The good die young..
Wrote for a friend, based on a true story sadly..
The wind that wafted through my open window ushered in a fresh scent of dewy-sweet summer air that permeated my room with the scents of summer. I inhaled deeply the sweet aroma, smiling to myself. I glanced over to my clock-radio; the bright blue digital numbers read 9:50 am. I swung my feet over the side of the bed and stretched. My footpads curled into the soft, shag rug slightly as I yawned. Another glorious summer day, free from school and all other responsibilities! Celia; my stepmother, poked her head through my door just then. "Ah you're up Vincent! I got some chores I want you to do later, and don't wake your sister up!" She said as she walked back down the stairs. "Vinnie." I corrected her under my breath as she left. I hated my name, why "Vincent"? Of all the names to choose, my mother had chosen that one! I guess she was always a bit different; she was quite the rambunctious spirit in her prime, still retaining that playful curiosity she had as a pup throughout her college years. My mother was a purebred husky; she had met my father (a red fox) in high school, and got married soon after graduation. That was before the tragedy. "No" I said to myself and shook my head. I won't dwell on it, every time I think back to that awful day; I always get overwhelmed with sorrow and grief. Looking in the mirror, I saw a handsome, grey and white husky smiling back with ruffled up bed fur. I had gotten my rugged good looks from my mother. I used my paws to try to tidy up my fur a bit, adding a bit of my own saliva for extra hold.
"Big Brother!" My ears perked up as I was suddenly tackled by a red blur of fur. It was, of course, Jolene; my sister. She sat atop of me, smiling that innocent, sweet smile of hers; tail wagging. Instantly she started playing with the charm bracelet I always wore. See it was our mother's, not our current one mind you; our birthmother's. Before the accident that was, I inherited it and my sister loved to play with it. Oh it had sparkly shiny stones in it that she loved to hold and roll in her paws. I had planned on giving it to her for her upcoming birthday this year. "Hey sis." I said as I sat up slowly, rubbing my head. "Mooorning!!" She exclaimed in a shrill high pitched voice as she hugged me. I petted her head softly as she looked up at me with those cute eyes of hers. "Another summer day of fun right brother?" She asked as she got to her feet. "Sure thing sis, want to help me up?" I grinned as I tried to sit up, body still tired from last night. "Nope!" She giggled and ran out of the room. I groaned and sat up from the floor, resting my back against the side of my bed. Some days I wish I didn't have such thick fur, it was barely nine and already it was hot and humid out. I stood up and stretched, tail wagging softly. I heard Jolene shout, "Biiigg Brotherrr!!! Commmme onn!!!" from downstairs, I grabbed my sun screen and went downstairs.
I looked with a grimace at the cold oatmeal that lay before me. Oatmeal is so disgusting looking, just the natural texture of it and the taste! Yuck! I pushed the bowl away and got up. "Where are you going hon?" Ma asked, "Gonna be late for school mom, see ya!" I ran out the door to find Jolene standing there with her little teddy in hand. "We are gonna go on a picnic right Vin!" She asked, standing on her tiptoes. "Uh..sure thing! Can we have a picnic under that shady orange tree though? It sure is hot out here.." I complained as I tried to fan myself with a paw. "Nope! Mr Bubbles wants to have tea up on that hill!" She pointed out back, about a good mile behind our property. Behind our yard, lay meadows choked thick with cockleburs and I shuddered at the thought of preening them out of my fur at night's end.
Beyond the meadow was a hill, devoid of those dreaded cockleburs and somehow always had short grass, although no one ever cut up there.. It wasn't even technically our property, it was owned by Old Man Pockins, the local farmer, although he never grew nothing on that lot except weeds and cockleburs and the occasional poison ivy. All the more reason to steer clear of that place. "Now Jo, you know we aren't allowed to go up there.. Mama said.." "No! My Bubbles wants tea up there!" She shouted and started to sniffle. Oh boy.. whenever she gets those tears, she always gets her way.. "Ok, let's just go ask ma.." I said, turning back to the house.. "Nooo! She'll yell and say no! Let's just go anyway! We be real quick 'bout it! She neva know!" I rolled my eyes and agreed.
We walked up the narrow dirt path, surround on both sides by thorns and cockleburs. I had to turn to the side a couple of times to make sure none stuck to my fur, making mental notes not to wag my tail, so that wouldn't get any on it either. Jolene however, couldn't care less. She was prancing and skipping, making her teddy bear "fly" as she twirled and dance. I couldn't help but smile at her jubilation and whimsy.
She suddenly stopped and the smile faded from her face instantly. I ran up to her to see what was wrong. She pointed to the side of the path and turned away, burying her face in my fur. I looked over and seen a dead squirrel. Poor little thing, I don't know how it had died though, there wasn't any wounds or bite marks or anything. It was a feral, non-morphic one, but still my sister cried for it. That's just the kind of person she was. "It's ok Jo, he's in a better place now.." She looked up at me with big round eyes moistened with tears. I hugged her tight and held her hand, walking her away from it. We trudged on up the path, the sun reaching its peak in the sky above.
Clouds dotted the sky from one horizon to the next. It created kind of a checkerboard patter on the hillside with their shadows. Some spots shady; others sunny. We had Jolene's little tea party, Mr. Bubbles got a tummy ache. So Jolene was all playing Dr with him. It was pretty cute to watch, her imagination was so great. Video games long since killed any that I might have had previously. "Mr. Bubbles needs tums!" I hear Jo say, snapping me out of my trance. "Well sis, I think that 'Mr. Bubbles' will have to wait till we get back to the house, ok?" I knew this wouldn't end well, before I even finished the waterworks had started again. "Mr. Bubbles doesn't feel good! He'll die if he doesn't have his medication!!" What could I do? I didn't want to shatter her dream world by saying stuffed animals aren't alive and thusly couldn't have upset tummies could I? I sighed heavily, "Ok, well come on and I will take you down to get some medicine for 'Mr. Bubbles'". "But Mr. Bubbles' stomach will hurt more from more walking.." She sniffed. "Well you can always carry him can't you?" I asked. "No all that moving around will hurt him too." "And I suppose leaving him hear unattended would be a 'no go' right?" I asked as I rolled my eyes. She shook her head no. "Look.." I said as I knelt down next to her. "..I am not supposed to leave you alone here, Mom told me not to let you out of my sight..." "I'm old enough! I need to protect Mr. Bubbles!" She yelled, hugging her bear. I glanced at my wrist watch, and then I looked back down the trail. It was only a short distance to the house. Fifteen minutes there and back probably.
I hugged her tight and kneeled down next to her. "I'll be right back ok? You sure you will be ok by yourself?" "Yes bro!" She smiled and hugged me back. I knew I shouldn't have left her by myself but she didn't leave me many options. So I waved and jogged back down the path. It was getting kinda muggy out, as I ran down the path I ran through a cloud of small flies. Ten minutes later I am standing in the kitchen; medicine cabinet opened, wondering what the hell kind of medicine a teddy bear would need and how stupid I suddenly felt. I grabbed some Tylenol and headed back for the path. About half way back I heard a blood-curdling scream come from the hill top and a chill went up my spine. "Dammnit!" I shouted and ran full sprint as fast as I could to the hilltop.
As I got to the top of the hill I saw Jolene lying down, and next to her was a white wolf. I mean solid, pure white. Any other time I would have been in awe. I grabbed a stick and waved my arms frantically. The wolf ran off into the woods as I knelt down next to Jolene. My hands were shaking as I moved a strand of blood-soaked hair away from her face. Her breathing was shallow as she struggled for air to enter her young lungs. I looked at her wounds through tear streaked eyes and saw they were just too deep. She reached her paw out to hold my good luck charm one last time. I wore it on my neck that day on a thin chain. "I love you bro.." She said and smiled weakly and I hugged her and kissed her one last time. I felt her go still in my hand. "I love you too sis.." I whispered, crying. I sat next to her and cried for an unknown period of time. I had failed her, I promised I'd be there to protect her and I wasn't.
The rest of that day was a blur to me. I remember everyone from school showed up at Jolene's funeral. I was inconsolable for most of the time. It's been a few weeks since then, but the pain feels just as strong now as that fateful day. I wiped my tears away, more forming; rolling the charm in my hand. 'Why did it have to be her? Why couldn't you have taken me?' I thought out loud. 'I was supposed to protect her..' I thought as I sobbed and hugged her bear tight to my chest. I cried myself to sleep many a night back then.
A tear drop fell from up high and stained the yellowed paper. The husky closed the diary and stuck it back under his mattress. He wiped his eyes dry and gathered up his book. College classes started soon. He positioned the teddy bear on his bed, on top of his bed covers and smiled to himself. He flicked the lights off and shut the door. Walking across the campus, books in one hand, his good luck charm in the other.