Chouko’s mind was filled with thoughts of the race. It had been announced throughout Aleria that contestants would be invited to race for fame and fortune. There were signs all over advertising the event. Everyone was very excited including the little red panda.
   “News of this race is everywhere! It sounds so exciting! I love contests! Contests! Bracelet! Soda! I remember now…!” Chouko’s mind filled with thoughts of money, soda, and happiness.
   Onward she skipped towards a nearby store where soda was regularly in stock. That was one good reason to get into the race; with all the fame and fortune she could probably buy her own soda company! Besides that it sounded like a whole lot of fun.
   Inside the store, Chouko was greeted by a shopkeeper who was nearly as tiny as the red panda herself. Both of them looked up at the high shelf where the last box of soda resided.
    “Bamboo!” she exclaimed, shocking the shopkeeper.
    Chouko was wearing her special bracelet that she won in a contest. This simple looking peice of jewellery allowed her to summon bamboo out of nowhere. Now in her hand was a stick just the right size for the moment. She bounced excitedly across the floor.
    If they hadn’t been so focused on the task of retrieving the canned beverages from the high shelf, one might have noticed that Vespera, the governer, and Carlos were passing by and had stopped to look in the window.
    In a flash, the red panda climbed up the shelf and whacked at the soda box with her stick of bamboo. The goal was to have it land safely on the floor. Vespera looked on but her expression didn’t change. Carlos was also peering in the window. Both thought that maybe, here was a contestant for the Race of Aleria.
    A few moments later, the soda box landed safely on the ground. Chouko paid for it and proceeded to open the box. Using a peice of bamboo as a straw, a can of grape was downed in a instant.
    “This is delicious! Oh hey! What’s that?!” Chouko spun around looking for who had dropped the little envelope, “Oh! It has my name of it! I wonder what it is?!”
     She tore open the envelope and read the most exciting news of all time. Chouko was invited to race! Grabbing her purchase and nearly falling on her face, she raced home to prepare. Well, that’s what she meant to do but really stopped to explain her day to every passing citizen.