It was another day of creativity and imagination for young Capricore. Here, in the middle of the town park, he could be found working steadily on his next master work: a large, whimsical jungle gym made of wood and bolts, whom he was commissioned to design for a school in Appleoosa. Unlike other large, complicated structures, (to which he had difficulty figuring out what the commissioner wanted), he felt more comfortable with this particular assignment. This was due to the fact that he was given a blueprint from sheriff silver-star. Luckily, Like all artists who gain such a recognition, he already received designs for what other towns desired. But this one was the first for such a grand scaled piece of art. Yet he knew the tireless effort would be worth it. After all, a great many of his new cousins resided in Applesoosa, not to mention the reunions and visits he would partake in the months to come.
Mid day had now passed, to which Capricore had already finished the exoskeleton base. Now it was time to move on to he painting and texture of apples and trees. As he put on his lucky smock and started to lay out the first coating, which he knew would be daunting at best, something in the distance caught his eye. At first he couldn't make out what it was, but as it came closer, it seemed to be what looked like five upright figures. The closer they went, the more familiar they became. After a few seconds, they were more easy to make out. Capricore's face turned white as chalk as the faces became more and more visible.
Only a year ago had he seen these individuals last. He washed his face with a nearby picture, to make sure it wasn't a mirage.
Could it be? He thought to himself Is it really them? How is this even....
As the figures drew closer, they turned out to look what appeared to be: Jolene, Camden, Tony, Rachel, and Katie, in the flesh.
"Cory?" asked what sounded like Camden's feminine, yet confident voice.
"C...Camden?" Cory asked back as he dropped his tools.
"Is that you pal?" asked what looked like Katie, who could barely move from the sight.
"Katie!" Cory replied breathily as a smile started to grow.
"After all this time we thought..." Said what was clearly Jolene with a look of shock on her face.
"After all this time, I thought..." Cory couldn't think of the right words as he started to run towards them. "Jolene!"
"We must be dreaming." Said what turned out to be a watery eyed Katie.
"This is too good to be true. KATIE!" Cory replied as he ran faster and tears filled his ducts.
"We have found our AMICO!!" Cried a jubilant Tony as he leaped in the air.
"Tony!! My friends!! You found me!!" Cried Cory as he reached his arms out to embrace his friends.
Within a split second, Cory was wrapping arms with Rachel, who wrapped arms with Tony, who wrapped arms with Jolene, who wrapped arms with Camden, Who wrapped arms with Katie in a large, tight, group hug. It was so warm, so joyous, so fantastical of a moment, It was a moment he had waited for so song. A moment where he could finally say HELLO to his old friends again. Cory hoped it would last forever. Now he was truly at one with himself. Now he felt truly happy. Now his life was complete. He had a beautiful home, a commendable talent, a new family, and a reuniting of his friends. He did not want this moment to end, because, as he stated, it WAS too good to be true.
"Look at you man. You look great" Rachel complimented with her tank top and jeans
"You haven't changed a bit at all Rachel." Cory responded as he caught his breath.
"If this here's a dream.." Said Jolene who adorned suspenders and pigtails "I hope I do not wake up."
"You can say that again." Camden Added as he tipped his fedora and fixed his vest.
"Ay, Cory Macho!!" Cried Tony as he fixed his thick glasses, shook his frizzy hair and spoke in a thick yet understandable Brooklyn accent. "Give me some love man."
It was at that moment Cory and Tony engaged in what looked like a complicated secret handshake, complete with turns, high fives and chest bumps. Memories were now starting to kick back in.
"That bit never gets old, especially now." Said Cory.
"Ya still got it."
"Oh, I hope no one hurt you." Said a concerned Katie.
"Well you don't have to worry about that anymore friends, cause I just got a real home, and a new family."
"Son of a gun. You got adopted?" Jolene asked as she rushed up to him.
Cory replied with a rather prideful look on his face.
"I knew you'd get a real place to live." Said Katie as she gave him a noogie.
"So who's the lucky family?" Asked Camden.
"You won't believe me if I told you."
"Oh, it doesn't matter what they look like." Proclaimed a rather dramatic Katie. "What matters is we found you."
"Looks like the whole gang's back together at last." Tony added as they all embraced for one more big hug.
"And we're not getting separated this time?" Cory asked in the middle of the embrace.
"You can bet your sweet behind on that." Jolene replied.
It was at that moment Cory's friends turned over his shoulder to notice his unfinished master work.
"Looks like you need some assistance." Jolene commented.
"Now that your'e here, more than ever." Cory replied.
"Don't seem fair to have ya do this on your own." Katie added
"I got some extra tools you can use."
And with those words, the six of them ran towards the structure and started on helping with their friend. What began as an individual project, turned into a team effort.With every brush stroke, every chuckle, and every retelling of days of yore, pictures from the past had seeped easily into Cory's mind, body and heart. Now, memories of the good old days had returned to Cory in physical form. No longer would he have to wait to find his friends, for they had found him. No longer would he have to sleep every night, wondering what happened to them, or where they were. All that was now in the past. All that could be forgotten. All that could be put away for good. But just to be sure, Cory closed his eyes and opened them again, hoping this was not a dream. Two fingers pinched him by the arm. Yep! This was not a dream! This was really happening! This happy moment was actually happening!
And so, the now six unbreakable friends continued with their work, and carried it out into the day. They sung a few songs. They told a few jokes. And they told a story or two from days of yore. Finally, after about several hours of heartwarming toil and collaborative effort, the sextet of companions sat down with a nice swig of Apple cider, a batch to which Cory supplied thoroughly.
The chain of memories could continue at last. Joyous ones, unforgettable ones, timeless ones that would last to the end.