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Part 54: Finally Informed

A few hours later, I knocked on Wally's door.

"Wally, dear?" I asked quietly. Wally opened his door quietly.

"Hello."

"Wally, what is troubling you?"

He looked down at his slippers and sighed. "You won't understand."

"That's okay!" I pleaded. I needed him to tell me what was going on so I could actually help him.

"They're canceling the show, and I don't know how to get out of here! I don't know how we're going to make it!" Wally began to sob. He was right. I didn't understand, but I had to do my best. I hugged him. He went limp, so I hugged him harder.

"It's useless to tell you not to worry, right? Well, I don't know what's happening exactly, but I promise I'll help you! You told me I could help you with that plan of yours a while ago, right?"

Wally nodded. "You're right. Thanks."

I hadn't expected him to calm down so quickly. He was extremely unstable right now, so I had to be careful with my wording of things.

A few hours later, Wally waved goodbye to me. He was off to do something.

(Wally left the house quickly and found the evil little pansy again. He looked around before reaching into a bush and pulling out a little shovel. He began to dig around the plant, making sure its roots were intact.

"What are you, I wonder?" Wally mumbled to himself as he held the clump of earth in his hands gently, the pansy in it. The eyes blinked. Wally dropped the plant instantly and began frantically stomping on it.

"Ahhhhhhh," he screamed, his voice flat and monotone. He certainly didn't seem scared, but the poor little guy was absolutely terrified. Luckily for him, Howdy was nearby.

"..Shut up," Howdy bopped Wally's head with his fist gently. He wasn't trying to upset Wally. He just wanted to quiet him down. "What's freaking you out now?"

"Plaannttttt," Wally wailed. Howdy blinked slowly. He could feel the migraine forming. He was experiencing the Wally effect already.

"Yeah, okay. I have no idea what you're crying about, but I'm returning you to your-- Oh, wait.. who do I give you back to? I don't want to keep you in my bodega right now. I have too many supplies to deal with."

Wally didn't answer. Howdy sighed and lifted him up by the back of his cardigan-jacket-coat thing like the scruff of a cat. He kept walking, now dangling Wally.

"Okay, Wally. I'm dropping you off at your mother's house. Well, it's Barnaby's house, but whatever. You'll feel better there, I promise," Howdy said. They finally reached Barnaby's home. Howdy placed Wally on the front step and knocked on the door. He quickly left. He did not feel like being seen today.

Mama Beagle opened the door. She gasped as she looked down and saw an inconsolable Wally. She scooped him up her in feathery wings.

"Oh, you poor thing," she said softly. Barnaby came up behind her.

"Why's he cryin'? He find out I'm gonna cook 'im?"

"Barnaby, if anyone's going to be cooked, it's gonna be you," Mama Beagle poked her dog son. He was not shy about teasing Wally, that was certain. "Now, don't say another word until Wally calms down and tells us what's goin' on."

Barnaby nodded. "'Kay, Ma. Y'know how Wally is! He's real sensitive."

"Maybe so, but that don't change a thing 'bout him. He's always stressin' himself too much, and we both know it."

Wally inhaled shakily. "They're canceling the show!"

The two giant neighbors paused. Cancel? The show? What?!

"Oh, sugar. You don't need to worry about that, 'kay? We'll help you out with it. For now, just take a little nap," Mama Beagle said gently as she set him on the top of the back of the couch covered in sunlight. It provided a good basking spot for anyone small enough to fit in. Wally fell asleep instantly.

"Everything's been feeling so fast paced! Poor Wally. I really need to do a better job of helping my poor son."

"Ma, he's far from poor. Have you seen how many hair products he buys?" Barnaby commented. Mama Beagle squinted at him disapprovingly.

"I better check up on that adorably short little neighbor! They must be so terribly worried about Wally," the giant chicken said as she rushed out of the house.)

Someone knocked on my door. I quickly answered it. My face lit up once I saw Mama Beagle.

"Hello, hun! How are you? Wally's napping on one of Barnaby's couches right now," she paused, her tone growing somber. "It's time someone explains everything to you."

An excruciatingly long hour went by. I was shocked. We were in a show. I was nothing more than an actor! Plus, the show had been canceled! I was surprised.

Mama Beagle sighed and began telling me more things. I learned about a neighbor named Poppy.

"As for Frank--" she cut herself off. "He's..."

(Meanwhile, in a conference room, there sat a man who appeared to be the boss at the head of the table. His employees were gathered around the table, files in hands. Papers were strewn across the table with great care.

"You like my pitch, boss?" asked a timid employee. The boss shook his head.

"Too many plotholes. It'll never make enough money to cover its cost," he scoffed. He pushed the packets away. "Not very interesting, either. Sentient puppets must escape a deadly neighborhood? Who's going to watch that show? My three year old? Tsk. Come up with someone better.")

I stated at Mama Beagle, horrified.

"Please tell me more! What happened to Frank?! Where is he?!" I asked. Leaning about Sally and Poppy was enough to freak me out. Mama Beagle shook her head.

"I'm.. I'm so sorry, moonpie. I can't. Wally has to. He's the only one who truly knows.."

"But then, how'd you know about Sally and Poppy?!"

"Wally tries to keep my informed.. Sally gave me permission to tell you, too. As for Poppy, we both know..."

"But, but Frank! And Wally's home!"

"His house, you mean. It.. it killed you, deary."

I paused. Killed me? But I was here in front of her, as alive as anyone. She stared at me apologetically.

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Hey! I apologize for the length of this chapter. I've been trying to get out of a little writing slump. (Also why theres not much good dialogue in here today...) I'll write better soon, though! Do not worry. ^^

[P.S. For all the Howdy fans out there who asked, there might be another story in the making... and i might already have a chapter one...]