FSE

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Path A - Health First

The morning rays shone through my window. The light shining on my face gently woke me from my sleep. I rubbed my eyes and sat up. I was still tired, but I knew that I wouldn't be able to sleep more now that the sun was had risen. I had always been like that. I had troubles sleeping during the day - it was odd for a tiger, I know. I stared out the window, admiring the bright blue sky. A few big, puffy clouds seemed to lounge around in the air. I thought about how great it would be to be a cloud. You could just float aimlessly for however long you wanted. You could be weightless, and care free. Spending your life time relaxed, and traveling the world. It brought a smile to my face.

I sighed deeply. I knew I had a lot of work ahead of me. I don't mean picking crops. That was actually pretty easy, though it could be hot with my thick fur. It was simply filling a basket, taking it back to the pick-up truck. Over and over. I'd typically do it shirtless, typing my shirt around my head as a sweat band. I never wore shoes or any kind of footwear. It just never appealed to me. I liked to wiggle my toes, and feel the earth.

If I was lucky there would be a breeze during the day, making the work less difficult. Sometimes it would rain, and I would be more than relieved. I'd set the basket down and, looking up, spread my arms and close my eyes. My fur would be matted and take a long time to dry. That didn't bother me, though. I was glad to have the chance to cool off. The worst part would be the loneliness. I was alone, and there wasn't anyone to converse with. That got boring.

But no, that's not what I meant. The work I was talking about was the rest of my life. Trying to be something more than what I was. I knew that high ambitions meant a lot of tedious stepping stones. It was discouraging, but I knew that I was meant for more. The Petersons believed in me. They cared about me, and they knew that I was capable of doing more than field work. I appreciated that. I wish I got the chance to tell them. Unfortunately, they passed away sometime later and I never found the time to go back and visit them. I regret it to this day, as I write this. Maybe I can see them in the afterlife, and let them know.

I swung my feet off the bed and headed downstairs. I could smell breakfast. I took a deep breath. Bacon. I pounded down the stairs, rushing to get to the kitchen table. When I walked in, Gretchen was standing at the stove with her back turned to me. She was Andy's wife, and was also a ferret. They were the same brown color. She was making pancakes. There was already a stack on the table, and a pile of bacon too. She knew how to cook. It makes me mouth water now just thinking about the meals I had there. Mm.

I sat down and started right in on the bacon. I was delicious. I grabbed a fork and moved a few pancakes onto a plate that was set out for me, too. They were soft and hot. My fork sank into them easily. It made me hungrier, it seemed.

"Not even going to say good morning, Trent?" Gretchen asked from the stove.

"Guff mornfin," I said with a mouth full of hot pancake.

"Don't talk with your mouth full. It's rude." She giggled to herself at the stove. She turned off the stove, setting the pancakes out and sitting down. As she did, Andy walked into the kitchen and took his sit.

"Hey kiddo, what are you up to today?" He filled his own plate with bacon and pancakes, eating slowly. He took his time eating. I never liked it at the time. But I was young, and eating meant stuffing as much food into my stomach as possible as fast as I could. He was patient.

I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, swallowing the last of my pancake and bacon. "Don't call me kiddo. You know I don't like that." He looked up at me and smiled knowingly. He liked to tease me. "Anyways. I was thinking that, well, I've saved up some money. And I can't spend my whole life here. You know?"

"Of course not. We've been telling you that for the past year," Gretchen chimed. She was very motherly. She had a temper though. You wanted to be careful of that. She could love you like you were here own, but break her trust and there was no coming back from it. Mrs. Henderson, the store clerk, had once started a rumor about her. I don't know what it was, I never asked. It was before my time. But I do know that Gretchen had never spoken to her again for ten years. She had never even stepped foot in the store. That was impressive, because it was the only one in Hearthaire.

"Well, I thought that I'd take my money, and head to East Grandgrove. Take up more schooling. I thought that maybe I could become a healer. It's something I've always respected. The ability to help others in such a tangible way is inspiring. I want to be able to cure a sickness, or to set a broken bone. The world could use more people that help so many others." I realized I was looking at my plate. I really did believe that. I felt it, somewhere in my soul. It was calling me, pulling me. I was meant to be this. I would do whatever it took.

"Well, you've got a lot of hard work ahead of you. East Grandgrove is quite a ways away, and the schooling is very difficult I've heard. But we've never doubted that you belong somewhere like that more than you do here. There's nothing here, Trent. Just farms and gossip. It's a place for the old, like us." Andy put his arm around Gretchen, hugging her fondly.

"When are you going to leave?" Gretchen was always to the point.

"Well, I was thinking that I'd go today. Probably after my chores." I knew that they could use the help. They didn't often have company, but when they did it was hard for them to take care of everything on their own. I felt kind of guilty leaving them on such short notice. I figured that staying to help do dishes, clean sheets, and sweep or mop was the least I could do.

"Nonsense. We won't stand for it. If you leave early enough, you can get there before sundown. We know a good friend that has a carriage. He owes us a favor. We'll have him take you. Now, you just go collect what you need." Andy stood and took his plate to the sink. "I'll leave and go talk to him."

"But I--" I was interrupted before I could finish my sentence.

"Listen here, boy. There isn't anything that we can't take care of ourselves. You have a great life ahead of you. So stop arguing, and quit underestimating us. Go get your things." Gretchen locked eyes with me. They were a warm brown. They glistened with pride. How could I say no?

I went to my room. I had an old wooden trunk that belonged to my parents. That and the necklace I wore was all I had left of them. It was a deep red color with black straps to hold the lid shut. I placed all my clothes and my coin purse into the trunk. I was still only wearing shorts from the night before, and decided to put on a shirt while I was handling the clothes. I shut the trunk, and buckled the leather straps that wrapped around it. It only took me a couple seconds. I stood in the center of the room, thinking. Walking over to the window, I watched the fields for a while. The wind rustled the leaves and the grass. I was going to miss it here a bit. I'd never been on my own before. Not really. I had lost my parents, but I was from a small town where everyone knew each other. Not that it was always a good thing, mind you. But still. I had lost track of time when a voice startled me.

"Trent? Andy's back. He said that Lewis Strat is ready with the carriage outside." I turned to her. She was standing in the door way. I always forgot how much taller than her I was, since I mostly saw her while I was sitting in the kitchen. I smiled softly at her.

"Well, I guess it's time." I picked up my trunk and headed downstairs. Outside I could see Andy speaking with a mouse. He had spotty tan and brown fur. His big ears were pink inside, and his tail was lazily flicking about. I approached them.

"Ah, here he is now. Trent, this is Lewis. He's agreed to take you." I shook the small man's hand. He wasn't nervous or flinching like other mice. I liked that. Just because I looked like a giant predator didn't mean I was going to eat everyone.

"Nice to meet you, sir. I appreciate the ride."

"It's no trouble. Andy and I go way back. If you don't mind, I'd like to leave as soon as possible. It's a long trip, and I want to get home as soon as possible." He climbed into the driving position.

I turned to say goodbye to Andy. Gretchen had come out, and they had their arms around each other. I wanted to say something. To let them know how much it meant to me, and how much I cared about them. But it just wasn't who I was at the time. I nodded. "Thank you, very much. After I become a healer, I'll be sure to come visit." They smiled.

"We know you'll do well," Gretchen replied.

"Have a safe trip, kiddo." The male ferret smiled that knowing grin again. I nodded again and climbed into the carriage. We pulled away slowly, and they stood watching us go. I stared at them standing there, holding each other. That was the last time I ever saw them.

A nurse entered the room to find awake in his bed, still writing. "Mr. Malone? It's time for your medicine." He looked at her, and his pen stopped. He put the book down on a stand nearby. She walked over and helped him drink some kind of purple-blue liquid. He coughed a bit and thanked her. "You should get some sleep." He nodded. She turned the light out, and shut the door.