Chapter 1:

NOTES: This story was originally published in 2017 on another account, and is more updated from the original one.

This is also a crossover with Sesame Street because a few minor Muppet characters appear here.

It was a beautiful day in the town of Elwood City. We zoom in past the World's End Park, the Mill Creek, the Mill Creek Mall, and the Elwood City Science Museum,
to an average-looking two story red house. Outside, there was a blonde-haired red monster woman with glasses and a yellow coat with a red monster boy looking outside
on their porch. The monster with blonde hair is Kerry Monster, and the red monster boy is her son, Murray. It was the morning of Friday, March 10. Kerry was worried
about her son because since they moved away from New York City to Elwood City, he hasn't really done anything but watch television since they got there. Murray was
really sad about this move, because it meant he had to leave his friends/co-workers behind. As Murray was walking around the porch, Kerry talked to him about getting
outside...

Kerry: Murray, I know this is a different change, but it would be good for you to get out and see the city.

Murray thought about this, and his mother did have a point. He hadn't gotten to see Elwood City yet. But he didn't know if he was brave enough to do it...

Murray: (sad) Mommy, I just don't know if anyone would like me. When we lived back in New York on Sesame Street, I was happy. Also I had to leave all my friends
behind... including Ovejita...
Kerry: Murray, believe me, it was hard for me to leave Sesame Street, too. I also didn't want to leave, either. However, the producers decided to discontinue your
segments to save money, and I could find another job that paid as well as yours, so I didn't have a choice. Also, I asked Rosita to take care of Ovejita back in
New York, and she'll come visit you soon. But, were in a new town now, and I really think you should go out and explore it. I also think you could make some new friends.

Murray realized his mother was correct, that he could make new friends in Elwood City, and could start a second life here...

Murray: (happy) Mommy, I'm now willing to give it a try!

Kerry was proud of her son.

Kerry: That's good to hear! Now, Murray, today is, March 10th. According to the news report, spring break for school in Elwood City starts this afternoon.
You had 2 weeks to get adjusted to this move, and after spring break is over, you'll be going back to school. Today, I'll find you a school that can enroll
you in after spring break ends. Now go outside, and have fun.

Murray nodded, and then walked off the porch, and around the block.

Murray: It definitely feels different living in a new town.

A little while later, Murray saw something interesting: An old run down farm up ahead.

Murray: Wow, a farm! Maybe they have lots of animals there.

He then walked into the farm, to see that inside, it was a store. A platypus worker noticed Murray and walked over to him.

Worker: Hello, there! Welcome to the Elwood City Berry Farm. How may I help you?
Murray: Wait, what? This is a berry farm? You mean there's no farm animals here or anything?
Worker: No, I'm sorry. You have to go to the countryside to see a real farmhouse.
Murray: Oh.
Worker: By the way, my name is Will Blight, and those are my partners, Jeff Proctor, (points to a porcupine worker) and Janice Rhinestone. (points to a elephant worker)

Will brought out the other workers to meet Murray.

Murray: My name is Murray Monster, and I just moved here from New York City.
Jeff: Brilliant!
Janice: Amazing!
Will: Murray, do you have anything to do tomorrow?
Murray: No, I don't think so. Not right now.
Will: How would you like a free tour of the berry farm?
Murray: Really?
Will: Sure. We don't get to give tours a lot because were too busy trying to keep this place open. But you made an impression on me, that I think you should know how
big this farm was. Be here at 10:00 tomorrow morning for the tour. See you then!
Murray: Okay, goodbye everybody!

Murray then walked back home. After Murray goes back inside, a silver limo passes by his house. This limo belonged to a building company that was in the edge of town.
The land developer Jackson Merrill, a raccoon, wearing a business suit, has his sights set on the berry farm, on the berry farm, hoping to turn it into a resort and restaurant.
His other crew members, who were cheetahs, were also on board with this.

Jackson: This area, I feel, doesn't seem to be getting a lot of visitors lately.
Crew Member #1: How could we make that area into a popular attraction?
Crew Members #2/#3/#4: Yeah?

After a while of thought, Jackson had an idea.

Jackson: We could buy the berry farm and build the resort and restaurant in its place. But we have to make a deal with the owner, and after it happens, we'll have to
tear down the farm and pull its bushes from the area for it to happen.
Crew Member #2: How do we do that?
Jackson: We can only give the owner a cheap amount for the land, because of economy issues. Hopefully I can convince to workers to have the owner sell us the farm for
that amount.

The building company limo drove off, while Jackson and the crew members were thinking about what to do with the situation. Meanwhile, on another side of town, a school, Lakewood Elementary had just
rung the final bell. Arthur Read was walking home with his two best friends, Buster Baxter, and Francine Frensky.

Arthur: (excited) I can't wait to decide what I'm going to do for a whole week off! (disappointed) Unfortunately, we also have to do homework, too. Mr. Ratburn said
to write an essay about what to do on spring break.
Buster: There's lots of things I like to do on spring break: Watch TV, go to the movies, go to the Sugar Bowl for ice cream...
Arthur: We pretty much do all that stuff.
Francine: How about we play at the park. Let's play soccer, in case there are upcoming games we have to compete in after spring break that get scheduled.
Arthur: We also do stuff like that as well. Listen, Buster, Francine, we need to do something big on our week off! Something that would be one of the greatest things
we have ever done.
Buster: Arthur's right. We need to do something really epic.
Francine: I agree. Let's go decide separately what big thing we can do!

The three friends parted ways and then headed back to their homes. A gray rabbit, their classmate, Alex Barrington, walked them walk off.

Alex: (sadly) It's too bad everybody in class doesn't have to do a week-long job alongside their father on spring break because maybe I wouldn't feel so
disappointed.

Alex then walked home, when he saw Murray, walked past his house. Alex inspected the monster from the stairwell, before running up to him.

Alex: (shouts) Wait! (Murray stops walking) That can't be? (inspects Murray again, a little closer) Murray? Is that you?
Murray: Who are you? (looks at Alex closer) Alex Barrington? (Alex nods. Murray then hugs him.) It's so good to see you again?
Alex: (returning the hug) You too, Murray. So what are you doing here in Elwood City? Are you and Ovejita filming a new segment for Sesame Street?
Murray: Firstly, I live here now. And secondly, no. Unfortunately, my segments were discontinued by the producers by the TV executives to save money.
Ovejita still is appearing on Sesame Street as a bit player. My mommy left her with Rosita because she's bilingual, which means she can speak both
English and Spanish, and because Ovejita speaks Spanish, she can communicate with her. Believe me, I hardly get so upset at anything before the producers
had cut my segments.
Alex: Your segments are the main reason why I watched Sesame Street when I had days off from school! I'm really sorry about what happened to you.
Murray: Thank you.
Alex: However, it's great that you are living here in Elwood City, because now I can see you guys right in person, instead of just on the TV. Where is
your house?
Murray: Believe is or not, Alex, my new house is right there. (points to the red house)
Alex: That's right next to my house. (points to a average-looking gray two story house, which is next to the pink house) I can't believe it. (smiles) We're
going to be neighbors! To think that this week was going to be bad, but with you becoming my new neighbor, it might not be so bad after all.
Murray: (laughs) How would getting a week off of school be a bad thing. You wouldn't have to get up early or do any homework.
Alex: Well, I have to work with my new at the berry farm near my house throughout all of my spring break to learn responsibility, starting tomorrow morning. Also, I
still have to do homework. My teacher assigned all of us to write an essay of what we did over our spring break.
Murray: Are you and your daddy working at the Elwood City Berry Farm?
Alex: Yes, that's the one.
Murray: I went there a while ago. The folks there invited me over for a tour tomorrow morning.
Alex: That's terrific. Me and my father will start to work there tomorrow, so I'll be there as well.

Kerry walks by and sees the two kids together.

Kerry: Making new friends, Murray?
Murray: (sees his mother) Oh, hi, Mommy. Yes, this is my new friend, Alex. However, we've previously met each other before today.
Kerry: Alex, how did you previously meet Murray?
Alex: Well, when me and my parents were on vacation in New York City last year, the TV show Sesame Street was having a contest on the character Murray Monster.
(points to Murray) It was a question survey which I ended up being the winner for getting all the answers right and for getting my entry to the show the fastest.
For winning, I got to appear in Murray's segments: first I appeared in "What's the Word on the Street" where I was showing Murray the word "tire", and also assisted
by bringing a car tire on the segment as well. In addition, I appeared on "Murray has a Little Lamb" where I was learning to build blocks in the building school segment with his pet lamb Ovejita. Later, Murray, Ovejita, and I had lunch at a restaurant. We talked together, and we soon became fast friends on that day.
Murray: I remember that! That was one of the best days I had on Sesame Street.
Kerry: Well, Murray, we better get ready for dinner. There's a fast food restaurant we passed by on the way here. You can see your new friend tomorrow. It was very
nice meeting you, Alex.
Alex: Nice meeting you too, Mrs. Monster.

Alex and Murray then went back to their houses, and spent the rest of the day with their families.