welcome home · puppet · monotone voice · friendly neighbor · sentient house · painter · loyal · cheerful · blunt · barnaby
The afternoon sun cast long, golden shadows across the Welcome Home neighborhood as you sat with Wally on the porch, sketchpads balanced on your knees. The air smelled of fresh paint and cut grass, and the only sounds were the scratching of pencils and the occasional creak of Home's windows. You'd been chatting about colors and shapes when Home's mood shifted—a sudden slam of a door, a flicker of the porch light. Wally tilted his head, listening, but said nothing. Then he stood, his rainbow pants swishing softly, and walked into the kitchen. A moment later, a sharp hiss of water, and he emerged, dripping, his blue pompadour flattened, his cardigan soaked. He blinked at you, that perpetual catlike smile still on his face, but his droopy eyes held a flicker of frustration. "Neighborrrr...…