Golden leaves fluttered down into the street carried on the brisk autumn wind as the afternoon sun took the bite out of the cool weather providing an inviting atmosphere for the weekend before Halloween. Trudging along the sidewalk bundled in a cheerfully colored windbreaker a white furred kit held on tightly to the paw of a golden hare as the pair made their way down town for a trip to the park along the river. Passing over the old cobble stone bridge spanning the swollen Sheboygan River the duo paused to take in the scenic view of the historical section of town. Across the churning waters the old mill warehouse stood over looking the park full of frolicking cubs and their parents.
Kneeling down once they entered the park the hare pulled the foxcoon’s collar up smiling warmly as he encouraged the kit to go out and meet new friends.
“Remember to play nice and stay in sight Collin.” Trent cautioned the eager kit who refused to hold still as he took in the park. “No talking to strangers or running off o.k.?”
“I promise,” Collin nodded as he noticed Sarah waving from the swing set, “Dad will meet us here later right?”
“He’ll meet up with us for dinner later on tonight,” The hare said waving at Sarah’s mother as the next door neighbor and tenant made her way over to chat, “He has drill this weekend and might be a little late, but he’s taking us out for supper to make up. Now go and have a little fun.”
Collin took off for the swing set politely saying hello to Mrs. Orchard, Sarah’s mom, as she took a seat with his other dad on the bench over looking the park trading pleasantries. As the kit came closer Sarah kicked off in a big arch jumping out of the seat to sailing through the air and land with arms rose triumphantly grinning widely as her brown pony tail swayed in the breeze.
“Ten points for the perfect landing!” The red squirrel grinned and waved to the imaginary audience as Collin applauded, “And the crowd goes wild!”
“That’s was awesome Sarah,” The foxcoon kit congratulated his daring companion as he took a seat on one of the swings and leaning back to set himself into motion, “Weren’t you sacred?”
The tomboy shook her head as he resumed her seat kicking off into the air again.
“Not really, I do it all the time,” The pair set off in opposite directions each cub swing their legs to increase tempo and height, “I can almost make it to the end of the gravel, but if I get too high the chain starts to wobble. Bet I can jump farther then you!”
“Nah uh,” Collin called back as he flew passed his friend on the way up, unable to pass up the challenge, “I’m a master at this game.”
The two cubs each built up momentum arching up back and forth higher and higher daring each other on. The metal links groaned with each pass as Collin got high enough to peak over the beam supporting him watching Sarah match his move eyebrows raised as she egged him on.
“You first Collin,” The small squirrel called out as she zoomed by giggling happily as she flew through the air leaning back to improve her aerodynamics.
Kicking out at the top of his back swing Collin straightened his legs and let gravity carry him down and into the rising arch. At the top of the arch when the slight sensation of weightlessness was felt the kit let go of the chains and let inertia lift him off the seat launching him into the air. Pin wheeling his arms as his inner ear rebelled at the lack of solid ground beneath him Collin bent his knees as the gravel rushed up at him. Thumping down hard the kit omphed as he felt the shock wave travel up his paws causing him to totter and stumble forward to keep his balance.
A second later in a cloud of dust the kit felt and heard the impact of Sarah landing next to him, the only warning before the world toppled over. Roiling around as the two cubs collided Collin and Sarah landed together in a heap with the squirrel girl ending up laying on top of the kit, brown eyes staring into startled green eyes.
“Whoops,” The tomboy giggled down as the foxcoon blushed up underneath her, “Sorry Collin, I slipped.”
The cubs slowly untangled themselves and helped each other up as a couple of other kids snickered and pointed. Brushing off the dust Collin made his way over to a bench sitting down to check his paws for cuts or bruises. Sitting next to him Sarah took his paws in her own looking over them and brushing a scrap gently as the kit flinched slightly.
“Sorry Collin, I didn’t mean too,” The squirrel apologized looking remorseful as the kit rubbed his paws gingerly.
“It’s o.k.” Collin reassured Sarah as he sucked on a finger, “I’ve had worse.”
While the too cubs tended each others bumps and bruises a group of kids across the park were lining up to pick out two teams for a dodge ball game. The two leaders, a familiar stocky grey and black raccoon and a silver furred timber wolf pup, took turns picking out members for their team. Working through the line up the team captains came to a single red and gold fox kit with black ears and paws. Both captains started to argue over who would get the last cub left.
Looking up as he heard the condescending tones of the bully from school Collin got up and approached the dodge ball group with Sarah in tow.
“It’s your pick Jeremy, you have to take him.” The timber wolf said matter of fact as the rules really were simple.
“But he sucks,” The raccoon snorted casting menacing amber eyes on Mikky, “You take him Leon, I don’t want him.”
“But I already have enough players Jeremy,” The wolf with off set green and red eyes said looking over the new comers and pointed them out to the opposing captain, “How about one of them then, you need at least one more player.”
“I won’t play with those freaks.” The raccoon looked over at Collin as the mixed breed stared back angrily while Sarah watched concerned. “I’d rather play a man down then with a wimp like Mikky or them.”
Mikky looked over at Leon dejectedly as the timber wolf in turn looked at the hostility the new kit was aiming at Jeremy. Sighing in frustration Leon shook his head not wanting to get in a fight over something so trivial.
“Sorry Mikky, you’ll have to sit this one out,” The wolf pup said as he turned to Collin, “Sorry guys, the teams are all filled up maybe next time.”
“No problem,” Collin said to the wolf as he motioned for Mikky to join him and Sarah as they turned to leave, “Come on Mikky, you can play with us.”
“Thanks guys,” Mikky said sniffling a bit as the trio turned away from the group heading towards the jungle gym, “But you don’t have too play with me if you don’t wanna. No one ever wants to play with me.”
Sarah reached out a paw taking Mikky’s in her own holding tight as they ducked under the climbing set sitting down on with the rejected kit between her and Collin.
“Don’t say that,” The squirrel admonished the fox kit as Collin looked on sympathetically, “We want to play with you, you’re our friend.”
“Why?” Mikky asked looking from one cub to the other uncertain and doubtful, “No one else wants to be my friend, everyone else picks on me.”
“Because I don’t have any other friends ether.” Collin says looking back out at the cubs playing dodge ball resentfully, “Only Sarah, I haven’t had time to make new friends and I don’t see any reason why we can’t be friends too. You don’t have to be my friend if you don’t wanna, but I won’t pick on you or make fun of you ether way.”
Mikky wiped his grey eyes sniffling a bit as he took that in holding Sarah’s paw tighter.
“You mean that?” The red kit asked, black ears laid back along his head, “You promise?”
“We promise Mikky,” Sarah reassured the lonely cub holding Collin’s paw too as the white mix breed took a hold of Mikky’s other paw. “You’re our friend, from here on and in the after.”
Collin nodded in agreement as Mikky smiled and bucked up. The kit reached over and hugged his new friends before sitting back crossed legged tail wagging happily.
“Thanks guys, you’re the best friends ever,” Mikky admitted and looked out at the play ground and leaned in close to whisper. “You guys wanna see something really cool?”
Collin and Sarah nodded in unison as Mikky scampered to his feet walking out of the jungle gym pointing out the old mill warehouse. Following suit Sarah and Collin joined him looking a little puzzled.
“I got a neat fort inside that no one knows about,” The red fox whispered as he walked down towards the bridge at the end of the playground. “No one else can get inside cause it’s all boarded up, but I got a secret way in and out.”
Leading his friends along Mikky carefully climbed down the embankment of the cobblestone bridge towards the river next to the park. Hesitating at the top of the bridge Collin looked worried.
“I don’t know Mikky; we’re not supposed to go by the water.” The foxcoon cautioned as Sarah started down the embankment sliding on her rump a couple of feet before landing on the bottom sure footed.
“We’re not going in the river Collin,” Mikky called up as the tomboy looked under the bridge excitedly. “We’re going under the bridge, its safe I promise.”
Collin bit his lower lip as he considered it, finally giving in as he saw Sarah duck under the over pass not wanting to be the one left out. Skidding through the damp grass the white kit stumbled his way to the bottom grabbing Mikky’s paw for support. Glancing under the bridge in awe Collin looked at the underground passageway leading under the bridge off the river creating a covered pool with a set of old wooden docks. Glancing up the adventurous kit realized the mill house’s foundation was next to the pool with large wooden doors leading inside.
“They used to bring barges under the bridge and unload them into the warehouse here.” Mikky said as Sarah ran along the length of the jetty the dank space illuminated by the blue reflected light off the pool.
“Mikky this is so cool!” The tomboy called out as she raced back to her friends as Collin glanced around impressed, “How did you know this was down here?”
“My grand father used to work here on the docks a long time ago and told me all about it.” Mikky said pleased with the praise from his new friends. “Follow me I’ll show you inside.”
Pulling open a sliding door near the end of the pool the red fox kit led the way into the basement of the mill warehouse, a vast empty holding area with shadowy crates and abandoned machines lining the long walls. Spiders and other critters scurried away as Mikky pulled a flash light he stored from a cabinet and flicked it on heading deeper into the silent cavernous space. Collin and Sarah kept close a little nervous from the strange and spooky place following their friend as he led them passed dumbwaiter lifts and office spaces to a stair case in the back. Making their way up the steps slowly the cubs tread carefully as the old wooden planks creaked in protest.
Reaching the first floor Collin and Sarah peaking into the vacant store front as dusty beams of light filtered through the paper covering the old pane glass windows. Turning the corner on the first flight of stairs Mikky continued on as the expedition climbed higher to the second floor. Once they clear the second floors hall way the cubs entered the old machine room, a collection of old steam powered presses, drills, and other contraptions that defied description. In the corner of the north side a sleeping bag, comic books, candy wrappers, and other personal belongings sat marking Mikky’s territory.
“Make yourselves at home,” The red fox kit said as Collin and Sarah both peered at the ancient antiques in awe, “I’d take you on the roof but people would see us in the day light.”
Turning the fly wheel of an old sewing machine Collin watched as the rods and beams moved, amazed the machine was still functional after all this time.
“Mikky, this place is so cool!” The white half breed breathed out as Sarah stared at the old reciprocating engine. “How long have you had this fort?”
The red fox thought it over as he plopped down on his sleeping bag. Coming over Sarah took a seat beside him as Collin peered out the window down into the park.
“Oh, I only had the fort for about a month.” Mikky said as he pulled out a snicker bar and munched happily offering one to Sarah, “I live in the apartment buildings on the other side of the park. So it wasn’t hard to move everything in here with out anyone noticing.”
“Your parents don’t mind you got a fort in here?” Sarah asked as Mikky pointed out the building he lived in to Collin.
“No, they don’t know about it,” Mikky said as he returned to his sleeping bag. “My dad always on the road and my mom works at the hospital so I’m on my own a lot. So I do a lot of exploring.”
“You must get lonely.” Sarah said as she sat beside Mikky.
“Yeah, some time I guess.” Mikky nodded hugging his tail, “But I got two friends now so I can share my fort and explore with you two. But you got to promise not to tell anyone, it’s a secret only for us o.k.?”
“I promise Mikky cross my heart and hope to die,” Sarah said making a cross over her chest, “Stick a needle in my eye.”
“I promise too,” Collin nodded eager to spend more time with Mikky and get to know all the towns’ secrets. “You can count on me.”
“So wanna play hide and seek?” Mikky offered now that his secret was safe.
“Only if I get to go first,” Sarah chimed in, “You already know the best spots to hide after all Mikky, it won’t be fair until we know all the best spots.”
“Fair enough, but no peaking,” Mikky warned as he and Collin took off into the dark hiding under tarp covered machines.
“One, two, three,” Sarah counted off as the game started getting to fifteen before calling out, “Ready or not here I come!”
The cubs spent the next fifteen minutes racing around and playing in the warehouse engrossed in their game giggling and laughing as they went. Soon though the sun started to fall as the shadows grow longer and the ball game in the park winded down. Following after Collin and Sarah heard their mom and dad calling and had to scamper out of the mill to get back outside. As they pair clambered up the embankment Mikky called out a final warning.
“Remember, don’t tell anyone about the fort.” The red fox called out as he shut the roiling door and headed for his apartment across the park.
Up above Trent and Mrs. Orchard looked around sounding worried as their cubs didn’t show up at first. As Sarah and Collin climbed up the bank Trent spotted them and approached with a cross face.
“Collin?!” The hare asked sternly as he brushed off the dirty from the kit’s pants, “I though you knew better then to play by the river? Look at you, your filthy.”
“I’m sorry dad,” Collin apologized as Mrs. Orchard took Sarah’s paw leading her off with an earful. “We were trying to catch tadpoles; I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“I want you to think up a way to remind yourself not to run off like that again.” Trent said as he started off to the parking lot were Andrew waited for them in his fatigues and field cap. “You won’t get to play in the park until you come up with a good way to remember o.k.? It’s dangerous to run off like that.”
“I will dad, I promise I won’t do it again,” Collin promised as he gave Andrew a hug.
“Trouble?” The ferret asked his mate as he scooped the kit up into his arms.
“Nothing I can’t handle.” Trent said ruffling Collin’s hair, “Just a walk in the park.”
