Jasmine K
There’s nothing better than a plate filled with bones and a warm place on a cold, snowy night. All was quiet at the Raccoon family house. Hnnnk, shhhs, hnnnk, shhhs. Two raccoons were asleep for tonight, snoring and dreaming in their leaf beds as fluffy snow fell outside of the house.
There’s nothing better than a plate filled with bones and a warm place on a cold, snowy night. All was quiet at the Raccoon family house. Hnnnk, shhhs, hnnnk, shhhs. Two raccoons were asleep for tonight, snoring and dreaming in their leaf beds as fluffy snow fell outside of the house.
Little Baboon Raccoon, moved beneath his covers. She wanted to sleep, but she couldn’t sleep anymore. She wanted to eat something. “Wake up, Hazel,” she said to her brother, pulling on her black and white pyjamas. “Can we eat something together?”
Hazel yawned. “Baboon, it’s too early!” said Hazel, scratching her back. But Baboon couldn’t sleep, because she hadn’t eaten for two days. And Hazel’s dirty hair looked so foolish; she started to laugh.
“Try telling your mom you’re hungry,” said Hazel, putting down her head on the pillow again. Baboon looked at Hazel, wanted to tell her something. “I need food, not advice.”
But nothing to do, maybe Mama could help. “Mama,” whispered Baboon, “are you awake?”
Mama Raccoon jumped out of bed with a start. “When? Who? Where?” “I can’t sleep, Mama, I am hungry,” said Baboon. “Baboon, it’s too early to wake up!” Mama said. “I’ll find food, some milk to help you fall asleep, and maybe we will go to the jumpy game, but need a couple of hours.”
Mama Raccoon and Brother Hazel Raccoon did everything they could to help Little Baboon Raccoon fall asleep but didn’t work.
Baboon didn’t want to wait for a cup of warm milk or a two-three piece of chicken bones. And she didn’t want to hear about the jumpy game, either. Just then, Papa Raccon woke up. Hnnnk, snort! “Can anybody explain to me what all this noise is?” he asked. Baboon told Papa she was hungry, and that’s why she was wide awake.
Papa Raccoon stayed silent for a while then, “Maybe we can help you fall back to sleep, Baboon,” Papa Raccoon said. “A warmer blanket might do the magic.”
“A warmer blanket and a softer pillow might make Baboon feel warm and sleepy,” Mama said. “Or hugging me,” Hazal said, hugging a furry-filled Raccoon cub. “That always helps me sleep and feel cozy!”
They talked on and on about ways to find some food in this cold and snowy weather. “What do you think, Baboon?” they eventually asked, glancing around the room. Hnnnk, shhhs, hnnnk, shhhs. Baboon was already outside walking fastly in the street… Murmuring and dreaming and quick steps.
Mama and Papa went out to find Baboon.
It was just after two o’clock, and the wind came up, carrying the rain and snow with it. Cold February rain that was certain to become ice raining by morning. Baboon stumbled against the doorway of the restaurant. Bad news: the party at the restaurant would be longer than usual this night. So she would wait until the end of the party, but how? Should be some ways to be seen by merciful people.
“I need four pieces of meat or bread. I need it more than a warm blanket and a soft pillow,” said Baboon. “One for me, one for Hazal, one for Mom, and one for Papa.”
Baboon thought that if she stood deeper in the doorway, he would be out of the wind a little and wouldn’t shiver quite so violently. Baboon was waiting to be seen by the people eating inside. The people were eating and talking; they were very happy because they were served with full plates of delicious food and drinks, a warm place. Standing there deeper in the doorway, he was not seen so easily by people going by, and if he was not seen, he could not make eye contact with anybody who might give him a piece of bread or meat. He saw a lady coming up the street. Well-dressed and smiling to herself as though somebody told her a joke, or she just decided what to buy for her boyfriend for his birthday. Twenty-seven, twenty-nine years old. Nice shoes. Fantastic haircut. What were four pieces of meat or a bottle of milk to her? “She is my fortune if she sees me she will help, so our hunger will end tonight,” Baboon thought.
Baboon stepped out into the wind to be seen by her.
Damn.
The owner of the restaurant opened the door. Coming this way. He knew if the boss saw him, he would be sent away. Big guy. Thick white moustache. Long white and black hair. “I can’t take any food tonight, no way!” He stepped back to the doorway.
“I need to take a chance,” said Baboon.
“Any leftover?” Baboon asked the big guy with the fur collar as he passed him.
Baboon startled him. He averted his eyes from Baboon’s eyes, dropping them to his dirty feet, then away again. Maybe he smelled Baboon.
“I know I smell; I can’t help it. I live in the street, some of the day in the forest. I don’t wash enough, that’s what happens.” Baboon wanted to explain to him, but he kept walking, not missing a stride.
Two hours to te beg four pieces of bread or meat. One-piece to him, one to his sister, one to his mother and one to his father after two days of starvation. Four pieces. This was all his dream.
If he could get food, he would sleep well.
The rain was getting heavier; the sky greyer and the air colder.
Here came a woman, older than the first woman, with a sweet face, and a nice hat. Baboon thought it to be cute, maybe remind her of her own cat or a long-lost dog. “Women are more generous than men,” said Baboon.
He forced a smile to his face. It almost hurt. Why? When did it start hurting to smile?
This was Baboon; a Raccoon was looking for four pieces of bread, begging for o bottle of milk, and maybe after that, be able to fall asleep.
The year was 2020. Baboon was one year old. Two days away from being sick and one week away to die because of starvation. Five days away from hugging Hazel. Six days away from being kissed by his Papa…
I woke up from my awful nightmare. I had a sharp pain in my chest and a terrible headache. My body was covered in sweat, and my pillows and blanket were damp. I looked around to check if there was anybody in my house or the garden, but it was empty. There was no one except me. I was alone in my house, breathing fast. I tried to keep my breathing under control, knowing that it was just a nightmare. I tried to sleep again and closed my eyes, but I would only have the nightmare return. I decided to go down and find something to drink. As I walked down the stairs, I felt something strange. “Where is this coming from?” ı asked. There was a sound in front of the door. I quickly walked to the door and opened the door. A little raccoon was standing in front of the door, looked cold and needed help. The Raccoon showed up at my back door yowling loudly to scare the moon out of the sky
I quickly rush to the kitchen and found warm milk and biscuits.
“Here you go, Baboon.” I slid a plate of biscuits and a large bowl of milk in front of him. Steam rose from the bowl, creating little shapes in front of the door.
“Sorry, It took me so long,” I said.
Baboon is not just a raccoon but also is my home mate now. I welcomed her into my home and showed affection and obeyed her.
I was happy because Baboon was happy.
I am not sure what brought her to my house that night, why not my neighbour, why me?
God brought Baboon into me. I remember, when our eyes met for the first time that night, there was a feeling familiar, in spite, we had never seen each other before. I saw in Baboon’s eyes something broken, something in need of redemption, but something also full of hope.
I got down low next to her and just sat in silence. I have never said much, and at this moment, the silence was all we needed.
He began leaning on me. I began leaning back on Baboon.
….
That day, after warm milk, we walked out of my house side by side — the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
In the street or in a forest under the trees somewhere at this very moment is one animal waiting. Four pieces of bread or meat. For sister or brother. Not just to be saved, but to save.
Let’s be their hero. Let us pull them out of whatever conflict they are going through.
Please help. Pleased adopt. No doubt, it will save a life, and that life might be your own.
You might be Papa or Mama, or Hazel and Baboon might be your son or brother…
I am happy because Baboon was happy…
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