GwenI was greeted by the sound of barks and meows. The veterinary clinic isn't extraordinarily large. But from where I stood, I could see various rooms down the hallway and a man and woman in a white coat working together. "Please be a little patient. Frank will be here any minute," The young lady who was in front of her computer said. "There's no problem," I whispered, sitting patiently in the reception area. I began to imagine how the work here would be. If it would be exhausting or enjoyable. I didn't have a thing for dogs or cats but I don't hate them either. My patience was beginning to wear off. I've spent twenty minutes sitting out here. I wanted to be done with my business here so I could check on Jasper immediately when I got home. I came because Jasper had told me to check the Veterinary clinic today. It was easier to drop by after school, so I did exactly that. I didn't know I was going to be waiting this long. A young guy of average height who looked to be in his ear
GwenJasper's mother let me into the house. Instead of responding to my greeting, she gave me a warm hug. "Thank you for what you did for Jasper. I've not had the chance to see you and thank you properly. You're truly your mother's daughter. You have a good heart."I smiled at her and asked, "My mother has a good heart? Are you referring to my mother or Zara?""I meant Zara. She has a good heart.""I thought she didn't care and was too cold towards everyone.""Don't think of her like that. She used to be a sweet young woman. Sadly, the reality of the world and some circumstances might have made her the strict woman she is today. I knew her well because she's my husband's best friend. Unfortunately, they fell apart.""Why doesn't anybody want to tell me what exactly happened all those years? Everyone is saying I should wait for her until she's ready to tell me.""It's only proper for you to hear about your identity from your real mother and who your father is. The truth is no one knows
Jasper Reginald's arrival at my house comes as a surprise. I haven't seen him since that night at the party. "Came to check up on you. How's my man doing? " he shook my shoulder. "Better." I grinned, appreciating his concern. Gwen quickly stepped away from us. "I'll leave you two. I should be going —""Wait! Going where?" I tried to block her path. "You just got here.""I know." She rubbed my arms gently. "I needed to see how you're doing and I'm glad you're okay.""Am I driving you away?" Reginald asked, looking apologetic. "No. You aren't. I would have left soon even without you coming here. I need to sleep early. I've got to start work after school tomorrow.""Oh. That's right." I said, remembering she mentioned that she'd go to the Vet. Clinic tomorrow. "Let me walk you to the door." I helped her with her bag, guiding her out of my room. "Regy, just a minute."Regy nodded. "Take your time."I honestly didn't want Gwen to leave now. But I'll be selfish to keep her here when I k
Gwen"Can you pass that over to me?" Collins pointed towards a little hankie sitting on a table. "Here you go. What do you want to do with that?" I asked. I watched him open the cage to bring a little kitten out. "It has weak legs. I want to tie the weak legs with the cloth to provide support and help in stabilizing it while it walks.""That's cool. Is that all you need to do?""Coupled with providing good nutrition and enough care, the kitten would do fine." "Is it alone here or does it have a family?""It's alone. Her mother and siblings have been given out to people who need pets.""So she has no one?""She has us," Collins whispered. "Actually it's because she has poor legs. That's why she's still here.""So sad." I rubbed her fur, lowering my head to speak to it. "Hello there. You'll pull through, okay."Seeing the cat in such a state makes my heart go to it. She has no family and only has us to care for her. "It must be hard for her, left all by itself.""Do you want her?" Col
GwenThe first time I thought it might just be a coincidence that I saw Lisa walk into that hospital. But it's now three days in a row. Something has to be going on.It wasn't my business but something happened yesterday when I was going home. Two nurses rushed toward the car to help someone out. The person violently struggled, screaming to be released. To my surprise. It was Lisa. I wanted to ask Collins if he regularly saw her visit the hospital. I asked him a day ago if he knew Lisa and he said he does. They were from the same colony.I didn't want to ask him any more questions then because I wasn't as curious as I was now. But nothing was holding me back from finding what I wanted to know. "Collins.""Yeah." He raised his head to look at me. "You said you know Lisa Grimwood, right?""Yeah, I do. Is anything wrong?" he asked, looking concerned."She's been coming to the psychiatric hospital for three days now and at the same time in the evening. I was only wondering since you've
GwenJust as Collins promised, we showed up at the hospital to see his aunt. She's a nurse and a pretty young woman in her thirties with chin-length hair. Her features made her look younger. There was a bit of resemblance between them that could be seen with keen observation. They both had the same shape of mouth and eye colour. "Aunt May." Collins hugged her. "Collins. How's my favourite nephew doing?" she grinned. "I'm great.""How's everyone at the clinic?" "Fine. It's all work, work, work and making new animal friends."She looked at me, then at Collins. "Who is she? Did you bring her to see a doctor? Is she sick?""Sorry, I should have introduced her sooner. She's Gwen, my friend and partner at the clinic.""Oh, Nice to meet you, Gwen.""Nice to meet you too." May turned her attention back to Collins. Collins continued. "She's not sick. We're both here to ask for something. "Go on. We have like twenty minutes to talk before I go see my next patient.""It's about someone. We
GwenBack at home, I couldn't help but repeatedly replay that woman's call in my head. Something tragic must have happened to Lisa as well as that woman. Could she be her mother? And what exactly happened four years ago? I wondered who was being referred to as a poor boy and a poor girl. What did she do to them? Her father too. I can't! I screamed. My brain was about to explode from all these questions and thoughts. All my inner self was saying to me was that whatever happened four years ago, the bottom line was that Lisa was dangerous. She's sick in the head. Jasper had told me he wouldn't be making it to the woods to hunt tomorrow. He had to assist his mother with something. He was much better now. It was as though the case with Nancy never happened. He has moved on quickly which was great to see. I realized that just sitting idle doing nothing here was kind of draining me. I was bored. There's just an hour left for me to prepare to go to the clinic. I think I'd rather leave n
Jasper I set out to see Reginald. It was the same time Gwen would be leaving for the clinic. I decided to drop by her house so I could take her. And later when she's closed I'll go pick her up. I could spend little time with her, as I wasn't going to be meeting her tomorrow in the woods. My mother wants me to take her to her aunt's place tomorrow to pick up a few items. She lives at the Bayview colony. "Jasper, you're late. She just left," Mrs Esmeralda said. "Is that Jester?" a firm and high-pitched voice asked. "Jester?" Mrs Esmeralda looked at me confused and then turned back and said. "No. It's Jasper."I hear footsteps approaching. "I know that, but I prefer to call him Jester." I don't need someone to tell me who this person was. Only one person could call me that. But why does she try to piss me off by calling me that? And what was she even doing back here? I looked up at Zara. "Hi." "So I heard Gwen is working at an animal clinic."I nodded "Yeah.""I just got back. I