Panda Promise

Phone Number

   "Mom," I said. "We'll find a way. He knows we're going to New York. He'll probably-"

   "What?" Cassandra said. "See us?"

   "Uh.."

   "New York is a big city. You really do think he'll see us, huh?"

   "Calm down, girls," Mom said.

   "Nothing's impossible, Cassie," I said.

   "But the question is, how in the world did Chigo get to New York?" Cassie said.

   "I don't know. We'll know, one day. I'm sure."

   " I hope so."

   I could see New York City. We were here. I looked at those beautiful lights, and everything else. I wanted to enjoy, and look. But I wasn't here for that. I was here for Chigo. But it was my first time here. Can't I enjoy too? I mean, I want my visit in NYC to be memorable. I'm just confused. I really don't know.

   "We're here, Ma'am," the driver said.

   "All set. Let's get going," Rodger said, paying.

   I took a step out of the taxi. The first step at New York City.

   "Wow," I said.

   "It's beautiful, isn't it?" Mom said.

   "It is. Very. But I want to make this more beautiful."

   "I know what you mean, honey. Better, when you find Chigo. I know you'll find him and I know we'll know how he got here. It's ridiculously weird how he got here but there's a reason."

   "I hope we do. And Cassie, you judge others too much."

   "Like you don't," Cassie said.

   "What?! I don't! You always do! Always!"

   "Get over it, girls!" Mom said. "People have weaknesses. So, stop."

   "Yes, ma," I answered when Cassie placed her earphones in her ears. "Cassie..," I said, calling her name. "Cassie! Hello?! Can you hear me?!" But she wouldn't respond. Maybe her music was really loud or she's trying to ignore me.

   Mom sighed. "You have to get used to that. She lived alone without any friends to talk to. Even her and her barely talked to each other," she told me. "She was very weak. Cassandra was barely happy. I want you to try making her smile."

   "Hard.. but okay. I'm trying to... but I just can't."

   "Try harder. God will be proud of you."

   "Yes, mom. I will," I said. Then we sat on a bench near a police station.

   "Come with me," Mom said to me.

   "Why?"

  "I'm asking the police if there was any incident about a panda and where it started."

   "Sure, ma," we went in and asked the officer about it.

  "Ma'am, it happened by that place," he said, pointing at a restaurant. "Daisy Halks."

   "But be careful, Ma'am. People think she owned the panda."

   Before Mom could speak, I spoke first.

   "The panda is not hers and it willl never be."

   "Okay then-" he stopped when Rodger came.

   "Hey, Dexter!" he said, doing a hand shake with him.

   "Rodger! You never told me you still got to be an officer? Weren't you pulled out?"