“I have an idea,” Bobby said. “I am a strong fisherman and I’ve actually taught people how to fish in the past. Would you like me to be your coach? We can start as soon as tomorrow. I was just thinking of ways I could repay you for helping me build a house, and this would be a great way.”
“I’d love that. I really need a coach,” Alana exclaimed.
“Great, then it’s settled. I will be your coach,” Bobby said.
“Don’t forget to donate the first fish you catch to the museum. I want to fill up a new tank,” said Feathers.
Alana joined Lars, Janey, and Happy dancing on the grass. She was thrilled that Bobby was going to be her coach. She called Bobby over to join them, and they all danced underneath the starry sky.
CHAPTER 6
GRAND OPENING
Alana awoke to Happy knocking on her door. “Alana! Alana! Alana! Wake up!” Happy called out.
With a yawn and a stretch, Alana made her way from the bed to the front door. It wasn’t a long distance, but Alana was exhausted. She had stayed up until the wee hours of the night dancing at Janey’s housewarming party. After they finished dancing, Lars had suggested they go for a late-night swim. They went to the beach and swam for hours. After that, Alana had made her way home. She had fallen asleep in wet clothes hoping she could sleep late. Her plans were upended when Happy knocked on her door at daybreak.
“How can you be up?” Alana asked with a yawn.
“Today is the biggest day ever,” Happy announced.
“The fishing competition and Lars’s birthday party are a few weeks away,” she said.
“No. Today Avis is opening the store with her sister Tavis. I couldn’t even sleep a wink last night. All I could think about were the amazing clothes I was going to buy.”
Alana said, “I thought you didn’t have any bells. Didn’t you say that yesterday?”
“I don’t have enough to donate to the pool fund because I had to put all my bells aside for this awesome day. I’m sorry my clothing budget is so high, but I just love shopping and I want to fill that amazing wardrobe.”
“But what about the pool party? We all want to buy things, but we can’t have a pool party without a pool.”
Happy sighed. “Don’t be a party pooper. You know I’ll donate bells. I just want to enjoy this monumental day with my best friend. Can’t you see that?”
Happy’s comment made Alana feel guilty. Alana told herself that she should support Happy. This day meant a lot to her. Happy stood by Alana when she was hyper-focused on getting J. J. Swooner to play on the island. Alana reminded herself that everyone had different wants and goals.
“Okay, I will go,” Alana said with a yawn, “but if you can spare any extra bells, I’d love to put them in the pool fund. If I sell some wood, fish, and fruit today, we will be on target to meet our goal, but we really can’t meet it unless we all chip in.”
“I totally get it and I will give you some bells, but first, shopping! I can’t wait to buy new workout clothes and to see what Avis and Tavis have in their shop. I loved everything Avis had on her cart, but there wasn’t much of a selection.”
Alana followed behind Happy as she jogged to the new shop. The sun had just risen and there was nobody outside. Alana saw a butterfly flit past. She took out a net from her pocket and caught the butterfly.
“I think,” Alana said, “while you wait for the store to open, I will gather resources from the island, like fruit and stuff I can sell when Tick and Tock’s shop opens this morning. I hear they pay the best rates for fruit in the morning hours.”
“Okay,” Happy said, “but don’t take too long. I want to walk through the doors with you. I want to enjoy this amazing moment with you by my side.”
Alana didn’t tell Happy that she was annoyed Happy hadn’t volunteered to help Alana pick fruit and collect branches to sell.
The first tree Alana shook was an apple tree. A bunch of fresh red apples fell onto the grass, and Alana quickly picked them up. She was glad that a few branches fell beside the apples. The second tree Alana shook was a cherry tree, and only a handful of cherries landed on the grass. She shook it again, but this time nothing fell to the ground, and Alana was growing frustrated.
“Alana!” Happy called out. “Avis is here! Come back! The store is about to open!”
Alana ran back and Avis stepped outside the store. Her sister Tavis stood beside her. Avis announced, “Welcome to our tailor shop. I am so glad you are our first visitors.”
Happy cheered and followed the sisters into the shop and over to a rack of pink, red, and purple dresses. She picked up a pink dress and held it against her body.
“Does this look good, Alana?”
“It does. It’s a great color for you,” Alana said.
“I’m going to get it! What are you buying?”
Alana didn’t want to spend any bells because she wanted to use everything she had for the pool, but she couldn’t resist a T-shirt with a large daisy on it and a cute baseball cap. She picked up the items. “I’m going to buy these.”
“They’re so cute. You made a great selection.”
“Thanks,” Alana said as she stared at herself in the mirror. Her two red pigtails came undone as she took the hat off.
“This is the best day, isn’t it?” Happy asked.
“It is,” Alana said.
“The store is open until 6 p.m. if you want to come back. We will be having cake in front of the shop at around noon to celebrate the grand opening,” Avis told them.
“I’ll be back for that celebration,” Happy said. “I’ll bring some more friends to the shop.”
When Alana left the shop, she went to see Tick and Tock to sell her goods. She was upset that she only made enough bells to replenish what she had spent at the new tailor shop. Happy waited for Alana outside Tick and Tock’s shop.
“Are you going to come back to the tailor shop at noon?” Happy asked.
“I don’t think I can,” said Alana.
“Don’t you want cake?” Happy asked.
“Of course I do,” Alana replied, “but I don’t know if I will have time.”
Alana had to gather donations for the museum, help Bobby build a house, and earn enough bells to build a pool. She hoped she could squeeze a quick break in for a slice of cake.
“I think you should find the time,” Happy said. “Cake is awesome.”
“I think you’re right,” Alana said as she left to accomplish the first item on her to-do list.
CHAPTER 7
THE COACH
Alana was fishing in the deep part of the river, hoping to catch a sturgeon, which appeared in the water around September. She stood on the bridge holding a fishing rod and leaning over the railing to see why no fish were taking the bait. The summer was winding down and September had just started, and although it was probably too early in the season to catch a sturgeon, Alana was going to try. She knew if she caught one sturgeon, she’d be able to cross the museum donation off her to-do list.
There was a cool breeze blowing Alana’s red pigtails. It was nice to feel the brisk air on her skin, but she was also sad that this was a sign summer was coming to an end. She hadn’t snorkeled as much as she had hoped, and she was going to miss bonfires and lazy beach days. As Alana waited for a bite, she thought of all the fun things she could do in the winter to make herself look forward to the colder months. She loved ice skating and making snowmen and snow forts, and she also liked hot chocolate. As she tried to come up with more fun winter activities, Bobby called out to her. He crossed the bridge and stopped next to Alana as she fished.
“Have you caught anything?” he asked.
She clutched the fishing rod with one hand and pointed to the bucket with another. “Nope. See? The bucket is empty. I wonder if I’d have better luck at the beach.”
“I can help you,” Bobby said. “I did promise I could coach you, right? So let’s start the coaching now.”
“I’m not practicing for t
he competition right now. I’m trying to catch a sturgeon that Feathers can display in the museum. I know it’s a rare fish. Do you think that’s impossible?”
“It’s hard, but not impossible,” Bobby said.
“I’ve been here a pretty long time, and I still haven’t caught anything.”
“May I borrow the rod?” Bobby asked.
“Of course. If you want to be my coach, I am ready for the first lesson.”
“A coach is a bit different than a teacher. I know you understand how to fish, so I’m not here to teach you but to get you in shape for the competition,” Bobby explained. He reeled in the line, removed the bait from the hook, and handed it to Alana. “I have some bait that might work better.”
He pulled out bait from his pocket and attached it to the hook. He cast the reel into the deep, calm, murky river and within seconds he reeled in a fish with a dark blue head, an almost transparent turquoise trunk, and a pale tail.
“Oh my! Is that a rare fish?” Alana asked.
“It’s a pale chub. It’s very common. Have you not been on Furtopia very long?”
“No, I just arrived this summer. As you can see from Janey’s part of the island, we are still developing Furtopia.”
“That explains why you’re not the best fisherman. It takes a while to learn how to fish well, and you can’t really rush the process. I am going to help you as much as I can, but you have to understand that everyone else in the competition has been fishing a lot longer than you.”
“I get it,” Alana said as she watched Bobby reel in a second pale chub. “Do you think Feathers would want a pale chub for the museum?” Alana asked.
Bobby said, “You can offer it to him, but let’s fish a bit longer and see if we can find a sturgeon. The key to becoming a good fisherman is patience. There were times on my old island when I would wait for hours before I caught a fish.”
“I can’t do that at the competition. If I did, I’d be the person who came in last, and I don’t want that.”
“There’s always someone who comes in last. I don’t think you should focus on that at all. I think you should focus on trying to be a better fisherman,” Bobby said as he handed the rod back to Alana. “Now you try to fish. Just remember to cast the line at an angle, and you can use my bait.”
Alana placed Bobby’s bait on the hook and cast the reel into the water. It seemed like she had been waiting for an hour before she felt something tug on her line. Alana reeled in the line, but there wasn’t a fish attached. An old tire dangled from the end of the line. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
Bobby said, “I went to the museum yesterday and saw a gorgeous coelacanth. Are you the one who caught it?”
“Yes,” Alana replied with a sniffle.
“It took me a full year to catch that rare fish. You have no idea how many rainy nights I woke up in the middle of a storm, put on my rain slicker and rain boots, went fishing for a coelacanth, and didn’t catch anything. I was ready to give up when I finally caught one.”
“Have you ever gotten trash like a boot or a tire?” Alana asked. “I feel like I get them all the time. I always think I have a big fish at the end of the reel and get so upset when I see it’s not a fish at all.”
“Alana, you’ve only been on Furtopia since the summer. I’ve been living on these islands for years. You can’t say that you get a lot of trash, because this is only the beginning for you. Yes, you will get a lot of trash when you fish, because that’s what happens. However, sometimes you catch a big rare fish. If you give up, you know what you will catch?”
“Nothing,” Alana replied.
“That’s correct.” Bobby smiled. “And catching nothing is a lot worse than reeling in the occasional tire or other rubbish that is found in the water.”
“I guess you’re right.” Alana placed the tire on the wooden bridge and cast her reel back in the water.
“Just be patient and you will catch something.”
Alana hummed a J. J. Swooner song as she looked down at the water, hoping she would get a bite, but the river seemed empty of fish. She wanted to pull the fishing rod out of the water and give up. “Maybe we should take a break from fishing and help you build a house?” Alana suggested.
“Just wait,” Bobby said as he looked at the river.
Alana screamed, “I feel a pull on the line! I feel a pull!”
“Reel it in,” Bobby said.
Alana reeled in the line and saw a pale chub on the hook. “Wow, I also got a pale chub.”
“See? I knew you’d get something.”
She pulled the fish off the hook, placed it in the bucket, and cast the line back in the water. While she waited for another bite, a voice called out to her.
“Are you fishing? It’s so early,” Carl said as he approached the bridge.
“You’re also up early,” remarked Alana.
“I fell asleep on Janey’s hammock during the start of the housewarming party and I just woke up,” Carl confessed.
“I was shocked you could sleep through all the noise,” Bobby said. “We were dancing and laughing. I’m sorry you missed out on that.”
“I’m not. It sounds so exhausting,” Carl said with a yawn. “I need to go home now and rest. I didn’t get a proper sleep last night. Sleeping on a hammock isn’t as good as sleeping on a bed.”
There was a heavy tug on the line and Alana screamed, “I think I have one!”
“Reel it in,” Bobby said.
A sturgeon was hanging from the hook. “I did it! I can’t wait to tell Feathers!”
“Great job!” Bobby exclaimed.
“I don’t know where you guys get your energy,” Carl said and walked away.
“I’m so glad you’re my coach, Bobby.”
“I don’t want to get credit for anything. You’re the one who is doing all the work.”
“Now that I’ve crossed the museum donation off my list, let’s build you a house,” Alana said as she placed the sturgeon in the bucket.
“Great, but you should bring the sturgeon to Feathers before we go house shopping.”
The two new friends walked toward the museum. Alana proudly carried the bucket with her fresh catches.
CHAPTER 8
ANOTHER ESCAPE
Feathers?” Alana called as she stood on the museum steps and knocked on the large wooden doors. The door was locked, and he wasn’t answering. Alana looked over at Bobby. “I wonder where Feathers is. Maybe he’s at the store.”
“It’s almost noon,” Bobby said. “Isn’t there a party for Avis’s new store at noon?”
“Oh yes!” Alana said. “I almost forgot. Happy wanted to meet me there.”
“We should go to the center of town and stop by the grand opening,” Bobby replied. “I’m curious to see what’s in the store. I need some workout clothes. I can’t go running in jeans and a button-down shirt.”
Alana was taken aback when Bobby referred to the area that housed the Resident Life building, Tick and Tock’s shop, and Avis and Tavis’s shop as “the center of town.” When Alana arrived on Furtopia, there was only a Resident Life tent, and now the island had two stores and a museum. She was happy that Furtopia was becoming so developed.
As they made their way toward the shop, Bobby asked, “Are you excited to see this new store?”
Alana replied, “Happy woke me up early this morning. She wanted to be the first customer in the shop.”
“Happy must love buying clothes,” Bobby remarked.
Alana didn’t want to gossip, but she was worried about Happy. Happy seemed to be buying clothes all the time and Alana wondered why Happy needed so many clothes when she was only one hamster.
“She does,” Alana said, as she spotted Happy standing in front of the store along with Janey, Lars, Feathers, Wayne, Tick, and Tock. Avis and Tavis stood by the cake, which was on a table next to an apple tree.
“Great! They’re here!” Happy called out.
Avis made a speech thanking everyone
for coming. Everyone applauded, and then her sister Tavis cut the cake. Alana thanked Tavis as she handed her a slice of cake. Feathers walked over.
“What’s in the bucket?” Feathers asked.
“I caught a sturgeon. I was about to donate it to the museum.”
“This is the best news ever!” Feathers exclaimed. “I must get back to the museum and place the sturgeon in the water. You are such a good friend, Alana. The museum would be empty without you.”
“Thanks,” Alana blushed.
Feathers picked up the bucket and went back to the museum, and Alana was glad to cross one item off her to-do list. She saw Wayne walking into the Resident Life building and followed him in. She wanted to talk to him about trying to find a way to finance the pool.
“I was thinking of building a pool,” she explained to Wayne. “Everyone thought it would be nice to have a pool party for Lars’s birthday.”
“That sounds like a good idea,” Wayne said. “I like that the residents of Furtopia love to throw parties, don’t you?”
“Yes,” she replied, “but I’m in charge of constructing both Bobby’s new home and the pool, and I’m afraid I don’t have enough bells.”
“Do you have anything to sell? You can always go to Tick and Tock’s store and sell goods. I know they are paying a lot for oranges.”
“Furtopia only has cherries and apples,” Alana reminded him.
“I think you should use your miles to go on another excursion to a desert island. I’m sure on just one of those trips you’ll be able to gather enough items to sell, and you’ll have enough bells to cover both the new house and the pool. Also, you’ll be able to populate Furtopia with new trees and flowers.”
Alana remembered the last time she took a trip to another island. That time she was escaping the island because she thought Happy and Carl didn’t like her. She remembered meeting Lars on the island and shaking the apple and coconut trees and bringing back the fruit to plant trees on Furtopia. She wondered whether she had enough time to visit an island, because she didn’t want to fall behind in her training. She really didn’t want to come in last place in the fishing competition.
The Big Win Page 3