Chantelle's Chrysanthemums

Chantelle loved mums, or chrysanthemums as Mom used to tell her, when she told her to stay out of them. That was a long time ago. Before him, and his problems. She had to get away when Tyler started. She couldn’t stand to be around him then.

She sat on the grass admiring the pretty red, purple, and orange mums arrayed along the treed walkways of the park. She liked to come here when things got out of hand. She knew it would be okay when she got home, but she needed to stay away long enough for everything to blow over. At least for this time, then wait in wary anticipation for the next outburst. It could be a day, or only a few hours, but it would come, it was a force of nature like rain and wind. She hated it, and wondered why things had changed so much when she met Tyler.

“Hello, squirrel.” She said softly to the small creature that stopped in front of her then raced away with a small acorn in its mouth. She sighed heavily. It was time to go. She brushed a leaf off as she rose and looked up at the changing leaves above her. She wished she could stay, but it was coming dark and Dad would be upset if she wasn’t home soon. She walked slowly home, smiling into shop windows she passed, thinking about what fun it would be if she could have the pretty dresses and hats she saw. She sighed again, she could never have them. Then again, the deli was much more interesting.

She got back to the small house she lived in with Dad and Tyler, the house that Mom had never come back to once Tyler came. She tapped on the door. She had no key, but Dad would be there to let her in. He came to the door and looked down.

He smiled at her. He said, ”It’s about time you got back. I was starting to worry, girl. Tyler’s in bed now.” He patted her head and she followed him into the kitchen. “You’re going to get lost, or else someone’s going to pick you up if you keep running off like that. You’re such a pretty girl.” He rubbed her shoulder. “I don’t want to lose you. Tyler’s asleep, and it will be okay. Go on to bed.”

Chantelle sighed and curled up in her own bed to sleep. Tyler had his room upstairs. She was awakened a few hours later. Tyler was up. She could hear him screaming. How it hurt her ears. She tried to cover them, hoping he would stop soon, but knew it was no use. So she endured, only getting away when it was too bad for her to take anymore. She thought Dad understood, but he always seemed worried when she came home. He knew she would be back; there was nowhere else for her to go.

After a year or so, though, it did get better. Tyler started to scream less. She didn’t know why this was, but she appreciated it. He had even started paying attention to her, and it was nice. She thought she might let him touch her willingly, now.

The relationship between her and Tyler grew closer and he seemed to be getting better. After another three years they were inseparable. She was always by his side. They played and laughed together and he talked to her all the time. Life was a joy. She couldn’t even remember the times when she would run away because of Tyler.

Tyler cried for days when Chantelle passed away. He was now a twelve-year-old boy. She was fifteen, pretty old for a dog. He would miss her so terribly, especially when he went to the park where she used to like go in the fall and lie in the chrysanthemums.

Word count: 653