chasing pocket rockets. Tyler

[k!ah]

J O E    C A V A N A H

Boston Jr had taken off once again.

Ma was always telling me to not be so soft on him. She always said that I needed to be more stern with him. Show him who the alpha is. I didn't like that. It just felt wrong, ya know? He was only young. Like a toddler, he needed to live a little. Plus, I liked spoiling him. It was a good time, and Boston always got jealous, which was a nice feeling, you know- as cruel as it sounded. A way to tell that he still cared. Even when his attention was know occupied by a beautiful cow, little miss Daisy. You would like her to, I think.

Juniors getting away! We should follow him. Can't let him get to far or we will never find him! Follow me. If only Ma knew, I would be hearing 'I told you so' with her classic pout, hand resting on hip, finger raised and pointed stance. I didn't want that. So Ma wouldn't know, this would have to stay between you and me. You won't tell her will you?  I can't stand to see that face again. 

Oh look, there he is! We are getting closer. He's quite fast, isn't he? He's always been a little pocket rocket, taking off. Daisy sometimes gets frustrated by that, nervous that her calf might get injured without her protection. but I think she has come to realise that he is head strong, he won't listen to her. (I don't know why Ma thinks he would listen to me). Also, by the way, do you think it's odd how I talk about my cows? Like they are actual people with personalities? Cause Ive been told its a weird trait of mine. But I don't mind, I'm not really concerned what others think of me. But oddly enough I care what you think. I wouldn't want you to think me weird. I just care you know? 

Junior has crossed a road now. Doesn't he realise how dangerous this is. He's going to get himself killed one day. Maybe I'll have to take the lead of the alpha one day. Pity, I'm not ready for that. Let's catch up to him. Wait- he's not alone! You see that to right? There is another boy with him! I hope he's not getting us in trouble again. Excuse me, I'll have to go deal with this.

"Oh, hey there! I see you've found Junior! He seems to have gotten away from me, the little rat bag." 

[tylerjames]

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LUAN BRAITHE

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The arrival of spring breathed a new life into District 10 as winter faded away. The bitter cold and snow that kept animals constrained inside was now gone, and the newly grown grass fields were a paradise for the cows getting used to the outside again. As the world around him thawed, so did Luan.

Winter kept Luan in a cage of his own. Another winter meant another year since Arno had died. Another year full of new memories and experience and life that pushed the fine details of his brother's life further and further out. This winter had been a bad one; never had he felt further away from Arno, and never had the hole in his heart felt more empty. The things that normally distracted his mind were removed in the cold. All that had been there for him were the unrelenting cold, the icy snow, and the parents who shared the same pain.

Spring released him from his mind. He could once again enjoy the farmwork; tending to the animals and seeing their excitement for this fresh beginning. Spring meant he had time to heal once more. Time to move on, time to grow.

Until next winter. But he could avoid thinking about that for now.

This morning had been a good one. Luan had woken up early and pleasantly well-rested as the first rays of sunlight peeked out shyly from the horizon. The grass glistened in the morning dew left over from the cool nights. Luan could see the first wildflowers popping up; speckles of blue forget me nots and yellow daffodils added to the vibrant greens of a born again world.

His day got better on the farm; he spent the day looking after the new calves born over the winter months as they got accustomed to the warmer weather. It filled his heart to see them running through he fields, full of joy and curiosity and fresh grass. Such innocent souls, able to live in a world full of light.

And Luan let himself soak in that world of light, let the warmth and joy push out the ice and pain and grief that had consumed him for the past few months until he could almost forget they had ever been there at all.

But they'd be back. They always came crawling back in.

Still, today's light left Luan in high spirits as he began his walk home. The setting sun was even prettier than the sunrise; pastel hues of blue and orange and pink hung in the sky and stained the soft cotton clouds that speckled the sky. Everything hit by light shimmered in gold and breathed with the soft winds. And Luan thought to himself, things will be okay.

He was so transfixed in his thoughts that didn't notice the calf come up to him at first. It was much like the ones he had seen at the farm; curious and bold, ready to explore the growing world around him. Luan couldn't help but smile.

Another boy followed him. Clearly the little rascal had gotten away from him. He hadn't noticed Luan at first, but once he did he spoke.

"Oh, hey there! I see you've found Junior! He seems to have gotten away from me, the little rat bag."

Luan was surprised he didn't recognize the boy. He seemed to be roughly the same age, clearly worked on a nearby farm. Something about him felt familiar. Perhaps they had crossed paths before? Hmm, that didn't seem right. Nonetheless, he seemed nice and neighbourly. Someone Luan could relax around.

Luan smiled. "It seems so! Can't blame him though, it's the first nice day of the year." He extended his had out to the boy for a handshake. "I don't think we've met before. The name's Luan, I work just down the road."

[WC: 631]

[k!ah]

J OE   C A V A N A H

I cross the street, waving down the boy, a huge smile plastered to my lips. Oh, you're going to follow me? Thats great, let's go see what we can do about this. The boy looks nice enough, don't you think? Probably close to my own age. Though I don't think I have meet him before- but then I haven't really meet a lot of the people of District Ten. Ma like to home schools me. Its not the best education, but I know how to read the basics, and how to write important things, things that relate to how to run the farm mostly. Like the different types of live stock. Yes I know them all very well, Ma had made sure of that.

Then I spent a lot of my free time working on the farm. She often like to remind me that one day the farm will belong to me. That I will be responsible for is success or failure. Feels like a lot of pressure sometimes. But I can handle it, I have too! My younger siblings were too young, they wouldn't be able to handle the situation. Though I could never quite manage to hide my jealousy when I would watch them leave the house in the early hours of the morning, heading to school, the place I had always longed to go too. But never got the chance. I used to think that I was over it, but I seems I am not. Does that make me a bad person? I hope not. Cause I do love them, and only want the best for them. Even if it meant me missing out. Sometimes I just wished that I too got the chance to spread my wings. You know? Like, maybe if my Ma and Pa had given me the chance, I could have been so much more.

But never to mind that, Junior is our priority at the moment.

Look, the boy is smiling! Thats a good sign, hopefully we won't run into any hurdles here. Ma would be mad if I started causing unnecessary dramas. "It seems so! Can't blame him though, it's the first nice day of the year." A hand is extended between us, I allow my smile to grow. Reaching out I clasp his hand, he has a strong grip. Ma always told me that a handshake was very important when it came to first impressions, it could set the mood for the whole meeting. "I don't think we've met before. The name's Luan, I work just down the road."

Luan. It's an odd name, don't you think? Luan. But I think I like it, I like the way it feel, and it rhymes with brewing and I do love brewing me a good coffee. Man, a steaming warm cup of coffee can really set your day off to a great start don't you think? Damn, wandering off with my thoughts again. Ma says I do that too often. Got to fix it.

"Joe. No I don't believe we have. But my family own the farm just down there," I point down the road that we had just come up, "And I can see you have already meet Junior. He is an adventurous one, that's for sure! But he seems to like you!" And just as the words fall from my lips Junior begins to nibble at the edge of Luan's shirt, his big fat lips coating the material in a thick layer of juicy saliva. "Hey, would you look at that! Know I know for sure that he likes you, gave you a good ol' kiss! He doesn't do that to people he has taken kindly too!" Sure, its kinda gross, but it's sweet too, don't you think?