LostAgness

It was a bright sunny day at the zoo. Little Jason Funderberker was full of curiosity and was exploring the wonders of the animal kingdom. His small hand was firmly held by his mother as they walked from one exhibit to another. Suddenly, Jason pointed towards a large glass enclosure. "Look, mom! Big snake!" he exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with excitement. His mom looked around and then saw a beautiful green anaconda, with its scales glistening under the sunlight.The anaconda was lazily coiled around a tree branch as it basked in the warmth of the sun. Jason pressed his tiny hands against the glass, his gaze fixed on the giant snake. Jason's mom kneeled down beside him. "Isn't it beautiful, Jason?", she asked. Jason nodded vigorously. "It's green like my PJ's!" he said, which made his mom chuckle. Even though Jason was 3-years-old, it was a day to remember for a very long time. In 1986, Jason Funderberker, now 16, was having lunch with his friends, Wirt and Sara, in the cafeteria. Jason began to clear his throat and spoke. "Ever since I was 3, I've been fascinated by green anacondas. I saw one at the zoo for the first time and it was beautiful. Its scales and dark spots glistened under the sunlight." Wirt and Sara listened actively as he continued. "its coils were so cuddly. There was somthing so captivating about the way it moved, the way it wrapped around the branches." Wirt's fear of anacondas and other large snakes was understandable. He had always been protective of Greg and the thought of such a large animal could potentially pose a threat to him was enough to send shivers down his spine. But, Jason quickly reassured him, "Don't worry, Wirt. Anacondas are actually quite fascinating animals. They're native to South America. Greg is safe." However, Wirt was still feeling a twinge of fear whenever anacondas were mentioned, but, he also started to admire Jason's passion. After a day at High School, Jason went straight to his jungle-themed bedroom. His room has emerald green walls, artificial jungle plants in pots, his bed has jungle leaf bedsheets, a giant green anaconda stuffed animal, and a large fleece blanket that resembles the patterns of a green anaconda. Jason put on his green anaconda PJ's and wrapped the blanket round himself, feeling a sense of contentment of the reminders of his favorite animal. He drifted off to sleep. Jason began to dream about the lush jungles of Brazil. In his dream, he could almost feel the damp earth under his feet, the warmth of the tropical air on his skin, and he could almost hear the rustling leaves as unseen creatures moved in the undergrowth. As he was navigating through the dense foliage, he could hear the sounds of howling monkeys, the birds squawking, and the distant roar of a Jaguar. Suddenly, he heard voices. They were speaking his most favorite language, Brazilian Portuguese. The voices sounded warm and friendly, as if they're discussing something that sounded like an upcoming village festival. As Jason woke up, he felt a strong connection to Brazil and it's natural land. Jason had a very sad day at school because he was reminded of his parents, who died from a severe car accident when he was 5. As he went home, he hugged his big anaconda plush as he cried. The stuffed animal reminded him so much of his parent's love, warmth, and guidance. His grandma came in the room and comforted Jason. "I still have you, grandma." he said, his voice trembling. Despite the pain and loss, he has his favorite stuffed animal to cope and his grandma is supportive of him and his passion. Spring of 1987 was a time of celebration. Greg was excitedly participating in an Easter egg hunt, while Wirt decided to visit Jason on his 17th birthday. He wanted to share a gift with him. It's a poem that he recorded on his cassette tape. As the cassette tape plays, Jason put his stuffed green anaconda plush out and wrapped it around Wirt. Wirt freaked out at first, but he calmed down and realized that it's a plush. Jason then grabbed his VHS camera and recorded this moment. "Happy Birthday, Jason Funderberker." Wirt said. "Thanks. By the way, nice poem." Jason responded. Later, Greg knocked on Jason's door. He opened it and Greg gave him blue, gold, and green eggs. "Heh, thank you, Wirt's little brother." he smiled. "Hey, Wirt! Nice snake!" Greg exclaimed, his eyes filled with excitment. Wirt unwrapped himself, "Yeah, um, it's a stuffed animal." he responded. In the Summer of 1987, Jason was very shocked and saddened by the new of the Amazon jungle being cut down by illegal loggers. He became so determined, he decided to take action. At his high school, he started a fundraiser to raise money for organizations working to protect the Amazon rainforest. He sold bracelets with green beads, which symbolized the anacondas and the lush greenery. The bracelets were in fact a pledge to protect and show respect to the Amazon and its animals. In the Portuguese class, he started a program to raise awareness of the importance of the Amazon and how his favorite animal is being endangered like al the other animals. His cause was so successful, it raised a significant amount of money for jungle conservation. Some of the students think that Jason is the king of the green anacondas. Christmas 1987 came and under the tree was a surprise. After Jason opened is gifts, he saw a particular note. It's colored green, blue, and yellow. Along with it was a passport from his cousin from Portugal. Ever since Jason took Portuguese classes in the first semester, he got intrigued by the note. It was written in European Portuguese, but, his understanding of the language allowed him to read it. As he read the note, he found out that he's going to Brazil, the country of his dreams! It was the best Christmas present ever! As Jason and his grandma packed their suitcases, he left a brief note for Wirt. Jason was excited, for this trip will indeed mark an unforgettable chapter in his momeries and life. They arrived at the airport while Jason practiced his Brazilian Portuguese vocabulary. Then, they went on the plane and took off. In the jungle, Jason and his Grandma were trekking and interacting with the locals as Jason spoke in fluent Portuguese. He took pictures of the wildlife and the plants of the rainforest. In Portuguese, he expressed his love for green anacondas and their natural habitat. The locals began to think that he would make a difference in the world by promoting the preservation of the Amazon and its inhabitants. Back in the United States, Wirt read Jason's note and he was surprised. "Sara, come look at this!" he called out. Sara rushed over and read the note. "So, he went to Brazil? I remember him being interested in that country for quite some time." she said with a sense of nostalgia in her voice. It's been a week, Wirt and Greg began to miss Jason. But then, there was a knock on the door. It was Jason and his grandma! "Hey, Wirt." Jason said, with happiness in his eyes. As Wirt, Greg, and Jason sat down on the living room floor, Jason's Grandma did a slideshow of their trip to Brazil. Jason cleared his throat and began to speak, "This trip was the best christmas present ever. I wish my parents were here to see this." Wirt and Greg applauded him and his grandmother. Jason knows wha he wants to be when he grows up.

Wirt and Greg find themselves in the cheesy jungles of Colombia. They're exploring the legendary city of El Dorado. Wirt looks at the golden city in awe. "Greg," he said with his usual cautious tone, "We need to be careful. This place...it's not like The Unknown." Greg grins at his brother. "Oh, Wirt. Don't be such a worrywart. Look at all this gold!" As they venture deeper into the city, they encounter wonderful sights- giant golden temples that reached up to the sky, lush gardens filled with jungle plants, and ancient carvings that decorated the temples. Despite Wirt's apprehension anf Greg's enthusiasm, they stick together and carefully explore El Dorado. Wirt anf Greg enter the first temple. This temple contained an unexpected treasure- golden cheese! Wirt, holding the golden cheese block, looks at the bubbling cheese sauce down below with a puzzled expression. "Greg!" he calls out, "Come look at this." Greg bounds over, his eyes lighting up at the sight of the cheese. "Wow, Wirt! It's a cheese fountain! Can we dip the golden cheese block in it?" Wirt hesitates, glancing at around the temple. "I'm not sure, Greg...This could be some sort of trap." But before Wirt can stop him, Greg has already dipped the cheese block into the sauce. To their surprise, a hidden door in the temple wall swings open. "See, Wirt? Everything's better with cheese!" Greg grins at his brother. Despite Wirt's apprehension, he can't help but smile at his brother's antics. When thay enter the hidden room, Wirt noticed something very strange and unsettling- it's a room full of golden cheese statues. Each one is a chilling reminder of the victims who fell prey to their own greed, their forms forever frozen in gold. He turned to the drawings on the walls, ancient depictions of individuals succumbing to their desires, thier punishment immortalized in cheese. The message is clear! Those who let ther greed consume them meet a grm fate. Wirt says quietly, "We need to be careful. These statues...they were once people once. people who let thier greed get the better of them." Greg looks around, his usual cheerfulness replaced with a somber understanding. "You're right, Wirt. We can't let that happen to us.", he says. Wirt's gaze falls on another drawing, this one depicting individuals who succumbed to "Golden Cheese Fever", The drawing shows them transforming into golden cheese statues after consuming too much cheese. "Greg! Look at this. It seems like eating too much cheese can also turn you into a golden statue." Greg looks at the drawing and then the golden cheese in his hand. He quickly puts it back on he table. "I guess we should stick to our regular diet then." he said with a hint of disappointment in his response. Wirt reassures Greg, "But don't worry. We'll find a way to explore El Dorado without falling for the golden cheese fever." Suddenly, the ground beneath Wirt shifts. He stepped on a hidden penal! With a rumble, the cheese sauce erupts from the fountain, filling the room with a golden glow. "Greg!" Wirt shouts as he's grabbing his brother's hand. "Run!" They dashed out of the room just in time, the door slams shut behind them as the cheese sauce splatters against it. They're safe...for now. "That was close." Wirt pants, leaning against the wall for support. "We need to be more careful." Greg nods, his eyes wide, "Yeah, let's watch our step." he agrees. Wirt and Greg step into the second temple. The air is heavy with the scent of damp earth and jungle plants. The walls are adorned with intericate drawings depicting an ancient battle. "Wirt, look at this!" Greg says as he points at a wall drawing. It shows the Muisca, a group of indigenous people, battling against what appears to be Spanish invaders. Wirt squints at the drawing. "It seems like the Muisca were defending their city from the Spaniards. Maybe they were trying to protect their gold." he says. Greg nods with his eyes filled with fascination. "It's just like us trying to protect ourselves from becoming golden cheese statues." he responds. "Yes, exactly. We have to be just as brave and smart as the Muisca." Wirt agrees. Suddenly, a scarlet macaw's squawk echoes through the temple. Greg's eyes lit up with curiousity and excitement. "Wirt, did you hear that?" he aska, looking around. Wirt nods with a smile on his face. "Yes, Greg. That's a scarlet macaw. They're native to this region." "Do you think it knows where the treasure is?" Greg asked, his eyes sparkling with curiousity. Wirt chuckles as he ruffles Greg's hair. "Maybe, Greg, maybe." he responded. Wirt's eyes widen as he recalls a wall drawing of a giant cheese monster in the golden cheese temple. "Greg. I just remembered something important. In the golden cheese temple, there was a drawing of a cheese monster." Wirt explains to Greg as they walk out of the second temple. "It devours the statues of the extremely greedy, melting them down and adding more cheese sauce to the fountain." Greg was surprised. "So, that's where all the cheese sauce comes from." he exclaimed. Wirt and Greg step into the third temple, their eyes widening at the sight before them. The floor is covered in glittering golden sand, sparkling under the soft lighting filtering in from above. "Wow, Wirt, look at this!" Greg exclaims as he rushed forward to scoop up a handful of sand. It slipped through his fingers like liquid gold, leaving a trail of shimmering specks in his palm. Wirt walks over to a wall carving depicting Muisca children playing in the sand. "This must have been a place for the children to enjoy and play in." he says with a soft smile on his face. Greg grins as he was already making small sandcastle with the golden sand. "Just like us." he says cheerfully. Wirt chuckles as he's watching his brother play. "Yes, Greg. Just like us." he agrees. But then, a greedy Spaniard enters the golden cheese temple. His eyes gleam with avarice as he takes in the sight of the golden cheese. "This will make m a fortune back in Spain." he murmurs to himself. But, as he was reaching out to grab the golden cheese and his touched it, he freezes! His body stiffens, his eyes widen in horror as he feels himself turning into a golden cheese statue! He tries to pull away, but it's too late! The transformation is swift and irreversible. Back in the third temple, Wirt and Greg feel a sudden tremor. "What was that?" Greg asks as he started looking up from his sandcastle. "I'm not sure." Wirt replies with a worried look on his face. "But, we should find out, I think." With a sense of foreboding, they make their way back to the golden cheese temple, unaware of the fate of the greedy spaniard. As Wirt and Greg approach the temple, they hear a terrifying roar. The ground shakes beneath their feet as they exchange worried glances. "Wirt, what's that sound?" Greg whispers, his voice trembling. Wirt swallows hard, his heart in his chest pounding. "I think...I think it's the cheese monster." he replies. As they enter the temple, they witness the horrifying sight of the cheese monster devouring the new golden cheese statue. The once greedy spaniard is now reduced to a pool of bubbling cheese sauce. "We need to get out of her before the cheese monster notices us." Wirt says urgently. Wirt and Greg fled from the temple as the roars of the cheese monster echoed behind them. Wirt comes across a group of Spaniards, their eyes were gleaming with same greed as te last victim. Wirt steps forward, raising his hands in a gesture of peace. "Wait! You shouldn't touch the cheese! It's cursed. Anyone that tries to take it will be turned into a golden cheese statue!" he calls out to them. Unfortunately, the Spaniards laughed as they brushed off his warning. "We're not afraid of some silly curse." one of them said dismissively. Wirt tried to warn them again, but, they refused to listen. With a heavy feeling in his heart, all he can do is hope that they would realize their mistake before it's too late. The Spaniards entered the golden cheese temple and reached out to take the cheese. But, like the last victim, their fingers touched the cheese, they froze, their bodies stiffened, and they became golden cheese statues. Wirt watches in dismay as one by one, the Spaniards transformed into the cheese monster's dinner, their greed now immortalized in cheese. "Greg, let's leave this place, it's too dangerous." Wirt says quietly. "You're right, let's go." Greg says with a somber understanding. With heavy hearts, they leave the golden cheese temple behind. As Wirt and Greg leave El Dorado, they come across a vast swamp of cheese sauce. The liquid gold bubbled ominously. "Wirt, do you think that's where the cheese monster lives?" Greg asked with his voice barely above a whisper. Wirt looks at the swamp with his eyes filled with caution. "It's possible, but, we're not going to find out." he replies. As they walked away, the golden city of El Dorado fade into the distance, its secrets safe once more.