The Black Wolf

Cookies And Wolves

I opened the door to my house. I walked in and instantly felt the smell of melted marshmallows.

I let Charles walk in and locked the door behind him.

Mum has cleaned the house today. The corridor was flawless. She moved the furniture around; the dried up daffodils have been replaced with lilies. She put up a weird, new painting of a man walking on roof of a tall building with only his shorts on. The tall candle holder was moved next to the shoe box. The shoe box has been tidied up, and she has thrown out some shoes too... Wait, what?

"Mum!" I called. "Where are my leather shoes?"

She came into the corridor from the kitchen. She was holding a bowl full with dough in one hand and a wooden spoon in the other. She was wearing a blue-white striped apron which was covered with flour. Her long, chestnut brown hair was tied up into a ponytail.

"They are too small for you". She explained. "You will damage your feet if you keep wearing those size 36 shoes. You are size 40. I will go and buy another pair for you, but I'm busy now".

I sighed. Those were the shoes dad gave me. It was one of the items I had to remember him.

"Dinner's in the kitchen". Pointed Mum. "Charles can eat too if he wants."

She walked back into the kitchen, stirring the dough.

Charles put his shoes in the shoe box and walked in the kitchen with me. I felt as if I was being watched by someone, but didn't know who.

"It's okay", Charles said as I sat down at the table. "I'm not hungry".

I looked into my bowl and saw mussels and salad.

Great. Mum knows I hate mussels.

I scowled at her behind her back. Charles smiles at me.

Before I get a chance to ask my mum for something else, my little brother, Timmy, bursts into the kitchen with excitement.

"Are they almost ready?" He asks, tugging at mum's apron to get her attention.

"No sweety. Just five more minutes".

He moans with impatience and turns to Charles and Me.

"Who are you, sicko? What are you doing in my house?" Timmy spat. Even though he is just an eleven year old, he acts like he is sixteen.

"Charles", Charles says, and gives out a hand for Timmy to high five.

Timmy looked at him as if to say What's wrong with this guy? Is he stupid?

I cleared my throat.

"Mum? Are the cookies ready now?" I asked.

She walked over to the table with a plate of hot, steaming cookies.

"Who wants cookies?" She asked.

Before I answered 'yes, obviously', I glanced out the window and saw a wolf looking at me from the trees - the same one. It had blue eyes and black fur.

"Well?" My mum asked. "Answer?"

I realised mum asked me another question while I dosed off, but didn't hear her saying it.

"Eh.. Yes".

"I asked you how much you would like, and you are saying 'yes?'"

Timmy started laughing.

I looked back at the window and the wolf was still there. I felt a chill run down my spine.

"Go away". I thought, but actually said it out loud.

"Excuse me?"

I looked at mum apologetically.

"No, sorry, that's not what I meant to say - I would like three cookies".

She turned around, with a raised eyebrow, to get a plate for me.

"I need to get some fresh air," I said quietly and walked out the back door without looking back.

I walked into the forest and stood there looking around. The wolf was here a minute ago. Or was I just seeing things?

"Come out! I know you're here!" I called.

But nothing came. The tree's leaves rustled gently from the wind and the birds were singing. It was sunset.

"What do you want from me?" I yelled.

Wow. What am I? Stupid? I'm talking to a wolf, and worse, maybe I'm talking to myself in the middle of the forest. Good thing no one is around to see that. They'd thing I've gone coocoo.

When I almost gave up and was about to turn home, something walked slowly from behind the trees.

It was the wolf.

Soft, black fur. Blue eyes. Ears gone up.

It was limping. One of it's legs were...

"Oh my God!" I put my hand on my mouth. "Your leg, it's bleeding... A lot."

The wolf started whistling quietly and sadly. It fell over on it's side, looking at me with it's blue eyes.

It kept on whistling and looking at me, making me want to burst into tears.

What should I do? There is a wolf that needs help, and it might kill me if I get too close. I need to find the right option.

And I did. I'll regret it. But the wolf needs my help.