Brilliantly colored leafs cascaded in the wake of a silver jeep as it traversed along winding sides streets reflecting the chilly sunlight of an October morning off of its windows. Coming to a stop on the main throughway the four by four turned down a one way street following behind a long yellow school bus filled with energetic children on their way to class. Situated along the bank of the Sheboygan River built of red brick and mortar the three story high Plymouth Elementary school loomed over the gathering buses unloading students while casting its shadow across the parking lot. Pulling into a vacant spot the SUV came to a stop causing the small white kit in the rear seat to look up at his new school apprehensively.
Leaning back over his seat the sandy colored ferret smiled encouragingly as he patted his adoptive son’s knee before exiting and holding out a paw for the nervous cub to take. Holding onto his dad’s hand tightly the boy fell in step beside his father swinging his back pack over his right shoulder as he approached the old fashion brass framed wooden doors. Creaking open from the ferret’s efforts the entrance revealed a long tiled hallway lined with lockers and filled with children greeting friends and scrambling to make it to their classrooms before the first period bell. Walking down passed the stairs leading to the second floor the pair stopped in front of a doorway with a placard hung above proclaiming K-103.
Taking a deep breath the small kit steeled his nerves as his father opened the door into the class room blushing hard as the assembled students turned to stare at their newest class mate. Stepping up from behind a glossy maplewood desk a pretty young feline with long white hair and black fur dressed in a flowing sun dress shook the ferret’s paw introducing herself as Ms. Fitzgerald. Nudging his charge gently the ferret prompted the kit to shyly offer his own paw to the teacher introducing himself in a quiet voice as a proper gentleman was supposed to. Pleasantries concluded and with assurances the teacher would help his son find the right bus home the ferret ruffled the cub’s tussled hair before turning to take his leave telling the boy to have fun.
“Class, this is Collin Conway,” Ms. Fitzgerald spoke to the students as they all stared at the fox raccoon mix, “He’s recently moved to Plymouth and will be joining us for the rest of the year. Let’s all make him feel welcomed with a big hello.”
“Hello Collin.” The students said in a chorus causing the shy kit to blush a little more before replying in kind.
Looking over the pure white kit with black face mask and tail rings the other students made odd faces and whispered amongst them selves as the teacher strode down the aisle of desks. Picking out a vacant seat in the last row the feline pointed out Collin’s desk and the kit busied himself with unpacking his bag and filling his desk with school supplies. Returning to the front of the class Ms. Fitzgerald picked up a piece of white chalk writing out the class’s morning vocabulary exercise adding a short list of new words and phrases for the students to copy down and practice. Focusing on his lessons Collin failed to notice a red squirrel with a ponytail and brown eyes gazing at him memorized from across the room her own pencil and paper forgotten.
After the spelling lesson the teacher moved on to simple arithmetic writing out simple addition and subtraction equations on the board asking for volunteers to come up and work the problems out. Few paws rose into the air most unwilling to risk embarrassment by not knowing the answer or worst figuring it out on the first try. Scanning the black board as other students slowly placed their answers after the equals’ mark Collin noticed a pattern in the equations as the questions had been placed in rising numerical order. Raising his hand the newest student was called forward and asked to answer the remaining questions. Ms. Fitzgerald looked over the unmotivated class with a sigh and allowed the eager kit to proceed.
Picking up the chalk Collin moved down the list of questions unanswered and filled in 1+5=6, 1+6=7, 1+7=8, 1+8=9, 1+9=10.
“Good job Collin!” Ms. Fitzgerald praised the kit earning the cub dirty looks from most of the other students, “Now does anyone else want to try the rest of the subtraction problems?”
The red squirrel raised her paw taking Collin’s place at the board as he slinked back to his desk very aware of the stares and glances cast his way. Looking straight ahead to avoid eye contact with his class mates the kit pondered why no one else had realized the questions were in ascending order and thus easy to solve if they followed the same pattern. After solving the subtraction problems using the same method Collin had utilized the girl with the red pony tail turned around and smiled at the kit compounding his confusion and unease. Stealing glances as she took her seat Collin realized the girl had some fascination with him and the fact unsettled the kit through the rest of the first period.
Ringing loudly through out the building the school bell signaled the end of first period and the beginning of recess. Standing up and grabbing her coat Ms. Fitzgerald stood by the door as the class lined up to head outside to the play ground.
“No pushing!” The feline educator shouted as the children fought for first and second place as third was the ‘turd in a wedding dress’. “I mean it; if you don’t settle down we’re not going outside!”
Falling silent from their teacher’s threat the class fell in line as the feline led them out to their lockers and retrieved their coats. Leading the procession down the hall in an orderly rank and file Ms. Fitzgerald held the doors open for her class to spill out into the field for a break from hard lessons. Reminding Collin to keep away from the river and urging the kit to mingle and make new friends the teacher soon wandered off to join the other educators charged with keeping an eye on the free range children and to catch up on gossip. Turning away from the teachers Collin wandered about the yard keeping his distance from the groups of other cubs getting a feel for his new surrounding before attempting to merge in with the rest of the class.
“Hiya Collin!” Stepping up in front of the startled kit the red squirrel ambushed Collin holding out her paw for the kit to take, “I’m Sarah! I live in the other side of your house; I remember seeing you move in.”
“Hi Sarah,” Collin shook the girl’s paw gingerly intent on being polite, “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Thanks,” Sarah grinned as she took in the kit, “I was hoping to get to talk with you, but I never thought we’d be in the same class! Weird isn’t it, living in the same house and in the same class too?”
“Defiantly weird,” Collin answered as he struggled for conversational ideas, “So what’s your side of the house like?”
“It’s nice; we got a big living room and kitchen.” Sarah smiled friendly holding her paws behind her back, “And my room’s right next to yours, we can play on the patio if you want, it’ll be really fun!”
“Uh, I guess so.” The kit replied as he started to walk toward a bench off to the side of the yard, “So what your parents’ do?”
“Nothing cool like your dad.” The squirrel sighed as she followed taking a seat next to the shy cub, “They both work in an office as accountants, really boring and dull.”
“You know my dad?” Collin asked curious about his neighbors and how they met his father.
“Yep, when we moved in a year ago after your dad bought the place,” Sarah stated and leaned over so only Collin could hear her whispering, “Is it true your dad only has one leg?”
Frowning at the prying question Collin felt a little indignant for his new father whose condition shouldn’t be made gossip of. Leaning in as well the kit took a sterner tone wanting to be firm about his next statement.
“It’s not something to make fun of.” The kit said quietly sounding a little hurt, “Please don’t tell anyone else he doesn’t like to talk about it.”
Sarah nodded wide eyed at the confirmation excited by having an important secret to keep.
“I promise Collin,” She said sincerely crossing her heart with a finger, “I won’t tell anyone unless you say so. You can trust me, I always keep my word.”
“Thanks.” He replied relaxing a bit happy he had met at least one friendly class mate. Maybe this new school won’t be so bad after all.
“Hey Sarah, whose your new boy friend?” Cat calling and jeering a raccoon boy of traditional black and gray fur led a group of other cubs in front of the pair grinning maliciously at the new student.
Standing up angrily the red squirrel stood between Collin and the group of seven curious cubs lined up behind the raccoon boy. Stepping to his own feet Collin glanced around the clique arrayed before him gauging their intent by their facial expression feeling singled out and targeted.
“His name is Collin Jeremy!” Sarah shouted angrily at the raccoon kit, “And he’s not my boy friend he’s my neighbor!”
Finding some relief from his new friend’s response in his own defense Collin hoped to avoid a confrontation his first day of school. Walking up to the raccoon boy the kit held out his paw politely and introduced himself.
“It’s nice to meet you Jeremy,” The white mix breed said evenly standing tall and unfazed.
Glancing at the offered paw Jeremy scoffed and folded his arms over his chest looking unimpressed. Taking his measure of the new kid the taller raccoon grinned as he looked down on Collin.
“So what are you any ways?” The bully asked as the crowd behind him snickered, “You’re not a ferret or a raccoon. Honestly what kind of freak are you? Was that even your dad or some stranger that bought you from a carnival?”
“He’s my dad, he adopted me.” Collin said evenly as the group laughed at him, “My mother was a raccoon and my father was a fox.”
“Your dad wasn’t a fox!” Jeremy shouted grinning stupidly, “Foxes aren’t white they’re red or brown! You don’t know nothing orphan boy!”
“Foxes can be white.” A red and gold kit at the back of the group spoke up, “My uncle is an arctic fox, and his fur is white all the time.”
Steeping away from the dissenting voice the group drew back revealing a scrawny fox kit in with black ears and paws. Shuffling his feet as the group singled out the out spoken cub the kit stared at the ground as Jeremy stood in front of him.
“You sticking up for this freak Mikky?” The raccoon growled attempting to intimidate the fox boy. “Maybe you’re related to this mongrel, you say your uncle is an arctic fox, think your cousins?”
“No, I’m just saying his dad must have been an arctic fox.” Mikky said looking up and taking a step back, “Come on Jeremy it’s his first day, can’t you just leave him alone?”
“No, I really can’t” Smiling wickedly Jeremy pushed the fox kit to the ground glaring down as the other kids egged him on.
Drawing back his arm the raccoon boy made a fist ready to smash it down on Mikky’s face as the kit covered up on the ground. Jerking back before the blow could fall though Jeremy glanced back in shock as he felt his arm grabbed by someone else. Staring angrily at the bully Collin held Jeremy’s fist in his own paw balling his free hand into a fist of his own.
“Leave him alone.” The white cub said softly as he glared at the bully, “Leave all of us alone.”
“You must be out of your mind mutt!” Jeremy growled as he began to spin around to punch the new kid, “I’ll knock your socks…”
“What is going on here?” Ms. Fitzgerald yelled as she stormed over the group scattering to the winds, “Jeremy, Collin, are you two fighting?”
“No Ms. Fitzgerald.” Jeremy said sweetly as he pulled his paw free from Collin’s, “Me and Collin were just having a chat when Mikky fell over. I would have tripped too if Collin hadn’t caught me.”
Glancing at the school’s trouble maker the feline teacher narrowed her eyes at the obvious lie even though the few students that remained nodded in agreement. Looking over Mikky as the kit picked himself up Ms. Fitzgerald brushed the dust off the cub and checked for bruises.
“Is that true Mikky?” The teacher asked as the cub sniffled a bit.
“Yes Ms. Fitzgerald.” The fox boy whimpered as he rubbed his back side, “I tripped like Jeremy said.”
“How about you Collin? Sarah?” Looking over at the other participants Ms. Fitzgerald asked the same question. “Is that what happened?”
Looking at the group that was backing up Jeremy and down at Mikky as he whipped his eyes Collin sighed and nodded along with Sarah.
“Yes Ms. Fitzgerald, that’s what happened.”
“All right the bell just rang so everyone back to class.” The teacher snapped and took a hold of Mikky’s paw, “Come on Mikky let’s get you cleaned up.”
Following Ms. Fitzgerald as she led him to the nurse’s office Mikky gave Collin an appreciative smile and waved as he and Sarah followed the other students back to class.
The second period went smoothly after recess leading up to the second bell at noon releasing the morning kindergarten class from school before lunch. Leading the younger children out to the front parking lot the teachers ensured that the proper cubs climbed onto the right buses. Following Sarah into the number fourteen bus Collin sat by his new friend up front as they rode down the streets towards home. Hopping off on the corner right next to their house Collin lead Sarah to the front door on the right side of the town house letting her in as his guest.
“Dad, I’m home!” Collin yelled out as he and Sarah entered the living room.
Sprawled out on the couch Andy jerked out of his afternoon nap mumbling curses under his breath as he searched for the disturbance. As his drowsy eyes fell on Collin and Sarah the lanky ferret sat up.
“Hey kido back so soon? Oh and you met Sarah, good for you.” Collin’s dad said as he reached over for his prosthetic leg he had removed before laying down.
Having promised Trent he’d keep his shoes off while napping required the ferret to strap his artificial limb with shoe back on after but it was a small inconvenience. As he secured his leg both Collin and Sarah stared with wide eyes but quickly looked away once the ferret was finished and glanced up.
“So how was school?” Andy asked as he stood up and offered the cubs a seat on the couch.
“Fine,” Collin said as he sat down with Sarah and looked up at his dad, “Can we have lunch dad? We’re kind of hungry?’
“What they didn’t feed you?” Andy asked as both cubs shook their heads, “What a rip off! I pay $3,000 a year on property taxes and they don’t feel they need to give you lunch just cause your on the morning schedule!”
“I can have my mom make me something Mr. Hendricks,” Sarah chimed in not wanting to be a bother, “She should be home soon.”
“Its o.k. Sarah you can join us.” Andy said brushing his short hair back as he calmed down from his silly playful rage, “How about some toasted salami and cheese sandwiches and tomato soap?”
“Sounds good dad,” Collin said curious to see if his father was as good a cook as his other dad Trent was, “Can we play in my room while we wait?”
“Go ahead kids I’ll call you down when it’s ready.” Collin’s dad said then smiled smugly, “Just no funny business while your alone up there o.k.?”
“Kay dad,” Collin said as he led Sarah up to his room wondering what his father meant by ‘funny business’.
Giving Sarah the grand tour of the up stairs Collin showed off his side of the town house sounding as stuffy and official as he had heard his dad Trent describe the various antiques that filled the house. Giggling as she poked at a sleeping General Patton Collin’s dad’s pet rat the red squirrel looked wide eyed as the kit explained his past. The kit recalled how his dad had rescued the rat during his stay at the Walter Reed Hospital after he was wounded and how he believed the rat had been part of military experiments and had super powers. Continuing on the kit led his new friend into his room and then onto the balcony looking over the neighborhood as they waited for lunch.
“I’m really glad you moved in Collin.” Sarah said with a smile as she stared at her feet shyly. “You’ll like it here, I promise!”
“Thanks for sticking up for me back at school.” Collin said as he stared at Sarah bashfully, “I never really had a lot of friends before, thanks for being mine.”
Looking up the squirrel girl smiled and hugged her new friend tightly in a warm embrace. Taken by surprise Collin blushed before hugging back feeling funny but pleased inside.
“We’ll be friends forever.” Sarah promised as the cubs broke the embrace and she smiled at Collin, “From here on and in the after.”
Collin smiled as he pondered the phrase. The kit was rescued from having to respond as he dad called up the stairs informing the cubs lunch was ready. Following his friend’s lead as she ran down the stairs Collin decided that today had indeed been a good day.
