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Jordon had just gone to bed. He turned the television off, closed the book he was reading, and adjusted the comforter around his shoulders. Looking at the patterns on the ceiling created by the street light made him fall fast asleep.
The next morning Jordon woke up and looked at the clock. It was only 2:22 a.m. It wasn’t time to wake up yet. He listened to nothing, just silence. The house was quiet.
He repositioned himself on his other side, and he saw something move. He blinked his eyes, then turned on the light and waited, but nothing appeared.
Later, the sun was bright in the sky, and Jordon smelled eggs and coffee and toast. He was salivating. He could taste breakfast as the smells from the kitchen filled his room.
He tossed the comforter aside, threw his feet over the edge of the bed, and stood up. He opened the window and felt the crisp morning air.
He listened to the sound of the animals as they came alive. He looked way beyond the luscious green vegetables of the farm to the misty hillsides. The beautiful view filled him with happiness. He took a deep breath, blocked out sad memories and looked at the good things in his life.
He slammed the window closed and enjoyed the silence of his bedroom. He noticed his school clothes were all arranged on the chair under the window. He walked to the bathroom and looked at himself in the mirror. His hair was sticking up, and the whites of his eyes were pink.
I miss my friend, he thought. I must have been crying in my sleep.
He washed up, got dressed, and walked into the kitchen where his breakfast was waiting for him.
“Morning, Gram.”
“Morning, baby. Your lunch is already in your bag. Don’t forget to drink your water.” She examined the eggs brought from the chicken coup and placed them in the holder.
He drank the orange juice first, then shovelled the scrambled eggs into his mouth. He could hear his grandfather feeding the chickens in the backyard, but he didn’t look. He drank the milk and threw the knapsack over his shoulder, grabbed his last slice of toast and his lunch bag, and headed out the door.
“‘Bye, Grandma,” he said.
“Have a good day, baby “
Jordon saw Kirk, the boy from next door. All his siblings were all grown up, so he was the last one. Grandma called him the family's surprise. Then she laughed.
“Hey! How ya feeling? I heard you fell yesterday.” Kirk looked at Jordon. “Wow! Those are some huge bandages, man.” The boys walked away, and Kirk continued the conversation. “I went to Pony Island with the folks. Next time ask your grandparents and come with us. It's entertaining. We have a summer home where the water sports are incredible, dude.”
“Sounds like fun. I will ask my parents,” said Jordon.
The bus was on time, and Jordon took his seat. He looked in the yard to see his grandpa waving frantically at him. He waved back.
Jordon was sad that he wasn’t going to ever see his mouse friend again. Tears wanted to come, but he swallowed hard to suppress it.
I have to be brave, he thought. Just like my dad is serving in Afghanistan.
Something rustled in his backpack. It was poking him in the back.
Jordon removed his pack and looked inside to see what could feel so sharp. He put the pack on the seat next to him as there was no one sitting there.
He ignored what he thought was a rustling.
Someone said, “Hi Jordon.”
He looked up to see Sara Jane going down the front steps of the bus, her ponytail bouncing.
She was the class princess, with long silky blonde hair that flows. It looked like water flowing over a rock. He was certain her baby blue eyes could see right through his body. When she looked into his eyes, he had to look away. He felt she could see all his secrets. And when she smiled at him, he felt all funny and was forced to look elsewhere.
At the locker she was talking to a group of girls.
He watched as she tossed her hair and giggled. When she talked, her hands flew all over the place. He felt like he could watch her all day long.
The bell rang, and everyone shuffled to their home rooms. The teacher was wearing her hair wrapped on top of her head, and she looked pretty.
“Miss,” said Jordon, “you look beautiful today.”
“Thank you, Jordon,” she said and smile, then started to write on the chalkboard.
When the school bus pulled out of the schoolyard, Jordon was happy to go home. Sara Jane wasn’t on the bus, so he watched the houses from the window.
Then suddenly a sharp poke came at his side.
He opened his school bag to finally see what it was. He used his hand to muffle his scream.
“Mouse!” he exclaimed. “I thought you were a goner. I thought you were in the mousetrap my Grandpa tossed in the trash.”
The mouse wiggled his whiskers and looked at Jordon.
“Ha. I’m sneakier than you give me credit for, boy. But that was a rat, and I have no clue who it was. You have to remember, there is a difference between mice and rats.”
“I’m so happy it wasn’t you,” Jordon smiled. “What about your family?”
“We’re all good. We moved down behind the chicken coop. I come up to the porch each day to get the food you toss out. But yes, everyone is fine.”
Jordon sat back in his seat and smiled. It was definitely a good day.
THE END.