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It’d been how long since Playfellow had left them now? Their own little brightly coloured world now being shunned into the dark, forgotten and abandoned by hundreds, thousands, how many was it again? The bright overhead fluorescent lights that simulated a daytime cycle were now off and the happy neighbourhood was shrouded in darkness as they rotted.
The bright rainbow coloured trees still seemed to sway within the non-existent breeze and still seemed to have their colour with small paint chippings here and there, the yellow pathways still marked and blessed with coloured chalk from Julie’s doodling though it seemed to be faded and almost completely washed out. The light’s to Howdy’s Bodega and Eddie’s Post Office were both out though both neighbours seemed to continue to keep the place running. All the neighbours in fact continued like anything had changed and just assumed this was some sort of blackout or an extended night-time or perhaps they knew something was wrong and they refused to take notice of it.
Though all but one was taking this well, the star of the show, the heart of the neighbourhood. Wally Darling. He wasn’t taking this whole ordeal well, it was completely new and different and he didn’t want to be thrown away and forgotten about it. Since then he had shut himself in Home and hadn’t left none of the neighbours had seen him since, Barnaby stopping by to speak with Home crack or joke or two and attempt to check on Wally though would get no response, Eddie would come by when he could and whenever he had mail which had been piling up in the red post box outside of Home. Poppy hadn’t dared to leave her house either though she was taking better care of herself than the poor Darling. Julie had attempted to come around to check on Wally from time to time, occasionally bringing Frank along but also got no response but no neighbour ever seemed to give up.
Howdy rarely left his work though one day of telling and receiving jokes from Barnaby the caterpillar could tell something was off and it felt off, he glanced down at the empty stool placed in front of his counter that he had specially placed there for a certain blue pompadoured neighbour. Howdy seemed to stare for too long as Barnaby soon loudly coughed and leaned against the counter taking a loud bite from his hotdog. “Heya Howd’s you alright there pal?” He asked casually with that usual upbeat tone, raising a brow before taking another bite from his hotdog that was already almost gone. Howdy seemed to blink a couple times as his antenna twitched as he snapped out of his thoughts and glanced up and over at Barnaby who just patiently looked at him waiting for a response. Howdy seemed to just quickly brush it off and chuckle. “Oh, haha sorry Barn! Seemed to have spaced out there!” The caterpillar glanced out of the window for a moment before looking back at the beagle.
Barnaby took a moment to glance at Howdy before speaking up again, narrowing an eye and lowering a brow but still kept a warm smile on his face. “Ya sure you’re alright Howdy? Spacin’ out ain’t usually like yourself. Ya sure you ain’t gettin’ sick?” Barnaby kidded in an upbeat tone before moving away from the counter a little as the beagle relaxed. Howdy brushed himself off with two hands and fixed his hat with the third and his badge with the fourth. “Ah, no no my good pal! I do not get sick! Just perhaps a little distracted is all! Hard to work in the dark ya know?” The caterpillar awkwardly chuckled to himself as he looked around his store for a moment as his antenna twitched nervously. Barnaby seemed to notice though said nothing of it and gave a small back handed wave as he turned to leave and soon the Beagle was out of sight.
Howdy let out a sigh before glancing back down at the stool and eventually taking off his apron, tidying up the inside of his shop and closing up early, unusual for him but he was concerned for his partner, he had attempted to check up on Wally beforehand just like any other neighbour has though he thought he needed to be more persistent. The caterpillar soon left his store, locking it up behind him and walking out into the dark streets of the neighbourhood, it was always strangely eerie when he was by himself though he kept his head up high as he begun walking down that yellow pathway following it all the way to Home and giving a swift knock on the door as soon as he stood in front of it. Two of his hands fidgeted with one another as another rested on his hip and another held up to knock on the door once again after a moment of silence.
He stood there for a moment glancing at Home for a moment in silence who glanced back. “Home, usually I am not one to intrude and I do wish to respect Wally’s privacy but…well I’m concerned, we all are.” Howdy started and Home soon creaked back in response, acknowledging Howdy’s words before soon falling silent again, their eyes still fixed on the shopkeep. Howdy cleared his throat and soon looked away from Home for a moment feeling a little nervous under their gaze. “You have to understand we just want to see if our dear neighbour is alright and doing well. So I ask you, kindly. Please open up.” Howdy spoke with a genuine sincere yet semi-serious tone as he glanced back at Home showing he was taking this seriously. It was completely silent for a moment before Home creaked and banged before the front door slowly swung inwards.
Howdy glanced at Home for a moment before quickly walking inside. Wally’s house was dark just like the rest of the neighbourhood, it was no different the walls were still a bright red completed with a yellow rim, and his furniture hadn’t been moved and was fairly covered in dust, bugs seemed to roam around the floor which had the caterpillars antenna standing on it’s ends as he almost stepped on multiple bugs as he ventured further into Wally’s home. It was dead silent. As he continued looking around the walls had splotches of black paint on them and there were many tossed or broken canvases, some that had paintings on though it was too dark to tell what they were from a distance.
Howdy continued his descent until he stumbled across Wally’s bedroom, the door was slightly open though Howdy still knocked gently before slowly pushing the door open. “Wally? Darling? You in here?” Howdy spoke gently as he glanced around the dark room, the blinds were closed and the bed was a mess, paint was everywhere and it was dusty in here just as much as the rest of the house. Howdy frowned and his antenna dropped as he glanced around at the sight before flinching upon seeing Wally laying limp up against his nightstand. Wally’s once perfect hair was now drooping over one side of his face, it was messy and unkempt, bugs seemed to be crawling over the puppet and resting in his hair, his clothes seemed to be dirty as he had seemed like he had given up. Despite the mess Wally was in Howdy could still recognise his darling.
He quickly rushed to his beloved's side and gently picked up the smaller puppet into his arms, gently but quickly brushing the bugs from his once perfect hair. Wally was still awake as always, not like he couldn’t be even if he dreamed of it. He rested in Howdy’s arms glancing up at his beloved with a smile still on his face as usual. “Oh…” Wally muttered out quietly, he hadn’t spoken in a fair amount of time though his voice was just as soft and monotone as usual. “Hi Howdy…” He finished speaking, widening his smile a little, laying his piercing eyes on his beloved. The beloved puppet seemed to have given up, if there was nobody to adore and watch him anymore he thought what was the point, he was going to be forgotten one way or the other. Howdy seemed to be in shock at the state of his beloved for a moment, this was unlike Wally, usually he kept himself so tidey and he was very picky with his looks, outfits and style so seeing him like this was surprising, Howdy softly placed a kiss on Wally’s forehead as he glanced down at him. “Goodness Walls you had me worried for weeks.” He muttered as he walked out of his room keeping the limp puppet close to his chest. “You had all of us worried sick, we were knocking on your door for weeks.” Howdy stated as he ran a free hand through Wally’s messy hair as he walked out of Home.
Wally seemed to shiver a little though he rested his head up against Howdy’s chest in silence and just stayed close to his beloved. He felt gross and disgusting. Howdy let out a sigh upon getting no response but he wouldn’t push the little fella, he was just glad to get him out of Home. “Cmon Darling let’s get you back to the shop and I’ll get you all fixed up.” Howdy stated sweetly and gently as he glanced back down at Wally for a second as he continued walking back to his bodega.