I do not own any of the CI characters, and promise to return them unscathed.
A/N: I am over-whelmed and amazed at the response of the last two short stories of The Jacket! Wow! Thank you for your kind reviews and adding the stories to your favorites and author watch.
I took a small detour, or is it? It seems the jacket has become an important character of these short stories. I wanted to add more about the jacket itself. Please read and review. Thanks!
Chapter 1
The Jacket
Brrrr. Something feels cold beneath my shoulders! Small hands lifting me, higher and higher. A sudden STOP. I feel myself swinging in a small dark area. A hand strokes my left sleeve, steading me. Strokes to my left breast, and I feel the warmth beneath the hand. Sudden darkness, as the light is switched off and the door is closed. The foot steps fade away. I'd look around and see what was around me, but I am in total darkness. During the short periods of light, I can feel others being moved around me, pushing me further away from the door. A slicker, that slaps me around, though I cannot see it's color or size. A trench coat, that feels stiff, and very unwelcoming. A jersey that wants to cling. Cling...what's up with that?
Months past. I feel a light feathering on my shoulders. An occasional light hand brushes me off and pats my belly. I swing with happy glee, not to be forgotten. But always left in the dark.
One day, at least I think it was day, the door opened. I felt the 'others' moving around me. Sadly, I have been pushed to the far back of the dark little room and know that it is not I that this person wants. Sadly, I hang, with with a heavier feathering than I have ever held before. I hear sad moaning coming from the door.
Suddenly, I feel myself being jerked from my stand. I swing forward into the light. The light! I am patted and thumped all over. My arms jerk in excitement. I am in the light, and being touched! My shoulders quiver with excitement as the hands touch me all over. I feel myself enveloping a small figure. I shudder with fear, knowing that I will be tossed to the floor like those many items that are unwanted.
I feel the small arms in my sleeves and know that this person will shed me, once realizing that I 'don't fit the scheme of things'. I'm too big, too awkward for this small stature of a person. I am more than this person could want. I cling to the shoulders, the arms, the waist, hoping this person will not notice my cumbersome size. I want so much to hold, as to be held.
The person wraps me nearly twice around its figure, and sinks to the floor. The drops of water hit my front, my shoulders, and I do my best to shed them away from this person. I do what I am meant to do, to protect, and keep warm. I wrap myself around the person, feeling the gasps, the sobs, and the rocking. I quietly hang on to this person, not wanting to let go.
I hear the sad moans from this person, and feel the repair above my right breast slightly give. Hoping that this person will not notice my imperfections.