Forever And A Day

     As he prepares a plate of buttered toast and eggs, he finds his mind wandering back to what Mrs Holland said to him: choose kindness. These two words repeat in the back of his mind in her soft, melodious voice, and soon enough, Zach is unconsciously muttering it over and over again to himself.

     His day unfolds differently from the past few days. Where in the past, 2.09 PM became the standard hour from which he would wake up, he can now rise from slumber at any hour that he pleased. Zach relished the feeling of freedom.

     “Today, it’s the coffee shop,” he tells himself. “Make things right with the Mynci.

     -----

     The day went by without a hitch. Zach felt particularly pleased with his productivity at work, and he even squeezed some time in to chat with his staff at lunch – something he was previously apprehensive about doing.

     As the day slipped into the early hours of the evening, Zach thought he would visit the coffee shop now.

     He arrives at the counter, and begins to make the same order: a large caramel iced coffee with extra caramel, and an acnefruit scone. The Mynci receives Zach’s money, and as predicted, miscounts Zach’s change while dropping a few coins on the floor.

     “I’m very sorry sir!” the Mynci calls out in panic, as he fishes around to gather up the change from underneath the counter.

     Zach smiles at the Mynci, and replies. “That’s no problem,” he says, “but are you alright? You look a bit tired.”

     The Mynci is unsure of how to respond. Was his dishevelled appearance a giveaway to the fatigue he carried within him? And how did this Bruce know that he was exhausted?

     “Yeah, I’ve been having sleepless nights,” the Mynci replies, a little self-conscious in front of the customer. “I’ve been staying up late cramming for a huge exam next week, and I’ve added extra hours working here to pay for my school supplies.”

     “What are you studying?” Zach inquires, as he sips on his coffee.

     The Mynci lets out a sigh. “I’m studying medicine sir. I’m training to be a doctor.”

     Zach gives the Mynci an approving nod and a look of being impressed. “Wow, that’s a great thing to aspire to.”

     Sensing that his customer isn’t angry with the fumbling of change, the Mynci continues with an eager tone. “Yes sir! I’ve always wanted to become a doctor, so I can better the lives of my patients. I hope to provide free medical services to Neopians who are in need. However, school supplies are expensive, so I work at this coffee shop to earn some extra cash.”

     After a brief conversation about medicine and coffee, Zach bids the Mynci goodbye and turns to leave. But just before he closes the door behind him, he shouts at the Mynci again.

     “Hey! I didn’t catch your name!” Zach yells across the room with a friendly smile. “I’m Zach.”

     The Mynci smiles in return. “Hey Zach, I’m Jerome...Jerome Stanton!”

     “Thanks again Jerome, and best of luck to you!” Zach calls out, as he leaves the shop. Instead of walking home, Zach makes his way back to his office.

     At his desk, he picks up the phone and calls. A friendly voice picks up on the other end of the line.

     “Good evening Sir. It's great to hear from you again,” the Skeith that manages the bank says. “What can I do for you today?”

     “Hey there, I was wondering if I could make an anonymous deposit from my account to another person please?” Zach replies, barely containing his excitement.

     “Certainly, sir,” the bank manager replies. “How much would like you to give, and to whom?”

     Zach stops to think for a moment. “I’d like to make a deposit of 500,000 Neopoints to the account of a Mynci named Jerome Stanton please.”

     “Ah, the young Mynci who’s studying to become a doctor?” the bank manager says as he jots down the transfer. “Right away sir. Would you like to add a note, sir?”

     Zach accepts the offer. “Sure, please write ‘To Jerome, for making great coffee today, and for making Neopians healthy again tomorrow.”

     Zach thanks the kind Skeith and hangs up, his heart swelling with happiness. For all his riches that he has, he knows that Jerome will put his neopoints to better use than Zach will ever do.

     -----

     That night, Zach climbs into bed with a feeling of gratitude for his day. As he drifts off to sleep, he begins to dream...

     He finds himself in a gleaming room. The cobbled walls are covered with purple curtains, and all around the room are endless shelves of priceless artefacts that glow beautifully.

     “Hello Zach,” a kind voice calls from behind him. Zach turns around and finds himself face to face with the Faerie Queen, Queen Fyora.

     “Are...are you...real?” Zach stammers in bewilderment. The faerie queen nods with a gentle smile, and waves at an empty seat next to her. She asks Zach to join her for tea, which he does obediently.

     “Would you like some faerie mallows?” she asks, holding up a golden platter of chocolate-covered treats. Zach is to awe-stricken to respond.

     “Am I dreaming?” Zach asks, confused at what’s happening. Queen Fyora lets out a little giggle, and tells him. “Yes, and no. This is a dream Zach, and it’s how I’ve chosen to talk to you, but you didn’t dream the past two weeks.”

     The faerie queen takes a nibble of her mallow, and senses confusion on Zach’s part. She continues to explain. “You see, I watch over Faerieland, but I also keep an eye out on Neopians from all across Neopia. I watched you as you shouted at Stacy, and got angry at the young Jubjub. I saw you brush past the elderly Acara, and I witnessed you losing your temper at the Mynci in the coffee shop. So I decided to teach you a lesson. I wanted you to understand that it takes you the same effort to be kind, as it has to be unkind.”

     Zach feels his cheeks flushing with colour. “I realise my mistakes. I’m not cruel, I promise! Sometimes, I just let my anger get the better of me.”

     Queen Fyora nods. “Over the last few days, I’ve watched as your behaviour shifted. You’ve grown from being a temperamental Bruce and into someone who exercises patience and care for the people around him. I’m proud of you, Zach.”

     Upon hearing these words from the faerie queen, Zach’s face lights up with a thankful smile. He began to reminisce over the past few days, and how changes in the way he interacts with people has helped make their day; be it a kind word to Stacy for her help at work, and a generous gesture to Thomas will benefit his future, or an afternoon with Mrs Holland has earned him a new friend.

     “Thank you, Queen Fyora” Zach replies, a tear welling up in the corner of his eye. “I’ll keep these lessons close to heart.”

     ---

     Zach wakes up the next morning, still reliving the vividness of his encounter with Queen Fyora. He sat at the edge of his bed, looking out the window as the sunlight streamed into his room. A pair of butterflies chased each other across garden, the tulip buds swayed back and forth in the window, as if waving at Zach.

     Right then, he had an idea. He sprinted over to his phone and dialled Stacy’s number. She picks up, her voice giving away that she had just woken up.

     “Good morning Stacy! Listen I have a plan,” Zach spoke with animated excitement, barely catching his breath. “Let’s start a charity, where the extra food products we’ve made can go to. This way, Neopians in need will never have to worry about going hungry. Also, I want to hold a summer festival each year at the park, where kids can have bike races to win candy hampers, and we can invite the residents in the neighbourhood to come together and make friends.” On the other end of the call, Stacy is furiously jotting down notes. Though early in the morning, the infectious joy in Zach’s voice and his enthusiasm has given Stacy some drive.

     “I’m on it Zach!” she says in a confident reply. “Anything else?”

     Zach thinks about his time with Stacy, Mrs Holland and Thomas, and his mind goes back to the fondness of those good memories he’s made with them.

     “Yes, one more thing Stacy,” he says. “I want to throw a party.”

     Stacy writes that down onto her notepad. “Sure Zach! I’m happy to help. Who is this party for?”

     Zach smiles contentedly. “For a group of very important Neopians: my newfound friends.”

     The End.