Anyway, my transformation was soon complete. Seeing that my normal clothes no longer fit, one of the faculty brought in a tailor to make a couple sets of clothes for me. Soon, it was time for the Halloween party. I decided to walk to the church, since it's on campus. This is the same church that Yuoo keeps referring to as "Mortar Abbey." If you saw the building, then you'd know why. I didn't think I could get into much trouble walking to the church, but they got a police officer to follow me just in case.

Did I have a good time at the party? Well yes, then no, and then yes. For one of the few times in my life, I was the center of attention. By this time, my fur had grown into a beautiful coat. I allowed several of my friends to touch my ears or my tail. Later, it came time for dancing. Usually, I'm too shy to dance, but tonight, shyness was completely out the window! Though I wasn't exactly an expert, I found that I could dance better than I had thought, mostly because of my quickened reflexes and my tail. The scientists told me to be cautious about my eating. I didn't drink any carbonized beverages or eat anything with chocolate in it, but other than that, I chowed down. Everyone talked with me, and I did have a good time.

After a while, all of the talking, laughing, socializing began to get to me. I began to feel lousy. I had a huge desire to get away from everyone, to find a dark place to hide in, a place away from the noise and flashing lights. Even before I became a fox, I have had similar experiences at parties. Aware of this, one of my friends followed me. He knocked on the door of the study room I was in.

"Come in."

"I was just checking to see if you were okay." It was Gary, one of my closest friends. Gary was born and raised in the southern United States, but his nose and his black beard made him look like an exchange student from Pakistan or something. Knowing that I was in one of my moods, he began to talk to me.

"The noise gettin' to you again?"

"Yeah," I replied.

"I like your costume."

"Thanks," I said, failing an attempt to sound cheerful.

"Even without your costume, I'm glad you're here. I'm glad you could be here with us."

"Yeah," I said, this time with sincerity.

Gary and I sat and talked about this and that for a while, and from previous experience, we knew that would do the trick. It's not so much what he says, but it's the fact that he's there to say it.

Gary said, "I think they're wondering where we are. Let's pray and go."

As was his custom, Gary finished by placing his hand on my head, and he praying a prayer of peace for me. When he finished, he said, "I love you, my brother," as he embraced me in a hug. Though the hug was brief, it made me feel like several bad memories inside me were melting away into nothingness, much like an ice cube on a sidewalk in July. Gary and I went back to the party, and we all talked for a while until the party ended, and I went home.

When I end this story, some things will become undone, and some things will remain. My transformation into a Fennec fox will disappear as soon as I type, "The End." However, things like my talk with Gary will last forever. This is how a person can tell what things in life are real and which things are not.

THE END