In the bustling common area of an orphanage center, tension hung heavy in the air as Mrs. Anderson, clad in her signature crisp, well-tailored pantsuit in muted navy blue, scolded Dylan.
His carefree spirit was apparent, dressed in a T-shirt and well-worn jeans that bore the marks of his escapades.
Dylan's somewhat defiant attitude and Mrs. Anderson's frustration creates a lively exchange:"Did you throw another party AGAIN?" Mrs. Anderson asked, her tone stern.
"Sorry Mrs. Anderson, it's like my thing, you know..." Dylan replied, a hint of cheekiness in his voice.
"Ugh," Mrs. Anderson sighed in exasperation. "Imma just call the plumber, stay right there, young man."
Dylan, eager to get back to his party-planning ways, impatiently asked, "So...Am I going inside or what?"
But Mrs. Anderson delivered an unexpected twist, "You're not going in there tonight, Dylan."
Dylan's confusion was evident as he stammered, "Wait...wait...wait what?"
Mrs. Anderson dropped the bombshell, "Then...how am I supposed to throw more par..." Dylan added
Interrupting him, she informed him "You're gonna be staying with someone"
Mrs Anderson, still puzzled, asked, "What was that...?"
With a sly smile, he added, "Oh, nothing."
Mrs. Anderson and Dylan made their way into Daniel's room
Daniel's room was unlike any other in the orphanage center - it was a vibrant and eclectic space, a stark contrast to the strict and orderly orphanage environment.
The walls were painted a lively shade of blue, giving the room a cheerful and inviting atmosphere.
Posters of Daniel's favorite animals and insects covered most of the wall space, showcasing his diverse interests. It was a room that reflected Daniel's unique personality.
Daniel gave a weird smile, and he held a squirrel in his hand, as the mischievous creature continued to cause a bit of chaos by relieving itself on him.
With a humorous tone, Daniel reassured Mrs. Anderson, "Heyyyyy....Mrs... Anderson.... nothing weird going on here, I promise."
Mrs. Anderson remained skeptical, responding with a wry smile and a raised eyebrow, "Right....."
Then the arrival of the plumber added another layer of humor to the scene:
"Good morning, Mrs. Anderson" the plumber greeted.
Mrs. Anderson responded with a friendly smile, saying, "Hiii"
With a nod to Daniel and a slight chuckle, she continued, "Anyways, Daniel, I'm sorry for disturbing you and your... squirrel."
She added "But... the thing is, Dylan has a problem with his house management... stuff."
"English...?" Daniel added, slightly confused.
Dylan then chimed in, "I will be staying with you for a day"
Daniel let out a relieved "Phew..."
However, the plumber had a surprising revelation: "Well..., I just took a look at it..., before coming here and it seems like he would have to stay for a couple more days."
Daniel sighed in frustration, muttering, "Damn it."
Mrs. Anderson sought Daniel's approval, asking, "So..., are you fine with that...?"
Daniel hesitated, pondering the situation before saying, "I mean..."
Dylan, ever the enthusiastic one, put his arm around Daniel's neck and declared, "Yes, he's good with me..., bro code right...?"
Daniel, while complying, replied with a tired expression, "Bro code...."
With Dylan making himself at home, changing the channel to soccer and munching on Daniel's popcorn, while Daniel still petting his fondly cherished squirrel, the atmosphere inside the room began to shift.
"I was watching animal production, if you DON'T MIND..." Daniel said with a chuckle, trying to reclaim control of the remote.
Dylan shrugged his shoulders and tossed the remote lightly, which Daniel swiftly caught it with an expressionless face
However, Daniel's attention shifted as he decided it was time for the squirrel to return to its cage.
Just as he reached out to do so, Dylan, always driven by curiosity, couldn't help but ask
"Ooooh, what's that...?"
Daniel annoyed, saying "A enclosure...?, full of animals."
Dylan's eyes lit up with excitement as he inquired, "Ooooh, can I touch...?"
Daniel responded and then smirked, "Nooo..., I meant......sure..., touch the long, green thing by the side."
As Dylan hesitated, a question formed on his lips,
"Isn't that a snake...?"
With a straight face, Daniel reassured him with deliberate calmness, "Yeah, but cobras don't bite, trust me..."
And Dylan still proceeds to grab the head
Daniel quickly stepped in, dragging Dylan away from the enclosure, and said, "Oh my god...Dylan, listen, rule 1, don't touch those animals..., rule 2, respect my space and food."
Snatching the Popcorn from Dylan
Dylan nodded, adopting a humorous tone, "Got it, boss."
Daniel pressed a button near the animal enclosure, inadvertently locking it entirely. He looked at the enclosure, then at the button, and then back at the enclosure with growing concern.
Just then, Alice, Daniel's best friend, called him. "Hey Dan... so... I have a tiny tiny problem with my cat, if you could help me" Alice said, her voice filled with worry.
"Is that a girl's voice.....girl problem huh...?" Dylan yelled
As Daniel quickly muted the call and asked "What are you talking about...?"
"She's my friend, not my girlfriend" He added, then quickly unmuted it
"I heard a voice.....who is that....?" Alice asked
"Oooh, that voice..... just a donkey..." Daniel added with a fake smile
"Excuse me....?" Dylan whispered
"But.....last time I checked you don't have a donkey" Alice concluded
"Ooooh, did I say donkey..., silly me, I meant a monkey" Daniel added
"Please fall it, please fall it" He added with fingers crossed
"Ummm....ok" Alice said and cut the call
"Damn!!!!" Dylan said
"Only doing it for the bro code" He added
As he hurriedly left the room to help Alice with her cat, he gave Dylan a "I see you" sign, a silent plea for him to behave while he was gone.
Dylan simply shrugged his shoulders, clearly untroubled and continued watching Tv.
Upon arrival, Daniel's jaw dropped as he surveyed the scene of spilled pizza, snacks, and juices covering every inch of his floor. Dylan, with an exaggerated fake smile, tried to explain, "Ops... just a slip of the time"
"What... it was... how... did you throw a party in a space of 10 minutes...?" Daniel stammered in disbelief.
With an equally fake smile, Dylan quipped, "It runs in the family....?"
Daniel's frustration peaked as he looked at the empty animal enclosure. "Where are all my animals...?"
Dylan, ever the optimist, said, "Well... the snakes got lost, the rats ran away, the monkeys flew out the windows."
Dylan sighed and gestured toward the still-peeing squirrel. "At least you have that guy over there..."
"He's loyal," Dylan remarked, clearly unfazed.
Exasperated, Daniel couldn't take it anymore. His voice quivered with frustration, "Get.....out!!!!"
Dylan's eyes widened, innocence painted across his face as he inquired softly, "Just like that...?"
Daniel's patience was thoroughly tested, and he sighed heavily, almost as if time itself had come to a halt. "Just leave," he muttered.
As Daniel slumped onto the floor, minutes felt like hours, and despair seemed to engulf him.
He stared at the chaotic aftermath of the party, a feeling of hopelessness washing over him.
However, Dylan returned, He brought with him a menagerie of different animals,
Among them were creatures Daniel had only ever dreamed of having.
The room felt like a sanctuary of tranquility in that moment, contrasting sharply with the earlier chaos.
Daniel's voice, when he spoke, was gentle and slow, reflecting the newfound calmness. "You're so strange, you know that...?"
Dylan's eyes met Daniel's with sincerity.
He seemed to understand the weight of his actions as he replied in the same unhurried manner, "I know... and I'm sorry that I caused you pain... I guess."
"You guess...?" Daniel raised an eyebrow.
"Thanks, Dylan..." He added, holding the animals
"I hope you're not angry at me anymore..." Dylan asked innocently
"Nah... thanks." Daniel added
"You promise...?..." Dylan asked to tease him
"Mhm... bro code...?" Daniel said with a smile
"Bro code." Dylan added
Dylan and Daniel, faced with the aftermath of their cleaning efforts, took it upon themselves to clean the mess.
They diligently placed the animals back in the enclosure and mopped up the mess.
Just as they were finishing up, the plumber returned unexpectedly.
"So..., it took just a day to fix, I thought it was going to be a day or two," the plumber remarked, looking slightly surprised. "Anyways, your room is ready..., I'll be taking my leave now," he added.
Dylan was quick to thank him, "Alr thanks," and seemed ready to leave.
However, Daniel stopped him with an idea. "Wait... I know I was rude and all, but since this will DEFINITELY be your last time, wanna throw a small party?" he asked innocently.
Dylan's eyes lit up, and he replied with a grin, "Oh, woah..., sure."
As the party unfolded in Daniel's room, he couldn't help but admit, "Woah..., I guess it's not that bad after all," as loud music and laughter filled the space.
He had underestimated the power of a party.
But when a curious kid tried to touch the button for the animal enclosure, Daniel quickly interjected, saying,
"Heyyy.... Keep your hands off my enclosure, thank you."
As the party continued, Daniel eventually decided it was time for everyone to leave. He escorted everyone out of his room with a mix of annoyance and amusement, saying, "Alright..., party's over, get your butts out."
He looked around at the mees left behind and turned to Dylan, grabbing a mop.
"Damn, this place is a wreck, Dylan," he sighed. "Dylan...?" he called out, realizing that Dylan had sneaked out of his room with some friends.
"Dylan, get your butt back here, who do you think would clean this mess?" Daniel asked, growing annoyed.
"Bro code....?" Daniel asked and ran away
"No, no, no bro code this time!" he yelled, determined to ensure that the cleanup didn't fall solely on his shoulders as the squirrel from earlier is seen peeing on Daniel again
"Dylan!!!!"
Willy Lugard
