Sister from Another Missus (Smiling Friends Fanfiction)

Chapter 1: Emails From Who?

It was now the early evening, which meant the busy work day was drawing to a close, and it was time for everyone to go home. The sun was setting over Smiling Friends headquarters, an indicator it was time to close up for the day.

The two critters, Charlie and Pim, had spent the day trying to make people smile. While most of their clients gave them positive feedback, which was always good to hear, not everybody was satisfied. One person just couldn't smile, no matter what they did to try and help him. He left quite a bitter response in the feedback section of the paperworks, which disheartened Pim.

Miserable and feeling guilt and confusion as to what he might've done wrong, Pim walked down the street to the bus stop with his hands in his pockets and his head lowered, looking down at the pavement he was walking on.

Unbeknownst to the pink little critter, his friend Charlie was right behind him.

Pim was too caught up in his own thoughts to realise that Charlie was following him until he felt a bigger hand being placed on his shoulder.

"Hey man." a familiar, nasally voice spoke.

Pim swore he felt his soul jump out of his body for a second. He whipped his head around, only to see his friend.

"Oh. It's just you, Charlie." Pim sighed with relief.

The yellow big nosed critter stood next to him. Charlie seemed to notice that Pim was rather miserable and down in the dumps, which was incredibly out of character for a man like him.

"Are you alright man? You've been quite out of it this afternoon. Is it about that guy again?" Charlie queried, sipping a can of soda.

Pim crossed his arms and sighed, letting his shoulders drop.

"I just don't get it, Charlie. What went wrong? We tried everything we could to help him, and he just threw our efforts back in our faces. What did we even do to upset him or warrant those things he said about us?" he vented, seeming quite frustrated with himself.

Charlie sighed.

"Look man, I really don't think you should dwell on this. We did our part in trying to help him, but it's obvious he just didn't want it. It's kind of on him at this point if he prefers to wallow in his own misery and doesn't want to better himself. There wasn't much we could really do." Charlie answered honestly. "Unfortunately, we can't help everyone."

"I know, I know," Pim replied "I just think I could've done more, you know?

"We could only really do what we could. If he doesn't want to better himself, he's not worth the effort. He's a lost cause."

Pim nodded.
"I guess you're right on that."

"Don't let it consume you, man. You're good at your job. Whatever happened earlier pales in comparison to the good we've already done anyway." the big nosed yellow critter reassured him with a pat on the back.

Pim's mouth curved into a slight smile.
"Thanks, Charlie. I really needed to hear that."

The bus halted at the stop the two critters were standing by.

"Well, that's my cue. I'll see you tomorrow." the pink critter said before boarding the bus.

"See ya, pal." Charlie replied with a wave.

As the bus sped down the street, Pim stared out the window, reflecting on what Charlie had said to him.

"If he doesn't want to better himself, he's not worth the effort. He's a lost cause."

Those words echoed in his head. Lost cause... the same thing Charlie said about Desmond when they first saw him, but he wondered if it truly applied to this situation, as Desmond proved them wrong in the end and turned his life around for the better.