty much!" Suki answered back. She shut the window and spoke again," This is going to be my room from now on."
"That's unbelievable," Cooper comment.
"It could've been worse. Thank Branch for me. From the sounds of it, I don't think she will call the police on your family," Suki revealed.
"Well I'm just glad your alright," Cooper told her.
"I need to go. Chef is keeping an extra eye on me and I should be asleep soon, see you all tomorrow," Suki hanged up.
"See ya," Cooper sadly put down the walkie talkie. The group of friends decided to leave the boy alone. He was clearly not in the happy friendly mood he was always in.
In the foster home
Suki was tossing and turning in her sleeping bag that she packed. She wasn't given much time to gather her belongings before being forced into the dark dusty room. She sat back up and grunted in annoyance. There was no way she was going to sleep easily tonight. She stayed there thinking of how much longer she can take this. She was 16 so she had at least 2 years left in foster care, but what about the other foster children? She can't just leave them. They all grew up together and helped each other like a family.
( sing bold fo actions )
"Why are there so many,
Cold days for us,
And no warm light for any, tonight.
She picked herself up and walked around looking at the old looking place.
"Dark nights and coldness,
But only, for us,
And nothing seems to have,
An end,"
She took out some more dusty blankets from the chest that in there. She dusted them off causing puffs of smokes to fill the air.
"So we all pray and some choose to believe it,
So we choose to wait and see,
Someday we'll taste it,
The milk and honey,
The angels, the children and me,"
Suki folded the ripped blankets and placed them under her sleeping bag.
"And who said that every prayer,
Would be heard and answered,
When whispered every night,
Somebody read it,
Someone said it,
But who knows if it is right,"
She walked to the window and opened it to look at the shining stars above.
"Who is that talking,
Who keeps us all hoping,
One day, we will be set free,
One day, We'll taste it,
The milk and honey,
The angles, the children and I,"
She climbed out of the window and onto the roof.
"All of us in paradise,
We hope that one day to see it!
We have been half living,
And we have been working!
And I've heard them crying,
With me,"
She made it to the top and looked above.
"Where is the sweet light?
That warms the young children,
The voice that calms our day,"
Finally she sat down and kept her gaze on the stars above.
"They've said it too many times to unhear it,
It's something that I hope to say,
I have tasted,
The milk and honey,
The angles, the children and me,
La-da-da, de-da-da-do
And someday we'll taste it,
The milk and honey,
The angles, the children and me,
La-da-da, de-da-da-do,"
End
With Branch and Poppy
"you're both leaving?" Guy Diamond noticed the two getting ready to leave.
"I have to get back at my house before curfew," Poppy explained," And besides, things seem to be heating up a lot here."
She wasn't kidding. Family members started leaving fearing they may be in trouble. Some stayed to argue about what happened.
"I told you all!" Grandpa Grump pointed at everyone with his cane,"That little white girl was going to cause some trouble for us someday and that day is today!"
"It wasn't her fault dad. Suki just needed a place to get away from her troubles," Jazmin tried to talk to him.
"Yea well now we're all in trouble! Just like back then!" Grump claimed in a demanding voice.
"Exactly like back then," Samuel came into the conversation," Black or white, our two families stayed together back then and we're staying together today. No matter what happens!"
As the whole house argued on what was going to happen, Poppy and Branch left. Halfway to Poppy's house, she decided to speak up.
"So, you still think our lives are perfect?"
"Well… it's definitely not perfect" Branch admitted," But what I still don't understand is how are you and your friends still so happy? Shouldn't all this bother you?"
"It does bother us," Poppy answered," But one thing we always do is hope, and look for the bright side."
"But what if there is no bright side to life?" Branch kept asking. They had arrived at Poppy's house. The roof of it was patched up with wood and the big tree was no longer there.
"There's always a bright side and if there isn't then we make one,"
"Make a bright side?" Branch was bewildered by her words. Poppy nodded yes," How is that even possible?"
"Easy, it's people like you who do it," without any warning, Poppy wrapped her arms around him and held him a hug. Branch tensed up at the moment,"Thanks for standing up to Chef like that. You gave them a bright side to look for."
"Um… your welcome," Branch was barely able to get out. Her warm body wrapped around him made his face heat up. He wasn't use to this gesture. In fact it has been so long that he can't even remember a time he was hugged. Before everything can come back into focus, Poppy let go and skipped to her house.
"Good night Branch! See you at Bergen town tomorrow!" with that last cheery tone, she shut the door and disappeared.
"Yea…" Branch still couldn't shake off the tingling feeling. Once he can feel his body cool down he started his walk back to the orphanage. With just a block away, Branch still couldn't get over the hug. It felt nice and warm to be hugged by someone he loved. Loved? Nah it can't be…. Can it?
"How was the date!?" A male voice made the boy jump and yelp in fear.
"Cloud Guy!?" Branch held his racing heart. The white haired boy was sitting on a bench near the orphanage," Why are you out so late?"
"Ah you know, just out for a walk. But there's nothing interesting about me, what about you. Was your date with Poppy a success?"
"We were not on a date," Branch denied.
"Denial," Cloud Guy said in a sing song tone. He laughed at himself while Branch rolled his eyes and continued on his walk," Hey, where you going? I still want to hear about that date."
"It wasn't a date! We just went out to eat," Branch snapped.
"Uh huh, and you walked her home because you wanted to be gentlemen like," Cloud Guy continued the teasing. Branch groaned in annoyance. He continued on his walk while Cloud Guy continued to follow," Branch and Poppy. What would your relationship nickname be? Pranch?"
"What?" Branch was confused by what he was doing.
"Oh, Ponch! No too weird,"
"What are you doing?"
"Branchoppy!"
"No!"
"You're right, too long. Aha! Broppy!" Cloud Guy was sure he found the perfect shipping name.
"Don't you have something better to do?!" Branch tried to walk faster.
"Oh, right!" Cloud Guy snapped his fingers," I wanted to warn you!"
"Warn me?" Branch raised an eyebrow at him.
"I heard that you and the others are spending some time at Bergen Town High School,"
"What haven't you heard?"
"Oh well, a single hand clapping, a tree falling, a foxes call, what does a fox sound like," Cloud Guy listed some things he never heard before," Any ways, What you need to know before leaving to that school is that it is nasty. And I mean literally."
"Can't be that bad," Branch comment looking back at Cloud Guy who was slightly behind him. When he faced forward Cloud Guy was magically in front. He grabbed his cheeks and squished them together. He held his face to look at him.
"Not that bad!? Do you have any idea what I had seen? When I went to that school it was a nightmare! Low food supplies! Dirty! Run down! WARS!"
"That's ridiculous," Branch pushed him away and walked away but he somehow appeared in front again. Puzzled, Branch looked back behind him and back at him.
"Trust me Branch, You haven't experienced real misery until you enter Bergen town," He held onto Branches Hand and placed a old looking key in it," When things get too rough for your taste, just find the closet and hide. Oh and if anyone asks…. You don't know a Cloud Guy."
He whispered that part before running off into the shadows. Branch looked to his right, behind him, but he was gone. Until he spotted a white figure to his left. Cloud Guy was attempting to hide in the dark ally.
"I can still see you," Branch told him.
"No you can't," Cloud Guy denied as he walked a bit deeper into the darkness.
"Umm… I'm pretty sure I can," Branch was unsure what he was trying to do. Cloud Guy walked deeper into the darkness.
"What about now?"
"Your white as snow,"
"Can you just like pretend I disappeared?" Cloud Guy asked him.
Well I'm done! Next chapter you'll all see what Bergen Town High school is like. And believe me, it ain't no picnic. See you next time! Songs! " Hello " by Lionel Richie. The second song is mine and follows the rhythm to " Rainbow Connection" from the "Muppet Movie" BUT! From the " We Love Disney" Soundtrack. Sung by Gwen Stefani. I was going to use "Tomorrow" from Annie but since Suki had this song might as well have a song Gwen Stefani sang right?