Chapter 4: L.A and our first day at the reserve.
Chelbell2016:
Okay so this one is done. Please review.
Katelyn's POV:
We are now on our way to the reserve. I have kept quiet the whole time. I am in the back of the American's car who I now know as Greg. Jill is at the front with him.
I don't talk. I just look out of the window. I still don't know whether this is a good idea.
Joe is in a large truck at the back of us. I wonder if he is okay.
Apparently so does Jill.
"Do you think he's okay back there?" She asks Greg.
"He's doing fine," Greg says and I can hear the amusement in his voice.
"Okay," Jill agrees.
I smile at my sisters antics. What would life be like without her? Boring that's for sure.
"I'm sorry," she says and she looks at him. "I'm just a little tense."
"Yeah well your not the only one," I say speaking for the first time since we left our homeland.
Jill doesn't answer she just turns and looks back at the truck again. "Do you think he's okay back there?"
I chuckle and so does Greg.
"I think he's okay back there," I tell her.
"Good," Greg agrees.
Jill looks around at our surroundings.
"So this is L.A huh?" She says but then she looks confused. "Everything looks the same. How do you know where you are?"
"It's easy," Greg says and I turn to look at him. "Ocean's that way, the mountains are that way, Mexico's that way and Canada's that-a-way. Don't worry about the rest you'll never see it through the smog."
Jill tries to put her seat belt on. I think that's what its called anyway.
"Maybe you better check and see if Joe's okay back there," Greg says.
Jill jumps to look back there and I send Greg a look through the mirror at the front of his car. He gulps but looks better when Jill smiles at him.
Greg then speaks again. "So Katelyn.. What do you want to do when your older?"
At first I don't answer but my sister sends me a look.
"Well before we decided that we need to leave," I say referring to the fact that we are going now. "I was learning to become a vet. Whenever an injured animal was brought in I was helping the local vet with them."
He looks impressed. "Maybe we can find somewhere for you to continue your training at the reserve. My little brother Henry he's nineteen he is one of the youngest vets there are. Maybe we can get him to teach you."
I look shocked at him. "You'd do that?"
"Only if you promise to finally show me a smile," he says and I turn away.
"I don't smile," I say and I hear Jill sigh. "I haven't smiled much in twelve years."
He drops it as we begin to head into the reserve. But I thought I heard him say. "I'll keep trying."
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We stop inside the reserve and Joe's truck is right behind us.
As we are getting out a man, a younger man and a woman come over to speak to us three.
"All right, I'm a little confused O'Hara," the man who looks to be in his mid thirties says. "Because you phoned to say your bringing back a two, thousand pound wild animal-"
"Hello Harry," Greg says before hugging the woman as Jill takes my hand and we walk forwards. "Hello gorgeous. Hey little bro."
"Welcome back Greg," the woman says to him.
Jill and I turn to see Joe's truck pulling up.
"But security tells me you requested no fire hoses and no restraints of any kind," the man who I guess is Harry continues.
"Come on let me introduce you to somebody," Greg says coming towards us.
"Well, how are we supposed to control this animal?" Harry says. "With a giant rolled up newspaper?"
"Hi," Jill and I say as the two guys and the woman walk towards us with Gregg.
"Jill and Katelyn Young," he says our names to them. "I'd like you to meet Dr. Harry Ruben, who runs the place."
"Nice to meet you both," Dr. Ruben says as we shake his hands.
"Dr. Cecily Banks," he says next and we shake the ladies hands. "Who makes sure he doesn't screw it up too much."
"Nice to meet you two," Jill says but I don't say anything.
"And this trouble maker," Gregg says and the boy he motions to is like his mini me. "Is my brother Dr. Henry O'Hara."
As I shake his hand I blush as he cannot seem to take his eyes off of mine.
Joe begins to grunt and thump. He clearly wants to get out. Jill and I look up at him. I smile at my sister.
"Hold on big guy, were coming," Jill says as she places her cardigan back down. "I think he's ready to come out."
We walk over and make sure he's okay.
"Harry," Gregg says. "I think its time you met Joe."
While we are heading for the door to the truck we see the land that is Joe's new home. I wonder why it looks so small.
"I know it looks small," Dr. Banks says. "But this is just the entrance. He has the entire hill to roam."
"Okay," Jill says.
"Jack, Vern are we going to have to hose you guys down too?" Harry asks and I wonder what he is on about. "Come on get the sedatives ready."
I go wide eyed as Jill tries to reassure him. "No, no, no. We don't need any of that."
"Don't worry," he says and I turn to look at him. "We know what were doing!"
"Hey whoa hold on," Greg says and I turn to look at him. "Harry we had an agreement. The ladies are in charge of Joe."
Harry looks confused. "How is she gonna handle-"
Jill and I know it is time to get him out. The men open the door and they look a little scared of Joe. I turn to Jill and motion for her to go first and I'll follow behind.
"Okay guys I got it," Jill says and the two boys leave.
"You sure you two have got everything under control?" Dr. Banks asks.
"Yeah," Jill says.
Both Jill and I use our flashlights and Jill begins calling out to Joe.
"Come on," she says.
"You sure they know what there doing?" We hear Harry ask Gregg.
"They know," Gregg reassures him.
"You want me to come in there and get you?" Jill asks and I notice Joe finally look to us before getting to his feet. "There you go. Come on. Come look at your new home."
Jill continues to reassure him as we step off the truck. Everyone in the area looks shocked as Joe comes out. It is his size.
"Come on Joe, come on," Jill continues I don't speak yet but if I need to I will.
Joe looks around at his new home as we get out fully.
"Vern what am I paying you for? Get some pictures," Harry says and then he steps towards Joe. "And get me in there to. You know for perspective."
The man raises a camera. But as soon as he begins taking photos Joe growls out, making Harry jump back. Joe then turns around and goes racing back into the truck.
Jill goes to go in but I stop her.
"Its my turn," I say and she nods.
I go back into the truck and stand next to Joe rubbing his arm. Then I begin to talk. "All right. It's okay Joe. Hey, hey Joe its okay. Nothing happened. You're not scared of those people are you? Jill and I both promise that nothing will happen to you, okay?"
"Come on Joe," I hear Jill and Gregg say from outside.
Joe nods so I begin to walk backwards again.
"Come on Joe," I say and I hear Jill's sigh of relief. "Come on."
He finally moves and as I step outside I stop talking so Jill can take over.
"There you go," she says happy that he is coming. "There you go. You big guy. Come on Joe. There you go big guy. Come on."
We both step to the side and Jill smiles with me as he goes into his new home.
"Nicely done," she says to me.
"Just like when we were little," I remind her in a whisper. "If you could not calm him then I could and Vice versa."
Everyone begins clapping and cheering as Joe finally leaves the truck.
"I think he's gonna be fine," Jill says when we re-join the others.
"Jack lets move that platform out of there," Ruben says.
"Oh no, I'm going back in there with him," Jill says. "And so is my little sister."
"No I'm sorry but we can't allow that," he informs us. "You see we don't have insurance to cover anyone that's not an employee."
"You're not serious," Gregg says.
"But were supposed to be in charge of Joe," Jill reminds the man.
"Yes you are and I'm in charge of this facility," he reminds us.
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Gregg takes Jill and I to our new apartment.
"And I'm in charge of this facility," Jill imitates Harry. "I mean who does he think he is? I bet that man has never spent one night outside in his entire life."
I nod in agreement as Gregg gets the door open.
"Probably not," Gregg agrees as he leads us inside. "Well, here are your new deluxe accommodations."
We look around. It is so much different then we are used to.
"We should be out there with Joe," Jill says. "Not here... Not in this... cage."
I take Jill's hand as we look around.
"Look I know how you feel," Gregg says and I turn to look at him. "It's not exactly my idea of 'Home sweet home' either, but at least your close to Joe."
I nod and he smiles as he is leaving. "I'll get my brother to show you around tomorrow."
I glare at him but I also feel the blush creeping up my cheeks.
When he has left I decide to get settled in. So I unpack my bags after it was decided that I got the back room. Then I take a nice warm bath to relax.
I try and sleep that night but because of the time change and the fact that it is freezing I cannot fall asleep.
Wrapping a blanket around myself I go to get a drink. There I see Jill.
"Mine and your sleeping habits are getting ridiculous these last few days," I say and she chuckles. "You worried about him to?"
She nods. "If there's one thing me and you always worry about it is Joe."
I nod in agreement.
We sit in silence but eventually we start to talk about other things and then it came to a subject I really did not want to talk about. It was about me so I decided to go to bed.
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Chelbell2016:
Hope you enjoy.