BangBongBing and LittleBananaSplit

by LimeTwister

It was early evening on one Wednesday in November. BangBongBing was huddled up in his bungalow. The wind whipped the palm shutters and the bamboo floors creaked as the tree swayed. BangBongBing was deep under the covers of his hammock, with his eyes squeezed shut. Storms, such as this one, frightened him.

Suddenly, there was a crash! BangBongBing sprang up only to see that the door had whipped open and his little friend, LittleBananaSplit the split Techo, had entered.

“Hey!” she shouted above the shrieking weather, as she clapped the door shut. She tugged off the windbreaker she was wearing. “Are you sick?” “No,” BangBongBing muttered sheepishly. “Storms make me edgy.”

LittleBananaSplit smiled understandingly and gave BangBongBing a bear hug. She was always clever and compassionate, and always knew exactly what to say and do. She lived up to her favourite motto: Think before you act, and act what you think is right.

She then began to burn a bit of kindling in the little stove in the bungalow. When it was nice and toasty, she latched a kettle on a hanger above the open flame, poured in some water and herbs, and prepared some sugar to make spiced tea.

When the tea was ready, they both sat on a thick woolly mat in the center of the floor and sipped their tea out of earthenware mugs. BangBongBing had wrapped himself in a cotton blanket, and LittleBananaSplit was draped in a heavy flannel sweater.

“So, how are things going?” LittleBananaSplit inquired. “Everything is well,” BangBongBing said. “I went shopping yesterday and I found a great toy.” He held up his brand new Neo Nip Critter. “And then I went and got some strawberry smoothies at the cafe. After that, I went to the Painting Pool and watched the pets being painted.” With that latter sentence, he heaved a great sigh.

“Why the long face?” LittleBananaSplit asked.

“I really would like a paintbrush,” BangBongBing said quietly. “Maybe I would have more friends that way.”

LittleBananaSplit frowned. It was well known to everybody in Neopia that BangBongBing was a shy outcast. His only friend was LittleBananaSplit, and she was somewhat concerned about this. She really wanted him to get out and make some friends. But usually, he was huddled deep inside his bungalow drinking tea and playing by himself.

Suddenly, she grabbed his paw, and they leapt through the doorway into the storm. She ran as fast as her lean legs could carry her, dragging a sopping BangBongBing alongside.

They stopped when they emerged into Neopia Central.

“What are you doing!” cried BangBongBing in terror. A bolt of lightning splashed the sky with color, and he cowered. “Please let me go home!” he screamed, tugging at her claw.

“No!” she yelled through the torrent of rain that fell from the sky. “We must go to the Pool Hall!”

She dragged him down the cobblestone street. They then dashed into a bleak doorway, and into the famous Pool Hall. When they got in, they saw all sorts of Neo Pets enjoying several different types of games, all laughing and having a jovial time.

BangBongBing cried a little. “Please take me home!” he said.

“No!” she said. “I have to prove to you, once and for all, that it is not your appearance that people judge you by! It is your personality. You have always hidden yours, and it is time to let everybody know just how fun a guy you really are!”

They plodded over to a table where an Aisha and another Techo were playing a heated game of chess.

“You can play this, because you are smart,” LittleBananaSplit said. She plopped him down into a seat, without an opponent. She then dashed off, found a player to challenge him, and the game started.

BangBongBing soon become so engrossed in the game that he forgot his shyness. His veneer melted away, exposing a positively joyful fellow! His opponent, a rather old Kacheek, smiled again and again as BangBongBing let his shell fall away.

When BangBongBing won the chess game, the two shook hands briskly, and the older one invited BangBongBing to tea the next afternoon.

“Sure thing!” said BangBongBing.

The storm still raged outside, and BangBongBing was afraid to go home in the rain. So he stayed at the Pool Hall all night, playing games with dozens of newfound friends, and becoming very popular.

By the morning, the storm had washed itself out. BangBongBing wiped his eyes with his paw, and searched for LittleBananaSplit, to take her home. She was dozing in a corner. BangBongBing awakened her, and the two walked out of the Pool Hall. All sorts of new friends waved good-bye.

“Well...?” LittleBananaSplit asked.

BangBongBing gave her the warmest, longest, and most loving hug ever. “You made me see who I really am! I made millions of friends! But you know what, LittleBananaSplit, none of them will ever be as good a friend as you!”

The two best friends walked home hand in hand.