One of Those Days Part 22

One of Those Days

Part 22

The Morning After


Merai woke from fitful sleep.  She looked at her clock, 7:00.  She immediately went to her phone.

“Hello?  I'm calling about someone admitted last night, he's a porcupine, his name is Quinn Stuart, when do visiting hours start?”

“Your relationship to the patient?”  Queried the voice on the other side of the line.

“I'm his,...  his...”  Merai paused.  What was she to Quinn?  A good friend?  She looked at her apartment, and the scattered boxes packed with the shings she would soon be taking to Arizona.  Even if she wanted to stay, she'd already given her notice to the landlord, this apartment belonged to someone else now.  She felt her chest constrict and moisture returning to her eyes.

“C-close personal friend.” she finally managed to say.

“I'm sorry, but I can only give information to his immediate family at this time.”

“B-but he saved my life!”

The voice on the other end paused.  “He's more to you than a passing stranger?”

“Y-yes!” Merai sobbed.

“I'm,... he's in the intensive care unit.  Visiting starts at 10:00, but only lasts fifteen minutes every two hours.  He needs his rest right now, he is in room number 14, and his doctor's name is Koskaczekovich, we call him K for short.  Just stay calm and be strong for the both of you.”

Merai sighed “Th-thank you!”



A frigid breeze chilled the small chihuahua as he picked his way down the dimly lit alleyway.  His leg ached from his injury, and he found walking difficult.

Jose sighed miserably, he deserved this for what he'd done.  Now he wandered, lost and alone, here in the garbage of the alley.  He didn't deserve a home anymore, he didn't deserve a family.  Sheer, dirty, red, brick walls rose to either side, forcing him to move forward.  A few hungry rats peered out from discarded boxes and piles of trash.  Their evil red eyes glowed hungrily at the morsel passing before them.

A noise from behind swiveled Jose's ears about.  A low growl emanated from the darkness behind Jose.  He tried to hobble faster, but slime on the pavement hindered his already injured progress.  The little chihuahua glanced furtively around.

The growl grew louder, increasing its tempo.  A pair of sickly yellow lights appeared, a gaping maw of a grill with chrome teeth.  The little boy screamed and ran, but his injured leg wouldn't work right.

The car roared and was on him in a second.  Jose fell to the ground as the steel behemoth passed over him.  Tires squealed and the car stopped directly over the terrified little child.  He barely had enough room to breathe underneath the monster.

Jose rolled over and looked up.  He stared into the workings of the car's motor, he could see pistons, cranks and gears whirring dangerously close to his face.  He could feel the heat from the monster engine hovering right above him and hear its steady rumble.  Oil dripped down on the small boy like saliva.  Maybe he could slide out behind the car and escape that way?

Then he heard a banshee shriek.  The tires on the car began to deflate, lowering the crushing weight of the vehicle straight down on him!  He tried to wriggle free, but he was already trapped under the front crossover of the frame.  The engine roared in laughter, Jose looked up to see the pistons practically grabbing for his face!