Shattered Innnocence

The suburb was quiet on that Sunday afternoon. Some cars were on the street, driving slowly as the signs recommend it. Some children were playing in the far-away streets of the neighborhood. In the front yard where Jim was playing, birds were twittering. Birds twittering mixed with Jim’s babbling in a delicate music.

Spring was there, the smell of grass circled the little boy playing outside. Flowers perfume was here too. Jim’s mother was watching her son by the window and she was baking cookies. The smell of fresh cookies went to Jim who knew it would be snack time soon.

Jim was outside, playing with Belle, the dog of the family. Belle was a medium-size dog and had short hair but long enough to be caught. Her two eyes were circled by black and she looked like a thief. The ends of her ears were black too, as she had dunked the end of her ears in a paint container. Her body was white except her front right leg which was black.

Jim was 18 months old. He inspired innocence with his blue eyes, so blue that it looked like water that it was possible to pass through. His light blond hair seems virginal. He was wearing a light blue onesie. His outfit was a little green because he was playing in the yard for a while.

Belle was the quietest dog that existed. She was lying on the grass while Jim was climbing on her and catching her hair. She didn’t move at all, letting Jim playing with her and discovering the world like a mother would do. Jim was sitting on her back, jumping like a baby does. He slipped and grabbed Belle’s hair in his fall. Then, Jim snuggled up against Belle, his head against her head. He pulled Belle’s ears and the dog let him do. Jim was playing with Belle’s chops when she saw a cat coming in the front yard. Belle growled at the intruder. Jim looked at Belle and was afraid by her face. He had never seen her like that. Frightened, Jim started crying. His mother got out of the house and picked up Jim. She chased away the cat. Jim was looking at Belle, frightened by what he saw. His look on his favorite playmate had change forever.

Written on Febuary 2011, the 14th