Personal Demons: Evil Raccoon

Everyone was distracted at school the next day, because of the previous day's “U.F.O sighting”. It was the dumbest thing I had ever heard. People were saying that “aliens are going to attack us” or “I wonder if they've come in peace”. Even Mimiru joined in. It was just another one of those click things that everyone talks about for a week, and by the time the weekend comes, it's completely forgotten.

Mimiru approached me after the final bell rang, “You're coming to my house tonight to get the disk, right?” She asked. Mimiru and I were working together on an essay project in language arts. The teacher required that it was typed and edited. I was supposed to do the editing.

“Why tonight?” I moaned, “isn't it due Friday?”

Mimiru nodded, “yeah, but you know how the teacher is; she might give us extra credit if we turn it in early.”

I stared at her for a moment, and then sighed. She was right. The teacher often gives extra credit points for turning in work early. “How I about I just walk home with you right now?” I suggested, “I can grab the disk then go home.”

“Sounds good.” Mimiru replied, “Let's do that.”

Mimiru's house isn't located far from our school. It's a big white house with Victorian-style windows and a big fancy door. I stood on the front lawn as Mimiru fumbled with her keys, “what are you doing?” she asked.

“What do you mean, `what am I doing'? I'm waiting for you to get me the disk.” My tone of voice gave an obvious hint that I was annoyed and getting impatient.

She raised her eyebrow, “aren't you coming in? I have to find a disk first, and download it.”

“You haven't downloaded it yet?”

“No, I haven't. But it won't take too long. Twenty minutes tops. You can just sit back and wait, cant you?”

I rolled my eyes, “yeah, I guess…”

“Ah!” Mimiru let out a sudden cry, “I found the key.” She smiled.

I glanced around her yard. It was huge, and the grass was really green-too green. I heard the front door swing open and looked back at Mimiru, who was holding it for me.

“You coming?” she laughed.

We went inside and up to her room on the second floor. It was a mess. “Wow…” I stated, “What a disaster.”

She looked around her room and chuckled, “This is clean compared to what it usually is.”

I sat down on her bed. Something crunched under my rear as I shifted my weight to get comfortable. “What the-?” I looked behind me. A brown creature that looked like a rodent but was the size of a cat stared back at me with glassy red eyes. “Aaah!” I jumped off of the bed and landed on my back, staring at the giant rodent, “Mi-Mimiru! A-a something! It's there!” I pointed at it and it made a strange, piercing squeak. I covered my ears.

Mimiru looked at me in astonishment, “Sassi…it's just a raccoon.”

“A raccoon?! What the heck is a raccoon doing in the middle of town?-In your house?!” I screamed, eyeing the creature cautiously.

“I found it outside,” she replied casually. Her voice sounded quiet, and unsure, “it looked lonely, so…I…brought it in.”

I noticed that Mimiru had stopped looking for the disk. In fact, she had stopped moving. I twisted my neck and scooted back so that I could see the expression on her face. She looked disturbed, almost sad, “Mimiru?” I whispered.

Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in at my ankle. I cried out in severe pain and looked towards my feet, only to see the raccoon scurry under Mimiru's bed. I glared at the dark space under her bed, almost hoping that the raccoon would see.

Mimiru had resumed her search for the disk, seeming to be completely unaware that her creepy looking raccoon had just bitten me, “Here it is,” she said, “I've got it.” She popped the disk into the drive and started her computer.

I rubbed my ankle where I had been bitten, “at least it didn't break the skin…what if it has rabies?” I asked, almost rhetorically.

Mimiru seemed to ignore me completely.

“You should get that thing checked if you plan to keep it.” I sneered.

“It…” Her voice was still quiet, “hasn't bitten anyone else…”

What kind of a thing was that to say? Not very polite, I thought.

Mimiru began the download.

I felt uncomfortable with her silence, “When did you find it?” I asked, trying to bring up a cheerful topic.

“Yesterday.” She replied, “After ten last night.”

That's weird, I thought, ten was when the U.F.O. disappeared behind the trees last night. The police were searching for it on the other side of the woods near our house this morning. And that raccoon…isn't normal.

“You think…is it an alien?” she asked, her voice still unsettling.

“Is what an alien?” I asked.

“The raccoon.”

I stared at her, partly in confusion, partly in shock, “what?”

“It came right after the U.F.O. landed…and it followed me home from the edge of the woods. It wouldn't leave me alone.”

I shrugged, “maybe it smelled food on you.” I refused to let myself be infected with this alien nonsense. I wouldn't let myself become desperate like the rest of them.

Mimiru shook her head, “I didn't eat.”

I looked up at her, “what were you doing out there? Why were you out so late?” I tried to steer the subject away from the raccoon.

“I was looking for the U.F.O.” she replied.

“Oh, come on, Mimiru, you and I both know that there was no U.F.O.” I laughed nervously. I admit, I was trying to prove it to myself as well.

Mimiru nodded and her voice went back to normal, “Yeah, I know. We all know. Nobody really believes that it was a U.F.O. We were just having some fun. C'mon, Sassi, you should play along with us once in a while.”

I felt embarrassed. They never really believed that there was a U.F.O. but for some reason, I did. I knew it could never happen, and yet…I believed it. I felt so stupid. Here I was, tripping out over something that never really existed, and I had accused everyone else of doing just that.

Mimiru interrupted my thoughts, “so that field trip to the museum is tomorrow-that sea life museum. You excited?”

I nodded, “Yeah, as long as we get to get out of class.”

She hung the disk over my face, “Here, the download is all done.”

I stood up and took the disk from her, “Okay, I'll do it tonight.” I grabbed my backpack and left the room.

“See you later, Sassi.” I heard Mimiru call out from her bedroom.

“Bye.” I replied and shut the door behind me.

I looked up at the sky. Once again, the U.F.O. came to mind. I shook my head, as if trying to shake off the thoughts. I looked back at Mimiru's window. There, staring at me from the window was a red eyed raccoon. It was as if he was glaring at me, returning a favor. I stuck my tongue out at it and walked off. Nothing ever happens in a small town like this, I thought. Nothing ever will. The U.F.O. was never there. It never will be. Nothing ever happens in a small town like this…I repeated the words in my head and smirked. Nothing ever will…Nothing ever happens in a small town like this…nothing ever will.