The Black Bucket - Chapter 1 (part 2)

I was sent back to reality as a passing truck honked, and sped by. There I was standing in front of the animal shelter, I looked up at the sign which read “Little Pets, we’re the best because we care” that’s the shelter’s slogan. I stood in front of it for a few moments, looking at the small kittens prancing about in the display window. When I opened the door, an electronic meowing sound greeted me, I hated these sort of bells, the ones that made a noise when you opened the door  they really bothered me. A started looking around, no dogs were to be found here, no dogs for at least 200 kilometers, or save for the roadkill today. “How can I help you Sir?” A cheerful blonde worker greeted me, she had her pulled back and bunched up in a ponytail, I assumed this was because she didn’t want it to get in the way when handling animals.

  “I’m looking to adopt an animal, preferably a kitten.” I said in a monotone voice.

  She clapped two hands together. “Wonderful! Let me take you to the adoption section!” I nodded and smiled.

I followed her towards the back of the store, there was lots of cages here, but they all looked nicely maintained, I looked around, my eyes darting between cages, I can see a sad look on some of the animals here. Cats, rabbits, hamsters, mice, turtles, guinea pigs and two small red pandas. Not all looked sad, some seemed happy and didn’t care where they were. “These are the kittens up for adoption, now do you have any breed in mind or?” Her ponytail looked really nice as she turned to face me with a smile.

  “I don’t have one in mind, no. I’ll just have a look at them, can I have a moment alone please?” I sounded fishy, though that wasn’t my intention.

  “Why certainly! I’ll be over by the counter when you’re done!” She’s really perky, is it possible to be this perky? She looked like she was almost skipping and her lovely ponytail was bobbing up and down.

  What I really wanted to do is have a moment, I didn’t want to pick a kitten based on it’s breed, I wanted one that gives me a sort of connection. I started inspecting them all, twiddling my finger in front of them until I came across this Black Cat, it looked directly into my eyes, something that slightly riveted me.

  “Stars, Bombay cat, she was found abandoned at an old apartment, she is a little shy but has a very fun sense of humor.” As I read the small description a few things came to mind, why is it even called Stars? How does a cat have a sense of humor?

I decided right there and then that this was going to be my new friend.

   I went up to the counter and with a small cough. “Aaah, excuse me?”

  “Oh! You decided?” She did the hand clap again as she turned around, I really like her ponytail.

  “Yes, I have, the cat called Stars.” I felt stupid calling it stars, I’m going to call her something else.

  “Hah, I really didn’t expect you to pick Stars, but let’s go to her so you get to know her better.” She made her way to the cat with her bobbing ponytail.

Why didn’t she expect me to pick that cat? I followed her, she slowly opened the cage, at the same time she was making “cute” noises to calm the cat down and she carefully picked her up. She placed the kitten on a table, the table had a small raised up glass wall around it, I assume it’s so they don’t accidentally fall off.

 “Why is she called Stars?” My curiosity got the best of me, ironically.

 “You didn’t notice?” I felt stupid for a moment. “Look at her eyes, if you look closely you can see her iris is slightly star shaped.” She bent over a little and pointed at them.

  I bent down to have a better look and this childish joy slowly overtook me. “Well that’s something you don’t see every day.”

  “Oh yes she’s quite unique, though she rejected two couples and one woman so far…” She said with a slight sad tone.

  “How come?” I wondered.

  “Well, she just gets a little aggressive if she doesn’t like someone… Here, try your luck with her” She handed me a string.

I started to tease the kitten with the string, she didn’t seem to react, so I made a small noise to her attention and it gave me the same look as she did when she was in the cage.

  “Can I touch her?” Why do I feel nervous?

  “Of course, just be careful she usually gets aggressive when you try to touch her.” I sensed as if she’s already expecting the cat to get aggressive.

  I held out my index finger, and slowly moved it and poked its head, it’s like I’m testing if it’s safe to go in or not. The kitten gave a small nod, so I did it again, this time slowly stroking it with my index finger. I can swear I heard a little purr, she purred, she must have! I impishly smiled. The kitten stepped back, raised both paws and playfully hit my fingers.

  “She likes you! She likes you!” The ponytail lady started jumping up and down in excitement.

  “Me and you are going to get along just fine.” A big goofy smirk spread across my face.

I started feeling this great joy, as if I’m starting a new chapter in my life or something. She took the kitten away, I waited at the reception while she did some checks before giving it to me.

  “Sir, can I have your details please?” A not so cheerful worker, she looked like one of the rebellious teenagers but she seemed interesting.

  “Ah yes sure, what do you need?” I took the pen out of my pocket.

  “Just fill out this form aaaand…” She pointed at the end of the paper. “Sign here.”

“Name: Imreil Shahrizai

Date of Birth: 26/05/2049

Contact Number: 315161148974

Email: Imreil.s@gmail.com

Address: Apt 2, Montirave Building, 2522, 4805, Mohave”

I signed the form and handed it over to her.

By the time the rebellious teenager finished explaining the types of food, how to train them to use the litter-box, and few other things the lovely ponytail lady had Stars ready. I finished purchasing all the required things, I also told Catherine (the ponytail girl, yes, that’s her name) that I’ll be changing the kittens name. And with a handful of things, I couldn’t walk back to the apartment, I had to hail a cab to take me back.

The Black Bucket - Chapter 1 (part 1)

I wasn't sure where this was, but that’s me, building a castle in the sand, defending myself against the sea’s waves but I must have been four or five years old here. Why can’t I see their smiles? Why can I hear laughter but not see their expressions. Suddenly I was startled by a loud crashing sound, I got up and noticed most the staff were heading towards the window left side window. Naturally, I followed suit, I can hear murmurs between them, also some of my colleagues were pressing their hands against their gaping mouths, attempting to subconsciously conceal their shock. ‘What’s going on here? what’s all the fuss about?’ grumbled Mark while pushing his way through the others. He really gets on my nerves, he’s your typical testosterone pumped office cunt.

  “There’s been a horrible accident!” Jennifer answered, with a shrill sound. That had to be the most vague answer I’ve heard, it sounded like it was taken out of a 70’s movie, you know the ones with a ridiculous reaction to show “emphasis”. But yes, it was a ‘horrible accident’, from the blood splattered on the windshield, the way it’s splashed upwards I can only assume he crashed into something which happens to be that dog. My heart ached for the dog, I detest people who do not pay attention for animals crossing, because it’s something that happens often, roadkills, by now one would think they would get it through their heads that animals will cross the road. But the man managed swerve off into a street light, I don’t think the impact was too kind on him, for one he wasn’t moving and now two people were approaching the car. You can deduce from their reactions that he most likely passed away, or - “Oh my! There’s a child in the backseat!” Trust Jennifer to be the most observant one in the room.

  “What a mess…” Jack said under his breath.

  The analytic voice of Vipin startled me. “There’s something wrong, there hasn’t been any dogs in this city for over three years now, it’s either really bad luck or something brought that dog here.” How did I not noticed that? Oh yes, my memory is still fizzled from the “incident”, there was a virus outbreak around four years ago, dogs, they carried a man made virus which when bitten turned people into raging menaces which almost always led to their self obliteration. Yes, almost, some people survived, like me, and like Mark but we didn't survive with only a bite mark scar. Mark, during his enraged state tore all the hair from left side of his head, just above the ears and you can see the scar it left, it looked like a burn, rather ugly but he was proud of it. As for me, it took a toll on my brain I lost some of my memories, some of my old personality too from what the doctor said but there’s something else they didn’t notice.

  “Oh the poor child, what’s going to happen to that poor child? Does the child have a mother?” I sighed, as another question was raised by the ever so observant Jennifer.

  “It’s going to be hard for that child, his future is completely altered now.” Vipin’s insight, and his beliefs always captivated me, I think he’s the only “sane” person in this room.

  “Hah! Nonsense! I turned out fine without parents!” Every time Mark made a statement like that he would adjust his trousers - and so he did without fail - Some people turned around, and give him a quizzical look but he paid them no heed.

The scene was cleared up, the news are already broadcasting about this strange appearance of a dog, no word on the people involved in the accident because why should they matter? And so for the whole day it was the talk of the office, people raising different speculations on what could be the cause of that dog appearing. I can see Mark from the corner of my eyes, he had an audience of three other male colleagues, all listening to his take on why the dog appeared there, this man really gets on my nerves I don’t know why but he’s reminding me of something I just can’t remember. The day ended, without much more work being done because of the incident. I decided to head to the animal’s shelter, I don’t know why I just got the urge to go there, maybe that child triggered something in me, I have a feeling I want to save that child but because I cannot do anything about it I need to find a compensation to give me a certain satisfaction.

There’s me again, someone is holding my hands, I remember this part of the woods, we were headed to a gazebo. Why am I here? I can see blurred words, either the creation of two lovers or vandals embedded into the wood. She pulled my face to hers, I don’t see her lips, nor her expression. When did this happen? And did it really happen?