Chapter 11

I walked out the front door, same as usual, and my fingers began to glow, again. I shoved my hands into my pockets, hoping no one saw them. I was glad I had decided to drive in today. I quickly got in and kept my hands low, trying to figure out how to make them stop glowing. I tried to remember if the professor had said anything about it, but I couldn’t remember, she said a lot of stuff. I will have to ask her in the morning. I decided to draw with it for a bit, maybe it would run out of glow or whatever. I mostly drew various shapes and smiley faces. I did not wish, hope, or imagine any of it to be real; I did remember the professor saying that much. I heard Mr. Reese locking up. My hands were still glowing and I knew he would wonder why I was still here and walk over. I started shaking my hands trying to make them stop. Just as he approached my car, they stopped glowing. I grabbed my phone and rolled the window down.

“Taylor, is everything okay?” He asked.

“I’m fine, Mr. Reese. I was on my phone. Don’t like to drive when using it,” I replied.

“That’s smart. I wish more people were as considerate as you,” he said as he turned and walked to his car.

“Goodnight,” I said.

“Night,” he replied.

I started my car, then it shut off. What’s wrong now? Always something with this damn car. Mr. Reese pulled up next to me.

“Need a hand?” He asked.

“I think I got it, you can go ahead home.” I replied.

“Are you sure, Taylor? It’s no problem waiting to see if you get it running.”

“I’m sure, you go ahead.”

I popped the hood and trunk then got out. I grabbed my tool bag from the trunk and walked to the front of my car. I lifted the hood and hung the light off the top. I checked the connectors on the battery and then tried to start my car. I didn’t start. I checked the wiring going to and from the alternator, everything looked good. I checked all the hoses, and fluids. Everything appeared to be good. The gas was good; I filled up on my way to work. I guess I’m walking home.

I close the hood and put my tools back in the trunk. I made it to the other side of the parking lot before I realized I forgot my phone and that ominous feeling was back. I wanted to go back and get my phone and at the same time I wasn’t sure if that was a good idea. I slowly turned around. There, standing next to my car, was a large dog. No, not a dog, a wolf. I didn’t know we still had wolves in Michigan. This one was freaking me out; I screamed at it to go. Oddly, though I’m not sure what I was really expecting, it ran off. I cautiously approached my car, in case it came back. And sure enough, as I opened the door, it came back with a friend. Wait, where did they go? I quickly got into my car. I grabbed my phone and video called Dom and Nate. I told them what was going on. Like me, they didn’t think wolves still lived in the area.

“We’re on our way. Stay in your car. If wolves are coming into town, it’s because they are looking for food. And even though you’re like a toothpick, you might look delicious to them.” Dom laughed.

“Ha ha. You’re so funny.” I said sarcastically. “Just hurry please, I don’t feel like being dinner. Ahhh!” One of the wolves is standing front paws on the driver door window.

“What happened?” Nate asks.

I turn my phone so he can see what I see. “That. That is what happened.” I say, closing my eyes.

“Oh my god. That sucker is huge. You sure that’s a wolf and not a bear?” he asks.

“I’m pretty sure. I mean I’ve never encountered either, but I’m pretty sure that is a wolf.

“Is he licking the glass?” Nate asks.

I open my eyes. “What is it doing?”

“Maybe Dom was right,” he laughs.

“What was I right about?”

“The wolves are hungry. And Taylor looks like dinner,” Nate laughs again.

“Not funny. Dom, you work with animal control, how do I make him get down.”

“You don’t, I do. We’re pulling in now.”

“Oh, thank god.” Just then the wolf drops down and I see both of them run off. Nate and Dom are both laughing when they get out of the car.

“Dude, you have the worst luck. Those are the biggest wolves I have ever seen.” Dom says.

“Yeah, and your car broke down on the night they decided to come to town,” Nate laughs.

I get out of my car. “You guys would think this is funny. I really thought I was going to be dinner there for a minute. Nate, can you check under the hood? I couldn’t figure out why it wouldn’t start.”

“Sure, but try to start it so I can hear what it sounds like first.”

“Alright,” I get back in and start my car. It started. What?

“Sounds like it started just fine, Nate says at the same time Dom says, “Must have just flooded the engine.”

“Well, thanks for scaring off those wolves at least,” I laugh nervously. I know the engine was not flooded. Maybe the wolves bumping my car around did something.

“No problem, they were huge, I think if I was alone out here, I would have been afraid of them, too. Interested in grabbing a beer?” Dom asks.

“Nah, I’m just going to head home. I have some professor coming in the morning.”

“What professor?” Nate asks.

“Oh, yeah. I forgot to tell you. There is some prestigious school trying to recruit me.” I tell them.

“Really? Don’t they usually do that in high school?” Nate asks.

“They do. But Remember my mom got sick and I put college on hold.”

“I remember that,” Dom says. “So, are you going to go now, then?”

“I don’t know yet. I kinda like things the way they are now. I’m not sure I’m going to go.”

“Well, anything you need man, we’re here for you.” Nate says.

“Alright, night guys. Have a beer for me.” And with that they got back into Dom’s truck. We drove out of the bowling alley parking lot.

When I arrived home, I found the front door busted in and my house ransacked. I called the guys back. This was turning into a very long night. After I got off the phone with them, I called the police. It took my friends only ten minutes to arrive at my house. It took the police an additional hour. Good thing whoever it was, wasn’t still here when I got home. After Dom and Nate got here, I did a quick check and nothing appeared to be missing.

“Man, like I said earlier, you are very unlucky.” Dom said. “You want that beer now?

“Yes, yes I do. Can I stay at your place tonight?”

“Yeah. What about that college person coming tomorrow?”

“I’ll leave a note to call me when she gets here. We’ll meet somewhere in town, I guess.”

We talk about everything and nothing while waiting for the police to finish up so I can sign my statement. After they are done, we head to Dom’s house.

After two beers, I head to bed. Dom’s guest room is amazing. The bed alone is reason enough to never leave. It feels like laying on a cloud. The room smells like cherry blossoms. The tv and stereo are high end, not that I care about those things. I still have one of those bulky box tvs at my house and no stereo; I just use my phone to listen to music. Bzzzz. What was that? Oh, that’s awesome. It’s a massager under the sheets. Oh, yeah, that feels great. I must have hit the button to turn it on without realizing it. Soon, I was asleep.

I woke up to my phone ringing.

“Hello.”

“Taylor, It’s Mary Antigonus. The Headmistress and a professor from Pinus Alba.”

“Oh, hi.” I mumble.

“I am at your house, but I see you had some kind of issue here. I do hope everything is alright.” She said.

“Yeah, everything is fine. It was a long night. Mind meeting me at the City Limits Diner. I could really use some coffee and they make the best pancakes.”

“I don’t mind dear. We will need to go somewhere private after to really discuss things though.”

“Oh, right. I forgot. I will get everything to go, do you want anything? I’ll just grab it and meet you back at my place. It should be fine.”

“I would love a green tea if they have it, or just coffee, black. And I’ll see you soon.”

I hung up and got dressed. I knocked on Dom’s door.

“Hmmh?”

“Just letting you know, I’m heading out. See you later.” I said.