"Reflections"
Johnny Quest: The Real Adventures
By Amos Whirly
I lay here on the sofa, drifting in and out of sleep, listening to the crashing surf through the open living room windows. The sun is shining, birds are singing, and flowers are blooming. I'll go out and play later. I'm resting now. It's been a crazy week.
I'm getting too old for this.
My best friend walks past the couch and smiles brightly at me. The fresh spring wind pouring through the open window ruffles his blonde hair, and his blue eyes laugh at me. I acknowledge him with a look.
He's a great guy, my best friend. He's loyal and honest and true. He's brave too, though he often gets himself into trouble. He cares about people too much. That's why he gets into dangerous situations all the time.
I've known him since he was a child. We had adventures then, too, with his dad and his brother and their bodyguard. We traveled all over the world, discovering secrets and mysterious ruins. We chased legends and ghosts, showing science that not all myths could be explained. That's what Phenomenolgy is all about, after all.
I hear another noise, and I open my eyes.
My best friend's brother is walking outside. I've heard people talk about him. They say he's not really my best friend's brother. They call him, "adopted." It doesn't matter to me. I can't tell the difference. He's been here as long as I can remember. He loves my best friend and has helped him many times. That's all that's important to me.
Another breeze drifts sweetly into the room, bringing with it a pleasant flowery smell – something like fruit and spices. I know that smell.
I lift my head and grin as she comes in, her red hair flowing down her back and her green eyes sparkling. She greets me with a smile and a pat on my head. I love her. She is the daughter of the family's bodyguard. She and my best friend make a beautiful couple. If I have anything to say about it, they'll be together forever. She's just as brave as my best friend, although she seems to think more. She only gets in trouble to save my best friend. She's brilliant and pretty too, for a teenage girl, that is.
I utter a sigh and stretch for a moment before I jump off the couch and walk outside. The morning is as sweet as I thought it would be. My best friend is running around the yard with a Frisbee, throwing it at his brother. I watched them running and laughing, suddenly wishing that I were ten years younger as I had been when they were children. Don't get me wrong. I'm in great shape for someone my age. But even I get tired sometimes.
I sit down on the sweet grass as my friend and his brother fall and begin to wrestle. I hear a laugh as the redhead sits down next to me and scratches behind my ears.
"They're crazy, aren't they, boy?" she giggles.
I lick her hand in appreciation of the scratch and glance at my best friend as he hollers in victory, waving the Frisbee over his head. His brother trips him, and he sprawls to the grass.
Suddenly possessed of a desire to be with him, I race across the green lawn and jump onto his chest. I lick his face, and he laughs out loud.
"Bandit, knock it off!" he laughs and rolls over on top of me, holding me close.
He sits up and pulls me into his lap, stroking my head and chuckling. I sigh contentedly as he says something to me that I don't quite catch. I could stay here forever, tucked in his arms.
I know I can't. Nothing lasts forever.
But I've still got a lot of years left in me, and there are still so many adventures left to be had. And I intend to be there for as many as I can.