Of Mice and Men (an alternate ending)

Chapter 1

 It had been a long night, I had just gotten away from a rally of angry KKK members who tried to burn me alive for saving 3 black men and one Hispanic woman. I couldn't believe how these people could just hate because of skin color, it was wrong. But I had the sinking feeling that it wouldn't ever change. My muscles ached from all of the fighting, but the cool air that swirled through my feathers seemed to ease the burning. Deciding to stop for the night, I landed soundlessly on the ground by an old sycamore tree, at the edge of a pond. As I bent down to get a sip of water, I saw a lifeless heap in the sandy grass.

"Oh no.." Closer inspection revealed that it was a man, a very large one. His face was shapeless, pale gray eyes lay half closed. Very faded wrinkles lined the corners of his mouth, smile lines. My wings dully glowed as they illuminated his body. There was a trickle of blood from the back of his head.

"Who shot you...? And why?" I sighed sadly. He was still warm, only dead for an hour tops. I turned him over on his back and pulled his shirt open, strong pectoral muscles laid under the lightly tanned skin. I placed my hands on his chest and felt electricity flow from my wings, into my arms. His body jerked as the shock re-animated his stiffened muscle fibers. I looked into his eyes and saw the light return to them. A low groan rumbled from his chest, and his lids flickered closed. But now he was breathing. My head stung from the transferred pain. I could bring back the dead, but at the price of feeling the pain they experienced before they died. The older the corpse, the more I felt.

Golden locks of hair scattered across his forehead, brushing them aside, I reassured myself that he would be fine. But I had to get him out of here before the murderer returned.

"What the hell!?" a voice boomed from behind me. 

"Too late for that I guess." I mumbled

I turned and saw a short stout man, denim jeans, flannel shirt and a  brown stained hat. My eyes still glowed,

"Leave and I will spare your life." My words didn't seem to deter him as he stepped closer. His eyes told of the awe he felt from seeing this. The glow quickly fled into my wings as they spread, 13 feet from wingtip to wingtip.

"Boo" His lips parted in a high-pitched, almost girlish scream as he dug his high heeled boots into the dust and booked it away from me. I turned and lifted the huge dead weight from under his legs and back and took off into the air.

"OOOOkaay big guy, here we go!!"

Once I gained altitude, it was easier. After scanning the trees for a safe place, we landed with a great thud into a small cave on the side of a mountain. A pop came from my back as I set him down. I winced, knowing that I would definitely feel that later.

"Ok buddy..were safer now..." Despite all that had happened, he still didn't wake from his sleep."Damn, your like a bear in the middle of winter" 

I sighed and made a bed of leaves for him, and a small fire. When he would wake up, I didn't know, but for now, he was safe. Odd, I somehow felt connected to him in some way. A pang of pity strummed my heartstrings as I kept watch over him as a few hours passed. What happened to him? What events in his life led to all of this? Why did i feel obligated to care for him?  Maybe it was just the type of person I was or, just maybe, I could become friends with him. I had spent many many years alone, no one to talk  or express worry to. No one to dote and care for. He seemed nice, or at least I hoped so. With that last thought I laid down and tucked my wings away under my cloak, falling asleep.

Back on the farm...

"I swear to it!! It was an angel!! It carried that big son-of-a-bitch away without even flinchin'!!" The others stared at their boss as if he had lost his damn mind. His son Curly spoke up,

"You're seein' things pa. Angels don't pick up rapin', dirty no good nothing for brains!" George flinched. It wasn't right to speak ill of the dead. His right hand was still shaky from earlier, he regretted what he had done. But it was with good intentions, but he wished it didn't have to end this way. All the poor fella wanted was to have a mouse that he could pet, or rabbits. And maybe have a ranch where no one could insult him or hurt him. Maybe where he was now that wasn't happening.  A simple man with simple wish. Was it really all that much to ask for? George still heard the gunshot ringing in his ears, the muffled thud if Lennie hitting the packed earth. He felt the hot prick of tears welling on his eyes but quickly brushed it away. He was suddenly yanked back into the conversation,

"Well George? You're the one that killed him. Tell us what happened." Slim pressed. A ball of regret hung heavy in his dry throat,

"uh. Well. Sir, Ida just walked up behind em and popped him in the head. Wadnt painful or nothin', just quick." Slim scratched his chin,

"Well let's go see if the body is actually gone." The night seemed to be colder than usual, the shadows darker, the sounds sharper. They came upon the spot where this whole thing started. Lennie's body was gone, only a single white feather remained in the clearing. George, despite the despair that weighed down his stomach like rocks, a smile teased the corners of his lips.

"An angel come to take you home. I bet there be lots of mice an rabbits there." He whispered, "I miss ya Lennie.....maybe one day you can forgive me.."

Back in the Cave...

I felt someone's heavy gaze on me as my eyes peeled open. I wondered how long I was asleep for? I sat up and yawned,

"Well good morning." I looked at the man, his knees were up against his chest and he was in the far corner of the room. Looking like a frightened small child. I smiled sadly

"Hey hey..i'm not gonna hurt you..I saved you earlier." His lips quivered, but he didn't speak. I sat up fully,

"My name is Caroline. what's yours?" A hopeful and friendly tune to my voice seemed to coax out an answer from him.

"L... Lennie..Lennie Smalls...missus Caroline..." He looked down.

A small grin spread across my face,

"Well, aint that peculiar. Smalls. Not so small huh?" His tension seemed to ease just a little bit. "And by the way, you dont have to call me missus. Just Cari is fine with me." His pale blue eyes seemed to smile for him,

"Cari...It..its a nice name." I heard his stomach growl at me like a bear from across the cave. 

"ooh, looks like someone is hungry....Wanna go fishing in the river?" A big grin jumped across his jaw, bringing him to life,

"That sounds like sumthin fun Cari!" With that, I had the feeling that Lennie would be just fine, and that maybe I would be happy for once in my life. As long as I had him, what could go wrong?