Day One: Beginning (25th of July)

It all starts with a dot. The dot changes into a speck and the speck transforms into a blob and the blob would then change into a person.

And for that person to enter another’s life, well... all it needs is one thoughtful hello.

Now, Rory Hunt wasn’t the best at making friends. His father barely persuaded him to play in the town’s park, barely being an understatement here.

Before Augustus would leave Rory and return to his company, Dragon Corp., Rory would always look at his dad with large, pale, pleading eyes, mumbling something bordering the lines of, “-but dad... what if the other kids don’t like me? What if-“

And then Augustus would interrupt his son with a low chuckle and say what he usually would say, “Rory, m’boy, ye can’ go through life without takin’ a few risks, eh?” Rory would nod slowly, not liking where the conversation was going. Augustus would smile gently, “So stayin’ here with me isn’ going ter help wi’  all yer questions, now is it?” Rory would look away from his dad and cross his arms, “So go answer ‘em, son, you’ll never know once ye try!”

Rory would grumble and start walking towards the jungle gym, and his dad would smile proudly and wave goodbye to his only son.

Most days Rory would wait till his dad would leave and then ditch the gymnasium. He would dash to the nearest tree and climb it in under seven seconds flat and then wait until his dad came back.

But today was different.

Rory was perched on the highest branch of the tallest tree- a tree most kids wouldn’t dare climb. He was left alone, as usual, and was left to stare at the kids playing in the sand box.

Whatever... Rory was happy in his tree. No big deal.

“Hello! Hey, kid, mind moving over a bit? It’s getting a little uncomfortable here.”

Rory looked right and left, trying to find the source of the sound.

“Over here you idiot.”

Rory glanced down and right enough, there was a boy hanging on a branch that was too narrow to sit in.

Rory raised his chin and ignored the boy.

The boy gulped audibly, looking very, very nervous. “Come on?”

Rory shook his head. “You called me an idiot- and dad says idiot is a-“ he dropped his voice into a whisper, “-bad word.”

The boy laughed, “You think that’s bad- I’ve got worse.”

Rory was interested now. “What kind of words?” he asked, excitement drowning out the hostility.

The boy shrugged, or attempted to shrug, and said nonchalantly, “Oh- all kinds of words.”

“And- and you say them... in front of your mom?”

The boy nodded, his curly hair bouncing. “Yeah... all the time!”

Rory was definitely impressed now.

The boy looked up, and Rory noticed his fingers were slick with sweat. “Um... do you need help or something?”

The boy gave him no reply, but grabbed Rory’s extended hand, and hauled himself up.

“Took ya long enough,” said the boy, rubbing his hands together, color returning to his cheeks.

Rory played with his fingers and smiled.

“What?”

Rory glanced at the boy, his smile widening. “It’s just... it’s just that you’re the first kid to climb this tree other than me,” he looked at the playground, the kids looking like scurrying ants, “The other kids are too scared.”

The boy snorted. “They’re just wimps- not like me and you. We’re cool.”

Rory tried very hard not to smile and tried to look bored like.. like..

“What’s your name? I’m Rory.”

The boy didn’t look at him, but answered the question nonetheless, “Connor. Connor Dot.”

Oh. Okay. Rory tried very hard not to smile and tried to look bored like Connor Dot.

Rory played with the zipper on his jacket. “Wanna go play in the monkey bars?”

Connor shrugged, but then suddenly turned to Rory, “Last one down owes me candy!”

Rory narrowed his eyes. “I’m not owing you anything!”

Connor flashed a mischievous smile, very reminiscent of Peter Pan’s. “You’re on!”

The two boys scrambled down the tree and raced towards the monkey bars, completely ignoring the smiling man in the Dragon’s Corp. suit.

***

“Rory, come on! You’ve gotta help me out with her!”

Rory sighed and glanced warily at Connor. “And who is this her you speak of?”

Connor let out a noise of impatience. “That one! That girl over there with the awesome hair!”

Rory laughed out loud. “Her? Yeah right. She’s way out of your league.”

Connor stroked his chest, looking very much offended. “Cut it out, Will. Help a friend out, would you?”

Rory sighed again, and then shrugged. “Sure, man. What are friends for?”

***

It all starts with a dot. The dot changes into a speck and the speck transforms into a blob and the blob would then change into a person.

And for that person to enter another’s life, well... all Rory needed was one thoughtful hello.

- left-foot-fowl