Category: Fox and Lola

Fox and Lola #3

Lola was running. She didn’t know how long she had been running. Her feet was numb. She wasn’t even sure if she was breathing at this point but she kept running. One foot after the other. 

Lola could see Fox just ahead. A flash of orange dipping over the hill. He was leading the way. The way to a new town. 

She could still see it. The lab. The rows of labels. Blood. Her blood. Children’s blood.  “No one ever grows old here. The great experiment.” Her doctor had said. “Your blood keeps me young. Your parents young. Healthy. Unfortunately. You’re sick. You don’t have much time left. I’m very sorry. ” 

Lola could see the tops of buildings. She didn’t care that she was in a gown. She didn’t care how long she had been running. She could hear something. Something new. The sound of laughing. Running. It was a park. It was the sound of children playing. And she ran to it. . . 

EndImage origin unknown 

Fox and Lola #part two 

From the author. 

I need to thank my friend Mattie or Matilda. Pitching ideas back and forth, she helped me get past my writer’s block. Tossing bad ideas and keeping good ones. 
Image source
Part two

The slow pitter patter echoed through the hallway. Just before the bang against the window. 

Lola knew there was a bang. Or maybe it was one of those mental echoes that wake you up at night. She got out of bed and moved to the window, looking down onto the playground. 

She heard the old metal creaking as the carousel turned slowly. No one was there, but someone had been there. 

“Hello Lola.” 

The voice was quiet and calm. Young and wise. It was a male’s voice. And it was in the doorway of her room. 

She jumped, grabbing at her heart and turned around. 

“You don’t have to be afraid, Lola. Not of me. Although, you should be petrified but I’m not helping am I? I’m sorry.”

She stared at it. 

Rubbed her eyes and stared again. It was a fox. Sitting in her doorway. Its bright flaming colours and all. And he -it- was talking…to her. He stood up and walked to the window.

“Are you an angel?” She asked. 

He laughed. “Me? Hah, no, far from it. Lola, it’s ok.  I am nothing special. I’m just a fox. But you are. Anyone can talk to animals. We generally speak the same language you do. We’ve been living together for centuries. However, not everyone can hear us. Or understand us. With the exception of you, Lola May. You can hear. Because you’ve been listening.” 

“Oh. So you’re just a fox then?”

“Yes,but I have a snazzy tale.”

“Do you actually use it for a pillow?” 

“Wouldn’t you?”

He looked out the window. 

“Lola, you need to leave.”

This was probably just a dream. 

“What? I can’t leave. I’m sick.”

He looked at her. His eyes red, like dancing flames from a fire. They were alive. And she had never felt like that. Everyone she ever saw…their eyes were dark and cold. They made her feel empty. 

“Oh, I’m sorry. What’s wrong with you?”

“Well, I don’t know…”

She said.

” How many children have you seen Lola? Outside?”

“I’ve never seen any…”

” Can you remember not being sick? ”

Lola was getting nervous and confused. 

Fox looked out the window over the playground. 

“You’re not sick Lola. None of you are.”

“That’s insane. Why would I be here in a hospital if I’m not sick? I need to lie down.”

“How young your parents look. I swear they’re younger everyday. Why you just stay sick…”

“What do you mean? ”

“I want to help you Lola. We all do. We need to. Because after you, they will come for us. I have to go. Think about it.”

Fox left the room with the same pattering that he came in with. When Lola looked outside her window she could see him jumping through the playground equipment. Bright orange in the morning light. 

Fox and Lola 

  Photo origin (Kai Fagerström)

Part One

Just outside of a city where nothing really happens. On Willow Avenue,there is a Children’s Hospital. A bit of woods, and a playground. An old horrifying playground. 

You can see this playground from the windows of the Hospital.Everyone said it was terrible. Because it was beside the hospital. And the kids had to look at it all of the time. But most of the kids didn’t like looking out of their windows.Except for Lola.

 On the second floor,in the 23rd room. Sitting at her window. There was Lola May who liked old things. And her condition didn’t bother her that much. Though,her Doctors seemed to keep a lot from her. Which led her to believe she was probably a good deal worse than she actually felt. Especially the way her parents carried on, whispering, with concerned faces and tears. 

But the playground.It was always the same. Everything was old. And empty. Lola pretended to see all the kids that must have – at some point in time – there had to be a time when it was used- why have a playground that isn’t used? 

Yes,even though some days she really felt down. She would ask the Book Nurse  (that’s what she called her.Because she always brought her books) to move her to the window…so she could see the kids play.

“But there’s no kids out there,Lola”

“I know,but I can see them in my head,like when I read the books you give me.”

And so she would sit and look out the window. Even though nothing ever happened.

Except for today. 

Today was important. Even though she didn’t know it. Because when her eyes would get too tired to read She was going to get a visitor. 

After 75 years of nothing ever happening,Something was about to happen in the playground.

Lola was about to meet, Fox.

Fox

She doesn’t completely see him at first. Just a flash of color between the merry go round and the swings…but she knows he’s there. Because after nothing happening for 302 days outside that window.Not even a bird,you know when you see something.