Chapter 8:

Bess's Birthday Party/ Bess Leaves Her Home

Bess POV:

Later at sunset, my friends and I were at a small pond celebrating my birthday. We had a lot of fun and my friends have given me so many presents. I opened my final present and find a small rock with some moss on it. It was a gift from Hal, a Serpengriff with orange scales and red spines.

I looked at him with a smile and said " A moss rock. Thanks Hal, I love it,".

" I'm glad you love it, Bess. I decided to give you this as a memory," said Hal.

" And I'll always cherish it forever," I said as I put the rock down with my other presents.

Tango, a yellow scaled Serpengriff, then said as he held the cake in his tail " Alright, for the best part of Bess's party. Time for a song. Ready, guys?".

Hiss, Hal, and Tango got together as Hal blew his bazooka and I smiled as they began to sing their song for me.

Hiss { Singing }: Happy…

Tango { Singing }: Birth…

Hal { Singing }: Day…

Hiss { Singing }: To…

Tango { Singing }: You…

Hiss { Singing }: Happy…

Hal { Singing }: Birth…

Tango { Singing }: Day…

Hiss { Singing }: To you…

Tango { Singing }: Happy…

Hal { Singing }: Birth…

Hiss { Singing }: Day, dear our friend Bess.

I looked at my friends with an embarrassed and amused face as they kept singing after each other. As the last lyrics were sung, Hal stretched his neck out and made a blow horn sound.

Hal { Singing in Blowhorn form }: Annnnnnnnnnnnd…

Hiss { Singing }: Happy…

Tango { Singing }: Birth…

Hiss, Tango, and Hal { Singing }: Day to you.

I laughed at their song as they laughed as well.

" Oh, you guys are bestest friends I could ever have," I said.

" Well, what can we say? You deserve it," said Hiss.

" Alright, time for you to make a wish, Bess," said Tango as he held the cake in front of me.

This is my favorite part of the party. I get to make a wish. I looked at the candle and thought about what I want to wish for. Then it hit me and I blew the candle out as I took a huge bite of a chunk of cake. Not to mention I also caught some cream on my snout.

" What you wish for, Bess?" asked Hiss.

" Sorry, Hiss, darling. I can't tell you," I said.

" Oh, please?" asked Hiss, giving me the puppy eyes.

" Sorry, I just can't. After all, it might bring bad luck," I said warning all of my friends.

" Oh. come on, Bess, please? With vanilla ice cream with sprinkles on top?" asked Hal also giving me the puppy eyes

I tried not to tell them but I gave in and said " Okay, you win. I wish...I could go...TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD!".

" THE OUTSIDE WORLD?!" asked Hiss in shock.

My friends didn't take it so well. Hiss fell off her rock, Hal accidentally swallowed his bazooka, and Tango just gasped.

" I told you guys it was bad luck," I said, telling them so.

Tango was helping Hal to spit out the bazooka from his mouth.

" The outside world? That's the weirdest wish I have ever heard," said Hiss as she got back up, and Hal finally spat out his bazooka.

" Yeah, you can't be serious," he said coughing to catch his breath.

" But I am serious. So why can I?" I asked.

" Because the outside world is dangerous," said Tango.

" Oh, come on. Just think about it. Going out there meeting new friends, explore new places, and having wide open spaces," I said as I looked at the horizon and then turned back to my friends.

" Well, there are some wide-open spaces in the plains," said Tango.

" The Plains?" I asked.

" Yeah, there are also mountains, jungles, rainforests, and forests I think," said Hal.

I became more inspired and more interested and asked " So, the outside world has all those things?".

" Bess, don't you know what the outside world has?" asked Hiss.

" Lots of danger," replied Hal.

" Thank you, Hal," said Hiss, thanking him.

" Oh, no it's okay. You don't have to come," I said.

" I bet you can't find the oasis in the outside world, Bess. I mean you can't find a lush green, wet, fertile place like this in the outside world," said Hiss.

" But don't you think there's more to life than the oasis, Hiss?" I asked.

Hiss remained silent from that question.

Then I said " Haven't any of you guys or your family ever known life outside of the oasis?"

All my friends remained silent as they looked at me. Then Hal broke the silence.

" Sorry," He said.

" Mmm-mmm," said Tango shaking his head.

" I'm afraid not Bess. But you gotta little something…," said Hiss as she motioned her tail to her cheek telling me that I have some cream on my lips.

I sadly sighed and wiped the cream off with a leaf.

" Thanks, guys. Thanks for my party. It's great...I guess," I said as I turned and slithered away.

Hiss POV:

We watched Bess slithered up to her rock on top of the hill and laid there with a sad sigh. We think we might have hurted her feelings or something.

"What's wrong with her?" asked Hal.

" Maybe you should talk to her, Hiss. Give her a BF talk," said Tango to me.

" What, why me?" I asked.

" Hiss…," said Tango.

" I know where this is going," said Hal as he slithers into his home.

Then he yawned and said " Oh, it sure is getting late I'm gonna…,".

Then he fell fast asleep.

" Come on, Hiss. She's your Best Friend," said Tango as he points to Bess.

" Okay, I'll go talk to her," I said agreeing with him.

" Goodnight, girls," said Tango as he heads back to his home.

" Night, Tango," I said waving.

" Night, Tango," said Bess sadly not even looking at him.

I looked at Bess and saw how sad she was. So I slithered over and laid down as I looked up at the sunset sky.

I took a nice deep breath and exhaled as I said " What a beautiful sunset sky. It doesn't get any better you know,".

Then something caught my eyes and I gasped in excitement.

" Oh, look Bess, the first stars are out tonight. Bet you can't find those in the outside world," I said looking up at a single star in the sky.

" Hiss, those are fireflies," said Bess.

She was right. The stars were actually little fireflies as they flew away leaving no starry sky.

I looked at Bess and asked " Bess, listen. I'm just asking. Why do you want to go to the outside world?".

" Hiss, look at me. I'm ten years old and my life is half over. I mean I love the oasis and all but I just like to go somewhere where I feel like I belong," said Bess as she laid her head back down on her rock and sighed.

We remained silent for a moment. Then my eyes widen for I have an idea that just might make Bess feel better and make her smile too.

" Hey, Bess. I'm thinking of a song," I said.

" Hiss, please. I'm not in the mood," said Bess.

" Oh, come on, Bess. It's a wonderful song. I'm sure you'll love it," I said.

I then moved my tail near Bess as I began to sing.

Hiss { Singing }: Dah, dah, dah-dah.

Dah, dah, dah-dah.

Dah, dah, dah-dah-dah-dah-dah!

While I was singing, Bess was trying to ignore it by covering her ears with her tail and saying " Oh, no Hiss. I'm not listening. La-la-la-la-la,".

Hiss { Speaking }: Start spreading the news.

Bess { Speaking } I don't know you.

Hiss { Singing }: I'm leaving todaaaya!

We are a great big part of it!

Bess { Speaking to herself }: She's funny.

" Come on, Bess. You know you know the words. Two little words," I said trying to get Bess to smile.

Bess POV:

I tried to ignore it but hearing Hiss' song really got to me. So I smiled and quietly said " The Oasis,".

Then Hiss and I got together and sang the last lyrics together.

Bess and Hiss { Singing }: The Oasis!

" Hah, hah. See? There's the Bess I know. Besides, we make a good team," said Hiss with a smile.

" Yeah, we do make a good team. But for us to stay as a team, I might as well stay in the oasis, huh?" I said as I went back to sadness.

" Nope!" said Hiss.

" What?" I asked in surprise.

" You should totally go. Go on! Find what you're looking for and maybe who knows you might even find us a better home for all of us," said Hiss.

I looked at Hiss with surprise in my eyes and then hugged her. Hiss was surprised by my sudden hugging but she reciprocates and hugs me back.

" Thanks, Hiss. You're the best," I said.

" Dah, I tried," said Hiss as we stopped hugging.

Then I let go of Hiss' tail and began to head out as Hiss looked at me with tearful eyes and a smile of pride.

I slithered a few feet away from my home as Hiss waved and yelled " Bye, Bess! Say hi to some new friends for me!".

I turned to Hiss and said " I will, Hiss! Goodbye!".

And I was off.

I slithered far from my home and have entered…

The Big Wide World!

I looked from left to right getting a very good view of the outside world. To my left, there were mountains, forests, and to my right, there were prairies and a beautiful sunset.

And so with a much higher spirit, I, Bess, boldly go where none of my kind has dared to venture before. I slithered with confidence and I didn't look back.

Bucky { Speaking In The Background }: Yeah, but you're missing something, Bess.

Bess { Speaking To Bucky In The Background }: What's that, Bucky?

Bucky { Speaking In The Background }: You also cried as well, too.

Narrator POV:

Bess then lets out some tears and started crying.

Author's Note: Hey, everyone. I just want you to know that Bess's story is mostly the references from Dreamworks Madagascar.

Just so you know.

Be sure to leave a comment down below.

Sincerely,

Dinoman213