Friend's Friends, Part I: The Popcorn Beast

Friend, true to his name, is very friendly. In fact, he beFriends everyone (and everything) in sight.  Where you and I see "plant" or "inanimate object," he sees "friend":

 

But, as fond as he is of floral friends, he is most excited when he thinks he's found another Beast. Which he does. Everywhere. All the time. 

Take the other day, when one of my housemates made popcorn.* Friend wandered into the kitchen and "met"... 

The Popcorn Beast!

They had so much in common!

He couldn't wait for us to meet
the Popcorn Beast, too.

My housemate and I looked at each other. Uh-oh. What would happen when the popcorn was, you know...gone?

We didn't have to face that right away, because Friend ran out to the garden to see some of his other friends.

 

So we got to eat our popcorn in peace. But soon, Friend came back. And then...

He wondered why his new friend no longer smiled.

And how he had lost his teeth.

  

?

(We didn't have the heart to tell him...)

We wondered how long he would grieve for his Popcorn Beast friend...

  ...now silent, grim, and toothless.

But we shouldn't have worried. Friend respects all Beings' moods. If the Popcorn Beast doesn't want to grin or play, that is its right.

 And, fortunately, Friend has plenty of friends.

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*Tip: For the healthiest, happiest popcorn, use grapeseed oil.