The Road

By Gloria Harrell

A child raised by a couple who show her no love or affection, her only friends are forest animals whom she loves dearly. She live in a broken down car with people she calls ma and pa.

A child raised by a couple who showed her no love or affection. Her only friends are forest animals whom she loves dearly. She lives in a broken-down car with people she calls Ma and Pa.

As a child, she knows no other way of life until one night a hand clamps over her mouth and foul breath whispers in her ear, "Run, get out of here. There are plans for you that shouldn't happen to a dog."

Alone in the night, a young child races through the woods in terror until, bang! Knocking herself out and awakes to a whole new world. White walls, sounds, and smells, and they all comfort her. If only she can keep a secret, maybe she can keep her new life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 6, 2022
• ISBN: 9781685176419

Book preview

Honey

I was always glad to be back home or camp or whatever you call it when you live in a car.

I love the forest. All my friends were there waiting for me. And my best friend of all was Andrew. Well, that’s the name I called him. I don’t know what his ma and pa called him. As much as I loved my friends, I still couldn’t speak raccoon. Andrew was the best friend anyone could have. When I first met him, he really was shy. Every day I’d go into the woods and wait for Andrew by the old bent tree where I first saw him.

I remember one time Ma had lost one of her earrings, Pa said a raccoon probably got it because they loved shiny things. Well, I thought, let me find something shiny and maybe the little raccoon would come to me.

I went back home, but I couldn’t find anything shiny. The only thing that I found with a little shine were the cans of beer that Ma and Pa drank like water. Because there was a deposit on the cans, I knew better than to touch the empties that Ma and Pa had collected because Pa kept a real close count on them. I’d never seen him count the unopened cans, so I figured my little friend would like the can. So I stole one. I snuck it outside, and I used my shirt to shine the can up as best I could. Then I took it to the old bent tree. I placed it where I usually saw Andrew come and sit and watch me. I didn’t have to wait long before Andrew came. Right away I saw he noticed the can. He watched it for a while, but slowly he started to ease near the can. All I could think of was, I hope he knows that it’s a gift from me.

I don’t know how long I spent watching Andrew, but he eventually accepted my gift. I thought, I’ll watch and see what he does before I come all the way out of hiding. I know he knew I was there, but before the present, whenever I tried to come out of hiding, Andrew would run away. I figured if I gave him a present, he’d know I was a friend, and it worked. I watched him play with the can. He’d hold the can in his little paws and press it close to his ear like he was listening. Then he took the can and pressed it close to his chest as if he was hugging the can. I figured this was a good time to come out of hiding. I took a couple of steps, and Andrew didn’t run away, but he froze as if ready to flee. But I don’t think Andrew wanted to leave without his can, and he was too small to carry the can. I kept trying to get closer. Once Andrew started playing again with the can, I took a couple more steps. When he froze, I froze. We kept this up until I was just five or six steps away. Andrew hadn’t run away yet, and I knew today was going to be the day I’d get to talk to my new and only friend. I was so excited I almost peed myself.

Andrew was so cute. He’d take the can in his little paws, so like a child’s hands. At one point, he held the can up just like he was going to take a sip. But he couldn’t. The can hadn’t been opened, and I doubted that he could figure out how to up the tab. As Andrew sat on his haunches playing with the can, I eased closer. He paused, but he didn’t run. I took that as a good sign and decided that I’d just walk right up to my new friend. I planted myself right down in front of Andrew. He looked at me and I looked at him, so I said, Hi. Andrew nodded his head slightly, as if to say, Hey. I smiled, and I swear Andrew smiled back. We became fast friends. And I guess it’s true—raccoons really do like shiny things because I watched Andrew roll the can, chase the can, then hug the can. He did this over and over. I guess he never had a can, or at least a can of beer.

After a while I grew tired of watching Andrew play. I wanted to play too. So I asked Andrew if he’d like me to open the can. Andrew stopped playing with the can and sat back down on his haunches. He put a paw on top of the can as if to say, Mine. So I told him I didn’t want to keep it. I just wanted to open it for him. Andrew looked at me, then at the can. He seemed to be wondering if he could trust me. Well, I had enough of Andrew. I gave him the can. Why would I steal it? And I even told him so. So I took the can and opened it. I guess beer is like soda pop. You shouldn’t shake the can. Foam went up in the air and came down all over me and Andrew. Andrew left so fast I couldn’t even see which way he went. I sat there covered in beer, holding the can and my bottom lip trembling. I just knew I’d never see Andrew again. He must think I hate him, spewing stinky beer all over him.

All I could do was cry. I knew it was going to be one of those bad cries. All the air in my body seemed to rush into my chest, and I know when it left my body, it would leave with a lot of noise. All the heartbreak of a child had filled my chest. Just at the point where the air would leave my body or I’d pass out—because whether you know it or not, it’s hard to breathe when all your air is trapped in your chest—I saw him peeking at me from a high clump of brush. He sat there, each little paw holding blades of grass so that he could see me clearly. I still held the can of beer in my hand. I was so heartbroken I forgot I was still holding the can. I slowly released all the air that I had trapped in my chest. I couldn’t dare frighten my friend by bawling like a