The Mouse and The Balloon

A mouse tail tied to a red-and-white, zig-zagged

Balloon string. A boy, nearing the end of his youth,

Carries it in his palms - ready to let it float away. Another life he could X-out.

Don’t! A girl cries out. She couldn’t let the mouse be carried away in the wind.

Eyes turn to greet her, his smiles of indifference. She struggles to vocalize.

Forgetting her place, the girl begs him to understand.

Gone are the days where he does not frighten her terribly.

Heavy weight hangs between them. Energy that twists and strains.

Ignoring her for a moment, he begins to let the mouse rise.

Jostling her furry, pregnant body about his hands; the young girl's heart quickens.

Keeping her in total suspense, she feels paralyzed.

Look! He demands her attention ominously.

Mice don’t mean anything. They’re rodents. Meaningless. Nothing.

Not to me. Her voice cracks. Please have mercy.

Only if you ask nicely for me, my love.

Please. Please let me take her to care for and keep.

Quiet, stale air hung between them. A moral juxtapose.

Releasing the balloon string from her tail, relief was instant.

She steps forward, hoping

To take the pregnant mouse from his grasp.

Underestimating his cruelty, the boy flings his captured foe.

Vermin splashes into a cold, muddy, puddle of water – covering it tail to ear.

Wet and terrified – she quickly scoops it up into her careful domain.

Xenial love and affection flood her souls cracks and crevasses.

Young, healthy mouse pups soon follow. Tiny, innocent, beautiful.

Zero lives lost but for the trauma and abuse.