Lovin' los libros

As my brain began to clear, I registered the laughter coming from behind me. I slowed down and turned, finding Vicky standing a few feet behind me. She was holding the beast and laughing hysterically. “Be careful,” I shrieked, my limbs shaking, and my breath coming out in spurts. I felt my heart pounding, and I thought I might pass out. I could only remember being this terrified one other time in my life.

 

When my siblings and I were younger, a few hundred years ago, my brother Finnegan talked us all into going on a grand adventure. We left the protected area of the forest and ended up in an unknown section of the woods. There were humans everywhere. They had large vessels, which were filled with strange smells, and they were burning our precious wood.

 

I later came to know that this was what the humans called a campground, but at the time, the sights and sounds were terrifying and before we knew what was happening, we heard the loud cry of a large beast that seemed intent on feeding on us. We all scrambled to get away from it, and get back to the protected area where we belonged. My sister, Ella, narrowly escaped its fangs and was saved only by the chain that snapped the threat back into place. Dogs are extremely dangerous to fairies.The memory flashed through my mind as I stared in horror at the animal in Vicky’s arms.

 

“Are you being serious?” Vicky asked. “This is a Chihuahua. You can’t honestly be that scared of this dog.” I knew she was mocking me, but I was too scared to care. Luckily, an older lady came running out of the house on the corner, calling and cooing for her dog. Vicky handed the dog to her and then walked over to where I was bent over, trying to calm myself down and catch my breath.

She was still chuckling when she reached me. “Boy, if I hadn’t seen that for myself, I never would have believed it. There are rats bigger than that dog.”

 

She must have seen the terrified look in my eyes when our gazes met, because she stopped laughing and reached out to awkwardly pat my arm. “Hey, I’m sorry I laughed. You’re okay now, the dog is gone.” Another chuckle escaped through her lips and she clapped a hand over her mouth. “Did you say you’re new here?” she asked. “We’d better get to school. The security guard locks up the gate as soon as school begins, and then we’ll be in trouble.”

 

She handed me my bag, and we started off toward school. “Wow, you sure can run fast,” she said with one last chuckle before she caught herself. “Sorry, I’m Vicky.”

“It’s okay,” I said, finally sounding normal again. “I’m sure I looked pretty funny. I’m Nissa.”