When her house had first been built, there was just one tiny little room.  That room got expanded, and new rooms were added.  Now it was a huge two-story house with a basement, and there were still rooms that needed to be expanded.  Incomplete as it was, she was still so proud of her house.

It was late now, the sun had set, and the stars had come out, but it was never too late to go around town and greet her animal neighbors.  She was thrilled that her dearest friends all lived close to her.  Lopez’s house was right next door to hers, and Rudy’s right next to his.  Midge’s house was across the river by the large waterfall cascading down the cliff.

Rudy was walking around in front of his house.  “Hey, champ!” the energetic cat called out, waving at her.

“Hi, Rudy!” the mayor greeted back.  “What are you up to tonight?”

“Well, I was thinking we should totally get a group together to play hide and seek!  What do you think?”  Rudy’s eyes were huge and he bounced back and forth on his feet with excitement.

The mayor looked around.  There was enough light shining around Puffett for her to play hide and seek with her human eyes.  “Yeah,” she agreed.  “Let’s do it!”

Rudy grinned.  “Awesome, ladybro!  I’ll go get some others to join us!”

Ten minutes later, the mayor found herself standing in the town square, the now massive town tree towering far above everyone there.  Rudy had come with both Lopez and Midge, and the mayor was very excited to be playing with her closest friends.  

“Boop, S-Puff!”  Midge chirped happily.  “This is going to be so much fun!”

“Yeah,” Lopez agreed.  “We haven’t done something like this in quite a while.  I’m glad we’re doing this!”

The mayor couldn’t help but agree.  The four of them were a tight-knit group that celebrated birthdays together and did plenty of things around town together.  She loved any time she was able to get together with them.

She covered her eyes and counted while the three animals giggled and dispersed, finding their hiding places.  She reached 100, opened her eyes, and started to search the town for her friends.  They always agreed to keep their hiding spots outside so as to be fair.  

The mayor enjoyed looking around her beloved town while she searched for her hiding friends.  There was the cute coffee shop, the police station, Lloyd the gyroid collecting Bells for the new Moai statue she was having built, the three ponds surrounding Re-Tail, the wishing well nestled in a hedge of blue hydrangeas,  the forest of bamboo growing in the southeastern part of town, and all the flower beds that she and the animals had planted over time.  She found Rudy hiding behind the beautiful new lighthouse she’d just funded a month.  Midge and Lopez were hiding behind different trees alongside the river that ran through the western side of town.  Her heart filled with joy at seeing it all, and of course of hanging out with her friends.

They all met again in the town square when the game was over.  “Great job, Robo S!” Lopez exclaimed.  “You did it again!”

“I’ll send you an awesome prize in the mail for winning!” Rudy promised her.

She said goodbye to her friends and walked off aimlessly toward her house.  She was tired now from running all over town playing hide-and-seek.  She was walking by Re-Tail when the light from the still-open store illuminated the blue bench sitting next to it.  There was a little pond in front of the bench, and it was a great place to rest her legs.  She sat down, closed her eyes, and just enjoyed the light breeze and the sound of the cicadas.

“Mayor Staci!”

She startled awake, not realizing she had actually dozed off.  Her eyes shot open as she looked for the source of the voice.

Isabelle, her secretary with the adorable floppy ears, stood beside the bench, the lights from Re-Tail illuminating her from the back.  She was carrying several books from Town Hall.  Her big brown eyes were looking at the mayor with concern.  “Are you okay, Mayor?  You looked like you were fast asleep out here.”

“I guess I was,” the mayor said sheepishly.  “It was just so peaceful out here, you know?”

“Oh, yes, I know what you mean, Mayor!“ Isabelle nodded emphatically, a smile on her face.  She hopped up on the bench beside the mayor, setting her books on her lap.

“I know Puffett isn’t the most perfect place,” the mayor started.

“Yes, we do have complaints about all the trash on the ground, Mayor,” Isabelle pointed out, then put her free hand to her mouth in embarrassment.  “I’m so sorry, Mayor, but it’s true.”

The mayor laughed sheepishly.  “But anyways,” she said, clearing her throat, “I still love Puffett so much!  It’s my home, and it’s a wonderful place to live.”

“Despite the garbage, we all are so happy that you live here and that you’re our mayor!” Isabelle told her.  “You’ve funded so many public works projects.  We have you to thank for this bench after all!  And there are so many beautiful flowers around thanks to you.  You’ve made so many things better by being here!  I just wanted to say that we all love you here!”

“And I love living here, and this town, and all of you as well!” the mayor smiled.  “You’re all so wonderful!  I don’t know what I’d do without you all!  And I want to keep making Puffett better and better!”

Isabelle beamed.  “You’re so nice, Mayor Staci!”  She gathered her books and hopped off the bench.  “I must get back to Town Hall!  You go home and get some sleep in your bed, and I’ll see you tomorrow!”  She waved and walked back around Re-Tail towards Town Hall.

The mayor looked after her for a few moments.  She was startled by the lights inside Re-Tail suddenly shutting off, and she realized that Reese and Clive were going to be heading home for the night.   She hopped off the bench and finally headed back home herself.