TWO
Jason Goes on a Long Field Trip
I stared at my mother puzzlingly. Why would she want to take us to the wolf house? I should explain. The wolf house is a building created by Jack London, an author who wrote novels about the wild and wolves. It was rumored that his house, the wolf house was haunted. Just as it was completed, It was burned down. His ashes were supposedly scattered on the site. I had visited it once or twice when I was a kid but it didn't seem to be a special place. I had no clue what she was up too but if that was her single request before letting us declare our independence I was willing to go along with it. I bent down and picked up the limp form of my mother and put her in bed. I closed the door and tried to fall asleep. Sure enough, my eyelids grew heavy and I ventured into the strange land that was my dream land.
I appeared to be on top of the most beautiful mountain in the world. I looked around me and saw the most magnificent valley. On the nearest hill I saw a van that said Delphi Strawberry Service. That was quite the weird name but the entire valley radiated joy and springtime. I glanced over behind me and I saw an abrupt border separating his paradise and the outside world. There were four figures running up the hill. One was a young blonde girl, another was a slim guy, one was some sort of hybrid (a goat/human maybe?), and one was me. The scene shifted. I was running away looking terrified. I was armed with a sword but I still looked scared out of my wits. I woke up with a start to crying. Jason was in his crib with a bloody lip.
"WAAAA," he wailed. Next to him in his crib was a stapler. I realized he must've been trying to eat it. I ran to the kitchen and grabbed some scotch tape and a roll of paper towels. It wasn't exactly the best medical care, but It stopped the bleeding. I heard a crash from my moms bedroom and my mom came stumbling out. She had cleaned up.
"Let's go," she said, not slurring her words. I was befuddled by why she needed to leave so urgently but I didn't argue. I grabbed my favorite death to barbie t-shirt, my leather jacket and some jeans. I took a look at my room, grabbed Jason, and headed out. Little did I know, this would be the last time I saw my room, ever.
•••
Drive to the wolf house seemed to take less than a minute. What I didn't know was that this was the last time I would ever visit my neighborhood again. As we passed the forest something inside me began to stir like it always did when we approached the wolf house. This is dangerous. Not your territory! It seemed to be saying. I glanced over my shoulder self-consciously. I could see nothing but dust trailing behind us. Suddenly the car screeched to a halt. A heard a lock click as my mom stumbled out of the car. She knelt down and scooped my baby brother in her arms.
"Put him down." I told her.
"Sweetie can you go get my purse from the car?" she said, innocently. No! I thought. I wasn't going to turn my back on Jason. Then again It was only a second. I turned my back and bent down to pick up my moms purse. That was the shot heard round the world. If I hadn't turned my back that instant, well, the world would be so different right now. But I did. There was a blinding flash behind me, a cry, and thunder. It all happened in an instant and when I turned around to give my mom her purse, Jason was gone.