The Delivery
The following is a story that I wrote some time ago, and figured it would be nice to share with others. It is however staged in a predetermined universe called "Tales from the Blind Pig" interested persons can find more information on this universe at http://transform.to/~mwbard/tbp/indexintro.html .
Please Enjoy.
The slick roads of early winter always make for a bad drive. Most states have yet to get the salt and sand trucks prepped and ready at this time of year. After leaving the companies trailer at the loading dock, I think it was for one of the discount furniture stores that it belonged to, I asked the loading dock manager about a place I could get myself a drink. It had been a long drive and I was over do for my mandatory rest time. He suggested a bar called "The Blind Pig" saying that it was the only one around that would serve SCABS in the area. He was kind but I could tell he wanted to limit his time around me as best as possible.
It's hard to tell if it's just the obvious fact that I had SCABS or the fact that I was a 5'5" Skunk animorph, including the obvious black and white striping pattern typical to the New England area. I didn't have it as bad as many had. I could still talk without a vodor, and I still walked upright with no real hindrance other then the fact I looked like a giant skunk. True I lost my original job due to health regulations but I picked up as a Truck Driver. My parents even helped with buying a brand new sleeper rig. I'd have to say in that I was truly lucky because I still had my family and they all supported me as best they could.
When I found the bar and parked a few blocks down the road I found myself getting a bit nervous. I never was one for places that held large amounts of people, and I never could tell how others would react to me. It seems that there aren't a lot of skunk morphs around in fact I can't remember ever meeting another. It was my intention to just go in quietly but things don't always work as we plan. In combination with my nerves and the fact that the door was meant to be opened with ease I sent the door opening wide and fast enough to make a dull thud when it hit the stopper at the end of its swing.
This got the attention of most of the bars occupants. There weren't many but the ones that were there looked in my direction. There were a few wolfs all chumming it up at one table, a large mule looking man at the piano and a few people sitting at the bar. It was early yet for a bar of any sort to really be busy so this must have been the early crowd. As I walked over to the bar, slightly embarrassed and positive that the white fur on my face was by now a dark red, I noticed the bar tender. He was a huge man with the makeup of what reminded me of a bull.
I found myself a stool about midway down the bar and waited for the large man to come over. When he came by he looked me over and sat there with a face that seemed to say 'What'l you have.'
"Bacardi and Coke, please," I said pulling out a five. The docs said I had to be careful about what I eat as far as anything with sugar content; apparently it's not good for the skunk half of my body but after this week to hell with them. When the drink came I just stared at it for a wile until the bar tender came over again. Now I've been told to be a good bar tender you have to have half your knowledge in drinks, a quarter in how to fight, and a quarter in psychology. This guy didn't need to know how to fight he'd just have to stair you down, but he also carried an air about him that awkwardly enough spoke of experience in life.
On his way back over the man, I now know his name is Donnie, grabbed a scratch bad and after writing on it passed it over to me.
'Long day?'
"Long week," I said with a huff. Now normally I wouldn't be as open as to anything going on in my life but this man had that feel about him. "I saw something that I wish I hadn't, and could have lived my life without seeing."
It was the truth. The last pickup I had made was from a warehouse down south around the bible belt. Its no secret that the people down there were not very accepting of people with SCABS to the point where hate groups were popping up all over the place. Driving through town I had heard a gunshot from what had to have been a rifle. I looked to see what had caused the shot just in time to watch a young female badger double over grabbing her belly. My first reaction was to grab my pistol from its glove box and radio on the CB for help. When I jumped out of my rig to run to her side the young man took one wild shot at me and ran off down an alley.
Running up to the young women I asked if she was ok, which was a dumb question because I could see the blood soaking into her fur. Taking off my jacket I laid her down and put it over the gunshot wound trying to stop the bleeding as best I could. As I did this another truck came barrelling up the street and seeing my hazards pulled over and the driver hoped and rushed over to the two of us with his cell phone out.
"What happened?" he asked.
"Some little shit just shot her with a 22 and took off down that alley," I responded. The poor girl in my arms was starting to feel week and as she looked at me her eyes were asking me one question, "why". It's the same question I'm still asking myself. The trucker had called the paramedics which arrived on the seen not long after he did. I went in the ambulance to the hospital and the trucker followed knowing id need a ride back to my own rig.
Once at the hospital the doctors did all that they could but they said she didn't have much longer to live. She had lost too much blood and they couldn't stop the bleeding. They wanted me to stay with her so that she had somebody in the final moments of her life.
When I walked into the room she was hooked up to a few machines and IV which I suppose was for the pain killer that they were pumping into her. She could talk a little but not much. It was painfully obvious she knew what was happening and knew she didn't have much time left.
"Hi," I said in as cheerful a voice I could muster.
"Hi," she responded in a quite voice, "thank you for being there."
"Its no problem, look they are trying to find a surgeon that can help you better then.." she cut me off.
"You don't have to lie to me. I could hear them talking to you outside. I'm just glad you stayed. I want to ask you for a favor though if that's ok."
"Anything," I responded without a second thought.
"Will you tell my parents I love them, and give them the letter that's in my purse? You don't have to worry about them and SCABS they are both very loving people and understanding," she said as she coughed into hand.
"Of course I will," I said with a small tear in my eye. She smiled and tried to reach out for a hug but was too weak. I leaned over kissed her on the forehead and hugged her. As I did I could hear the monitor that was beeping with ever beat of her heart flat line and with that she was gone.
The trucker was waiting for me in the emergency room lobby. I had what few belongs of the young lady's in my hands as we both walked out the exit. We filled the ride back to my rig with small talk about family, friends, and places we've been. I thanked him for the ride, and after we exchanged our CB calls I got out and climbed into my rig.
I started up my rig and glanced at the things I had placed in the passenger seat. I at least wanted to know what her name was, and after this delivery I would head off to tell her family. It didn't take long to find her ID. I looked at the picture on her license for a few minuets. It was funny really most people get that crap photo that looks like you just got over a bad hangover but this one had life to it. I don't know how long I sat there but when I came back to the fur on my face was damp and there were wet spots on my shirt. I took one last look at the ID noting her first name and where she lived. Julie from Leominster Massachusetts, which it turned out, would not be far out of my way after my delivery.
I finished telling Donnie my story just as I finished the last of my drink. I hadn't intended on talking so long nor had I realized my drink was empty. The bartender offered to make another drink for me but I refused it.
"No thanks, I have an important delivery to make," I said pulling Julie's ID out of my breast pocket.
I made my way back to my rig and got there just in time. My new driving companion, a domestic skunk, had just woken up. I picked her up at a breeders on my way north. It gets lonely sometimes on the road and I thought it would be best to get a pet I could relate to. This one well she just stood out to me.
"Good morning Julia, ready to move out?"
FIN.