"No matter what you're going through, there's a light at the end of the tunnel and it may seem hard to get to it but you can do it and just keeping working towards it and you'll find the positive side of things." ~Demi Lovato

Its interesting when you figure out that one thing that makes everything else make sense. It s like the whole world suddenly opens up and your eyes are opened. It's like finding the answer to a math problem that plagued you until that moment when you figured out how to do it and then it came naturally. That's how it felt. Everything just seemed to make sense all of a sudden. I couldn't understand why I hadn't seen it sooner.

I sat at my spot, the table nearest Pirate Cove, and looked out at the children playing. I don't remember when I started sitting in this spot, it just seemed natural. After all, Foxy had been my favorite out of the four animatronics. I figured that was the reason I sat so close, to be close to him, but of course I was missing that one thing that cleared everything else up.

It was about midday, sometimes after lunch, when we were at our busiest. The sounds of screaming children were enough to drive certain people mad. The main band was playing on stage, directing and singing with the children. I sighed, leaning back slightly. Mike sat across from me, drinking a soda. He grinned, glancing at Pirate Cove.

"What makes you think this'll work?" I grumbled.

"I can't believe you never watched his act," chuckled Mike. "You and him seemed to be so close after all."

"He was a good friend, still is!" I smiled, sitting up. "Doesn't mean this is my 'one big regret' you know."

"You said you never got to see Foxy due his routine, that's the only regret you have here!" countered Mike. "It's either this or maybe you're just unlucky."

"Unlucky," I replied.

The curtain fluttered open, revealing the newly refurbished Foxy the Pirate, curtsy of many hours spent by Mike. Many of the employees looked confused but they had been notified that a test run of Pirate Cove was today. Some kids turned, glancing at the new stage and animatronic. Foxy whimpered quietly, watching the children slowly approach. I smiled lightly. Freddy spoke quickly the lines he had once programmed into him in order to announce Foxy's arrival. Foxy puffed out his chest, glanced down at me, and began.

"Yar, maties! And…welcome to…the Pirate's Cove!"

He was stuttering at first, saying his lines slowly and with hesitation. The kids were getting closer to his stage, eyes wide with curiosity.

"These little ones are now part of the pirate's crew!"

He skipped a dialogue with Freddy but neither of them seemed to mind. Foxy was beginning to smile. So were some of the employees, but most importantly, some of the kids were beginning to smile.

"When in Pirate's Cove, remember to play safe kiddies! And no running around or ye be walking the plank!"

I heard a parent mumble the name Foxy and it spread like wildfire about the pizzeria until the children finally caught wind of it and began chanting the name. Foxy! Foxy! I couldn't help but smile. I genuinely felt happy.

"You seek adventure? What holds more adventure than the seven seas!"

The children were beginning to cheer with each word that Foxy spoke.

"All pirate, give me a yarg!"

All the children replied.

"Yarg!" I shouted with them.

"Yarg!" joined Mike. "You know, when I was a kid, I used to come here…"

I turned to Mike. "You did?"

"Yep, we came until Foxy bit the owner but I don't remember it. I used to sneak here anyway because I didn't know any better," he smiled lightly. "To be completely honest, it makes me think. How close was I to being one of those kids in the basement?"

I didn't know how to answer, simply turning back to the show. The sea of kids was growing, singing along with Foxy. I smiled lightly, resting my head on one hand. I felt at peace. I felt at complete peace. I shut my eyes, listening to the laughter and the joy, until I finally fell asleep.