Episode 3: The Green Glow
“They don’t come from here,” Drip revealed, “but from the secret building across the street.”
“Well,” Becky smiled brightly, “I guess that’s where we’re headed to next…
As Becky and Drip made their way across the street, Drip explained to Becky what he knew about the dark, secretive factory they were about to sneak into. “They call it Area 52,” he growled. He didn’t know who “they” were, but it seemed like he didn’t like them or their black suits and shiny glasses. “I’m not sure what they are making inside, but every day trucks from different toy stores are loaded up then sent to deliver the boxes,” Drip told Becky.
“How do you know all this?” she asked as they snuck around the back of the factory and through a hole in the fence Drip knew about.
“When I worked for the refinery, I sometimes spied on the factory. I worked at that refinery for fifteen years, taking care of them and keeping intruders out. But did they care when I got locked up in the pipes and transformed into steam?” he grumbled, shaking his head as he trotted a few steps ahead of Becky, sniffing the ground for pollutants.
The factory was much smaller than the refinery. Instead of miles of piping, it was only one brick building with tinted windows. Becky could only make out dark shapes moving inside. “Let’s go inside,” she told Drip as she opened the door to slip in quietly before running over behind a large tower of cardboard boxes. To Becky’s surprise, the factory was vacant. Instead of conveyor belts and machines, the entire factory was bare except for the boxes. “Are they closing down?” Becky asked Drip.
“Seems like it,” he barked as he sniffed around, “I suppose your river will stop being polluted now.” Becky agreed, but she was still curious about the factory and what had been made inside. Drip seemed to no longer care as he sniffed around the boxes and lifted his leg.
“Hey, watch it!” a box called out, surprising Drip so much the poor dog lost his balance and tipped over. “Don’t you dare pee on me!” the box called out. Drip scrambled to his four legs and started barking rudely at the cardboard box. Becky, however, gasped in surprise and ran over, grabbing Drip by the collar.
“Drip stop! He’s my friend,” she pleaded with Drip before turning to the box with a smile, “Tree! What are you doing here?”
“I was recycled into a cardboard box. I was thinking it could have been worse until he came along,” Tree made eyes at Drip who in turn growled under his breath. Becky shushed Drip and continued smiling. “Why are you here?” asked Tree.
“The pipes!” Becky exclaimed. “They were coming from here.”
“Well, all your protesting at school of the river pollution has caused them to shut down,” Tree told Becky with a smile before quickly frowning. “Quick, the movers are here. There’s a closet over there you can hide in.”
Becky ran over to the closet and locked herself inside. Drip soon followed, passing through the door like a ghost. “Show off,” she muttered as he smirked happily.
It took a long time for the movers to take the boxes. As they waited, Drip began chasing his own tail in the dark, barking playfully when he could not catch it. “Drip, stop, someone might hear you!” Becky whispered at him, fearing someone may come inspect the closet.
“Did you hear someone talking?” a voice outside mentioned as footsteps neared the closet. In fear Becky backed up into the closet, hoping to hide in the dark shadows. That is, until her elbow knocked into something and the closet illuminated in a green glow.
Go to Episode 4