Young Shellington Sea Otter (OtterMAN Of Autism) (COMPLETED)

Chapter 21: Growing Up

Five months after Ronald's Funeral...

Shellington wore Rose Gold square glasses, a green long-sleeved tee, Blue Denim wide non-stretch Jeans, and green Converse sneakers.

He was packing his clothes in his old room, getting ready to leave for Hamilton Academy in Canada. It was the first time he would be traveling by himself, and he would also be the first in his family to attend college outside of their country. As he closed his suitcase, he took one last look around the room where he had spent his childhood, hosted sleepovers, and studied since he started high school.

Shellington had always loved his cozy bedroom, with its forest green wallpaper, warm maple wood floors, and all of his favorite bands adorning the walls. But there was one thing that made the room truly special to him - the small Prie Dieu that sat in front of a small table next to his bed. Every night before he went to sleep, Shellington would kneel at the Prie Dieu and say his prayers. It was a tradition that had been passed down in his family for generations and one that he found comfort in. The two beautifully framed pictures of the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ above the table added to the serene atmosphere of the room.

Even though he was now leaving for college, Shellington knew that he would always carry this tradition with him. He had brought his well-worn bible with him and had even packed his small bottle of holy water. He wanted to make sure that no matter where he was, he could always find comfort in his faith.

As he looked around the room one last time, he felt a sense of nostalgia and sadness wash over him. He knew that he would miss this room, but he also knew that it was time to move on. He smiled to himself, feeling grateful for the memories and traditions that this room had given him.

And with that, he closed the door to his cozy bedroom and set out on a new adventure, taking with him the traditions and comforts of home.

Shellington walked downstairs with a suitcase in one paw. As he saw his family, he noticed his mother and older sister Pearl. Pearl was wearing deadstock jeans, a t-shirt that read 'Save The Bumblebee', aqua blue leatherette flats, and her hair was styled in her iconic straight bangs and pixie cut that we all know and love, still sporting her orange headband.

Sanda is a 59-year-old sea otter who is extremely proud that her youngest son is going to college. She has raised him and her other four pups with kindness, wisdom, honesty, and patience for four decades. Her hair is styled in a braided bun that is tied back with her old red scrunchie. She's wearing a red sweater, blue jeans, and some white shoes. She gave Shellington his passport and hugged him and kissed him on the cheek, the young sea otter then hugged back and hugged his big sister,

"You should probably go to the airport right now, you don't want to miss your plane," Sanda said

Shellington nodded as he tried his best not to cry. He had one more question before going to the airport.

"Mum..." Shellington asked, "Am I still your little pup?"

"Of course, my dear," Sanda replied softly. "You will always be my little pup, no matter how old you get."

Shellington smiled and said goodbye to his family as he got into the taxi. The driver asked where he was headed, and Shellington replied that he was going to the airport to catch a flight to Hamilton Academy in Toronto, Canada.

Once Shellington arrived at the airport, he took a deep breath and looked around in awe. It was a bustling place, full of people rushing around with luggage and bags. The young sea otter felt a wave of fear wash over him as he realized he was about to travel by himself for the first time. But he knew he had to be brave and confident to make it through the journey.

After going through security and getting his passport approved by the staff, Shellington got his ticket and sat down at a nearby bench. He felt a sense of relief wash over him as he checked in and got all the formalities sorted out. He had some time before boarding, so he decided to stretch his legs and walk around the airport.

As he walked, he couldn't help but think about the new chapter of his life that was about to start. He was nervous about attending college in Canada, but he knew it was just part of growing up and he had to face his fears. He looked around at all the people bustling around him, and he realized that everyone else must have gone through the same thing he was going through. It was a comforting thought.

"Passengers for Flight BD1298 to Toronto, Canada, please, go to Gate 19." the lady said through the intercom

An hour they were passed before Shellington was called to board his plane. He felt his nerves start to kick in again, but he took a deep breath and tried to remain calm.

Economy section Seat 40 B

He found his seat and put his suitcase up above the glove compartment. As he sat down, he felt a tingle in his leg and realized that he had fallen asleep. He stretched his legs and tried to get comfortable as the plane began to taxi down the runway.

As the plane took off, Shellington felt his stomach drop. He was in the air, flying to a new country, all by himself. But he took comfort in the fact that he had made it this far. He knew that he was capable of handling whatever came his way, and he felt his fear start to dissipate.

"Ladies and gentlemen, good morning! This is your captain speaking. I am pleased to welcome you on board Perth Flight BD1298. As of now, we are cruising at an altitude of 33,000 feet and traveling at a speed of 400 miles per hour. The time is 7:30 am. The weather looks great, and with the tailwind in our favor, we expect to arrive in Toronto 7 hours and 20 minutes ahead of schedule. The weather in Toronto is clear and sunny, and the temperature is expected to reach a high of 55 degrees this afternoon. If the weather cooperates, we will be able to enjoy a beautiful view of the city while descending. The cabin crew will be offering a light snack and beverage in about 20 minutes, followed by an inflight movie. I will provide you with another update before we land. Meanwhile, please sit back, relax, and enjoy the rest of your flight. Thank you." The Captain said,

As the hours passed, Shellington watched the fluffy white clouds outside his window and listened to music on his headphones. He felt a sense of pride and accomplishment wash over him. He had faced his fears and was now on his way to a new adventure.

Finally, after a long flight, the plane began to descend. Shellington felt excitement and nervousness as he prepared to land in Canada. As the plane touched down, he took a deep breath and smiled. He had made it.

He felt exhausted after leaving the airport, realizing how much he had gotten used to the time zone back in Scotland. Despite it being only 5 p.m. in Toronto, it felt like it was already 10 p.m. to him. As he walked out of the airport, he remembered that his meeting at Hamilton Academy was scheduled for the next day.

Shellington needed a place to sleep for the night. He flagged a taxi and asked the driver to take him to the nearest hotel. The female taxi driver noticed that he was new to the area and asked him about it in her Canadian accent. Shellington confirmed that he was new and apologized for yawning. The taxi driver chuckled and got the car moving. She looked at Shellington through the rearview mirror and welcomed him to Toronto with a smile.