The Boy Next Door

Chapter Twenty-Six

Bright light, people scurrying, people talking. I open my eyes to a light room. It's empty except for a bed, a sheet hanging from a wall, a table with a plant on it, and a beeping machine.

I remember this place. It's a hospital. Where is Aaron? Wolf? Maybe I got separated, maybe I should've gone with the big bird. I grunt. Nothing. I yelp. Nothing. I scream.

A tall lady with blonde hair and blue eyes comes in. She looks at me and walks away. I yelp. She comes back.

"Do you remember me? I tried to give you chocolate, remember?"

I shake my head.

"It was about seven years ago."

Oh chocolate lady. I nod. She smiles.

"Do you know why you're here?"

I shake my head.

"You lived in the woods for seven years. We don't know what could've happened there. Can you write?"

I nod then shake my head.

"So a little?" I nod. "Okay, I want you to draw your answer then. Who went with you?"

I draw stick figures of Aaron, Wolf, Jamie, Alyssa, the horse, and Marley.

She points to each of the ones she's not sure of. "Dog?" I shake my head. "Okay, wolf. Cat?" I shake my head. "Dog?" I shake my head and snort. "Horse okay. Human?" I shake my head. "Gorilla?" I nod. "Baby?" I nod.

"Okay, so you took a boy, a wolf, a gorilla, a girl, a horse, and a baby. Why did you take them?"

I write 'no'.

"You didn't take them?" I shake my head. "They wanted to come?" I nod. "Where did you find them?"

I drew a house for Aaron, and woods for everyone else.

"Okay good. Well, is this the boy that went?" I look around. Aaron walks into the room. I smile and nod. He hugs me.

"How ya doin' bud?" I smile and laugh silently. He nods, understanding.

"So this is the boy?" I nod. "Okay, do you understand each other?" I nod. "Okay I'm going to ask you some questions, I want you to tell Aaron what the answer is so he can tell me. Okay?" I nod.

"Who is the girl?"

Aaron told her the story of Alyssa.

"Who is the Gorilla?"

Aaron told her.

"Who is the wolf?"

I look at Aaron and sign that I want him. He's my pack. He tells her.

"Well, the wolf, we don't know where he is. The flight attendant did bring him on board, but we don't know where after that. Who is the horse?"

Aaron tells her.

"Why were you guys out in the woods? Why didn't you come back?"

Aaron tells her. "We didn't want to come back because of how people are treated. How we were treated."

"How was your home life?"

"Jason got abused and me, I was mentally abused."

"Okay. That's it for now. Thank you."

When she leaves I turn to Aaron. I shrug and make a cradle motion with my arms.

"They are in the apartment the government gave us. You are going to live there too."

I ask where Wolf was.

"Wolf is with us. We took him. The government was going to put him in a zoo."

I nod. I ask when I am going home.

"Soon, you were out for a couple days. I'm taking you home tomorrow."

I nod.

"Get some rest. You have a big day tomorrow.

I nod and lay down as he leaves. My eyes slowly close.

...

They next day Aaron did come back. He took me to the government apartment and showed me around the neighborhood. I saw Wolf. He was happy to see me. I wish Jamie were here. She would've loved the jungle jims outside our house.

Though I don't really like Alyssa nor Marley, we get along. It's a weird relationship. We avoid each other like a thorn bush.

Aaron is happy, which makes me happy. It's hard to adjust to all of the people after living with trees for seven years.

Aaron got a job and is going back to school. Alyssa is staying home with Marley all day. Wolf and I still run around outside. Sometimes we sit outside and listen for Jamie. We know she's gone, but I swear that sometimes I can hear her laugh.

The horse is with some rich guy. She's happy and healthy. We even get to visit and ride her sometimes. She's a good horse. I'm glad she's happy.

I'm looking for work now that I'm accustomed to the people. I just need to figure out how to work with a pack wolf. Ever since my leaving, Wolf has been by my side all day. He even sleeps on me, like we used to.

One day a year, we all go to our old house in the woods. We have fun hunting, and being together. It's nice to be back in our old house. Even if it is for one day a year.

I want my kids to see this place. To feel the love. And when I do take them, I hope my kids will remember this place.

The End.