Little Inklings 2024

As she sluggishly walked down the path to school, the same one she took every day, Lo dragged her feet. She grew tired of the scathing heat, although her dog, Richard, probably had it worse. Everywhere she went, he went. Even if it took him a little longer. He was already seventeen years old, but somehow had withstood the elements. The sun unwaveringly beamed down at her. The air remained dense and still. The bugs’ nagging remained incessant as ever, and she couldn’t help but wonder if the whole universe was against her. She recalled the conversation she had had with her mother earlier that morning. “All right Lois, now I don’t want you coming home looking like a tornado hit you today. Alright?” she said. Lo scoffed. Her mother hated that she always came back with stains on her dress, the carefully knotted bows dangling from her hair, and on particularly chaotic days, ripped sleeves. But worse than a ripped sleeve, was that all of the other kids could read. They always boasted of their many triumphant conquests: Jimmy knew every word in the English Dictionary, and Madeline had read almost every book in the library. Frances could recite the three full editions of German poetry frommemory, but that didn’t matter, she gathered, because everybody hated Frances. She was the teacher’s pet who always bragged about the 3-foot-tall wooden pony she got for her birthday. “He is made of Chinese silk and quilted in velvet, he was very expensive…” Frances had boasted. Lo scoffed, showing her best-unimpressed glare,“You’re just mad because your daddy got fired and you’re too poor for any toys.” Unable to think of something equally as snarky or cruel to say, Lo lunged at her, pulling out a lock of her perfect blonde hair. And so, Lo and Francis’s rivalry began. Lo let her mind wander, as that was the only thing that kept her busy for the five-mile walk, and decided to consult Richard; “I’m not too smart am I Richard?” Lo tilted her head down to see if Richard held a twinge of sympathy in his eyes, when all of a sudden, everything stopped. The sun no longer felt so hot, and the bugs not so relentless. Nothing was as horrifying as the realization that she had lost Richard. “Richard? Come here, boy!” She rounded every tree; turned every rock; and climbed every hill, but he was nowhere to be found. She slumped down by a tall oak tree, something comforting about its warm brown trunk and towering stature; allowing a single tear to roll down her red cheek; accepting that her one true friend was lost forever. Lo sat there in the shade, recalling all of their good times together; the day they first met. It was right by this path; on a hot morning, just like this one, when she stumbled upon a starving little mutt and took him home. From that day on, they were INTO THE DEN OF THE BEAST By Phaedra Haralambides ’28 best friends. She could almost hear the same sweet bark in the distance. No! She could hear it! She whipped her head around, and her eyes met her beautiful dog. They rejoiced with a hug. “Where were you?” she gasped. Richard wagged his worn tail and barked at her frantically. He hoisted his tattered leg up, pawing at Lo until she finally got up. “What is it, Richard?” He pointed his snout ahead and trotted along. “Slow down!”, she called after him, winded. She chased him through the tall reeds, over the bridge on the creek, around the tall fir trees, and - “We’re in the woods!” she said in shock. “No!” Lo would never go near the woods. It was full of icky, dangerous creatures. And especially not after what she heard about Mr. Stevens. Richard let out a high and desperate whine. “No Richard.” He sensed the leeway in her tone, his eyes lighting up, starting up with the barking again. “It’s too dangerous! ‘’ she repeated again. At that point, she was trying to convince herself, clinging to the words like a life jacket. You can’t Lo, she thought. But maybe it wasn’t so bad. There was something inviting about the forest today. 18