Okay, so why couldn't I keep my mouth shut? I don't know, and it really shouldn't matter, I've been able to say what I've thought before, I mean, I did just that to Judy a few minutes ago, so then why on the Celestials' green Earth couldn't I say what I thought at the school board meeting? I don't get it at all- I'm in trouble for speaking my mind, but don't we have freedom of speech here in Pangaea?

Well, that's what I would have thought a few weeks ago, but considering the fact that we've bothy just been expelled for doing just that- speaking our minds, I get the definite feeling that that's no longer the case. It's not just that, though, I'm used to fairness in my life, and so I can't seem to get my head around why the school would be run by such bigoted mammals. Then again, should I really be surprised that anyone in charge wants to cover things up? I mean, you just have to take a look at our entire lives- Judy's and mine. We were given up and taken in by the other family, that's not too hard to figure out now, but we had no idea that the other existed until a few short months ago, and although I may act like a rabbit, all mammals ever see, no matter how hard I try to change their minds, is a shifty, untrustworthy fox.

I don't know quite why that's the stereotype, but whatever the case may be, it has both of our heads spinning, and it's a sure thing as of ten minutes ago that neither of us are ever going to be allowed to step paw into this building again, and oh, dear Karma, we're royally effed!

Besides that, though, there's the much larger issue of whether or not Mom's going to tan my hide tonight, and I really don't want to find out, but seeing as Mom's going to be waiting when I get home, there's a call I need to make first. Judy slipped me Senator Bogo's number as we parted ways, so now it's on me to find a payphone and hope I can scrounge up a quarter from somewhere and hope that my tears will stop fogging up my glasses.

With that, I dash out of school and head straight for the bakery that's around the block. I've stopped in there before, and the owner, one Mister Zerda, another fox like me, usually sets something aside on the chance that I'll be in. I used to be a regular customer of his before all of this school debacle, but ever since, no such luck.

Thankfully, though, as I step through the door, I can smell the yeasty smell of fresh doughnuts, and I walk over to the counter to see if Finnick, as he prefers I call him, has a doughnut set aside for me, but instead of his face standing on the stepladder at the counter, there's an elephant, and judging from the scowl on his face, it doesn't look like I'm welcome anymore.

Before I can ask him anything, he places a hoof on the counter and stares me straight in the face. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. What, buddy, there aren't any fox sweet shops in your part of town?"

Okay, so now I'm royally pissed. I can't help but stand and stare in shock as I watch my friend skulk off down the hallway, tail dragging behind him like a kicked wolf, and I can't help feeling sorry for him. I want to run after him and give him a hug, but I get the feeling the he really won't be in the mood for one. Instead, I head out to the car, where Mom and Dad are waiting for me, and I notice their confused looks when they see that Nick isn't with me.

"He went downtown," I say, trying to keep them from asking any questions, because I really don't want to talk about how the meeting went, he's fuming as it is. I know better than to mess with an angry fox. "If I had to guess, he's heading to the bakery around the block."

"What makes you think that, hun?" Dad leans out the window at looks straight at me.

"Well," I say, tapping my paw impatiently, "I'd tell you, but I really should follow after him. Do you know the place I'm talking about?"

"Yes, I do. You want a lift?"

"No, I'm good," I say, already running down the school's driveway, hoping that I'll be able to hide the tears that have started to stream down my muzzle without me ever asking them to.

I run as hard as I can until I run into downtown, my eyes scanning the storefronts until they land on Nick, holding his paws up in front of him, and from what I can see, the scene doesn't look as if it's going to turn out too well unless I step in, and so I run through the front door, the bell jangling behind me. The elephant at the counter pauses his rant as soon as he notices me, giving Nick the chance to take his paws off of his ears, but then he turns to me and starts up all over again.

"Oh, now a green-eyed rabbit. What is with you young mammals these days, screwing with your appearances? You just can't be normal like everyone else, can you?" Nick tries to protest, but the elephant cuts him off and starts up at me again. "I've got enough troubles without you two teenage delinquents coming in here and causing trouble. Don't even try to explain, just get out. I've learned enough over the years- foxes are nothing but trouble, and I can only guess you're with him, which, in my opinion, makes you guilty by association, so get out, and don't ever think of coming back in here again! Got that?"

"Yes, sir," we both mumble, feeling ashamed for reasons that I don't understand, and I'm sure that Nick doesn't either.

"Come on, Judy," Nick says, "let's go. I can tell when we're not wanted."

With that, we head for the door, heads down, only to stop when the door swings open, setting the bell clanging again. Both of us look up in unison to see a pair of wolves dressed in the dress blues of Zootopia's Precinct One cops. The one on the right looks at his partner, and then looks down at us. "He causing you trouble?"

Both of us nod silently.

"I see," says the one on the right. "Well, that's not appreciated, now is it, Gary?"

The other officer laughs. "You know it's not, Larry, and we're Officers Luplin on the beat."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. On the other paw, though, what's the matter?" he says, facing us again. "This guy bothering you?"

Neither of us say anything. Instead, we both just nod silently. When Officer Luplin- Larry- sees that, he puts a paw on his partner's shoulder and steps out the door, beckoning us to follow. "Can you two follow me outside while my partner deals with that nut inside? No pun intended, of course."

"Umm...okay," I say. "Whatever for?"

"I just want to ask you both a few questions." When he sees Nick nervously shrink into himself, he puts a reassuring paw on his shoulder. "It's okay, kid. You don't need to worry about getting in trouble. I just want to find out what happened in there."

"Well," Nick says, seeming to open up somewhat, "I went in to say hello and see if the fox who used to own the shop had set anything aside for be, but instead, I found that guy-," he continues, spitting on the pavement in disgust, "and I couldn't get a single word out before he was trying to get me back out the door, just because I'm a fox."

"I get it, kid," he says, sighing. "Mammals don't much care for mammals like me, either, and that's for two reasons. One, because we're wolves, and supposedly, all we're good for is howling, and two," he says, pointing to the other Officer Luplin inside, "we're not just partners." With that, he points to a silver band on his finger.

"He's your-?"

"Husband? Yes, he is, and that makes us stand out quite a bit in this world." He sighs. "Look, kid, all I'm trying to say is that you've just got to be the mammal you want to be, and to hell with what other mammals think, right?"

"Right," I say, sighing myself, "but who's going to help us out? I mean, we're quite the odd pair of mammals…"

"I'll tell you what," he says. "I'll get you in touch with Senator Bogo, okay? He should be able to help you out."

"Good," I say, smiling slightly. Then I realize something, and I frown. "Crap, Mom and Dad are going to flip if they can't find me! I gotta get back to school, or they're going to have my hide!"

"You bet we are," comes Mom's voice from right in from of me. "We've been wondering where you flew off to, Judy. Is everything alright in there?" she asks, gesturing to the bakery.

"I think so," I say, "but I get the feeling that Nick's going to be a while. "We're going to need to find a new school, you know that, right?"

"Yeah, I do," Mom says, frowning. "They're tailholes, I swear... it's not fair, Judy, and all for what?"

"I have no idea, Mom, but we need to talk."