It has been tough for a couple of months for me. I had a hard time thinking, I have been dealing with personal family problems and I'm about to go back to work on the 2nd of June, so...
Here's the next chapter!
Ariel sat on her bed all by herself and stared out her window, her eyes and cheeks red from crying.
She didn't want to draw or watch TV or even read books. She didn't do anything at all, she truly missed Dave. Because their friendship bond was so strong and unbreakable, Ariel just couldn't forget him or the things they did together.
I miss that little guy Ariel thought to herself. I'll never see him for who knows how long.
Ms. Hara tried her best to cheer up Ariel despite some of the things that she did to make her daughter laugh didn't work.
"I'm sorry, Ariel" cooed Ms. Hara, giving up. "I hate to see you like this."
She held Ariel in her arms.
Even if her parenting guide didn't have a chapter on what to do when 'your daughter's pet octopus left them', Ms. Hara still loved Ariel no matter what, whether she has the ability to talk to animals or not. She just wanted to see her child happy.
Soon the cell phone rang.
"Hello? Yes, this is the Hara house. Uh-huh. Yes, you may speak with her" answered Ms. Hara.
She gave Ariel the cell phone.
"It's for you, honey."
Ariel slowly took the cell phone from her mom.
"Hello?" she answered in her new sad voice.
"Ariel, it's Mai Ling from the high school" asked the caller. "Listen, do you remember me telling you that I work at the zoo on weekends?"
"Yeah, I remember you telling me."
"Well, I'm calling on behalf of Dr. Janet Diaz. She would like to see you and your mom at the zoo hospital."
"When?"
"Tomorrow morning, 10:30."
When Ariel and her mom left for the zoo hospital the next morning, they were unsure of what was the problem.
Soon enough when they entered the office, Dr. Diaz pulled out the seashell choker from her pocket and handed it to Ariel.
"Mai said you made this at school" she said to Ariel. "Is this true?"
"Yes, ma'am" Ariel replied nervously but politely. "But I made it for a friend. A small animal that I found like months ago."
Dr. Diaz nodded and then walked over to a counter.
"Then, I think I've found your friend" she said.
When she turned around, Diaz held something in her hands and placed it in Ariel's.
"Dave!" cried Ariel. "You're okay!"
"Ariel!" Dave shouted with joy.
The small octopus hugged Ariel's hand, feeling safe and happy.
"How did you find him?" Ariel asked Dr. Diaz.
"He was in the streets near Battery Park" smiled the vet.
"When I saw the choker around his neck, I said to myself 'that must be made by a small little girl' and I asked Mai if she knew anyone."
"Oh, thanks, Mai Ling."
Mai Ling chuckled, as if to say 'it was nothing.'
Then, Dr. Diaz picked up Dave and placed him in a plastic bag.
"I checked on him and it looks like you have keeping him healthy" she said to Ariel. "What have you been feeding him?"
"Fish" Ariel answered. "Most of the time he mostly ate raw chicken meat and shrimp from the fridge."
"That's clever."
"Thanks."
Dr. Diaz handed the bag to Ariel.
"Just find a way to tighten the cover of the tank, look online about octopuses if you're not sure of something and keep him away from other animals like dogs and cats" Dr. Diaz instructed.
And with that, Ariel and Ms. Hara thanked Dr. Diaz and Mai Ling, left the zoo and made a couple of quick stops like to the store, pick up lunch at a restaurant, then they returned home.
Dave was been relaxing ever since he was brought back to the apartment. He was resting inside his tank, the sunlight against his skin and eating a small cup full of popcorn chicken.
"Home at last" he sighed to himself.
At that moment, Ariel entered the room. She looked like as if she had been having fun with her friends, but that wasn't the case.
"Hey, Dave, guess what?" Ariel said excitedly.
"What?" asked Dave, confused.
"We're gonna move to a new house!"
She started jumping up and down all around the bedroom, screaming "YAY!" much to Dave's surprise.
"Really, we're moving?" frowned Dave. "Where are we moving to?"
"To a bigger house, silly octopus" Ariel answered. "Mom says we've gotta pack up before tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? We're moving tomorrow?"
"Yeah, the mover people will be coming to help us get our stuff to the new house."
Ariel then started packing away all of her toys and clothes in large marked cardboard boxes.
Dave on the other hand was surprised to hear this. He and the Haras are moving away to another place somewhere in New York City where hopefully nobody, not even the North Wind or annoying cute penguins, would bother him ever again.
To be continued...
Well, looks like we only have one more chapter to this journey, so please review.