✨AN EXCITING NEW SERIES!!✨

Hi guys! So, good news and bad news.

Bad news: Unfortunately, I've decided to cut the Mini Short Blog Stories short.

Good news: I'm starting a NEW SERIES!!

Presenting The BFC! (Best Friend Cousins!) The new series!

This series of short stories will be about these four strong, smart, and beautiful young girls in middle school who are best friends. But also cousins! You'll see new adventures between the girls each week, each story from a different girl's perspective! The girls staring in my new series are:

> Nari, is a hilarious, smart, and food-loving BSC fan, age 12

> Fei, is a sweet, sensitive, and quiet but extremely smart young girl, age 12

> Sana, is a smart and witty culinary genius, whose dream is to become a thriving sushi chef, just like her dad, age 12

> Akira, is a sophisticated, smart, and elegant young girl who loves fashion, art, and design, age 12

So, here is the first story, I hope you love it! ❤️

Nari And Pao By Aileen Tran

Nari was thrilled to take her beloved pet baby panda, Pao, out for a stroll in town. She had always hoped to show him around and observe his reaction to the new sights and sounds. Hong Kong’s towns and shops were always bustling with activity.

The little panda was equally enthusiastic and snuggled closely to Nari in her knitted lavender satchel as they made their way through the bustling streets.

The fresh scent of bao immediately poked the curious bear's interest, and the town’s chattering buzz of energy was electrifying.

Nari could smell her favorite matcha café’s products for the day, but Pao urged her to keep moving, eager to see more. She smiled and kissed his nose. It was silently decided. They would visit the café later.

Their first stop was at a serene park, where Nari let Pao loose to run around and play on the swings and slides. The other children at the park were amazed to see a baby panda playing alongside them, and soon, they were all taking turns petting him and playing with him, the giggles and laughter filling the air.

“Say cheese!” Nari called to the children and Pao, as she held up her light pink Fujifilm INSTAX Mini.

“CHEESE!!” the kids called back, while Pao squealed happily.

Next, they dropped by Nari’s favorite candy shop, Kawaii Candy, where Nari purchased some bamboo-flavored candy for Pao. The little panda simply adored the fresh and sweet succulent taste and devoured the soft gummies in no time.

Additionally, they paid a visit to an Amazon store, where Nari picked up a small stuffed panda for Pao to play with. Pao gazed up at the Amazon logo, and Nari smiled at it.

They were both deep in memory where they’d first met each other. Nari’s favorite aunt, Baakleùhng Mei (Father’s younger sister/Aunt Mei) had given her Pao in an Amazon return box from an animal shelter she owned at the Qinling Mountain in China.

“For me?” she had cried happily, and Aunt Mei smiled. “For you! You did say you wanted a panda for your 10th birthday, right? And since I didn't get you a stuffed one like your A bàh did, does that prove I’m better?” Aunt Mei winked and grinned. “Yeah! For sure, Baakleùhng!” Nari cheered. Pao squealed, agreeing.

As they meandered through the town, Nari noticed people were smiling at them and taking pictures. She had never realized how rare it was to spot a baby panda. After all, she lived with one! She smiled at all the cameras and Pao giggled.

After a few hours of exploring, Nari and Pao were utterly exhausted, so they decided to take a break and stopped by the cozy matcha café from earlier.

“Néih hóu!” Nari greeted the cashier, Mrs. Li, a family friend. Nari ordered some refreshing aloe boba while Pao indulged in a Ziploc of fresh bamboo shoots Nari had brought along.

They sat at a small wooden table with comfortable bean bag chairs and watched the people walking by through the glass wall.

When Pao motioned to sit on the chair, he plopped on instead. He squealed, confused, while Nari laughed. The chair felt like marshmallows and clouds fused as one.

Nari let Pao nibble on one of her sweet rice dango spheres, which he promptly ate all three, while Nari only got a bite of the soft sweet rice dessert.

Pao snuggled up in Nari's lap and eventually dozed off, exhausted from all the excitement.

As Nari gazed down at her sleeping pet, she couldn't help but smile. She realized how fortunate she was to have such a unique and special friend.

She knew that Pao would always be there for her, and she promised herself to take him on more adventures in the future.

She snuggled against Pao during the car ride home, drifting to sleep and dreaming of all the treks they would soon experience.

THE END! (For now...)

Yay! You made it to the end! I hope you enjoyed it, and stay tuned for more BFC short stories!

--- Aileen ❤️