Time hadn't changed the humble Boonchuy home with any significance. Same blue paint, same hoop atop the garage if not a bit withered, same garden now a bit lusher with extra time and dedication from Mr. Boonchuy. A few new photos joined the old along the walls within, creating a timeline of the family. The marriage of the parents, the first photo of a young beaming daughter, a bright family photo group shot, then a middle school graduation picture where a young Anne struggles to keep a grin on her face, to a new family photo the daughter has grown taller than her parents and her smile has vanished in return replaced with a look of indifference, ending at a Christmas photo where only the back of her head appeared in the background.

Mrs. Boonchuy was cleaning the dishes from breakfast while Mr. Boonchuy was watching the local news, still finishing his morning coffee.

"Fright at the Museum! Another victim in a string of vandalism by the mysterious gang making themselves known across Los Angeles..."

A video showing the entrance to the Museum of Natural History being blocked by police tape as a large Graffiti signature sprayed with shades of red and black that was just barely legible as "stompers" adorning the top. Images of graffiti and damaged exhibits were cycled on the screen after. In each picture the same logo could be seen sometimes small in a corner other times across the floor boldly.

"I have to admit, as messed up as it is that'd probably make a pretty good tattoo." His present company, Domino rose her tiny head over her now fat body and glanced at the man before hacking a hairball and slinking off the couch like a glob of putty.

"I just- I just don't understand who could hate history so much that they would desecrate such sacred land!" The curator, Dr. Jan bawled her eyes out in her interview. This went on uncomfortably for some time.

Mr. Boonchuy looked as his wife was preparing to clear the eggs she prepared.

"Hey maybe, you should save a plate for Anne."

"She hasn't even gotten out of bed yet." She slammed the plate down on the counter. "She's already going to be late for work she won't have time to eat."

"You know maybe she could use a day off."

"What she could use is some discipline and responsibility." She turned to face her husband and folded her arms. "You're too easy on her."

"Ok maybe you're right." he took a sip from his cup before placing it down on the lamp table. "But you know things have been difficult for her since middle school."

"She's just being lazy. Or maybe I am." As she spoke Mr. Boonchuy approached her and put his hand on her shoulder. "I just wish she could understand how hard we've been working."

"Kids will be kids. Besides I know you're working harder then all of us. Makes things easier for me."

"Hmph, you're right." She smiled as she picked up the plate of eggs. "Things have been too easy for you. Finish up here and I'll go get her."

"I should learn to stop talking."

"Anne!" As she walked up the stairs, the waft from Anne's room quickly overpowered the scent of the eggs.

"Anne?" She knocked on the door to no answer.

"Anne, you're going to be late come eat break-"

She opened the door to a junkyard. Clothes were piled in an endless mountain over what used to be a chest that was now buried treasure. On the dresser were lotions and creams most ancient with open tops spilling out, some crusted over. Next to them were old candy wrappers and emptied out food containers. Across the floor there was dirt and debris with half-finished soda bottles. Near her bed was the burnt end of rolled up paper thankfully for her no longer resembling what it was when it was first put together and the scent it left behind covered by much fouler odors.

"It gotten even worse...ANNE!"

"Yo." the lump within the covers on the bed replied to the intrusion. The light of her phone could barely be seen within the blanket.

"How many times have I told you to clean this up?"

"I'm workin' on it." Anne rose out of her blankets, still scrolling through her apps. While the years had drained a bit of fullness from her face, she had a small but noticeable pouch growing in her torso. " See, the clothes are all together now."

"Anne, don't play games with me young lady! I mean even that same horrible pile of dirt has been sitting in that window for weeks!"

Festering in the sun was a small recreation of Wartwood, complete with residents constructed from toothpicks, clips and candy pieces, a mini pond with plenty of scum and a few houses made from old soda cans and food cartons.

"Just wouldn't be home with mah swamp."

"No, we're not discussing this." Mrs. Boonchuy pinched her noise using every bit of restraint she had to hold the beast within. "I'll clean your room but this is the LAST time. You need to march into the bathroom and get ready for work."

"Come on, Ned will be fine, no one comes during the early shift anyway."

"Anne, you know how important this business is!" She groaned but eventually calmed into a sigh. "When will you realize how much we sacrifice for you?

"Sorry to be such a burden." Anne put her phone down rested her head on her knees. "It's not like it's even our business anymore." she murmured under her breath. When she heard the fierce growling from her now red mother, she knew it was too late.

"NONONO! WAIT! WAIT! WAIT!"

The sounds of furniture being knocked around, doors being swung open and a one-sided argument could be heard from even the outside.

"AAAH!" Anne was tossed out of the front door landing on her face.

She now had on a black hoodie with jean shorts. She lifted her head out the dirt only to enter the fetal position, now aware of her surroundings.

"Oh no! The gentle Autumn breeze!" The air tickled her face bump.

"Carefree social people on the sidewalks."

"He heh, well hiya!"

"And my worst enemy..." She looked to the skies with scorn in her heart.

"The Sun." It seemed to increase its shine just for her, accompanied by a demonic cackling that may or may not have been real.

"Hmph, whatever." She rose to her feet and wrapped her head in her hoodie, pulling tight on the strings to be sure she was concealed. As she walked down the sidewalk some children could be seen playing jump rope near a floral bush.

"1, 2 Franny's in her room. 3, 4 never opens the door. 5, 6 -

Suddenly Anne popped out of the shrub, some bristles and petals falling and some sticking in her hair.

"WHO CALLED MY NAME!"

"EEEEK!" The kids ran into their house as quickly as their tiny legs could.

"hehehehe, stupid kids." Satisfied with at least one thing this morning she continued down the long path to Thai Go.


Times had change and so did the restaurant. The sign was now a much more minimalist and generic, indistinguishable from the many shops and stores of LA. Inside while that Thai ornaments could still be found on the help desk, much of the décor had been phased out for more neutral colors simple flourishes.

Anne tapped her pencil waiting for the man clearly approaching his 30's to finish his order.

"Hmmmm, oh I'm sorry I just don't know what to get, I must be such a bother." He laughed uncomfortably long.

Anne made a quiet half smile gesture and resumed tapping.

"Ahem, yes uhm. What would you recommend?"

"I don't know get the number 3 or something."

"Oh, but that looks kind of carby and like it has gluten. Does it have gluten?"

"It's a Thai restaurant. Noodles. Rice. Gluten kind of comes with the package."

"I know and it sounds so good but my girlfriend is putting me on this new diet." He laughed again, more nervously this time.

Anne made no change to her posture as she stared.

"You don't have any gluten free options? Not a very inclusive restaurant if you ask me."

"Ugh! Just get the fried vegetables man. No grain, no gluten." She motioned towards an item on the menu

"Hmmm Paid Thock, oh I wonder what that means in English."

"It means order me before I lose my-"

"Oh, wait a minute a buddy of mine just came back from vacation in Bangkok, let me text him real quick see what he thinks."

"ORDER SOMETHING OR GET LOST!" She slammed her fist against the table.

'Why are you people so rude?" He said with tears in his eyes before running away crying.

Ned nervously looked around the doorway to the kitchen. "Uh...Anne can I have a word with you in the back?"

She groaned as she made her way into the kitchen.

"Yo." She took a position leaning against the wall folding her arms

"So uhm..." Sporting a few strands of gray hair, Ned's weight and sweat increased with time. He twiddled his fingers as he tried to find the words to say.

"Soooooo, we've been getting a few...complaints."

"From who, barely anyone comes here anymore."

"See that's part of where I'm getting at. You know I'm so super extra grateful to your parent's for selling me their recipes and I want to do my best to run this shop well for them, but it may be a little difficult to do that without customers so we may have to consider..." He winced a little as he said the last words.

"Letting you go?"

Anne's eyes widen and she grew cold. "Wait Ned! You can't fire me, if I lose this job my parent's will throw me out for sure. I can change!"

She slapped her face and stretched her cheeks. "I can put on a forced smile with rosy cheeks for those stupid customers!" She flashed the brightest smile she could teeth and all.

"Wait was that a cricket leg?"

She quickly turned her face to normal. "No." she burped.

"Look kid, I know you're going through a tough time right now and your hearts in the right place, but this business is important to your family and I just don't want to let them down."

"Well, you wouldn't be the first." She looked away from Ned, staring at the ground as if it was home.

"Ok, why don't you take 30 minutes and clear your head on a walk or something. It's a beautiful day!" He motioned to the sky with a smile on his face.

"I don't need a break! I can be useful I swear! Besides how are you gonna run everything by yourself here?"

There was an uncomfortable silence as an air of dust and death swept through the dining area. A rat caked in dust coughed freeing it from its tomb. It sauntered off grumbling.

"I think I'll be fine." Ned's smile unchanged.

"Fine...whatever, but I'm taking the moped." Anne accepted her defeat.

"Sure thing, I just filled the tank, I think."

"Guess it was just a matter of time. Everyone hates me eventually." She murmured as she walked out the store.


The bell resounded in the quiet old thrift shop as she walked in. It had become so many different stores over the years there was an irony in it returning to how she remembered it so many years ago. A comforting irony.

"Hang on just a minute!" The current shop runner called out as she entered.

"Hark, is that another curious heart drawn by the allure of discovery?" An old man jumped out with theatrics far behind his years.

"Come on Humphrey, you know it's me."

"Still, a true thespian is always ready to invite his audience into his world."

"I think it's been a long time since you were a "thespian". She leaned on the counter as Humphrey walked back behind it. "Besides, it looks like I'm the only who even comes here. "

"And you know I'm always grateful for it." He was unloading another box of old antiques and knickknacks sorting through them. "A lot of people your age lack an appreciation for these things you know."

"Well, I guess you could say I have a vested interest."

"Yes, I haven't forgotten, music boxes and talking frogs. If I come across anything like that, you'd be the first to know."

"Hey come on old man, you don't believe me now?" She chuckled.

"Anne, let me tell you something." He leaned on the counter. "For every role I've ever tried to get, every audition I've seen, or any movie I've ever watched, I've never seen any actor paint a picture as vivid as you did about this Amphibiland. You couldn't script a story like that." As he spoke, he embellished his words with all kinds of gestures and hand movements as if he was reliving his life all over again.

"hehehehe, It's Amphibia."

Before she could linger in this moment of reassurance, the bell rang again. Anne instinctively pulled the strings to her hoodie and retreated to the corner.

Two new customers entered the store. They wore coats that seemed too heavy for even the briskest of LA weather and covered their faces with masks and sunglasses. The boy his hair a failed purple dye that was now a strange of pink, took a quick look over at the old shop and its offers before confidently approaching the desk. The girl, her hair a mixture of colors from brown, pink and green walked patiently behind him.

"Egad! 2 new customers! We've finally beat last year's record!" He could barely contain his excitement as they approached.

"Ahem, hark doth wandering eye, no not that one...rats how'd it go again?"

"Hey geezer." The boy leaned in close with his hand on the counter. "We're real avid collectors of rare and unique items. We were wondering if you had anything that could capture the interests of a couple of cuno cano-?"

"Connoisseurs." The girl guided him.

"That."

"Ah a challenge I see. Well then what do you think of this?" Humphrey pulled out a Doogle Radinhere controller and slammed it confidently on the counter.

"Lame."

"Aha!" He dropped a can of chocolate from the 1940's with a label that said "Definitely not fit for human...or anything's consumption"

"Come on I have 2 of those already."

He then presented a decrepit Teddy Lumpkins doll.

"Huh huh, please let me get a taste of that sweet sweet delicious red water. I promise you won't hurt anymore."

"Not gonna lie, you're boring me gramps."

As this back and forth went on the girl studied the boxes behind the counter, where a particular object caught her eye. It seemed like little more than a metal pin. She nudged her comrade." "Don't you have something better than this crud, maybe something in the back?"

"As a matter of fact, I have plenty to show you!" Accepting the challenge, Humphrey eagerly made his way to the back to rummage. Anne quietly observed the two as the boy quickly nabbed the pin. As soon as they got it, they ran out the store.

"HEY!"

"Hmm oh they left already?"

"Yea and they took one of your knickknacks!" Anne pointed at the still swinging door.

"Oh no!" Humphrey dropped the box he brought out. "Well, that's a shame. But it was just one thing nothing to lose sleep over."

"What? No way, I'm not gonna let them get away with robbing you!"

"Anne, it's not worth making a fuss about." Before he even finished, she ran out the door to give chase.

"Wait Anne!"

"Give that back you thieves!" They hadn't gone too far as she exited.

"Huh?" The boy looked back to see their pursuer.

"Who is that? How'd they know we took something?" The girl seemed absolutely terrified.

"Who cares let's bounce!"

"Get back here!" Anne hopped on the moped and began to give chase. However right as it seemed she had closed the distance the moped slowed to a halt.

"What the?" She looked at the tank then noticed a post-it notes hiding under the handle.

Hey Ned you rascal, don't forget to keep this baby full.

"NEEEEEEED!"

She abandoned the bike and kept her chase on foot.

"I swore we were the only two people in there." The girl said as she saw Anne was still in hot pursuit.

"Maybe they were hiding behind that gross mop in the corner." The boy considered.

"Ok. That's a wake-up call." Anne had to acknowledge.

As the duo weaved through the traffic of people doing well to mind their own business, The boy shoved some people in the way in an attempt to slow Anne down.

"Hey!"

With the distraction they quickly picked up the pace and cut around a corner.

Anne realized she wouldn't reach them at this rate. Looking for a solution she noticed a dumpster in an alley she could climb. She quickly hopped on top of it and barely managed to reach the roof of the shop beside it. She followed the sound of angry pedestrians as she leapt between roofs, her eyes focused and shining with each bound.

She noticed them cut into an alley made her descent down some fire escape walk ways.

"Aha got you now!" She announced as she superhero landed in the alley cornering the two thieves.

"Jeez this guy doesn't quit." The boy said as they backed against the alley wall.

"Uh we didn't take anything! We swear!" The girl lied.

"Alright you hand ove- OH MAN, one second." Anne held her knees for dear life as she swallowed as much air as she could. "Ok. Out of shape. Second wake-up call. Heard loud and clear." She released her face from her hood in her desperation to breathe.

"Wait a minute." The boy took of his shades. "Gangly legs, mop top with a bunch of crud in it? No way is that Mad Franne?"

"Mad Franne?"

"Yea my older brother told me all about this weirdo, she went missing in middle school and came back a total freak who ate bugs and talked to frogs!" Anne's hands began to twitch.

"I even heard she attacked her friends and got suspended from middle school, I don't think she even made it out of high school HA!"

"Are you done talking about stuff you know nothing about?" Her hands were balled into fists now. "Shut up and give me what you stole!"

"Oh, you mean this?" The boy now confident flaunted the pin. "Yea no. See the boss has been looking for this."

"Boss?"

"What you been living under a rock? We're part of the Heart-stompers!" He flung open his jacket to reveal a tattered shirt with a familiar insignia. "In fact, now that we know who you are, I'm thinking the boss would just love to see you too!"

He motioned towards his comrade and with a nod she ready a small device from her own coat. He himself armed himself a club. As he pressed a switch it illuminated with electricity.

"Huh, I probably should have seen this backfiring." Anne backed away slowly.

The Heart-stompers revealed the wheelies in their heelies and approached with haste. Before Anne could get far out of the alley the girl throughout her device ahead of her. It flashed a bright light as it exploded in front of Anne stunning her. The boy made an attempt to strike her with the taser club only barely missing as Anne ducked. The girl made an attempt to trip her by skating through her legs but Anne just barely managed jump to avoid her. She still landed on butt in the effort.

"Why don't you hold still!" The boy tossed a new device that burst into a bundle of rope. As Anne rose to her feet the rope slammed into her wrapping itself around the length of her body to her feet capturing her fully.

"What the heck? Where do people like even get stuff like this?"

"Ha! Looks like I caught a loser." The boy fist pumped.

"Come on, Daryll let's go before anyone else-"

"Anne!" Humphrey arrived at the scene on a bike that wouldn't be out of place in a doctor Seuss book. "Thank goodness, I didn't think I'd be able to catch up with you but I still got it."

"Old man, get out of here!" Anne cried as she struggled against the ropes.

"No way!" Daryll laughed as he put a foot to Anne's bindings. "What, this geezer supposed to be your hero or something?"

"Clearly you kids have never learned how to respect a young lady." Humphrey lifted his cane and entered a stance ready for war.

"Old man I'm fine just run away."

"Don't worry Anne, I was a 3rd runner up for the sidekick in fumigator 1.5 Son of Fumigator. I'll teach these-"

Daryll easily pushed Humphrey over.

"Humphrey!"

"That's cute gramps but we're kind doing a thing here."

"Daryll, we got we needed let's just go!"

"You're right, Jojo. We should be reaping the spoils, let's go Fran..ny?"

Anne had somehow gotten to her feet. Daryll watched in shock as the bindings began to expand. Soon it was more than the ropes could bear, Anne had broken through the bindings leaving the withered remains on the ground behind her. She walked forward quietly, but a storm could be heard. A gust seemed to form under her and a blue aura flared around her periodically.

"How did you get out of that you-" Daryll made another attempt to strike her with the taser club, but he was amazed to find he had hit nothing. In fact, before he noticed Anne was gone from his sight.

Jojo who was staring in shock and fear the whole time was also taken aback as she couldn't tell where their prisoner had vanished to.

"You, ok?"

They looked towards the alley exit to see she had appeared looking over Humphrey. She lifted his head of the ground and slowly helped him get to his feet.

"I'm fine, but Anne are you..."

She then turned to face the Heart-stompers. The blue aura burst into a raging fire beneath her as electricity sparked in the air. Her hair billowed up, blinking blue but never staying stable in the color. Jojo despite her or perhaps because of it, snapped a picture of this strange phenomenon.

"H-H-H-Hey take it easy Franny! W-w-we don't want any trouble!" Daryll was quivering like newborn.

"Give it back..." she whispered.

"Huh?"

"If you don't want any trouble..." She began her pace, her voice now echoing like a mental assault instead of mere words. "Give. It. BACK!"

As she stomped a crackle of electricity blew the duo back into the alley wall, their ears ringing with the sound of her booming voice.

"OK! OK!" Jojo quickly grabbed the pin from Daryll. "Here it is!" They both dropped to their knees after she tossed the pin back to Humphrey, who despite his look of fear and concern managed to catch it.

"We're so sorry! Please don't hurt us!"

"Yea we'll go! We'll go!"

"Tell your boss if I catch you goons messing with this city again, he'll answer to me. Got it?"

"Yea we'll do whatever you say Franny! Hone-" Before he could finish with another flash of lightning Anne appeared before them.

"MY NAME IS ANNE BOONCHUY!" The ground split beneath her as she declared this.

"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Daryll screamed as they sprinted out the alley.

"WE"RE SORRRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!" Jojo called out as they disappeared into the distance.

Soon the blue aura dissipated, the storm stopped and Anne returned to her sullen self. Before she could process what occurred, she collapsed at the alley wall.

"Anne. Anne!" she faded away only hearing the faint echo of Humphrey's voice.