[#234] The Caged Fox Sings

It was such a big world out there, beyond the windows. I'd see it, every time we got to a new hotel, a new home, Mommy and Me. But every time we left, she'd put me to sleep and put me in my crate, and I'd wake up in the next new place. What did the sky look like without the glass? What did air taste like? I felt like I knew that once upon a time, but the memories were gone.

~~~

"Kimberly!" My ears twitched and I turned away from the window.  Every time she said my name like that, I felt an ache in my chest.  Not fear, or anxiety.  Excitement.  A beautiful panic.  Every word she said to me - even in anger - was a treasure and I should appreciate it. "Y-yes Mommy?"

~~~

"Are you looking for things to draw for me?" 

Window time was always limited. Mommy didn't like the idea of me getting bad ideas - or ideas at all, really - in my head, so whenever we arrived in a new place I'd only get a few scarce minutes to look at the outside world before she'd pull the blinds. Her finger slipped into my undies to check for dampness, and she whispered in my ear.

"Draw me a train today, sweetie. A choo-choo, okay?"

And the blinds got pulled.

~~~

I sat on my stomach and started to draw.  Normal for me.  And like always, I began to get enveloped in the drawing.  A train.  I had never seen a real train, but I'd seen a lot of pictures.  Maybe Mommy would take me on a train someday?  Or maybe she did, when I was asleep?  And before long, I was done!  I sat up with my art book to show Mommy and found the front of my dress soaked through.  There was a puddle on the carpet.  Oh no... not again...

~~~

"I think it's about time we switched you to something more suitable for a pet your age, don't you, Kimberly?"

Question marks were things I didn't really hear in dialog. I blinked at her, because while she'd asked a question, I'd heard a fact. And my agreement or denial of that didn't change it. My lips parted for just a second before I went back to describing my pretty drawing for my Mommy. More suitable underwear. Duh.

~~~

After that day, Mommy said I was perfect.  'Mindless and helpless', she said, whatever that meant!  And my underwear were so much thicker and much more absorbent.  No more puddles; that was a good thing, right?  Mommy ran her fingers through my hair and praised me for another new drawing, telling me how I was so much better now.  And of course, I believed her!