They hung around for one more day and returned that evening. Margrette and Kathren had their bags packed. Sabrina's stuff was already done from when they moved from Aunt Sarah's apartment, they had just put everything back into her suitcase. Margrette didn't have much, same with Kathren, basically the clothes on their backs. They were to fly out early the next morning and arrive around noon in Ottawa Canada.
Everyone began to settle down for the evening for tomorrow was going to be a big day. They had rented a movie and had started to watch it. However Sabrina Johnston didn't really feel in the mood to watch so she went outside and sat on the porch swing. Margrette was going to go after her but Endora stopped her.
"Let me go, I want to talk to her anyway."
"Alright." Margrette gave Endora's paw a squeeze.
"It's alright, she's just been through a lot."
"I know."
Endora came out and sat beside Sabrina. "Penny for your thoughts."
"Hi Endora, just didn't feel like a movie tonight. Feels like I've been in one for too long."
"I can understand. Anything you would like to talk about."
Sabrina just looked at Endora and shrugged. "Not anything I can think of."
Endora knew she wanted to talk but the trouble was what to talk about. "Sabrina I have a question for you."
"Shoot."
"How much do you know about your Mother?"
She had to think about that for a minute. "You mean her past?"
"Yeah." She smiled at the young woman in whom she could see her younger self reflected.
"Well, not a lot. I know her Mother is dead but she really doesn't speak of her Father. I know that Mom's been having a lot of problems with Dad and I thought it had something to do with me."
"Sabrina." She took the young girls paw. " It had nothing to do with you, let me fill you in on a few details that you don't know about." She cleared her throat and began. "I met your Mother when I was twelve, I found her in a ditch, beaten."
"What!!!" Sabrina said.
"Yes beaten, Sabrina your Mother's parents were not good people. In fact her Father is in prison."
"For what he did to Mom?"
"Yes and one other thing." She wasn't sure if she should tell her but she felt it was time that she knew. She would have to have another discussion with her Mother later but for now she would have to do. "I know why your Mother hasn't told you this, it was to protect you from her past. Your grandfather killed your grandmother."
Sabrina just sat there stunned. "I…don't know what to say."
"It's ok Sabrina it happened a long time ago. Margrette' s Mother was as abusive to her as her Father was. They got into a horrible fight one night and well her Mother died as a result. I found Margrette in a ditch and from that day forward we were the best of friends."
"I see why now my Mother cares for you so much."
"Yeah, we were joined at the hip for a long time. She bounced from foster home to foster home but we still saw each other and told each other everything."
"Best buds huh!"
"Yeah, things got a bit rocky when I met Warren but she soon found your Father and well things got even better when we both got married. Well as you know some of it you were born and Tabitha came into your lives."
"Yeah you really laid a big surprise on both of us." She grinned.
"Well we wanted to tell you but it was never the time. But what I really want to talk to you about now is your Mother and her new relationship. How do you feel about it?"
She sat quiet for a moment then answered, "I don't really know Endora, I was very surprised when she introduced me to Kathren. To say the least."
"Yes, she is a wonder, never thought I'd ever see a female that big before."
"Me either."
"So what do you think of them being together?"
She wasn't sure how to answer that question. "Well I like Kathren, she's fun and nice but I'm not sure if I really like the fact that she likes my Mom sexually."
"I can see your point, but your Mother's relationship with your Father has always been a bit rocky."
"Yeah as I got older I began to realize that, especially these last few years."
"Your Mother has been through a lot, more than most people ever will be. I don't blame her for trying to find her own path. Even if it's one that is not commonly recognized."
"Yeah I can see your point."
"Just give her some time, she doesn't hate your Father, in fact I think she has more respect for him now than she ever did."
"You think so?"
"Yeah, she's seen the other side, now she has to find out what's right for her. And that's a decision only she can make. I'll love her no matter what side she chooses, there will always be a bond between us. And guess what?"
"What?"
She reached out and gave Sabrina a big hug. Watching out for her arm. "You're a big a part of it now." She gave her a kiss on the forehead and looked into her eyes. "Your Mother would have stayed there for you, she loves you more than the world."
"I saw, I never really thought she loved me that much."
"Oh Sabrina, you should have seen her in the hospital cradling you in her arms…she just glowed with love. Warren and I knew that we had done the right thing and that you were in the right paws. We spent a lot of our savings coming to see you and her at the hospital but it was worth it. Never ever think that your Mother doesn't love you because she does. Sometimes it may not show but it's there."
Sabrina hugged her back. "Thank you!" She began to cry and Endora held her close.
"It's what we do that makes us who we are." She held the young woman close who in a way was part of her and she hoped never too far away again.
The morning came quickly and finally they headed for the airport. It was a tearful goodbye on both sides.
Endora's friend whom she hadn't seen for years came back into her life in a big way. Making up for all those years of not calling, it was hard to let go again. Sabrina who had finally found out about a sister she never knew existed was also having a hard time letting go so soon. It was a sad time.
"Sabrina let's not forget about each other ok."
"I'm not going to forget you. I have your number and I'm going to use it. Plus you'll be online too I'm sure."
"You can bet on that, I have money saved and I'm buying a computer."
"Remember what Chris said don't buy the first one you see with a good price shop around and look for the things in his list."
"I will, you gave me his number. I'll probably call him first before I commit to buying."
"Sounds like a plan." She smiled and gave her sister a big hug and kiss for good luck. As she stood back from her she again became amazed at how much they were alike. The call for their flight came over the intercom, it was time for them to go. They waved good-bye and as they walked towards the gate Margrette stopped. She ran back to Endora one last time and threw her arms around her and hugged her tightly.
"Friends forever." She said softly in her ear. "I won't forget what you have done for me." As she pulled back her face was full of tears and she hastily ran towards the gate. Kathren and Sabrina just waved.
Endora and Sabrina waved back. "Mom is Margrette Ok."
"I think so, she's just finding it hard to change."
"Change?"
"Life sometimes throws a curve ball that you think you can hit but you swing right past. Well Margrette's up to bat and she's been striking out. Although she maybe well on the path to hitting that darn ball."
"I hope she knocks it out of the park."
"Well with her strength she'll knock the cover right off. Come on young lady let me treat you to some ice cream."
"That sounds great mom."
Epilog
The door swung open and Warren walked into the house. "I'm home." Endora came out to meet her husband and gave him a big kiss. "Wow that was nice." He smiled. "What was that for?"
"Oh just for being you."
"Guess I should come home earlier more often."
"It was nice of your boss to let you off."
"He's a great guy."
"No, he's the one who put you on this weird shift. When is it going to end anyway?"
Warren looked at his wife and stared into those beautiful eyes. "Soon dear." But his mind was saying when this stupid writer stops putting him into scenes at the last possible moment.
"Your dinner is on the stove. I have something I want to talk to you about."
"It's about Margrette I can bet." He understood how close the two were.
"Yes, I may have to go to see her at a moments notice."
"That's not a problem, we have the money. Don't worry, if you have to go, then you go to her."
She hugged him, he knew and understood. That's why she loved him.
"When I married you, I wasn't really sure if I could compare to her."
"You have your own unique qualities." She kissed him again giving him a taste of what was going to happen tonight.
At that moment the phone rang. Endora turned and went to answer it. Warren decided it was time to eat and proceeded to the stove.
"Hello"
"Hello friend." Said a familiar voice on the other end.
"Hi Margrette, how was your flight?"
"Not bad just calling in to say everything is ok on this end. Sabrina is going to stay with me for awhile till the arm is a little better."
"That's good and Frank."
"He met us at the airport, we didn't get into anything."
"That's good."
"I'll call a little later on in the week to fill you in on some of the details of what's happening."
"Ok, you sound tired."
"I am but I just wanted you to know we arrived safely."
"Thanks, we'll talk soon."
"You bet."
"Night Margrette."
"Night Dora." Click went the phone and Endora slipped into thought, Dora? Margrette hasn't called me that in years. I wonder what that's all about?
Suddenly Sabrina came rushing through the front door and not bothering to close it.
"Mom!"
"Sabrina? What are you doing here?" Sabrina rushed to her mother and hugged her for all she was worth. "Sabrina what wrong dear?" Her motherly instincts knew something was wrong.
Sabrina was crying her eyes out and could hardly speak. "It just sunk in that we could have been all killed out there. Never to see my friends or maybe even you and dad ever again. It frightened me so, I didn't know what to do."
Endora saw Thomas at the door peering in. "Hello, Thomas come in."
Sabrina was still crying when Thomas spoke. "She was so upset we didn't know what to do, so Amy thought it would best if we brought her home."
"It will be alright you go and thanks. She'll be fine." Endora said in a soft voice.
"It's ok Sabrina everything's going be fine. You just let it all out, mommy's here." She cradled Sabrina in her arms. She hadn't done this in such a long time that she had almost forgotten how it felt.
In the entire world there is nothing to compare to the love of a child. Even if the child is older now and a little more knowledgeable than you. You never stop being their mother it's a full time position, forever.
Thomas closed the door gently so as not to disturb them.
Canada a few days later.
Max had laughed at the computer that Sabrina had gotten out of the closet and had blown the dust off of. He told her it was way too old for anything and that she wouldn't get anything for it. He also agreed with Chris it would be better for her to go look for a complete new system. Trying to upgrade the one she had was not really an option. So she decided that what she would do was go shopping. She looked in the Yellow pages and found a couple of computer stores that were on the same street and promptly headed there.
She entered Heather's Computer Emporium and found it was surprisingly spacious and had lots of computer hardware and games everywhere. However there seemed to be no one around.
"Hello, anyone here?" She called out seeing if anyone could hear her.
"Yup, I'm back here. I'm kinda involved in something at the moment can you wait about 5mins. I'll give you a discount if you find something that you want."
"Sure I can wait." Sabrina thought she recognized the voice but couldn't put a face with it. She put her old computer on the desk and turned and examined some of the computers on display. The prices seemed high but she hadn't been in a computer store in awhile. She thought it might be good to compare Chris's list to what was here. The first system she compared didn't have the monitor with it and it had a lot of things extra that weren't on his list. The second was closer to what Chris had on his list and its monitor was nice. It was actually larger than what Chris had suggested. She liked that, but it's price was a lot more than the previous one. This one also included the monitor. Then she looked at the last one and it was beyond her price range. She took the pamphlet for the second one and put it in her purse. She would call Chris tonight and see what he thinks. She heard the voice of the mysterious storeowner behind her. She turned around to greet her and the air left her lungs in a gasp.
"Now how can I help you..!" The store owners voice had trailed off at the end for she had stopped abruptly. Sabrina herself was also having a hard time speaking, for in front of her stood another version of herself. A little taller and this time this female skunk had four feet.
"You look just like me!!" Exclaimed the Skunk-taur Store owner.
Sabrina Johnston thought, "Oh no here we go again!!!!!!!"
The End.
"Ta da……..hope you enjoyed it.
Sincerely Mark White
Please send comments to mfwhite@recorder.ca I'd be happy to hear from you.
6/20/00 1:20:14 PM