Scribble Ruffie
UsuAs you walk up the dirt path, inwardly groaning at the nonsensical map the farmer downhill had drawn for you, you began to wonder if you would ever find civilization again. as your focus strayed from the lines and circles scrawled on the piece of paper to the airy woods surrounding your path you heard something that sounded like a child's voice. A child... surely their parents must be nearby. If they had a phone - or even better, a car - you could get out of this hick town! You picked up the pace and raised hope as the child's voice became more audible.
Sure enough, there was a little girl painting something on a large piece of canvas just outside a small wood house. she was chattering with the sleepy golden retriever lying next to her. You tapped her on the shoulder and she spun around quickly. She looked about twelve or thirteen years old, and had such a sweet, joyful smile.
"Hello there!" she chirruped, "I don't get a lot of visitors. It's so wonderful to see a new face! What's your name, stranger?"
She spoke rather quickly and you almost didn't catch her question. You gave her your name and quickly remembered to ask where her parents were.
"Oh they're long gone. They got tired of the countryside and moved to the big city. I stayed though, it's too pretty here to just up and leave!"
You were shocked. That a mother and father could leave their child in the middle of no where seemed so wrong. Soon the fact that there was likely no phone or car sunk in, and you slumped to the ground in defeat.
"Oh dear, stranger, that's not a good place to rest! Come inside, come inside!" She insisted as she tugged on your arm.
You sighed and decided there was no better options, as you were too tired to continue walking. As she pulled you up you noticed the old dog had gotten up at some point and was walking back towards you and the girl from around the side of the house, and that the easel, painting and paint supplies were missing. This confused you, but you shrugged it off as tiredness and followed the girl into the house.
You were amazed at the interior of the home. the walls and floorboards were painted bright shades of red, golden yellow and white. The ceiling was painted all sorts of colors in swirling and spiraling patterns. There were a great deal of paintings on every wall, ranging from realistic scenery to charming pop art. The signatures read 'Ellen P.', which you presumed to be her name, as she had failed to mention it beforehand. The home felt very open with no walls separating the kitchen and the living room. There was only one door aside from the one you had entered marked 'BATHROOM' on curly letters. As she ushered you to sit on the couch and walked off to retrieve some refreshments, you felt like this seemed more like the set of a children's show rather than a home. You chuckled to yourself as you wondered if Barney would burst in the front door at any moment.
She returned quickly with three glasses of green tea, and you wondered who the third glass was for. Soon it hit you - that's it! She must have a guardian, or maybe an older sibling. You found yourself smiling with relief. The girl wasn't all alone out here, after all. Your smile waned as the golden retriever sat on one of beanbag chairs opposite the couch and picked up the tea. Wait. Picked up the tea? It held the cup between it's paws and sat upright, sipping calmly. You stared in disbelief at the sight and nearly jumped as the creature gazed up at you.
"Is something the matter, human?" The creature spoke, her voice gentle and eloquent, "You are staring at me rather intently."
You sputtered out broken syllables. and broke eye contact. The words 'it's a talking dog' repeated in your mind, as if trying to convince yourself of the fact.
"Ah yes, I had forgotten to introduce myself," she said, setting the tea on the nearby coffee table, "How rude of me. My name is Annie, I am Ellen's caretaker. It is a pleasure to meet you."
She reached out a paw in your direction, which you hesitantly took. she gave a small shake, and resumed to her tea.
- not finished, will continue later -
