Looby ran across the cool sand to his hut. The others were saying goodbye to their parents before they headed out on their quest. He burst through his door, his mother Linsee hadn't attended the campfire which brought them this news, but she and the other adults had discussed it before. As expected, Looby found her on the floor with her cleaning supplies. She was so overworked...
   Looby's mom stood up tiredly, bags under her eyes as always.
"Looby, its- its time for you to go, isn't it?" she asked sadly
Looby said nothing, and instead nodded, looking down at the floor.
"Where's dad?" he asked, taking her by surprise "i need to say goodbye"
"your father is in his room.." She replied quietly, not looking Looby in the eyes. Looby turned and walked to the room, not bothering to knock before opening the door.
   "Dad..." he cautiously called out "Dad.. we're about to leave..."
Nooby sat up sluggishly, his unfocused eyes narrowed for a few seconds as if he didn't know who the strange pygmy at his doorway was. After a few seconds, realization sparked in his blurry gaze and he smiled, his two front teeth sticking further out than the others.
   Tears rolled down Looby's cheeks as he watched his father. He sat down on the bed next to him and smiled back. It wasn't fair, Nooby didn't deserve to be disabled, he was sweet and kind. He used to be an innocent child-like pygmy. Some thought he was just stupid, but as he grew older, the other adults realized it was more than that. He was very smart, but it showed that his mind was too quick for the rest of him, and it became a problem. He moved slow, barely talked, and when he did, he stuttered and there were long gaps between each word. Linsee fell in love with him none the less. she used to be an easy-going party girl, but had to stop drinking and work hard to support her family after Looby was born. Sometimes Nooby would blink several times as he watched Looby, and we would have a hard time remembering who he was. But no matter what, he always remembered Linsee, who helped him through being disabled, and stayed by his side no matter what.
   Nooby lifted his arms shakily, and Looby, who had figured out most of his father's strange ways of asking for something by that point, leaned closer and hugged him softly.
"Nooby......Love........Looby......"
Looby's eyes widened in surprise as he heard his Dad speak, slowly and shakily. Nooby pulled away slowly and looked at Looby, his eyes perfectly focused for the first time in years.
"Nooby..... P-proud...of...... L-Looby.... Looby... need... be..... S-strong...." Nooby's mouth quivered with each slow word, and his thin body shook softly.
   Looby felt more tears in his eyes, and he smiled at his Father.
"I love you too, Dad, goodbye..." with that, he stood up and walked out the room. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Nooby still on the bed, his mind struggling to figure out why the pygmy who was just there had disappeared so suddenly.
   "so, you said goodbye?" Linsee asked when he came back out of the room.
"yah.. he... he took it well" Looby stammered, tears rolling down his face.
Linsee smiled sympathetically and held Looby close.
"your Dad loves you very much..." she said shakily "he really does, and he tries so hard..."
"I-I know.." Looby replied, sobbing.
"you- you should go... your friends are probably waiting..."
"y-yeah.. bye, Mom..."
   Looby pulled away, and left the hut, bumping into Doola, who seemed to be waiting outside the door.
"D-Doola? W-what're you doing here?" Looby asked
Doola shook her head, startled "Looby! We-we're like, waiting for you... and.."
"yeah, yeah, I get it.." Looby stood up and dusted himself up, tears still flowed from his emerald eyes, and he turned, hoping Doola wouldn't see them. But she frowned, and narrowed her eyes at him.
"L-Looby? What's the matter dude?" she asked, concerned.
Looby bit his lip, and said nothing, hoping Doola would just go. But she watched him for a few seconds, and them spoke again, her words startling Looby.
"It's your Dad, isn't it?"
Looby stared in shock "H-How did you know?!"
Doola sighed "it's all over your aura, man, you're like, miserable and indignant"
Looby stared blankly, lost for words.
"and the vibes from your house totally give it away too. I've noticed it before.."
"D-Doola, it... it's just so hard.." Looby said unexpectedly, choking down more tears.
"I know.." she said softly, putting a hand on his shoulder. "sometimes you've just got to sit back, and like, pray to the universe to help you out, the universe is kind, ya' know. Now, are you ready to go?"
Looby managed a weak grin "yeah, you go ahead, I got to do something first"
"okay" Doola nodded and left Looby standing there for seconds longer. He looked up to the sky. Hey Universe... he thought do ya' think maybe you can help me out bro? It's be cool, thanks. Umm, that's all, bye. He smiled goofily, and hurried to catch up with Doola and the others.