SOMEBODY TUGGED ON Kai's pretty blue jacket. It was probably Fiola. Kai turned
around and, indeed, the smiling yellow Chia bounced happily in her desk. "Ahem,"
the teacher said, staring directly at Kai and Fiola. Kai nodded and faced the
chalkboard, which was covered in charts and math problems. She could still hear
Fiola trying her hardest to stay still in her seat. She was excited about something
obviously. Kai was Fiola's friend and all, but Kai knew she had to pay attention
in class. She had to show her owner how good she was.
The bell rang and all the students filed out
of the classroom like they always did. Except Fiola. She hopped up and down
while tugging Kai's jacket sleeve. "Kai, Kai, Kai!!!! You have gotta hear this!!!"
she nagged. Kai kept silent as they both walked to lunch.
She and Fiola sat down at a table and pulled
their lunches out of their backpacks. Kai pulled out organic grapes and a leftover
neotaco from dinner. Fiola squealed as she began taking out her lunch. "Look
Kai this is what I wanted to show you!!" she exclaimed as she yanked a plastic
lunchbox out of her overstuffed backpack. Kai looked over as Fiola opened the
box--a glamour negg! Fiola took a great big bite and pink juice squirted all
over her.
"Can I have a small bite?" Kai asked nicely,
frowning over her less appetising lunch.
"Sure!" Fiola said, dabbing her face with a
napkin.
Kai took a tiny bite of the fruit and it was
disgusting! It was much too sweet for her. It probably was made of ninety-eight
percent sugar and two percent negg. "No wonder Fiola's so hyper," she thought
to herself.
Just then, the principal made an announcement.
"Would Kai the Red Gelert please come to the guidance office?"
Fiola's eyes widened. "What did you DO, Kai?"
she whispered.
Kai knew what would probably happen. "I think
I know," she said as she threw away the remainder of her lunch. She slung her
backpack over her shoulder and headed towards the guidance office.
The door was open and Ms. Craugh was sitting
in her office chair, apparently waiting for Kai. She was a very tall woman who
looked as if she knew everything. She turned and smiled at Kai. "So, Kai..."
she began.
"Am I getting abandoned again?" Kai asked with
a frown.
Ms. Craugh sadly nodded. "Yes Kai," she said
in a whispery tone of voice. "But this time you won't stay here."
Kai's eyes widened and tears began to form.
"But, but why?"
"Your owner decided to get a Shoyru and she
wanted to get rid of you. She's sending you to Gelertia, a small country of
only Gelerts that's located near Terror Mountain." Terror Mountain was VERY
far away from where Kai's home was currently. She lived on Mystery Island and
went to this Mystery Island school, and Gelertia seemed like a totally different
planet.
Kai slumped down in a big green air chair across
from Ms. Craugh's desk. "What about my friends?" she asked, thinking about her
bouncy Chia friend eating a juicy glamour negg.
"You'll have to bid them farewell, I'm afraid.
Your owner gave me this," Ms. Craugh said as she held up a ticket. "It's a boat
ticket to travel to Gelertia. The boat leaves from the Mystery Island dock tonight.
You'll probably stay at a friend's house until then. You will also live in an
apartment in Gelertia. Here's the address." Ms. Craugh stuck a small piece of
paper with the address on it into Kai's backpack. Kai was still silent. "You
may resume eating your lunch, Kai," the counselor nodded.
Kai sat in the plastic chair for another moment
or so and walked back to the lunchroom. Most of the students had gone outside
for recess already, but there sat Fiola, waiting for Kai.
"Geez, what took you so long? What happened?"
Fiola asked as the two began walking outside.
"I'm moving," Kai muttered.
"Moving? That's IT?" Fiola cried. Kai had had
12 different owners in her short lifetime, but each time she had been able to
keep going to the same school. She never had moved far from her previous dwelling,
so Fiola thought nothing of it.
"No, that's not it. I have to move FAR. To Gelertia,
a country by Terror Mountain," Kai explained as tears began to return.
Fiola stopped and her lips quivered. "You, you
can't move!"
"I have to. I'm leaving tonight. Can I stay
at your NeoHome until I have to go?"
"Sure," Fiola answered. "But that'll make me
miss you more."
"But I have to."
***
School had ended for the day and Kai rode the same bus that Fiola did. They
sat together but remained silent. The bus stopped off at Fiola's house. Kai
had been here numerous times, but this would probably be her last visit. Together
they prepared dinner and talked about all the memories they had made. Kai didn't
want to cry. It was a good feeling to remember all those times now gone. Fiola's
owner took Kai and Fiola to the harbour. Kai clutched her ticket in her paw,
fighting back the tears.
The loudspeaker boomed, "The cruise ship SS
Dreamer is now boarding." This was Kai's time to say goodbye. Fiola and Kai
cried and hugged for a few moments. Fiola then whispered, "I'll always be here
for you, Kai." Taking her only possessions, which was her backpack, a couple
books, and her jacket, Kai slowly trotted to the SS Dreamer.
To be continued... | 
