WORK 01
Twix (Flash Fiction)
The house mom said a family was coming to meet me, but I’m not sure I trust her. She seems nice enough, but this is a group home; others tell me she always lies. Of course, I’m not sure I believe the others, either.
I’m uncertain whether this is any better than the streets or not. I do get food regularly now, plus it’s not so cold in here as under the bridges. It is better than the house I escaped. Of course, the streets were better than that place.
Mom and Dad both yelled a lot, hitting each other. Or me, if I couldn’t hide fast enough. Or they’d smoke, making the house smell funny, and then fall asleep. They laughed when my big sister would pull my hair or hit me. She stole my food whenever they remembered to give us any.
One day, a bunch of people came with flashing lights on their cars. They took my sister but left me. I didn’t care that they took her; I was just upset that they didn’t take me. So, I ran away a day later.
There are creeks and woods nearby, so I was able to hide. I watched people put their trash out and dug through the cans for food. Digging through trash one night, I watched a family decorate their Christmas tree through a window. The next thing I knew, someone grabbed me and stuck me in their car.
I spent the rest of that night in a holding cell, and the next day, they moved me to the group home. I stay in my room as I’m scared of everyone. Most of the others here seem the same, but a few pretend they’d be happy to bite anyone nearby.
The house mom tells me the family coming to meet me has a young girl and wants to find a younger sibling for her. I know she’s trying to encourage me, but the idea fills me with terror. My other big sister was horrible.
The parents come in first, and I’m so scared I huddle behind the house mom. Maybe they’ll decide I won’t do and will leave. I’d rather stay here than go to a place like my earlier house.
They amaze me by sitting on the floor, offering to play. I move from behind the house mom and look them over. I’m still scared, but they appear friendly. I can tell they want me to like them. I move closer, offering one of my favorite toys to the lady. She looks delighted. I could like this couple, but what about their daughter? We go out to the playground, and their little girl runs up. I hunch in on myself, ready for whatever she plans. Instead of hitting me, she smiles and invites me to a game of tag. Really? She wants to play? I lift my head higher, and, hearing the encouragement from the house mom and the parents, I slowly chase after her.
WORK 02
The First Cup (Short Story)
Gus willed the Keurig to heat faster. Usually, it auto-started at 6:10 AM, but he had gotten up early.
The dogs were still wandering the fenced backyard. He laughed, watching the male black lab, Twix, chase a windblown leaf. Taffy, a white and brown spotted mutt, was completing her morning perimeter sniff, ready to find her perfect spot.
At last, the Keurig was ready. He usually drank decaf, but the weather change was triggering a massive headache, so regular it would be. As the machine gurgled, he turned to fill the food dishes. The two cats were simple: a half cup of hairball formula food, and they were good.
The dog dishes were slightly more complicated. Twix had only been with him for a month after adopting him from the local shelter. The pitiful thing had been slowly starving. He’d only weighed thirty-five pounds. Already, Twix was gaining weight, but he was on an antibiotic for worms and another medicine to help keep him calm. He still jumped at every loud noise or any sudden move. At least Gus could pet him now. It would take a lot of time to bring him around.
Taffy got two allergy medicines added to her dish. White dogs had sensitive skin, and she had it in spades. Poultry and grass. Gus shook his head. Finding dog food without chicken ingredients was challenging, but she was worth it. She loved being outside, but Gus had to bathe her weekly to help control the grass allergy. Otherwise, her skin turned bright pink, and she scratched until she bled. Somehow, he invariably gravitated to the neediest. Four years they’d been together now. She loved having Twix to play with.
Movement at the door told him the dogs were back. He pulled the slider open, and they went straight to the rug near the water dishes. Taffy sat calmly, knowing food was on the way. Twix paced from the dish mat, around the dining table and the kitchen island, and back to the mat. Gus set the bowls down, and Twix dove in while Taffy waited for Gus’s nod to eat. Twix would learn the rules eventually. For now, Gus had to focus on earning his trust.
The Keurig had finished, and Gus inhaled the coffee aroma, deciding to indulge in some French vanilla creamer. Hopefully, the sugar and caffeine would help ease the headache, besides the aspirin he’d already taken. He moved to the kitchen stool and opened his Bible app. He was ready to start his day properly with his heavenly Father, meeting him over coffee like he would his earthly father.
Cautiously taking a sip, he read the verse of the day. Romans 12:12, be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Part of the call by Paul for the Roman believers to put love into action and still applicable today.
“Father, you are Holy. Thank you for providing another day to serve you. I ask that you bless my time with you. Please, Lord, allow this headache to go away quickly. Help Twix to settle into his new home and feel safe and loved.” Gus paused, looking at the sunrise out his back window. The sky was painted in shades of red and yellow.
“The beauty you provide, Father. It’s something no human artist can ever completely capture. I may not like the storms, but I love the freshness of the air once they have finished. Father, you know what I’m facing in the day ahead. You choose me to bear lasting fruit for you. Please help me stay mindful of you throughout this day. Amen”
He sat, just watching the changing colors as the sun rose over the horizon. He was listening for the whisper of God’s voice. Peace fell over him, and his headache was fading. “Thank you, Lord.”
He took a full swallow of his coffee and turned his attention to his daily Scripture reading. He was in the book of Numbers, chapter 32, just at the point when the Reubanites and Gadites wanted to claim their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan River. They were pledging to help the other tribes claim the land God had promised so long as they could return to this area.
They had done as they promised, and God had allowed them to settle in the east. He wondered how that could apply to his own life today. The obvious part was fulfilling his promises, but it seemed like another message was in there.
Maybe it was the idea that he had to be sure keeping his promises wouldn’t lead others astray. That didn’t sit right, either, though.
Wait. God had promised the land west of the river to the Israelites, not the east. But the two tribes wanted to stay behind. It wasn’t until they promised to help the other tribes claim their new home that God had agreed. So, what did that mean for him?
He drank more of his coffee. God promised to take care of me and let me into eternity so long as I accepted his offer of salvation. I did that, and I’ve been so much better because of it. So, will God grant me what I want if I put others ahead of myself?
“Is that it, God? I need to ensure I am serving as you want me to, and then you will allow my desires to be granted. I have to say, that’s a bit convoluted when I haven’t quite finished my first cup of coffee yet.” He laughed. “That’s ok; it will give me something to consider while working today.”
He took the last swallow from his mug and rinsed it in the sink. He added water to the Keurig and started another cup. He’d have to finish and get to work before long. The dogs would need to go out again, and he always spent some time playing with all the animals before he left. But he still had time for one more cup of coffee.
Rebecca A Killeen, Author 