Chapter Text
PROLOGUE
PART 1
(Takes place in 2009)
They say that one event can change your whole life; these events can either be good or bad, and the reaction to these events can vary depending on the type of person you are and the type of person that you would like yourself to become. In this case, however, the event that is taking place is a terrible one, and the reaction that occurs afterwards is even worse.
They were dancing in the family room and Porsha was very small back then. She was holding Jimmy’s, her father’s, hands, and they were “facing” towards each other. Her feet were on top of his. Jimmy went in three steps, out three steps, as did Porsha. The two of them were laughing together and singing to the music playing on the radio.
They were waiting for Porsha’s mother to come home.
And you know how I said that one event can change the course of someone or some people’s lives. Well, this event was what had changed their lives.
The phone rang and Jimmy’s ear perked up to the sound. He, then, sighed because he enjoyed spending time with Porsha.
He looked at her to see that there was a pout on her muzzle. “I know you’re upset, princess, but I have to answer the phone.” He crouched down to Porsha’s level and whispered in her ear. “Jerry probably got stuck in the elevator again, cuz he’s so old.” He grinned when he saw a smile spread across his daughter’s lips. “There’s that smile,” Jimmy said as he gave her a playful pat on the shoulder.
The phone rang again and Jimmy grumbled, looked at Porsha, and said, “I’ll be back in a sec.”
“Okay, Daddy,” she said as she giggled.
There was a little smirk that spread on Jimmy’s snout as he stood back up.
“I love you, Daddy.”
“Love you too, princess.”
And, he was gone from the room.
Jimmy was in the kitchen, he picked up his slide phone from the table, it was still ringing. It was enough to make Jimmy annoyed. He answered it and sure enough it was Jerry. He was talking so fast that not even Jimmy could understand a word he was saying.
“What?” Jimmy asked.
He still could not understand a thing that Jerry was saying but he did catch a few words. And from what he could hear; he could deduce the who but not the what or the why.
“Slow down.”
“I said SLOW DOWN.”
There was silence on the other end as Jimmy continued to talk. “Repeat what you just said but slowly. I can’t understand a damn word you just said.”
Jerry fumbled with the phone, almost dropping it on the ground. “Sorry, sir, It’s your wife, she's dead.”
Jimmy’s blood ran cold. “She’s what now?” He thought that maybe he might have missed hearing Jerry say something that wasn’t that his wife was dead.
Jerry repeated what he said, that Jimmy’s wife was dead.
There was no emotion in Jimmy’s voice when he spoke, “How’d she die?”
Jerry moved uncomfortably in his chair as he repositioned the phone to his ear. Explaining to Jimmy how his wife had died.
Jimmy's hands began to shake and the phone slipped from his fingers, falling to the ground with a deafening crack. He ran from the room.
"Hello… sir?"
He was out of breath by the time he had made it to the family room. “PORSHA.” he called but Porsha wasn’t there in the room. “PRINCESS, where are you?”
He heard crying coming from somewhere that was not too far away.
Jimmy looked around for the sound that he knew, in his heart, was his daughter. Had she been listening to him and Jerry’s conversation? He hoped not but he knew otherwise.
“Princess?” he asked as he found Porsha hiding behind the couch. There was a large opening where Jimmy kept his reading books, maps, encyclopedias, and a few extra things that he could not find a place for.
Porsha’s face was darkly shaded but he could still see the glisenings of tear that streaked her youthful face.
The sight of his daughter stung, it was enough to, almost, bring a tear to his eye.
Jimmy sat down next to her and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her to his side. “You heard it all, didn’t you?” he asked quietly.
Porsha nodded.
Jimmy rubbed Porsha’s side comforting her, “Even though Mommy’s dead, it doesn't mean she’s gone.” He touched Porsha’s chest, where her heart was, “She’ll always be right there.
There was a pause before either of them spoke.
Jimmy kissed Porsha’s forehead, “We should go say goodbye.”
Jimmy had heard word that his wife was not dead, in fact; they had brought her back to life with the medical electrode. It was a miracle, but they had to hurry in case it failed. He told Porsha that they could eat at the hospital and that she could not wait.
Jimmy stood in front of the receptionist’s desk and waited for them to find the room that his wife was in. And Porsha was over by the waiting area; she was drawing a picture of her, her mother, and her father. She tried her hardest to keep it together, a smile permanently imprinted on her sleepless features.
“I’m sorry sir but you can’t see her right now but you can see her soon.”
“I don’t want to see her soon; I want to see her now.” He said as he slammed his fist on the desk. “You sick fuck, she is going to die, and I need to be there…” he looked at the ground. “I need to be there to say goodbye.”
He took in a slow shaky breath as he composed himself. Jimmy looked back up at the receptionist; there was no change in their facial expression. But somehow Jimmy knew that he had elicited a response in them.
They began to type on the computer as Jimmy smirked, he always got his way. “She’s on the fourth floor,” they said, “in room number 12b.”
END OF PART 1
PART 2
Jimmy Crystal sat on one of the cushioned chairs, by the hospital bed. He pulled Porsha gently onto his lap, holding her around the waist, so she would not fall. He used his free hand to clasp onto his wife’s as the life slowly drained from her body. Although it felt like an eternity, only a few minutes passed by as the heart monitor went flat. Her time of death was 10:07 pm.
Porsha looked up at her father desperately, she did not want it to be true, but maybe it was time to face the music. "Daddy, is Mommy…" she couldn't finish the question; she was too scared to know the answer.
"Dead?" Jimmy asked for her. "Yes," he answered. "Mommy's gone." The grief he felt began to morph into anger. Why had she gotten in that limo? Why did she leave him to take care of a child by himself?
The anger dissipated, quickly, when he felt Porsha's hand squeezing his.
"Now that Mommy's dead,” Porsha asked as he looked up at her father. “What happens now?” she asked. "What about us?
Jimmy looked down at Porsha with a hint of sadness in his eyes. He licked his lips nervously. "Only time will tell."
That night; Jimmy cried into a tub of cookies and cream ice cream in his room. Porsha was not too far away. She laid on the other side of the bed, having cried herself to sleep, wrapped in the blankets of her father's bed. That, now, only belonged to him.
A day or two after, Jimmy and Porsha, wearing black, stood next to each other, holding hands, as Mrs. Crystal's remains were buried under the grass of green in the cemetery. It was a closed service. And nothing was ever the same after that.
Jimmy threw himself into his work, ignoring Porsha more and more. She noticed that her father was never the same after the death of her mother. He had gotten rid of all her pictures and never spoke of her again. It was like she never even existed.
Porsha just wished that she could have her old dad back. The one that used to play with her all the time; the one who sang, and danced, and… smiled.
Jimmy slowly drifted away from Porsha. She saw less and less of her father as he was always working, working his way up to being a big success.
(Takes place in 2013)
Porsha and Jimmy were sitting down to breakfast; they were in the large dining room, with the long table that was built to seat many. He sat on one end and she sat on the other. It was filled with uncomfortable silence as Jimmy scrolled through his phone, looking at the social media account known as Tweeter. It seemed, to Porsha, that her father cared more about his reputation and his appearance more than he cared about her.
She played with her food; it was father, daughter day, and Porsha had a feeling that her daddy had forgotten. It was just like the last time he had forgotten.
“Daddy?” Porsha asked.
“Yes, Baby?”
“You’re not going to forget about our father- daughter bonding day, are you? Again. You’re gonna remember this time, right?” she asked because maybe this time they would be able to go. She was thinking of the perfect place for them to go.
“Sure, Baby, I’ll remember da thing, this time.”
Porsha wasn’t too convinced but she forced herself to put on the most genuine smile she could.
“Thanks, Daddy.”
Porsha stood up from the chair; she walked into the kitchen before her father could see her burst into tears. She cried into the sink, in the bathroom, flushing her eyes out with cool soothing water. The water got onto her fur but she didn’t care, she took a towel from the rack and wiped the tears and the water from her face.
She re-applies her makeup, as if it had never happened in the first place. Walking out of the bathroom, she went to her room to get changed into her day clothes. School was today, with one of her father’s, paid, private tutors, and they wanted to meet her on the first floor of the mansion, so that they could go out for some food or shopping. While helping her with her studies, in the process.
“Daddy, I’m leaving for school!”
She moved her ears like a satellite, to see if her father would notice that she was choosing to go to school, instead of spending time with him.
“Have fun, Porsha, I love you!”
He didn’t even acknowledge the fact that he had forgotten, yet again, about their father- daughter day. It was enough to bring her to tears, again, but she didn’t want to ruin her makeup, or embarrass herself in public.
When Porsha got home from her private schooling, carrying a load of shopping bags, she noticed right away that she was home alone. Her ears flattened against her head; her father was at work and she had to stay home. Porsha could have anything and everything she wanted, but what she really wanted was her father.
She looked at the clock that was on the wall, high above her. The sitter should be her soon, she thought.
Jimmy didn't get back home until very late into the night and by that time, Porsha was already asleep. He didn’t seem to care that he had missed a whole day of spending time with his daughter. He would make up for it some other time. If not now, then later.
When Porsha got home from her private schooling, carrying a load of shopping bags, she noticed right away that she was home alone. Her ears flattened against her head; her father was at work and she had to stay home. Porsha could have anything and everything she wanted, but what she really wanted was her father.
She looked at the clock that was on the wall, high above her. The sitter should be her soon, she thought.
Jimmy didn't get back home until very late into the night and by that time, Porsha was already asleep. He didn’t seem to care that he had missed a whole day of spending time with his daughter. He would make up for it some other time. If not now, then later.
He changed from his suit and his tie, into his robe and slippers. Jimmy brushed his teeth in his bathroom, watching himself from the mirror. He spat into the sink and walked out of the room.
Jimmy walked over to her daughter’s room and opened the door slightly; Porsha was fast asleep and there were stuffed animals everywhere. Some of the stuffed animals were even on the floor as well. He almost tripped on one or two on his way over to Porsha’s bed. Jimmy kissed her on the forehead and whispered into her ear, “Goodnight, Porsha.”
Jimmy turned back towards the door, making his way to the exit. It was then that he heard it, it wasn’t any higher than a whisper, but it made his ears twitch.
“Goodnight, Daddy.” It was groggy but coherent, almost as if Porsha was talking in her sleep.
There was a ghost of a smile on Jimmy’s face as he exited the room and went to his own bed to sleep.
And that, I would say, is how most of their days have gone. Until one day, far into the future, everything changes. It happened with one single koala named Buster Moon, of Moon theater.
END OF PART 2
PART 3
(Takes place in 2016)
Buster Moon theater was at its lowest, but with the help of a few great performers, hope, and a lot of love. It was enough to put it back on the map. Buster would do just about anything for his new found family and his theater. Buster probably did not know how far he would have to go to pull his theater and his shows up to the top of the wire. The six of them were like a family and they took care of each other even when it looked bleak sometimes.
Buster sometimes feared that they would not be able to keep it together, that soon they would fall apart and his producing days would be over. That was something that he did not want to happen.
He was a dreamer and he looked for any way to make his goals, even if it was with illegal measures. Like when he broke into private property, to put on an illegal show, but he was still able to make it in the end. He showed the world that with ambition and the willingness to break the law; you can achieve anything you put your mind to.
His father would be so proud of him that he had made it this far.
(Takes place in 2021)
Buster Moon’s theater was at the top of its game, but it still was not enough for him. He wanted to be in the spotlight and he knew just how to do it. He had heard that there was a talent scout here, in this city, to see if they were good enough for her boss, Jimmy Crystal.
He called her up and told her about his show. “It’s going to be a wonderful show, you should come down and see it. I’m sure that you have a blast.”
She didn’t seem so sure. “Alright, Mr. Moon,” she said. “It better be worth it.” she said in a calm and smooth voice.
“I’m sure it will be,” he said before the phone was hung back up.
Mr. Moon left his office, ready to tell his performers the good news. He went into the main theater, where he saw them rehearsing while Mrs. Crawley watched.
He cleared his voice and waited for everyone to face him. “Excuse me, everyone.” he said, raising his voice slightly.
Everyone looked towards him; they stopped what they were doing.
“Mr. Moon?” Mrs. Crawley asked.
“What is it?” That was Johnny.
“I’ve got big news,” Buster continued.
Meena looked at Buster, eagerly, wondering what it was. “Yeah?”
“A talent scout is coming to see our show, so we have to make it look perfect. You are all doing a great job and I am SURE that she will love the show. I just know it.”
Everyone looked a little surprised and a little nervous.
“She’s coming here,” Rosita asked, looking a little nervous.
Buster nodded. “Yes She Is.”
“What if we don’t make it?” Meena and Rosita asked.
“We will, I assure you,” Buster said, he had complete confidence in them.
“This is unreal,” Johnny said, “I cannot wait to tell my dad, when I got to see him this afternoon.”
“That’s the spirit, Johnny.” Buster said.
There were still more questions but it was clear that Buster was taking no more. “Keep practicing and we will do fine because you are all doing a great job. I believe in you.”
He sat in one of the seats, in the front row, to watch them perform, and to make sure that their performance was perfect. There was to be no errors because this was big. It would finally bring them to the top. This was everything that his father would have wanted. ‘If only he could see me now,’ he thought to himself as he watched them give it their all. They were terrific.
“Jimmy Crystal is the one that we have to impress,” Buster said as he looked at his group. “He's a big shot and he is very picky.” Is what Buster would have said if he was, actually, indeed talking to his group.
Buster moon was looking in the big mirror in his office, shifting his weight from one foot to another. He was rehearsing what he was going to say to them, when the time was right. Zuki Lane, the talent scout, was coming today to watch their show, his show. And he had to make sure that they were all ready.
He looked at the wall clock to see what time it was and, sure enough, it was time for them to get ready for their next performance. “You can do this. THEY can do this. WE can do this.” Buster said as he built himself and shook himself off.
Checking his watch; he left his office to tell his performers the great but also terrifying news. That she was coming today, and that she is the best of the best.
“I hope this goes well.”
END OF PART 3