First off, I wanna apologize for taking so long to update. Things have been getting a little crazy lately so I ended up getting preoccupied with other things.
But I still have more ideas for stories, and I figured you guys have waited long enough, so get ready.
Today was a very special day. And not just one of those ordinary special days. This was the Saturday where both Lisa Loud and her good friend Darcy Helmandollar were spending the whole day together.
It started off with having breakfast at the Loud house, then going out to do other activities, including going to the library, swinging at the playground and finally having a picnic by the Tall Timbers lake.
Then after dinner, it was getting late and Darcy had to go home.
"Thanks for letting me come over Lisa," Darcy exclaims. "I had a great time."
"As did I," Lisa agreed. "I must say, today was quite enjoyable. See you in school on Monday."
The two friends waved goodbye and Lisa closed the door.
"That was a really satisfying play date," Lisa said with a yawn. "But now it's time for my late evening siesta."
And so, she walked upstairs to her room, changed to her pajamas and climbed into bed.
The next morning, everyone was having a meeting in Lori's room.
At one point, Lisa was busy giving a presentation about…...well, considering her track record, I think it would take more time to explain the whole thing than I have to finish this story.
"So as you can see…."
Just then, a ring sound came out of nowhere. It was Lisa's phone. "Just a minute. Hello?"
The person on the other end was Darcy. "Hi Lisa. Have you seen Rafo?"
"Your giraffe? Wasn't he with you when you left?"
"He was, but now I can't find him. I think he might be at your house."
"I see. Well I'll tell you what, I'll search through the house and I'll bring him right over to school on Monday."
"Okay, but please hurry. I don't want anything bad to happen to him."
And they hung up.
"Siblings, I require your assistance."
So all the Louds decided to help her search.
Of course they started out in Lisa's room where she checked under the bed.
"Maybe she dropped it under here."
She did find a lot of stuff, but none of them was a stuffed giraffe.
"Negatory."
"That's what you said the last four times you checked under the bed," sighed Lucy.
"There any other place we could look?" Lana asked.
"What about the closet?" Leni suggests.
"We've literally checked there five times," Lori answers.
"Why not the backyard?" Lola wonders. "There's usually a bunch of toys out there anyway."
So they all went to the backyard and looked around, but still had no luck.
"Too bad Rafo isn't a real giraffe," Lana lamented.
"Why?" Her twin asks.
"Because then we wouldn't have to look. If there was a real giraffe around, you can't miss it."
"I hate to say it Lisa," Lincoln says. "But I think Rafo might be lost."
"I know," she sulked. "How am I ever going to explain this to Darcy?"
Inside the house, the four pets, Charles, Cliff, Walt and Geo were listening to the whole thing through the doggie door.
As you can tell, they were just as concerned as the kids. So they ran back into the living room to talk with a certain infant.
"Anything?" Lily asked.
The pets just shook their heads.
"Nope. Sorry kiddo," Charles said. "That giraffe is nowhere in sight."
"Well maybe it wouldn't be so hard to find if the kids weren't so messy," Walt complains.
"Try telling that to Lana," Cliff retorted. "It's like animals live in her room. Oh, wait a minute, THEY DO!"
The pets continued to argue as they left the room.
Even Lily started getting worried. "I wish there was something I could do. Gotta think, gotta think."
"That's some heavy thinking you're doing," said a voice.
"Thanks." But then Lily noticed that the voice didn't come from anyone she knew. "Wait! Who said that?"
"You know, if you're interested, I might be able to help."
"Who are you? Show yourself!"
And so they did. Lily looks towards the couch and as it turns, the response came from Lincoln's stuffed rabbit.
"Bun-bun? You can talk?"
"Of course I can. What do you think?"
Lily was confused and skeptical. "Is this some kind of joke?"
"No joke."
"But you're just a toy."
"Yeah. So?"
"So toys can't talk, let alone move around."
"Well I'm talking and moving right now, aren't I."
"Well if you're a toy, how are you alive?"
"I just am. It's only when no one else is around."
"That makes sense….I guess. Anyway, I don't have time to talk right now. I'm trying to think."
"I can help you."
"How can you help me? You don't even know what I'm thinking about."
"Oh, yeah? This wouldn't be about a lost giraffe that belongs to a certain girl, would it."
Lily was surprised. "Actually it is. How'd you know? Can toys read minds too?"
"Nah, I just heard your siblings talking about it. Just because I can't move when they're around doesn't mean I can't listen."
"Well anyway, do you know where I can find him?"
"Weeeeeeelllllllllll….no. But I do know someone who might have a hunch. He lives in the attic and watches over everything in the house. But I must warn you, he can be a bit of a grouch."
"Nothing I can't handle. Thanks Bun-Bun."
So Lily went upstairs to the hallway, but she was faced with another predicament. How to get into the attic. Since all her siblings were outside, there was no one tall enough to reach the door.
It wasn't until she went into a certain gothic room where she managed to get some help.
"Hello? Fangs?"
Unfortunately though, Lucy's pet bat Fangs was in the middle of his mid afternoon siesta (as bats are more active at night).
"Fangs?"
Still no luck.
"FANGS!"
And immediately, that little bat woke up. "AHHH! Who? What? Where?" He looked down and noticed the girl standing in the room. "Oh, it's just you. One of Lucy's sisters. Lela, is it?"
"Lily. My name is Lily."
"Right. Lily. Whatever. What do you want?"
"Listen, I need a favor. There's someone in the attic I need to talk to. I was wondering if you could help me get it open."
"You woke me up for that? We nocturnal creatures need our sleep, or we get cranky!"
"I know. I'm sorry, but if you could just do this one little thing, it'll mean a lot. I promise I won't bother you again."
"Well okay. But it's gonna cost you."
Lily got nervous. "You're not gonna suck my blood, are you?"
"Oh heck no. We bats may be animals, but we're not monsters. No, I was thinking more along the lines of insects. Like a beetle."
"Sorry, but I'm fresh out of beetles."
"Then do you have any moths?"
"Nuh-Uh."
"Mosquitoes?"
"Nope."
"Well do you at least have a strawberry?"
As luck would have it, she did. "I was saving this for later, but you can have it." And she tossed it into his mouth.
"Deal."
So now that he was satisfied, Fangs flew Lily into the attic.
"Let me know when you're done, but don't make these trips too frequent. If there's one thing I hate, it's being woken up from my nap."
And he went back to Lucy's room.
So now that Lily was in the attic, it was now time for her to find the eyewitness.
"Hello? Anyone here?"
She then found an old dusty cardboard box with some items in it. So she walked right up to it and gave it a knock.
"Oh, for the love of carrots! What is it?!"
Suddenly, another stuffed rabbit popped out. Except this one had a grayish blue polo that was all torn up, his fur was all ruffled and shaggy and was even missing part of his left ear.
"What do you want?!"
Lily didn't seemed too scared. "Uh…..hi. My name is Lily. Who are you?
"You want to know who I am? The name's Ra-ra. I was once a toy that belonged to that white-haired brother of yours."
"You were one of Lincoln's stuffed toys?"
"I was. Until that little rat took my spot. I've been in here ever since."
"Oh. Gee, well if he'd known you were in here, I'm sure he would be happy to see you."
"Do you really think that guy really cares? He abandoned me here like an old dust bunny! Threw me away like I'm trash!"
"That can't be true. Linky's one of the nicest and friendliest people you'll ever know."
"Who asked for your opinion anyway, you big baby?!"
Lily slaps her face. "I really hate when they call me that. Can you at least tell me about Rafo?"
"Who?"
"Rafo. He's a stuffed giraffe that belongs to a girl named Darcy."
"Darcy? You mean that girl who's friends with that brainiac with glasses and a bad haircut?"
"So you have seen him."
"I…... I….well, so what? What's it to you, toots?"
"Look, I don't have time to argue. All I know is that Rafo is lost and I need to find him. I need you to tell me whatever you remember."
"If I tell you, do you promise to leave me alone?"
"Floss my tooth, hope to fly, wipe a tear right from my eye."
"Fine. That giraffe was with that girl the whole time. And I never saw him leaving her backpack. My guess is he probably got lost somewhere while they were out of the house."
"And that's all you remember?"
"Look, we had a deal. I gave you all the information I have, so what more do you want? Now get out!"
"Well okay. But I'll be back later."
Unfortunately though, the attic door was way too high for Lily to get down all by herself.
"Uh…...Fangs?! I could use your help again!"
Of course, Fangs wasn't too happy about being woken up. "Ugh! Back to my nap, up from my nap. Will it never end?"
Meanwhile, the rest of the kids were still out in the backyard searching.
"I will say this: for a giraffe, Rafo sure is hard to spot," Luan laughed. "Get it? Because giraffes have spots?"
Everyone rolls their eyes in annoyance. "We get it, Luan!"
"Where else could it possibly be?" Lisa pondered.
"Let's think for a minute," Lincoln suggests. "Besides hanging out at our house, what else did you and Darcy do the other day?"
Lisa began to remember what they did. "Let's see. First we went to story time at the library, played on the swings over at the park, had a friendly picnic over by the lake at tall timbers, and that's about it. Then we came back and tested a few of my experiments."
Everyone then looks shocked.
"The non-radioactive ones. No explosions. She's fine."
They responded with a sigh of relief.
"Okay, not a problem," Lincoln proclaims. "We'll just stop by each of those places to see if we can find Rafo. Nothing to it."
"In that case." Lori took out the car keys. "Everyone in the van."
So all throughout that day, the Louds went all over Royal Woods trying to find Rafo.
Their first stop was the library.
All the kids were looking through different sections, from the comedic stories, to the horror novels to the encyclopedias.
Meanwhile, Lily was in the kiddie section looking through some books of her own. Including Gerald and the Orange Marker, Curious James and Rockford the Big Yellow Cat. Yet there was very little information that she found.
"Nope. None of these books have any answers. Of course it's kinda hard to tell when you can only read a few simple words."
"Well, you never know," said another mysterious voice. "Books can hold more answers than you realize."
"Okay, who keeps messing with me?"
"Down here."
Lily looks down at one of the books and sees that it was actually Rockford from the story that was talking.
"How's it going."
Lily shook her head in disbelief. "This can't be happening. I must be dreaming."
"What's going on?" Asked Rockford.
"You guys are just pictures in a storybook. Why am I talking to you?"
"Why not? You talk to animals and toys, don't you?"
"Touché. Look, I don't have time to chat right now. I have to find Rafo." And she started waddling away.
"Perhaps I can be of assistance."
Lily stopped in her tracks and walked back. "What are you talking about?"
"We storybook characters have a way of watching the outside world. We see everything."
"Well in that case, have you seen a little girl with a toy giraffe?"
"Why yes, I have."
Then a flashback started, describing everything he said.
"I remember seeing two young girls walk right into this section. The one with the glasses read a little bit, but also had to reshelve some of these books."
"Makes sense," Lily thought to herself. "Lisa still has fines to pay off."
"Anyway, the other girl took out one of my books and sat down at a table. The giraffe was in her backpack then. Then after she finished reading, she left with her friend."
And the flashback ended.
"Are you sure she didn't forget her backpack when she left?" Lily asked.
"Nope," answered Rockford. "The giraffe was in her backpack and she didn't want to lose it. So she put it back on right before she took off. Just be glad it wasn't a real giraffe, otherwise it would have been left outside. Like that little puppy."
"Little puppy?"
"At least I think he was, but he looked more like a little, round, white bean bag."
"Well thanks for the help Rockford, but I should really be getting back to my search."
"No worries. Good luck."
Next stop was the park where the kids searched all over the playground.
Even Lily looks in the sandbox. But the only thing she did find was a sandy old pacifier.
"I was wondering where that went."
So she put it in her mouth and crawled over to her siblings. While she did, she overheard Lincoln and Lisa talking to each other.
"Are you sure Rafo was here, Lisa?" Lincoln asked.
"I'm positive," Lisa answers. "Rafo was right there in the sand while me and Darcy were on the swings and I haven't seen him move a single inch."
That conversation puzzled Lily even more. "Hmmm….. Rafo wouldn't just get up and walk away in plain sight, would he?"
But as she was thinking, she noticed there was a chipmunk on top of her head doing the same thinking pose as her.
"Quit sneaking up on me like that, Chippy! I'm trying to think!"
And the little varmint scurried away.
Finally, the last spot was at Tall Timbers, and they all began searching around the lake, or rather Lana was the only one searching in the lake.
At the same time, Lily was busy talking with Lana's friends, the Fishmans.
"So how are your kids doing?" Lily asked.
"Oh you know," Mr Fishman said. "They can be a fin-full, but it's all just harmless fun."
Just then, they all heard a commotion coming from under the water.
"Dorothy! Dennis! What did I say about roughhousing?" Mrs Fishman scolds.
"Like I said," Mr Fishman continues. "You know how it is dealing with a lot of kids."
Lily rolls her eyes. "Believe me, do I ever. But back on to what I was talking about, you guys watch everything that goes on around here, right? Did you happen to see two girls and a stuffed giraffe around here?"
Then another flashback started as Mr. Fishman was describing his story.
"Well I remember that the girls were having a picnic together right by the lake. They packed a lot of sandwiches and even gave some that giraffe."
"And did you see anything happen to that giraffe?" Lily asked.
"No, it was right there the whole time and we didn't see anyone taking it."
"Well did you see anyone else by the lake?"
"Just a little girl carrying a little cotton ball on a leash, but that's all we saw."
Flashback ended.
This left Lily in a tough situation. "Oh. Well thanks anyway."
"You know, if you want, we could round up a search party," Mrs. Fishman offers.
"Thanks Mrs Fishman, but this is something I need to do myself." And she started crawling away from the lake.
"Oh we understand. Good luck Lily."
"And be sure to say hello to Lana and Hops for us," said Mr. Fishman.
"I will," Lily sighs.
After all that searching, the Louds ultimately decided to give up and go home.
"Well, that's it then," Lynn sighs. "We've looked all over town and still nothing."
"Dang it," Lana griped. "I thought for sure we'd find it somewhere. You'd think finding a giraffe would be easier."
"Not when it's a toy, it isn't," Lola claims.
"I really hate to say this Lisa," Lincoln said. "But it looks like you'll have to tell Darcy the truth."
"Are you out of your mind?" Lisa argues. "I can't tell Darcy I lost Rafo. It'll make her sad and she won't want to be my friend anymore."
"But there's nothing else we can do. We've looked everywhere."
"Like finding a pin in a woodpile," Luan compared.
"And even we'd have better luck finding that," said Luna.
Lisa gave up. "Who am I kidding? You're right. I suppose she deserves to know the truth. I'll tell her tomorrow."
"Well she'll be in for one heck of a toy story," Luan jokes. "Get it?"
"Not now, Luan."
Even after the Loud siblings all headed upstairs to their rooms, one of them was still determined. So she went back into the attic to find the one person, or toy, who could help.
"You're really not gonna give up, are you?" The rabbit exclaimed.
"What are you talking about?" Lily asked.
"You've been coming up here asking for my help every dang forsaken minute. Stubborn as a rock, yet as talkative as a news reporter. Don't think I haven't seen what you've been up to. What's it going to take to get it through your head that you're never going to find that stupid giraffe?!"
"Look, Ra-ra. I know you think it's hopeless, but I have to find Rafo. He's still Darcy's toy. The Winnie the Pooh to her Christopher Robin. I know you think he's just a toy, but he's more than that to her. Almost like he's a…."
"Let me guess! A really special friend. And even though he's not an actual person, she loves him as if he is one. And whenever she plays with him, it's like…..that little empty spot in your heart, it gets filled with joy. And that's all she ever needs."
"How do you know all this?"
"Because that's exactly how I felt with Lincoln. But then he turned me away. He went for that other good-for-nothing little fuzzball and left me alone to collect dust. And that little empty spot inside me was never filled with anything but betrayal. Ever since I could remember, I knew I was created for one purpose more important than anything: being a child's best friend. That chance got taken away from me."
Lily started to feel sad. "I don't think he ever meant to hurt you. Linky just seemed to have fun with Bun-Bun."
"More fun than with me anyway. He didn't even know I was there. He doesn't even know I'm here. All he cares about is that wretched hare. Just like when a kid gives up a cowboy doll for a space ranger action figure."
"Ra-ra, I'm sorry that that happened to you. None of this is your fault nor is it Linky's. Sometimes things like this just happen, but we have to stop living in the past, or it'll just hurt us even more."
"Ah, what do you know anyway? You've never even been a toy. Sure your siblings may love you now, but as soon as they go away to college, they'll forget all about you and all the memories with you. You'll be just like me. No one will ever care."
Lily sighs. "You're right. Maybe I don't know what it's like to be a toy, but I do know this. As long as something is important to you, you'll never forget it. Sure the memories you have may fade away, but the love from those memories will always be there in your heart. Maybe Linky doesn't care about you, but I know that there's someone out there who does. So you can still be a friend to someone."
"You're just trying to butter me up. Face it Lily. I'm nothing but a lonely old dust bunny."
"No, you're not. Sure, you're a toy, but you're special. Just like Rafo. That's why I have to find him. He's special to Darcy and she misses him very much. I mean, you know what it's like to be missed, don't you?"
But the rabbit was fed up with it all. "Go away, Lily. I just want to be alone."
So Lily decided to leave. "I understand. But just to let you know, you can always be my friend."
Lily took one last look before heading to the attic door, and was once again suspended in the air.
"Fangs?!"
"Yeah, I'm on it. Keep your diaper on."
After everyone was asleep, Lily climbed out of her crib and headed back downstairs.
Which of course woke up the pets.
"Lily? It's after midnight," Charles said. "What are you doing up?"
"Sorry I woke you up, guys," Lily apologized. "I couldn't sleep."
"Is this about Rafo?" Walt asked.
"Yeah. I can't stop thinking about him. If Darcy finds out he's gone for good, she'll just keep getting sadder and sadder and stop being Lisa's friend."
Then she heard someone else yawn. They all looked to the stairs and saw Bun-bun walking into the room. "What's with all the ruckus? I'm trying to sleep."
"I thought toys didn't need to sleep."
"We don't. It feels good though."
"Well what are we gonna do about Rafo?" Geo asked.
"I dont know," Cliff answers. "What do you want to do?"
"Okay, why is whenever I say 'what are we gonna do', you always answer with 'what do you want to do'?"
"Well if you want a better answer, why don't you just come up with the suggestions yourself?"
"Well what do you want from me? I haven't been in this house as long as you have!"
Just then, something near the front door attracted Lily's attention. "Hey! What's that?"
She crawled outside to the front steps and found a little ball of stuffing and a piece of thread.
Everyone else follows suit.
"What do you suppose that is?" Geo wonders.
Bun-bun decided to take a look. "Hmmm….polyester fiber, firm yet flexible. This is the same cotton used at the Royal Woods toy factory."
"How do you know?" Charles asked.
"Because that's the same factory where I was made. Rafo must have been made out of the same materials as me." And he took a closer look at the thread. "And this thread is colored goldenrod. The same color as toy giraffes. Come to think of it, I also noticed that Darcy's backpack was wide open when she left."
"So Lisa didn't lose Rafo," Lily concludes. "He must've gotten taken."
"But by who?" Geo asked.
"That's what we're going to find out," Walt declares.
"But first, we're gonna need some live bait," said Charles.
And everyone else began staring at Bun-Bun with sly smiles.
Of course, the stuffed rabbit didn't seem pleased. "I don't think I like where this is going."
Later, Bun-bun was on the front porch with a long piece of yarn tied to his waist while the others were hiding in the bushes.
"This is such a stupid idea," the stuffed rabbit complains.
"Oh will you relax already?" Charles exclaims. "What's the worst that could happen."
"Oh I don't know. Maybe getting torn to shreds?!"
"So? You're a toy? And we've got girls who are masters at fixing things. If they fixed you once, they can fix you again."
"Look, it's a one time thing," Lily explains. "If this works, we find Rafo, go home, give him back to Darcy, and you won't have to do this ever again."
"Alright, but only because it's for Rafo," Bun-Bun reluctantly agrees.
"But did we have to use my yarn ball?" Cliff complains.
"Ssssshhhhhhhh! I hear something!"
"Quick! Play dead!" Lily demands.
"Okay. But I wish you didn't use those words." And the toy became motionless.
As everyone remained silent, the mysterious sounds grew louder and louder. Then something appeared to pop out of the bushes and then took the toy rabbit by the ears and tugged it away.
"There it goes! After that crook!"
And so Lily and the pets followed the yarn all across the neighborhood. They passed several houses until finally they reached the end of the rope (literally) which led them into a yard guarded by a wire fence.
Fortunately for them, there was a hole that was big enough for them to fit through. Once in the yard, they found a doghouse and heard a dog growling from inside it.
"Looks like we found the perpetrator," Walt said.
"Smells familiar somehow," Charles noticed.
"Alright pal! No more games! Fork over the little guys and no one gets hurt!"
The pets all looked at Lily with raised eyebrows.
"I hear Lola say that all the time when she's angry."
Stepping out of the shadows was a little white dog that looked like a snowball with legs. "Hey guys."
"Watterson?"
"What are you doing here late at night?"
"We came to get Rafo," Lily stated. "Do you have him?"
"Who's Rafo?"
"You know, he's a giraffe. He's yellow with orange spots and a long neck."
"Oh, him. Sure. Just a second." Watterson went into the doghouse and pulled out the giraffe in question. "Here he is."
"Look, Watterson," Charles explains. "Don't take this the wrong way, but we're going to need him back."
"But why?"
"Because….." That's when a stuffed rabbit stepped out of the doghouse. "...he doesn't belong here."
"What do you mean? Of course he does. He needs me and I need him. I haven't had anyone to play with since Clare is always at school."
"Listen, I'm sorry, but this is all a misunderstanding. You see, he belongs to a girl named Darcy. Her name's even on the bottom of his hoof."
They all looked under one of the hooves, and there was Darcy's name written in permanent marker.
However, Lily was still a baby so she couldn't read. "Does it really? I can't tell."
"Oh, trust me, it's there."
"Listen, I know how much you love Rafo, but you shouldn't be taking toys that belong to someone else. He's Darcy's favorite toy and she loves him very much."
Then Watterson felt a little guilty. "Oh, I didn't realize that. I'm sorry. I didn't know she needed him. But you know, he was a pretty good friend, especially considering that he's just a toy."
"Oh, toys are great friends."
"And don't forget," Charles reminded. "You still have us."
"Yeah," Geo agrees. "We can keep you company whenever the kids are at school."
"Thanks guys."
"So can we please have Rafo back?" Lily requests.
"Well, okay. If it'll make that girl happy." But first, Watterson wanted to say goodbye one last time. "Goodbye Rafo. It's been fun, but now it's time for you to go back to where you belong."
"You did the right thing Watterson," Cliff said. And they all left the yard.
On the way home, they all began talking amongst each other.
"Are you okay Rafo?" Lily asked the giraffe.
Then Rafo began to speak. "Of course. Never been better. But I think I've lost some of my stuffing."
It was true. The seam where the tail was was slightly torn and a bit of stuffing fell out.
"Don't worry," Bun-Bun assures. "We'll have Leni patch that up in a jiffy."
"Oh I wouldn't worry too much about that," Rafo rest assured. "Darcy and I have been through so much together. Boy will she be in for a big surprise tomorrow."
"Looks like she won't be the only one," Lily said with a sly smile.
The next morning, the kids were at school and went to their respective classes, including Lisa.
Of course, she was still hesitant about breaking the news to her friend, but in her mind, she had no other choice.
"I guess I'm gonna have to bite the bullet."
As soon as her friend made her way to the cubbies, it was time for the moment of truth.
"Hi Lisa. Did you find Rafo? I'm getting kinda worried."
Lisa took a deep breath. "Listen Darcy, this is very difficult for me to say. Unfortunately, I couldn't find the right words to say. Now where did I put my notes?"
But when she reached into her backpack, she pulled out…. a stuffed giraffe! "Now how did this get in there?"
"Rafo!" Darcy immediately took her giraffe and hugged it tight. "You found him! Thank you Lisa! I knew I could count on you!" She then took a moment to settle down for a bit. "Now what were you going to say?"
"Oh….I just wanted to say…" seeing as how her friend was so happy to have her favorite toy back safe and sound, what she meant to say before didn't matter anymore. "...you're welcome."
But that wasn't the only thing Darcy noticed. "And you even fixed the hole in the back."
"That was probably my sister Leni's doing, but I'll tell her thank you. I'm just glad you have Rafo back. Though I can't figure out how it got in my backpack in the first place," she muttered that last part to herself.
Of course Lisa and the others may never know what Rafo went through, but we sure do.
That night, as everyone was going to bed, Lily was talking with the pets and Bun-bun.
"Thanks for your help guys," Lily praises. "I'm glad we finally found Rafo."
"Whatever it takes to make a child happy," Bun-bun said.
"Yeah, I can't imagine not having my sisters and Linky around."
"I'm sure they feel the same about you. Speaking of which, I better get back to Lincoln's bed before he starts sleepwalking again." And the stuffed rabbit ran out of the room, quick like…...well, a bunny.
"You know, I don't know what I'd do without you guys," Lily said to the pets.
"That's what friends are for," Charles barked.
"Speaking of friends, I just thought of something," Geo wonders. "If Bun-bun's with Lincoln, and Rafo is back with Darcy, then what about Watterson?"
"Let's just say I found someone who could really use a good owner."
The pets were confused about what Lily meant.
Back at the house where Watterson lives, the little round dog was sleeping in his doghouse with his new toy and friend, Ra-ra.
"Ah, for once in my life, I have someone who needs me."
Now as you may have noticed, yes it's true I have quoted and referenced Toy Story many times throughout these chapters. But that's mainly because it's my all time favorite animated film franchise. And yes, I've even seen the fourth and thought it was fantastic. So going back to those movies gave me a lot more inspiration to write these stories and give them more depth in the same way Disney/Pixar does with their movies.
When it came to creating this story, it was a little difficult, but overtime, I considered changing the perspective so it would once again focus on Lily and the pets and also adding another character that would add more heart to the story. And yes, the stuffed rabbit Ra-Ra was inspired by Jessie from Toy Story 2.
Hope you guys had fun reading this story as I had writing it. To be honest, I love writing these stories about Lily in a Rugrats-style adventure, and hopefully I'll get to do another one.
Hopefully you won't have to wait so long for the next one.
