What If?

My Best Friend

Chapter 2.

Jason Dawson, My Best Friend

I jumped onto Gracie's back and we trotted down to the creek in our backyard. If you follow it about half a mile, it will bring you right to Jason's house. I used to love this creek. Jason and I would come down here each and every day, and try to catch the minnows and long-legged water bugs. When it rained, the creek rose pretty high. Mama said we couldn't play down there when it was that high, so instead, we would climb trees and play adventure games. We’d make up our own rules and we would never let anyone join us in playing these games. I had so much fun during those years. But I don’t go down to the creek now. Not no more. Not after what happened two years ago…

Now it’s hard to even look at that damn creek…

My thoughts were interrupted when suddenly I heard the bushes crack. I'd seen raccoons and deer and stuff 'round here but never anything too dangerous. I guess you could say I was like Cinderella. My only friends were the animals. Well, besides Jason of course. I love him. Our parents used to tease us when we were kids, saying "You two will be married someday. I just know it." No way! He's just my friend. My best friend.

We became really close after his mom died. Jason told me she had a heart attack. Poor woman. Jason never said anything bad about his mother died, not one bad thing. They were close like Mama and I.

My thoughts were once again interrupted by the crack of leaves behind me and to my left. I tugged on Gracie’s reins so she would stop, and looked everywhere. The horse's ears were sticking straight up and facing back. I was frightened now. There weren’t any mountain lions around here, right? There couldn’t be, they never come that close to people. Gracie grunted and snorted, which is what really scared me. Horses can tell when things aren’t right, or when they are in danger, before people can.

Maybe I’m just overreacting. I tend to do that a lot. Yeah, that’s it, I’m just overreacting.

My heart started to pound faster and faster. Gracie turned herself to where she could see where the noise was coming from. We were now facing the creek. I was even more afraid of the creek than I was of the noises I was hearing. The water rushed downstream and it was loud, too, because it rained last night. I was hoping Gracie wouldn’t go out of control and get any closer to the creek. I tried to back her up but she wouldn’t budge. She tugged on her reins and her hooves stayed planted firmly on the ground. I was panicking inside, but when I’m scared, I freeze like a deer in headlights. No matter what the situation, I could never bring myself to run from danger. So in other words, I’m a sitting duck and I am in the hands of whatever I’m afraid of.

I saw a fast movement in the weeds. I backed Gracie up and this time she obeyed my command. Then I heard a soft whimper. Was that me? No, it came from the thing in the bushes. Seconds ticked by, but those seconds seemed like minutes, hours, even. Then it started coming toward me. I was too scared to move. My heart was beating fast, it was too late now to get away or call for help. Gracie’s ears were on alert. She shifted from foot to foot, which startled me, but I couldn’t take my eyes off the bushes. Then I saw what it was. It had one ear, a short tail and spots.

Red.

"Hey! Red! What the hell are you doing here? You scared me half to death! Get on home!" I heard Gracie give a hefty snort. She too was embarrassed to find out it was only Red. After the crazy dog wandered off home, I sat there for a while, to let my heart rate drop to a normal level, and then I continued on my way to Jason's house. I'm coming over un-invited. I hope they don't mind.

When I arrived at the Dawson farm I didn't see anyone. I walked up the front porch steps and knocked on the front door. Nothing. I waited. Then I knocked again. Still no answer, so I rang the doorbell. Where were they?