I was feeling irritated and wanted to be alone. Rooms filled with raucous laughter flowed past me as I quickened my steps, hurrying through the Sun Room to the outside before I could snap at anyone else.

My feet moved as if of their own accord, following some internal need that I wasn’t quite aware of. I passed the signs for the Tree House and the Southern Veranda, and followed the sign marked Gardens. Underneath was a secondary wooden sign nailed to the bottom of the first that read: Domain of the Werepanda- Beware!

It was contrariness more than anything else that persuaded me to step boldly off the brown tile and into the gardens. No one told me what to do, certainly not some shoddily made sign.

Someone cleared their throat nearby.

A thick, solidly built asian man appeared. I don’t mean that he came from somewhere else or out of the bushes. One second he wasn’t there and the next he was. He wore one of those prototypical pointy, round hats with a wide base, and a simple brown robe.

“Be welcome.”