"Mum, dad, can i go play outside" a tiny voice asked.
"Sure baby, but only for a few minutes. You know we would be moving out in an hour. Are you done packing your things?"
"Yes," came the solemn response.
The door slammed shut and silence followed in her wake.
"I am worried about her."
"She would be fine now that we are leaving this place. All bad memories would be forgotten in time and she would make new friends. I promise she would be fine."
Her parents had good cause to be worried about their six years old daughter. Sharon, their only child had been named a murderer! They said she had killed her best friend out of jealousy. How could sweet, kind Sharon kill another little girl? As a result, she was shunned in the neighbourhood, abused at school that she had to stay home for her own safety.
The climax of it all was when Mr Alfred had repeatedly slapped Sharon's mum in public. He claimed he was punishing her for not raising her daughter well. Cries of 'murderer's mother' filled her ears that fateful day as she left the town's grocery store. She couldn't help crying at the injustice of it all. Her daughter was being blamed for a crime she didn't commit.
To think that it was all a misunderstanding, Jessica had drowned with no one there to save her. Sharon wasn't even there at the time, she had screamed for help when she saw the body floating in the water.
Was a girl supposed to leave her friend's body lying in the water? But they had all assumed she killed her when they saw her with Jessica's body. The fact remains no one saw what happened...they just blamed a poor little girl because it was more convenient and easier to explain.
Now that delightful child of yesterday has grown sullen and quiet. The sound of her laughter was non-existent, the sight of her dimples were no more. She lived like a ghost and even looked like one. She cried to sleep every night before sleeping.
During the day, she lived in the tree-house at the backyard. Her parents didn't know what she did there but it was better than letting her sleep her life away.
They had resolved to move when the attitude of neighbours became worse. They couldn't let their little girl grow up in this kind of atmosphere. They were moving six states away. That should put enough distance between them.
The sound of laughter from the backyard stopped her parents in their tracks.
They couldn't believe their ears! That was the sound of Sharon's laughter!
Her mother already had tears in her eyes...its been a year since she had that delightful sound. She and her husband moved as one towards the back door.
They saw their daughter rolling in the grass with an animal. Their daughter was laughing and playing like a normal little girl! Her mother burst into tears and went into her husband's arms, he wasn't left out as a few tears rolled down his cheek.
Then they had a proper look at the animal as Sharon set it down. It was abnormal.
"Honey, where did you find it?" Her mother asked, fear evident in her voice.
Its coat was white...snow white that was so bright it was dazzling. It looked like a dog only it had a funny shaped tail and it stood on its hind legs. It was even walking on its two hind legs! The fore limbs were not legs, rather, they were just like human hands!
"He found me! He said Jessica sent him, she is really sorry all this happening to me. She wants me to be happy again. She knows i am allergic to dogs and cats but she sent something better. Isn't he delightful? Mum, dad, i can keep him right?"
"But we don't know where he came from...how do we explain him to people? He is strange looking. I have not seen any animal like him and i am zoologist!" Her father replied.
"Promise i can keep him if i can solve that problem"
Her parents looked at each other, clearly at a loss as to what decision to make.
"Ok," her father answered.
"He can change into a dog! He said he is called a Kalen and he can shape shift. I call him Kal, please, please let me keep him"
"Honey, you can keep him. I have fallen in love with him already. He gave me back my baby. Look at you so full of joy after a long year of gloom. I don't care if there are a hundred of him, i just want to keep seeing this smile on your face. You are as beautiful as ever. Kal is really heaven's gift to us. Definitely, our moving is supported by the heavens. We are going to be so happy."
"I agree with your mother. You can keep Kal."
The little girl laughed happily and ran to hug her parents. Her new pet, the Kalen looked on.I am pretty sure there was a smile on his face as he watched the family laugh together again after a long while of gloom.
This is my entry for the the twentyfourhourshortstory contest held by @mctiller.
I hope you enjoyed reading Sharon's story.