Metamorphosis: Stepping Out
Hailey stood a few feet away from the pen at the petting zoo. Her arms were folded tightly as if the clutching motion could keep her far removed from the messy scene a few feet away. While she stood outside the gate, her roomate was plopped down inside of it. The dust, hay and fitlth in the sheep pen didn't seem to bother Casseopea. The young woman didn't even try to pull the straw out of her hair or move away from, what Hailey invisioned has to be, unsanitary conditions.
“You’re so perfect,” Casseopea said as she hugged a small lamb close to her chest. Its legs fell limb under her arms. but the creature seemed content.
“Cass, you said that about the other seven sheep,” Hailey said as she readjusted her stance in an unsuccessful attempt to find a clean spot to stand.
“And I meant it then too,” Cass said in that soft willowy way that drew men toward her and drove Hailey up the wall. The woman seemed bent on acting like a perpetual child, even though she was twenty-three. It would be different if Cass suffered from some sort of developemntal delay, but that wasn't the case. She just didn't want to grow up.
A few young children walked by with their parents. They ran from one pen to another as they let out squeals of delight. This only made her more eager to leave. Espesially when some of the parents stared over at Cass and the way she was hogging the sheep pen.
“Cass, we need to get going. You have an interview coming up,” Hailey said.
“That’s hours away,” Casseopea said.
“You’re going to need that time to make sure you have everything you need," she said. Not for the first time, Hailey wondered how she got roped into caring for her roommate. What if she let Cass miss the appointment? What if she stopped trying to pick up the pieces? Her roommate wouldn't be able to pay rent and would get evicted.
The joy behind the idea was short lived. Her stomach knotted up as she thought about the real reason she couldn't do that. Despite what her friends, family, and Cass's parents said, she wasn't the magnanamous person they made her out to be. It was all for Roman.
She stared down at her diamond ring. It sparkled as the sun shone down on them. She would do anything for her fiance. Even if it meant helping his sister get her life put together while he was away.
"If we leave soon it'll give you time to iron your clothes," Hailey said, wondering if Cass's interview outfit ever made it into the wash. She stared down at her roommate and the dirty lamb in her arms. "And to take a shower.”
“Maybe I could just a get a job here,” Cass said, turnong her head up briefly toward Haily before returning it back to the creature in her arms. "You'd like that wouldn't you? Yes you would."
Hailey let out a sigh. Her roommate's knowledge of working on a farm was probably based on childrens movies. It wouldn't suprise her if Cass thought it was all about snuggling and singing to baby animals. The woman could barely remember to keep herself fed.
“The petting zoo wouldn’t pay enough for you to keep up with rent. Besides, your uncle said they start the day at four in the morning,” Hailey said.
"Ugh, I'd have to get up even before you do," Cass said as she stuck out her tounge. The lamb nuzzled against her arm while its brothers and sisters stumbled around the pen. “Ok. We can go in a few minutes."
“Thank you,” Hailey said.
“On one condition. You have to come hold one of the lambs,” she said.
“I’d rather not,” Hailey said.
“Come on. You don’t have to sit on the ground. I can hand one to you,” Cass said. She ignoreed Hailey's refusal and stood up with the small lamb in her arms. She held it out toward her. The creature's legs somehow seemed even frailer now that it was being held up far away from the ground and its siblings. The lamb stared over at her with its dark brown eyes.
"Fine," Hailey said as she relented and held her arms out. It would be worth it if it would help get Cass out of the petting zoo soon. She would hold it for a few seconds, set it down and they could go.
The lamb squirmed around in her arms. Its boney legs twisted around in her grasp as she struggled to find a safe way to hold it. Hailey tried to support the creature while trying to keep its dirty feet away from her jacket.
“I can’t do this,” Hailey said.
“Yes you can. Stop holding it like it’s going to explode,” Cass said as she reached out to reposition her arms. Soon the lamb was craddled in Hailey's arms. She could feel the full warmth of its body as it rested against her chest.
Hailey stroked the lamb's soft wool. She could feel the steady beat of its heart as the small creature nuzzled against her arm. She felt a strange and sudden desire to protect the frail little animal. She had held other people's pets before, but never anything so vulnerable.
The smells of hay and manure were still there, but they didn’t bother her quite as much. She could see why Cass liked to come her to settle her nerves before handling anything new or challenging. Perhaps it really would help her roommate show up better for her interview. The idea didn't seem as ridiculous as it had, only moments ago.
So much of her life was made up of external expectations, deadlines, messages on her phone or her computer. There were so many arbitrary aspects of her job. Even her relationships with her boyfriend and her family felt tenuous because of the distance between them. But the small creature in her arms was real. It didn’t care about meetings or expectations. It ran on its internal clock. She could feel herself begin to brim with emotions.
“It’s very cute,” Hailey said as she handed the lamb back. There was no way she was going to get misty eyed in front of Cass or a bunch of farm animals. Especially if any of the other parents were near by. She brushed her clothing off as if she could dust off the emotions along with it. "Can we go now?"
Casseopea nodded. She gave the lamb one last hug before setting it down with the others. Hailey watched it meander around the pen. All of the lambs stumbled around as they did their best to walk around in their relatively new world.
There was a sweetness in their comical attempts to walk around like a full grown sheep. They were doing their best, but they still needed time.
Hailey stared over at Cass walking past the horse stalls and petting their noses as she went. Her feet danced along the hay ridden path without missing a step. She seemed to exude love and joy for the creatures around her and for life in general.
"Thanks. That was a good idea," Hailey said.
"You're the one who drove," Cass said.
"Yes, but you could have asked your parents to bring you. I'm glad you included me," she said, as they left the petting zoo and walked out on the gravel parking lot.
"Of course! You're like a sister to me. You do so much for me. I wanted to find a way to return the favor," Cass said.
Hailey felt her shoulders drop down, unaware that she had been holding them up the whole time. Perhaps the next few months wouldn't be so bad after all.
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What do you think of when you hear the term "unsteady legs"? Do you think of a small animal? A person? A concept? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments down below.
Do you relate to Cass or Hailey? If so, in what ways?
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For more themed stories check out "Trembling Legs" by Elora Gunn https://raegunnwrites.wixsite.com/eloragunn/post/metamorphosis-trembling-legs
and "Counting the Steps" by Christine Diamond
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images in this and all the short stories this month (unless otherwise specified) have been possible with the free stock image site, https://www.pexels.com Words/editing of images was provided by Elora Gunn
