Chapter 5
Sensie's advice
I stare. I knew what Sensei is getting at. He was trying to tell me that I still have a family who cares about me and that what I had done was very wrong. Like I said, I knew better than what I had done. I just couldn't believe that Mom and Yuki care for me.
"U…um, Sensei. I came to ask for your advice. Not what you have said and done."I say.
"What do you mean?"Sensei asks.
"What do YOU mean?"I ask.
"Don't play stupid, Ame."Sensei says.
"Huh?"I said in confusion.
"I already knew that you would eventually leave your poor mother, Hana and sister, Yuki. You should not have done that,"Sensei says.
"I know, Sensei. What else could I have done?"I ask.
"Well, you could have thought this over before you had done what you did,"Sensei said.
"Okay."I said. Now that I think about it, what I had done was so, so stupid. I knew better, yet I did it anyway. Why did I do it? Why, why why…
"The second thing is, if you wanted to come to me, you could have asked your mother to come to me. I am sure she would have allowed it,"Sensei said.
"You're right, Sensei."I said.
"Now, are you going to go back?"Sensei asked.
"Um, do you think my mother and sister would accept me?"I asked.
"Yes. Of course they would."Sensei said.
"Okay. Thank you, Sensei."I said.
"Ame, you don't have to go back if you don't want to. I could teach you more about the forest, if you'd like."Sensei said. I smiled.
"Yes, Sensei. I would like you to teach me more about the forest. But, there is one more thing I would like to talk to you about. If that's okay with you, that is. I want to talk to you about this because I am not sure what to do. I really would like your help, Sensei. But if you can't, that's okay too."I said. Sensei looked very distant. I started to worry.
"Come on. Your mother is coming closer. Try to talk to her. Tell her what is on your mind. Then, you might be able to fix things,"Sensei said. I nodded. I already knew that if Mom tried to get me to come home, I would leave instantly. I do not want to go back. I might be able to make things better and come back in the future, but not right now.
Me and Sensei slowly walk back toward that old house I will forever love. My mother said that my father said that this is where he grew up. I really like it here compared to the old apartment I was born in. I just don't know what form to be in, or what to say to Mom, even potentially Yuki. I had a lot of things to think about.
I wonder who I will see first, Mom or Yuki. I really do love my family. I would never trade the love I have for them for anything. But, I knew I had to at least try to fix things with Mom and Yuki. I just hope that they do not try to keep me there.
Plus, Mom knows that I love the mountains and the weather and being outside in nature. She already knew that. She knew that ever since I was young. I know why she wants to keep me here. I honestly think that Mom and Yuki will try to keep me at home.
Do I even have the right to call that home anymore? Does Mom still love me enough to where she'll want me back home? I had to tell Sensei. We need to think of a plan for if Mom and/or Yuki tries to keep me from going to the mountains and/or Tokyo. I need to do it very quickly before we come in contact with my mother or sister.
"Sensei."I say.
"Yes, Ame?"Sensei asks.
"Can we talk for a second? Like stop and talk?"I ask.
"Yes, Ame."Sensei says. We look around for a place to stop and talk about the plan. Me and Sensei decide to go behind our house.
"Um, Sensei. I've been thinking. We need a plan,"I say.
"A plan for what?"Sensei asks.
"A plan for if my mother and/or Yuki try to take me and make me stay home. That's what I feel like will happen."I say.
"Okay, Ame. I did not think about that."Sensei says.
"Okay, so what I think is that what I should do if I get taken back by Hana and Yuki, is to try to escape again during the night. If that doesn't work, I'll stay with them and act all sad and regretful until a chance opens up for me to leave."I say.
"Alright. I like it. But do not be mean to your mother and sister. If you want to go and stay and live with them, come out when you get the chance and tell me."Sensei said.
"Okay. It's settled."I say.
"Let's go, Ame."Sensei says. So, I get up and follow. I stop in front of the door. I scratch at the door. No answer. I turn to my human form and knock kind of hard on the door.
"Coming!"Yuki says. I wait as I hear mumbling. I couldn't tell what they were saying. I turn back to my wolf form as I wait. I look at Sensei. I hope that we can get along. I could tell that Yuki was talking to Mom. Yuki slides open the door.
When she sees me with Sensei, tears flood into her eyes. I look at Sensei. He looks at me. I wonder what she'll do. Yuki shut the door. I hear yelling. I don't know if it is yelling or not. I wonder if Yuki is yelling things like:"Mom! Ame's back!".
I hear more footsteps. Mom opens the door. I look at her with a very sympathetic look. I really do feel bad for what I have done. Should I stay? Should I leave? Hana looks at me with her mouth covered. I could tell instantly that she was crying.
"Ame?"Mom asks. Tears fill my eyes. What am I doing?
"Y…yes, Mommy?"I ask.
"Baby, it's you!"Mom yells with delight. I turn to my human form again. I stand. I look at Sensei. He looks at me and smiles.
"C…can I come in, Mommy?"I ask.
"Yes, baby. You can come in,"Mom says. I smile.
"Hey, Momma?"I ask.
"Yes?"Mom says.
"Where's Yuki at?"I ask.
"She's making food. Do you want to go and see her?"Mom asks.
"Yes, please."I say.
"Come on."Mom says as she beckons me to follow.
"Wait, Mom."I say. Mom turns.
"Yes?"Mom asks.
"Do you want me to shut the door?"I ask. Mom smiles.
"If you want to, baby,"Mom says.
"Okay."I say. So, I went to go and shut the door. Mom grabs my wrist. Mom looks at me.
"Baby, you are cold,"Mom says.
U…uh…"I trail. I knew I was sick. Mom takes her hand from my wrist. She puts it on my forehead.
"You have a fever, Ame."Mom says. I shut the door.
"Y…yeah, I know,"I say.
"Come on, Ame. After we go and see Yuki, I'm going to go and draw you a hot bath. After that, I want you to lay down. Then, I'll put a warm rag on your forehead."Mom says.
"Okay."I say. We walk toward the kitchen. Mom slides the door open. Mom holds my hand as she does this.
"Yuki, Ame wanted to come and see you."Mom says. I look up at Yuki. She is crying. Yuki threw her arms around me.
"I missed you so much, Ame!"Yuki said as she cried. Mom went over and cut the stove off.
"Thank you, Yuki."I say.
"Y…you're cold, Ame."Yuki says with a worried look. Yuki looks at Mom. Mom nods.
"Come on, Ame. Let's go get you that bath."Mom said.