Panda Promise

Missing

   "Chigo! Chigo!" I yelled.

   "Kelli, what happened?" Solemn said, running towards me.

   "Chigo, he's lost!"

   "Lost?"

   "Yes! Lost!"

   "Do you have any idea where he went?"

   "That door," I said pointing to the door that was open. "It's open, you see?"

   "Yes, it is. Well then, let's check."

   "I already did. Anyway, what's in there?"

   "That's a shortcut, as you know."

   "No. What I mean is, where is it heading?"

   "It's sort of an emergency exit. Also, like an exit but a shortcut. Only for private use. But we use it for animals."

   "And, does he know where to go?"

   "Nope, ofcourse. That's an exit. I'd get lost of I were Chigo."

   A tear dropped from my eye. "Solemn, do you know what I've been through?"

   "I-"

   "Chigo almost died because of me! And now, I lost him? Aren't you the zoo keeper assigned to the pandas? Please.. Solemn, I can't help it anymore. I was so excited to have him meet Cherry!" I ran to my parents to inform them about him. But Rianna tapped my shoulder.

   "Listen," she said. "Pandas can be jealous. They can also feel bad, Kelli. You know what I think? I think he was jealous. Why? Because he's used to having you visit him every weekend right?"

   "I guess?"

   "And you haven't visited him for a couple of weeks. You were always with Cherry. Chigo won't understand why, Kelli. He doesn't even understand what Cherry had. But don't worry Kelli. He can come back. Let's wait for tomorrow. If he doesn't come by tomorrow, we'll have to start searching the day after that."

   "I missed him so bad. I wish animals knew what we were saying. But how am I going to find him? This world is huge! Am I gonna search every inch of this world?!" I said, looking down. "Gosh. Why is this happening to me?! What kind of person am I?!"

   "Kelli," Mom said. "Don't say that. You're a great person to Chigo. A bestfriend, a sister, a mom. I know how much you love him. Sometimes, we go into challenges like this. But you know, God will help us. We aren't perfect. No one is, except God. Now, settle down."

   I sat on the bench nearby. "Thanks mom," I said.

   I saw a girl smiling at the pandas. I walked past her and smiled.

   "Hi," she said.

   "Hello," I replied with a smile.

   "You look very much like you're an owner of one of the pandas. Do-did you own one of them?"

  I didn't want to boast that I owned all of them. Not at all. But instead, I thought of Chigo. I remember the time he was the only one I had. My only friend, perhaps. And I had almost lost him. Embarrassingly, a tear dropped from my eye.

   "Oh, I'm so sorry I asked," she said. "So, what's your name?" She seemed friendly.

   "Kelli," I said shaking her hand, trying to force out a smile. "Kelli Dawn."

   "I'm Harmony Season," she said. "Nice to meet you, Kelli."

   She walked away to her friends when I looked back at the pandas. I wanted to make friends with her and share her my story with Chigo. But nevermind. It would've made me feel worse.

   I walked back to the bench and sat down. Until now, I kept thinking of Chigo.

   "Hey Kelli," Rodger told me.

   "Hey, why?"

   "You see that guy over there?" He said pointing at one of Harmony's friends. "He's my nephew. I told him your story."

  "Oh, really? Small world."

  "Yes, it is. Wanna meet him? Come on, make friends with them! They're very nice!"

   "Um, no. It's fine. I better sit here first. I'm not so comfortable right now."

  "Oh, okay. I'm sorry."

   "No, no. It's fine," I said. I'd love to meet them but I didn't feel good right now. I'll have to wait for tomorrow.

   I rushed to Mom and Dad.

   "Mom, are-" I stopped when her eyes widened and she started speaking.

   "Kelli! We're moving here!"

   "We are?!" I said in excitement, but I knew Chigo was still gone. I looked down but in some ways, I was also excited. "That's nice. But isn't it far from school?"

   "Nah, it's not. Anyways, it's better so we're close to the cubs."

   "Yeah, I guess."

   "But that's not it darling," she said, calling the girl near the garden. "Come here!"

   "Coming right up, Mrs. Dawn!" The girl with brunette hair, denim shorts, brown boots, and a plain white shirt said, running towards me with a smile.

   "Ma, who's this?"

   "Let her tell you who she is," Mom said.

   "Hi there," the girl told me.

   "Hi?"

   "I'm Cassandra Tyler. I'm so excited! You're moving here!" she said with a pretty smile. "I miss you!" she said with a tight hug.