This is my entry for a writing prompt contest by @playfulfoodie, found here. The goal was to weave a tale around the words "Overlook" and "Water".
I am using a character from a previous story I wrote called Lost and Alone in Las Vegas, to further explore life on the streets for one particular Chihuahua named Charlie.
Stories From Braveheart #2 - Charlie's First Night Alone
Charlie, now free from his unhappy home, trots down the sidewalk with a confident gait, keeping himself as hidden as possible, crossing into the bushes when he sees humans or others dogs. Only a few moments before he was at his home with his family the larger humans Linda and Henry, and the half-sized demon-child June. Charlie wasn't particularly happy with his lifestyle with this less than kind, abusive family, but he hadn't intended on running away that hot summer day in June, his curiosity and his nose led him astray. With the many guests at the party and backyard barbeque, it wasn't difficult for a little Chihuahua like Charlie to be overlooked.
The sun began to set over Las Vegas, bright lights and neon taking her place. The smells and sounds of the city were both frightening and intoxicating at the same time. Charlie had been wandering for several hours up and down many streets. He was no longer in his suburban neighbourhood; he found himself in the city's core. Lost, afraid, tired, hungry, and now thirsty, Charlie continues his journey with little other options.
Charlie's thirst for water has now become insatiable, and this drives him forward. His nose leads him to the edges of the McDonald's parking lot.
"These are familiar smells," thinks Charlie as he slips in between the cars, with his eyes and nose focused on an overflowing garbage can a short distance away.
He approaches with the stealth; again he was easily overlooked, one of the pros of being a tiny Chihuahua. Nobody saw Charlie drag the paper cup into the bushes. He knew what he had! His favourite beverage from home! Coffee!
Charlie's humans routinely forgot to feed and give him water. The humans, however, did not keep such a tidy home and there was often partial drinks and fast food garbage laying about within reach. Out of necessity, he had already learned to forage for his survival.
Charlie used his sharp teeth to tear off the lid of the cup, to expose the exquisite nectar inside. Charlie laps up the sweet, slightly warm remains of his favourite beverage, coffee! Not the water, he was searching for, but as he always said before, "It was wet!"
Charlie was also fortunate enough to find a few fries, and chicken nugget with a bite out of it for his dinner. Charlie falls asleep amongst the garbage. The next morning rudely awakens him with a swat from a broom. Charlie, yelps, and scurries off as fast as he can away from the McDonalds employee who apparently wanted to kill him.
Charlie keeps running until he finds a hiding spot in a nearby alley. He felt stifled by fear and anxiety as he hid behind some boxes but relieved that he had survived his first night on the streets of Las Vegas alone. Charlie wanted his mom; Princess!