It was about 2 AM when everyone left the airport. Flash, Shannon, Wesley, Vera, Cody, Mitzi, and Steve were all riding in Kenny’s car. “So, if you guys exist does that mean all the other cartoon characters are real, too?” “Yep” said Flash. “Everyone that was ever created from Mickey Mouse to Scooby Doo”. “This is awesome!” said Kenny. “I feel like I’m in Who Framed Roger Rabbit”. “Did you know that it was based on a true story?” said Shannon. “I thought it was based on a novel,” said Kenny. “No, everything in the movie really did happened back in 1947,” said Flash. Kenny looked perplexed. “Are you serious?”. “Well, the movie wasn’t actually an accurate depiction,” said Vera.  “Roger was a more serious actor, that detective wasn’t that fat, and as for Jessica she wasn’t that good looking”. “Like, don’t listen to her Kenny. She’s just jealous,” said Mitzi. “So what about all that stuff about using cameras and computers and stuff?” said Kenny. “All one big cover up,” said Flash. “Everything was filmed in real time”. All that information was way too much for Kenny to handle. “Look, it’s too late at night for me to learn all this. Let’s all just get back to my house and we’ll discuss this later”. 

	An hour later, the gang pulled up to the house. Kenny was nervous. “I am in so much trouble. Dad’s gonna kill me!” “Didn’t you tell him where you went?” Flash asked. “No, I snuck out,” said Kenny. “There was no way Dad would let me take a day off work to fly to Hollywood. Wait, maybe if you guys come with me and explain everything to him maybe he’ll understand”. “Uh, that would be like a bad idea,” said Mitzi. “We can’t let any other humans see us. It’s a long story”. “Alright, maybe you guys better stay out here,” said Kenny. “I’ll let you guys know when it’s safe to come in”. Kenny walked towards the front door of the house. “Yo, Ken!” shouted Cody. “Good luck, dude!” “Thanks, Cody. I’m gonna need it”. The toons waited inside the car. “His dad’s gonna kill him” said Wesley. “Totally” said Mitzi.

	Kenny slowly opened the front door as it creaked. The house was completely dark. He crept inside hoping everyone was asleep. Suddenly the lights came on and standing in the hallway was Kenny’s dad. “YOUNG MAN! WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?!” he shouted. “I’VE BEEN CALLING YOUR JOB, YOUR CELL PHONE, YOU WEREN’T ANYWHERE! WHERE WERE YOU?!” Kenny knew he’d be in bigger trouble if he lied, so he had no choice but to tell the truth. “If you must know, I’ve looking for a new job...in California”. “CALIFORNIA?!” his dad shouted. “WHAT IN THE HELL WERE YOU DOING OUT IN CALIFORNIA?! DO YOU KNOW HOW WORRIED SICK WE WERE ABOUT YOU?!”. “Oooo, you about to get it now!” said Theresa from the top of the stairs. “THERESA, GO TO BED! NOW!” said Kenny’s dad. She went back upstairs to her room snickering as Kenny’s mom went downstairs. “Now honey, don’t be too hard on him”. “WILL YOU LET ME HANDLE THIS? YOU’VE BABIED THIS CHILD LONG ENOUGH! NOW TELL ME WHAT YOU WERE DOING IN CALIFORNIA?”. Kenny replied, “Well...I was applying for a job as an animator and-” “AN ANIMATOR?!” Kenny’s dad shouted. “BOY, WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT WASTING YOUR TIME WITH THESE CARTOONS?!” “I wasn’t wasting my time, dad” Kenny answered. “This is what I really want to do with my life”. “Well did you get the job?” his dad asked. “Well...no,” Kenny answered. “I knew it!” said Kenny’s dad.  “Wasting your time again! Not only have these cartoons ruined your mind they’ve turned you into a slacker! Besides you haven’t drawn anything in years!”. While Kenny’s dad continued ranting, Flash and the others peeked inside from the living room window watching Kenny trying to explain his point to his father. “But, dad...” “But nothing! Now get your butt upstairs to your room right now and I don’t ever wanna hear you talk about no cartoons in this house! Do you hear me?!”. Kenny walked towards the stairs. Then he stopped, turned around, and said “No”. Everyone gasped in fear. “WHAT WAS THAT?!” his dad yelled. “Aw man, he’s toast” said Cody. “I said... no, dad,” Kenny said nervously. “Now you listen here, young man!” “No, you listen!” Kenny responded with a sense of confidence he never felt before. “All my life you’ve been putting me down just because I was different. Well I’m sorry I didn’t grow up to be just like you. I’m my own man now. I need to do what’s best for me. And here’s something else, dad. I am sick and tired of being miserable at my job. So I took a chance to make a better life for myself. I may not have got the job, but at least I went for it. I would rather work at something I like than doing something I hate just to make a living. This is what I believe in and you need to quit being so stubborn and realize that!...Now I think the best thing for us to do is to just forget about this and just leave it all behind us...okay?” Kenny’s dad glared at him. Then all of a sudden he smiled. “Okay, son” he said rather calmly. “I’ll do exactly what you say. I’m gonna leave it behind me”.

	Early the next morning, Kenny found most of his stuff outside on the front curb of the house. With a suitcase in one hand and small box in the other, Kenny walked towards his car where the toons were waiting for him. “We’re sorry, Kenny. We didn’t mean to get you kicked out” said Flash. “It’s alright, guys” said Kenny. “It’s not your fault. Dad just doesn’t understand me. Never did, never will”. “I guess liking toons must’ve skipped a generation,” said Shannon. “Well, anyway we might as well find a hotel or something” said Kenny. “Well it better be five-star; I refuse to stay in some flea ridden roadside motel” said Vera. “No worries guys,” said Wesley. “While you were chatting with your old man, we found a place”. “Where?” Kenny asked. “Come on, we’ll show you”. Five minutes later in the other side of town, the gang pulled up to an old abandoned split level house at the end of a court. “We’re staying here?” asked Kenny. “Yeah, it’s perfect,” said Shannon. “Very few people live on this street and there’s room for all of us”. “I think we’d be better off in a motel” said Vera. “Oh come on, Vera. It ain’t that bad” said Flash. “Yeah, man. All we gotta do is fix the place up a bit,” said Cody. “Hang on, let me check something first”. Cody ran towards the house, pulled out his gun, and dashed through the front door. Everyone was waiting outside. “What’s going on?” Kenny asked. “Wait for it...” said Shannon. Suddenly there was a loud roar followed by gunshots. Then Cody opened the front door. “It’s okay everyone! It’s safe”. Kenny turned towards the gang. “Still being haunted by demons?”. “Yeah,” said Shannon. “At least he’s always prepared”. The gang entered the house. There were cobwebs and dust everywhere. Kenny wasn’t so sure about living there. “I think you need to have series talk with your realtor”. “Not to worry,” said Wesley. “It just needs a little touch up”. he pulled some feather dusters from his pouch. “Ready? Go!”. In a blur all the toons dashed around the house dusting, vacuuming, and cleaning. All Kenny could see was a big cloud of dust. As the dust cleared the gang stood in the living room together. “Ta-da!”. Kenny marveled at how clean the house looked. “Man, you guys are looney”. “Nah, that’s a different group of toons all together,” said Flash. “Come on; let’s go get the rest of your stuff”.

	Meanwhile back at Merry Maker Studios,  “WHAT DO YOU MEAN THEY ESCAPED?!” Mr. Merrimacker yelled from his desk. “I...I don’t know h-how it happened, s-sir” said Randy nervously. “YOU BETTER KNOW! YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO BE IN CHARGE OF SECURITY!” Mr. Merrimacker got up and walked towards Randy. “May I remind what happened the last time these toons were let out?” “No, sir” Randy replied. “IT WAS CHAOS!” Merrimacker shouted. “AND I AM NOT GONNA LET IT HAPPEN AGAIN! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?”. “Y-yes, sir” Randy answered. Mr. Merrimacker calmed down a bit and sat back down at his desk.  “Have you found out which ones went missing?”. “About seven, sir,” said Randy. “A wolf, a raccoon, a coyote, a fox, a kangaroo, a squirrel, and a rabbit”. “Anybody we know?” Mr. Merrimacker asked. “I think they were from the leftover section” said Randy. “You know, where the contest submissions were sent”. “Ah, yes. The rejects. But still we need to get those toons back. GUARDS!”. The door burst open and seven other security guards entered. Mr. Merrimacker gave them his orders. “Now listen up! We got missing toons on our hands! Find them, bring them back, and bring back the one who created them as well. Is that clear?”. “Yes, sir!” the guards responded as they left the office. Mr. Merrimacker sat back in his chair and sighed. “It’s so hard being the boss. But it’ll all be over soon”.

	That night, Kenny and his toon friends were hanging out at their new home. All of Kenny’s furniture from his house was brought over to the new one. No one was home at the time so nobody saw the toons coming in and out of the house. Kenny ordered pizza for everyone. As they all sat around in the living room eating, they took the time to catch up on each other. “You know Kenny, I’m surprised you still wanna hang out with us.” said Flash. “Why’s that?” asked Kenny. “Well, you first created us when you were a kid. Now look at you. You’re an adult. You’ve probably forgotten all about us”. “Are you kidding?” said Kenny. “I may have grown up, but I didn’t forget you guys.”. “Oh Yeah? Prove it” said Shannon. Kenny stood up in front of them. “Let’s see...there’s Flash Timberwolf is the nerdy yet lovable guy, Shannon Raccoon’s the slightly geeky girl, Wesley Kangaroo’s the sports enthusiast, Vera Vixen’s the sexy wannabe actress, Cody Coyote’s the hunter of the supernatural, Mitzi Bunny’s the math geek, and Steve is just your basic hyperactive yet friendly squirrel.” Steve excitedly jumped up. “See? I told ya’ll he still remembers us! Didn’t I tell ya?”.  “Okay, okay! Chill out, dude!” said Cody. Kenny sat back down in his chair. “Bet ya’ll don’t know anything about me.”. “I’ll handle this,” said Vera. She got up and stood in front of Kenny. *Ahem* “You’re Kenny Derrickson. You’re currently 26 years old; born and raised in Southern New Jersey. Your parents have been married for 27 years. Your 18 year old sister is about to enter college. You wanted to be an animator ever since you were 5 years old. Your favorite movie is Who Framed Roger Rabbit. You have over 25 favorite cartoon shows; many you’re planning to get on DVD. You drive a 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis that used to belong to your grandmother. You work at a suck ass job at a car dealership. And just recently your dad kicked you out of the house.”. “Yeah, that’s about right,” said Kenny. “Hey, wait a minute. How did you know all that?”. “Trust us; we know,” said Vera.
	
	Later on, Kenny tried to make sense of whole cover up. “Alright, now let me get this straight. You guys are real. And Hollywood created this massive conspiracy to keep you guys a secret?”. “Yeah, that’s about right,” Flash answered as everyone nodded. “This is just too weird”. “Still sounds confusing to you, eh?” said Wesley. “Oh no, it makes perfect sense,” said Kenny. “Okay, so when you’re not making cartoons where do you guys go?” Kenny asked. Shannon explained, “Well, you know that place Toontown, where all the toons live? That’s where. You see it started out as a city; but over the years with so many new cartoon characters and shows being created, it expanded into its own universe. And it’s all interconnected by all the animation studios here in the real world”. Kenny was intrigued. “Interesting”. Flash jumped in, “We could all go in between both worlds anytime we wanted. But all of that changed after...The Roger Rabbit incident”. Everyone gasped. “What’s the Roger Rabbit incident?” Kenny asked. “I’ve got this one, dude,” said Cody as he explained. “Ever since that Marvin Acme guy got killed, all the animation studio heads have been strict about letting toons out in the real world. They only allowed us to stay within the Hollywood city limits. But the real problem occurred in 1987. You see, after the movie was done being shot, all the toons were allowed to walk around the studio. Now we don’t who it was, but someone got loose, wandered onto the I-5 Freeway and caused a 20 car pile-up! After trying to clear that mess, all the studios officials believed that toons were too dangerous to live with humans. So we’ve been restricted to live only in the toon world and they kept us hidden ever since.”. “In other words, we’re prisoners in our own world,” said Shannon. “They only let us out to shoot movies, TV shows, and cheap cereal commercials.”. “So you guys have no creative freedom at all?” Kenny asked. Everyone shook their heads sadly. “Not even the Looney Tunes?”. “Nope,” said Flash. “We gotta do whatever the directors tell us to do. No questions asked.”. “Man, that’s tough” said Kenny. “Well think about it, Kenny” said Wesley. “Did you really think that Bugs Bunny wanted to do Space Jam?”. “You...do have a point,” Kenny said. 

	After dinner, Kenny was getting sleepy. “Well, *yawns*  this has been fun; but I need some sleep.”. “Aw, we were just starting to get to know each other,” said Shannon. “Look guys, I’ve had a very long two days. I’ve been on two flights, I got kicked outta my house, and I’ve been moving my stuff here all day. I’m tired! I’ll see ya’ll tomorrow.”. As he walked towards the stairs, the toons got up and followed him. “I guess we should turn in as well,” said Flash. Shannon walked up to him. “Hey, Flash, When are we gonna tell him about...you know?”. “We’ll tell him soon,” said Flash. “He’s been through enough already today”. “Well we better let him know soon,” said Wesley. “It won’t be long before those studio guys know we’re missing.”. “They won’t know as long as we stay out of sight,” said Flash. “As long as we stay together, we’ll be alright”. Shannon gave Flash a flirty look as she took his arm. “I’ll be alright; as long as I’m with you.”. “Um...I have to..uh...check on Kenny and see how he’s doing,” Flash nervously replied as he walked away. “Did I say something wrong?” she wondered. Kenny was laying on his bed in his new room. He couldn’t fall asleep right away. He just laid there thinking about everything that’s happened to him. Flash walked towards the bedroom door. “Well, goodnight Kenny”. “Hey, Flash” Kenny said to him before he walked away. “I didn’t get a chance to thank you guys for helping me today.”.  Flash responded; “Well, that’s what friends do for each other, right?”. Kenny just smiled. “You know it’s funny. In spite of everything, I’m not really that mad; maybe a little at my dad but... you know. For some reason I feel comfortable being around you guys. It’s almost like I belong here.”. “We feel the same way, Kenny,” said Flash. “Well, see you in the morning.”. Flash walked away with a sense of hope. “I know he’s the one. I just know it”.

To be continued...