Coyote (Created: Part 1)

5

Back when I was eight, while the animals had started vanishing, something else happened. Something pleasant, yet had somehow become distant, as though my mind rejected the memory for some reason.

It was mid afternoon. Hannah and Daniel were off with some of their friends, leaving me all alone. In their absence, I entertained myself by playing Super Mario Bros on their Wii, but soon reached a level that I just couldn't beat.

Sick of failing the same level over an over, I shut off the console and pulled on my shoes. It was time for an adventure in the back pasture.

I was absolutely thrilled to be out there on my own. I was my own man, living off the land. No one could tell me what to do! Even with the strange animal vanishings (which I of course pinned on Bobby the Hacker), I had no fear. I was on my own.

At least, I was.

"Hey! You there!"

I must have jumped ten feet before turning to see who was calling me. It was someone on the other side of the nearby fence. A young boy, perhaps a year younger than I was.

"You're out here too? Watcha doin'?" he asked as he looked into my eyes.

I simply shrugged. "I dunno," I said simply. "I was bored."

"Haven't you heard of the animals vanishing nearby? You might get snatched too, you know." There was a teasing look in his eye. I knew that he was joking, but I still frowned.

"Oh yeah, so what about you then? You're out here too."
   
He flashed me a smile, and his green eyes seemed to shine in the sunlight. "I'm not scared! I'm really strong, so I can punch anything that tries to get me!"

I wanted to call him stupid, but I couldn't help but smile. Instead of ridiculing him, I found myself laughing.

"Did I say something funny?" He asked as he cocked his head to the side. Blonde hair hung down as he did so.

"You're gonna punch it!?" I howled. "That's crazy dude! I think I like you!" I said once I was finally able to calm down. "I'm Luke. What's your name?"

His smile grew as he offered a handshake, which I took. "I'm Ian! Nice to meetcha!"

We talked for a while about all sorts of unimportant things before he suddenly climbed over the fence and stepped down onto my side.

We ran around together. We chased lizards. We added some improvements to the old tree-based clubhouse. We even found a rabbit carcass lying out. It was so fun to be able to play with a boy my age. I'm not sure why I ever forgot it.

The two of us wanted to keep in touch, but neither of us had an email. Instead, we promised each other that we'd meet again next time I came to visit, and would have even more adventures.

We shook on it. Just one day together and we were already like best friends.

But I never saw him again. The next time I came to visit, someone else was living on the property. Ian's family had moved away, and my friend was long gone.

It hurt, yes, but in time I forgot all about it. Other friends came into my life, and the memory of Ian was clouded by other more recent memories.

It was strange, really. We were so close when we first met, yet two short years later, it was as though he had never existed.