Chapter 1: Brighter Days
"finished!", Coraline says excitingly to Mrs. Lovat.
Coraline looks at the yellow dandelions and violet lilies she has planted in , Wyborn's grandmother, garden with a big smile on her face of satisfaction.
"Oh wow, they look stunn'in Darlin", Mrs. Lovat says in her mellow calm voice. "Let me guess, those two colors are your favorite, aren't they?"
"yes Ma'am," Coraline says proudly.
Mrs. Lovat chuckles. "It sure did took me long enough to realize," she says with a warm grin.
She then leaves to head back into her home.
A ringing bell sound starts to be overheard from afar, then with quickness, it becomes louder and clear.
"Ah!", yelps Wyborn. "Watch out grandma!", he says wobbly as he rides down a rocky low hill uncontrollably.
"Wyborn!" Yells Ms. Lovat.
Coraline trips and falls after Wybie zooms through the garden trying not to land on any flowers. Suddenly, he falls off and rolls in the grass.
Coraline mutters, "Somethings just never change" with annoyance written all over her face.
Wybie suddenly lands harshly on the grass. For a second, he is quiet. Ms. Lovat comes to check on Wybie as he lies their cuddled up and groaning on the grass.
"Oh Wyborn. What have you done to yourself?", Ms. Lovat says in a distressing tone.
Wybie suddenly laughs on the grass and says, "Wow! That was… Awesome!".
"Awesome? You almost ran me over!", Coraline says a little exaggeratedly.
"Well of course it was kinda dangerous, but I installed a new speed engine; however, it could be-", Wybie stops his explanation after the look of his grandmother's face.
Ms. Lovat gives Wybie a stern look that he could be facing consequences for his disturbance. For she still questions why Wybie does the things that he does.
Why speaks with nervousness realizing that it would be best for him to go home to relieve himself from the situation.
"I-I probably should get going", he says. He makes up an excuse and continues with a witty comment by saying, "I forgot I had homework again". He laughs it off and leaves hastily.
"I'm sorry about that sweetheart", Ms. Lovat says warmly to Coraline.
"It's fine. No worries", said Coraline.
Coraline heads home hastily to find her Father cooking a dish.
A view of a flat-screen TV hung on the wall in the kitchen showcasing a chef in a luxurious kitchen. Coraline becomes intrigued by this.
With a clear and loud voice, Coraline's father speaks, "Hey Coraline!".
Mr. Jones seems very happy and excited to introduce his daughter to a new meal plan he started getting into. Coraline takes a deep inhale as she smells something satisfying being created.
"Mmm", Coraline says before exhaling. "What's that amazing smell!".
"I'm making teriyaki chicken with stir-fried rice", said Mr. Jones. "I feel like it would be great to start something new ya know. I started getting sick from the tuna jelly sandwich I made yesterday, so I'm going to get into culinary for a better diet... Sounds good, right?"
"Dad… I love it!", said Coraline. "Things are actually changing around here for once!" She says out loud exaggeratingly. Before she leaves, she does a little victory dance and heads to the living room where her mother is decorating the walls. Her father was confused by Coraline's statement but didn't pay too much attention to it.
"Hey little one, you mind passing me the nail on the floor?", said Mrs. Jones as she tries to keep one hand pressing a decorative portrait of the wall with her left hand.
"Sure...", Coraline speaks and tries to think of what she wants to do for the rest of the day. "I really, don't have any more plans today… Hmm?"
Mrs. Jones comment, "You could go for an adventure around the property and play games with that one kid." She seems confused after where she left off from saying. "What's that one boy's name I see around the apartment?"
Coraline becomes uninterested immediately as she is finally relieved from the Beldam that she had to concur.
"Maybe I'll just go in my room for today and rest… See you later Mom." Coraline says as she leaves to go upstairs.
Coraline leaps on her bed and inhales the air of peace, then she exhales all the stress and horrifying events she went through.
Suddenly, a figure comes on the side of her window. Gawking at Coraline as she rests in her room with comfort.
"… Hello there, Coraline", says Charlie the black cat.
"For a second, you scared me", Coraline presumes as she chuckles it off.
"My bad… just pondering around as usual", he replies.
"Would you like any fresh milk, or maybe some tuna? I don't thin we will be having tuna for a while", said Coraline.
Charlie replies quickly, "No, no; I come here to inform you that there may be some newcomers moving in".
Ironically, a furniture transportation truck comes through. Coraline goes closer to the window to see who it could be. A violet SUV vehicle comes right behind the truck. A smile starts to come in on the side of Coraline's mouth as she is intrigued to know who the neighbors could possibly be.
"We should go scout them out", Coraline says enthusiastically as if a bright lightbulb is above her head.
"Or maybe we should be cautious as to who these people may be…" Replied Charlie.
"Relax! I think I saw a glimpse of a girl around my age in the SUV car", she comments. "I don't know about you, but I'm going to check them out."
Coraline leaves her room and heads downstairs to get a better view from outside.
Alone all by himself in Coraline's room, Charlie replies, "I sometimes wonder why I put up with her" as he refers to Coraline and her ways.
As the day goes by, the world around the Pink Palace Apartments seems to be better and full of brighter days ahead. But with more things changing in sudden ways, more mysterious acts will come to the light.