1000 Hours Outside: A Tale of Two Friends

     One Year Ago

     Moony the Yellow Grarrl was in a painting rut. Not only had he not been publishing his art in the art gallery or joyously designing murals on the Tyrannian Cave walls, but he was starting to feel like he was losing contact with his closest friend and penpal, Bob Billy Joe, the Faerie Blumaroo poet he’d curiously met the previous year. As the winter season ushered in the snow, along with it came grey feelings, loneliness and isolation. After bravely seeking help from the good people at Neopian Counseling Anonymous, Moony finally decided to reach out to his far-away living friend and paint a picture of what he was feeling.

     He gazed down at the ominously blank canvas, feeling the taunting white imposed on him, as much as the cold, bleak snow outside his window. Knowing that his friend would understand and accept him regardless of his feelings, Moony closed his eyes for a few minutes, took a deep breath of the newness of empty canvas and freshly opened paints, and found the courage to put brush to paper.

     ~~~

     While briskly chilly, Roo Island was not covered in snow and Bob Billy Joe the Faerie Blumaroo was supremely thankful for that fact. Each morning as he tended his coffee plants in the mountain shade, he would wake up with a strong medium roast by the fire and gaze up hopefully at the window hoping for a familiar pink feather and a sweet chirping, but alas, the Weewoo, Amica (which meant “friend”) did not appear. The blumaroo’s concern for his friend Moony was evident in his poetry. In fact, just that morning his writing journal reflected his morose thoughts—

     Dour clouds and numbing wind,

     Empty letters and heart pinned,

     Stuck and gloomy missing Moony,

     Can this interruption end?

     He missed his friend, pure and simple. He’d sent a poem weeks ago, but no little Pink Weewoo arrived at his window with a response. As he settled by the fire he picked up the book he was reading: 1000 Hours. He’d never read anything like it. The book reminded readers of the importance of the great outdoors, the memories that can be made with friends and the beauty that can be found for your soul. Just as he’d finished a particularly interesting chapter about the scientific benefits to the brain of outdoor play, Bob Billy Joe heard the sound he’d been waiting for… delicate, musical chirps from a familiar Pink Weewoo….

     ~~~

     Last night had been equal parts soul-wrenching and healing, as Moony had painted for hours. He forgot to eat, he forgot his chores, he simply put brush to canvas and with it put everything he was feeling out in the open. Slowly coming back to reality, he sipped a steaming hot cup of oolong tea with cream as he stepped back and looked at the haunting but real painting he’d worked on. As if summoned by an unknown force, Amica the Weewoo swooped in and landed on Moony’s shoulder, sensing a friendly touch would do wonders for the downcast Grarrl.

     “It’s good to see you, Amica. How did you know that I needed a friend right now?” Moony asked gently, wiping a tear away.

     Amica simply chortled, followed by a coo with soothing tones.

     “Once this dries, I’d like to send it to Bob Billy Joe, please. But, I think you already knew that.” Moony said matter-of-factly with the beginning of a smile touching his face.

     Brightly chirping, Amica seemed to like this plan.

     Settling down for a small dinner, the Grarrl fixed a plate for his feathered companion and ate in amiable silence.

     ~~~

     Breathless. He was simply breathless at the beauty and despondent painting that Amica deposited from his friend. Scratching her under the chin and thanking her with a few coffee beans for her effort, he cleaned her perch and sat by the fire to think.

     It wasn’t always possible to travel to see Moony. They lived quite far apart, but for a season, maybe he could help. Gazing at the book he was reading next to the fire, Bob Billy Joe started to get a wild idea.

     ~~~

     And if you are keen,

     I shall be seen,

     With you for the winter.

     An adventure we’ll take,

     On a frozen lake,

     Or under the stars while camping.

     Moony couldn’t believe his eyes. His friend would interrupt his life to spend time outside… together. He would come, because that’s what friends do. He simply stood there in awe with the parchment hanging from his paws.

     ~~~

     And so the two friends reconvened in the snowy mountains of Faerieland, where Moony had moved a few months ago. After reading the book, Moony and Bob Billy Joe committed to taking 1000 hours of adventures in the great outdoors. Little did they know, it would change their lives and their friendship… forever.

     ~~~

     Hour 1

     Moony and Bob Billy Joe started their 1000-hour adventure with a long walk through Faerie City. They wanted to go on hikes and camping trips, but for now, they would ease into it. 1000 hours is a LOT! And neither of them were particularly experienced in the great outdoors yet. So they strolled through the city, past a red Gelert that was racing towards the Employment Agency. They chatted about their surroundings, caught up on the past couple of months, and enjoyed the comfort of the other’s company.

     They popped into Faerie Foods for some snacks: Bob Billy Joe picked up a Chocolate Eartharole, while Moony opted for a Blueberry Faerie Bubble. They continued on along the city, spotting a mysterious tower that Neopets seemed to be… flying? into, but just wrote it off as a peculiarity of Faerieland. By the end of their walk, they had racked up 4 hours. 996 to go!

     ~~~

     Hour 38

     One week had passed since Moony and Bob Billy Joe had started their 1000 hours outside challenge. They were averaging about 5 hours outside a day, with lots of walks through Faerieland, and afternoons spent at the park, lounging in the snow and enjoying picnics on the ground. Today, however, was their next great adventure: a camping trip.

     When not outdoors, the friends had spent some time at the home of the Library Faerie, researching the best tips for camping in the cold and the best spots in Faerieland to go. Finally, they had planned their trip: they would spend one night in a cave near the Faerie Caverns. It was secluded enough that they would truly feel like they were one with nature, but nearby enough that if they got too cold or too scared, they could run home to Moony’s apartment. And it was covered so that they could keep warm with a cosy fire.

     The pair set out when the day of the trip arrived, hiking to their spot over the course of a couple of hours. When they reached their spot, they took off their packs and got to building a fire. The friends shared ghost stories and talked about their childhoods. Moony even brought his paints and found a good spot for a little cave painting, reminiscent of how they became friends over a year ago. Bob Billy Joe spent time writing poetry in his little pink notebook about the time they’d spent outside.

     The next morning, the friends took a morning hike to the waterfall that lay to the northwest of the Faerie Caverns. Even in the frigid weather, the waterfall was still breathtaking. When they arrived back at their campsite, they spent some time packing up and then set back towards home and warmth. By the end of their trip, they had racked up 30 more hours for a grand total of 68. Only 932 left!

     ~~~

      Hour 100

     “3… 2… 1… HOUR ONE HUNDRED!” Moony and Bob Billy Joe celebrated their one-hundredth hour in a local park a week later, complete with a small cake, blow horns, and flower petal confetti.

     A few Neopets looked over to see what was being celebrated.

     “Happy birthday! Who’s the birthday pet?!” a passing Purple Kacheek asked.

     “It’s not a birthday,” Moony started. “My friend Bob Billy Joe and I are spending 1000 hours outside together this year. It’s done wonders for our mental health so far. We’re both artists, so I really think this is helping our work as well. It’s a little cold right now so it’s been hard to get out, but today we are celebrating hour 100!”

     “Wow, how cool!” the Kacheek said.

     “Here’s the book about it, if you’re interested,” Bob Billy Joe offered her the book that started this entire adventure. The pair of friends had read it so many times that it was basically committed to memory, so they were happy to pass it along to another who might be interested in the challenge.

     “Gee, thanks!” The Kacheek said. “Here, have some potatoes from my farm!” The Kacheek skipped along, continuing her path.

     The friends looked at each other and burst out laughing about the potatoes. They were having the best time, and the most important thing was that they were doing this together. They couldn’t wait to see what the next 900 hours had in store.

To be continued…