My sweet, gentle little Tell me—why do you even want to go to school? Your mom and I are offering you to stay homeschooled like before! What's wrong with Dorothy? She teaches you everything better than any teacher could: algebra, physics, art, foreign languages, singing… Yeah, And also how to become a teacher while knowing absolutely nothing useful herself. Erich cut in, and his dad froze mid-sentence. The boy went on, getting bolder by the second: – Think about it: how can one person teach everything? Unless she's carrying some kind of alien brain chip…
Well… she studied at an Ivy League – Ardon mumbled, unconvincingly.
Which one?
I… don't remember Somewhere in Mongolia. I think in Ulaanbaatar.
Erich snorted and raked his fingers through his curls—the kind of curls that ate combs alive. The gene for Ardon's straight hair had skipped him completely, so he was locked in a daily battle with his hair. Gift or curse—jury's still out.
Look, I really wanna go to a regular school. Learn properly. Hang out with kids my age.
Not just Dorothy, who's like a weird watermelon–Chihuahua hybrid. Isn't that why we came back to the States? Chicago's awesome, and I want to explore it—outside the house.
Well, yeah, that too, my sweet boy. We brought you back to where you were Far from those nosy French gendarmes who, apparently, didn't like our little family business!
The man took a nervous sip of his favorite soy milk latte and scratched his head—still completely gray-free, same as when Erich was a baby. Time marched on, but Ardon's hair didn't get the memo.
Today he'd decided to have this heart-to-heart, father-to-son talk while Gina was away, cycling into the city to set up a steady supply chain of food for their latest venture—one that was almost a reality now. He would've spent another good hour daydreaming about that almost-born idea, but his son was waiting for an answer.
Me? I'm not against it! What matters most to me is your happiness—not school or any other secondary nonsense. If you, my precious child, think your joy lies in personal growth, and public school can give you that—then so be it! I'm sure your mother won't object either. What she always says is: -If you find yourself alone in the darkness…
You must seek your Sun! – Erich finished Gina's mantra – Yeah, yeah, I know. One Sun I'll find through solid—okay, even halfway decent—education. The other one, I'm still looking for. I've scoured almost every directory already, and still can't find anything about her.
Maybe I should check the Net…
The what?! – Ardon recoiled, shielding his child from imaginary cyber – Don't even say
that government surveillance toy's name out loud! Good thing Gina didn't hear that! Erich had an answer ready. He sighed dreamily:
On one hand, yeah… but on the other—football websites are so
Football?! – Ardon staggered back, hands scrambling for the edge of the table before sinking onto it. Good thing it was solid—otherwise, the emotional weight would've crushed him. – What now, my little blossom?! Did we not treat you well?! What's wrong with squash? Is there anything more dynamic and exhilarating?!
Pretty much everything. – The football fan replied, annoyed to find a banana peel in his pocket. He pulled it out and, under his dad's knowing gaze, dropped the leftover fruit skin into the bag for compostables. The bag was already puffed up next to the plastic recycler and, for some reason, a ladder. No clue how that got there.
Time to move on. Erich gently signaled that the conversation was over—but not without one final jab. He leaned in and whispered:
I also wanna become a financier.
If pain could be physically embodied, it would've become Ardon.
Many people are skeptical about ancient methods like flipping through paper directories—and Erich was one of those people. But sometimes, those ancestral techniques—honored during childhood solstice rituals—actually worked.
Sitting in his room, petting the now considerably larger M.K. (who was busy gnawing on his favorite plush: the Magnificent and Irresistible Corn), Erich flipped pages of a fat, old, smelly book that reeked of ink and rancid grease. The scent had never left the pages, no matter how many years passed.
The Corn plush, by the way, had a lopsided mouth and grumpy eyebrows. Apparently, not only Erich was annoyed by its eternal sad expression—M.K. totally understood the assignment and was taking it apart with passion.
Tossing a piece of meat into the air, the boy watched with satisfaction as his acrobatic dog caught it mid-flip. M.K. wasn't some clueless pup anymore—he was a snack-devouring, trick-performing machine.
Still half-heartedly scanning the pages, Erich suddenly saw it: - Delvin Bingles. And like a lightning bolt to the brain, he remembered—his old friend had once said that was her dad's name. He'd just kept forgetting.
What a doofus!
Cursing himself for the delay, Erich didn't forget to leap joyfully around the room with his dog, who clearly thought a fiesta had begun. They probably would have kept bouncing all day if Erich hadn't suddenly cleared his throat with exaggerated seriousness and grabbed the handset of the cordless phone. Duty called! And so did his long-lost friend.
One ring. Then another. Then another. Then a whole mocking orchestra of rings. Apparently, the phone connection had joined forces with fate to mess with him, refusing to connect him to the one person who really mattered. He made a tragic face. M.K. matched it with a furrowed brow, sharing the vibe.
And then… a miracle. Someone picked up.
From the other end of the invisible wire (what wire? It's cordless!), came that voice: – Hello. This is the Bingles residence. Goodbye.
Wow. That was abrupt. The line zipped through the room so fast Erich didn't even realize he was talking to an answering machine. Otherwise, he'd have left a greeting—and then felt like the biggest jackass in the entire Kingdom of Jackasses.
Still, the prize was practically in the bag—or rather, in the receiver. He had heard her voice. A bit older now, but still with that slight squeak she'd inherited from her mom. Years of hope condensed into this moment, and now he was so close to reaching her.
His high-energy soul refused to sit still. Erich launched into another victory sprint around the room,
M.K. bounding behind him, hyped for what he assumed was some new kind of cardio game. They ran, they spun, and they flopped. An hour—maybe more—passed before Erich tried again.
And this time, it worked.
I'm – came a dry voice. But that meant nothing—she didn't know who was on the line yet! Nibi, it's you! No way! Is it really you?! – Erich fired off, his voice tripping over itself with excitement. M.K. barked right into the receiver to add his two cents.
Depends who's asking… – her voice stayed – And could you please turn your dog down? I don't have a remote for Volume's stuck on max. – Erich admitted, then tried to boost his case with the obvious:
Nibi, come on! It's me—Erich! You remember me, right?
Silence. His heart dropped, punched through the floor, and landed in the neighbor's living room downstairs—neighbors who already weren't big fans of the Rosario household (Erich was oddly proud of his last name).
He hated silence in conversations. It made him feel like the connection—the connection—was lost forever.
Are you there? Why aren't you saying anything? – He asked Then she answered:
Sorry, but I don't know any
It's not -any. Just one! Just the one And you know him. Look, I fell for your "I'm a dog- routine" once, but I'm not falling for it again. You have gotten smarter. – She replied thoughtfully. – Not quite the donkey you used to be.
That's exactly what I called myself earlier when I nearly said -hi- to your answering machine. – The boy grinned, and from the sound of it, the girl on the other side of Chicago might've smiled too. Honestly, I didn't expect to hear from you after all this Weren't you living in France or something?
Erich launched into his explanation:
No, no! I told you—I'm from the Just like you. We moved back here full-time, and I'm starting school soon. I'll tell you everything in person. When can we meet? Just like that? After all these years, you call out of nowhere—no hello, no nothing—and you wanna meet already? You related to Flash or something?
Her sarcastic tone threw off his momentum. He scrambled to recover:
Hey, I did say And the reason I wanna meet right away is... well, why waste time? I've been looking for you for years. I'm not about to wait again. Come on—you want to see me too, right? Actually, no…
What?! – The boy gasped, genuinely
That's – She drove the nail in. – I wasn't looking. In fact, I kinda forgot you even existed.
That kind of statement would knock most people flat. But Erich didn't know the meaning of - crushed.-
I'll be at Clark Street in an Let's meet by Three Dots and a Dash. It's a nice bar, right?
I wouldn't I don't go to bars.
Me – He said, and then hung up without saying goodbye. And went to get ready.
Inside him, there was no doubt: Nibi would show up. This was the start of something. A new chapter. A new pulse in their shared story. And it wasn't just him hoping for it.
Right, buddy? – He looked at M.K. – You wanna hug—or in your case, sniff—Nibi again, don't you?
Of course! The fluffy buddy wagged his tail, his eyes the most honest and loyal in the world, clearly agreeing with everything just said.
Exactly one hour later, Erich stood at the address he himself had given, bundled up in his parka, debating whether to pull up the hood. It was one of those damp, bone-chilling autumns that squeeze every last drop of summer outta you. The icy wind wasn't just chasing leaves down this busy Chicago street—it was chasing people too, hurrying them into bars and cafés where they could warm up with something strong.
The boy watched them with understanding, brushing curls from his face as the wind kept throwing them into his eyes. He didn't drink, and he didn't wanna start some stupid habit like that. Honestly, he'd only smoked weed twice—even though there was plenty of it back at the farm—and that was here in the city. He kinda liked the floaty feeling, but smoking solo wasn't his thing. That was for hanging out with someone… when he finally got another friend besides M.K.
And the one who might've qualified for that high honor sure wasn't in a rush to claim it. It had already been thirty-five minutes past the agreed time—well, agreed in his mind, since Nibi never really said -yes-—and now he was just confused. What did he mess up?
Why wasn't she coming?! Didn't she want to have some fun?!
That single powerful argument must've reached the cosmos, 'cause someone coughed behind him. Erich slowly turned, his insides locking up as he soaked in the melodrama of the moment. Only thing missing was some rain and a saxophone solo—unfortunately, he couldn't play. When he opened his eyes, all he saw was a red-faced man in just a sweater and slacks, who'd clearly just stumbled outta a bar. Clutching a cigarette and squinting at the kid, the guy asked:
Bro, got a light? I'm dying for a
Don't smoke. – Erich shook his head and stepped a bit to the side, trying to get back into his - waiting-for-Nibi- vibe. M.K., who'd been loyally hanging nearby this whole time, gave him a sad little look like, -Buddy, how long we gonna be out here?- But the waiting didn't last much Well, hey Sorry I'm late. – The girl in the beige coat and a cream hat with an outrageously wide brim gave him a nod. – Though honestly, why am I even apologizing? You don't really give people the chance to say yes or no, you just call, say a time, and hang up. Not exactly an invite.
Hugs!
Erich launched at his long-lost friend like a hawk, and the dog followed suit, probably for the first time in his life really wishing he had arms. Around the living statue that was Nibi jumped the happiest duo she'd ever seen—or heard—and she decided to shut this nonsense down before Erich actually tried licking her boots like his four-legged role model.
Okay, okay… you're happy to see me. I'm glad too, just maybe not that You two got taller, sure, but I was wrong when I said you got smarter. YOU CAME! – shouted the boy, and K. let out a howl to match, singing his joy in wordless dog poetry. Yeah, yeah. I'm Why'd you drag me out? And more importantly—what are we gonna do? – Nibi asked with a businesslike tone. – It's cold out here. Not exactly stroll-friendly weather. What do you mean, why?! We're throwing a party! Right here, right now! Come on, I'll show you the best thing you'll see all day! Considering I spent my entire day buried in textbooks, that's not a very high – She snorted, but agreed to tag along. Truth be told, she was intrigued. There was something disarmingly ridiculous about Erich's boyish excitement.
And just like that, the duo became a trio again.
As they walked, they swapped stories from the past few years. Nibi mostly asked about France and barely touched on Erich's own life, but he didn't mind—he fired back with even weirder questions about her mom.
What's with you and my mom, huh? Why do you care how she's doing? – She finally snapped, stopping to give him a squinty, suspicious look. He answered calmly: Her lectures, mixed with a good ol' helping of trash talk, actually helped me. I realized I didn't wanna be some loser, the way she almost called me, and I started rethinking stuff. Wow, you're that impressionable? One angry monologue from someone you barely know can just reshape your whole worldview? – She teased. But once again, Erich shut her down with brutal honesty: Well, she was right! I know how to listen—and how to If I can't see my own flaws, maybe I need someone else to point 'em out. Not everyone's born with a perfectly working brain and a built- in moral compass, y'know?
Nibi started walking again, soft on the cobblestones, and muttered thoughtfully:
Huh… so you're not just a reckless You've got some sense too. Weird combo…
I'm all contradictions, babe. – He waved it off and launched into a – Look, my dad's from Bolivia, mom's American, and they named me Erich. Erich Rosario. How about that?
But cool! – Nibi admitted, ignoring the very obvious pause in his sentence that was clearly begging her to spill the mystery of her name. Not today, kid.
Erich didn't stay quiet for long—he preferred running his mouth over standing in awkward silence:
Guess what? I'm finally gonna start school
Isn't it a little late for that?
It's never too late to start learning. – The carefree boy hit her with another zinger and went into a short monologue about his experience with homeschooling, wrapping it up with: Anyway, I'm hoping to get into college, then university, and become a badass
Whoa! Didn't see that – Nibi looked genuinely impressed.
What about you? You thought about what you wanna be?
Not an – Short and sweet.
The boy scratched his nose and blurted out what he'd been keeping in:
You're getting more mysterious every time we You're always hiding something from me. From Not just you. – Nibi snapped her armor back on like a crab in battle mode… or, as she preferred to think, like a noble knight.
The conversation drifted to something totally random, but it didn't matter—they'd already reached the building.
The first thing that hit Nibi was how dark and broody the place was.
It was clearly built in the old days—back when people actually knew how to throw together epic structures with sharp buttresses, decorative railings, and doors so pretty they made the whole building look mid. And this place had all that too. Except maybe the classic gargoyle over the door.
She mentioned it, and Erich gave her a look of newfound respect and said with weight:
One day, when I've saved up enough, I'm hiring someone to build one of those bad Or I'll make it myself—book in hand! -Top Ten Ways to DIY Your Own – Nibi announced like a clickbait narrator, and for the first time today, they laughed in sync. M.K. joined in, wagging his tail and enthusiastically sniffing the door like he was about to mark his territory.
While Erich dashed over to the pet station (those handy public dispensers with bags, buckets, and sanitizer), since M.K. had decided to purge his entire being, not just his bladder, Nibi checked her
phone. No texts from the parents. Good sign. Meant they hadn't come back from work yet, so the coast was clear.
Feeling better, she waited for Erich to finish scooping, and once he opened the door, they stepped inside—and she froze. It was pitch black. She flicked on her phone flashlight without hesitation.
No There's electricity.
The boy flipped the switch and gave her a look like she'd just invented fire. Nibi didn't flinch.
What if you're some psycho who didn't turn on the lights on purpose? Then why'd you even come in? – Erich shot back, completely And she had to admit— he got her there. Awkward. Why did she come in? Even M.K. tilted his head at her and gave her a disapproving look—right before casually licking his butt.
They were surrounded by a long hallway full of creaky wooden doors, all equally ancient-looking.
We'll deal with this part later. – Erich – It's gotta look modern and fun so customers don't freak out. Right now, it's definitely giving -haunted orphanage- vibes. Agreed… Customers?
You'll see! – He winked mysteriously and led her forward. – These two rooms are full of manufacturing I didn't bother digging into the details 'cause the word -manufacture- already sounds boring as hell.
On this, Nibi completely agreed.
The other rooms are No one rents 'em. But this—this is our holy sanctuary! Come on in!
He pulled aside a curtain made of colorful beads, and they were hit with a wall of sleepy growls, random screeches, and squeaks. In front of them stood open enclosures and big cozy cabins that looked more like church confessionals. Honestly, Nibi expected this least of all and was visibly surprised. But she played it cool and just said:
A zoo. Nice.
Erich wasn't bothered by her chill reaction. In fact, he bounced on the balls of his feet, clearly ecstatic to show off this place:
Not just a zoo—a petting zoo! You can scratch their bellies, pet their heads and ears, and even…
Oh, the tenderness… – Nibi cut in with heavy – You describing every flea-bitten mutt this way now?
For the first time today, Erich deflated like someone had yanked out all his feelings and tossed them in the nearest trash can. One single tear welled up in his eye as he looked at her with maximum puppy-level sadness:
So you can shape shift not just into your dog—but also into your mom.
But I thought you respected her! – Nibi shot back with her usual sass, though noticeably less sure of herself now.
And seriously, why did she snap at him like that? Somewhere deep in her subconscious, there was a quiet answer: she just wanted to wipe that permanently cheerful look off Erich's face and make him suffer a little. But he was right—it was more her mom's thing than hers. Genetics, man. They're not joking.
Don't take it personally, I see you really love animals, so go ahead, give me the grand tour. She tried to smooth things over, and the boy lit up immediately. The only one who didn't seem even slightly offended was the dog, who ran over to a porcupine enclosure and stared at the beast's giant needles in stunned silence.
Honestly, the dog wasn't wrong. There was a lot to see here. Aside from the aforementioned
porcupine, Nibi's eyes locked onto a little pen filled with chickens and geese. A super shady-looking rooster paced the wooden edge like it owned the place, pecking at seeds and throwing judgmental glances around its kingdom.
Then, right at their feet, came a real-life Bambi. The girl actually felt a strange wave of affection, even though she'd never been big on animals. She crouched down and started petting the fawn, while Erich ran off to the front desk (which was currently unattended), grabbed a paper cup, and handed it to her with an explanation:
It's a mix made just for the deer—exactly what they We track the diets of every species here and make sure they're eating top-quality stuff. Gina's out today making arrangements with food suppliers. Once that's done, we're gonna start remodeling the hallway and sprucing up the main room so kids have more fun when they visit. More fun? You're already crushing it. This place could keep any grown-up entertained, not just some random – Nibi muttered, fully absorbed in feeding the fawn. – So you're opening soon? Pretty much, yeah. We lost all our stuff we used to sell in France, but Ardon and Gina managed to save up a good chunk of money—enough to start this new chapter in our family story. Well, good luck! – Nibi said She wasn't such a terrible person after all—at least, she hoped not. That dumb thing she'd said earlier to Erich still gnawed at her. Thanks! Lemme show you the marmosets. They're these hyper little monkeys, super funny…
One of the enclosure doors opened, and out came a short man of indeterminate age wearing a turquoise smock and a goofy monkey-head hat. He carried a bucket of water and a broom, set them down, and when he spotted the visitors, he rushed over to Erich, mumbling something excitedly.
Hey hey, Toshi! I'm always happy to see you, buddy! – Erich, never missing a chance to hug someone, wrapped the man up in a warm embrace, and chatted with Nibi as he did it: We hired Toshi not long ago, but he's already a core part of our little As you can see, he's
got a few health things going on, but that doesn't stop him from being a hard worker—and honestly, the kindest, most genuine human on Earth!
He paused, and then added with a little blush:
Well… one of the top You're obviously the other. M.K. would've made the list, but, yeah— he's not technically human.
What a softie… Despite all the kindness practically floating in the air, wrapping her up like a blanket, Nibi still felt out of place. Maybe it was her own baggage. Why couldn't she just feel things like Erich did? Why was she always so wound up?
She reached out her hand to Toshi. He respectfully wiped his own with a wet wipe before shaking hers with a grin.
I'm
I'm Gonna head to the supply room. Don't wanna get in the way. You're not in the – Erich protested warmly, but the polite man was already walking off on his own path.
The three of them were alone again. M.K. was engaged in a heated standoff with a goat who chewed nonstop, like he had eternal gum in his mouth. The goat was winning by staying totally calm, and that drove M.K. absolutely nuts. He even got up on two legs and started pawing at the wooden barrier, like he was gonna climb over and throw paws with that smug herbivore.
Erich moved in to calm him down… and walked straight into a trap. Evil never sleeps. And neither does the rooster.
The bird pulled off a textbook sneak attack, hopped along the railing, and charged like a feathery assassin—landing a brutal peck to the back of Erich's hand.
Ow ow ow… damn… – he yelped, and then exhaled, spotting Nibi laughing her heart out at the whole thing. She was clearly enjoying the show, and it loosened her up a bit. Gritting his teeth through the pain, Erich flashed a wonky smile and tried to pet the comb-headed hitman, but the rooster backed off with attitude, like, -Don't touch me, loser.-
He sprayed some antiseptic on the wound, saw there was no blood, and shuffled back to Nibi.
If I'd known that's what cracks you up, I'd have been offering up my hand to that guy way more
Please don't. Your parents probably prefer you – Nibi warned him. – Anyway, look at those alpacas begging for snacks. Have they been fed today? Hey, don't insult me! Of course they've been But we can give them a little treat.
He jogged over to the feed stand, grabbed a cup with a slightly different mix, and handed it to her.
This one's got sprouts, hay, moss, and—get this—finely chopped These fluffballs go nuts for it. Honestly, so do I. Yeah, well, I'm not feeding you. – Nibi shot him a look, and they exchanged a moment of mutual
One of the chill beasts had a split lower lip, and it munched away happily on whatever it was given.
Looks like a lip split, huh? – Erich said, clarifying, – You know, that mod where people slice their lip or tongue to look cooler. Though I kinda doubt this alpaca walked into a piercing studio and asked for a badass body mod. – Nibi smirked.
From one of the covered pens came a low hooting sound—the kind that only one creature could make.
An owl! I love – Nibi confessed, and Erich perked right up:
Then let's go say hi! What's the problem? I'll grab their special food and we'll go chat with them right now.
She might've said yes… if not for that little devil that had popped out of her internal jack-in-the-box and crawled back into her brain to start scripting her lines again. Adopting the flattest tone known to man, with a poker face to match, she asked:
So, I take it your family's really into nature? Like, you guys love all flora and fauna equally? Of course! Not like full-on eco-activists or anything, but we do try to live in harmony with the Earth. – Erich answered, casually popping a dried apple slice into his mouth from the feed cup. Then why are your animals in cages? Don't they wanna be free? Feel the real wind, graze on real plants instead of this processed snack mix? Don't they want to remember what it's like to be actually free, without bars and locks and people staring at them all day? – Inspired by the defiant rooster, Nibi went full revolutionary.
Well… sort of. Erich tried to counter:
You're judging by the cover, Nibi. Out in the wild, these animals might've already been eaten by predators, or poached, or gotten Here, they're warm, safe, and cared for. We even have a vet on standby.
And would you wanna be locked in a cage, instead of walking K. wherever you please? Would you like people pointing at you, laughing, treating you like some brainless toy without feelings?
You respect your dog—you treat him like an equal. But these animals? They're not equals. They're slaves. – She added a dramatic wobble to her voice, wiping away nonexistent tears with the back of her hand, while side-eyeing the poor boy who now looked completely stunned. His curls, usually springy and chaotic, seemed to wilt like soggy lettuce.
He stood there for a full minute, looking back and forth between her and M.K., who was now attempting to mimic a meerkat. It wasn't working. The dog got frustrated with his own lack of posture and gave up.
Nibi, meanwhile, had hit a theatrical peak. Her performance could've landed her a daytime Emmy. Erich, the captive audience, suddenly turned and walked toward the pen. What was he hoping to find?
Maybe he just wanted to set freedom free and say hi to that oxymoron.
The wooden doors, looking like Wild West saloon flaps, swung open… but the alpacas didn't
budge. Clearly, they weren't eager to ditch their cozy penthouse suite. Erich rushed into the back room and returned with a bridle, lead ropes, and started strapping them on like a total pro. Once he was done, he asked, dead serious:
So? We going?
Nibi nodded, though by now she was really starting to regret her little stunt. Still, no way was she backing out now—curiosity about what came next was way stronger than her guilt. Not everyone was thrilled about this wild plan, though. And we're not just talking about the rooster. Somewhere
up in the covered enclosure, a creepy voice let out a ghostly howl that sent shivers down everyone's spine—including Erich's. He waved it off like it was no big deal and told Nibi:
That's our new Still getting used to the place.
Bigfoot? – She asked, eyebrows climbing to the
Where are you going?! Where are you taking the animals?! – Toshi stepped out of the back, and for the first time, his tone was stern—totally not matching his usual soft voice and sweet face. We're just taking them for a bit, buddy. Gonna move them somewhere... wait, where are we taking them? – Erich, terrible liar that he was, tanked the whole operation with that one
But Nibi, in a moment of chaotic inspiration, came up with a plan on the spot and said confidently:
My uncle owns a private airstrip just outside the city. Got a couple One of them's strong enough to fly these animals straight to Chile. See? Told you we had it covered! – Erich jumped in,
Toshi ran to the zoo's main exit and stood there like a human barricade, arms and legs braced against the doorframe.
I can't let you go! I'll get fired! Gina and Ardon won't like
Dude, come on! It's me! I'll handle I'll take full responsibility.
You sure?
Like I swear, every blow will land on this head right here! – Erich chopped the air heroically with a bent arm.
Toshi stepped aside, shaking his head with a heavy sigh.
Just make sure Marta and Dondel are Please take care of them.
You got it, my – Erich gave his shoulder a reassuring pat. Nibi nodded too.
Her guilt now weighed a ton, so she grabbed one of the alpacas and led it out of the zoo—eager to escape those walls that now pressed down on her like a guilty conscience. Judging by the slobbery sounds and excited yips behind her, Erich and M.K. were right on her heels. The dog, by the way, was loving this whole scheme, running back and forth between them, barking like they were leading a parade.
Cold. So freaking cold.
Erich snuggled his face into the alpaca's wool, only to pull back right away—clearly, Dondel wasn't much warmer than he was. As much as he loved summer, there was something magical about this chilly season. Like rescuing animals with your dog and your childhood friend. What a genius plan Nibi came up with—to free their furry friends from the tyrannical clutches of Ardon and Gina!
And maybe… maybe they could do the same for all the animals. Set them loose in their natural habitats. Let Gina start a new business—one that didn't depend on the oppression of the fluffy, the scaly, and the feathered.
He caught up to Nibi and told her honestly:
You're amazing, Nibi! Thanks for opening my Like I said, I don't always see the truth on my own. You helped me figure out what's good and what's not. For real.
Yeah? Well, she wasn't so sure. She stayed silent, hunched into herself, quietly leading her alpaca down the street. Maybe it was a mistake to agree with Erich about needing outside help to process things. She'd used that confession against him. Manipulated him. Twisted his brain into a knot.
But then it hit her—maybe it wasn't the alpaca who wasn't free. Maybe it was her.
Maybe the cold was clearing her head. Or maybe she was just missing that stupid carefree grin of his—that goofy spark that made her get off her butt, ditch her books, and step out into the freezing night just to see him.
I'm not my I'm Nibi. – The words echoed in her head. And in that moment, she didn't exactly break her chains—but they loosened. Just a bit. Just enough.
She looked up at the dark autumn sky… and let out a rooster-like crow. Not because of the feathery rebel from earlier, but because she was thinking about Peter Pan and the Lost Boys.
Hey, Erich, what if we turn this cold, boring Chicago into Neverland? How's that sound? You wanna too, right?
Let's turn this night—this almost-night—into a sunrise. Let's run between the streetlights to a place where no one can find us! Not your parents, not mine! I don't even know what freedom feels like… but you're here, aren't you?
You'll help me figure it out… or not?!
One thing she was absolutely sure of, as she glanced from Erich to the pedestrians who had all shrunk into themselves after her outburst—her grown-up friend was still the same maniac as before. And that madness… it was his fuel. Way stronger than whatever negativity she'd thrown at him earlier.
And the boy crowed right after her. Loudly. So loudly that the last remaining passersby scattered like pigeons under a fire alarm. Anyone who didn't leave? M.K. took care of them with a soulful howl that could've cracked windows.
The teens laughed uncontrollably, their whole bodies shaking with relief and that delicious feeling of getting away with something. They -spurred- their alpacas forward and trotted across the crosswalk, lit up by the glowing headlights of confused cars. A few drivers even opened their doors and leaned out to witness the weirdest caravan Chicago had probably seen that week. The alpacas? Living their best life and blissfully unaware that they were the center of human chaos.
The wind picked up, slapping their faces with invisible boxing gloves, but the gusts were no match for the joy of this crew. Erich practically skipped along, petting Dondel, winking at M.K., and calling out to Nibi:
You feel that?
Feel what? – She snapped, trying to reclaim some semblance of civilized Still… she did
feel it. That pull and the need to live her life, her way. Erich grinned slyly and said:
Bet you Dondel outruns Marta with just his back left
Nibi couldn't resist diving into the dumbest bet of the century:
Not gonna You already lost just by saying that.
We'll see! – Erich picked up the pace, which looked ridiculous next to his unbothered alpaca, who had absolutely zero interest in going any faster.
Nibi didn't even bother trying to rush Marta. She just giggled at Erich's pathetic attempts—until Marta suddenly took off. Not like a horse, obviously, but like an alpaca on Red Bull.
Nibi bolted after her.
Nooooo! – Erich – Dondel, c'mon! We can't let 'em win!
There are no winners here except us! Stop! – came a sudden Even the animals froze. Oh no.
Was it… them?
Her heart stopped—and then pounded harder than ever. She turned to look, but the streetlights made it impossible to see their faces. Still, the shapes, the hats… yeah. It was the law.
They stepped forward and went straight into official mode.
After introducing themselves as sergeants something-or-other (Nibi wasn't listening—she was too busy panicking), they asked where the kids got the animals and why they were walking them across a public road.
We used the – Erich declared boldly, stepping into the role of Everyone's Lawyer. – Also, the alpacas belong to my family.
Got proof?
Like what?
Call your Or show us some documents. – said the sergeant with the forgettable name.
I don't have a – Erich muttered, suddenly sheepish.
Nibi, hands shaking, was already dialing the home number. She handed the phone over as soon as Monsieur Ardon answered.
The police didn't talk long. They made their decision fast:
So you snatched 'em from the zoo and decided to go for a walk? Cool. Here's what's gonna happen—we're taking the animals back where they And you two? You're going home. By the way, nice dog. What breed is he? Anyway, fun's over. Sorry, kids.
And just like that, Nibi's newly found freedom ended.
Now her heart went from galloping to straight-up breakdancing. Unlike the alpacas, she wasn't handling this well. Erich probably wouldn't get in too much trouble. But her life? Over. Dead on arrival.
Erich didn't get it. He just stood there the next day, waiting outside the Binglz home, wondering what the big deal was. Nibi hadn't meant any harm. She just felt bad for the animals. That was a good thing, wasn't it?
His parents got it. Ardon even apologized over the phone, explaining that yes, nature is beautiful, but dollars live best in his wallet. So, -Son, maybe don't try to run covert ops with your girlfriend next time, cool?- Gina, for her part, sent a message to say she'd be happy to see Nibi at the Summer Solstice Festival.
So really, Erich couldn't figure out what was wrong with Nibi's behavior. Ardon and Gina had reacted pretty well. They even praised her for having guts and moral backbone. Shouldn't her family be just as supportive?
But then he got a short phone call. It was Nibi. Her voice was low and heavy: – I'm in a trap, Erich. – And then she hung up. Just like he had, a day earlier. That was it. That was all he needed.
Now, he wasn't saving animals. He was saving a human.
He had her address now—thank you, cops, for walking her home first. And while they spent the next hour listening to her furious mother rant about politics, animal rights, and how the system had clearly failed if alpacas were allowed to migrate illegally, Erich was already planning the next jailbreak.
Erich memorized the address and, just to be sure, shared it with his dog—hoping M.K. would store it somewhere in his doggy brain. Then he called the people he needed to call and checked if they were still working at the same place.
They were. Perfect. So he ran to a store and bought a visor cap with an open top, two large pizzas without pepperoni (he hated it and didn't wanna poison anyone else with it), and a pair of sunglasses—for stealth mode. All he could do now was pray that Nibi's mom wouldn't recognize him in this glorious disguise and remember he was the same guy who'd stood on her porch the other night after the police brought her daughter home.
Lucky for him, she didn't even recognize the boy she'd scolded years ago.
His loyal sidekick was thrilled to be going on another mission and needed zero prep. Everything he needed was already attached to his body: paws, tail, tongue, the whole set.
But once they got to the house, Erich, with great sorrow, tied M.K. to a pole and explained:
I can't bring you to the door, Mrs. Mother's definitely gonna remember you and blow my cover.
The dog's ears drooped. He lay down on the cold pavement and gave Erich a look of pure betrayal. Erich lasted five seconds.
You fuzzy manipulator. Let's go see the fortress of evil together.
He rang the bell. And rang it again. He didn't have a thermal bag, so the pizzas in his hands were already ice cold. But hey, at least he had them. He was proud of his plan. He was proud of his shades, too—even though they looked ridiculously out of place in this dreary autumn gloom.
The door opened. A man stood there, and right between his eyebrows—a zit. Maybe not the same
one from Erich's childhood, but definitely a blood relative. Possibly visiting from overseas. Nibi's dad squinted at the so-called delivery guy, and Erich explained immediately:
I've got a delivery for Miss Nibi Can you get her for me? The man gave him a solemn nod and disappeared inside.
A few moments later, Nibi appeared wearing a velour pajama set that said: -Nibi. Just Nibi. - On her feet—fluffy slippers so luxurious, even M.K. glared at them with pure envy.
She clearly recognized Erich despite the dumb outfit—her eyes went full saucer mode—but she played it cool and walked up to him like this was totally normal.
Get I'm waiting.
I can't! I'll get grounded again! – She whispered, glancing nervously toward the kitchen where her dad was making noise. You're already grounded, Come on! – He coughed, and then said loudly – Thanks for the tip! Have a great night!
Back on the street, he waited.
And five minutes later, his dreams come true. Nibi appeared in that same beige coat, tiptoeing across the porch like a ninja ballerina. As soon as she reached him and M.K., she grinned and shouted:
Let's run!
And run they did—toward happiness, dreams, or at least far away from Nibi's family, who could've easily sent a tracking drone or murder-bot after them. And they really didn't feel like dealing with cyberpunk assassins today.
This time, no slow alpacas. They chose their own pace.
After three or four minutes of nonstop sprinting, they finally stopped, panting. Nibi said:
I'm so screwed. I hope this wasn't all for Judging by that smug face of yours, you've got something cooked up again.
Erich dodged:
Maybe I .. who knows?
Oh come on! – She nudged him M.K. started whining—he wanted to be nudged too, for equality.
Alright, alright! I give We're going to Millennium Park. I want to introduce you to—
The trees? – Nibi
– Erich gave her a mysterious look and kept up the suspense all the way to the park entrance.
They'd never actually been to this public landmark—even though they were supposedly part of the society that built it. Erich strutted through the park like he owned it, inspecting every bush and lawn like a self-appointed park overlord.
Thanks to the cold and the weekday timing, the place was pretty empty, which made the experience even better.
They especially loved Cloud Gate. Erich looked up at the sculpture and said, very solemnly:
Yep… that's one pretty
Wow, such – Nibi smirked. Then she surprised him by suggesting they go to the Exelon Pavilion on the park's southeast side.
Erich blinked.
How do you even know that? She shrugged. There's a Anyone can read it. Oh wow! You're such a buzzkill! What map?! We're not here for We're here for…
A gorgeous living labyrinth twisted and turned like a sly serpent, coiling right and left, shifting paths at the whims of the garden architects—or maybe the landscape designers—or whoever had dreamed
up this evergreen masterpiece. A web of thousands, maybe millions of flowers and plants wove itself into this lush, complex creation that led to… where?
Well, let's find – Erich said firmly, and stepped first under the hand-crafted arches of green. His loyal companion followed close behind, sniffing the bushy walls with caution. Only Nibi lingered at the entrance.
Wow. This was actually brilliant. She didn't care much for plants—just like she didn't for animals— but she'd always admired the human ability to dress nature up in such wild and wonderful ways. She reached out, touched the leafy structure, closed her eyes, and breathed in. It was like inhaling a real- life fairytale.
Eyes shut, she moved forward slowly, guided only by M.K.'s barking and the occasional shout from Erich:
This way! We're almost there!
Almost where?
Sometimes his voice drifted farther away, and she'd speed up just a little—still with her eyes closed—using her hands to feel the green walls and make sure she didn't stumble face-first into the hedge. She walked like this for quite a while, savoring every second, knowing full well that the alternative was her bland bedroom and some kind of stew for dinner.
Here, she was far from that reality—as far as the walls of the maze would allow. But even wonderland walks have to end sometime.
Right by her ear, Erich whispered:
We're You can open your eyes. We're in the center… and someone wants to meet you.
She cracked one eye open and saw fuzzy silhouettes ahead. Whoa. Who were they? She opened both eyes, and the shapes resolved into two fully formed figures—a man and a woman, it seemed—both dressed in what looked like shiny thermal bodysuits.
Their outfits shimmered like bars of silver, with leafy branches stitched over them in jagged, natural-looking patterns. The same -organic camo- stretched up onto their silver helmets, which covered half their faces. Beside them stood a little table stacked with all kinds of gardening tools— scissors, trowels, and other mysterious objects Nibi had never cared about before (and still didn't now).
Meet Dmitryiy and Milana. I met them recently at an agricultural They met here in Chicago too—hit it off over shared interests, started dating, and now they work together. Milana's from Italy, and Dmitryiy's from Ukraine. Kinda crazy how small the world is, right?
– Nibi nodded. – Except we're not a couple. And we met in France, not here.
Ugh, you and your details! – Erich waved her – Just listen to what they do. We prefer to show our work, not explain – Milana said, her voice deep and smooth. The lower half of her face curved into a wide grin—eerily Cheshire-like, perfect for this Alice-style maze. – Please step forward. And hold still. What do you want us to do? – Nibi asked, clearly The way those two stared at her made her feel less like a person and more like a mannequin. Even if the looks weren't sexual or anything, it still creeped her out. She felt like screaming, Stop looking at me!
Erich picked up on it fast. He asked Dmitry for a music player and some headphones—the kind they kept on hand for situations like this, when people needed something to pass the time while the masters worked their magic. He specifically asked for just one earpiece, to show Nibi that he'd stick through the moment with her, side by side.
He scrolled through the tracks, picked a song with a mysterious title he'd never heard before, and handed her the bud.
She'd been this close to closing her eyes again—or straight-up leaving—but instead, she took the earbud with gratitude and popped it in.
Erich did the same. Then he pressed -Play.-
When routine bites hard and ambitions are low. And resentment rides high, but emotions won't grow. And we're changing our ways, taking different roads…(Joy Division)
A soft female voice sang in a breathy pop style—so gently that it felt less like a story about the trials of love or the hardships of life, and more like the soundtrack to a scene where someone was about to slip under the covers with someone else.
Nibi didn't like the performance, but the lyrics... those caught her. They hit something inside. Her feelings were a tangled mess, and the words matched that perfectly.
You couldn't really tell what Erich thought of the song—his face wasn't giving anything away. He just had a crooked smirk, like he was hearing a completely different track, one with an upbeat dance groove instead of heavy drama. He quickly pointed to the two artists, now suddenly energized, to explain his expression.
The masters had grabbed their tools and were busy carving something wild into the leafy maze wall—something that, piece by piece, started to look like… people.
It began with torsos. Then came the arms and legs, followed by finer details.
Nibi stopped listening to the music altogether. She was mesmerized. These two in their silver suits weren't just gardening—they were making Art, right before her eyes. The only mood-killer was a blade of grass that nearly poked her in the left eye.
Sneaky Erich had already taken off his visor and glasses—but now he put them back on for safety, smug and unbothered.
Then love, love will tear us apart .. Love, love will tear us apart... – the lyrics whispered through the wire.
But in this moment, it wasn't love that was being torn apart—it was the foliage. Although, what was emerging from it looked a lot like...
That's us! – Nibi blurted, flushing as she realized what Erich had He bent his arm in a victorious flex: Knew I could make you smile. Yep. Those leafy clones are us.
And he wasn't lying. The sculptures took a while to finish—by the time they were done, the playlist had long since ended. But who cared, when even the hem of the plant coat looked more real than the actual one Nibi was wearing?
There were Erich's wide eyes, framed with a ridiculous bouquet of eyelashes. There was her nose, which she hated both in the sculpture and in real life. (Seriously, it was begging for a rhinoplasty.)
And those brows! They'd even nailed Erich's eternally surprised eyebrows. How were they this good? No wonder they'd stared so hard earlier—they'd been scanning reference material. And the two of them had unknowingly been posing.
M.K., who'd been sniffing the area with growing boredom, finally got fed up and trotted over to Milana. He stood on his hind legs and leaned against her side.
She gave him a quick glance—then instantly dropped down and started sculpting him too. Totally worth the wait. Nibi couldn't wait to see how they'd capture that mischievous mutt.
Don't worry. They've got – Erich said, full of confidence. And soon enough, M.K. had his own leafy doppelgänger—smaller, but just as wild and colorful. And people pay for wax museums? With those lumpy plastic disasters? – Milana snorted as she took a break. For those who find inspiration in ugliness, – Dmitry finally chimed in, carefully etching the part in Nibi's grass-hair. Personally, I prefer a good – Milana said, stepping over to the little table, where a vintage Nikon waited. She let Dmitry finish the final touches, and then waved the kids over.
Stand next to your green Let's capture the moment.
They posed like pros, M.K. taking the prime center spot—as if he were the real art, and everything else was background noise. Milana snapped the shot.
Now you've got a permanent reminder of how art can bring people .. and one dog. Remember this moment—and yourselves in it. Come back to it when you feel down or lost. I'll remember how frozen I was for hours. – Nibi muttered under her breath, as her bad mood started to crawl back Erich, hearing it, dramatically facepalmed himself into the next dimension.
They spent a few more minutes admiring the details—especially Erich and M.K., of course—and then finally headed out, waving goodbye as Milana promised to send them the photo after developing it.
Once they were out of the labyrinth's heart, the designer said, not so cryptically:
Did you buy beer? I'm exhausted and I need a
Hell – Dmitry reassured her. – We'll sit at the computer, watch a show, have a few. You think they'll come back? They always come back. – Milana answered, half to herself. – Maybe with their Or with new haircuts and new clothes. Just enough for us to adjust their green likenesses.
What we're doing is capturing the process of human growth and
Whoa! That was – Milana admired. – And hey, maybe it's true. Our sculptures are
addictive—at least to people who get the high art vibe. Foolproof start-up!
Hell yeah, partner! – Dmitry gave her a solid high-
There was nothing left holding the trio in the park. After what they'd just experienced, no other pavilion from that fabled info-stand could even come close. The sun was dipping lower, and when Nibi checked her phone—on silent mode—she found about fifteen missed calls from her mom. A tiny stab of guilt hit her, and her fingers quickly typed a text:
- I'm okay. Out walking. Will be home later.
Erich was whistling a carefree tune and feeling genuinely great. He didn't want the day to end—not even a little bit. The truth was, he hadn't really planned anything past that whole garden-art thing. But that was fine. His goal hadn't been to entertain anyone—it was to make sure Nibi smiled. That mission had started way back in their childhood... and now it felt even more important.
So when Nibi suddenly said:
Erich, let's not go home just yet. I've got an idea—something that'd be a perfect way to end the
Totally! Where're we going?
She hesitated, and then motioned for him to follow:
This one's my little But let's take a cab, yeah? I honestly can't feel my legs.
I was about to say the same Look at M.K.—his paws are giving out.
Done Call the cab.
They flagged down a passing car, and in ten minutes, they were there. Nibi was glad the ride had been short—maybe she'd still make it back before dark and avoid execution. A month or two of house arrest was manageable. Life, after all, was made of moments—and she wouldn't have had any of this if she hadn't met Erich.
The realization hit her like two buckets of icy water: it wasn't just about having a good day. She didn't want to go home because being with him was… fun.
He was the only real person in a sea of hypocrites and pompous clowns that made up her usual routine. Her parents would never like him—but who cared? She wasn't living for their approval. Sure, they gave her life. But how she lived—or died? That was up to her.
Drunk on courage, she leapt over the turnstile of a corporate office building like a rebel gymnast. This was the place—her secret spot. The reason she'd been skipping school lately. The reason her grades had slipped.
Erich didn't know what this place was. And he was already in a heated debate with the front desk guy about the no dogs policy when Nibi made up her mind.
This guy—whom she'd known for like, what, two days? (not counting childhood)—was interesting. And if she found someone interesting, that meant something.
Mirri, please, let the pup in. He's suffering without his human. Just this once. Please. – She flashed her biggest, saddest eyes at the guy behind the desk—an ex-military wall of muscle—and he actually softened:
Just… don't stay too long. If my boss sees this, I'm toast.
We'll sew your skin back – Nibi promised. – You're the best, Mirri!
Don't sweet-talk me, you little – The man blushed, and Erich sealed the deal:
Sick arms, man! You and the gym must be on a first-name
Ha! Yeah, well… get goin', you two! Quit flattering me!
Inside, the gym room was almost empty—classes were done for the day. A lone trainer was checking equipment, eyeing everything like it owed her money.
Then the uninvited guests burst in—with a dog no less—and M.K. ran straight to her, wagging like he'd found an old friend.
What the hell? You brought a dog?! Nibi, the place is Come back tomorrow! You're sleeping with Mirri, and your boss doesn't know. Considering your boss is dating him, Miss Perkins won't be thrilled. – Nibi rattled off like a machine gun.
The trainer went pale and clutched her chest like she'd just been hit by a ghost:
Of course, guys. Hang out here as long as you I'm not in a rush. Thanks! – Said the schemer-girl, and Erich made a vague hand gesture, like, -Desperate times call for desperate measures.-
What really caught his attention was the hall itself—looked like a jungle, only instead of vines, the ceiling dripped with long loops and hanging gear that looked like massive straps. Add to that the acid-neon lights along the walls, and the whole place just screamed, -Do something epic here.-
His friend called him over to two hanging loops and said:
Grab a couple extra pairs of strips, so we can change our
The trainer dashed off and brought exactly what she'd asked for. Then Nibi politely asked her to leave them alone for an hour, setting the tape deck to blast a fresh playlist.
Now it wasn't emotional indie slow-burners—it was full-on upbeat bangers. M.K. spun in circles chasing his tail and the beat, becoming a living, barking disco-ball of energy.
The humans were too busy for dancing—yet. Erich had immediately tangled himself in the straps like a confused spaghetti noodle and was also trying to figure out how to stand in the special heeled boots, which felt like tiny stilts of doom. No matter how much Nibi coached him, the dude just
couldn't get it right.
Eventually, after several failed attempts, he managed to scramble up onto the aerial silks… only to faceplant forward and hang there, upside down, like a dragonfly caught in a fabulous spider's web.
The sound of laughter exploded through the gym—and to her surprise, it was her own.
Nibi realized she was dying laughing at the poor guy flailing in the air like a ragdoll. What kind of person was she?! Why couldn't she just feel bad for him?
But he looked so cute. Cuter than any doll. Even cuter than a butterfly that used to be a doll. Still… why did watching him mess up bring her so much joy?
Not that Erich minded—he was already laughing along with her, dangling and spinning in slow circles as he waited to be rescued. Eventually, the dancer came to the rescue, and now he was hanging still, swaying side to side.
Nibi launched herself through her own aerial setup, gliding toward him like a floating ship. They nearly bumped foreheads—and worse: lips.
Nope. No way. Don't kiss him. Not yet.
…Well, maybe just a peck on the cheek?
This fool wasn't even thinking about that. He was too busy bobbing his head to the DJ's deep house mix, where the lyrics were shouting something about -move your booty to the beat.- The singer sounded like a techno-proctologist.
This is insane, Nibi! I'm flying! Woohoo! – Erich shouted, and Nibi almost felt happy-
Because for once, she had brought him to something amazing. Not the other way around.
And somehow, seeing him this overjoyed made her feel warmer than she expected. Was it even possible for Erich to look more cheerful than usual?
Apparently, yes. Happiness has no ceiling.
Let's gooo! Aerial rave time! – Erich yelled, and Nibi did the only logical thing: she crowed like a rooster and started doing elegant spins in her own net of straps.
They swung closer again. This time, Erich reached out, wrapped his arms around her, and slowed
both their flights.
His usual goofball expression faded—and for a second, something else surfaced beneath it. His eyes changed: inside those amber irises, tiny snowflakes danced, spinning in sync with the music. Each one melted gently against the warmth in his gaze.
He leaned in and whispered:
I finally caught And I'm never letting go. You hear me?
Such a cliché.
But sometimes… clichés are all we need. Not to hear them.
To feel them. Just once.