Chapter 5: Finding Friends in Unusual Places
Parakara awoke feeling refreshed. Ever since she moved to Toad Town, she didn't have to hear her parents fighting. She didn't have her mom waking her up to do a ridiculous request; like to give her dad medicine because he got drunk, food poisoning, or whatever dumb thing he did that caused him to get in a predicament. She didn't have to hear her dad yelling at her and calling her names. She didn't have to hear her mom complaining to her about her dad. Living with her uncle has been blissful.
She looked over at the clock. 5 am. She had to be at school by 8. She stood up and made herself a bowl of cereal. After eating she went to the bathroom to take a bath. She went back to her room, put her school uniform and shell on, brushed her hair, and put on makeup. After she was done with her makeup, she saw something against the wall in her room. She didn't know why she hadn't seen that when she saw her new room for the first time. Curious, Parakara picked it up to inspect it closer. It was a small electronic camera. It appeared to be an older model. Parakara turned it on. The first image to display was her dad and uncle as young paratroopas. Her dad appeared to be in his teen years and her uncle a child. Parakara thought he might be five or six seeing that his flight feathers weren't fully in. In the picture her dad was smiling, but her uncle looked like he had been crying and was trying to smile.
"Wow, even dad was a bully then." Parakara thought as she recalled what her uncle said when she arrived at his home.
"I know what your father is like. I grew up with him after all." Now she's really curious about what made them fall apart. Maybe Parakarry will tell her someday. Or if she gets the guts to ask. Whichever came first. She pressed on a button. The picture then changed to her uncle being hugged by her mother. He looked really happy in the picture. Her mother's platinum blonde hair was in a ponytail. She had on a white shirt that had a pretty light blue bow on it. Her makeup was light blue eye shadow, mascara, rosy blush, and light pink lipstick. Parakara wondered what she looked like without her makeup on. She was probably prettier than she looked now.
Even though her mom was only 35. She looked like she could be 45 or 55. It got on her nerves whenever she saw her mom wearing makeup. Parakara thought it didn't help her mom look any better. If anything, it made her look older than she already is. Parakara wondered what her uncle's relationship with her mother was like years ago. It appeared to be better than the relationship with her dad. That's for sure.
Parakara placed the camera back where she found it. Then left her room and headed downstairs. She made her way to her uncle's room. He wasn't there. He must be still on his mail route. She looked at the calendar in his room. This week was almost over. Her uncle should be coming home today. Or tomorrow. Parakara flapped her wings and started flying to school. She landed at the school entrance. Inside, the halls were decorated with colorful ribbons and balloons. Parakara guessed it was some sort of school dance coming up. Unsure if it was worth going. Her mind drifted back to when she went to school dances at her old school in an attempt to be more social; but sometimes she ended up getting ridiculed, and since the school was near Rogueport, the event always ended with somebody fighting. Parakara pushed those thoughts aside for now as she headed to class. Parakara took a seat next to Bobert. Mr. Sushi walked into class and started taking attendance. He didn't seem as happy as he usually does. Parakara wondered if something was bothering him.
"Morning everyone." He spoke in a flat tone. "Today's lesson is the types of chemical bonds." Parakara took out her notebook, it was a chemistry lesson. Chemistry was a little confusing for her. Especially when it came to balancing chemical formulas. She loved astronomy though. She liked learning about the different galaxies. The teacher was impressed whenever she pointed out the different types of stars the other day. Most of the students were annoyed with her; but Parakara was too engrossed in the lesson to care. Plus Parakara liked hearing Mr. Sushi talk. It calmed her nerves.
"So the question is, why do atoms form bonds? Well, they want to feel stable, and what makes them stable is the amount of electrons in its outershell." He said while drawing the atoms on the board. "An ionic bond is formed when electrons are taken. Not shared." Parakara writes in the notebook. He sounded a little bitter at the last statement. Bobert had a look like he knew where this was going to head. "So sodium only has 1 electron whereas chlorine has 7. So what does sodium do to make chlorine happy? It gives it all it has. That one electron. Covalent bonds are formed when electrons are shared. Oxygen has 6 while Hydrogen has 1. Hydrogen gives it Oxygen to make it happy. But Oxygen is still not happy. So it goes and cheats with another hydrogen atom! She goes and cheats on me with another dark koopa! Even though I would have done anything for her!" The entire class went quiet. The teacher then realized his mistake. "Forget that last part and I'll give you all a maple candy after class." He went on with the lesson as normal. Parakara felt sorry for him. As soon as he finished talking the bell rang. Parakara stayed behind, as she put her notebook back in her backpack. Mr. Sushi smiled at her.
"Hello, little Parakara." He said.
"Hello, Mr. Sushi." Parakara said. She felt comfortable talking to him. He didn't seem to judge her, unlike her classmates. Sometimes she wondered if he was bullied when he was in high school.
"What book are you reading?" He asked, pointing to the book on her desk.
"Just a book from the library. It's about a girl who brought her pet spiders to school. I need to return it soon." She replied.
"You like spiders?"
"I think tarantulas are cute."
"I suppose they are. I have a few tarantulas. They were quite tame at first. I'd let them roam the house whenever I was there. Eventually, though, they became rather wild. I'd have to lock them up in the shed. I haven't gotten rid of them yet." Mr. Sushi said. Parakara giggled a little, unsure if he was joking or not.
"You're quite the giggler." Mr. Sushi said.
Pararkara blushed lightly and messed with the spider charm on her choker. "Sorry, sir." She said shyly.
"Don't worry, you won't get bullied by me." He told her. He reached out and patted the side of her head. She looked up at him confused. "I've seen it. Tell me if it ever gets worse. I'll have the principal talk to them." He said.
"Thank you, Mr. Sushi."
"No problem." He sat down at his desk and began going through a manila folder.
"Are you okay, sir?" Parakara asked.
"I told you all to forget what I said Parakara." He said sternly. It seemed like it took everything in his power to remain calm. "Now please go to class." He gave her a small smile.
"I don't know why she would do that. I think you're nice looking and caring." Parakara complimented, hoping that it wasn't inappropriate. Mr. Sushi smiled.
"You are too sweet. Give me your purse." He said, Parakara hands it to him. The teacher opened her bag and put in a handful of maple candy. "Don't tell your class I did this." He gives it back to her.
"Of course. Thank you, sir." Parakara nods and eats a piece as she headed to class. She takes a seat. Arias sat next to her.
"Hey Kara, how's it going?" Arias asked, flashing a warm smile.
Parakara glanced up, her blue eyes meeting Arias's red eyes.
"I'm okay, I guess." Parakara replied, her voice a little hesitant. "Still getting used to living with my uncle. Everything is so...quiet. I'm used to my parents arguing all the time." The peacefulness of living with her uncle was a stark contrast to the constant arguing she had grown up with between her parents. She loved the silence, but it was also a strange and unfamiliar feeling. Arias nodded understandingly.
"Yeah, I get it. My mom is always arguing with her boyfriends." Parakara tilts her head, perplexed.
"Boyfriends? How many has she had?"
Arias let out a bitter chuckle. "Honestly, I've lost count. She goes through different relationships, and they never seem to last. I've had so many stepdads, it's hard to keep track."
Parakara felt a mix of sympathy and curiosity. She wondered what it would be like to have her mother date someone new, to have a stepdad, or even to see her parents separate. It was a world so different from her own. As they continued their conversation, Parakara and Arias found comfort in their shared experiences.
"What does your uncle do?" Arias inquired.
"He delivers mail."
"He delivers mail?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Is your uncle Parakarry?"
"He is."
"The Parakarry?"
"What do you mean "The Parakarry"? He's just a mailman."
"Do you not know?"
"Know what?"
"Your uncle is one of the heroes who helped Mario get the Star Rod back."
"Wait, what?" Parakara had no clue about any of this.
"I don't think you were here, but Mrs. Goombie had talked about it before. How king Bowser stolen the Star Rod that gave the Star Spirits power to grant wishes. He used it to defeat Mario and kidnap Peach. He got it back with the help of your uncle, and few other heroes." Parakara's mind was racing with newfound information about her uncle. The fact that he was involved in such a grand adventure was mind-boggling to her. She had always seen him as just a mailman, but now she realized there was so much more to him.
"How did they defeat Bowser and retrieve the Star Rod?" Parakara asked, Arias grinned, excited to share the story.
"According to Mrs. Goombie, it was an epic journey. They traveled through treacherous lands, encountering dangerous enemies and overcoming countless obstacles. Your uncle, Parakarry, played a crucial role in the mission. His flying skills helped the heroes reach their destination."
Parakara's eyes sparkled with anticipation as she listened to Arias talk about the heroic tale. She imagined her uncle soaring through the skies, dodging fireballs, and delivering important messages to his companions. The idea of her one of her family members being a hero excited her. It was more interesting than her parents being former servants of Bowser. Arias fiddles with her ring somewhat envying Parakara. She wanted to know what it would be like living with a hero. The teacher walked in.
"Morning class, today we are going to work on algebraic equations." Mar T. said, he began taking attendance. "Okay now that we are all here, let's start working on these problems." He said, writing them on the board. Parakara stared at the equations on the board, her mind buzzing with confusion. She had always struggled with math, finding it even more perplexing than chemistry. Another thing she couldn't understand, was why male toads had such odd voices, sounding like they were in pain, while female toads had sweet and melodic voices. It was a strange phenomenon that she pondered while trying to focus on the algebraic problems in front of her.
As Mar T. began explaining the concepts, Parakara's thoughts drifted away, her mind wandering to her uncle Parakarry. She wondered if he had ever encountered algebraic equations during his adventures. Did he have to solve complex mathematical puzzles while delivering messages? It seemed unlikely, but the idea amused her. She flipped to the first page of her math textbook, to solve the problems in front of her. She glanced around the classroom, seeing her classmates busily scribbling on their papers. She took a deep breath, trying to push away her frustration and focus on the task at hand. As she started working on the first equation.
Parakara's mind began to wander again. She thought about how she needed to start learning to fly on the broom her mother gave her. Parakara wondered how it would be like to fly with a broom. Soaring through the air without using wings. Then it hit her. She has been ignoring her mom's calls. She'll call her back eventually. Her mom was probably upset with her. But what could she do? The class continued to work on the problems, their pencils scratching against paper. Parakara glanced at a toad, who was sitting on the other side of the room. The toad wrote in his notebook as if he was lost in his mathematical world.
"When did you move in with your uncle?" Arias asked quietly.
"About a few weeks ago." Parakara answered in the same tone.
"Wow. My mom's boyfriend is moving in with us today." Arias said to Parakara.
"Really? That's nice."
"Not really. Every single boyfriend my mom had, they act weird around me."
"What do you mean by weird?" Parakara asked.
"They touch me."
"Parakara! Can you write the answer on the board?" The teacher said, before she could say something. She went to the front of the classroom and looked at the problem she worked on in her notebook. She writes the answer.
"Close, you just missed one step." Mar T. explains the problem to the class. Parakara nodded and sat back down.
"And you never told anyone?"
"My mom doesn't believe me."
"Why?"
"She thinks I'm just making stuff up because I want attention." Arias answers.
"Then tell someone who will believe you." Parakara's heart sank as she heard Arias's words. She had never imagined that her friend was going through something so terrible.
"I'm a gloomba. The majority of people think we're scum." She muttered.
"Why?"
"They think were nasty since our species usually dwell in the sewers. They think we're slimy and gross."
"Well you're neither of those things."
"That's what mom says too." Arias said while writing down the answer.
"Listen, Arias," Parakara said quietly to her friend. "You don't have to go through this alone. You should tell someone you trust, like a teacher or a counselor. They can help you." Arias looked unsure.
"But what if they don't believe me? What if they think I'm making it up?" Parakara put a comforting hand on Arias's shoulder.
"I understand your fears, but you deserve to be safe and protected. No one should ever touch you without your consent. I'll be there for you, and I'll support you every step of the way." Arias shook her head.
"It's okay."
"No Arias, it's not okay."
"Even if I do get believed, I'll be placed in some group home where I'll probably experience the same thing."
"Arias..."
"I'm a gloomba. They won't care what happens to me."
"I care." Parakara said.
"It's fine Kara...really." The bell rang, signaling the end of the math period. Parakara closed her textbook. "Nice talking to you Kara...Please don't tell anyone?"
"Okay..." Said the paratroopa. The gloomba hugs her before leaving. Parakara stayed at her desk. Should she say something?
"Is there a problem Parakara?" Mar T. asked. Parakara quickly turned around.
"Oh, no sir." She picks up her stuff.
"Then hurry along. Don't want to be late for next class."
"Sir?"
"Yes, Miss Parakara?"
She wanted to say what Arias said, but couldn't bring herself to do it. "Um, nevermind sir, I'll be going now." Parakara walks out of the room. She was confused as to why she couldn't say it. Maybe she could try asking Mr. Sushi or Mr. Spinner? Perhaps Spinner; Sushi was not in a good mood. Parakara takes a seat next to Shyler in art class. As she sets up her supplies, she notices Shyler picking up a brush dipped in red paint. With careful strokes, he paints a bold question mark on his canvas. Parakara looks at the question mark, her heart racing as she understands the unspoken inquiry behind it. "Nothing..." she answers nervously.
In response, Shyler sets the red paint aside and picks up a green paint. As the brush glides across the canvas, he paints something else, the image slowly takes shape, revealing a beautiful, vibrant tree. Parakara looks at it, trying to figure out the meaning behind the tree. Shyler then gets yellow paint and started painting a sun. Parakara watches in awe seeing the painting come to life. "What does it mean, Shyler? What are you trying to tell me?" She asked him. The shy guy doesn't answer, instead he paints yellow flowers surrounding the tree. "Are you trying to say that you're hear to listen?" Parakara asked; although she couldn't see it, Shyler smiled at the answer. "I'll talk about it later." The paratroopa said to the shy guy. Shyler nods, Serenie T. walks in, wearing her pink bohemian dress, adorned with colorful bead necklaces like usual. She spoke in a cheery voice.
"Good morning class! Today, we will be exploring the theme of self-expression through art," Serenie T. announced, her melodic voice filling the classroom. "I want each of you to create a piece of artwork that reflects what you are feeling right now. Use colors, shapes, and symbols to express your unique identity and emotions." Parakara sat at her desk in the classroom, her mind racing with thoughts and emotions. Today's assignment was both exciting and daunting for her. Taking a deep breath, she gathered her art supplies and started brainstorming.
Parakara decided to use a variety of colors and shapes in her artwork to represent the complexity of her emotions. She chose vibrant shades of green, symbolizing her yearning for freedom and independence. She used purple for creativity and love for art. To express her inner turmoil, she incorporated black jagged lines and sharp angles, reflecting the conflicts she felt within herself. As she worked on her piece, Parakara also included symbols that held personal significance. A pair of wings breaking free from chains symbolizing her desire to break free from her troubled family life. Lastly, she painted a small pink heart, as symbol of hope and love, representing the friendships she made with Bobert, Arias, and Shyler. The heart made her realize she needed to add something else. She got orange paint and made a small lily.
Shyler's painting depicted a serene moonlit night, with a lone Shy Guy standing on a hill overlooking Toad Town. The Shy Guy's mask was painted with a mixture of soft blues and grays, conveying a sense of mystery and introspection. In the background, Shyler added delicate brushstrokes to depict the twinkling stars and a hint of a distant galaxy, symbolizing his vast imagination. In the foreground, Shyler painted a small patch of vibrant red flowers. Each flower was carefully detailed, showcasing his meticulous attention to detail. The flowers represented Shyler's hidden passion and the moments of joy he found amidst his shyness. As the class period came to an end, Serenie T. made her way around the classroom. She sees Shyler's painting, studying it with a gentle smile, appreciating the depth and quiet beauty within the artwork. She understood that Shyler had expressed his introspection and his longing for connection through his work.
"Shyler, your painting is truly captivating," Serenie T. remarked, her voice filled with warmth. "You've created a serene and introspective scene that speaks volumes about your inner world. It's a testament to your unique perspective. Well done!" Shyler nods smiling wide behind his mask. Serenie T. turns to Parakara's painting, the toad looks at it with admiration. She saw the depth and complexity of the young paratroopa's emotions. "Parakara, this is truly remarkable." The teacher said; "Your artwork beautifully captures your unique identity and emotions. It's a powerful expression. Well done!" Parakara smiled, happy that the teacher liked her work and that she succeeded in today's assignment. As the teacher walked away, the bell rang, signifying lunch break. Parakara packed up her things and left the classroom. Outside Bobert's face lit up when he saw her.
"Hey Kara!" He exclaimed.
"Hey, Bobert." She sat next to him. Parakara always looked forward to spending some time with Bobert. He's always kind and friendly toward her. Whenever other students would call her names. Bobert would step up to say something about Parakara being a person. If someone threw something at her, Bobert would defend her. In return, Parakara defended him.
"What did you bring this time?" He asked.
"Just a few Mushroom wraps." She bites on one. "How about you?" She asked.
"Leftover fried shroom. Parents made it last night."
"That's nice. Planning on doing anything later?"
"Actually, yes! My brothers and sister are coming over from Goom U. You should come over too. I mean if you want to!" Parakara thinks about it. It sounded nice, but then again she hasn't seen her uncle in a while, and there was a chance he might come.
"Sure, sounds fun. I'll have to ask my uncle though." Parakara answered. Bobert looks at her for a moment. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Parakara asks.
"Because you just seem like you need to talk about something."
"I'm okay."
"You can talk about it with me if you want."
"Can I tell you after school?" Parakara asks twirling the end of her hair nervously.
"Of course." Bobert said with a hint of worry. The two sat in silence for a moment.
"So...that was the first time I saw Mr. Sushi mad." Parakara said in attempt to break the silence.
"Don't worry. That happens often." Bobert said. "He gets a girlfriend, they break up, he gets a meltdown about it."
"Is he always like that?"
"Mostly." Bobert said. "He's an emotional guy. It's hard for him to control himself sometimes. He gets angry about her cheating on him. Then he starts crying and yelling. Afterwards he comes back to reality." Bobert eats a spoonful of the fried shroom.
"Really?"
"Yeah. He gets better about it eventually, but then..." Bobert trailed off.
"But then what?" Parakara asked, looking at him.
"He gets a new girlfriend. Then the cycle repeats itself. Kind of strange how all the women he dated ends up cheating on him."
"I wonder why." Parakara sighed.
"I have no idea honestly. I hope one day he finds a stable relationship though." Bobert finishes up his lunch. Parakara takes another bite of the mushroom wrap. After eating it. Bobert grabbed the container and handed it to her. Parakara thanked him before putting it back in her backpack. She looked up when she heard someone calling her name. It was Katrina. She walked towards them. As always, she wore a red uniform and had her blonde hair up in a ponytail. Parakara always felt wary around her. She remembered how nasty she was toward her just for saying "Hi" when they first met. Katrina would ask questions about her and Bobert. She also talked about how Parakara's makeup makes her look like a raccoon with the other students. Parakara is sure she's the reason why other students call her "Parakoon". She always saw Toaderiel hanging out with her. She's been wanting to talk to her ever since they met in town, but she didn't want to get pulled into Katrina's drama.
"Hi." The paratroopa says without much emotion. Katrina turned to Bobert.
"Hey, Bobert. What are you doing here?" She greeted him.
"Nothing much. I've been hanging out with Parakara today." He responded. "She's nice."
"Aw. You're too sweet Bobert." Parakara said teasingly. Katrina rolled her eyes and continued to talk to Bobert.
"Anyway, Bobert you wanna hang out with us tonight?" Katrina asked him.
"I can't. My siblings from Goom U are coming over." He responds. Parakara looked down at her feet. All three stayed quiet for a couple of moments until Katrina broke it.
"Oh well, I guess we can do something else next time."
"Okay."
"Okay, Bye." The koopa said before leaving.
"You know Katrina?" Parakara asked Bobert.
"She's a neighbor. She lives in Koopa village. I rarely talk to her, and my siblings don't like her very much." He sighed. "She thinks she's better than everyone just because he has relatives in Poshley Heights. She acts like she's related to royalty or something."
"Why does she do that?" Parakara asked curiously.
"I don't really know. My best guess is because she thinks she looks pretty and therefore everyone fawns all over her. But it annoys my sister. Before she went to Goom U they always got into these petty arguments. I usually try to avoid her, but every once in awhile she'll corner me. Usually it's just asking me what I'm up to."
"Has she always been like that?" Parakara asked.
"As far as I know, yes." Bobert said, he paused for a moment for a moment before adding "It's not a big deal. Everyone has their problems. Sometimes it just takes longer to realize it because they don't know how to handle them. But don't let her bother you." Parakara nodded and looked back down at her feet. The girl couldn't help but feel uncomfortable though. Maybe it was due to the fact that Katrina never liked her in general and always thought she was inferior. What if she really was inferior? "Are you okay Parakara?" Bobert asked. He sounded concerned. "What's up?" Parakara only shrugs.
"I don't know. Nothing." She answered, she was probably overthinking. She thought about going to the restroom and splashing her face with water to relax; but that would mean re-applying her makeup afterwards. Which is something she does not like doing. A goomba, paratroopa, and lakitu approached them. Bobert got in front of Parakara.
"Leave her alone!" He said.
"Or what? You'll explode?" The paratroopa said.
"Oh wait, you can't. You don't have a fuse. How can you explode without a fuse?" The goomba said. Bobert turned red. He really wished he could. He could feel it, but without a fuse he knew he couldn't.
"Look how red he's getting. We should call him Berrybert." The lakitu taunted.
"Don't your spinies look like berries?" Parakara said. The lakitu threw spiny at her, making the paratroopa scream. That did it for Bobert. He grabbed the lakitu and punches him before he could fly away. Parakara was a little taken aback at the attack. That was the first time she saw Bobert hit someone. The two boys kept fighting.
"I told you, leave her alone!" He shouted again.
"You won't win this fight Bobert. We're stronger than you; and we'll kick your amp." The lakitu said. Parakara could not believe what she was about to do. She flew into the air before getting inside her shell and diving into the lakitu. He fell back from the impact of her shell. "You need to get a hold of your girlfriend Bobert!" He flew off. The goomba grabbed Bobert and punched him. Bobert punched him back. The fight looked like a bunch of floating hands coming at the two boys. Parakara screamed as the paratroopa grabbed her by the wings and pulled her into the air.
"KARA!" Bobert called out. The goomba pushes him down, and hits him some more. Bobert fights him back. He manages to push him of sending him flying into a nearby tree. He ran toward where Parakara was screaming.
"Put her down you creep!" He shouts at the paratroopa.
"Then come get her!" He flies away. Parakara felt her wings beginning to ache. Bobert followed them watching helplessly as Parakara struggled harder and tried kicking him. He wished he could do something, but he was a bob-omb, He didn't have wings. Parakara tried getting out of his grip, but he only held her wings tighter. Then she realized something. Her wand! She had put it in her shell a few days ago. She gets inside it and came out blasting the paratroopa with her magic. The paratroopa let go of her not knowing what had hit him. Parakara was unfortunately dropped in the school dumpster; but found something that put her in awe. It was a chain chomp. It wasn't just any chain chomp. It was a small white fluffy chain chomp. He had short triangular ears and pretty blue eyes. Parakara never saw such unusual chain chomp.
"Hello. You're so cute." Parakara said. The chain chomp licked her cheek. Parakara giggled as she pet the creature. The chain chomp licked her hand. "I'm going to call you Sugar. Because you're sweet like sugar. You're white like sugar too." Parakara said. The chain chomp seemed to like his new name. Parakara looked at her clothes. Luckily she had gym next. She'll just wash her clothes. Then wash her hair in the showers. It'll be like nothing happened. Parakara opens up her backpack. "Now you're going to have to be quiet until I let you out, Sugar. You must also try to be as still as possible." Sugar seemed to understand what Parakara was saying. He jumped in her backpack. Parakara zipped the backpack leaving a small space open so the creature could have air.
"Kara!" Bobert shouts jumping up and down in front of the dumpster.
"I'm coming." Parakara carefully climbs out. Her wings were still a little sore. She flapped them a bit to ease the pain.
"Are you okay? That looks bad." He said.
"It's just trash. I'll just wash my clothes and hair at the gym."
"I know. But your wings. That looked like it hurt."
"It'll probably go away after a bit of stretching. Not like they're broken or anything." Parakara replies, Bobert looked guilty. He wished he could have protected Parakara. He didn't like the thought of her getting hurt because of him. At the gym Parakara put her clothes into the wash. She washed the trash off her hair and body before changing into her swimsuit. She sits at the front of the pool deck. Toaderiel smiles and waves at her. Parakara does the same, but her excitement went away as she sees her sit next to Katrina. She wondered why Toaderiel would choose to sit with someone who had never shown her any kindness. Unless Katrina was nice to her. Parakara contemplated whether she should confront Toaderiel or just let it go. Coach Yoshea arrives at the pool deck and blows on her whistle, signaling that it was time to swim. Parakara took a deep breath as she prepared to dive into the water. The coolness embraced her body, washing away the remnants of the day's troubles. With each stroke, she felt the weight of the world slipping away, replaced by a sense of restfulness.
As she glided through the pool, the water allowed the paratroopa to escape the chaotic thoughts that often consumed her mind. She closed her eyes for a moment, letting the rhythm of her strokes guide her. The water embraced her gently. Parakara's worries melted away as she let her body move with grace and fluidity. With each lap, Parakara's confidence grew. The doubts that had plagued her for so long seemed like a distant memory. In the water, she was free from judgment, free from the expectations that weighed her down on land. She was simply herself, as she experienced the joy of swimming. Coach Yoshea watched with admiration as Parakara glided through the water. She could see the willingness to not give up radiate from the young paratroopa.
Parakara emerged from the pool, her face beamed with a newfound confidence. The troubles of the day faded, overshadowed by the sense of accomplishment that swimming brought her. Coach Yoshea approached Parakara with a warm smile. "You did fantastic, Parakara. Your strokes are graceful, and your determination is admirable. I hope you keep swimming after high school."
Parakara nodded, grateful for the encouragement. She realized that whenever she went into the water the troubles seemed to wash away. The feeling was similar to when she painted. She gets lost in her own world where nothing can hurt her. Parakara went back to the locker room to wash off the pool water. The bell rang and the class began to fill up the room. Parakara sat next to Arias. The gloomba gave a small smile toward the paratroopa but didn't say anything else. Mr. Spinner walked in and threw something at Parakara. The paratroopa caught it and looked at it. It was a stuffed ghost puppy.
"Parakara...you and..." He looked at Arias. "How do I pronounce your name again?"
"Gloombarias."
"Goombarias?"
"Gloombarias. Gloom."
"Gloombarias...can I just call you Arias? I'm sorry, it's just easier for me say."
"I don't mind."
"Alright then! Arias you and Parakara. Get up in front of the class."
"What's with the ghost puppy?" Parakara asked the teacher.
"It's a stuffed polterpup. I made it myself. They don't really look like that though. They don't have ears. Which I think is kinda creepy. Do dogs lose their ears when they die or something?"
"How do you know they don't have ears?" Bobert asked.
"Because I have one, and I think he looks bizarre without ears. But my family loves him, so we kept him."
"You don't love your dog, sir?" A student asked.
"I never said I didn't love him. I just said I think he looks strange without ears." He clapped. "But we're getting off track. Both of you get up, and take the puppy with you." Parakara and Arias did what the teacher said.
"Okay, so both of you are sisters. Your parents have recently died, and all you have left is the family puppy." The teacher said.
"How can a paratroopa and gloomba be siblings?" Parakara joked.
"You guys were adopted, I don't know. Use your imagination. Now start!" Parakara hated it whenever she had to be put on the spot. Gloombarias seemed to share the same sentiment.
"Sis...I think we should bring the polterpup with us...to remember our parents." Parakara starts.
"But how will we care for him? We don't have a home anymore." Gloombarias replied.
"But we can't just leave him behind. He'll have no one else."
"Maybe he'll find a family that has a home."
"What if he doesn't?"
"Well he's a ghost. I don't think anything can hurt him."
"But he'll be so lonely. We shouldn't abandon him. No matter how bleak things look."
"Fine, if you insist. He could be our reason to keep going."
"Exactly!"
"Excellent. Sit back down." The teacher said. Parakara and Gloombarias sat back down.
"Does anyone know what that was just now?" Mr. Spinner questioned.
"Is it something related to ghosts?" Someone said.
"No."
"Does it relate to a story about a ghost dog?"
"No."
"Were they acting out a scene in a play about ghosts?"
"Everyone! It has nothing to do with ghosts. It's improv. Acting on the spot. We talked about this before."
"Do you like ghosts, sir?"
"I don't think I would keep a ghost dog as a pet if I didn't. Anyway, we're done talking about ghosts. On to the next assignment." Mr. Spinner went back to teaching the class. Arias nudged Parakara with her hand. She passed a piece of paper to her.
"Don't tell anyone." It read.
"Why don't you want anyone to know?" Parakara whispered.
"Nothing really happens when I do say something. A case worker comes to talk to me, and I never hear from them again. I'm sure my mom convinces them that everything is fine."
"If you're sure..." Parakara said.
"I'm sure." Arias said abruptly. They continued to make small talks through the rest of the class. Parakara stayed behind.
"Not going to class Parakara?" The teacher asked. The paratroopa gave the spinia the stuffed animal.
"Oh, thank you. I forgot about that. I still don't understand how dogs don't have their ears when they become ghosts. Don't you think they would look cute if they kept their ears? Anyway, go to your next class."
"Mr. Spinner if something needs to reported, it's a good idea to report it, right?"
"Exactly what do you mean?" He asked.
"Like...if you knew something bad is happening, it's a good reason to report it?"
"What's happening?" The teacher said, Parakara paused.
"Nothing." She answered.
"You're saying something is happening, and then you say nothing is happening?" Mr. Spinner asked her. Parakara messed with her hair nervously.
"Parakara, are you being abused at home? I can show you where the counselor's office is." The teacher sounded worried. Parakara quickly shook her head.
"No, it's not me." She said, Mr. Spinner looked at her warily.
"Well whatever it is...if it sounds bad. It's a good idea to say something." He said, Parakara nodded and leaves the classroom.
"Parakara." The teacher called before she went out the door; Parakara stopped and turned to look at him.
"Are you sure it isn't you?" He asked.
"Yes."
"Are you telling me the truth?"
"I am." Parakara answered with a smile.
"Okay then."
Parakara's mind raced as she sat in her next class, her thoughts consumed by the conversation she had with Mr. Spinner. The weight of her secret burdened her, and she wished that someone, anyone, knew about Arias. But even if Mr. Spinner did know, what could he possibly do to help? The memory of her past attempts to seek help flooded her mind. Parakara had told the counselor at her old school about her dad's abuse multiple times, yet nothing seemed to change. She had been shuffled between different case workers, only to be left feeling unheard. Her dad always seemed to know how to manipulate the situation, talking his way out of any consequences.
"You look really nice Kara." Katrina said walking in. Parakara rolled her eyes. So she was behind what happened at lunch. The paratroopa didn't say anything to the koopa. Even if she really was behind it, she'd probably blame it on the guys. "Geeze, I was just complimenting you. You'd probably have more friends if you were nicer. Oh and if you also stopped wearing accessories for five year olds. Wore up to date shoes. Not wearing your makeup like some vampire wannabe would help as well. Hey, that's why you look nicer. Your makeup is gone." The koopa went on. Parakara still ignored her. She never bothered putting her makeup back on after after it gets washed off at swimming class. She thought it would be pointless since school was halfway done. "Kara, do you like Bobert?"
"Shut. Up." Parakara replied.
"See? That's why no one likes you. You're mean. It was just a question."
"Don't let her get to you Parakara..." She thought to herself. Mrs. Goombie walks in the classroom.
"Evening, Does anyone know what we have been talking about?"
"The history between the Mushroom Kingdom and the Koopa Kingdom." Parakara answered.
"Exactly, but now we're just going to focus the Mushroom Kingdom and its cities. Each day we'll talk about a new city so pay attention." Mrs. Goombie said.
"Alright, I'll pay extra attention." Katarina replied.
"That actually goes double for you Katrina." The goomba said, the koopa quietly scoffed. Parakara bit down on her pencil to keep herself from laughing. The teacher went on with her lecture. Parakara wrote notes in her notebook. Every once in awhile a kid would ask a question about the history of any city they've lived in, or a random question here and there. The teacher would answer it and move on. Parakara wanted to ask her something. But decided to wait until the end of class. After class, Mrs. Goombie went to her desk and started grading papers. She was preoccupied, so Parakara started talking.
"Hey, Mrs. Goombie?" She spoke, the teacher looked up pushing up her glasses.
"Yes Parakara?"
"Can I ask a question?"
"Sure, sweetie."
"Have you ever talked the heroes of the Mushroom Kingdom?"
"You mean the heroes who helped Mario return the Star Rod from King Bowser? I have. I don't think you were in my class during that time."
"I wasn't. I just wanted to know if my uncle was one of the heroes." She said, the teacher opened the drawer and pulled out a folder that had her student records. She opened it up.
"How did I not see this before? Is your uncle Parakarry?"
"Yes, that's him."
"He is in fact one of them. I cannot believe this." She smiled.
"Really?!" Parakara asked excitedly. Mrs. Goombie nodded.
"Of course, he helped Mario rescue the Star Spirits, defeat the evil king, and return the Star Rod back to it's proper place!"
"How did he rescue them?" Parakara asks curiously. The teacher smiled again, she loved talking about this.
"He went all over the kingdom and aided Mario in defeating the guardians that were holding each Star Spirit captive. I'm sure your uncle will know more than I do since he was actually there."
"Thank you Mrs. Goombie." Parakara thanked her as she headed towards the door.
"Parakara." The teacher called. The reptilian girl stopped.
"I suggest that you don't brag about this." The teacher said.
"Wasn't planning to ma'am." Parakara responded, she walked out the classroom. She felt happy. Her uncle saved everyone! This was more interesting than all the stories her mom told her about her father's failed attempts to defeat Mario. She hoped her uncle was coming home today so she talk to him. There was also the fact she needed to ask him if she can keep Sugar. Parakara checked her backpack. He's been really quiet. The chain chomp was sleeping comfortably. Parakara entered her next and sat at a desk beside Bobert. Ms. Myrel entered the classroom, dressed in her usual mysterious and enchanting manner. The students couldn't help but be captivated by her presence. Parakara, intrigued by her teacher's unique style, eagerly awaited the day's lesson.
"Today class," Ms. Myrel began, "we are going to read about and go into the depths of a classic tale. "The Shy Guy's Secret." Ms. Myrel began unfolding the story. "The Shy Guys, as you know, are mysterious beings with hidden faces and untold stories," Ms. Myrel explained. "In this classic tale, a brave Toad named Toadbert embarks on a quest to uncover the secrets of the Shy Guy Tribe and their connection to an ancient artifact." The teacher passes each student a copy of the book. Throughout the lesson, Ms. Myrel brought the tale to life with vivid descriptions and engaging storytelling. Parakara found herself completely immersed in the world of the Shy Guys, picturing their hidden village and the challenges Toadbert faced on his quest.
As the class ended, Parakara approached Ms. Myrel. "Thank you for introducing us to 'The Shy Guy's Secret,' Ms. Myrel," she said with enthusiasm. "I can't wait to discover more about their fascinating world."
Ms. Myrel smiled warmly. "I'm glad you enjoyed it, Parakara. Remember, stories have the power to transport us to extraordinary places and teach us valuable lessons. Keep exploring and never stop dreaming."
Parakara left the classroom, and caught up with Bobert.
"Hey Kara. What did you want to talk about?" Bobert asked.
"What I wanted to talk about?"
"Remember at lunch? You asked if you could talk about it after school?"
"Oh. That. I don't remember what it was. Don't worry." Parakara lied, still unsure if she should share what Arias told her.
"Okay...Kara?"
"Yeah?"
"If your uncle does let you come visit...promise you won't be weirded out when you see my parents?"
"Why would I be weirded out?"
"Just promise you won't."
"I promise." Parakara said. Bobert nodded and left. Parakara wondered what would make him ask that. When the paratroopa arrived home she opened her backpack and out bounced the little chain chomp. She was going to have to put her backpack in the washer once she was done cleaning him. Parakara turned on the bath water and began scrubbing the chain chomp. The chain chomp didn't seem to be enjoying it since he kept trying to jump out splashing Parakara in the process.
"You need to get clean Sugar. Who knows how long you've been in the trash. Well except maybe you of course." Parakara said. Sugar seemed to agree. Since he wasn't fighting with her anymore. Parakara finished and wrapped in him a towel. She carried him into her room and went through her homework. She decided to work on the math assignment first.