Glossary

Doe - Female koala

Buck - Male koala

Bull - Male elephant

Cow - Female elephant

And yes, Annabelle is a reference to All Dogs Go to Heaven. Seemed appropriate.

Part 01

Buster followed his father and his friends through the pure white hall. Along the way, he became acquainted with Marion Green and Rosamund Crystal.

"I am sorry for my husband's actions," the female wolf said. "I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive him."

"I already have," Buster sighed. "It wasn't really his fault. I mean… I kind of brought it on myself." He admitted. "I shouldn't have lied about Calloway and… I handled Porsha all wrong."

"Don't worry, son. Your mother and I have plenty to say on that subject. But for now, we must get you check-in," Benji fixed his son with a scolding gaze.

Buster looked properly chastened. "Yes, Dad."

Rosamund stopped after a few corridors. "You go along. I have to go retrieve my husband. He'll be here soon," she said sadly.

"I'm sorry, I tried to ask them to show mercy. I just don't really know what Mr. Green might consider merciful," Buster explained. "I'm sorry if Porsha is left an orphan because of this."

She ruffled his head. "It's just the way things are. It's okay. It's for the best…"

Ruby nodded. "I'll come with you, Rosamund."

"So will I, dear," Marion agreed. "You go on, boys. We'll be back soon."

Buster had envisioned a tall desk with a man in a powdered wig sitting before a tall gateway of pearl. Instead it looked more like a hotel lobby.

A young female whippet sat behind the check-in desk. "Welcome back, Benji. And…. Don't tell me this is your son?"

Benji nodded. "Yes, Annabelle, this is my only son, Buster."

"Buster Moon…" She flipped through the pages of her book. "Strange, you weren't supposed to check-in for another few years. What happened?"

Buster looked at his father. "What does she mean, Dad?"

"Everyone has a pre-determined day when they're to come here as long as their death was by natural means," Benji explained. "Only the Receptionists have access to that information."

Buster scratched his head. "So I'm not supposed to be here yet?"

The pink whippet turned the book. "Nope, see. Buster Moon, Expected April 5th 2025. Cause: heart attack. So, I'll ask again. What happened?"

"I was thrown from a catwalk," he admitted. "What does this mean?"

"Those who die a traumatic death often leave behind survivors who find it harder to heal than if you'd followed your natural path," she explained. She pulled out another book and opened it to his page. "Yes, I see you had several friends who have just had their worlds turned upside-down. Wow!" She flipped through several pages listing each friend by name, including each one of Rosita's piglets. "Surrogate children, a surrogate mother and father, surrogate nieces and nephews. I also see two soulmates? Not unheard of but very rare."

The koala blushed. "Two soulmates? Gunter wasn't my soulmate. I didn't have one."

Benji put a hand on his son's shoulder. "Really? Because I do recall watching you frequently trying to impress your best friend, Eddie, and his parents."

Buster looked down sadly. "Well, I was in love with Eddie but… I couldn't bear to come between him and his parents." He shrugged. "I certainly couldn't ask him to share my penniless existence. I had nothing to offer."

The older koala smiled down at his son. "Did you know that he loved you too?"

Annabelle nodded. "If he's listed as your soulmate then he loved you too, you were supposed to be together. Yes, there's no two ways about it. You'll receive your assignment in a few days. Here's your room key. You're in P213B, in the Performing Arts Hall. Your dad knows the way."

Buster accepted the key, sadness filling his chest. "I should have told him how I felt."

Benji rubbed his back. "He'll be alright. Come along and have dinner with your mother and me. Then I expect you'll want to get some sleep. You're welcome to join us, Naveed."

"Thank you, Benji, but I should probably check on Meena," the elephant replied. "I've no doubt that she is very upset."

Buster remembered Meena begging him to get help. "I feel awful for leaving them. Would it have made a difference if I'd let them take me to the hospital?"

"There's no way to know for sure," Benji sighed. "You were badly hurt. Maybe the hospital could have helped but it's just as likely you would have died on the way and they wouldn't have finished the show. Only you know for sure if you made the right decision." He smiled. "Just like I know I made the right decision when I chose to work through my illness. I'd do it again."

Buster nodded. "I never got to say how much I appreciated everything you did for me, Dad. I hope you feel I made the most of it, despite the Squid Tank thing."

"You had a rough start. My sudden departure didn't help," he admitted. "But I'm proud of all you accomplished. It's rare that someone has such a large family at the end. To have so many people who truly loved you. Maybe you didn't have much in the way of money, but here, money doesn't matter. Only love does."

Through the halls they walked until they came to an archway adorned with the Masks of Comedy and Tragedy. Along the walls were portraits of well known performers that had gone before.

"This is the Hall of Performing Arts," Benji explained. "Those who specialized in any aspect of the Performing Arts in life are given a room here. This includes producers and directors."

Buster nodded. "Then where are you and Mom?"

Benji chuckled. "You didn't know. Your mother used to dance ballet. So we're next door to you." He and Naveed led Buster up the elevator to P220. "Right here."

Naveed nodded. "And until I got sick, I used to sing. I wasn't anywhere near the level of say Mr. Calloway but I brought in enough at clubs and bars to provide for my family."

"So you're where Meena got her beautiful voice," Buster understood. "If it weren't for her voice, I would never have tried again. I would have washed cars for the rest of my life."

The bull elephant laughed. "And if it weren't for you, she wouldn't have found the courage to overcome her stage fright. Thank you for being there for her when I couldn't be."

Buster smiled as he followed his father into his apartment. He heard a melodic humming and the most wonderful smells hit his nose. "Mmmm, roast chicken."

"Your mother's been preparing it all day," Benji said as Buster looked around.

Photos lined the walls. Photos of Buster as a baby koala. His first day of kindergarten. Every school photo. The grade school play when he played a dancing mushroom. There was even one of him and little Eddie at Eddie's 5th birthday party. He reached out to touch the bright smile that he'd never get to see again. "I'll miss you, pal."

His father hugged him just as a voice echoed from the kitchen. "Is that my boy?" He realized that he knew the voice. A voice he only heard in his dreams.

A young female koala came into the dining room that was attached to the living room. She wore a blue, checkered apron and carried a silver tray with a steaming hot chicken surrounded by potatoes and vegetables. She smiled at him and put the tray down before opening her arms to him.

"Mom?" This was the woman who had given him life and died doing so. "Mom!" He ran forward and hugged her.

The doe hugged her son, crying. "My dear boy. As much as I wish that you weren't here yet, I am so happy to finally meet you." She wept. "But I still wish you weren't here yet. You still had so much living to do…"

The two cried for several minutes. Benji and Naveed finished setting the table. Benj had to wipe his eyes of tears.

Finally, the woman pulled back and blew her nose into a tissue. "You must be hungry. Everyone is when they first get here. I made all your favorites once I knew."

"How'd you guys know I was coming?" Buster asked.

"Go wash up, son, and you'll see when you get back. I'm going to turn on the set, Bonnie," he pointed at a television set in the dining room. Funny, Buster couldn't remember his father being into television.

Dutifully, Buster went to find the bathroom to wash his hands. For the first time, he was alone. He didn't want to be here either. He had so much he still wanted to do. And how could he leave his troupe now? Right when they should be toasting their victorious performance or receiving accolades at the Meet and Greet.

The bathroom was a gentle teal color and the sink wall had a jade tile backsplash. He washed his hands and looked at his face in the mirror. At least he wasn't covered in blood but his head fur was in disarray. His shirt was wrinkled and his red necktie was gone. He remembered Crystal grasping his throat tight enough that the bow tie just popped off. It felt strange not having it on.

"Buster, dear!" Bonnie's voice called to him. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah! Coming Mom!" He dried his hands and pasted a smile on his face. No sense in crying over spilt milk. He couldn't change anything now.

'It's all my fault! I couldn't catch him! I tried!' He heard Rosita's voice and hurried out to the dining room. The three older ones were seating at the table, looking at the television.

Buster sat beside his father and looked at the screen. "Rosita… oh Rosita… it's not your fault…" he said softly.

Benji touched his son's hand. "That's going to be hard for her to believe right now."

For the next several minutes, Buster heard everyone he loved crying over him. When Caspar asked his father what happened, the koala's heart broke and he buried his face in his hands, sobbing.

AN: So we've seen a little of the Afterlife Hotel and Resort, Buster's gotten checked in and he's met his mother. Please review.