A/N: Hey guys! First of all, I'd like to apologize to all of you- especially those who were waiting for updates and those whom I kept hanging. I'm sorry for updating just now. I've been EXTREMELY busy with school and I didn't have the time to write or updating on anything. Well, this will be the second-to-the-last chapter for IYD, and this will focus on how Alana met Loca. And I can't help but stress again that these events are purely fictional, so please do not send me flames.
I was speechless after I heard about Muffy's story. I've always thought that she was from an elitist family- well-pampered from birth with an exorbitant lifestyle. I asked countless questions to my friend, trying to verify if Muffy's past was really spent in an orphanage. My friend answered them dutifully, as she understood my stunned situation perfectly. After hearing for many times that the story was true, I stopped arguing with her and listened to the remainder of the Terrible Trio's tale.
"Loca…is very fortunate." My friend started to narrate. She bowed her head, as if unable to continue with the story. I brushed away some stray strands of hair from her face and saw that she was crying. I used my thumb to smear away the tears that were running down her face and asked her to continue with the story.
Alana was now living in one of the houses in the suburban streets of San Francisco, two doors up from Muffy's house. They would both go to school together and went home together as well. This routine kept up for a year during Pre-K. Their friendship strengthened to an unbelievable extent during this short span of time. Alana and Muffy became unbreakable. By the time Alana stepped into the 1st grade, loyalty was strengthened and the last member of the Terrible Trio was accepted.
It was after school one day. Alana and Muffy were picked up by Alana's father and were riding in a sleek black sedan. Both children were tired from the activities they had done in school that day. Alana's dad took a glimpse of the two girls from his rear view mirror. The two were awake, but their eyes drooped heavily from fatigue. He smiled and asked the two girls how their day was.
"You two looked so pooped out. What did you do in school today, Muffy?" Alana's dad asked the two tired children.
"We learned basic multiplication…" Muffy said. Her response was more like a groan than an answer. "…And we were taught how to spell difficult words. I learned how to spell 'innocence'! I-N-N-O-S-I-N-S!" Muffy reported happily.
"It's I-N-N-O-C-E-N-C-E!" Alana quickly corrected her best friend of her wrong spelling. Alana's dad laughed and asked his daughter next.
"And what did you do today, princess?" He questioned. A small smile grew on Alana's tired face.
"We had a pop quiz about animals in Science." Alana recalled as well. "We are supposed to match the mother animal with the baby animal. I got a perfect score"
"So did I!" Muffy added happily. The two girls then gave each other a high five. Alana's dad laughed even more, entertained by the two children's cuteness. Their car then passed an alleyway. Alana saw a bunch of children who seemed to form two groups. They looked shabby and mean. They were wearing clothes that seem to be thrown away by people who have no use for them anymore. They seemed to be formed into two gangs and were about to go berserk on each other. There was a dirty-looking white boy standing in front of one group, and a tall black girl standing in front of the other. Alana disclosed that they were the gang leaders. They seemed to be shouting at each other, while their respective groups cheered their leaders on. The white boy then pushed the girl and kept on shouting stuff at her, while his group taunted the rival gang. The tall black girl was angry. She rolled up the right sleeve of her shirt and socked the white boy in the mouth. Alana immediately looked away in shock and fright. Muffy saw her reaction and asked Alana.
"Hey, are you OK, Alana?" Muffy asked, concerned. Alana just nodded and didn't say anything further. It was a good thing that their car only drove by the alley for a few seconds. She didn't want to witness the whole of carnage. It would be scary for a 6-year-old girl to see a bloody street brawl. Alana peeked one last time out of her window and saw that they have gone only a few distances from the alley. She could still make out the black girl. And there was something red on her fist. Blood. Alana was terrified. She didn't expect that people in the city would be this violent…even the kids. She slumped back in the car and tried to forget it. At least I won't be seeing those kids again… She thought. Alana then saw Muffy asleep beside her. Alana then found herself yawn and just decided to take a nap before they reached home. But somehow, that black girl stayed in her mind. She scared Alana.
The next day, Alana's class was informed by their class adviser that they will be visiting a child-care center in the slums tomorrow. Muffy was uncertain, while Alana was uneasy. The slums…? Alana thought nervously. Oh no! That is where those mean kids hang out! She thought some more. The slums? Muffy thought as well. I wonder…another orphanage…? The class adviser handed out the children cards that will serve as their permit to go on their community service trip. On the cards were blanks to be filled up. There was one about what kind of relief goods the child will bring.
"OK class, now that each of you has their permit cards, you must let your parents read and sign them." Their class adviser instructed. "You must let them put their signature on the blank; else you won't be able to go with us"
"I…don't want to go." Alana muttered softly to Muffy. Muffy looked at her with a puzzled face.
"Why? I thought you like to help the people in the slums?" Muffy queried.
"…I…I do." Alana shakily answered. "But…I've got to tell you something later." She cut herself off." Muffy just nodded and waited for recess.
After a while, the bell for recess rang. The kids ran out of the room hastily, each trying to get to the playground first. Alana and Muffy were the last to go out. Alana then started to tell Muffy all about what she saw in the alley yesterday.
"I am scared of the slums." Alana said for an intro.
"Why? What's wrong?" Muffy was puzzled. Alana heaved a soft sigh.
"It all started yesterday when we were going home. Dad drove by an alley and then I saw two groups of kids brawling with each other"
"Oh." Muffy said in enlightenment. "What did they look like"
"They are urchins, I think." Alana disclosed to Muffy. "They wore shabby clothes and they were dirty-looking"
"Did that frighten you?" Muffy asked jokingly.
"No!" Came Alana's response. Muffy giggled a bit. "Anyway, there was this white boy and this tall black girl. They seem to be gang leaders"
"And then?" Muffy asked for the remainder of the story.
"They were shouting at each other. The white boy pushed the black girl hard." Alana recounted. "The black girl became really mad. And then"
"Then what!" Muffy abruptly interrupted.
"…And then the girl punched the boy in the mouth!" Alana heaved her fist near her face back and forth to demonstrate to Muffy how she saw the street brawl. Muffy was slightly taken aback. "Then when I looked back, I could see some blood on her fist." Normally, a child would be shocked or appalled upon hearing that, but Muffy was a bit indifferent. She was surprised at the behavior of those children, but she just couldn't help but feel unmoved about it. After all, she grew up in an impoverished environment, wherein kids are abandoned and are left to fend for themselves. No wonder she's sort of used to hearing and seeing other kids scrap each other.
"Don't worry. It's all gonna be OK." This was all that Muffy could say to appease Alana's fear. She grabbed Alana's hand and went out to have their break.
Alana miserably walked by Muffy's side the next day when they were going to their classroom. They arrived just in time for the class headcount before departing for the slums. Both of them entered the room and surrendered their permit cards to their teacher. Alana and Muffy took their respective seats and listened for instructions given by their teacher.
"Now class, before we head off to our destination, I want you to do a headcount…" The teacher began to direct the class. "So we will know who is not here yet." Immediately, the first boy in the first row recited enthusiastically.
"One!" Said the boy happily. The kid beside him continued with a deafening, "2". The chain went on and on until it reached Alana.
"Eight!" Muffy exclaimed eagerly. But when the ball was passed to Alana, a less than audible sound was heard.
"…N-nine." Alana stammered, preoccupied with the malignant memory of yesterday's alley brawl. Muffy turned to her and mouthed the words, "You OK?" to Alana. Alana managed to screw up a broken smile from her lips. After that, Alana looked away and didn't want to talk anymore. Muffy didn't come after her and just minded her own business. But she was worried about Alana. And about that growing trauma inside of her best friend.
After the headcount was finished, the students boarded the bus and were now off to the slum areas of the city. Alana could tell the transition of the establishments of the city to the downtown area. The city was bright, cheerful and not to mention, SAFE…while the downtown was nasty, foul and precarious. She could see the gradual change of the buildings and the people as they drove through the streets in their big yellow bus. The class then started to sing a song. Muffy was singing with the crowd, but Alana just didn't have it in herself to sing. She just blankly stared outside the window, watching brick buildings go by.
"Hey…why don't you sing with us?" Muffy caringly said to her stunned friend. "It might help with your nervousness. Come on, Alana." Muffy then playfully got Alana's hands and clapped them together for her. Alana was somewhat happy that her best friend didn't grow annoyed at how she's acting. Alana nodded and joined in the singing, making Muffy happy in turn. Muffy was relieved that at least Alana is trying to get over her slight trauma. The bus drove along the transitioning surroundings, as the buildings completely transformed into the dark, shady part of the city- downtown San Francisco.
It didn't take any longer for them to reach their destination. Their big yellow bus rolled up a nasty-looking area, with a very wide entrance way. It was like a slum village in the heart of downtown San Francisco. Alana saw a tattered arch sign bearing the words, "Green Acres Village Area". Alana thought the name of the area was pretty off and inappropriate. She looked out the bus window and surveyed the "village". There was definitely nothing "green" in there and there were no trees to even consider it an "acre". There were only shabby-looking houses, each made of makeshift material like tin sheets, rubber tires and old wood. The only things that look kind of sturdy on the houses were the cemented walls. The swirling sensation in Alana's stomach was there again, eating her insides in a whirlpool of anxiety.
"Muffy!" Alana hissed to her best friend, instantly grabbing her hand and locking it tight. "Don't leave me…" Muffy was well aware of Alana's situation and gladly acceded to her friend's request.
"Of course, Alana! I'm not gonna leave you." Muffy said caringly, patting Alana's hand. Their teacher then stood up from the front seat and gave the class the "go signal" to stand up and follow her out of the bus.
"OK, class. All of you please stand up. We will now alight the bus to meet out little friends!" Their teacher said with all enthusiasm. "And always stick with your buddy! We don't want you getting lost!" The students stood up, each with their corresponding partner in the buddy-system. Alana and Muffy stood up, holding each other's hand as usual. They both got out of the bus, but the fear in Alana's heart grew with every second that passed. As Alana surveyed her surroundings- all those tattered makeshift houses and the shabby-looking people, she felt her fear eating her up.
The students were then taken to the sort of "community clubhouse" of the village. It was only a fairly small gathering area in the middle of the houses; like the town square or something. The students were made to sit together as the village leader oriented to them about the tasks they will perform in their exposure trip. Alana and Muffy saw that behind the village leader were the children, dressed shabbily and they seem to be disgruntled at the sight of other kids in their territory. Alana wasn't aping attention to the village leader. She was looking around. Alana surveyed the kids behind the village leader. She then saw that one of them was far taller than the others. Alana leaned a bit more to see the tall kid's face. But what greeted her shook her in fear. The tall kid…was the tall black girl she saw the other day. The same one who punched the white boy and made his mouth bleed.
"Oh no! She's here!" Alana whispered worriedly to Muffy. Muffy looked around, looking for the person Alana was referring to.
"Who? Where?" Muffy asked, as she searched around, fidgeting and twisting her head from side to side. Alana pointed a small finger at the children behind the village leader. Muffy looked and saw that Alana was pointing to a tall black girl…who looked really tough…and scary.
"Whoa…that is one tall girl." Muffy gasped in a sort of joking manner. "Is she the one who…you know…socked the white boy you were talking about?" Alana nodded and stayed silent. Muffy mouthed an "Oh" and didn't say anything anymore. After the village leader has finished her orientation speech, she then went to the kids behind her and directed them towards the front. The slum kids looked really scary, proof that they learned to live the hard life at a very young age. There was a boy who had a bruise around his right eye, a girl whose stare could kill anyone, and most of them had decayed teeth. They all wore tattered, worn-out clothes, but they didn't have any problems with that. Alana bit her lip and clung onto Muffy.
"Now kids, find you're your partner that has been assigned to you." Alana's teacher instructed the whole class. Alana froze. Oh yeah! We were asked to pick a partner! Oh no! That means Muffy has to leave me! NOOO! Alana's thoughts clashed against each other. She remembered how she pulled out a name from the box a few days ago. The name she got was…
"Loca." Alana muttered absentmindedly to herself, still hanging onto Muffy. Most of the students have set forth to find their partner, but Alana didn't want to move.
"Hey, Alana…let's get moving." Muffy said softly, beckoning Alana to come with her. Alana shook her head and said that Muffy should go by herself this time. "OK, of you say so. But are you gonna be OK"
"Yeah." Alana responded with a nod. Muffy let go of Alana reluctantly and went off to find her slum kid partner. Alana knew she had better find hers as well. She walked towards the cluster of children- both from her class and from the slums. She then started to ask the kids around, a bit shakily, though.
"I ain't Loca"
"Buzz off"
"Go ask someone else"
These would have ticked off anyone who asked properly. Alana was no longer afraid. She was sort of annoyed now. She was asking these kids properly and politely and this is how they answer. She frowned and decided to ask other kids. Alana walked around the bunch of kids and asked around some more, this time she tried shouting out the question.
"Hey, is there someone named Loca in here?" Alana called out. "Does anyone know where Loca is?" But there came no answer to her question. Just then someone at the back shouted.
"Hey, I'm Loca!" Alana followed where the voice came from and found herself at the very back of the cluster. She made her way through the group of kids, squeezing herself through. When Alana finally made it to her partner, she looked downwards to dust her self first.
"Hey, take it easy. The world around here is really dirty." Her partner said to her.
"Thanks but…I'd rather stay clean." Alana said in response, not even looking at her partner.
"Ah, that's good." Alana's partner said happily. The kid then extended a dark hand to her. "My name is Loca. And you are?" Alana finally finished clearing her clothes of dirt and looked up to shake hands with her partner. But when she looked up and saw who her partner was, Alana froze and was instantly apprehended by fear.
"Y-Y-Y-You…" Alana stuttered nervously, her voice shaking terribly.
Her partner, Loca…is one with the tall black girl who made that white boy's mouth bleed with her fist.
"Huh? What's wrong?" Loca asked the trembling Alana. Alana's eyes were as wide as saucers and her lower lip trembled horribly. "Did you have your breakfast this morning? You look awfully pale"
"Please don't hurt me!" Alana said out of the blue. If this would have been an animé, Loca would have sweatdropped.
"Uhh…are you sure you're OK?" Loca asked in a way confused manner. She has no idea why this girl is acting this way.
"You…I saw you the other day…you beat the boy in the mouth…" Alana said shakily, as Loca was slightly getting the reason why Alana is so afraid of her.
"Oh…but how? I've never seen you before…" Loca said, putting a hand on her waist. Alana rubbed her sweaty hands in nervousness.
"My dad picked me up from school and I saw you and your friends in the alley from our car." Alana explained, recalling the fresh, vivid memory of the alley rumble the day before. "You…erm…it was really scary." Alana was prepared of anything mean Loca might say. She shut her eyes and waited for the verbal death blow. But instead, what she heard was a joyful laugh.
"Hahahahaha! That's it? Girl, you need to get around more." Loca chortled, patting Alana's back with one large hand. "Those things happen every day here in the slums. It's kinda like a natural routine." She added with a smile. The fear in Alana's face gradually faded and was replaced with a weak and awkward smile.
"Hehehe…I fell so silly." Alana laughed a bit. "But aren't you afraid that he might want to get you back"
"Nah, we're friends. That's just how we street kids are." Loca explained, cracking her knuckles. This scared Alana a bit. These kids beat up each other for fun? Scary! Alana thought, taking a small step backward. Loca saw this and reassured Alana with a wide smile.
"Don't worry! You've got nothin' to get jumpy about!" Loca said reassuringly. "I maybe tough, but I can still be your friend…um…er?" Loca didn't know Alana's name.
"Alana. My name is Alana." Alana said quickly to end Loca's thinking. Loca took Alana's hand and shook it.
"Nice to meet you, Alana!" Loca greeted her with happiness and excitement. Alana's fear has now completely withered and was happy to know that Loca was not really rowdy and violent as she thought.
"Likewise, Loca." Alana smiled, shaking her new friend's hand.
"So, tell me more about yourself. It must be nice living uptown." Loca said dreamily, as she and Alana sat on a tall structure Loca calls, "The Tower". It was like a tree house, only there was no tree and it was built on top of a makeshift house. So it was more like a house-house. Anyway, they sat there, overlooking Green Acres.
"Well, there's not really much in there. Just stores, malls, cable road cars…" Alana enumerated, looking up into the sky. Even the sky looked different in the downtown area. It was a sort of murky, with muddy clouds, unlike the clear sky in the uptown. "And then there's the school…pre K…Elementary school…Junior High"
"Wow…" Loca said in response. "You know," She said, shifting to turn to Alana. "I've always wanted to live in the uptown and go to school"
"Oh…" Alana said after hearing the confession. "It's a really nice place, school, I mean"
"I bet." Loca said, but with the loss of the lively glow in her eyes. "If only I had my parents with me…then I wouldn't have to suffer this kind of life. I'd be safe"
"…Why? What happened to your parents?" Alana then remembered how she and Muffy met for the first time. Was it fate's wish that Alana constantly bump into orphans? Maybe so. But Alana didn't complain. She was even thankful that she is able to meet these kinds of people, for she wanted to help them.
"I…I-I don't know." Came Loca's short answer. "I only have some vague memories of them. The village leader said they died in an accident. But I guess that's just an overused lie. I can feel them…alive, somewhere. But even when I was still in my mom's womb, I could hear her calling me, saying, 'Loca…my baby girl…'." Alana felt her heart melt with pity. She wanted to help Loca…but she wasn't sure if what Loca wants can be given. She stayed silent, trying to think of a way. Alana felt like she was still in debt with her parents, after they agreed to fin Muffy a family. She now wasn't sure if her parents would still agree to help another homeless child.
"But enough about me!" Loca said, shattering the silence. "Hey…don't mind me asking, but were you really shaken when you saw me punch that kid?" Loca asked Alana.
"Yeah. It was just shocking…to see a kid beat up on another." Alana explained, twiddling her thumbs.
"You know, there will come a time that you will also fight someone." Loca said. Once again, I had to interrupt the story. I was surprised that a young girl could come up with such thoughts. I asked my friend how Loca was able to come up with that profound statement.
"Loca is a year older. Though the age gap is only a short time, roughing it out on the mean streets has taught her well." My friend explained. My curiosity as then satisfied and listened to the remainder of the story. Loca was now trying to lecture Alana on gathering her courage in facing battles- may they be verbal or physical. Alana clutched her knees close to her chest and listened on.
"In the future, you will have to face your own battles…" Loca explained, distantly looking off into the sky. "And you can't just run away. Running away makes you weak. It will break you"
"I guess…" Alana responded softly, slowly getting the point.
"You know, I didn't beat that kid up without a purpose." Loca explained. "He wanted to steal some sweets at the mini-mart. Heh, even though I am a street urchin, I know better than to steal." Alana couldn't say anything. Her stereotypical viewpoint towards street children has been negated because of Loca's reasons.
"I mean, even though we don't have much money, the elders here in our little area make sure we don't go a day without eating." Loca muttered, her lips forming smirks as she talked. "So, I don't find any reason to commit crimes, because people look after me"
"I'm happy to know that you are different." Alana said in response. She wanted to hear the rest of the story. "So, what happened to the kid you punched"
"Well, I was trying to stop him from doing anything stupid, but he just wouldn't listen." Loca said in recollection. "He then started to pick on me about being chicken. If there's one thing I hate, it's being called a coward. I was only trying to steer clear of trouble"
"And then you punched him?" Alana asked, followed by a soft chuckle. Loca nodded, not looking at Alana. "Haha, well…I guess that was the right thing to do. You made a wise decision not to join in the crime"
"Thanks. I still know what's right from wrong, you know." Loca said happily. "So, you should be brave always, Alana. You'll just never know when someone will strike you. And at least, if that ever happens, you will still stand strong and fearless"
"Thanks…thank you very much, Loca." Alana said, holding one of Loca's hands. Loca patted her new friend on the shoulder. Just then, an idea hatched in Alana's head. She turned to Loca with bright sparkles in her eyes.
"Hey…I think I know how to find your parents." Alana said out of the blue. Loca was sort of frozen, with an expression of "go on" written all over her face. "I also feel that they are alive…you know…that kind of feeling"
"Yeah. But how?" Asked Loca with all expectation. Alana stood up and posed in a hero-like stance, putting her hands on her waist and smiling with all the pride she could muster up.
"Don't worry, young citizen! Alana will find a way!" Alana joked, extending a fist into the air and making Loca laugh. Just then, Muffy joined them in The Tower, huffing and puffing all the air she could get. Alana's face was mixed with both shock and gladness.
"Whoa…took me a while to find you!" Muffy managed to say in a joking manner, but was still catching her breath. "You know, I like, had to ask many kids to find out where you are, Alana." She then looked sideways and saw Loca sitting nest to Alana. "Hey, who's your friend?" She asked, smiling at Loca, who smiled back.
"Oh!" Alana jerked. "Muffy, meet my friend, Loca"
"Hey, Muffy!" Loca said with a happy wave of the hand. "Nice to meet'cha"
"And Loca, meet my best friend, Muffy!" Alana exclaimed, extending a hand as if showing something on display in a store window.
"Hi Loca, nice to meet you too!" Muffy chimed, grinning. She then looked at Alana.
"Alana, Teacher said we're going now." Muffy said to Alana. Loca looked sadly at Alana, while Alana exchanged the same look. Muffy then saw the sadness in both Alana and Loca's faces. "I still want to hang out here…but Teacher said we should go now…" Muffy said with gloom in her voice. Alana looked at Loca and bent down to hug her. Alana's head rested on Loca's shoulder as the tall girl patted her back.
"Thanks, Loca." Alana said gratefully, as she continued to lock her friend in an embrace.
"Don't mention it. R-Remember, be brave!" Loca said to Alana, her voice quivering. Alana then looked at Loca and whispered something to her.
"Don't worry. I will find a way. You will see your parents again, I promise." Alana said in a whisper then stood up. She turned to Muffy and went with her best friend. Both of them took one last look at Loca before departing. Alana could see something glistening in Loca's eyes. Loca rubbed a finger on her eyes to stop the salty tears from flowing.
"I-I ain't crying." Loca lied, but was pretty obvious that she was. "I'm gonna miss you both. I'm happy to have new friends"
"We'll miss you, too." Muffy answered. Even though she only met Loca just now, she felt that Loca is a true friend. The feeling came naturally like an instinct.
"Yes…take care, Loca." Alana said. Then, she said the word she dreads to speak to Loca. "…Goodbye." With that, Alana and Muffy turned their backs on Loca and departed for their big, yellow school bus. Loca stood there, with hope filling her heart. She trusted Alana. She trusted her that she will find a way to reunite her with her long-lost parents.
On the bus, the students in Alana's class peered through the windows, waving goodbye to all their new friends. The kids of Green Acres waved back happily to them. All of the children were very happy to have made new friends, even though they came from totally different walks of life. Muffy was avidly waving to the kids, as Alana peered through the window and saw the lone tall girl ay the back of the cluster. Alana raised a hand and waved it at the tall girl at the back. Loca saw Alana waving to her and waved back as well, smiling with all the happiness and joy in her heart. The bus then started moving, leaving the Green Acres behind. The kids of Green Acres ran after the bus, until it was too far away to chase. Alana sat back down, her heart mixed with sorrow and anticipation. Sorrow, because she had to leave Loca behind and anticipation, for she can't wait to ask her parents for a huge favor.
"Muffy…" Alana started a conversation. "I made a promise to Loca." She added.
"Huh? What promise?" Muffy asked, confused.
"Loca…she's separated from her parents." Alana filled her in with an explanation. "I promised I'll find them"
"What if…you don't?" Muffy said in anxiety. But Alana wasn't shaken, even for a bit.
"I will find them. I know they are alive somewhere." Alana couldn't explain it, but she somehow felt the same sensation Loca felt about her parents being alive. And that drove her even more to find them.
As soon as Alana got home, she immediately went down to business. Alana went straight to her parents and informed them about her cause. At first, Mama and Papa were flabbergasted, for their daughter was asking for things that are very unusual. First it was an orphan friend, now to find an urchin's parents. It was beyond weird. They disagreed, thinking that the request was too outrageous.
"But…think of that child…" Alana said, trying to get her parent's sympathy and putting on the tried-and-tested trick, the puppy dog eyes. "I can feel her parents are alive somewhere. Please, help me…Mama? Papa? Think if I was that child, and I'm looking for you? Would you ignore me?" This was guaranteed to work. Gathering empathy from Mama and Papa always worked for Alana. And this time was no exception. Before Alana knew it, There were notices about a girl looking for her parents spread around town. Alana saw the leaflets bearing the words: "Attention: Girl looking for parents" and below it were details and Alana's address, which served as contact particulars. And since Alana's father was working in an international company, he utilized that opportunity to spread the word outside of San Francisco. Alana was confident that this is going to work, and Loca will finally see her parents.
It didn't take long before someone responded to the notices. One night, a couple came to Alana's house, seeking some help regarding the flyers. The couple was desperate to get some help, and from the moment Alana saw them, she knew that Loca's reunion with her parents was really just a matter of moments now. There was a strong resemblance of Loca on the father's face and a bit on the mother's as well. Alana's parents immediately came to the couple's aid and learned that they really are Loca's long-lost parents. They were victims of a car crash accident. The accident happened right after Loca was born, as they were driving home from the hospital one rainy night. Loca's mother did not choose to go home at night, but the doctor advised her to rest in a more sanitary place. Their car spun out of control due to the slippery road and crashed. Loca's parents were injured badly, as the infant was kept safe.
"When we came to consciousness…our baby was gone." Loca's father explained. "We looked everywhere, but we couldn't find her…" Loca's father added sadly. After the accident, the couple had settled in New York and continued to look for their missing baby. But eventually, they came to accept that she was gone and they could never ever find her. But that was until now. After learning about the notices Alana sent out, the couple rushed over to San Francisco to be reunited with their daughter. After hearing the couple's story, Alana and her parents brought Loca's parents to Green Acres immediately the next day.
"Loca?" Alana asked, climbing The Tower. As she figured, Loca would be there. Loca turned around and was engulfed with joy to see Alana.
"Alana! You came back!" Loca said happily. "I missed ya!" She added. Loca then noticed the unusually bright glint in Alana's eyes.
"…I promised you I'd find your parents." Alana whispered. Upon hearing that, Loca jerked in anticipation. Her eyes widened like saucers and stared at Alana.
"No…" Loca said in disbelief. But Alana argued with a nod. Loca got up and rushed down The Tower with all her eagerness. When Loca finally reached the ground landing, there stood in front of her, the greatest gift she could ever wish for. Faint memories of her parents flooded Loca's mind. She was merely an infant when she saw them, and her eyes had not worked so well back then. But she knew…because of a strong sense of blood kinship, that these people before her are her…
"Mom! Dad!" Loca exclaimed, immediately jumping into the arms of her father and mother.
"Oh, baby girl! I never thought we'd find you!" Her father exclaimed happily, tears streaming down his face.
"My sweet little child…we looked everywhere for you…and now…" Loca's mom couldn't speak clearly, as her heart was overwhelmed with joy and excitement. "We…found you." Alana and her parents looked at the happy picture of Loca finally being reunited with her parents. Alana smiled at what she has done, seeing how it paid off splendidly. Loca turned back and looked at Alana, her eyes bloodshot from crying so many tears. Loca got down from her parent's embrace and approached Alana. Loca embraced her friend in a warm tight hug and cried on Alana's shoulder.
"Thank you…thank you…" Loca repeated as she continued to cry. Alana felt her eyes drip with hot tears as well. She hugged Loca to make her feel even better.
"You're welcome. I am happy to help." Alana said, crying. She was really satisfied of what she has done in her tender age. First, she gave Muffy, an orphan a home. And now, she reunited Loca with her long-lost family. Alana couldn't ask for anything else anymore.
She had everything now. All the money. All the clothes. All the luxury.
And all the friends she could count on.
She now has Muffy and Loca…and the Terrible Trio was finally complete.