Boy Panda Freed from Arcade ... Success! (Only Version)

Panda decided to come along for the day, even though no special adventures were planned. She had no idea she was about to meet another panda—and change his life.

While wandering around, Panda spotted a fellow panda trapped inside a claw machine arcade game, behind the plexiglass with several other caged animals peeking out. She was appalled. A panda should never be caged in an arcade game!

It cost 5 pesos for 20 seconds to try to free him, and that was exactly what I had left on the last day of my trip. The first attempt failed. On the next attempt, I managed to move him a bit.

Maybe this could work!

I borrowed another 10 pesos from my friend and tried again. The panda moved into even a better position. One more try, and the claw grabbed him.

Success!

Panda was thrilled to have freed her new friend. They posed together beside the machine while the other animals continued peeking through the plexiglass, cheering their friend's success.

The event was followed in real time. First came the photo of Panda discovering the other panda, with the message, "Panda was appalled to see a fellow panda caged in an arcade game. It was 5 pesos to try to free it. Alas, I could not. Sorry, fake panda #2!!" (not a good name)

Then came the video of the first failed attempt. The response: "Panda!!!"

Finally, the photo of the two pandas side-by-side with, "Success!!!"

The real-time response was a heart, followed by, "Too cute the boy panda." And so Boy Panda got his real name.

Boy Panda was grateful to Panda for setting him free. But freedom meant deciding what to do next.

He liked Panda very much, but he knew her heart was with Leo. So Boy Panda decided to make his own way in the world.

He quietly stowed away on my friend's boat, hiding in the back of a drawer.

When will my friend discover him? What adventures will Boy Panda have?

Only time will tell.

The boat is bound for Panama and then Colombia.

And so too is Boy Panda.