Sterling stood at the bus stop with his sister. It was another rainy day, which was why they were standing beneath a tree with an umbrella, and wearing rain coats. They were waiting for the bus to Zuzu City, where their grandparents lived. Lewis had explained that their grandma and grandpa would take care of them there. Sterling didn't like that he had said it with the same voice he would use to tell a toddler why they couldn't have another cookie, and he hadn't explained much else. Grown-ups were always acting like kids just didn't understand anything. Mom didn't act like this. She treated her children like people instead of helpless and stupid babies. Sterling learned from listening through walls and around corners that his grandparents were his only living adult relatives and the Ferngill Republic government would pay them. That wasn't the only reason they were leaving.

Maple's injury had only gotten worse. Maru had stitched the wound up, but her eye had been severely damaged. Without extreme surgery, she would almost certainly be permanently blinded. Pelican Town's clinic didn't have the equipment required for complex surgery. Zuzu City had a large hospital that did. She had a large eyepatch that Maru had doodled hearts on to protect her eye until they got there.

Sterling was holding a rolling suitcase in one hand and Maple's hand in the other. Maple had a suitcase as well. The suitcases contained clothes and keepsakes. Maple had a backpack that contained a playing card set, an art set, and a GameChild handheld gaming device. It had Journey of the Prairie King's mobile port plugged in, and the cartridge for Junimo Kart was in the plastic bag containing a link cable and spare batteries. These were a parting gift from Abigail, and there were more than just that. Evelyn gave them a paper sack of cookies, and Jas had shyly given Sterling an egg, blushing all the while. Sterling noticed that his sister was starting to cry.

"It'll be okay, Maple, our grandparents will take care of us. We'll be ok." But Sterling doubted his own claim. He didn't know his grandparents at all. His mother had once told him that she had lost contact with her parents before he had been born. Her father sent her letters when she was first starting out, but the letters stopped shortly before she had gotten married. She hadn't heard from her mother since she had quit her job at Joja. The only grandparent Sterling knew was his great-grandpa, Starla's grandfather. He had died when Starla was his age, but his presence was known on Snowyfox Farm. He had a shrine set up on the farm, which Starla had planted trees and grass around, making it a beautiful secluded place where they played and had picnics. Starla even said that she sometimes spoke with his ghost in her dreams. Sterling hoped she was happy with him in the afterlife, wherever it was. Suddenly he heard the screech of the bus pulling up. It was time to go.

"Tickets? The bus driver reached his dark-skinned hand out. Sterling and Maple handed him the tickets that Lewis had gave them on their way out. They looked tiny compared to the enormous burly man inspecting them. "Hmm… Government Provisional Unaccompanied Minor, ticket to Zuzu City. Well then, take a seat, watch your step, mind the gap, and PLEASE don't sing 'The Wheels On The Bus' or '99 Bottles Of Joja Bluu On The Wall' at the top of your lungs the whole trip." Sterling stopped to let Maple take a window seat, then sat down beside her. As the bus pulled away, Sterling and Maple sadly waved goodbye to the only home they had ever known.

"I win again!" Sterling thought that Maple was unnaturally good at Calicojack for having just learned the game. He had already bet and lost all the cookies Evelyn had given them. "Wanna play Junimokart?" Sterling shook his head. He had had enough Junimo Kart for one lifetime. And it had just been a few hours. A sign passed the window. 'Welcome to Zuzu City, Home of the Tunnelers.' The bus came to a halt.

"Last stop! Watch your step, mind the gap, thank you for riding with Ferngill Bus Company!" Sterling and maple hopped off the bus. Maple stopped for a moment.

"Thanks for driving us!" She handed him a cookie. "Have a good one!" She joined her brother at the bus stop. Lewis had said to wait there for their grandparents to come pick them up. "What do you think they'll be like?" Maple asked.

"I don't think they'll be like George and Evelyn, at least. I mean, they ghosted their own daughter the moment she left home."

"Yeah, but maybe it wasn't their fault. Maybe something came up, or they lost her address or something.

A new voice interrupted them. A woman approached them.

"Oh, you must be my grandchildren! You look even prettier than the photos we were sent. I kept sending her letters asking when she would give me grandkids, but she never wrote back. Can you believe the nerve of this generation? And now I've outlived her, and I never got a letter back! But I digress. Come, let's get you to your new home." She led them to a little pink car. They piled in, and Sterling took a good look at his grandma.

She seemed to have taken very good care of her body, because although she was a bit wrinkly around the edges, she could easily be mistaken for being in her 30's. She had a ginger afro with one streak of white, but she styled it so it looked intentional. She was wearing yoga pants and a tank top, and a big pair of round glasses. They drove for a while, until they reached an apartment complex. They followed her inside and to an elevator. She pressed some buttons, and up they went! They walked down a hallway and into apartment 346. Grandma opened the door. "Welcome to your new home!" she exclaimed.

"Whoa…" the children said in unision.