My Collection Of Original Stories

A Funeral; a Missing Cat; a Promise

My name is Dawson DeVause. Today, December 4th of 2016, is the day I turn 19 years old. It's also the day I get to go home, due to my college's winter break, and visit my mother- who, unfortunately, has been diagnosed with stage three thyroid cancer. She doesn't know I'm coming though. I'm hoping it will be more of a surprise.

"I'm finally done packing," I exclaimed to nobody other than myself, however my roommate, Aaron, heard me anyway.

"Way to go, buddy!" Aaron shouted from the other side of the wall, in his dorm.

I could hear him chuckle through the thin wall, which made me smile. Walking over to my window to shut the blinds before I left, I noticed little snow flurries falling from the grey sky. They looked like the tiniest feathers dancing as they fell to the icy ground. The further out I looked the more the mountain-top horizon disappeared. There was nothing that could compare to the beauty of the falling snow; except my mother. I laid one more gaze upon the soon-to-be winter wonderland before pulling my blinds shut. The amber tint of my desk lamp light filled the room. I then heard a firm knock on my door.

"Come in," I said before turning around to see Aaron leaning against my door frame. He was holding a cinch bag, which was clearly full of other items. He walked towards me.

"Happy Holidays dude," he handed me the cinch bag, "have a safe drive home."

"Thank you," I said and gave him a side hug. He pat my back and smiled as he walked out of my room.

I set the cinch bag on my bed and peered into it. Inside, there were two big bottles of blue Powerade, a travel bottle of Axe body spray, a variety of road trip snacks, and a $10.00 iTunes gift card.

Damn, I thought, he did good. Now I feel a bit guiltier for not getting him anything.

I decided it would be a good idea to hit the road before the weather gets any worse. Afterall, I did have a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Fairfield, Connecticut to Albany, New York. I should get there in a timely manner if traffic is moderate.

It took me two whole trips from my dorm to my car before everything I was taking was inside. I was finally on my way.

***

I'm about forty-five minutes from home now. I'm starting to get very hungry. I spotted a McDonald's nearby and decided to pull in. As soon as I pulled up to the drive-thru speaker, a friendly voice spoke to me.

"Hi! Welcome to McDonald's. How may I help you today? Please take your time, the speaker is on whenever you're ready."

I paused for a moment before deciding what I wanted, "May I have a Quarter Pounder with cheese and a large sweet tea?"

"Of course. Will that be all?"

"Yes. Thank you," I nodded.

"Your total will be $5.67. Please pull up to the next window."

I did as the friendly, female voice told me to do and pulled up the first window. As I pulled up, I dug out a five-dollar bill and three, shiny quarters. I leaned against the door of my car, with my window down of course, to signify that I was ready to pay. Moments later the drive-thru door slid open to reveal a girl with platinum blonde hair, to be mistaken for white, and a small flower tattoo on the side of her neck. She had a bright, white, straight, smile and she looked to be about my age, give or take a year or so.

"Hello again," she smiled, "Your total is $5.67."

I handed her my money and patiently waited for my change and my receipt.

"Your change due is eight cents and here's your receipt. Have a nice day!"

"Thank you, you too," I smiled. She shut her window and I pulled up to the next. There, I received my burger and my sweet tea. As I drove away from the restaurant, my gas light came on.