Fox Afield (Madison Wolves)

by Robin Roseau

  "She's a little self-conscious," Annette said. "She has been living in the woods."

  "In a tent?" Robert asked.

  "No," I said. I looked over at him. "Um. You could call it a cave." I tried to push away again. "Please. I smell. Bree, I'm glad I was able to help. Annette, thank you."

  "Come inside," Bree's mother demanded. "We'll get you cleaned up and a hot meal in you."

  "No," I said. "That's all right."

  "You might as well give up, Michaela," Bree said. "Once my mother decides something, that's it."

  And then her mother's arm was around my shoulder and she was pulling me into the house. I looked over my shoulder at Annette. She smiled at me and waved me in. I let Bree's mother pull me into the house and listened as Annette told Robert what had happened.

  Their house was magnificent. You could have put ten of my childhood homes into their home, I'm sure. I hadn't lived in a house since.

  "I don't know your name," I finally said.

  "Oh," Bree's mother said. "I'm sorry. My name is Virginia. Or Ginny, if you prefer."

  "I am Michaela," I said. "Really, this isn't necessary."

  "Nonsense," she said. And I discovered I had met someone at least as stubborn as I was. Bree led the way, but Virginia kept an arm around me and pulled me all the way upstairs and into a bathroom. There was a real toilet, a sink, and in the corner, a shower. I didn't even know what it was.

  "Bree," Virginia said. "She's a little smaller than you. If you find clothes that are just a little too small for you, they should fit perfectly." Bree scampered off.

  "All right, Michaela," she said. "Everything you need is in here." She turned to a little closet and pulled out two fresh towels, setting them on the edge of the sink. "Bree will have clothes for you before you're done."

  And then she left me there, closing the door.

  I stared at the little sink. She wanted me to wash up in this little sink? There was a thin bar of soap and I found a washcloth. I stripped out of my clothes and did what I could to wash them in the sink. I didn't see anyplace to hang them, but there was a glass door to the shower, and I hung them over the door.

  Then I tried washing in the sink, using the wash cloth and soap. I heard Bree outside the door. She paused there for a minute then asked, "Michaela? Is everything all right?"

  "Yes, Bree."

  She waited outside the door, and I continued to try to wash. I didn't know how I was going to wash my hair in that little sink, but I knew it really needed it.

  I heard voices in the hall, Bree speaking quietly to her mother. "I don't know what she's doing," Bree said. "But I don't hear the shower."

  Neither of them said anything for a moment, then Virginia told Bree to go start pulling things out for breakfast. There was a knock at the door. "Michaela, it's Virginia. May I come in?"

  "I'm washing," I said.

  "Michaela dear," she said. "Wrap up in a towel. I'm coming in."

  She gave me just a few seconds, then the door opened a crack. "May I come in?"

  I grabbed one of the towels and covered myself as best I could. "Yes," I said.

  Virginia slipped into the room, carrying some of Bree's clothes. She set them on the closed toilet lid then looked at me.

  "I'm sorry," she said. "I should have shown you this."

  She crossed behind me and stepped to the shower. "This is a shower," she said. She reached in and turned the water on. My eyes widened in sudden understanding. "You control the temperature with this knob. Push in to turn it off when you are done." She showed me the controls.

  "Have you ever used soap before?"

  I tried not to be offended. "Yes."

  "This is soap," she said, pointing to a bar. "This is, too." She pointed to a plastic jar. Then she showed me how the plunger on the top worked to release a handful of soap into her hand. "This is shampoo."

  "I know what shampoo is." I eyed all the other bottles. "Why are there so many?"

  "The ones on top are for male guests," she said. "Shampoo and shaving cream." She paused. "Do you shave?"

  "My face?"

  "Your legs and other places."

  "Oh. No. Am I supposed to?"

  "It is a personal choice," she said. "Let's skip that today."

  I nodded.

  "This bottle is shampoo and this is called conditioner. You use a little in your hair after you have rinsed out the shampoo. It makes your hair a little softer and manageable. There are directions on the bottle. Um-"

  "I can read," I said. "I've never used a shower before. I usually bathe in a stream or lake. I'm sorry."

  "Do not be sorry," she said. "I think you will enjoy this." She turned the water back on and adjusted the temperature. "So you've never bathed in hot water?"

  "No."

  "This should be a treat. Be careful. It is possible to turn the water on much hotter than is comfortable. You should have about a half hour of water before it starts to turn cold."

  "I don't want to take all your water," I said.

  She looked at me sadly. "There is a heater in the basement that will heat more, it just takes a little time. Use all the water you want."

  "You're sure?" I was skeptical. "You don't have to haul wood for a fire?"

  "No, Michaela. No hauling wood except for the fireplace in the living room. Take as long a shower as you want, but the water will grow cold eventually."

  "Thank you, Virginia." I wouldn't mind a cold shower.

  "If you have any questions, Bree will be out in the hall. Just call for her, and she'll fetch me."

  "Thank you," I said again.

  Virginia stepped past me and exited the bathroom, bringing my wet clothes with her. I heard her call Bree back upstairs and told her, "Get a book. If she asks for help, call me."

  "Yes, Mom," she said. "What was wrong?"

  "Nothing. I had to show her which shampoo to use."

  I stepped over to the shower and put my hand under the water. It was like a gentle little waterfall, but it was warm! I dropped the towel and stepped into the shower, pulling the door closed behind me.

  I was in heaven!

  I played with the water for a while. I could make it very cold or far too hot. I found a temperature that was perfect, and I sighed as the water ran over me.

  I'm not sure how long I stayed like that, but eventually I remembered why I was there. I used the bar of soap, but then I tried the soap from the bottle. I really liked that. I washed everywhere, using what I realize now was far more soap than I needed to. It was a complete luxury. Then I wet my hair and used a big glop of shampoo. It was far more than I needed, too, but it felt wonderful to wash my hair in the hot water.

  I washed it three times before it felt completely clean, then a fourth time just because it felt so good.

  After that I used the conditioner. Virginia said I didn't need to use very much. I read the container and followed the directions. The conditioner smelled really good, and I loved how my hair felt afterwards.

  I finished rinsing off one more time. The water was starting to get cold, and after all that time under hot water, I never wanted another cold shower in my life. I turned the water off and immediately stepped out of the shower. I used one towel for my body and another to dry my hair as best I could.

  I wondered whether they would let me use their shower again in the future if I asked. I didn't have any way to pay them. I wondered if they would take rabbit skins in trade.

  I hadn't been entirely truthful when I called my home a cave. It was a hole. A fox hole. I had dug it myself. I had three of them out in the woods, but I usually used the same one. I could shift into fox right outside my den then pull my clothes in and leave them near the entrance before climbing down to my little apartment. It was lined with fur from the animals I had eaten and was quite cozy for a little fox.

  I was living far more like an animal than a human at that point.

  I dried my hair as best I could then pulled on the clothes Bree had provided: undies, jea
ns, a sports bra, and a long-sleeved tee shirt. They all fit, more or less.

  I looked around the room. I wasn't sure what to do with the towels. Then I realized: I had left a mess. The floor was wet and there were flecks of shampoo on the wall of the shower. I stared at it and was immediately embarrassed. The room had been perfect when I walked in, but now it wasn't.

  I cleaned up as best I could with the towels I had. It was all still damp when I was done, but I didn't know what else to do. I hung the towels over the shower door.

  I turned to the mirror, ran my fingers through my wild hair, took a big breath of air, and stepped out.

  Bree was sitting on the floor in the hallway reading a book. She looked up and smiled.

  "You didn't find a brush?" she asked.

  "A what?"

  "Mom!" she said immediately.

  "Did I do something wrong?" I asked.

  Bree climbed to her feet. "No... Mom!"

  From downstairs I heard a clatter, and then Virginia was climbing the stairs.

  I looked around, wondering if I could escape. I didn't know what I had done wrong, but Bree looked a little upset.

  "I'm sorry," I said. "I don't know what I did wrong."

  Virginia reached us, took one look at me, and said, "You didn't do anything wrong. Come on, I'll show you how you can brush your hair."

  She pushed me back into the bathroom. She opened a drawer and pulled out a hair brush. She immediately began brushing my hair for me. It felt really good.

  "Good," she said. "You used conditioner. Did you want us to dry your hair?"

  "I did," I said.

  "With a towel?"

  I nodded.

  "You have a lot of hair," she said. "It's beautiful." She ran her fingers through it then picked up something that looked like a large plastic gun. She pointed it at me and I immediately pulled away.

  "Please don't shoot me," I said.

  From the doorway, Bree began laughing.

  "Bree," her mother said warningly. Bree shut up.

  "Michaela," Virginia said. "It's not a gun. Here, let me show you." She pointed it away and turned it on. It began making a terrible noise, but she placed her hand in front of it. I reached over and realized it was blowing out hot air.

  "It's for drying your hair faster," she said. "Sit here," she pointed to the toilet. "Bree, get your hair dryer. I think this is a two dryer job."

  Bree disappeared, and Virginia began drying my hair. Bree returned carrying another hair dryer. She plugged it in, and soon the two of them were brushing and drying my hair.

  The hair dryers made a horrible noise, but what Bree and Virginia were doing felt so good. I sat still and let them do whatever they wanted. I closed my eyes and enjoyed it.

  To this day, I love it when someone dries my hair like that for me. It always makes me smile.

  It took a long time until they were done. Virginia pulled me to my feet and moved me in front of the mirror. I stared at my reflection.

  "You're beautiful, Michaela," she said with awe. "Your hair is amazing. Not a split end."

  "What are those?"

  She explained, and then I said, "Oh, my hair doesn't do that."

  She shook her head, running her fingers through my hair again. "Perfect. It could use a trim. We'll worry about that later."

  Then she pulled me back downstairs and into the kitchen. Robert was there reading the paper. Virginia put her hands on my shoulders and pushed me into the room in front of her.

  "Robert," she said. He looked up, and his eyes bugged out.

  I was embarrassed. He was looking at me like that in front of his mate.

  Virginia laughed. "She cleans up pretty good, doesn't she?"

  "She sure does," Robert said.

  Virginia didn't seem to mind the way Robert looked at me. But then I realized she was looking at me the same way, and it was with kindness, not lust.

  I vaguely remembered my parents looking at me like that.

  "Come sit here, Michaela," Robert said. He indicated a place to his right. I crossed the room and sat next to him. "Coffee?"

  "Excuse me?" I asked.

  "Would you like a cup of coffee?"

  "Honey," Virginia said. "Perhaps you should let me be the hostess today."

  Robert looked at her with confusion, but a look passed between them and he nodded. Virginia turned to me.

  "Michaela, we're going to make breakfast. We have a variety of things to drink. Water, of course, but we also have orange juice, milk, coffee and tea. If you don't have a preference, perhaps you would allow me to make you a cup of tea just the way I like it."

  "All right," I said. I hadn't ever had any of the others, and I was pretty sure Virginia knew it.

  "It will take a few minutes. Bree, please start a pot of water."

  "The coffee is ready," Robert said. "If you would prefer that."

  "I think Michaela looks more like a tea drinker this morning," Virginia said. "Your coffee is awfully strong, Robert."

  Robert got the hint and let it go. Virginia retrieved a glass from the cupboard and filled it with water from the refrigerator door. I tried not to stare. She set it down in front of me then watched, possibly to see if I knew what to do with a glass.

  I wasn't a complete barbarian. I thanked her and demonstrated my refined drinking skills.

  The three of them chattered for the next several minutes, Virginia moving briskly around the kitchen, ordering Bree about. Then Virginia called me into the kitchen and sent Bree on some errand.

  "Have you ever had coffee or tea?" she asked me very quietly.

  "No."

  "All right. They both have caffeine."

  "What is that?"

  "It's a natural stimulant," she said. "If you drink too much, it can leave you nervous."

  "How much is too much?"

  "It depends on the person and how much you're used to it. But I have tea without caffeine as well. Let's start with that. It's not my favorite tea for the morning, but you will find it soothing."

  I watched as she prepared the tea.

  "Some people add cream. I sometimes like honey in mine. Here," she said, holding the cup to me. "Smell."

  I took it from her and smelled.

  "Apples," I said immediately.

  "Yes. In this one. What else?

  I smelled again. "Flowers." I paused. "I don't know the names. One of them is purple."

  "Lavender," she said. "You can smell that?"

  I nodded.

  "Try a sip," she said. "It's hot, but not too hot."

  I took a little sip. It was a little bitter.

  "If it's too bitter, you can add honey," she said. "It can take a little getting used to."

  "Do you put honey in?"

  "Not in this one, but sometimes in the others, or if I have a sore throat."

  "I'll try it this way," I said.

  Virginia smiled. "I will let you smell the coffee." She opened a package. "It is made from these beans. Sniff."

  I sniffed. It was overwhelmingly strong, and I sneezed. But it smelled really good.

  "Does it taste like it smells?"

  "No, not really," she said. She poured a cup and held it to me. "Sniff."

  I sniffed. "It smells different."

  "Try a little."

  I took a little sip and made a face.

  Virginia smiled. "You can add milk or cream and sugar. Do you like chocolate?"

  "What's chocolate?"

  "Oh, honey," she said. "We have so much to teach you."

  I looked away, embarrassed.

  "Michaela," she said. "Please, don't be embarrassed."

  I looked around her kitchen. "I don't belong here," I said.

  "You do now," she said sternly. "Look at me. Michaela, look at me." She was very stern.

  I turned to face her.

  "You saved my daughter." Tears started to crawl down her face. She brushed them away. "I will spend the rest of my life trying to thank you. Do you understand?"

>   "Robert's lawyer kept me out of a cage," I said. "We're even."

  "We will never be even, Michaela. Never. Do you know what they would have done?"

  I nodded.

  Virginia took the coffee cup from me and set it aside. She pulled me into a fierce hug. "Please do not be embarrassed. You are an amazing woman, and I terribly want us to be friends. Please, Michaela."

  "I-" I said. "I haven't had any friends in a very long time."

  "Well, you have three now," she said. "All right?"

  "All right," I said. "I'd like to be friends." I paused and grinned. "Do friends get to use your shower?"

  She laughed. "As often as she wants."

  After that, she showed me what she was making for breakfast. She was making something she called pancakes. I didn't know what they were. She also was making fried potatoes. I'd never had those, either. She asked me what I normally ate.

  I looked away.

  "Tell me," she said kindly.

  "Whatever I can catch," I said.

  "So, fish?"

  "Sometimes. Or other things."

  "Meat."

  "Yes."

  "Any fruits or vegetables?"

  "Berries from the bushes," I said. I paused. "Or from trees."

  "From the orchards?"

  "Yes. Please don't tell."

  "I won't," she said quietly before speaking in a normal voice. "Robert, go to the store. Come back with fruit. Fruit that might grow locally if it were in season. Apples, berries, whatever they have."

  "Yes, Virginia," he said. It was a phrase I would get to know. He didn't even pause but immediately left the house.

  "You didn't have to do that," I told Virginia.

  She smiled. "We were out. He'll be quick and get back just as the rest is ready." Then she set me on a stool and I watched while Bree made pancakes and Virginia made the fried potatoes and bacon. She put a piece of bacon on a plate and set it in front of me. "Try that."

  I did. It was crunchy. I had never had crunchy meat. But it was really good.

  "What is it?" I asked.

  "Bacon," Virginia said. "And these are the potatoes."

  Bree was looking between us. "You've never had bacon?" Bree asked.

  "No," I said. I was embarrassed again.

  Bree got excited. "Oh, so you've never had a bacon cheeseburger! Oh my god, please say you're staying for lunch. Mom, can you get Dad to grill?"