It Can't Get Worse

Chapter 4: Sammy and Snow Slopes

Chapter 4: Sammy and Snow Slopes

After Maisy past away, Joe was less happy then he normally was. But, on this very day, Lyle finally took a day off work to take the family on a mini snow vacation. Ski slopes, hot chocolate and Joseph's favorite, snowboarding. And, at last, Joe felt a firework of joy bursting inside him. He will have his first good day without Maisy.

Joseph yawned as he got out of bed, then slipped his bulky jeans and fleece long-sleeved shirt on. But as he walked down stairs, he saw the time. It was 9:00. They were supposed to leave at 9:15 to make it on time.

"NO! WAKE UP! HURRY!" Joe shouted while banging two pots together. "Meredith! Jonny! Mike! DAD! Please, hurry!" But, when he ran to each of their rooms, they were all empty.

"Wait! WAIT!" Joe yelled as he scrambled out the door. Luckily the car was still in sight as it rolled down the street. He sprinted as fast as his legs could take him until he caught up to the car. The Jeep skidded to a halt, but Joe kept going. He built up too much speed to stop as quickly as the Jeep, and ran into the tree.

"Get into the car pink-eye." Jonny said obviously annoyed. Still, Joe was in too happy of a mood to care. He smiled and hopped into the car. They were headed to paradise.

~

Once they got to the snow, Joseph's mouth dropped in awe of the beauty. But, it wasn't just the snow that caught his eye, it was the fox. A dazzling red fox, stood amongst the white sleet, starring straight at Joe through the snowboard rental's window. And for a split second he saw Maisy's face instead of the foxes.

"Wow." Joseph stuttered astonished.

"That's Sammy for ya." The cashier said. "She's a beaut."

"How long has he been her," Joe asked.

"Bout' three months, 2 weeks." That's exactly when Maisy died. Joe nodded and took the snowboard, but when he looked back outside, Sammy was gone. Was it a reincarnation of Maisy? No. Joe had to stop himself from thinking about that girl. It was just a fox. Nothing more.

~

Joseph and Mike were sitting on the ski lift going to, "Armageddon Cliff," the most dangerous summit for snowboarding.

"Blueberry?" Mike asked, holding out a bag of fresh fruit.

"Never. But thanks," Joe smiled. Mike and him were slowly bonding by their love of snowboarding.

"Oh ya, you killed your girlfriend. Sorry man." Well, he wasn't that great at bonding. But at least he apologized. "Enough of you're depressing attitude. Get off, let's race!" Mike smirked as he jumped off the lift and sped down the cliff. Joe laughed and quickly followed.

He loved the feeling of snow hitting his face while the scenery flashed in front of him. There was a jump straight ahead that Mike past. If he soared over it, he would definitely be ahead of Mike.

Little did Joseph know, it wasn't a jump. It was a cliff.

"AHHH!" he screamed as he was falling to his death. But then he thought about his life, Joe did good, helped people and made the world a happy environment. He was ready to die. So, he smiled, accepted his fate and closed his eyes.

~

Joseph awoke to a sweet howling sound next to him. Sammy. No, she was Maisy. He knew it. Now that they were both dead, they had turned into animal spirits. She had Maisy's voice, and as she sung, her gorgeous locks of red fur bounced. It had to be her.

"Maisy?" Joe stuttered as he went to touch Sammy. And as he stroked her red fur and all of his memories about Maisy, his one and only friend, came pouring into his mind. Then, looking into Sammy's/Maisy's eyes, while trying to hold back his tears, he whispered, "I love you."

But he wasn't dead and it was just a fox. Then the stray fox attacked his