I've decided to post the first chapter a tad earlier than I had scheduled (mostly because it was done and I wanted to get it out there).
Hope the intro was enjoyable, though it was a little on the short side. Do not worry, this chapter is considerably longer. Please be patient with the first few chapters. The story starts off slow, but it will pick up.
The morning was sunny and bright as Hamtaro merrily made his way through Oak Tree Park. Events of the previous night erased from his memory, the cream and orange ham moseyed slowly onward with his head titled up towards the summer sky, observing the minute wisps of clouds as they lazily floated upon their undetermined courses.
Suddenly, Hamtaro heard a familiar voice cutting through the still, August air—a familiar voice that was calling his name.
Spinning his head rearward, he perceived a figure hurrying in his direction along the path. As the figure grew closer, Hamtaro made out the distinctive gray-spotted coat and larger than norm form of his friend Oxnard.
"Hamtaro… wait… for… me…" the large hamster gasped, nearly collapsing as he caught up with his friend, clutching onto his sunflower seed like a lifesaver. I've really got to lay off the extra snacks, Oxnard reflected between breaths.
"Hamha, Oxnard!" Hamtaro cheerily hailed.
Still recovering from his sprint, all the cream and orange ham's hammo managed in response was an exasperated, "Hamha… H-Hamtaro."
The amber eyed hamster smiled, oblivious to his friend's fatique, then continued, "It sure is nice outside today! I wonder what the Ham-Hams are up to?"
Oxnard's gray eyes shot open, fatigue forgotten. "T-The Ham-Hams?!"
Hamtaro smiled innocently. "Yeah! Let's head over to the clubhouse and see what the other hams have planned today!"
The gray spotted hamster began to quake hysterically. "The c-clubhouse?! But you can't go to the clubhouse!" Oxnard's novel sunflower seed cluttered from his grasp. He picked the precious item from the ground with a shaky paw. Standing upright again, Oxnard found himself staring at a confused, slightly hurt, Hamtaro.
"Heke? But Oxy," the cream and orange ham inquired, "why can't I go to the clubhouse?"
The spotted ham fumbled for words. "Uh… did I say can't go to the clubhouse? I meant you shouldn't! Yeah, you shouldn't go to the clubhouse." The large hamster chuckled nervously.
"Then why shouldn't I go to the clubhouse?" Hamtaro naively pressed, head cocked to one side questioningly.
Oxnard was panicking, beads of sweat forming on his head. "Uh… well… because… uh… uh…"
Luckily for the ham, a pair of voices could suddenly be heard coming towards them. Hamtaro and Oxnard's ears twitched. The pair looked towards the commotion.
Sure enough, approaching from deeper within the park came their friends Panda, whose markings mirrored those of the bear by the same name, and Cappy, their hat-loving pal. The two were normally good friends. However, it became more and more apparent to both Hamtaro and Oxnard that there was some dispute between the pair.
Panda seemed to be more or less pushing his friend down the road, all with a nervous smile on his face, while Cappy protested furiously.
Hamtaro frowned. He had no idea why Cappy was upset or why Panda was forcing him down the path, but the cream and orange ham didn't like it when his pals had disagreements.
"Hey guys!" the amber-eyed ham called out, running towards the two hamsters.
"Hamtaro! Wait up!" Oxnard chimed, following his hammo.
"—but Panda! I want to go to the clubhouse today!" Cappy was arguing furiously against his friend's protesting pushing, waving his paws sporadically.
However, Panda, ever the carpenter-ham, had more muscle than he let on. Still, his smaller cap-loving friend was putting up one heke of a fight. I'm not sure how much longer I can keep this up, Panda speculated through his labor, grinding his teeth as he gave another strained shove into Cappy's back.
That's when the two hams heard a friendly, and familiar, voice exclaim, "Hey guys!"
Panda and Cappy looked up to discover the cream and orange form of Hamtaro running towards them, followed by the slower Oxnard. Oh cats, the carpenter-ham expressed.
Bijou beamed as she completed smoothing out the final crease in her origami cherry blossom. The paper flower was not the first the white furred girlham had folded today. However, she admired this particular blossom the most. Perhaps it was because she had folded it from blue paper, matching the cerulean ribbons she wore supporting the cute pigtails on either side of her head.
She had developed a gift for origami—something she had learned by first watching Maria, her owner. Bijou had never thought much of it. That is, until last year's Christmas party.
Pashmina, one of her best friends, had commented how great it would be to have flowers to decorate the clubhouse. But, seeing as it had been winter, there was not a rose, orchid, or lily to be found. "Do not vorry," Bijou had assured in her French accent. "I vill zimply make some!"
The other hams had watched with rapt attention and amazement as their friend skillfully folded a simple piece of paper into a beautiful origami flower. All her friends had been impressed, shouting out praises for her unique, and certainly talented, ability. However, Bijou recalled one ham's compliment most of all.
"Wow, Bijou!" Hamtaro had exclaimed, a genuine tone in his voice. "That's amazing!"
The French ham remembered she had blushed and felt a warmth fill her cheeks at the comment and the boyham's enduring smile. Recalling the memory, she felt that same warmth again.
Realizing her cheeks were flushed, Bijou shook herself out of her daydreaming.
Afterall, she gleefully reminded herself, 'Amtaro and Cappy's birthday dance vill not decorate itself!
It had originally been Sandy and Stan's idea to have a dance at the clubhouse celebrating their friend's birthdays. Both Hamtaro and Cappy had been born on August 6, Hamtaro a year older. All the Ham-Hams had been ecstatic at the proposal.
Then Maxwell suggested that they make it a surprise. This contribution was met with yet more approval. However, time was of the essence—they only had a precious two days to get everything ready.
Both Panda and Oxnard had been elected to distract Hamtaro and Cappy and make sure they did not come to the clubhouse, lest the surprise be ruined. "Remember," Boss had informed them, "we gotta keep'm out of the clubhouse for two days!"
This had been the first day they had begun the preparations for the party/dance, but they had already made fantastic progress. Bijou looked around the clubhouse.
Boss was standing between a fuming Dexter and Howdy. The two hamsters, each belonging to rival shopkeepers, were suppose to be moving extra food out of the supply room when Howdy, a brown furred apron wearing hamster, had "accidentally" dropped a sack of sunflowers onto Dexter's foot. The gray, bow-tie loving ham had glared through the spectacle-like markings around his eyes at his joke telling rival, and thus the fighting had commenced.
Luckily, Boss had stepped in before either one could do any real harm. The large field hamster was easily the biggest of them all, with tan fur accented by black markings on the tips of his ears and lower body. He appeared at first glance to be rugged with his bent whiskers and a small sliver missing from his ear. However, Bijou knew he was a loyal friend who would dig to the center of the Earth if it meant helping a fellow Ham-Ham.
Standing behind a hamster-sized turntable, speakers on either side, was Stan. The tiger striped boyham wore a small pair of headphones. If Bijou listened attentively enough, she could just make out a whisper of music escaping from the personal listening device. Stan's eyes were closed as he lazily shook his signature pair of maracas to the beat of the tune. The sport-loving flirt had volunteered to DJ the dance.
Meanwhile, Stan's twin sister, Sandy, was diligently setting up the room while her boyfriend, Maxwell, assisted best he could. They seemed an odd pairing at first glance—Sandy being athletic and sporty compared to the sophisticated and bookwormish Maxwell—but somehow it had worked, and Bijou couldn't deny how cute the couple looked together.
In another section of the clubhouse, the French ham saw her friends Pashmina and Penelope. The two were nearly inseparable; wherever one went, the other followed. Pashmina never left her cage without her favorite pink scarf and, likewise, Penelope would never be caught without her unique yellow blanket draped over her head. Bijou supposed that Pashmina saw herself as a type of guardian and older sister to her younger friend. Currently, the two were attempting to make a birthday cake for Hamtaro and Cappy, carefully studying a recipe Chef-Ham had given them.
Pashmina looked up and caught the French girlham's eye. Bijou's scarf-wearing friend turned and signaled to Sandy, who returned the subtle gesture with a wink. In unison, Bijou's two best friends excused themselves from Maxwell and Penelope and walked over to sit with their friend at the table.
"This party's going to be, like, so cool!" exclaimed an excited Sandy, pulling up a seat.
"You said it," agreed Pashmina, sitting down on Bijou's other side.
Before the French ham could sound accordance, a ruckus could be heard from the far side of the clubhouse. Dexter and Howdy were at it again.
"Pashmina would never dance with a Neanderthal like you!" argued a stern Dexter.
His rival made a face, while retorting, "Oh yeah? And what makes ya think she'd want to dance with the likes of you?"
"Manners' for one."
"Who needs 'pleases' and 'thankies' when you've got a great sense of humor like myself," Howdy stated proudly.
The girlhams turned away from the debating boyhams, looks of disapproval dominating their features.
"Vell, Pashmina" Bijou remarked with a smile, "looks like you vill 'ave two boys to dance with at ze party, non?"
The scarf-wearing ham returned the grin, remarking, "I'll probably be too busy watching over Penelope to dance."
Sandy and Pashmina exchanged another look. The tiger striped girlham playful nudged Bijou in the side. "So like, are you going to ask Hamtaro to dance?" she inquired.
The French ham's cheeks flushed pink, revealing her embarrassment.
"Come on, Bijou," Pashmina urged. "It's the perfect opportunity!"
"Vell…" It wasn't as if she didn't want to. The amber-eyed boyham was courageous, brave, and friendly to everyone. Bijou's feelings for him had done nothing but grow since she first saw him perched in the tree outside her window. But Hamtaro could be so naïve sometimes. Bijou wondered if he would ever realize her feelings for him.
Sandy and Pashmina, sensing their friend's hesitation, chose not to press too hard. "It's ok, Bij. You, like, don't have to, ya know?"
Bijou nodded. "But vat if Hamtaro never realizes ze way I feel?"
Pashmina placed a reassuring paw upon her friend's back. "Don't worry. I'm sure it will become clear to him someday."
"Yeah, and I'm sure Hamtaro will, like, feel the same way. Remember how it was for Maxy and me?"
The French girlham giggled. She could always count on her friends to cheer her up.
"Oakwee!" the voice of Penelope called across the clubhouse for her older "sister".
Pashmina stood up. "I better go before Penelope puts too much sun-flour into the cake mix."
As the scarf-wearing girlham rejoined her small friend, Sandy stated once more, "Just have hope, Bij."
The white furred ham beamed at her athletic friend. Sandy returned the smile, and moseyed off. However, instead of rejoining Maxwell with the décor, the tiger striped girlham tip-toed over to her reclining brother. Opening one eye, Stan regarded his sister with a carefree expression. Shaking one of his festive maracas, the boyham gave his twin a passive smile. "Yo, sis. What's up?"
Sandy pulled part of the headphones away from her brother's ear. Leaning in, she whispered, "Like, is everything ready for Operation Sunflower?"
"Come on," Stan chastised, his voice mockingly insulted, "how could you ever doubt me?"
Sandy appeared unamused. "Stan, this is serious."
The brother sat upright, his tone now more genuine. "Don't worry, sis." He held up a black disc. The record gleamed in the light. "I've got the music right here. Everything's gonna go just like you planned."
The girlham let out a breath of relief. "Thanks, bro."
"No prob," Stan responded. Then, with a gleam in his eye, "But you do realize you owe me one for this?"
"Ha! How about I just keep my mouth shut about a certain brother of mine trying on my tail-ribbon?"
"Hey! That's not fair! My tail was just, uh, cold!"
"Yeah right, Stan. In the summer?" She smiled triumphantly.
Stan seemed to shrink, beaten. "Alright… you win. Man, blackmailing's so uncool…"
"Hey, Hamtaro," Cappy greeted, sounded somewhat grumpy.
The cream and orange ham regarded his two friends with concern. "What's wrong guys?"
Before Panda could offer up a word, Cappy's mouth was off like a racehorse. "I was walking to the clubhouse but then before I could go down into the tunnels Panda stopped me and said that I couldn't go to the clubhouse but I want to see our friends and hang out with everybody today but then Panda started pushing me down the road and—"
"Slow down, Cappy!" Hamtaro urged, looking confused. "So Panda won't let you go to the clubhouse?"
The cap-loving ham nodded.
Hamtaro placed a paw under his chin, thinking. "That's weird. Oxnard didn't want me going to see the Ham-Hams today either." All focus turned upon the gray-spotted hamster.
He began to sweat with worry, finally offering, "Uh, well that's b-because, uh, Panda! Yeah! Panda asked me to get you two for him, right?"
The carpenter-ham fidgeted with his paws, suddenly thrust into the spotlight. Gee, thanks a lot Oxnard. However, as Panda quickly glanced at the sunflower seed carrying ham, there was a look plastered upon the poor guy's face that seemed to read "HELP ME!"
Panda turned his attention to finding an excuse. Not a lie—just something to keep them all busy for the rest of the day to leave their friends free to plan the birthday dance. "Yeah… see, I need you and Cappy to…" Then an idea clicked in Panda's brain.
"I need you guys to help me with a special building project for the clubhouse." Panda lowered his voice. "But it's going to be a surprise, so we couldn't ask you in front of all the other Ham-Hams."
Hamtaro and Cappy's faces brightened up, intrigued. Oxnard simply looked relieved.
"That sounds like fun!" exclaimed the cream and orange ham.
Cappy jumped up and down in anticipation. "You can count on me, Panda!"
The black and white ham beamed at his friends' corporation. It wasn't a lie really. The carpenter-ham could think of a dozen projects that he'd like to accomplish off the top of his head. As long as it kept Hamtaro and Cappy away from the clubhouse today, did it really matter?
"Thanks, you guys."
"So where do we start?" Oxnard pitched in.
Panda began walking down the path. "All my building supplies and tools are at my house. Let's go work on it there."
The other three gave an exuberant cheer and followed after the carpenter-ham.
Maxwell flipped patiently through his book, Two Left Paws: A Hamster's Guide to Slow Dancing. The right-handed page laid out detailed instructions while the opposite displayed a graceful illustration of two hamsters twirling around a dance floor.
The bookworm was just about to dive in, when a familiar voice greeted, "Hey, Maxy. Like, what are you reading?"
The brown furred hamster turned and beamed at Sandy. "I was just educating myself on the proper way to slow dance," he informed with a blush.
Sandy's cheeks warmed as she pictured a confident Maxwell twirling her around the clubhouse, just like a prince and princess. "I know a lot of cool new ham-dances. We should totally practice before the birthday dance!"
"That sounds fantastic!" agreed the bookworm. Maxwell closed his book and stood up. Suddenly a thought hit him. "Hey, Sandy?"
"Yeah, Maxy?"
"Maybe we all should practice. I'm sure the other Ham-Hams would like to have a refresher course."
Sandy's eyes shone. "That's a great idea! You're so smart, Maxy-poo."
The brown hamster blushed at the compliment. Sandy athletically jumped onto a stool and loudly declared, "Hey everyone! Like, listen up!"
The entire clubhouse diverted their attention from their tasks to stare at the tiger striped girlham. "Maxwell and I decided that we could all use a little dance lesson before the party!"
The bookworm nodded, but added, "I'm sure that most of you can dance just fine, but a refresher course never hurt anyham. So everybody, please gather around and pay close attention now."
The hamsters turned to one another, chatting energetically amongst themselves. All were eager to learn some new dance steps, or at least improve on old skills. Dexter and Howdy immediately began arguing over who would be Pashmina's partner. Boss glanced determinedly in Bijou's direction. Now's my chance to impress Bijou! However, the French girlham spoke up.
"Excusez moi," Bijou genuinely inquired, "but vat about Hamtaro and Cappy? Should zey not receive ze dance lessons as vell?"
In a heartbeat, Stan appeared at Sandy's side. Leaning in close, he silently whispered, "She's right, sis. How's Operation Sunflower supposed to work if Hamtaro doesn't even know how to dance?"
The tiger striped girlham sighed. This would be a problem. Sandy tried to form a solution, but luckily her boyfriend thought of one first.
"You're absolutely right, Bijou," Maxwell stated knowingly. "But I think I have a plan."
"Panda," Hamtaro inquired, a twang of concern in his good-hearted voice, "are you sure you don't need any help?"
The carpenter-ham emerged from underneath his family's traditional Japanese-styled home, straining as he pulled steadily at the rope fastened around his building wood. "Don't worry, Hamtaro. I've got it." The hamster artisan had already precut the wood into planks of various lengths and sizes. Panda had always stored his construction materials under the house; the carpenter-ham dragged them out verily often. He smiled sheepishly. Pursuing his love of woodcraft had certainly earned him some muscle.
Not enough muscle to make it easy, though, Panda silently remarked, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
Hamtaro eagerly handled a hammer from Panda's toolbox. Cappy and Oxnard already began to remove some of the wooden planks from the top of the stack. Huh, the carpenter speculated, observing his friends' gusto, maybe we'll actually get this done…
"What's the plan, Panda?"
"Well, I've been thinking for a while now that the clubhouse needs a new door."
Cappy set down the plank and adjusted his green swimmer's cap. "You know, now that you mention it, that door has been looking pretty rotten recently."
"Exactly." Panda smiled reassuringly. "It's because it's been down in the moist tunnels all this time. Eventually, it has to be replaced. So I figured, why not build one?" Truthfully, Panda had wanted to begin work on the project yesterday. But with all the planning and decorating for Hamtaro and Cappy's party, all his friends had been too busy to help. Still, the carpenter-ham was unsure if Oxnard, Cappy, and Hamtaro would take to his proposal…
"That's a great idea, Panda!" voiced an excited Oxnard.
Panda beamed. They really liked his plan. "Just think how happy it'll make everyone," he continued to assure.
But the carpenter-ham didn't need to convince them anymore. All three were sold on the concept. Yearning to help out his fellow Ham-Hams, Hamtaro raised his paw, and the hammer it grasped, enthusiastically into the air. "What are we waiting for? Show us what to do Panda."
And with that comment, the four friends launched themselves into construction. Panda directed, reading from plans and measurements predetermined days earlier. Oxnard carefully cut the wooden planks according to the carpenter-ham's detailed instructions, the small hamster-sized saw buzzing easily through the timber. Cappy, much to everybody's surprise, displayed excellent skill with sanding. Unable to convince an enthusiastic Hamtaro from putting down the hammer, Panda put the cream and orange ham to work nailing the boards together.
Seven discarded bent nails later, their project was complete. The four hams stood back, admiring their work. "Wow, you guys," congratulated an awe-struck Panda, "we really did a great job."
The door appeared a perfect replica of it's replacement. "It looks just like the old one!" exclaimed a jubilant Cappy.
"Yeah, Panda! You really know your stuff!" Hamtaro beamed proudly at his friend. Then, the amber-eyed hamster gazed back again at their handiwork. He could already picture the surprised, yet happy, faces of the Ham-Hams, especially Boss, who would, technically, be receiving a new door for his home. "Alright, so when can we show the Ham-Hams?"
Panda rubbed his chin. "Well, all we really need to do now is paint it. But I can take care of that in the next few days. Afterall, shouldn't you guys be getting home soon?"
While the hamsters had diligently worked, the world began steadily taking on a warm orange hue as the sun slowly waned towards the horizon. Now, the glowing orb was sinking beyond the skyline, bringing its warmth and radiating light to another land. Laura would be coming back from shopping soon, and Hamtaro knew he would have to run home quickly. Still, the cream and orange ham couldn't help but stare at that fantastic sunset for a few more moments, taking in it's luminescent fire with his amber eyes.
"Well," Cappy broke the silence, "I better get going before Kip and Sue notice I'm gone."
Oxnard added, "I hope Kana's not worried about me."
The three hams said their good-byes to Panda, who returned their departing remarks with his own. "Bye Hamtaro! See ya Oxnard! Later Cappy!"
After his friends walked off out of sight, Panda turned back around to look again at their completed project. The door really was well made, perfectly put together, just as the carpenter had pictured with his mind's eye. As with all his work, Panda felt a surge of pride course through him. Still beaming, the black and white ham slowly slid the finished door underneath his house with the rest of the supplies.
However, just as Panda readied himself to jump up into his owner's home, his ears picked up a muted voice, whispering, "Ppppppppsssssssttt! Panda! Over here!"
Slightly startled, the carpenter-ham collaborated, slowly and cautiously making his way over to the tall grass from which the sound resonated. "Hello?" Panda nervously volunteered. "Is anybody there?"
Without warning, Maxwell materialized out of the green blades of grass, book under arm. Panda instantly relaxed, letting out a relieved sigh.
"Sorry for the secrecy, Panda. The last thing we wanted was for Hamtaro or Cappy to see us."
Panda looked puzzled. "What do you mean by 'The last thing we wanted'?"
As if on cue, Sandy, too, stepped out from the cover. "Like, hey Panda."
"Hamha, Sandy. What are you and Maxwell doing here?"
The bookworm gave his friend a reassuring smile, then explained, "We have a slight change in plans for tomorrow."
"A change?" Panda inquired.
"Yeah," continued Sandy, "tomorrow you don't, like, have to distract Hamtaro or Cappy."
Phew, that's a load off my mind, thought a grateful Panda. Then, as an afterthought: But I did have some more projects I'd like help on…
The carpenter-ham nodded. "Alright, that sounds fine. But then whose going to make sure they don't go to the clubhouse?"
Maxwell and Sandy gave each other an excited look. "No worries, Panda," assured the tiger striped girlham.
"We have a plan," the pair said in unison.
If anybody could give me some tips with Bijou's accent, I'd be greatful. I'll post the second chapter soon. Reviews are always appreciated, and as always, thank you for reading.
Next chapter: Another dream, and Hamtaro can't remember anything about it. Who can help our hero with his dream crisis? Also, Penelope gets a new playmate as the Ham-Hams continue to prepare for the birthday dance. With preparations almost complete, the hams are right on schedule with only one day left. Everything appears to be going perfectly. What could go wrong?