The Woodsman
#5 of Human Enough
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Wow! Close to 2k total views. I couldn't ask for a better birthday gift (8/2). I hope you enjoy part 5. Rate, comment, and tell your friends to take a read. You guys are great - AK
Michelle fell asleep in my arms. I ran my hand through the fur on her neck. This was what I had been waiting for my whole life: someone who I felt really loved me. I mean sure, I knew my parents loved me, but it was hard to get them to show it. I might have dated Marie but I always felt like an accessory to her. Hell, maybe that's what I was to my parents too. But as long as I could remember, Michelle was the only person who I felt actually cared about me.
In retrospect, I should have known I'd end up dating Michelle. After all, I think I may have been in love with her since I was like four. One night, I had a nightmare about a killer clown eating me. When I screamed, my parents came running into my room. They gave me the whole "It was just a dream" speech and left. A few minutes later, Michelle snuck into my room and asked me what happened. When I told her she crawled into bed with me and said. "I'm not afraid of clowns. If they want to eat you, they'll have to eat me first." That was the first time she slept in my bed with me. We were woken up by my mother yelling at her. It was only after I told her why Michelle was there that the yelling stopped. I think she might have been beaten for it, but I didn't know.
Then, another time, we were going to a state fair when I was like 10 and begging my parents to let Michelle come with us. I was so sad that she couldn't come, but once we got to the fair I got an idea. I saw all the game booths and I promised myself I'd win her a prize. It took me a while, but I was finally able to win a small teddy bear. When I got home, I told Michelle to come into my room when everyone was asleep. When she did I gave her the bear. She threw her arms around me and said she was going to name it "Andrew" so when I was at school, she could still be with me.
I wish I had realized how much I loved her sooner. If I did, maybe I would have told my parents. Maybe by now they would have come to accept it. Maybe she wouldn't have been beaten. I lifted up her shirt's back. The bruises were well faded but still we're there. I gently ran my hand across them.
"They feel a lot better." Michelle said weakly.
"I'm so sorry." I said. "I wish I had been here."
She sat up and kissed me on the cheek.
"You didn't do this." She said. "What you have done is made me the happiest girl in the world."
She buried her head in my chest for a moment.
"I'd better get going. Your dad will be home soon. You're going to dinner tonight right?"
"Yeah. You going to be alright without me?"
She got up and nodded.
"I have your stand in to keep me company."
I looked at her confused for a moment before I realized who, or in this case what she was talking about.
"You still have Andrew the bear?"
She smiled.
"Of course. I've held him close to me as I slept for the past 10 years. I'm not going to give him up. Well, not until I have you in my arms every night without fear of being caught."
"I hope it will be soon. "
I got up and Michelle pulled me close.
"Not as soon as me."
She kissed me gently.
"Go get ready. And try to have fun."
Michelle winked as she left the room. I sighed when the door was closed. She was gone less than a second, and I wanted her back. I quickly jumped in the shower and got ready for dinner with my dad. This would be the first time in a long time that it would be just the two of us. I think the last time was when I was like 12. I wondered where we would go this time. I threw on a pair of pants and a polo shirt and put on the TV in my room while I waited.
The news was covering Black's rally that Riley, Michelle, and I put a damper on earlier. It must have been after we left because Black seemed angrier than before. I thought a vein was going to pop from his head as he explained how true anthros needed to watch out for human masters and anthros who had been brainwashed. Three guesses as to who he meant there.
In response, Mr. Harding said that any attempts of violence would not be tolerated and that free anthros were nothing more than "wild beasts." And "if they can't be put on a leash, should be put in a cage." I didn't know who left a worse taste in my mouth. They were both terrible.
I turned off the TV in disgust just as my cell phone rang. It was my dad.
"Hey dad." I said as I answered the phone.
"I'm outside, so whenever you're ready."
"Alright I'll be outside in five minutes."
"Sounds good. See you in a few."
"Alright bye."
I hung up, grabbed my coat, and walked out of my room. My mother was asleep on the living room couch. I decided not to wake her and quietly slipped out the front door. I walked the long pathway away from my house where my dad was sitting in his car. I jumped in the passenger side.
"Ready?" he asked me.
"Yeah. Where we going?"
"Well there's this new Italian place I thought we could try."
"Sure. That sounds good."
My dad smiled and we drove off. For the most part, the drive was quiet. My dad didn't like to talk when he was driving too much. In fact the time after Mr. Harding's little...fiasco was the first time he had done it in a long time. I turned my head out the window and watched as everything sped past.
I wondered why my dad would take me out to dinner like this. The last time he did, it was right before college to give me a Polonius-esque speech about how I should handle myself while I was away. That was usually what happened when my dad took me out to dinner. It wasn't a 'hey haven't seen you in months, really missed you son' thing it was more of an 'I am about to tell you what you should be doing with your life' thing.
I really wasn't in the mood for one of those right now. Especially because it was probably going to involve talking about the rally I happened to be at earlier today. Something told me he wouldn't be satisfied with anything I told him.
After a while, we pulled into the parking lot of the new place. It was called Di Rossi's. I felt underdressed as we walked inside. The place was extravagant. A crystal dome sat over the center of the dining room. The waiters and waitresses were dressed to the nines. The walls were a deep mahogany color. Everything about this place screamed new and fancy.
We placed our orders and I cringed inside. This was when it happened. When one of my dad's talks would begin.
"Andrew," he said, "your mother and I are concerned about you."
"What do you mean?" I asked in an effort to play dumb.
"Well, since you've been home, you've been moody, you wouldn't talk to anyone for days after Mr. Harding's dinner party, and the only time you've been out, you we're caught in a Freefur Rally."
"That was an accident. I went to lunch with Riley Taylor"
My dad nodded in approval.
"I know his family. Good people. I didn't think you liked him."
"I never really got to talk with him before."
"Well, at least you're being more social. But still, it seems something has you down. And you know you can tell me anything. So out with it. What's wrong?"
Well for starter's the fact that I can tell my dad anything. I'm pretty sure he'd beat me senseless if he knew who I'd just started dating. And I didn't want to imagine what he'd do to Michelle. But I had to tell him something, right?
"Well, school's got me kinda bummed."
"How so?"
"I hate the environment. I don't like anyone there; the professors don't care about teaching; all that stuff. I mean, I hate thinking about going back there."
The college I was currently at was my dad's Alma Mater. It was a sure thing I'd get it with my grades and my Dad's connections. He was really proud when I was accepted. He told me how it was a great place and how college was one of the happiest times in his life, and I had just trashed it. He put his hands together in front of his face, like a poker player hiding what he was dealt.
"So what would you like to do?"
I think that might have been the first time I've heard those words out of my dad's mouth. I was expecting him to say something like "grin and bear it." But no. For the first time, he wanted my honest opinion on something. And he was going to get it.
"Well, I'd love to transfer." I said, looking down at my place setting.
This was it. I was going to be told I couldn't transfer for some idiotic reason. Like how the school would get me all the right connections, as if I wanted any connections with any of the people there. My dad lowered his hands from his face.
"I see. Have you looked at other places you might want to attend?"
"Well, I was thinking maybe somewhere closer to home. Like Smithstown. I heard it's got really good classes and teachers. And it's less costly too. I mean, I wouldn't need to dorm."
The second it said it, it struck me. I wouldn't have to dorm; which meant that I could come home to Michelle every night. It would be perfect. Except that my dad would never let me do it. Smithstown wasn't a high profile school. It would give me absolutely no connections to any of the wealthy elite, which is what my dad thought I needed more than anything, I'm sure.
He looked at me with a smirk. He was laughing in his own mind about it. How the hell could I suggest such an idiotic thing? I braced for the crashing of my high hopes.
"Ok." He said to me calmly. "Call the dean of Smithstown tomorrow morning and make sure they'll take you."
"R-really?"
"Of course. There's no use in you staying somewhere you're not happy with."
I was dreaming. That was the only explanation. This was simply too good to be true. I had just told my dad that I wanted to transfer from his elite Alma Mater to an average college and he was fine with it. I was going to get to stay home; I was going to get to be with Michelle every day! I couldn't wait to tell her.
The rest of the dinner was actually nice. My dad and I talked about sports and a few of the problems he had to deal with at work. We were both laughing and having a good time. It was times like these that made me think that even he could change. Maybe one day, I'd not only be able to tell him about Michelle, but that he'd approve.
We got back home around 9. I went into my room and waited for Michelle. A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in." I said, beaming.
Unfortunately, it wasn't Michelle. It was Lisa. I wondered if Michelle told her about us. I don't think she would have. Perhaps she was afraid, like me about her parent knowing. After all, maybe Lisa was a closet supporter of Black. It wouldn't be too shocking. I think Lisa liked me, but I wasn't sure. My family owned her, and she might have thought it was only a matter of time before I became like my dad.
"Good evening, Master Andrew. Is there anything you need before I retire for the evening?"
"No. I'm ok Lisa. But is Michelle around? I'd like to talk to her about something."
"I'm afraid not, Master Andrew. Michelle has gone to Mr. Cunningham's home on a special assignment. I am not sure when she will be returning."
I could hear sadness and concern in her voice, and I didn't blame her. It wasn't Mr. Cunningham I was worried about, but rather Sam.
"Oh, ok. Well then, good night Lisa."
"Good night, sir."
I closed the door and turned on the TV. Some cop show was on and I figured I could watch for a while before Michelle got back. Pretty soon, the 11 o'clock news came on. And then the late show. All I could think about was where Michelle was. I was getting worried. It was common for "pets" to be out late when helping another owner and sometimes they stood the night. But I couldn't shake an uneasy feeling. What would Mr. Cunningham need this late at night?
Around midnight I shut off the TV and crawled under my covers. I would just have to tell Michelle the good news in the morning. As I was about to close my eyes, there was a soft knock on my door. I got up out of bed and opened it. It was Michelle.
"Good." I sad softly. "You're back I have great..."
Michelle grabbed me tight in a hug and put her head on my shoulders. I guided her inside my room and quietly closed the door with my foot. As she stood there, I could hear her crying.
"What's wrong?" I asked her.
"It's terrible, terrible." She said in between cries.
"What is?"
I broke the hug and led Michelle to my bed. I sat her down on it and kneeled in front of her.
"Why are you crying?"
"I...I just..."
"Shh...you don't want to wake my parents. Relax, I'm here. Tell me what's wrong."
Michelle took a second to calm herself down.
"I went over Mr. Cunningham's place. He said he needed help stocking his pantry. Your mother sent me over. So me and Sam we're stocking alone."
"So what happened?"
"He was being friendly and he told me how he'd love to be my mate. I told him that I wasn't interested. He kept pushing and pushing and I kept saying no. And after a while he grabbed me and shoved me against the wall."
My eyes lit up in a rage. No one was going to hurt Michelle while I was around.
"I'll tell my dad." I said. "He'll tell Mr. Cunningham. Don't worry about anything."
"No it's worse." Michelle said through fresh tears.
"What do you mean?"
"When he pushed me up against the wall he held my arms and said that he always gets what he wants because...because he controls Mr. Cunningham."
"What do you mean controls?"
"He said that Mr. Cunningham was terrified of him because he threated to kill him. And that Mr. Cunningham would do whatever he wanted or else. And he said that he was going to tell him to buy me from your dad and that I'd be his, whether I wanted to or not."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Sam in control of Mr. Cunningham? It was ridiculous; at least, until I thought about it for a second. Sam was always around Mr. Cunningham, and went with him everywhere. He was strong and definitely dangerous. And Mr. Cunningham was older, he lived alone, and if he had tried to reach out for help, Sam could easily stop him. Maybe that was why Sam always acted mightier that everyone. It made sense
Michelle began to sob again. I grabbed her close and hugged her and kissed her cheek.
"Listen to me." I said to her. "I will never let anything happen to you. If he tries anything, it will be over my dead body. I love you and no one is taking you away from me. I promise you."
I wiped the tears from her eyes. I wanted to cry, too. I couldn't stand seeing her like this. It broke my heart. I laid her down gently on my bed and held her. She put her head on my chest and began to calm down a little.
"I love you." I said to her.
"I love you, too." She said. "I love you so much. I couldn't live without you. That's why I'm so afraid."
"You don't have to be afraid. Neither of us are going anywhere."
A few minutes later, Michelle was fast asleep in my arms, exactly where she belonged. I wanted her to know that I wasn't going to abandon her; that no matter what happened we would always have each other, and that I loved her more than anything in the world. If Sam was the big bad wolf, I would be the woodsman.