Maybe Gina had a remote hidden in her sleeve, because the moment she shouted that, the rays lit up! The wires outlining them turned out to be string lights, glowing in a steady, uniform brightness—no twinkling or flashing like usual decorations. Just a serious, sun like glow. Nibi squinted from the light and thought, No wonder they love draping the house in flags and garlands—this is their thing.
Glancing around, the girl realized—she was glowing too! Her breath caught. So beautiful.
Whoa! – gasped the boy, turning to – We're all just one big firefly gang! Shhh! – the girl – See how everyone's thinking? Let's do it too. Think about what we hate… and what we love the most. K., obviously! – The boy declared instantly, scratching his happily humming friend behind the ear. – What's bugging me? This pokey twig stabbing my right butt cheek.
The girl burst out laughing, immediately clapping a hand over her mouth. Nobody seemed to notice—except that same stubborn beetle now crawling up her wrist, confused why its personal flight simulator was so wobbly. Around them, people lay motionless with their eyes shut, seemingly detached from reality. Meditation, maybe? That was the word?
Erich tried really hard to zone out and connect with the light, but it just wasn't happening. Something was always bothering him—this was pokey, that was itchy, M.K. was tickling him—and then there was his mom, standing up there looking like a giant, puffed-up crow.
He had to share this observation with Nibi, and the two of them immediately lost it, laughing with their legs flailing through the leaves. This earned them a wave of sharp glares from the surrounding
-enlightened,- freshly ripped from their internal journeys.
I told you there should've been an age limit. C'est une sorte de cauchemar! – Muttered the jittery woman, her eyelid twitching harder than ever.
A couple of hours later, once the gear and tent were packed up and the sun diagram had been erased (seriously, why go through all the trouble of drawing it if it wasn't even used?!), everyone headed home. The grownups clicked their tongues at the rowdy kids, while M.K. played bodyguard— growling at anyone who looked too judgy.
The inseparable trio was the first to leave. Erich insisted on walking Nibi home—darkness had fallen, and the air felt dramatic, just like his mom liked it. Not that the area was dangerous, but the boy felt a huge responsibility for his friends. Truthfully? He just didn't want to let either of them go.
He felt totally lit up inside. Like, supercharged! He'd never felt like this before. And he really hoped Nibi felt it too. M.K. definitely did—he even peed mid-walk and made them burst out laughing with a surprise fountain show.
Things might've kept going that perfectly… if it weren't for the obstacle that rose up near Nibi's house. Right in front of the stone fence—very nicely built, by the way—stood two figures. And they looked EXTREMELY unamused. Who were they?
That's my And that's my dad. And yes, they are EXTREMELY unamused. – The girl explained flatly, though Erich had already figured that part out.
Trying to focus on their faces under the lamplight, he couldn't get past the real scene-stealer: The Pimple. This glorious, mountainous growth lived comfortably on the tip of Mr. Nibi's nose and was so large, it felt like he was the pimple's accessory—not the other way around. His thinning hair was slicked to one side, and his forehead looked like a musical instrument. Probably an accordion, given the way it wrinkled like crazy.
Nibi's mom, on the other hand, he'd instantly nickname The Cactus—thanks to a single dyed-green streak in her blond hair and a facial expression that could stab you harder than any needles. Now he understood where Nibi got that scary glare from! He quickly whispered all this to the girl, and she clamped a hand over her mouth again, barely holding back laughter. Nailed it.
Little miss, were you ever taught to listen? Or are all our words just background noise to you? – her mother's voice matched her face—scratchy and The pup took her tone as a threat and barked, though clearly startled himself by the angry cactus lady. Nibi's dad stood by, nodding silently, while the woman unleashed her fury on her disobedient daughter: Little miss, this is unacceptable: taking our equipment, ignoring the meals we leave, sneaking out and roaming around at night with who-knows-what. Who is this boy? And that mutt?! Ew, get it away from me!
M.K. mustered his courage and lunged in a heroic (if clumsy) attack, grabbing onto the hem of her jeans. Erich quickly intervened and pulled him back by the collar—earning not thanks, but more scolding:
A mutt just like its Who is this ragamuffin? Why is he dressed like that? Covered in scratches? What were you born in—a dumpster?!
Dad nodded again. Agreement confirmed.
I just walked your daughter She's my best friend! – Erich said honestly, only to be hit with a look so cold and judgmental, it could've flash-frozen soup. Our little miss doesn't need friends like you. You look like a filthy hippie from Tijuana—or whatever shady place that is! And you look like the kindest, sweetest woman in the whole wide world. – the boy said with a totally serious face, which sent him and Nibi into a fit of That only enraged the unnamed mom further: Little miss, we're flying back to Chicago in one week. You'll return to your school, where there won't be criminal elements like this one.
And until then—you are grounded. Get inside. And as for you, young man, I strongly advise you to rethink your future… unless you want to end up selling—I won't even say the filthy word—fine.
Drugs. So scram. Go study and lean yourself up!
What was the dad doing the entire time? That's right. Nodding. Confirming every comma in the tirade.
The girl, head low, said goodbye to Erich and M.K., and whispered:
We'll meet I promise.
Then the -happy family- opened their fancy gate and marched toward the house, leaving the boy and his fuzzy companion standing alone.
Erich stood there for a long time, staring at the intricate wrought-iron swirls on the gate, hoping Nibi would peek through and wave. Or shout something. Heck, even stick her tongue out.
No one came. No one peeked.
Erich had lost his friend before they even got the chance to really be friends.
Tears—foreign, unheard-of tears—began sliding down the boy's cheeks. He'd never cried before (or so he thought), and he stared at the strange little crystals on his palms, utterly fascinated. Something inside him had flipped upside-down.
We will see each other again. You promised. And if you gave your word—you better keep it. Please, Nibi! I don't want you to leave! And even if you vanish, I'll still find you! That's not a threat, it's just me wanting to be your Always. No matter what. – he kept mumbling, and the pup behaved just like Nibi's dad—nodding along, except his way of agreeing was to snuggle up to the boy's leg and lick it. Though, to be fair, her dad never did that.
Every morning and every evening, Erich came back to her house and stood there for hours— something totally out of character for his hyper self. But he needed to show, even if only to himself, just how much this weirdly named girl meant to him. And of course, M.K. never left his side. The two of them looked ready to wait an eternity to find the missing puzzle piece of their trio.
Turns out, eternity wasn't needed.
Exactly one week later, Nibi—who'd spent the whole time under house arrest—flew back to the U.S., leaving behind only the shattered hopes of one slightly grimy boy… and his best friend, the dog.