Chapter 2: The Only Sweet Thing He Bights Is Jennamite


"Good things happen when you meet strangers" - Yo-Yo Ma


Bolin walked down the flight of stairs outside of the pro-bending arena. Pabu had a nice spot on his shoulder as Bolin took last step off of the final step and started walking down the sidewalk. He hoped he could find someplace to work, but he really had no clue what he was doing.

He really just wanted to get out of the apartment for now. He had hoped to keep the job a secret from Mako, but quickly ruled that out when he thought about how he would give Mako his earnings and how he would be away from home much more now.

"Where do you think we should start?" he asked his best friend, Pabu, the fire-ferret. He smiled and continued on with determination. He would find a job. He would.


Two hours later and Bolin had pretty much given up. Everywhere he went, there were no jobs, and if there were, he wasn't old enough, or what they were looking for. "Maybe Mako was right." he said to Pabu, who looked back blankly with his small eyes, and took a seat at a table in his favorite place. Narook's Seaweed Noodlery. "Maybe looking for a job isn't that great of an idea as I thought." he told himself. Mako had told him that it was helpless. Bolin knew that Mako was only looking out for him, but he was really good at making Bolin feel useless.

Don't worry Bolin, you'll get it. You'll find somewhere. Someone has the perfect thing for you out there. You just have to be patient and yourself and it will come. Bolin thought. He tried to always keep a positive attitude. It got you farther in life. His father had told him that before he had passed. It was one of the many wise things he remembered his father saying.

"That was so cool!" a little girl about five said as she walked in with her mother and father. Bolin smiled at the family as he watched them from his seat. He always loved to see families. They reminded him of his when he was younger. He took them for granted. He used to. "Everyone has a family" he used to think. But it wasn't until his was taken from him that he really understood how precious a few people really could be.

"Wasn't it princess?" the father said picking up the little girl and placing her on his shoulders. Bolin watched as the family walked over and took a seat at the table next to his. They were in range and he could hear most of their conversation.

"Well I think that was one of the best performances I have seen." the mother said and the father nodded his head in agreement. He took the little girl from his shoulders and placed her in the chair next to him. She smiled at her parents. "I loved the pretty lady that flew!" the little girl said as she shared her favorite segment of the performance.

Bolin grew confused. He had only known that airbenders to fly because of their ability to control the currents. But he thought the only airbenders lived on Air Temple Island.

"Excuse me?" Bolin asked leaning closer to the family. "But I couldn't help but hear your daughter say that she saw a woman fly?" The woman smiled and laughed. "Yes dear. We have just come from the Nagasaki Brothers Circus. It is town for the month." Bolin couldn't help the smile come to his lips. He had heard about the circus a couple of years ago, but he never got to go.

"Wow." he said and the little girl looked to Bolin with a wide grin. "I know!" the little girl said with a squeaky voice that made Bolin laugh. Her parents laughed along and the little girl looked around wondering why they were laughing, but their laughter soon caused her to laugh.

"Thank you." Bolin said to the couple. "I will definitely have to make it to one of their shows."

"Well, they are having another in about twenty minutes." the woman said. "Well, then I better get going." Bolin said and got up from his table with Pabu, who had been looking for scraps on the floor.

When the little girl saw Pabu, she went into hysterics and started smiling. "Mommy, look!" she yelled and she started climbing out of her chair.

Bolin saw her excitement and smiled down at the child that was now standing in front of him looking up with wide eyes. "Jia! Get back in your seat!" the girls father yelled but Bolin waved him off "It's no problem." he said and squat down in front of Jia. He put his arm out and Pabu descended the muscular arm. Jia giggled in excitement and Bolin laughed. He held Pabu out, holding him under the arms, to Jia.

She reached her hand out and was hesitant to touch the new creature. "Go ahead." Bolin said "The only sweet thing he bights is Jennamite."

The little girl stroked Pabu on the head and Bolin even handed Pabu to her. Pabu, being the great pet he was, didn't mind the random holding of the girl. He actually seemed to enjoy it. Bolin just watched as Jia giggled and she was so cute and he had one of those moments when he wished he had his own family. But he still had a long time before that needed to take place. He just wanted a family to call his own again.

"Okay Jia, give the young man his ferret back. He has somewhere to be." Jia's mother said and Jia handed Pabu back to Bolin. Pabu took his normal spot and Bolin got back up. "Thank you." Jia's father said to Bolin.

"Anytime." Bolin responded. "You have a wonderful daughter." he said as he made his way past the couple's table. "Thanks again!" he yelled as he reached the door.