Written and Created by Jean-Luc Ottey  

      Ahh… finally back into the lovely little town of Orujinshinaka, where the sun shines, and the sea shimmers. Wait! I mean where the Harvest Moon flutters, and the calming sun sits between two gentle hilltops. Summer has ended and the children are back in school. Fall had come early, and with early Fall comes early harvest. Parents joyfully get back into the grind of signing dozens of forms regarding their kids’ opportunities, and the weather is just as everyone likes it… HOT & SHELTERED. However, we’re not here to talk about the weather because it’s the weekend! There’s more important things to do! As we visit the tranquil, yet eventful town, we enter the cozy home of Mellisa, who’s tracing back and forth in a worrisome fashion.

      “But BESTIIIEEEEE…” Mellisa whined, “Whaddya mean you can’t come to the fair…?”

      “I told you, Mellisa... I’m with my family on a cruise. I won’t be back ‘til the next week,” Julianna replied with a bit of annoyance. Summer Vacation might have ended, but Julianna was dragged along to a family cruise across the Atlantic. Mellisa continued to whine, “But the Town Fair is in three days and this year they’re doing buddy competitions!”

      “Oh c’mon now, you’re Mellisa,” Julianna replied while sipping a delectable fruit smoothie, “You got other friends. Who wouldn’t wanna team up with you?” A cheer is then hear from Mellisa’s receiver.

      “Hey, uhh… Gotta go. They’re kickin’ off the Shuffleboard Tournament and my mom and I are tag-teaming two cronies from Pittsburg. See ya!” Julianna hangs up, leaving Mellisa on the other end with a beeping line.

      “Yeah… see you later, bestie…” Mellisa deflated. The not-so-cheery girl then slumps over to the couch where her grandmother, Josephine, lazes around, wearing a plain t-shirt and shorts while the fan blows in her face in order to combat the heat. Mellisa sinks into the couch and sighs longingly. She sighs once more, catching Josephine’s attention.

      “Nieta… what seems to be the problem…?” Granny Jojo asked exhaustingly while slouching more into the sticky couch.

      “The Town Fair’s in three days and the theme is Best Friend’s Day… How am I going to go if Bestie isn’t going to be there?”

      “Oh hush child,” Granny Jojo started, “That Mush-mouth is just bein’ selfish for going on a cruise. Shoulda taken me if I wasn’t still under this stupid House Arrest…” Josephine grumbled onward because of the heat until snapping back into her conversation with Mellisa, “...Eh-but anyway… you have three days. That’s plenty of time to find a new frie- I mean partner to push ov- eh- join you in your little game.”

      “Are you okay, Granny Jojo?” Mellisa asked, “You seem to be stuttering a lot.” Josephine stumbled her negative thoughts around and replied with an awkward chuckle, “Heh heh, I’m fine Nieta. Just the heat clogging my throat again. I-I-I’ll get some water later. You just go look for a new team partner for the Fair. It’s like I always say, “Donde hay confianza, da asco.” Mellisa smiled and hugged her sweaty, sticky grandma and dashed outside in search of a temporary friend.

      “Finally…” Granny Jojo sighed with relief as she lazily relaxes back into the sticky couch.