Though the Monsters

Chapter 8

Life is Funny Like That

Hadlee sat silently on the railing in front of the tower, watching as Mouse and Harrison unloaded the signs and flags and set them up for the day. The sun was coming up over the horizon, painting the sky in an array of beautiful colors. Out of the corner of her eye she saw somebody lean against the railing next to her.

"I missed this so much." Hadlee said.

            The person next to her chuckled and when Hadlee glanced over she saw that it was Hoppo.

"Well, you were certainly missed as well," He said. "How was New Zealand, did you find what you were looking for?"

            Hadlee furrowed her brow and turned to her boss.

"What makes you think that I was looking for something?" She asked.

            Hoppo smiled gently.

"In my experience, when somebody runs, they tend to be looking for something. Whether it be a feeling, a physical thing, or something else entirely," He said. "So, did you find it."

            Hadlee looked back at the sunrise and bit the inside of her cheek. Had she been looking for something when she left, or had she simply been running?

"I don't think that I had originally been looking for anything, I was just trying to run. But I guess I did find something that I hadn't realized I'd been missing." Hadlee concluded.

            Hoppo nodded.

"Sometimes that happens. The something found you instead of you finding it." He said.

            Hadlee nodded.

"Life is funny like that." She said.

            Hoppo smiled.

"Indeed it is."

~~~~~~~

            The day was in full swing and Hadlee had fallen back into her old routine. Organizing the medical supplies and doing first aides as if she had never left at all. Jesse and Maxi had been thrilled to see Hadlee again and had practically tackled her the second they stepped into the tower. Thankfully, though everybody was excited, none greeted her like Jesse or Maxi. Though she wasn't entirely sure that anybody could greet her quite like Jesse and Maxi. She wasn't sure it was possible for anybody to greet her like Maxi or Jesse. Many of the other boys had either stopped by the apartment or the tower to see Hadlee and welcome her back to Bondi, which Hadlee appreciated. She had missed everybody immensely and was glad to be back.

            Hadlee pushed one of the file drawers closed but it wouldn't close all the way.

"What the..." Hadlee muttered, trying to push the drawer closed again.

            Again, the drawer bounced back open. There had to be something stuck behind the drawer, preventing it from closing. Hadlee pulled the drawer out as far as it would go and stuck her hand back behind the cool metal, feeling around before her hand brushed over something furry. Hadlee ripped her hand out and jumped back from the cabinet.

"What the hell!" Hadlee yelled.

            Hadlee shook her hands out and felt a chill run down her spine.

"Come on Hadlee, just grab it and be done," Hadlee told herself, before approaching the cabinet and reaching behind the drawer again. "Please don't be a rat, please don't be a rat."