Castles by Benjamin X. Wretlind

Author:Benjamin X. Wretlind
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2011-03-23T05:00:00+00:00

3

I didn't get a chance to walk Dusty for the next two days. My time was spent helping Mama around the house, folding laundry or doing dishes. I think Justin grew on me as I scrubbed pots and thought of him. He was handsome, kind, and never once had anything negative to say to me. In one respect, he was much like Michael, but in others—in the goofy way he walked with his hands in his pockets or the way he tilted his head when he smiled—he was so much different. I liked the eccentricity, even if I didn't immediately recognize it as something out of the ordinary. Maybe we were two of kind.

A young girl's imagination is filled with vivid dreams. Some involve running away from home, marrying a man who is powerful, yet respectful. You have a few kids, move into a big house and live out your days like you thought they should be when Barbie and Ken were your biggest role models. This rarely happens, and if it does more often, I don't know about it. Still, the thoughts of such a life were there for me, and even if I couldn't be an innocent virgin for Justin, maybe he wouldn't mind. It was something to think about.

I didn't dare bring up my feelings to Mama, however. I'm sure the fact she refused boyfriends at the time coupled with my previous attempt at a relationship soured her to the idea that I should find love in the real world. Men weren't for me, and if they were to be in the future, I had to be older and out of the house. Our mother-daughter relationship was still relatively new, and I didn't want to jeopardize anything we had just to be with someone else.

I regret that decision to this day.

Mama was at work when Justin knocked on my door. He shook, and sweat covered his body. His chest heaved up and down. I put my kitchen rag on the table and smiled.

"You look tired," I said. I wanted to let him inside, but the fear of retribution held me back.

"You . . . have to come . . . see." His words were labored. I dropped my smiled slowly and stepped outside.

"What is it?"

"You just have to see."

He didn't say another word to me as we ran through the streets and along the fence. I didn't know what to expect. Did he have a gift for me? Had he found the treasure we thought was in the Bus at nine? What could a boy of fourteen have to show me that would make him so excited?

As I followed him to the back of the maintenance shed, my heart pounded with anticipation.

I saw Dusty's tail first, severed and leaning against the fence. Blood covered the brown mottled fur and dirt was caked on. I covered my mouth and stopped. I didn't want to see more. Justin grabbed my hand, and the horror in his face told me everything.

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