My Boy ~ The Story of a Loyal Raccoon

Smile, Varian

     It's been said "Some things fill your heart without even trying."  I can say that is indeed true.  For today I have found myself a "pet" of sorts.  There are many of his kind, but he stands out significantly.  He is not big, or tall, or even intimidating in the slightest.  He's a simple thing.  Simple, gentle, kind— a good sort.
     Many times I've enjoyed my midday snack in a tree outside his nest.  I'll often sit in my tree, munching on an apple or two as I keep an eye on it.  After all, my tree is a front row seat to whatever chaos ensues within the nest's stone walls.  Every now and then, a loud boom will startle me awake from my hourly food coma, but that's commonplace.  Other times, said booms will follow with distant shouting from within the nest as my pet flings a window open, coughing as a steady stream of colorful smoke pours out. 
     I do worry for my pet sometimes.  He's terribly reckless.  So, I like to visit his nest to check on him every once in a while.  However, my display of kindness and genuine concern is not always repaid.  He likes to play this unusual game— one that I will never quite understand.  You see, I find the front opening to his nest to be the most convenient entryway when I need to check on him.  But, he had recently started playing this game in which I walk through the door, then I am suddenly blinded by a puff of colorful smoke.  When the smoke clears, I find my paws are stuck in a sticky goo, and I am unable to free myself until he sprinkles the antidote onto the goo.  After which, he proceeds to toss me back out of his nest.  I do not see the entertainment in this game, but he always smiles anyway.  All this to say, although the front entrance can be tricky to pass, I'll often resort to using the window or a hole between the roof tiles.
     Today, we played his little game again, and although I could see he was all safe and sound, I decided to pop in again through the ceiling. He did not spot me this time, seeing as he was a bit preoccupied with his guests and the earthquakes to notice my break-in.
The said earthquakes have been fairly common the past month or so. They've recently become more frequent and destructive. No doubt they had something to do with my pet.
My pet's nest eventually collapsed from the violent shaking just moments after I went to look for him when he had fled into the village.
At long last I had caught up with him in the midst of a disgruntled crowd, on his knees, working to clean up scattered debris from what looked to be several explosions that I'm positive we're in some way related to him.
He was solemn and uncharacteristically quiet as he shamefully cleaned up his mess. I saw several passing people give him condescending looks of great frustration and hatred. My pet simply lowered his head and carried on.
Looking in need of comfort, I hurried over and brushed up against his arm. He looked partially surprised, but in a delighted sort of way.
"Well, hello there, buddy." He gently scratched the crown of my head. Sighing, he observed the destruction that surrounded us.  "Guess who's done it again."
My suspicions were correct, then. I conveyed my sympathies and hiked up onto his bony shoulders. He wriggled uncomfortably as I made my ascent, dropping an armful of debris back onto the dirt road.
"Woah— uh... okay- okay!" he stammered, giggling as my bushy, striped tail accidentally swatted his face.
I arranged myself comfortably draped around his skinny neck, my head nuzzled up against his round jaw.
"Alrighty then," he laughed faintly and patted my head, finally smiling again. "Let's get all this back to the lab. Wouldn't want these parts to go to waste, am I right?"
Oh dear... the lab— his nest. He is in a fair mood now, but he will be devastated all over again once he sees his... lab laying in rubble.
He continued to work, gathering all the metal parts and collecting them into one pile.
     A tall, broad-shouldered man pushing a wheelbarrow called out to my pet.
"Varian!"
My pet looked up, his long, black bangs tickling my nose as he turned his head.
His voice was small and brittle as he replied, "Yes, Dad?"
The man froze when his eyes met mine.
"Varian," he set the wheelbarrow down and massaged his temple. "What is that?"
"It's... it's a raccoon, Dad."
"I know it's a raccoon. But what is it doing on your shoulders?"
     My pet stroked my tail as a small smile broke across his thin face.
"I don't know. It just kinda... crawled up."
"Raccoons spread sicknesses, Varian."  The man's voice sounded tired.
"I know, I know. I can test him when I get back to the lab."
"Oh, Varian..," he lowered his head.
"What?" my pet asked, concerned.  "What is it?"
     He didn't it answer.
     "Dad?" He looked at me, then back up at the man. "Dad, what happen-"
"You're earthquakes destroyed the house. The house, your lab, it's all gone."
     I felt my pet's shoulders droop and his limbs go limp.
"Dad...  I'm sorry."  He looked at his gloved hands for a moment, thinking.  "But... we can rebuild it!"  He excitedly jumped to his feel.  "I've actually been thinking of building a lab separate from the house; so, earlier, I drew out some blueprints.  We can just use those and add on to them and then-"
"Varian, enough!"
     My head jumped up; my pet was silent.  I curled closer to his neck, and I could hear his rapid heartbeat.
"It's your earthquakes that caused this, I will not let you be involved in the reconstruction of our house and let you ruin it with your faulty science!"
     My pet was silent.  He stared blankly and breathed shallowly.
"I'm sorry, Dad," he finally whispered.
  The man ignored his sentiments and avoided eye contact.
"Put your scrap metals in here."
"I'll do better, I promise," his voice broke as he earnestly pleaded his apology to the man.  He stepped towards him gingerly.
"Take them back home, and don't stop until all this is cleaned up."
"Dad, will you please forgive me."
     The man turned his back towards him and addressed the crowd.
"Everyone, go back about your business."  He peered at my pet from the corner of his eye, and spoke in a stern tone.  "My son needs to learn to clean up his own mess."
     With that, he made his way back in the direction of my pet's home.
"I promise it won't happen again!" my pet desperately called after him.  "Dad-"
     "VARIAN, I'VE HEARD YOU!"
     My pet halted in his tracks.  All eyes were on him.  He lowered his head, took a shaky breath, and returned to collecting debris as the crowd dispersed, shaking their heads and murmuring amongst themselves.
     Alone in the street, my pet worked tirelessly collecting every piece of metal, loading it into the wheelbarrow, and wheeling it to and from his property.  I did my share of assistance— scurrying about, picking up whatever pieces I could hold.  Still, even with my help, my pet worked and worked until it was too dark to carry on.
     He did appreciate the help, for that night when he and his father camped out in their barn with a few bedsheets and linens from the destruction of their house, he let me crawl into his pile of blankets with him and snooze by his side.  I was proud to make him smile again.