The 50 Day Bucket List

Have a Sleepover

"We have to do something," said Chloe. We were lying on our sleeping bags in the middle of her bedroom floor surrounded by moving boxes. We had just spent the entire day helping with the puppies and learning about shelters and pit bulls, which was what breed the puppies were. We learned about all the Breed Specific Legislation and how they became a "bad breed" because of their use in the fighting ring.  

I nodded, but then realized Chloe had her eyes shut and her hands covering her eyes as she though. "Maybe we could fundraise enough money for them to be completely cared for." 

"Yeah, but how?"  

I pulled my list out of my pocket. I had only crossed a couple things off the list so far, but I looked up and down it for ideas. "What about a lemonade stand?" 

"Yeah, but how much money could we get from that?" 

"Not too much, but we can at least get some money. We need a few more ideas to do too though. A lot of little things will spread more awareness than just one big thing." 

Instead of Chloe's response I heard a weird moaning sound. I turned to Chloe, "You okay?" 

She uncovered her eyes and turned her head to me, "Yeah, that wasn't me."  

I looked around but all I could see was the moving boxes surrounding us.  

When we heard the moaning again, Chloe sat straight up, "Hunter!" 

Someone at the door giggled and ran down the hall. 

"That was my stupid brother," she said as she lay back down.  

I nodded and closed my eyes again, "What about that carnival that's coming up?" 

"A carnival?" she asked. 

"Oh yeah, they have it every year. It's the Harvest festival and carnival. We could have a donation booth." 

"How many people would want to come over and donate? Especially at a carnival, those are normally expensive." 

"That's true, but we would have to offer something cheap in return. Maybe the dogs could come out and it can be an adoption event." 

"Now that is an idea," said Chloe. Maybe we can go back to the shelter in the morning and suggest it." 

"Yeah we should. I bet Mrs. Reynolds will like the idea!" 

Something hit my face. I opened my eyes and found a piece of balled up paper on my chest. Another paper flew above my head. "Chloe," I whispered.  

She opened her eyes and saw the paper. It looked like she was about to yell, but I put my finger over my lips. I reached for all the paper I could get without getting up or moving much and made it into a small pile. Paper continued to fly at us, but I kept collecting it and adding it to the pile. Chloe soon caught on and did what I did. Once we collected a big enough collection I picked one up in my hand and chucked it over the wall of boxes. I heard a small shriek and picked more up sitting up and throwing it at Chloe's little brother. Together we were able to make him run away. We gathered the rest of our ammunition and stood up, jumping over the box wall and running after him, chucking the paper balls as we ran.  

Hunter shrieked with laughter as we chased him down the stairs and into the kitchen. 

"What is going on here?" asked Chloe's mom with her hands on her hips. 

Chloe lightly threw the last ball at her brother while her mom looked at us. "He started it!" she said pointer her finger at Hunter. 

She looked to me shaking her head, "Aren't you supposed to be keeping them in line?" 

I laughed, "They got a little out of control. I'll keep a better eye on them now." 

"It's getting late too. You guys need to go to bed." 

"Fine," grumbled Chloe. Then turned to me, "Last one to the bathroom is a rotten egg!" She laughed and sprinted off. 

"Not fair! My stuff is in your room!" I laughed and ran up behind her. 

When I looked into the mirror, I saw two pink faces of heavy breathing girls with tilted hair. "Look, our wigs are tilted." 

"Oh well," Chloe shrugged and pulled it off setting it on a plastic head sitting on the counter. "I've got an extra head if you didn't bring one." 

"Where did you get those? I've never been able to find one that was good." 

"They came with my wigs. So I have a few, do you want one?" 

"If you have one you don't need. It's fine if you don't have an extra." 

"I think I have one extra because my red wig got some stuff in it. Still not sure what it is." 

"Eww!" I took off my wig and lay it gently down on the far end of the counter, exposing my thin layer of beach blonde hair.  

Chloe reached out to pet my baby hair, "I just love the soft mini hairs you get. There are so fun to pet. Maybe I'll just keep cut my hair back like that." She petted her own short hair. 

"Yeah, I love it too," I said petting my own hair. 

After brushing our teeth we went back to Chloe's room and lay back down on our sleeping bags. 

"How long have you had it?" 

"Had what?" asked Chloe looking over to me. 

"Cancer, how long have you had it?" 

"A year and a half, I think." 

I nodded, "I've had it for a year." 

Chloe nodded and closed her eyes again. 

"You know, it's really hard to remember back before it all; before the cancer, before the wigs. It's more of a figment of my memory, it's like I've lived with it all my life." 

Chloe nodded in agreement. The room was silent for a long time before sleep took over the darkness.