Whiskers

Dan; June 10, 2027

"Daniel, I told you you were suppose to take the dog to the vet this morning!" The screaming voice of Rebecca Howell echoed up the stairs and into the bedroom. With a big sigh Dan got up out of the bed and ran down the stairs.
"Rebecca, I'm sorry! I had a long night."
"Well did you think about me or the dog or the rest of the family when you decided to sleep in?"
"Here I'll take the dog-"
"It's too late for that, I put her in the car already. I'M taking the dog," and she stormed out of the house and slammed the door. Dan sighed again and rubbed his eyes. Dan looked over and saw some bills and work papers on the table that he had left the night before.
'I should get back to that,' he thought. He sat down and looked at the papers, remembering how much he hated his job and why he left the papers there in the first place. 'I have plenty of time to get this done later.'
Dan went to the kitchen and grab a bowl of cereal. In the cupboard there was a blue mug with a llama on it he had gotten many years ago from Phil Lester, an old friend, that he chose to drink his coffee from that morning. Nostalgia was filling Dan as he sat down and ate his breakfast.
After finishing his breakfast, Dan tried to get back to work. 'I think my order off Amazon might have come in this morning,' he thought, partially because he genuinely wanted to see, partially because procrastinating was his specialty.
Dan walked out to the mail box and when he opened it, there was a stack that grew over time of letters and packages from Phil. Dan shook his head and decided to grab the stack. 'Anythings better than work.'
As he laid the pile across his couch, he got comfortable in a little crease to the side he always sat in and opened the first package. It wrote
"Dear Dan,
Hey buddy. I know it's been a while, I was wondering how you've been? How is Rebecca? Is you dog doing better with it's cancer? I'd love to come help you out with it anytime. I'll send her a little plushy toy to play with and make her feel better! Anyways I have been well. Little Susanna has turned 1. You are still welcome to come meet her anytime.
With care,
Philip"
A smily face was drawn next to his name. He looked over and opened a package. This had a series of pictures, one of Phil's wife, Julia, holding a new born baby in a hospital bed. One was of the baby girl with bright blue eyes with spaghetti sauce all over her face. Another was of Phil asleep on the couch with the baby laying on his stomach, he was wearing a bright yellow shirt that Dan remembered. The final photo was just a smiling photo of Phil that he had draw a smily face in the corner of.
Dan set the photos to the side, stood up and went to the kitchen where he grabbed a beer and chugged half of it. He hadn't seen his friend Phil in almost 2 and a half years. Phil had been trying to stay in touch but Dan never reciprocated. 'I've done too much to hurt him. I can't handle to see him after knowing what I said.' With another swig of his beer the phone rang.
Dan walked over to see who it was, expecting his boss or Rebecca's mother to be named on the phone. 'Phillip Lester' it read. Dan's heart sank. He stared at the phone knowing each ring was a count down to when it would stop. He couldn't bring himself to hit the green button and after a few seconds the phone stopped ringing. The loud ping of the answering machine rang and he heard Phil's voice come echoing through the kitchen. "Hey Dan! It's me Phil. I, uh, have been trying to get in touch with you. I'm not sure if you've received my letters. I'm sure they may have gotten stuck in the mail or something.... The baby is doing well! Julia and I are well. How are you and Rebecca? Is your dog doing well?," there is a female voice mumbling in the back. Dan recognizes it as Julia's voice. "Ah, yes! We are having soup and bread for dinner next Saturday. You can come join if you like! You and Rebecca!" There is a pause. "I miss you pal. I hope your well.... Good bye!"
The ping of the answering machine rang again and the house went silent. Dan wiped a tear running down his cheek and finished his beer. He walked over to the hallway leading to the bedrooms and laid on the floor. Thinking about life.