The Place Where Mango Went. Chapter 1
When Mustard yawned, it was the most comforting thing I had ever seen.
Yes, seen.
Hi there, I'm Mia Winchell. I just learned that I have a condition called synesthesia, which apparently… I guess, forms connections between my senses? My door slamming sends brown rings floating through the air. My old cat, Mango, made puffs the color of mangoes.
And Mustard made little puffs the color of, you guessed it, mustard.
"Dad! Look!" Called my brother, Zack. "Doesn't he look like Mango?"
My dad laughed. "Well, I think we know who their father is."
"Mango?!" I yelled.
"Well, think about it. The neighbors said that it was some neighborhood cat. And look at how similar they look to Mango."
"Can we have Mustard? Pleeeeeaaaaasssssseeee?" Zack pleaded.
Long story short, a few weeks later they gave in.
"So, are you kids still going to call him Mustard?" My mom asked.
"Yep!"
"Definitely."
"Alright, then. Mustard, welcome to the Winchell family!" Exclaimed my mom as she closed the front door behind her.
Mustard started sniffling around, and I suddenly felt a pang of guilt. I didn't want to replace Mango. Would Mango be mad that I replaced him? Or would he be grateful that I'm raising his son?
Zack interrupted my thoughts by yelling, "BETH! LOOK! WE BROUGHT MUSTARD HOME!"
My older sister, Beth, appeared the the end of the hallway. "Woah, he does look exactly like Mango! It reminds me of when we first got him…" Beth trailed off. My heart started to long for Mango to be back.
"Why don't we help Mustard find a place where he can sleep? We can get a cat bed tomorrow." My dad tried to change the depressing mood.
"Okay." I got a blanket from my room, and rolled it into a makeshift bed. I placed it next to my bed, and went to go get Mustard to see if he liked his bed.
Just as I was about to close the door, I got a message on my computer. I went back in and opened it.
My heart pounded in my chest.
Hey Mia,
I haven't seen you in a while. Please reply! I want to meet you somewhere again.
Adam
Oh no.