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In A Cage: By The Cuddling Fox

"Remember Rob, no lights, right? We warned you about that..." the booming voice of my father rang through my ears as I slowly approached the wooden door, my flesh getting goose bumps as my authority figure warned me once again about the light. He says, that no matter what I do, I am not allowed to turn on the light. I never understood why...I just do as he says.

"Yes Dad, don't worry! I am big now, I remember good!" I smiled to myself. I knew I was big now! I could remember things like everyone else could! I knew like 9 people's phone numbers, and my address and how to get to school. I was getting to be the big man as my Dad called it. He chuckled like only grown-ups do when I say something that they think is cute. "Yes son, you are but still, it is very important...you can't see what's down there, okay?" I whined in a slightly annoyed temper "But Dad...whhhyyy??!"

They said it was typical of my age to question, to take things into "a different light". I never got what that meant, but I guess it means that I take things differently than they do...I don't know. "Son, I told you we can't tell you, please, would you just drop it already?" He started getting that tone of his, the one where he wasn't really angry but he was going to get there if I did anything more. "Yes Dad..." my head lowering as I spoke "I'm sorry." I must have looked rather miserable, my eyes glued to the floor, I didn't want to upset Dad, then I wouldn't be able to go downstairs.

Dad must have felt sorry or something, I felt his hand on my shoulder "I am sorry son, I never mean to snap like that I just...don't want you getting hurt or confused or just..." he let out a sigh "I can't explain son, just please listen to me." I looked up to him, gently nodding, letting him now that I truly did know he meant well, I was just being curious after all. "I know Dad, I know, can I go now though?" He chuckled again, rubbing my short brown hair, slowly getting up; he was still quite a bit taller than me. "Yeah, yeah, go ahead, 20 minutes though, that's all, I am gonna call you up then, and you better be up when I do." He gave me that father pointing finger, the only one that dads can really give; he meant business.

I nodded, but quickly made my way back to the door; I needed to make the most of my time!

Quickly I made it back to the large wooden door I was trying to get to to begin with. It always gave me the creeps, the large aging wood, the big steel door handle, straight out of a haunted house. Slowly I reached my hand to it, gently turning the knob and creeping it open, the creaking of the old door frame clear as I did. I shivered in place, giving a small sound of distain. I never ever liked opening the door, but what was down there was worth it! I gently looked up to the light switch the old white plastic had a naturally dirty hue from age, currently flicked in the off position, as it always was when I got here. I glared it...it's lucky I can't turn it on, or I would flick it so fast...

After I was done threatening the light switch, I began to slowly descend down the stairs. It may have been a bit dark without the light, but you could easily see your way down, though I was always careful on these stairs. They always creaked and bent with their age, the wood feeling cold and heartless against my feet as I moved down. The sound of them always managing me to almost want to turn back, but what was down here was more than worth all this scary stuff.

Slowly I made it to the bottom stair, my heart relaxing itself as I made it to the familiar cement floor of our basement. The ceiling was very short, Dad always having to duck under all the air ducts and other such things protruding for the ceiling, luckily for me I was short enough to never have to duck down here! The stone walls rang out their grayness into my eyes, as did the floor, the whole place looking like a giant blob to my eyes except for the washing and drying machine on the right side, currently with clothes lying on top of them, a giant pile of mess. And the left side, where the true magic was, as my lips curled into a smile looking over there.

On that side most of it was blocked off with a steel fence, my Dad spending hours down here with the welder getting the fence completely made. He said it was made from very special steel, steel that we needed for this. Behind the fence laid a special sheet of material, my Dad never would tell me what it was. No matter what it was, it made me unable to see through the fence, all I could ever see was black. Finally, I can get time all by myself, with him.

Slowly I walked over to the cage, as I did my feet smacking their naked heel against the ground, making a soft clapping sound against it. No matter how many times I do it, I always walk slowly up to the cage. May be just a habit, or I always enjoy the suspense of getting there, but I always walk slowly to the cage. Getting closer and closer my heart begins to race, even though I already know everything that may happen, I guess the sheet always makes it nerve wracking. Slowly, I made it to the edge, as close as I could get to the cage, my heart going even faster as I begin to pant, my breath leaving slight moisture on the cold steel. Slowly, I bring my hand from my side and softly press it up against the cage, letting my fingers spread out as I do, the chill of steel shivering down my arm and into my spine; I gulp.

"Hello again..."I manage to barely spit out after what felt like ages. I have no reason to worry, and yet I always do when I get down here. My hand stays pressed against the cage as I wait, it would be very rude of me not to wait for his reply...

Slowly, from the other side, I feel a weight press back against my hand, and a soft yet beaming voice once again sweetly feeling my ears. "Good to see you again little one." The weight slowly lifting as I hear a patter of some sort of movement from behind the cage, it slowly coming to a halt as I breathe, my smile never fading; my best friend here again. I slowly sit myself down to get comfortable, laying back as I do, my hands supporting me up on the cement as I stare into the blackness of the fabric. The voice booms again to me, the deep masculinity shuddering through me yet comforting and soothing a way I could never describe. "How are you Robert? Having a good day so far?" More soft pattering behind the cage, I can't help but here I slight scraping sound as I nod to no one in particular.

"It was awesome! Dad got me this new toy plane, at it can like, fly and stuff and it all goes so far and stuff, and I can control it with this little remote he got me. I sucked at first, but I kept trying and I got it! It was so sweet! We had a good dinner too! Pork chops...mmm...was very good!"

The booming rolled through my ears as I heard his chuckling behind the fence, it always made me feel so happy, I couldn't help but smile as well. "Well, sounds like you had a pretty big day today...glad you are having a good time out there with your parents. Very glad." I heard and soft puff of air as he began to breathe regularly again after the chuckle, my eyes looking over the sheet, curious at the sound, slowly rubbing my hands together in thought. Why would Dad never let me see behind here? What could be so bad? Is the man behind here okay? Shouldn't I call someone about this? Before I could think too far into it, the booming voice hit my ears once again. "How long did your father let you stay today little one?"

"Only 20 minutes again...I am sorry, I always try for more, but he won't ever let me. Not fair." I whined, like most my age. This guy was so cool! I always wanted to stay with him, but Dad only let me go little times during the day.

"It's alright little one, you tried right? It is the best you can do, I was just curious." Somehow it always felt so comforting to hear his voice, more so than even my own dad sometimes. He makes it seems like he knows that I tried, and that I am still his best friend for it...that feels great.

Shyly, I rub my hands together as I sit there in front of the blackness, the soft panting behind the sheet somehow lulling me into a calm relaxed state. Even then though, my question still runs through my head as I scoot gently closer to the cage uneasily. Should I even ask?

"Something seems to be troubling you Robert...everything alright?" He asked me, and yet it was a gentle hum in my head. Unlike when everyone else asked questions, and they took the forefront of my thoughts, he sort of just suggested something. It was different to how everyone else did it, that's why he's my best friend.

"Just...I can surely say that you are my best friend...but after 3 months of knowing each other, you still haven't told me your name...could you? Please?"

A soft breath escaped him from my question. Oh no; did I ask the wrong thing? Did I offend him? I would never want to do that, he is my best buddy, I never meant to hurt him. A soft rubbing sound could be heard from beyond the cage, I could never describe how it sounds. Like nails rubbing up against a blanket in a certain way..."Well Rob, your father told me not to tell you anything personal about me but...you have been a great friend to me for the past few months...tell you what, I will give you one that everyone else calls me, it is something easier than my name, how is that?"

I can't help but nod excitedly, like someone telling you a big secret that you weren't allowed to tell anyone about. "Yeah yeah, sure! Please tell me!"

He chuckled, the same chuckle that brought a soft warmth into my heart, the same one that I couldn't help but smile to. "My name is Nigel little one."

"Nigel? Cool! You are the first one I know! That's so neat!"

The same chuckle, again. "Glad you think so little one." The chuckle still continued as I heard he soft footsteps again, somewhat sounding closer, like he was getting closer to the cage, I still could see nothing.

"I am glad to have you as my best friend Nigel...you're really cool." I smiled to myself, I hope he knew what I meant by cool.

"Thank you Robert, for I am very glad you have befriended me here...it..." his tone seemed to drop, almost as if he has his head down like I did when my Dad was mad with me. "It gets very lonely down here; I always look forward to our times together...thank you."

I couldn't help but feel sorry, whatever my parents kept here, I am sure it was rather lonesome...imagine if I never got the courage to try to talk to it...him I mean. "Of course Nigel, I mean, why wouldn't anyone want to talk to you? You're so awesome! Like, you always care about my day and stuff, and you are always interested in what I talk about and..."

That same chuckle, softly running through my ears like a current of peace..."Thank you little one, but there are plenty of reasons I unfortunately can't share for why people would never want to see me...your Dad put this cloth here for a reason Robert...and I am sorry that I can't share with you why right now, one day maybe."

Sadness crept into my conscious as I heard his words, he couldn't be bad, Nigel was so cool! Why would Dad want him to be behind this anyways? More and more questions kept popping up as I stuttered to even talk anymore, before I could really ask anything, my dad's familiar voice rang down the steps of the basement. "Rob, times up, come on, got dinner going for ya!" Sadness even more greatly hit me as I realized, and I am sure Nigel did too with the disapproving sound that came from beyond the cloth, that I now had to leave. "I am sorry Nigel, Dad wants me to go back upstairs, we will talk tomorrow though, or tonight, maybe I will sneak to you and..."

"Shh..." A soft caress of air over the space between us, made me feel safer just hearing it. "Don't worry little one, I don't want you to risk our time together for just a little bit more time at night. You go relax and have a great night, and I will see you tomorrow afternoon, how's that?"

A smile gently spread across my features; he was right, I will eventually see him tomorrow. "Thanks Nigel." I gently pressed my hand up against the cage once more. "See you soon."

The same weight from before gently pressed up to my hand as I placed it against the cage for the last time that night, "Take care little one, rest well."

I quickly got up, waving goodbye to the fence as I hope somehow he could see my hand as I quickly shot up the stairs to our kitchen, shouting to my father that I was coming as I did. Little did I know that I could hear the light tapping on the ground of the basement. The sound I would later learn to be teardrops of my best friend...in a cage.

FIN