COUSINS
Chapter 15: What Life Is All About

Maple was astounded: Veltron was paradise compared to her college dormitory. The fields were filled with summertime fragrances, the ocean was immense and glittered in the sunshine, and the heat of the sun itself was comforting without being too mild. The landscape was enriched with butterflies of assorted colours and dragonflies that flew as fast as the town bullet train. Maple was most impressed with the waterfall, which was the largest and most wondrous attraction she had seen in all her life.

"When was this village established?" Maple asked her cousins. "When was... um, conscription?"

"A very long time ago," Cupcake responded. "The mayor was unsure whether or not he'd wanted to open it to the general public. Finally, he decided that it would be okay as long as he didn't have to bother with administration duties and such. That was about nine or ten years ago. Somewhere around that time period." She adjusted the hat on her head, which was sagging to one side.

Maple nodded rapidly. "I see, I see. Do tell me what you know about this breathtaking waterfall!" She began taking pictures of the landmark with a disposable camera. "A monstrosity like this should be printed in newspapers across the country and cited as one of the top tourist attractions! It has a refined, stunning and touching background! It's nothing short of passionate—the romances that bloom underneath the rushing water and the natural existence beyond those desirable eyes. The expressions are as crisp as they are haunting! Oh, I could write a best-selling novel!" The brown bear could not seem to stop herself.

To avoid her non-stop rantings, Cheri and Olive decided to take a walk along the riverside. While they enjoyed spending time with their friend, they knew that it was difficult to control her after she got out of hand. This led them to switching priorities and they crept away as Maple maintained her verbal rambling; it was obvious that her interest in the waterfall was her first concern.

"Now it's not that her words are wasted, but sometimes Maple should digress. The only problem in that department is that it wouldn't be her style, would it? That's why we love her!" Olive commented as she sat down beside the river. "She's... someone who has charisma, but she'd never let it get the best of her. The only time to stay away from her is when she's had one too many caffeine-fused beverages. That's when you take immediate cover." She gawked at the thought and added, "Frightening it would be."

Cheri nodded. "Hm, let's forget about Maple for a minute. Today's the first of July, which means that the Fireworks Ceremony is tonight. I can't wait to see the sky lit up by thousands of dazzling colours and explosions! The three of us and Maple have yet to experience a show as extravagant as the one that will be in front of our eyes tonight. It's awkward to think about the number of pyrotechnics that have been working for the last three-sixty-five days. It's cool when you think of it that way." She began daydreaming.

The girls encountered Cleo as they continued walking. The elderly horse informed them that she was proceeding to the pond early since she was unable to view the fireworks over the heads of the other animals. She claimed, "I'm far too old! My neck gets a crick... it's going to tonight too! As long as I'm close to the pond, there's always the reflection in the water. I'll see the fireworks one way or another!"

Without realizing it, Cheri and Olive had arrived at Vesta's house. They knocked on the door and was greeted by the sheep. She invited them inside.

In typical fashion, Vesta's house was well-dressed and beautifully adorned. The wallpaper had changed since the last time they had visited, but the rest of her place was relatively the same. She had purchased a couple new vases that complemented the living room's sewing machine and the paintings were of a higher social ranking than the ones sold at Tom Nook's shop. It was the bear's ideal home away from home.

"Tea?" Vesta asked the cousins. "The kettle's boiling a sizzling pot today. I've put in some lemon with an additional squirt of lime. Can you believe that I've finally ordered something from the other side of the country? Lime! Lime! I want to hold a party, but... oh, I am being so silly. We should have a tea party! That's a magnificent idea since I have the appropriate ingredients." The sheep entered her kitchen and tied an apron around her waste. The rich fragrance of coffee also came from the kitchen.

"I should go get Cupcake and Maple," said Cheri. "I'm sure they'd like to have tea. And I'm positive Maple would like to meet Vesta!"

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The majority of animals were excited about the looming Fireworks Ceremony. Dizzy and T-Bone were visiting the Museum to allow the time to pass and Punchy had assembled a medical stand next to the pond in the event of grave emergency. He was spreading violet petals around the acre too, likely from the flowers in Violet Meadows. Mathilda and Susanna Ester were looking forward to the festival too—they had purchased expensive new outfits from Nookington's to wear that evening.

"I don't think I've seen this many of the townsfolk out on one night!" Olive exclaimed. "It's as though we're going to a wedding!"

"It definitely feels like that," agreed Cheri. "Though it's strange to see so many animals taking it so seriously. It would be so unusual if the media showed up or something, right?" She laughed hysterically. "Just imagine that. Anyway, I think we should go see Pelly. Did you hear the bodacious rumours? Apparently she has tomorrow off from work and Phyllis has to work for the next twenty-four hours! How could they do that to the bird, even if she is very... unfriendly? Do you know what I mean? The poor bird!"

Olive spat. "How obnoxious. She can work the entire day. After all, her mood is entwined with her work habits... and hours."

Pelly wasn't at home, and left a notice on her front door stating that she had gone to the pond early in order to set up a booth of her own. It contained many different items including pamphlets chronicling the top summer destinations of the past ten years, commemorative stamps, exquisitely-designed stationery, and palm fans. The pelican was wearing a lot of sun screen and sunglasses that were so white they almost vanished into her feathers. The cousins greeted her.

"Good almost evening!" Pelly shouted. "Your outfits are awfully flashy. I presume they're more of Nook's, ordered directly from Fauna magazine headquarters."

"There's a definite likeliness," Cheri said as she applied make-up to her nose. "You're feeling better, by the way? I heard you caught a cold after Penny's infamous runaway. I've been visiting the Post Office a lot lately and Phyllis is always sitting behind the business window. She seems to be fed up with having to manage the entire office both nightly and daily now. Of course, I visit her only to further her suffering. I apologize if you find this irritating, Pelly."

The pelican shook her head. "I am better, thank you for asking," she responded, "but don't worry about Phyllis—she's got her head screwed on right, even though she has people-person troubles. I don't blame her, really, since she's been working the evening hours longer than I've lived in Veltron. It must have been more painful then than it is now, only because it was harder to finish all the work when the population was sparse. You'd understand what I'm saying if you worked in a similar office, so I'm sorry for pushing the button."

"Don't worry," Olive reassured her. "I understand your drift. Say, why did you decide to open a stand anyway? I would assume you make a lovely kilogram or two on your payday..." Her voice trailed off. The bear did not want to impose on her friend's income because it was none of her business.

"I make a lot of Bells, so I'm out here for the pleasure of supporting the office!" exclaimed Pelly. She seemed to enjoy engaging in topics concerning herself or the Post Office. "Well, not quite the office itself... but the office's employees! Pete does such a fantastic job of delivering the mail and Phyllis... it may surprise you, but even though she's worked there longer than I have, her income is far less; to add to her frustration, she's the one responsible for administrative duties pertaining the Post Office. In this case I find it appropriate to help out a fellow pelican, whether the village views her as a bigger snob than Mathilda or an innocent victim like Dizzy." She took a bow as though she had completed a difficult dance to perform.

Cheri rolled her eyes. "An innocent victim? That would be me too—but if you insist! Phyllis is crude, without a doubt. Maybe I pity her somewhat for being thirty-five years of age and stuck working for the town's busiest—there's more traffic at the Post Office than at Nook's—establishment. Otherwise, she knows how to be unsophisticated and fills our heads with disgusting offense and vulgar language. Also, she likes to talk about her sex life! Who does that? Honestly, it's nothing but pitiful." After she finished speaking, the red bear stomped off in irritation and Olive followed her once she said goodbye to Pelly, who waved in return.

It was close to 6:00 PM and the fireworks would begin in an hour's time. Cupcake and Maple had returned to the cousin's place to prepare for the evening's event. Because she was the fashion professional in the family, Cupcake lamented the outfits she would not be garbed in and chose to wear her most expensive Gracie-brand gown: the Swell Shirt. It was the second-most requested Gracie outfit in the country as of June, but bizarrely more expensive than the more popular Gracie Shirt, which pleased Cupcake. She curled her hair specifically so that it stood on an angle. Her intent was to look like a movie star from the 1930s, but the modern gown slightly sabotaged her arrangement. To protrude from the crowd, she dyed her hair faintly purple.

Maple always referred to herself as "fashionably-screwed". The only issue that she had with Cupcake was that she loathed Gracie and her designs; she thought of them as "too competitive" to that of the Fauna magazine-inspired clothing sold at Tom Nook's or the handmade-stocked attire at the Able Sisters. Tonight, Maple decided to go for a 1930s look as well, dressing herself in the infamous Toad Print, a difficult dress to come by since it had not been on the market since the 1950s. She argued that it had more class than the Swell Shirt, but Cupcake's comebacks were difficult to tackle. Instead, she focused on fixing her hair.

Soon after, Cheri and Olive entered the house and began dressing themselves for the event. With Cupcake's permission, they borrowed two Loud Bloom Shirts and applied eye-shadow called "coffee stains". The lipstick was maroon and in a similar style to the other bears, they decorated their hair in a fashion that was popular from the 1930s. Olive was quick to object to curling her hair, though, because she had trouble restoring her former style. Cheri sighed about this, but she knew that her cousin was not going to follow through.

At 6:35 PM, the bears headed for the pond. Before they reached the acre, it was evident that most of the animals had already arrived. A large bulletin board was erected near the upstream river, which stated that a dance competition was to be held later in the evening. It was tradition for Veltron to convene a yearly competition, but the date was never announced by the town's staff, which indicated that it would be organized for one festival randomly. The three cousins found it abnormal that the event was to be held that evening, but they were overjoyed because Maple would be able to participate.

Olive counted more than thirty animals, and they assumed that every resident of Veltron was present. The Mayor was worn out from the fiasco with Penny, but he was quietly standing with his cane at the acre's edge, trying to look his best (he was dressed in a style from olden days too). In his hands were several programs, which documented the event's activities. He handed one to the girls. It read:

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Tonight's fireworks will proceed to begin promptly at 7:00 PM!

At 9:00 PM, the fireworks will adjourn, and the Dance Floor Competition will begin promptly. At this time we request that you make your way to Acre F-5, the dock. A disc jockey will be present, and you may request songs that go back thirty years.

Let us all wish Veltron a very happy birthday!

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The fireworks started appearing in the night sky following the 7:00 PM town bell. The villagers began cheering loudly as the explosions boomed one by one in the sky. The atmosphere grew lively and animals began telling infectious stories of their experiences before moving to Veltron. One of the villagers who had lived in Veltron longest was Butch, the dog whom the cousins invited to dinner a few days after moving in.

"Amazing! How incredible! How pure!" Maple bellowed. She was impressed with the fireworks show.

For two hours, the fireworks show continued like a rainbow blown to a billion bits. As they radiated, the animals jumped and cried earsplitting "oohs" and "aahs". Dizzy was the most vocal, sitting on the opposite side of the pond, bouncing and jumping every time a Christmas-like colour appeared. He was filled with excitement and whistled a high-pitch squeal too.

Mathilda and Susanna Ester were sitting on the pond's eastern end, but they were gossiping more than watching the fireworks. When Static joined them at 7:30, they became more fixed on enjoying the show, even when temptations began lingering. Cupcake noticed that Susanna was wearing a bonnet that had her name sewed on it; what made her jealous was that it was sparkling. She ignored the pig's insistence and reoccupied herself with the fireworks that reflected in the pond.

"Why, that one was fantastic!" Punchy shouted from one side of the pond.

By 8:30, some of the animals had grown bored. Mathilda and Susanna were gossiping and Static tried ignoring them by repositioning himself closer to the cousins and Maple. Pink and purple fireworks were added to the assortment of explosions, which restrengthened some of the residents attention. Lady Cleo was applauding constantly since she was no longer interested in cheering and screaming; her old age was taking its toll. Butch walked away from the pond moments later, and Olive noticed him leaving from the side of her eye. Her gaze followed his trajectory and she saw him jump onto a platform near the dock. Assuming this was the stage for the upcoming dance competition, the grey bear ignored its presence and turned her head back to see a large multi-coloured explosion. The crowd applauded.

The fireworks ended with a grand detonation of collective colours. Everybody cheered and discussion broke out as the animals ascended from the grass and made their way to the dock. Because some animals were not interested in the competition, the number decreased once Cheri, Olive, Cupcake and Maple arrived in Acre A-5. The affair was luxurious.

Mayor Tortimer was standing on the stage Olive saw earlier. He grabbed the microphone attached to the stage and said, "It is wonderful to see so many of Veltron's animals coming out for this year's competition, and I hope that you all participate in it with admirable interest. Whomever can dance the longest without stopping for a single second will win a prize. This prize is very wonderful and I'm positive that everyone will dance to whatever groovy beat played on the jukebox." He turned and pointed at the metre-long jukebox accompanied by six amplifiers. He started speaking faster, "The prize is 100,000 Bells and a new wide-screen television set!"

Everybody gasped. It was atypical for the Veltron government to offer such a large sum of money.

"Last year's karaoke competition—I still think it was a harebrained proposal—drew eleven contestants with a grand prize of 10,000 Bells. Instead of simply upgrading the prize by another 10,000 Bells, we found it appropriate to enlarge it by an incredible 90,000 Bells and throw in the TV set!" The Mayor accidentally let go of the microphone, which stumbled and hit the ground, creating interference through the loudspeakers. Everybody covered their ears. "Sorry!" he continued with the absence of the microphone. "Now, please step onto the dance platform to your left"—the animals complied—"and the competition will begin! You have three minutes to discuss your 'game' strategy."

Before the Mayor finished speaking, Dizzy, T-Bone and Vesta decided that they were going to try dancing. Pelly and Static followed instantly and Mathilda too found her way to the platform as she smiled willingly. It was only Cheri, Olive and Cupcake who were unsure of what they were going to do. Were they doing to dance? They pondered the thought for a minute—was it worth spending so much time dancing? Since the competition was not going to end until the last animal remained, it was possible that they were going to consume most of their time outdoors that night. They were uncertain.

"You know what, girls?" came Maple's voice. "You need to participate. If your current loan is less than 100,000 Bells, you'll be able to pay it off and have leftover cash, right? To add to that, wouldn't it be wonderful to have a new TV set? I know it would be! Here, I'll also participate! If I win, we can split the prize money or... something! We will decide later." Her words sounded sour, but faithful. "Now get your bodies onto that platform!"

The competition began. Olive was surprised to hear "Morning Glory" boom from the loudspeakers and she turned to her cousins with a huge grin on her face. "We can do this! We can really do this! As long as there's a song that has my name written all over it, I am going to do this all night long! This party doesn't officially start until you've got your best friends dancing with you. In my new and improved perky state—totally separate from the gloomy old Olive—I choose the two of you as my best friends! Get up there! Before we can't enter!"

"Fine!" cried Cheri.

"You're going to regret this if we lose!" Cupcake said darkly. Her toned brightened immediately. "Oh, I'm kidding! Let's dance already!"

Olive smiled. "A competition—fun, furious, and full of drama."

The cousins hurried to the platform and danced next to their best friends, with Maple behind them. Dizzy, T-Bone and Vesta were enjoying themselves and even Mathilda and Static were unable to stop moving at rapid speeds. Although Susanna Ester declined the offer to dance, Punchy ascended the stage halfway through "Morning Glory" and everybody looked at each other. They agreed that fun was what life was about.

Everything was coming together: Olive finally succeeded and got a job as an upcoming artist for the Veltron Museum, and she dreamed to one day have her work exhibited at the main museum in the country's capital city. Cupcake was becoming more acquainted with her job at the Able Sisters with help from Mathilda, and Dizzy would return to work for them by the end of July, which excited the two of them. Cheri was applying for a job at the Post Office; she requested evening hours from 6:00 PM to midnight, reprieving Phyllis of five hours which she could use to get more sleep. Pelly thanked Cheri for turning over a new leaf.

Vesta was taking a needed summer vacation. She explained that she would be leaving the second week of July and returning the last week in August. Her visits would take her across the country, with a stop in the famous town of Anthrex, where she would be reacquainted with a former Veltron resident.

Dizzy and T-Bone were taking classes at the Police Station and training to become Lieutenant Booker and Officer Copper's successors. Although this would not be accomplished for a few years, they called it "a work in progress", and the town agreed with them. Dizzy was glad to be taking classes again, but he knew that his schedule could not create conflict with the Able Sisters; he did not want them to fire him. T-Bone was also happy to be working normal hours again.

Mathilda and Susanna Ester agreed on opening a shop. Named after one of Susanna's diary entries, "Veltron Goods" sold countless tourist souvenirs at endless rates. They would open one day after Mathilda's twenty-sixth birthday and one week before Susanna's twenty-fourth birthday. The only problem they had with becoming entrepreneurs were taxes, which most animals could never comprehend. They were praying for the best though.

Punchy was prepared to permanently leave Veltron. He was going to study medicine in a far-away town that was as unknown as Veltron.

Butch had yet to forgive the cousins for the incident they made him part of.

Static was ready to throw in the towel as a sophisticated squirrel. He no longer desired the lifestyle and decided to ready himself for a new adventure taking place on the sea. He joined Butch as a fisherman and sailor that earned a lot of respect from Mathilda and Susanna Ester, who decided that they would still make him part of their yearly dinners, one of which was secretly planned for Vesta's late-August return.

As the hours passed, the animals did not appear as though they were ready to give up.

"I really want that TV set, you know. I should have joined," Susanna commented irritably from beneath a nearby tree.

"...And I don't? Come on, now!" responded Mathilda and Static.

"Woo! Put on your dancing shoes!" Dizzy, T-Bone and Vesta laughed.

"I'm the queen of the world!" Maple shouted.

"That's right," Cheri and Cupcake said. "This is what life is all about!"

Olive nodded. "Life—fun, furious, and full of drama!"

The dancing and partying continued well into the night. Mayor Tortimer fell asleep on the stage, curled up in his shell as the music continued to blast from the amplifiers. Everybody danced. As the sun began rising over the horizon, a platform of animals and onlookers could still be seen from the distance.