CoCo
Chapter 1
Days, months, years go by and here we see CoCo, still doing the same job, the same routine. She hasn't found any new meaning to life yet. She is still the same stupid, party-going squirrel she has always been. Those rare philosophical moments start occuring more often. It seems like has one every night. How she wishes to find something new. But how? She is not smart enough to even figure out where to start!
The pub closes up for the night. CoCo packs away her stuff. "Hey!" the bartender yells. "That was a great night! You'll be here again next Saturday, won't you?" CoCo carefully puts away her records. "Yes," she answers. "I'll be here next Saturday...and the Saturday after that...and the Saturday after that...and the Saturday after that...I'll always be here. Don't you worry now." The bartender smiles, too drunk to see the sadness in her voice. "Well, see you next week then!" He disappears into the backroom. CoCo walks out the door, staring at her feet. Why are you sad right now, CoCo? she asks herself. Don't be such as fuddy duddy. This is your passion. She forces a smile and hums her favourite song. Yeah, she starts to feel a little better. She walks home, opens the door and plops down on her bed. Next week, the party'll be so awesome, they'll still be recovering from their hangovers by the time the party after this party comes around!She smiled and fell asleep.
Before she knew it, next Saturday rolled around. CoCo was at the pub early, like usual, setting up for the big Karaokee night. Popping her knuckles, she prepared for a good time. Nightfall came and brought party-goers into the pub. CoCo was ready to get this shindig started. Popping in an upbeat tune, she grabbed her microphoned and yelled, "Y'ALL READY TO GET THIS PARTY STARTED?!" People clapped and cheered. "ALRIGHT!" CoCo shouted. "HERE WE GO!" She turned up the bass and let the music blast through the speakers. Strobes flashed, disco balls spun, and colourful lights danced along with the crowd.
CoCo herself felt the music deep down in her soul. She knew all the lyrics to the song and so she sang with it. She hopped up on a table and unleashed her party spirit. Her high energy levels mixed with the energy of the crowd, creating a mass of dancing bodies. Beer was being consumed at an extrodinary rate. Drunk partyers dared to step up on stage and sing their favourite songs. Song after song, the pub danced to the fastest music ever recorded until CoCo decided it was time to calm everyone down with a slow tune. "WOOOO! Y'ALL WERE FUCKING CRAZY OUT THERE! YEAHH! I LIKE THAT! BUT LET'S ALL CALM OUR HEARTBEATS WITH A NICE EASY SONG, SHALL WE?" CoCo roared into her mic. A sappy, romantic song played. CoCo made her way through all the dancing bodies to the bar table. She ordered herself a drink and looked at swaying couples, rocking side to side in time with the slow beat.
She saw her friends, Conker and Berri, in the corner, talking and enjoying a beer. They had been in love ever since they were kids, and CoCo had always been a bit envious of them. She desperately wished to have what they had. Sighing, she finished her beer and moseyed along back to her crowd was now fully rested and was ready for some more hard-core partying. CoCo snapped out of her jealous state and satisfied the needs of her fans all throughout the rest of the night.
The next morning, CoCo awoke at a rather late time. Hey, she had a pretty crazy night! Wow! I must have had one crazy night! CoCo thought, recapping what I just said in the previous sentence. It was time for her daily walk. She always took a walk on the morning after a party. It's just the way she rolls. She walked out her door and inhaled the fresh morning air. Man, was it a beautiful day! As CoCo walked, a thought suddenly hit her. Hey! If I'm gonna make my life more interesting, then maybe I should walk to some place I have never been before! CoCo liked the idea and so she headed off in a new direction.
She saw lots of wonderous things. She felt like she was on a whole new planet! Maybe I should get out more often, this is really fun! CoCo thought. CoCo had never once left the village she was born in. Never! It's about time she changed that. Being new to all to this traveling, CoCo wandered off farther than she had originally planned to. She was even gone longer than she expected. The sun often went to bed before she did and she stayed in numerous hotels in various towns and cities. CoCo wasn't sure if she ever wanted to go back home, she was having so much fun. Her feet continued to take her to fabulous places. Eventually, she wandered into an old, thick forest. Nature was now her new favourite thing. She had discovered this recently in her travels. Frolicking through the forest, CoCo felt like this was her true happy place. She skipped along, jumped, ran and sometimes even sang out loud. All her worries and cares seemed to just float away.
But, it seems as though all good things must come to an end. As she ventured furhter into the forest, CoCo stumbled upon an ancient shack. Her curiousity enticed her to check it out. Slowly approaching the door to the shack, CoCo knocked three times. "Hello?" she called out. "Anybody home? Helloooo!" She pressed her ear against the wood of the door. She could barely hear someone's soft footsteps. Suddenly, the door opened and there stood a rather short, male, gray squirrel. He appeared to be in his mid-50s. "Oh, why, hello, deary!" he said, putting on a pair of spectacles. "What brings you here today?" "Oh, I, uh...I was just taking a...a very long walk," CoCo stuttered, not sure as to why she suddenly felt uneasy. "I saw this shack and thought I'd take a look around." The old squirrel chuckled. "Well, do come in! I have some tea brewing if you would like a cup!" CoCo agreed to come inside and stepped through the door, looking around at all the weird bottles and knick-knacks the squirrel had laying about in the shack. The room was dim and had lights, beads, and pictures strung all around the walls. Cabinets and shelves were clustered with books and bottles full of who knows what. Eyeing some suspicious looking diagrams, CoCo asked, "So, uh, what do you do out here?"
The old man poured two cups of tea. "I'm a traveling salesman. I settled down in this forest in order to make a buck or two," he replied. "Here you are! Here is your cup of tea." CoCo took the cup. "Thank you," she said, taking a sip. What kind of products do you sell?"
The old, gray squirrel looked at her with a smile. "I sell things that make peoples' lives better, my dear." CoCo suddenly got interested. Maybe he'll be able to make my life better! This could be the chance of a lifetime! CoCo thought. "So," she said, stirring her tea. "Do you think that you could make my life better?"
The old squirrel's smile widened. "Why, yes," he replied, grinning. "I will see what I can do!"
He put down his cup. "Come, give me your hand. It's alright, don't be shy," he said to CoCo. She cautiouslly extended her arm. The old chap grabbed her wrist, with a very surprisingly strong grip. He pressed his thumb down into her palm. "Tell me," he said, softly, "tell me about yourself, your life. Tell me what it is you really want..."
Closing her eyes, CoCo responded, "I was born in a small village. My whole life I was shadowed out by my sister's large statue of accomplishments. I was constantly bullied by others. I may not be a smart girl, but I could see when people took advantage of my slowness. I eventually compensated for my stupidity by becoming a popular DJ. Those fake bitches, they came crawling back to me, suddenly they're my friends now just because I was now 'cool' to them." CoCo clenched her fists as she said this. The old man nodded and "mmmmhmmmm"ed. "Continue," he said. CoCo swallowed. "It's not that I don't like my life, hell, I actually enjoy my job," CoCo started again. "But it's just that..." She trailed off, looking for the right way to explain her feelings.
"Just what, darling?" the old man asked.
CoCo sighed. "I wonder if there is something greater out there for me...This is my first time leaving the village. I feel as thought I am running away, escaping something. Escaping what? I don't know. Nothing is wrong..."
The old man raised an eyebrow. "Nothing is wrong? Are you sure about that? You wouldn't have left if nothing was wrong," he told her. For some reason, CoCo felt like crying. She stifled her tears and confessed, "I have these dreams. Dreams where I am far away from my home, in a different world, it seems. A world where I can be anything I want to be! I'll have everything I ever wanted! A loving man, a great family, and wild, crazy life. Everyday will be something new and exciting!" She leaned back in her seat, breathing fast and her heart racing. Opening her eyes, she saw the old man examining her intensely. The awkward silence seemed to last hours. Finally, the old man said, "I think I have something that will help you..."