How Mr. Hereberry Got His Name

"I really fucking hate flying..." Reiko said.

The plane landed. It was a sunny afternoon. Today was muggy. Reiko wasn't dressed in the best to deal with such heat. After all, she was wearing what appeared to be a Bruce Lee costume. This get up was all yellow with black stripes coming down the sides of it. She wore a pair of yellow slippers and yellow shades. Her hair was actually professionally done and rolled up into a bun. A pair of chopsticks held the bun together. On her back with straps was her trusty friend Mr. Hereberry the teddy bear/purse.

For the most part the flight had turbulence due to the fact that while passing through some states the weather was horrible. Reiko had to barf a few times. She wasn't exactly adjusted to being so high in the air. Actually, there was a phobia of flying that existed in her before. Still, she promised Astrid she would go on this trip to discover the true origin of Mr. Hereberry's name. Reiko didn't believe Astrid when it came to the explanation that Mr. Hereberry was a world-wide manufactured toy and not an alien from outer space.

She was supposed to meet up with Hunter and Astrid in Japan and yet, for whatever reason, she ended up changing planes in Atlanta. She hated southern states. Then again, she hates places that got hot for a long period of time. The airport itself was huge. She had to go through the international travel section. Reiko left the plane with flight attendants and the captain waving to her.

This place had to be a maze of people. Reiko had never seen so many travelers in all of her life. She went to customer service. There were questions concerning her flight since this was her first time flying. She didn't quite understand the process of transferring. Once at the counter she removing her shades and took up a number. Reiko had a seat in the waiting area of customer service.

"Ma'am, is this seat taken?" asked a voice from behind. Reiko turned around to see a man dressed in a black suit. His face looked familiar. Her eyes lit up. It couldn't be her childhood hero. Did her eyes deceive her? "Misss...ter...Yankie? Thomas Yankie? You were, bu-bu-but you were, you were..." Reiko's stuttering didn't allow her to finish her thoughts.

"Yes, that's right. It's me," he responded. Thomas took a seat next to Reiko and smiled. He was prepared to pull out a sharpie. In the off chance he ran into one of his fans he was prepared to sign some autographs. He kept that same pen around for years and yet Reiko was the only person who actually recognized him.

"I'm a huge fan. The Cosmic Bears were my heroes! I based my whole cos-" Reiko stopped. She remembered that her alter-ego couldn't be linked to her. Even if she was revealing this information to a man who she idolized. "Uh, COSPLAY, costume on the Cosmic Bears. I'm the red bear. You know, red bear as in you? Gosh, that show was so awesome. I don't even get why it was ever cancelled. It got ratings," she said. What Reiko didn't know was that she had absolutely no understanding of TV ratings. While she watched the bears in action that didn't necessarily mean every other person in their childhood watched them. It was a B rated show with horrible acting and even worse special effects.

Thomas smiled a little wider. Never had he heard such compliments before. Most of the time he was being ridiculed for even being involved in that show and even more so for being the bears' leader character. Reiko leaned forward and unstrapped Mr. Hereberry. She pulled down the zipper on the stuffed animal's stomach and yanked out a pair of her pink goggles. She held it up to the former childhood star. "Mind signing?" she asked.

"No problem. Who do I make this out to?" he asked. "Make it out to Reiko," she answered. Thomas lowered his head and began writing on the goggles. He looked back up at Reiko. This time he was frowning at her. "I have to go. It was nice meeting you Reiko. Got a flight to catch," he said. Thomas got up, dropped the goggles in the girl's lap and walked away without even giving Reiko time to big him farewell. "Thank you mister...dang, must've been in a hurry. Oh well," she said while smiling at her autographed goggles.

Trashed.