It was 8:30 a.m. Sketch Tucker was sleeping peacefully in his comfortable bed, holding a plush dragon close to his chest. He was smiling to himself. Suddenly his alarm clock began to buzz. Sketch opened one eye and groaned. He pulled out a baseball bat from under his bed and slammed the alarm clock with one simple downward swing. He then got out of bed to get himself dressed. After putting on his shirt and hopping into his pants (with a minor setback caused by tripping), Sketch went downstairs to make himself breakfast. He decided to listen to the radio as he did so.

Sketch mumbled. "Suuurrrre…"

Sketch turned off the radio. "Okay, shut up." He got his breakfast together and set it on the table. "Hmm…weird. I wonder what caused those buildings to go down in Japan…"

An orange juice and two slices of buttered toast later, Sketch went outside to see if the mail had arrived. He looked in his mailbox.

Nothing.

Sketch sighed. "It figures. I don't really mail anyone myself. Why do I expect anyone to mail me now?"

As he began to leave, he suddenly noticed a moving van parked outside the house across his street.

"Hmm? Someone's moving in?"

Sketch decided to take a few steps closer. He noticed a black rabbit unloading the truck. Timidly Sketch approached him. "Uh…hi."

The black rabbit looked up to Sketch as he set a box down. "Hmm? Oh, hello!"

"Um…" Sketch blushed. "Who owns this house? Do you know?"

"Well, sure I know who owns it!" said the rabbit. "I do!"

"You…you do?"

"Yes. Allow me to introduce myself." The rabbit extended his hand in friendship. "The name is Jamal. Jamal Bombardo."

"Uh…my name's Sketch." Sketch slowly grabbed and shook Jamal's hand. "Sketch Tucker."

Jamal looked at Sketch oddly. "You're blushing."

"I'm sorry." Sketch turned away. "I've never been the social type."

Understanding, Jamal nodded. "Oh. I see. Well, don't worry. I haven't been around many people myself."

Sketch seemed stunned. "Really? Wow. And yet you seem so…normal when you talk to people. You're not even blushing! You're brave, man. I'm afraid to say anything to anyone."

"Well, at least you're honest," Jamal said. "That's a good start. No one likes a person that's deceitful."

"Um…thanks!" Sketch looked down at the box on the ground. "Do you need help moving in?"

"I'd appreciate it if you could help me bring these boxes into the house."

"Uh, sure!" Sketch picked up the box and began carrying it toward the door. "Would you mind opening this door for me?"

Jamal stared in amazement at Sketch.

Sketch looked perplexed. "What's with you?"

Jamal shook himself out of it. "Sorry. But I'm just a little surprised. That box felt like a 30-pound brick! You seemed to lift it up with little difficulty."

"Oh, believe me," said Sketch. "It's heavy. Um…the door…"

"Oh!" Jamal rushed to the door and opened it. "Sorry."

Sketch went into a room of the house and set the box down. As he was going out he decided to ask a few things about his new neighbor.

"So…um…where are you from?"

"Me? I'm from Japan."

"Whoa, really? Wow, I bet that's exciting!"

They picked up a very large box and began heading towards the door. Sketch was walking backwards with the front end while Jamal walked with the back end.

"What do you mean, Sketch?"

"Well, I've been hearing recently that some threat has been causing a lot of trouble in Japan. Have you known anything about this?"

Jamal began to grow pale for a moment. "Erm…uh, yeah, a little."

"Do you have any thoughts about what caused it?"

"Well…I…whoa, watch out for the steps!"

"Huh?"

Sketch tripped and stumbled onto the front steps.

"Are you okay?" asked Jamal.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm okay," said Sketch. "Funny…I don't remember seeing these steps here when I carried the other box over…oh, well."

"Would you mind helping me with this box, please?" Jamal said impatiently. "I'd like this little chore to be over and done with sometime this week."

"Oh! Yeah, sorry." Sketch picked up his side of the box and began walking backwards again. When they placed it in their house, they continued to talk to each other.

"So why'd you move here in Zaibatsu?" Sketch asked.

"Well…things have been getting a little dull in Japan, despite all the hazards. I wasn't around that area when I was still there. I decided to move here in Zaibatsu Town because I heard it was a very peaceful place."

"Well, you're better off staying in Japan," Sketch said. "Nothing happens here. It's a nice place and all, don’t get me wrong…but it's so lightly populated that it isn't even on Georgia's map!"

Jamal scratched his chin. "Hm. Well, at least I'll get a chance to see America."

Sketch shrugged. "Ah, well, suit yourself."

"Tell me, Sketch…are blue dogs common here in America?"

"Huh?" Sketch looked at his fur. "You're just about the millionth one to ask something about that. My dad had blue fur, too."

"And your mother?"

"Well…no. But at least I can say I'm not the only blue dog in the world."

"True…but still--"

"Can we change the subject, please? This is getting very insulting."

"Oh, okay, sorry."

They continued to unload the moving van, saying little much else. When they were done--about ten minutes later--Jamal thanked Sketch for his assistance. As Sketch went back into his house, Jamal looked at Sketch oddly.