The Crooked Man

There Once Was a Crooked Man

  The sound of a ticking clock and a gentle pitter patter of rain had awoken the young man from his peaceful slumber. A cool breeze from the open window caressed his cheeks, a soothing, nostalgic feeling. He rubbed his drowsy eyes as he stood up from his seat, a small creak of old age from it as he did so. To his right laid a cane of old twigs and branches from the berry bushes outside. The young man shook his head as he clicked his tongue at the sight. He was meaning to replace it, however he never seemed to find time for it. He grasped the cane firmly, all of his weight trusting itself to it. His left leg dragged along the ancient wooden floor as his muddy brown eyes darted across the room, falling on a boarded up window almost to the extent that one could debate its transparency.
        "Rain sure seems heavy today..." The young man spoke to himself, his words but a whisper as he stared at the abyss-like world outside him. He glimpsed slightly at his own reflection, something he still could never find himself getting accustomed to. A normal looking boy stared back at him. His slightly long brown hair, which he had been meaning to cut, framed his somewhat prominent facial structure, a petite nose, doe eyes, shapely cheekbones. One wouldn't expect such a boy to lock himself in his own humble dwelling for such a time, nor to recognize such a boy as , "The Crooked man." He had known the name ever since he could remember, along with "Nobody" N for short. Yes, N was his name. Perhaps his drowsiness had not yet subsided to have forgotten such a crucial detail. N let out a self depreciated smile as he shifted his weight slightly, careful not to topple over. A small "Meow" awoken his thoughts as he readjusted his grip on his cane.
        "Oh....it's you..." N exclaimed, with a frightened, yet disappointed sigh. The cat meowed once again as it reached forward to shake off its wet, jet black fur.
"I've never seen a cat like the rain as much as you do. Next time, visit when you're dry." N scoffed as he glared at the cat, whom began to lick itself. It perched itself upon its single hind leg, a feature somewhat common to N. Despite its handicap, N envied its freedom. Well, he despised the cat in general. It had always visited him, kept him company, and yet, N hated it. N had planned not to name it as so not to get attached, but the old cat had visited so much N needed something to call it by.
"Rabies, do you mind doing that elsewhere?" Of course, N had chosen the name rabies for the poor old cat. Rabies however ignored N and sat in its place, continuing to clean itself off. N rolled his eyes as he continued forward, nudging the cat slightly with his cane.
        "You don't see how much I want you gone, yet you always come back...why?" N stared at the cat for a moment, all his built up anger subsided, a calm, somewhat serene look etched on his face. The cat met his gaze, tilting his head slightly. N quickly removed his eyes, placing them down onto the floorboards as he shuffled his foot.
       "And here I am talking to a cat..perhaps my mind is just as crooked as my leg."