Chapter 38: Conversation With An Old Teacher

It was a new day after everything went down the past week in the tournament. CatNap looked at his phone for the time while he was traveling on a city bus.

"3:30PM." He said, "It's after school hours, but I'm going somewhere to meet a familiar face of mine that I haven't seen since the 5th grade…"

CatNap then saw an elementary school.

"I called this particular elementary school to visit someone to have a chat with." He said, "I hope she's still teaching there after all these years."

CatNap then got off the bus to head to the elementary school and looked at it.

"Lucky Learning Elementary School." He said, "I've been there from Kindergarten to 5th Grade. And throughout that time, a particular teacher of mine has taught not only me, but also my friends… If she's still teaching in this school, then I'll be impressed."

CatNap then saw some younger critters leaving the school to be with their families, including another purple cat like himself, but in a lighter purple. She looked up at CatNap and waved at him as she left to join her mother.

"Huh." He said, "Why does she look like me?"

CatNap sighed.

"Oh well." He said, "I'm not gonna let it get to my head. Let's see if my old teacher here is still available."

CatNap then walked to one of the security guards of the school.

"Hi, I'm visiting this school." He said, "I want to speak to a teacher that taught me throughout my time here."

"Huh?" The security guard wondered, "And what would their name be?"

"Miss Delight. …Golden Delight."

"Alright, come with me."

After going through security, CatNap followed the security guard to the staff room to speak with someone.

"Excuse me, madame?" The guard asked the front desk lady, "This individual here is visiting this school he went to and wants to speak to one of his old teachers, Miss Delight."

"Really?" She said, "Alright, let me see… What's your name?"

"CatNap." CatNap replied,

"Last name?"

"Uhhh…"

"You don't have a last name."

"I don't."

"Ok, let me see if you used to be part of Miss Delight's classes over the years…"

The front desk lady then browsed through to see if CatNap used to be part of Miss Delight's classes.

"Hmmm, oh, here you are!" She said, "I can tell time flies fast since you have aged over the years."

"Thanks." CatNap said,

"Alright, you can see her. Come with me, she's in Class 103!"

"103? Wasn't she in 113?"

"She moved classes from time-to-time. It's part of our policy to clean up classrooms every now and then before moving."

"Ok then…"

CatNap then followed the security guard to Classroom 113. He knocked on the door.

"Miss Delight?" The security guard hollered, "You have a visitor that wants to chat with you!"

As CatNap waited, the door to Classroom 113 opened up, revealing a golden retriever critter with a darker blonde hair and ears the same color as her hair, a red bowtie on her head, a red tie with an apple at the center and a red skirt with white polka-dots all over it, and she appears to be twice CatNap's age. She looked at CatNap and gasped.

"CatNap?" She said, "Is that you?"

"Hello, Miss Delight." CatNap replied with a smile, "It's been a while."

"A while? It's been YEARS! Look at you! You've grown!"

Miss Delight hugged CatNap.

"Ha ha, of course I did…" CatNap said,

"Here, you want to have a chat with me? Come on in." Miss Delight said, "I'm all done teaching for the day."

"Thank you."

When heading inside, CatNap looks at the classroom.

"This place hasn't changed." He said, "It's almost as if I'm a kid again walking into something so nostalgic."

"Oh, this is definitely a time capsule for you." Miss Delight said, "And you know something?"

"What?"

"I already have a student here that looks almost like you."

"Really?"

"Of course! Except… She's got a somewhat different personality."

"Someone like Catfeine?"

"Who's Catfeine?"

"Never mind…"

"I'm actually talking about someone that looked like you. I think her name was KittyNap?"

"Huh, KittyNap…"

"Anyways, have a seat, let's not have it get to our head."

CatNap looked at one of the small chairs.

"I wouldn't recommend sitting on those chairs." Miss Delight said as she pulled out a bigger chair, "Here, sit on this one."

"Thank you." CatNap said as he sat on the chair Miss Delight gave him,

"Now, what do you want to talk about, CatNap? You must have had a lot on your mind."

"Believe me, I do have a lot on my mind this past year."

"Go on."

CatNap took a deep breath.

"Ok…" He said, "It all started with this…"

DogDay meanwhile was resting in his hospital room, while also reading a book.

"Tomorrow afternoon, I'll be good to go." He said, "I just need to rest up and then I'll be out the doors and with my friends!"

Outside of the hospital, someone looked up at DogDay's room.

"He'll be one of us." He said, "It will happen when the time comes."

Hoppy meanwhile was looking at the soccer ball she had in her attic while searching around.

"We used to play soccer together as kids." She said, "Damn… Time flies when you're having fun, at least, not anymore…"

Hoppy sighed as she puts her soccer ball down.

"And I always watch him surfing on the waves." She said, "He was a really cool guy to have, from a best friend to a lover… to now an ex-lover…"

Hoppy then sat on the floor.

"Damn it…" She said, "But… I'm hoping for there to be any fish in the sea. Once I'm done getting frustrated over him, I'll find someone else to fall in love with. Hopefully…"

CatNap meanwhile was still chatting with Miss Delight after telling her everything.

"Oh… That's sad…" She said to him, "I can't imagine what you guys are like without CraftyCorn…"

"Unfortunately, she's gone." CatNap said, "...Also, don't tell any of the other critters about this, but I think she's still out there."

"Is she still alive?"

"That's what I'm hoping for. I feel like after being sacrificed, she didn't die, but instead, disappeared to another part of Crittopia."

CatNap sighed.

"It's been rough…" He said,

"I am sorry that you've been through it all…" Miss Delight said, disgusted, "And to think that KickinChicken would almost try to kill your best friend, DogDay, over jealousy?"

"Yup…"

Miss Delight sighed.

"CatNap… I want you to understand this." She said,

"I'm listening." CatNap said,

"No matter where you're at, I know deep down that you've made good decisions throughout your life. Even if it means to cut ties with KickinChicken, then you're still making good choices. That was for your greater good, same for your friends."

"You really think so?"

"Yes, I do."

CatNap sighed.

"Thanks…" He said, "But… What's next? We cut ties with Kickin, where do we go from here?"

"Focus on what's more important to you now." Miss Delight replied, "It may not come now, but it will happen in the future. All you need is a little bit of patience and you'll know when that big important thing will happen for you and your friends."

"Ok…"

"And don't worry about Kickin, he'll change, but it might take a while for that to happen as well."

"Alright, I think I got it. Thanks, Miss Delight."

"You're welcome, CatNap. It's been nice having a conversation with an old student of mine."

The two smiled.