'NEIGHBORHOOD DANCE!! SUNDOWN TONIGHT! BEHIND POPPY'S HOUSE! SLEEPOVER AFTER!!' That's what the pink construction paper and crayon scribbled flyers every few feet read. Wally was...more than a bit confused, but he figured it wouldn't hurt to go anyhow. Though, as far as he had noticed, everyone was taking someone. Julie and Sally were going together, so were Frank and Eddie, Barnaby had said he was providing entertainment and wouldn't be doing much hanging out at all, and Howdy had said he was planning on hanging out with Poppy all night, said he wasn't much of a dancer.
Which, Wally thought, was absolute nonsense! He'd seen Howdy dancing alone in his shop plenty of times, but he supposed if Howdy really didn't want to, he didn't have to. So, as far as Wally was concerned, he would have to go alone. He didn't want to seem like he didn't ask anyone in time, then he'd seem weird. That's when the thought hit him, he could ask you to the dance! But...oh how was he supposed to do that when something about you made him feel that fluttery sort of way that stopped his words before they even came out?
Suddenly, Wally knew just who to ask for help, his best friend Barnaby! Wally ran up to his most trusted friend, tugging on the dog's arm slightly and causing him to look down at Wally.. "Oh, hey kid, what's up? Somethin buggin' ya?" Barnaby asked with a tilt of his head. Wally nodded quickly, thinking just how to get out the thought he wanted to say. "The- the dance tonight-" he spoke slightly quicker than he usually did, smile shakier than it had ever been.
Barnaby made a noise to signal for Wally to continue, it took Wally a moment to gather himself again "I- I want to ask our ever so lovely neighbor Y/N. But, uhh...I don't quite know how. I would ask Home but I don't think Home knows either.." Wally halfway sputtered his words, calm voice almost breaking as Barnaby chuckled at him "Oh, and what's got you so caught up about 'em? You're great with your words, kid, use 'em"
Barnaby restrained a laugh as Wally let out an indignant mixture of sounds "Be-because, Barnaby! Because they're...nice, and they're sweet and there's something special about them and-" the puppet cut himself off to take a breath between fast spoken words, "and when I think about them or want to talk to them, my words get sort of...jumbled and caught up before I even say them and-"
Wally's rambling was cut off with a sudden very large paw to the top of his head, as well as Barnaby's own words "Sounds like you're in love, kid. Just dress up nice and be yourself, maybe make 'em a nice painting or somethin'. Now I've gotta be goin', gotta get ready to entertain tonight." And with that, Barnaby walked off as Wally called after him.
It had been about an hour since He'd spoken to Barnaby and he still didn't get what his friend had meant..be himself..? But who exactly was 'himself'? And what if you didn't like who it was? Well, the sun was starting to go down, he had no more time to think. Wally adjusted the bowtie he'd put on, making sure everything about his appearance was perfect before grabbing the painting he'd made for you off of the easel and heading over to your house.
Wally took a breath and steadied himself before knocking on the door with a semi-quiet "Hellooooo?" and rocking on his heels as he waited for you to answer. Just as he turned to give up, you opened the door. "Wally!" you called, grabbing his attention as he turned around so quickly that he almost tripped over his own feet "Ah, neighbor! I uh- I wanted to ask if you would be so kind as to ehm- go to the dance with me tonight? At- at Poppy's house? It's fine if you don't, but either way I made a painting for you..!"
The way he was so nervous and so flustered at seeing you in semi-formal clothes (for a dance that you were about to go to alone), made you giggle as you crouched down and took the painting gently from his hand, disappearing into your house to set it down on the coffee table before reappearing in your doorway once more. You watched for a moment as he fidgeted with his bowtie and kicked lightly at the ground, trying his best not to take his eyes off of you out of anxiety.
"So, will you..go with me?" He asked, his eyes slightly bigger than they'd been a moment before as you smiled and said, "Well, since you asked so nicelyyy..." you drew out your sentence for a moment to mess with him a bit "Of course I will! We should get going though, unless we want to be late." You kept your soft smile as you picked up the absolutely tiny puppet, which caused him to let out a surprised squeak as he went limp in your arms, quiet stunned laughter coming from him as you carried him off to Poppy's house.
