Pondovadia: World I Love, Tears I Drop

Chapter Four: Just a Funky Ol Shack

August 15, 302X

12:05 PM

It was an average Monday in Southwest Pondovadia Middle School. Most of the lunch tables inside were busy as ever with the sounds of conversation and chaos. Some students were looking at their phones and whispering to each other while others chowed down on lunch.

"Did you get invited too, Sandyna?"
"Uhhh, Keira, of course I did! Toshi totally sent one to me in English!!"
"Well I got mine from Ponce in geography— he said that it's gonna be the best one yet. Nut'n Bust'n at one"
"Awesome!"
"I heard that asshole Maya didn't get invited"
"In that case this party's gonna be great. She's a jerk"
"Does anyone in this school even like her?"

Aster was sitting at a chrome lunch table by himself, munching away on a jalapeno pepper salad, portobello mushrooms, and a livestock burger topped with grilled avocado. A tall bottle of coconut juice was sitting next to his lunch.
He was reading a Mon Uni blog post about the photography department winning an award at a national gallery.

"Aster, holy fuck!"

The dog took his earbuds out and looked up from his reading to see someone run up to him.

"Oh, hey Chris!" he waved.

The porcupine set his bag on the table and sat down next to Aster. "You're not gonna believe this!"

"What is it?" the canine asked, not looking up from his phone.

Chris pulled up a pic on his phone then nudged Aster to show him the pic. It was a light blue digital flyer with navy text. A few balloons were in the left corner.
"We just got invited to Bell's birthday party this Saturday. It's at Nut'n Bust'n!"

Aster gasped and looked surprised. "No way!"

"I know, isn't it awesome? Chris nodded as his tail wagged.

"Yeah, but what are we gonna get her? I don't really know what all she's into" Aster looked confused. "I didn't ask much to her when we were on the ferris wheel a few weeks ago"

"Hmm.... Ponce told me she's the only one here who likes Blyned Jagwar" the porcupine brought up.

The canine was confused. "But aren't they, well, a college band?"

"Yeah, they're that band" Chris looked them up quickly on his phone. "And someone in this school said my ex-girlfriend's dad is in that band"

"It has to be Maya, you know how that jerk is, making stuff up for the school news like she owns the place. I bet next week she's gonna say someone here is the mayor's kid" Aster finished his food quickly. "But hey, I have an idea on what to get Bell!"

"What is it?" Chris asked.

"My cousin, Carnegie!" the dog began to explain. "His friend Ander is a really good painter! He even painted one of my best photos for me this summer"

"That sounds like a good idea! Let's do it!" Chris fistbumped Aster. "If we can find their hangout that is"

The two boys laughed a bit before the bell rang. It was club hour for both of them— photography for Aster and pep club for Chris. The day went on for two more hours before school was finally let out. The bell rang loudly and echoed through all four floors.

—————

2:30 PM

Chris waved to the rest of his geometry class before running out the door to meet his friend.

"Ready to find your cousin?" the brunet called out to the redhead.

Aster looked up and nodded. "Yeah, they usually hang out in the boiler room!"