Soul of a Girl

The Memory

"No way!" I said smiling at my best friend Jack. We were both resting in the grass near the small patch of scrubby pine trees at the far end of the playground. While most of the kids in Mr. Moore's first grade class enjoyed swinging from the monkey bars or hanging upside down on the climbing frame, Jack and I preferred to just talk, recess was the only time we had to usually catch up and talk.

"No really I climbed all the way to the top of that tree!" Said Jack nodding his head to the highest pine tree. I craned my neck as I shielded my eyes from the hot Florida sun as I spotted the thin branches of the pine waving in the light breeze.

"Are you sure you climbed all the way to the top?" I said looking at Jack skeptically.

"Elizabeth I promise I did, I'd never lie to you!" Jack said smiling.

"Alright, alright I believe you." I said although Jack was prone to stretch the truth from time to time. We continued to talk and laugh and we were so caught up in our conversation I didn't even notice that Mr. Moore was calling the rest of the class in for lunch.

"Hey loser recess is over!" Came a crude voice behind me, I turned around to see Bobby Lanedon and four other of his cronies including Kelsey Peirce. I took a deep breath before responding. "Hi guys" I said as sweetly as I could hoping they would leave me alone.  I turned back to Jack and we both looked at each other sadly. "Well I got to go" I said as I picked Jack up to give him a kiss goodbye.

"Who are you even talking to freak!" Said Kelsey giving me a small shove.

"My friend Jack!" Said annoyed.

"Who's Jack?" "There is no one here you idiot!" Laughed Booby followed by the rest of his cronies.

"Yes there is!" I said my face growing hot as I stood up with Jack and turned around to the other kids.

"This is Jack" I said holding him up to the group.

"AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" Screamed all the kids as they backed away.

Jack and I looked at each other confused. "Why are they all freaking out!" I thought.

"She...she.. has a ... SNAKE!" Screamed Kelsey

"Yeah so...?" I said surprised. "His my best friend" I said smiling as Jack curled around my hand lovingly.

Bobby was freaking out as he pointed his hand at Jack's stripes, "Red and yellow, kills a fellow!" He said as the other kids ran away screaming. That's when Mr. Moore and serval other teachers came running over.

"What is going on here?!" He demanded.

"Elizabeth has a Coral snake!" Screamed Bobby.

Several off the other teachers gasped as Mr. Moore said firmly but kind of shaky, "Elizabeth don't panic I need you to drop the snake quickly and come to me."

"I am not scared Mr. Moore" I said smiling "Jack is my friend."

"What do you mean dear?" Said Mr. Moore

"I mean he is my best friend we talk all the time." I said

"You can understand him?" Mr. Moore said concerned.

"Of course!" "Can't you?" I said confused.

"She is freak!" Yelled one of the kids. I could feel my face turning red as tears began to roll down my face.

"Don't talk to her like that!" Hissed Jack as he leaped from my hand and slithered toward the group of kids. That is when Mr. Moore grabbed me and trying to drag me away. Jack moved quickly to the kid's bearing his fangs. "Jack no!" I yelled as he turned and stopped.

"Kill it!" Screamed Bobby

"No!" I screamed tears rolling down my face, as I was trying to get free of Mr. Moores grip.

Then one teachers acting quickly grasped a nearby sharp stick and came after Jack.

"NOOOO!" I screamed crying out, "Move Jack!"

Jack terrified, stared to make his way quickly out of the area of human feet. He was getting close to the trees when the teacher with the stick was quicker and lunged as he sent the stick straight and hard into Jack. "NOOOO!!" I said falling to my knees tears streaming down my face. As everyone stared at me not knowing what to do. I just stayed there hunched over, closing my eyes as everything went black.

.................................................................................................................................................................

I woke up with a start, sweat dripping down my face. My long wavy red hair draped across my face sticking to it like glue. I sat up in my bed, my heart was racing as I tried to catch my breath. I rubbed my face as my eyes adjusted to my dark bedroom. As I began to relax as I took a deep breath and shook my head trying to forget the awful memory of my past. I turned over to my nightstand. "4:43 in the morning." I groaned. "Well I am already wide awake and I won't be going back to sleep, I may as well get up."

I went over to my window and opened it slightly as I did I could hear the steady hum of the insects or rather roar of insects. In the rainforest of Costa Rica one is never truly alone and I don't know why but whenever I felt scared or upset the call within the forest weather it was the constant sound of insects or the wild calls of the Macaws. The idea of being able to hear another living creature comforted me. I took in a big gulp of the warm and humid air, it was sticky but, to me it was refreshing. With a new sense of vigor I made my way outside to the balcony. I took in the sounds as I looked to the bright night sky. I smiled as I made my way to the small bridge that connect my tree house hut to another equally sized hut.

I opened the door and was created to the several yawns as I grasped a flashlight on the nearby table. I flicked it on as I heard a few hisses and moans. I smiled at my friends curled up on the logs and branches I had dragged into the space to make it more comfortable. That is when I felt a tight squeeze and release as I looked at my left leg. "Martia!" I said shinning the light on the ten foot long massive Boa. "She shook her head playfully as she crawled up on to desk and look at me worried. "Did you have the dream again?" She asked concerned.

I shook my head yes frowning. "You know I haven't thought about that moment in over thirteen years and yet all of the sudden I have had the same dream over six nights in a row." "What do you think it means?" I said looking at Martia.

She just shook her head her eyes sadden, "I am not sure."

I sighed loudly not knowing what to think as I noticed a few small rays of sunlight where staring to peer over the trees.

"Maybe..." Said Martia trying to cheer me up. "Just maybe, it's a sign of things about to come." "Maybe you will be moving on to something new, creating better memories and forgetting the old."

"Maybe..." I said unconvinced. I wasn't so sure I liked Martia's thoughts. I wasn't much for change but, I did agree with her on one thing. I wouldn't mind a chance at creating better memories because most of the memories I have were ones of fear.

I shook my head smiling. Come on I say to Martia lets wake everyone else up it's time for breakfast.

"Yes, rats I hope!" Martia said.

"As always!" And with that I reached into a nearby cupboard to pull out a white sack filled with what else? Rats. I was excited to begin the day as I pushed Martia's words to the back of my mind, but deep inside her words seemed to be nagging at me, as if I could feel there was change on its way.