New Beginning

Azula saw a sign on the door of the animal shelter that said “Hiring.” She jumped up and down and went inside. Azula excitingly walked around rubbing every cat and dog’s tummy and head in the animal shelter store. She was smiling and laughing.

“Excuse me? Sorry to interrupt your moment. I just wanted to know if you need help finding a pet?” said an old woman.

“Actually I am not here to get a pet, I want to know if you guys were hiring? “ Azula said politely with a  smile.

“No not at this moment,” the old lady said

“Thank you,” Azula said disappointed.

Azula left, immediately not knowing where to go next but feeling frustrated and angry. It seemed like every time she wanted something that would make her happy, it was taken away from her. Azula walked by every restaurant and business store in foxberry. As she walked she noticed how everything was the same. Same people in stores, the same newspapers, and same rusty ill-painted buildings. As she walked through the park, Azula saw Shawn gardening.

“Hi! Azula!” Shawn said loudly

“Hi,” Azula said

“What's up with the frown on your face,” Shawn said

“I didn’t get the job at the animal shelter,” Azula said frowning

“You could choose to be sad about it and not do anything or you can go in there and show her you belong in there, and that it's your job!” Shawn said.

“Maybe it's not for me ?” Azula said

“If I’ve learned anything about you, it is that you’re a fighter and if you truly want something you’ll get it. So what is it that you truly want?” Shawn said

“Well, I guess, that I just want to start all over, a new beginning. I am tired of living this same cycle of life, here in foxberry.” Azula said

“Then don’t, “ Shawn said

Azula thanked Shawn for his advise and went home. She stood at her window looking out at Foxberry, the only place she ever knew, the place she lived her whole life. She stood there capturing every detail of her home in her memory. For the first time, she saw the sun rays beaming through the dark clouds. She smiled and knew it was time for a change.

Azula received a pamphlet slid under her door. At first, she thought it was a religious pamphlet like the ones that Jehovah witness would give out, but upon further inspection, she discovered it wasn’t. It looked rather like an informational brochure, like the ones you find at the doctor's office. The pamphlet had a huge heading displayed in bold “The key to survival.” Azula read the pamphlet hoping to get some sort of motivation to pursue life.

These past few days Azula felt like she had no purpose in life and she was just existing,not living. No one cared about her, her dogs had left her and her family was dead. As she read the pamphlet a particular quote stuck out “Figure out your place in the universe, find what makes you happy and what helps others, and do it.”

As Azula tried to fall asleep that night, she couldn’t get that quote out of her head. Maybe what she needed was to give back to her community. Maybe then she could be happy and finally relieve her guilt over her family’s deaths.

The next day Azula joined Shawn to plant trees and flowers all over the city as part of the reconstructing foxberry program.

“Hi, Azula! ,“ Shawn said excitedly, as she walked up.

“Hey” Azula responded in a quiet voice.

“Join me!” Shawn said with a smile on his faces. Together Azula and Shawn planted thirty sunflower seeds in the next several hours. The repetitive task was calming. She enjoyed every bit of the outdoors, from the sounds of the birds chirping to the sounds of the leaf rustling from the wind. Azula was startled when a puppy jumped onto her lap, interrupting her concentration. The dog licked her mouth and barked eagerly. Azula laughed, and rubbed its belly.

“Oh, I am sorry, “ an old lady said as she pulled the leash back. Azula waved goodbye at the puppy as it was dragged away.

“I haven’t seen you smile or laugh like that since your dogs disappeared,” Shawn said.

Azula looked at Shawn with a pleasant smile and continued gardening.

“I really think you should work at the animal shelter,” Shawn said.

“I’ll think about it” Azula responded.

As Azula walked back to her apartment she pondered Shawn’s suggestion. The next morning, Azula got up bright and early and went to the animal shelter to fill out a job application. The sight of the puppies and cats made Azula smile. Azula knew it was just the thing that would make her happy.

Azula sat alone in the park against tree bark. Her head in between her legs, like a toddler afraid of a monster.

Azula sat there for hours, unmoving, barely breathing.
Azula, are you okay? Shawn said repeatedly. Azula sat frozen in the same position, like a statue.

“Hello, can you hear me?” Shawn said louder
“W..what are you doing here? Azula responded in the faintest voice.
“You look awful, what’s wrong ?”
“I lost my dogs, they're gone forever.”
“When was the last time you were with them”
“They ran after the circus”
“I am sure they’ll show up. I can help you find them if you want” Shawn said, gently giving Azula a hug.
“No.no.no they can’t be alive I have looked everywhere and they are nowhere to be found,” Azula said.
“Do want me to be with you?” Shawn said
“No I’d like to be alone but thank you,” Azula said.

Azula got up and begin walking through foxberry hoping to find her dogs. The fog hugged sky like a blanket blocking any sun rays beams from hitting the town. The streets were wet and muddy. Despite the weather, Azula keeps on walking looking for her dogs. There were many walking outside, somewhere oddly planting trees, while others were looking for something they lost. Azula could hear people angrily demanding store clerks to find their 10 dollar bill, wallet or car keys. Azula wasn’t the only one who lost something she loved. Azula notices a poster of her dogs hanging on trees and building. MISSING DOGS. IF YOU SEE THEM NOTIFY AZULA DOX. Azula wondered who put the poster up. Azula stared at the poster smiling. it reminded her of the reason why she loved foxberry. People were genuinely caring and helpful.

Yellow Rooster

Azula was walking her dogs when she notice a huge crowd of people excitingly walking towards something. She saw little kids, old men, women, parents and even teenagers. Azula noticed Jackie and tapped him on the shoulder.
“Where is everyone going this morning? Did they find Mr.Even killer?”

“No, the great Carnival is in town! You have to come see it!  Jackie yelled excitedly. Azula decided to go and take her dogs with her.

 Loud music could be heard from the enormous toll gates visible from a mile away. Closer to the entrance the massive structures of the rides could be seen; roller coasters, and Ferris wheels. Below, younger kids stood like statues watching the caged animals. The animals were displayed like diamonds, secured by metal bars with several padlocks. People gathered in lines taking turns staring at the animals, then rotating to examine the others. The animals were silent, glaring at the people, with not even a hitch of smile. Azula’s dogs begin to simultaneously run aggressively in two different directions. Azula couldn’t hold on to their leashes and fell to the ground. It was as if her dogs had suddenly become possessed.

Azula got up and ran looking for her dogs. But first she decided to look for Jackie to ask him for help. As Azula was running she notice a group of her neighbors going in to the police station which was a block from the carnival. But the police station was closed. Azula wondered why they were going in there. She noticed a girl with bright pink hair, and behind her was Jackie! Azula carefully observed them, they were carrying what looked like files. When they left Azula went in, hoping to confront Jackie.

“What are you doing in here ?” Azula asked.

“Nothing, nothing at all I was just trying to drop off an important mail for the police officers who work here,” Jackie said, laughing nervously, before spinning around and taking off.

Azula knew something fishy was going on. Somehow Jackie was connected to the murder of Mr. Evans. She longed to know what was going on, but didn’t have the time to secretly follow Jackie since her sweet baby dogs were lost.

Azula looked out her window, calmly listening to the birds chirping. she was suddenly interrupted by a quiet but sharp knock on her door. Azula opened the door to find a note. “Mandatory residential meeting 3pm. Location power plant.” Azula was surprised.

Azula walked outside to find many people walking like herds of sheep towards the power plant. It was dark and foggy. The mist suffocated every building in the city, it smothered the green of the leaves and grasses. 

Azula walked into the crumbling power plant. There was nothing but an echo, there was no light, no movement of air, no warmth. A man stood at the entrances glaring at the people walking in. “pick a card any card” he said. Azula astonished whispered to the person behind her “what the hell is going on?”

“Pick a card any card” he repeated politely, Azula slowly grabbed a  card. As azula entered in she sow many tunnels. Tunnels in every corner. Azula read the card.” follow the chirping sound or else your fate will be doomed.” the sound lead azula to a room with no ceiling. The walls were cracked. It looked like it would break into pieces if someone touched it. Azula saw seven people in cloaks standing in a circle, all simultaneously murmuring words under their mouths. Azula glared at them trying to figure out what they were saying. Her concentration was broken when someone touched her shoulder.

“Hi do you know what is going on?”
“I have no idea”  Azula said 
Azula suddenly felt an urge to itch her head and face.
“ Don’t try to itch it's only going to get worse trust me.”
“ Gee thanks, that's helpful!” Azula said sacarstically.
“I’m jakie by the way.”
Suddenly daggers were being thrown into the air  everywhere. “ I think it's about time we get out of here if we want to make it out alive.” Jakie said.

• .

ugh frogs

Azula woke up to a strange sound, a sound she had never heard before. The sound was a mixture of an old man burping and a grasshopper chirping. For some reason, Azula could not tell where or who the sound was coming from, neither could her dogs. Azula looked out her window and the streets were deserted.

There were no cars moving, no people, no  birds chirping, the town is usually empty, but she hadn’t expected it to be like this. Azula banged on the television hoping she could get some answers.

“Turn on you idiot,” she yelled. But the TV seems to not work.Azula opened her door and knocked at her neighbor's apartment number 209.

“ Hi, sorry you don’t know me but I am your neighbor. Anyways am I going crazy or do you also hear that annoying burping sound?

“I have been hearing it all day, I couldn’t sleep at all last night. They are saying that there is a frog outbreak and no one should go outside whatsoever.”

“Wow, that is crazy town. I swear there's always something strange happening in this town”  Azula said.

Azula paced back and forth in her room trying to gripple what Bea said. “There is no way I am going to be held hostage in my apartment,” Azula said to Amanda. Azula decided to stop by the strange man house to take his dogs and her dogs for a walk.  the air outside was moist and humid than ever before. The burping and chirping sound was louder and more crystal clear than before.

Azula, annoyed by the obnoxious sound, calmly put on her earbuds. Azula stared at the sun as it dripped below the horizon when suddenly she stepped on something. It was a yellow and orange polka dotted frog. The size of a fist. Its skin was gunky but smooth.   

Indescribable day..?

Azula felt claustrophobic in her 8 by 6 feet room, and decided to go out to take her dogs Amanda and Sasha for a walk.As Azula strolled through neighborhood with her dogs, she noticed Frankie, Bret, and Evelyn clutching matching knives, each blade facing towards the other two people. The silver seemed to sparkle in the sunlight and the wooden handles were ornately decorated. They were beautiful tools of destruction.

Azula stared at her neighbors in shock, wondering “what people are thinking these days?” Azula trudged past them without saying a word.

A strange man, with sharp cheekbones and hazel eyes approached Azula. “Do you happen to be a dog sitter?” he asked.

“No, no. These are my dogs,” Azula replied.

“Well take my number in case you change your mind, I will pay you well,” the man said and walked away with his three dogs.

As Azula headed back to her apartment after a long walk, she noticed that the sun had disappeared and the sky had become gloomy and dark. Today, something had seemed different. The streets of Foxberry which were usually deserted, had been full of people. Was it because people were going holiday shopping? or Were they, like Frankie and Bret, trying to solve the murder of Mr. Evans?

Back in her apartment, Azula sat drinking chai tea and thought about the strange man. Was the job worth it?, she wondered. After all she did love animals and money didn’t grow on trees. Azula picked up her Tracfone that once belonged to her mother and called the man. “I will take the job,” she said.