Family Assignment 14

“Hello Ms. Charlie, how was your break?” A soft voice spoke from behind the red fox, a male voice. Charlie’s ears folded toward the voice before turning around to face the albino cat.

‘As if he needs to know my personal life.’ She huffed inwardly, staring Damien down harshly. Damien smiled softly and folded his hands behind his back, intimidated by her gaze but aware that she wouldn’t hurt him so long as he kept a respectful distance. “It’s quite alright, you don’t have to tell me Ms. Charlie.”

Now he was challenging her. Charlie’s ears folded back and scowled. “Ain’t none of yer business, red eyes. Why the hell do ya care anyway?”

Damien shook his head, putting up his hands apologetically.  “I was just curious, you seemed happier when you walked in today than when you first came to this school.”

Charlie stepped forward menacingly, forcing Damien to take a timid step back. “I ain’t one ‘o yer therapy freaks and yer not allowed into my personal life. So stop tryin.”

Damien’s ears lowered at Charlie’s defensive tone, stepping back a bit more. “M-my apologies Ms. Charlie. I’m glad to see you happier, I won’t intrude on your personal life any longer.” He smiled in assurance and headed for the door. “Have a good day Ms. Charlie.”

Charlie huffed and shut the door behind him. She didn’t like the thought of being so transparent to the yoga master; it made her feel vulnerable. As it happened, he was right. She was the happiest she had been in a long time, thanks to some new companions. For the first time since she was eighteen she wasn’t alone, and she was living with Cheshire, a wonderful boy she adopted and Incognito, a strange blob monster that she worked with. She had someone to trust finally, but this albino wasn’t in that circle.

A small and rare smile crept across her lips as she thought about her new family, sitting down at her desk and propping her feet up on the tabletop. Her eyes wandered to the ceiling, thinking back to when she first met Cheshire and Incognito. As far as she was concerned, she’d protect them with her life, they were worth it to her. They were the most precious treasures she could have ever hoped to have and she looked forward to watching her son grow up and flourish as well as get a chance to spend forever with Incognito. After all, one could only hope for such days.