Most Unlikely of Friends

By Angelina Martinez

Beneath the undergrowth of leaves, rock and tree, lives a world beyond all imagination. There have been tales of small people who look no different really than you and me, or stories of small men that have beards that go far beyond their knees. Then there was all this fuss and gossip about these small blue men with big ears and wore the same white colored hats. This is about something far more than any expectation, a story on a small ancient civilization that fell between the gaps of words in the language of history. The small world of the Fuzznottles.

Now, you are probably wondering what in the world is a “Fuzznottle?” Well, that, my dear friend is really quite simple. They are a small sort of fellow, smaller than the palm of your hand. Not a mouse but not quite a man. Being only two inches tall, their hair often grows to skin just the knuckles of their toes. They solemnly wear hats of mushroom, leaf, moss or flower, like garden gnomes that often sit in yards, but instead prefer them to go right over their brightly colored eyes, and sit upon their rounded noses, the only thing seen other than their two-pointed fuzzy ears that stick out of their heads with tuffs of hair at their ends. Their tail is also something that can be seen when they are in view, a slim long little thing, that has a puff of hair right at it’s pointed end, in often the shape of the owners favorite leaf.

Their toes that pop right out of their long hair, right at the bottom of their tiny bodies. Their hair? Why so long you ask? Well, they did try to cut them, but they grow so fast, they no longer care to trim them. So, their toes are the only thing seen, and those are often smeared in earth and dressed in mossy patches, for they do not wear shoes but find the thought and concept mildly amusing. Their big toes would never fit in anything so restricting.

Now, there is something I must tell you about these curious creatures. For the one you picture and see now, might not look even remotely the same later. These small creatures are magical. Some shape shift into small animals or insects such as dragonflies and small kangaroo rats. This is how they have survived in plain sight. Often disguised as something from our world. Now they aren’t fairies so most don’t fly and especially not with sparkling magic dust, but they can fly with small bug wings like butterflies and bees, and they don’t often change into anything bigger than a flying squirrel or small bat, for they have that pesky fear of great heights. Those who don’t change into insects or animal study magic. They might not have Hogwarts but they do they best they can with ancient potions, wands and tiny talisman. Their instruments are often carved from wood or rock and can do almost everything. Potions are used for those who are sick or injured, while wands help light up their nights and build their homes. Fuzznottles talisman are their most loyal companions, made of wood or stone but are just as alive as their owners are, with hearts that match their masters. They are not only used as companionship but are also known as small miracles for they help solve many of their villages’ problems.

Their village, beaming with life and hidden in plain sight, is often overlooked, especially at night. The protectors of these people are their fair rulers that form a very special council, made up of the different kinds of magic, who all live harmoniously under one clan, “The Fuzznottles.” Each ruler, being part of different magic, help in each department. So, one for the shape changers, one for the potion makers, another for the wand wafters, and the last one for the talisman tamers. Each take their fair share in keeping the peace over their beloved people. Each with a vow to serve, teach, and protect till the day they pass and turn into brightly colored illuminating dust.

Though kept hidden and to themselves, the Fuzznottles have known of our existence since the dawn of our suburban living. When we started taking over their land more and more, driving them to near extinction. Fuzznottles have been around far before even the discovery of Native Americans. They have seen our wars and human bickering. They have seen our smog and human littering. They have seen our destruction beyond compare and so hatred and fear was drawn from them in our direction. Unwanted by humans, warnings ignored, homes trampled, bombed and trapped. Wishing they could rid themselves of our existence. Alas we are still around, with only our noses in the air or faces in the ground, blurred by reality and drained of life, they keep their distance and stay out of sight. Let me tell you of a small forbidden friendship bonded between Fuzznottle and man.

A young family moved into an abandoned house, made of broken stone and tile. The windows were all fogged with dust and the windowsills cracked in the paint. The front door was a thin sort of thing, made of wood and its handle looked like rusted copper with the tiniest key hole ever seen. The front pathway that led to the door disappeared under the overgrown weeds which were up to human shins and knees. It was a small little house that was two stories down. It contained four bedrooms with lights that flickered or were cracked. Had two bathrooms but only the second story bathroom worked, for the first floors plumbing was all out of sorts, and no clean water was running. It had one kitchen where every tile was chipped and cracked, the paint was falling off and the center table needed dusting. The fridges were broken, and the counters were thick with dirt. The ceiling had only one light fixture, that needed replacing because the light bulb was gone. The cabinets were broken because the doors weren’t there, and those that were, hanged on their hinges without small knobs and had sharp cracked and broken holes. The walls were still intact mostly, but as said before the paint was peeling and all needed dusting.

The kitchen had sliding glass doors that went to the backyard, though the glass wasn’t broken they couldn’t step foot outside. The yard was a mess that made the forest and jungles of Brazil look like second cousins if you will. No matter, there was still downstairs which had carpeting at least, not like the first floor where the floorboards in the living room were missing. The living room downstairs had thin carpeting in the color of beige which lead into the two rooms either side but the bathroom had tile and the tub was worse than a pigsty. The bedroom’s lights didn’t turn on and the ceiling looked like it went on and on with cobwebs and dust but the windowsills were tiny and covered in rust. The windows sealed tight and the closets bare, the only rooms left were back upstairs.

One room was bigger than the other, but both had wooden flooring just like the living room but this time, boot prints stained their floors and ceiling. Both had windows, much bigger than those downstairs, but were broken and glass shards were scattered on their floors. No other furniture was found, thank goodness, the table in the kitchen alone was enough for them to witness. No matter how old this place was, the mother of this young family stood in the middle and said “It’ll just have to do.”

The family was simple to look at. Two sons and a daughter, with a mom and dad. The first son was only twelve but acted as sophisticated as someone as old as twenty. He worked on making fake contracts and studied the best of land deals. He was already prepping for college yet still hasn’t finished middle or even started high school. No matter, he saw himself as worthy for much more. The second son was only one, still learning to crawl on his hands and knees, and still wore nappies far too big for his small body. The daughter was the eldest of the three, being only fifteen, but often kept to herself and preferred no brothers in the house. She’d much rather have a puppy or rabbit instead, but her parents wouldn’t have it, so alone she stayed. She keeps her nose in her books about legends and stories that tie and bond to their people much more than to the book. So while her brothers played chess by themselves or taste tested their new house, she sat in her windowsill up in her room, looking out her window and up at the clouds wondering about lands far more fascinating but she dared not say aloud.

Mother and father on the other hand didn’t see much of one another and often wondered when their day would be over. Father worked business selling houses and land in which his eldest son felt proudest in saying, where mother instead was a mother of three, keeping tabs on everyone and everything. She stayed home with the children making sure the youngest hadn’t meddled in something poisonous and that their daughter was still around for you would never know that she too lived in the house. Their names were not much out of ordinary, their daughter was “Juniper,” the eldest son was “Marcus,” and the baby was “Alex,” but the mother was “Leslie” and Father was “Derek.” Together they were known as the “Wilsons.” Odd, you might say for really that was the family, and I don’t blame you for your judgment for no one really understood them. Quite odd but they kept to themselves so others couldn’t see the true chaos they had going on behind the door of their new but old-looking house.

“Juniper! I need your help downstairs!” called their mother to their only daughter, who was upstairs prepping her room for the moving van that hadn’t yet arrived. She ran downstairs to where she saw her mother in a white tattered dirty suit that covered her face and body in a thin like plastic. “I forgot the second bottle of bleach.” She muffled through the plastic shield over her face. “Could you be a dear and grab that for me? I bought some yesterday when we arrived, but I left it in the kitchen where I figured I’d start but decided not too for I found a roach under the sink and couldn’t bear to see anything more.”

Juniper had her eyebrow raised at the sight of her mother but now had it leveled with the other in discouragement in having to go back up stairs for something so simple. She ran upstairs and found the bottle of bleach by the cabinet, her mother had abandoned. Grabbed it by the handle, for the top was still sealed, and ran back down to her white plastic covered mother. “Here.” She stretched her arm out giving the chemical over to her mom, who was scrubbing the tub and was now not only covered in plastic but bubbled dawn dish soap too.

“Oh, thanks hun! I found some dish soap and figured it wouldn’t hurt to try to use it but uhm, well think I used little too much for it really covered the bottom of the tub in what now looks like some sort of greyish black paste. It started out blue, but I kept scrubbing and now, I don’t know what to make of it.” Both peered over the goo in the tub. Juniper scrunched up her nose and made a face.

“Okay, well I’ll let you continue that, I’m still cleaning my room.” Juniper replied to the guck her mother was working with.

“Alright, I’ll call you later then if I need anything. Oh! But hunny! Check on Alex for me, will you? I left him in his rolling bouncer with the feet locked with some Gerber snacks. I didn’t give him any more yogurt though for what comes out of him after eating one of those, puts this goo to shame.”

Juniper put her hand over her mouth for she felt woozy at the thought of anything being worse than what her mother had created in the tub. She went upstairs to find her baby brother cooing at his Gerber cookies. She smiled faintly at him but needed some air after dealing with her mother. So, she opened the sliding doors in the kitchen to vent out that “old dusty house” smell out of the area.

She inhaled the fresh air coming in from outside and left it open for her brother to see the outdoors. She sat there with him after she felt a bit better, gave him some apple juice and called back down to her mother. “Mom! Alex is fine! I gave him some juice and opened the kitchen sliding door to help vent out the smell in the house!” Her voice echoed down the hall and her mother popped into view at the bottom of the steps.

“Thanks, hun!” She replied with herself covered in black goo and a thumb pointed up. Juniper went back to her brother, patted his head and went back to her room.

There, the progress she had made earlier remained. The bags of peeled paint and used paper towels still sat on the floor. The window was still not open but was cleared of dust and dirt. The ceiling was clear, and the floor was mostly swept. She hadn’t entered the closet yet but continued working on her window. She scrubbed the rust as much as she could with Clorox bleach, not all of it went but most of it did, enough to see the metal again at least. She pulled and shoved the window open, in came the fresh air from the garden. She felt it hit her face, like a fan in the middle of summer, then she saw something out in the distance. Something parting the grass into a small sort of path. Though she couldn’t see the culprit, she went outside to see what it had to be. On her way there she pictured a stray kitten, small bird or mouse but as she entered the kitchen her brother was out of his bouncy chair and nowhere to be seen.

She thought about the parting grass and wondered if maybe it wasn’t a kitten, perhaps it was her brother, kneeling and crawling through the weeds. She called out his name from the sliding door, but not a sound was heard, not even a bird. So she left the sliding doors, and off into the jungle-like garden, looking to see where Alex went. She called his name once more but still nothing was heard.

“Alex!? Oh, I shouldn’t have left the door open. Alex!” She insisted and she progressed through the tall grass and weeds. Then she heard something that was surely not her brother. A rustle in a bush that grew louder as she came closer to it. When she parted the twisted twigs and leaves, she saw nothing but emptiness in its place. She scratched her head and went back to search for her little brother. “Mom is going to kill me if she-”

“Juniper?! Where are you!?” Mother called from inside the house but Juniper stood frozen in the yard for she was so caught off guard and was not prepared for the fury of her mother, but there she stood at the sliding door with Alex on her hip. “Juniper!? What are you doing outside?!”

She saw Juniper in the yard like a statue there in a corner. She stood normally but was still puzzled and astonished to find Alex with her and not outside.

“Coming mom! Sorry, my flannel fell out the window when I opened it and after I went to see where it went I couldn’t see where I dropped it.” She said with as much confidence as possible, trying not to fall over from the sudden adrenaline she felt earlier.

“Oh, well, I have more, so it’s fine hunny, come inside. I finished the downstairs bathroom which means we now have a clean functioning toilet! Calls for some crackers and tea!” She called out from the kitchen sliding door frame, which made Juniper smile, for she hasn’t had tea in a while.

Ever since the move it’s been about the house. Now it was time for a break which she really needed today. As she went back, she thought back to the bush and the grass. If Alex wasn’t here, then what would it be? It only bothered her for a split second for she couldn’t wait for tea and crackers, she loves how her mom makes it. She rushed back to the house without a care, kicked off her now muddy shoes, and her mother handed her a fresh cup of green tea, and a dish of lightly salted crackers.

Meanwhile, down in the undergrowth the creatures were buzzing. Three small Fuzznottles wearing green leaves on their heads, were hiding in that very same bush. All were frantic and hushing each other. “Humans around!?” said one. “Not again!” said another. “The council must know what we have found!” said the last one. So, off they went, the small group which hurried to tell everyone the news of the ones who weren’t furry. Off they went, scurrying as small mice back to the village that was just beyond the drainpipe. There the village stood between the house and a bush, well hidden from the eyes of man and where they still had access to the building, for they were the ones that made it so filthy. Off the three went back in Fuzznottle form, rushing through the crowd of Fuzznottle folk, looking for the eldest ones, to tell them of what they had found.

“They are back and bigger than ever!” said one. “There was a great big, tall one with great big feet!” said another. “What are we to do! Where are the council men? They will know what we are to do, of the human filth that have come to our land!” The Fuzznottles spoke against themselves for none of them knew quite where the council men were, and even if they did, they probably wouldn’t see them, for they are always so busy and never had the time to sit and talk to the clan about anything nice. “Meeting! They are probably in a meeting! For they are wise and always know best, more so than all the rest. We must wait. In the mean time the rest of us continue our day without any more delay. You three stay here in the Great Hall, and wait for someone to call.” Said the smallest of the Fuzznottles who wasn’t very young but rather very old. A great friend of the council and often helped out when fuss was about. Everyone nodded their heads and off to work they went, besides the three who found the humans lurking too close to where they lived.

Back with the humans, Juniper had finished her tea and crackers, Alex fell asleep in his car seat, Mother was cleaning, and her son Markus and the father of the home should be in soon. The two went out to buy the family some food. The moving haul should be there by tonight, so that way everyone had a bed to sleep in at night.

“Mom?” Juniper said to break the silence of the kitchen.

“Ya?” she replied but she was still a little busy.

“Could I go in the yard before the boys get home with dinner?” She asked, pleading in the most formal way she could, to sound as respectful and responsible as others her age should.

“Well, I guess if your room is now clean. The rest will have to wait till tomorrow, I guess. Go ahead and get some fresh air, before your brother gets home with your father, and we’ll have more to do other than bubbles up our elbows and weeds beyond our knees. See if you can find anything interesting out there, for me it looks nothing short of a jungle from here.” She laughed under her breath as she saw the hedge reach over the shed.

“Thanks mom!” Juniper said with glee, she slipped back on her shoes and back to that very same bush. Again, she looked but nothing was there, so to the grass she went but the floor wasn’t exactly bare. The weeds were too overgrown to see the bottom, so off to the shed she went to see if it had any supplies to help cut down the weeds to a more normal size. The shed looked unpleasant, with cobwebs and holes in the ceiling. The floorboards could hardly be seen, the light bulb had even burnt out. Still, she ventured deeply to take a look, but all she found were some rusty fishing hooks. In defeat she left the shed and instead brought out a pair of scissors. They weren’t the best pair, but they would just have to do, after all they weren’t vines just long firm blades of tough green grass.

She went to work cutting a path back to the sliding door, on the way there she found a small rock, a small shell, and what looked like a tiny bag on the floor. She guessed it belonged to a small play set, for it was so tiny, but by then the boys were home, and it was time to get cooking. Off she helped to put the groceries away, as her brother explained all the trouble, they had that day.

“Oh, it was dreadful Juniper! Absolutely dreadful! The cashier didn’t know his head from his shoes! The aisles were a mess and all they had an abundance of was almonds! All the juice was gone and the ice cream too! The paper plates were all put in the wrong rows of color and the people there were so rude! You ask someone something and they tell me to “Get lost.” Or “I don’t work here.” I’m sorry but I know my way around and I don’t work there either hence why I’m asking around. People around here are so ignorant!”

Juniper didn’t know whether to laugh or sympathize with her brother’s frustration. Her father walked in and handed her a bag, filled with what looked like bread and jam.

“Looks like we are living off jelly sandwiches till Monday, for that’s when they restock apparently. It’s not all that bad really, I got two flavors of jam and jelly. We are on Friday so it’s not too long a wait.” Her father said hopefully with a smile on his face, while Marcus was still cross about his day.

“It’s alright dad. You’re right, it’s only a weekend. By then hopefully Marcus can at least pretend to be nice and not drive everyone away.” She replied to her father who was now laughing with his daughter about his son who was still browned off.

Mother had finished putting things away, and the sandwiches were made. Everyone sat in silence till Alex gave a yawn. The moving truck came but father only brought out their mattresses for the night, so that way the hardwood wouldn’t be their beds tonight. Tomorrow, he promised the three that their bedrooms would be set and it would feel much more comfy. All gave a yawn, and all were sent to bed. As Juniper laid still that night the tiny bag she still held in her hand. She smiled at this small bag made of leaf, and her mind trailed off of small creatures to sleep.

That night the Fuzznottles were gathered, the three and the council. Each came up in center stage, to say what they had witnessed that day. The first one was up naturally, with a willow tree leaf upon his head and his tufted tail to match the same.

“They were huge! They stomp on the ground! Who’s to say how many more will be found!” said the first one with a tremble in his voice as it echoed the room and what seemed like an empty place.

The second was next, about the same height but his leaf was different. It was made of maple, with his tail to match, but looked simpler. “It’s true! We were out to find some ripe berries and that thing came out of nowhere and knocked me to the ground! I lost my bag and now I don’t know what to do!” He stood firmly but cowardly towards the end, remembering his bag which was given to him by an old friend.

The third came out in the middle and had a deeper voice than the first two, which made him not afraid of the humans who have come. He found them cowardly and quite dumb. “You should have seen the way it stood still in the forest. Big yes but not very brave like. Quite foolish if you ask me, why I could have ended the whole thing, if I hadn’t come to tell you which I found was the right thing to do. Warn the village but do not make them fear the humans. We have delt with them before, we can do it again.” The Fuzznottle stood proudly.

“Fools! The lot of you are to be! Not to be afraid or to come back after such an encounter! Could have led them right to us! And you! You dropped your bag which means your magic isn’t with it, meaning she could have seen it and grabbed proof of us with it!” The shape shifter elder had said, with anger and shame in his pupils, for they knew better than to run off alone especially after finding out humans were home.

“You all knew the humans were around. There was no need to panic, you would have been fine, just shape shift and hide.” Said the leader of the talisman.

“You know they are right. You should have been here, and out of sight. No matter the scenario, you made it home alive and none were captured. Could have been far worse as one of you knows better.” Said the one that helped brew potions.

The second Fuzznottle looked to the floor. For it was true he knew the outcome, especially with the last friend he knew. His friend was stolen from him the last time humans have passed, now the only place he can find his dear friend lies in a dirt patch, littered with flowers, that he takes with him each time he visits. His eyes filled with tears, and he bowed his head. All did for the council for what they had said was true. Foolish they were to go on the trip. Without guidance one could have been hurt or worse. All went to bed that night with words from the council that echoed out of sight. The council stood together debating on what to do, but the second Fuzznottle thought of only his bag and he wanted that back.

So off he snuck out that night to go fetch his bag. He went in a long leaf coat that hid him better in the weeds. He sneaked past the others of his home and past the guard that sat sleeping by the door. Off he ventured to that very same path, but once her arrived at his spot his bag was gone! He thought of the elders in which what one had said “could have picked it up…” With that his heart grew with dread. “Oh, I wish I stayed home, not have listened to the others. At least I wouldn’t have been in trouble with the elders or have my favorite bag stolen.” He sighed as he looked around. There he saw this wide path on the ground. The weeds and grass were cut, and it led all the way up to the house. The Fuzznottle gulped when he looked inside.

“Get in, grab, get out.” He sighed once more, and he set his foot into the door. He wondered in the kitchen which smelled of bread and jelly. He stuck his nose to the air and found the scent of his bag.

He followed the scent to a great big crack in the wall which led into an even bigger room and the human from this afternoon. He gasped at the sight then sealed his lips tight. He held his breath for a second or two, but soon thought of his bag once more. So, slowly he moved toward the girl on that great big white padding. There in her hand, she had something.

“My bag!” he whispered to himself, for he saw it and it looked like it was falling from her hand.

He went just in front of it and when he went to grab it, Juniper moved which scared him and he froze in a position which didn’t look anything like a mouse. There she saw him scared half to death, reaching out for the bag. She didn’t scream or shout but instead left the bag at his feet. He quickly grabbed it and ran for the crack in the wall.

She looked at him and whispered, “I’m sorry.” Before he hid in the shadow in the wall. He stood there for a second looking back at the human. She didn’t scream or shout at him. She wasn’t scared and they both looked at each other curiously before the Fuzznottle went back to his village with his bag in hand.

The next day Juniper leapt from her mattress and slipped on her grey sweats, yellow hoodie and black pair of shoes. From there the others were still sleeping so off quietly she went to the yard to see if she could see the creature she found in her bedroom sneaking around. She thought of his coat and how it matched the floor. She wondered if it was still worth looking at all. So instead she left a cookie by the door, and watched it throughout her day to see if the creature would be eating. Through moving furniture and dusting she didn’t see the tiny creature. So that night going to bed she figured she must have been dreaming. Though the bag was gone she still had her pebble and shell and figured she had imagined finding the bag and dreamt of seeing such a tiny creature.

That night the Fuzznottle went out to see the girl once more figuring it was only right to say “thank you.” On his way out again he had snuck and back up the steps he went but this time found the snack. He sniffed the cookie and there his heart leaped. He took a nibble and he found it so yummy he stuffed some in his bag and figured it could be something to have some time later. He wanted to see the girl before going to sleep, so up the steps he went to take a peek. The girl was sleeping now on a much taller white pad. Looked like a much bigger form of bed. He scurried up a chair and across her dresser to see her face half covered in sheets and pillow case. He smiled at her sleeping and there she slowly woke up to see him standing there. She smiled thoughtfully at him and he worked up the courage to whisper “Thank you” to her. Her smile widened and she slowly sat up, but he couldn’t stay so off he went back to the crack in the wall, but this time Junipers mother was in the hall.

He shape shifted into a mouse and slowly crept back out of the house, but it was too late for her mother had already seen him. She gasped and stepped back so she wouldn’t get bitten. She didn’t scream in fear of waking up Alex who she just spent 5 hours trying to get to sleep, but she grabbed their broom and pushed him out. Juniper ran out of her room at the sound. She looked around to see her small friend was nowhere around.

“Juniper, I was grabbing a drink then there was this rat or mouse here by the door so I took the broom and rushed it out the door. I’m sorry I woke you, please go back to sleep, but quietly please because the rest of the house is still sleeping.” She tried to get Juniper back into bed.

Instead her heart dropped at the thought of her friend and became upset with her mother then.

“Mom, why would you do that? He’s not a mouse or a rat. He’s a small creature that came to thank me for his bag.”

Her mother looked at her as if she were from another planet and came to the conclusion that she must have been dreaming. “Well sounds like a nice dream but now I need you to get some sleep.” She guided her back to bed. Juniper wouldn’t have it, against her better judgment and her mother’s wishes, she rushed outside to see if her friend was in sight. Not a trace was around other than the cookie she had left and looked like he had found.

“See I wasn’t dreaming! I left this for him, and it looked like he was eating!” She pointed to the cookie on the ground that now had a small chip missing from it. Her mother grew stern and was now tired of this nonsense.

“Juniper, I want you in the house this instance. I don’t know what you are talking about but it ends here. I’m tired and dawn is near. So off to bed with you before I change my mind and have you start early on some of the chores I have lying around.”

Juniper sighed and walked back inside, she went to her room and felt empty inside.

Meanwhile the Fuzznottle startled ran home to find that someone knew he was out soon after. The guard at the door threw him into the hall to find the council in the night gowns and all wearing frowns.

“You could have been killed!” said the talisman keeper.

“Did you really think they would let you in?” said the shape shifter ruler.

“Are you hurt?” said the potion maker.

The wand wafter was the wisest of them all. He sent everyone to bed but brought the small Fuzznottle with him. “What is your name son?” The Fuzznottle looked up at him in wonder and fear.

“I’m Scratch sir. I’m sorry for causing so much trouble. You see I only wanted to say thank you to the kind girl that lived in the house, for letting me keep my bag, but one of the bigger humans saw me and well, it caused a scene.” He looked down at the floor disappointed in himself.

“I do not advise for you to go again, for it could lead to even more danger, but if she comes to you outside that I do not mind. Just do not bring her here, for I do not trust her elder folk.” Scratch beamed with joy to know there was still hope in seeing his friend. He bowed his head and off he was sent to bed.

Everyday since the two would meet. Outside when it was hot or if there was sleet. The two became one of the closest of friends. Everyday Scratch would show Juniper something new. A new animal he learned to do or a new recipe he found in a book. Juniper often asked if she could see their world, but Scratch told her she wouldn’t be able to see it, not even through glass. The elders kept it hidden with their spells, and he promised to never reveal it. So instead he described it every day after school. In return Juniper would tell him of her learnings and teachings. The bullies at school and the friends she’s made. Sure, they are into make up but she tolerated them just the same.

The house grew into something far more valuable than a house. It grew into a home for both Fuzznottle and girl. The others you ask? Well, no one really knows. As the story goes, the elders kept separate and Scratch and Juniper grew ever closer. Each learning something new everyday till the day came when they merely enjoyed each other’s stay. Not an alliance between Fuzznottle and man but a friendship that blossomed between two most unlikely of friends.