Thanks to @Blueeyes8960 for partnering up with me for a #We-Write! There's still time to join for this round's prompt: boxer, so head on over to the Freewritehouse!
Lyssa & Jo
For the second time that afternoon, Lyssa dumped the contents of her orange backpack onto her bed. Fingers raked through chestnut hair as she glanced at her bedside clock and groaned. If she wasn't packed soon, she could forget about her mother letting her and Jo walk to Faith's house!
A wet snort sounded from the left side of her bed. Smiling, she stretched and scratched Jo's floppy brown ear, earning a warm wet lick to her hand. Calm down. Lyssa closed her eyes, breathed in, paused, and then exhaled. No sparkles flickered in her sight and she didn't feel dizzy. She did this a few more times before her boxer companion burrowed its nose under her hand and nudged it up. Good.
The pre-teen straightened, decide to only pack two of her Nerf guns instead of all six. She'd carry her pillow. Third time was the charm and the zipper on her bag finally closed, with a bit of scrunching. With two finger snaps to Jo, who immediately came to her side, she headed downstairs.
Her parents were having another muttered conversation in the kitchen. As she attached Jo's harness, Lyssa considered leaving without saying 'good-bye'. She rolled her eyes. It would be the last time they'd let her leave the house on her own. Hoping to avoid the usual questions, she opened the front door and called out, "We're going! Love you!"
In unison, two voices thundered from the kitchen, "Hold it!" Lyssa's shoulders slumped. She'd been so close!
Her father strode to the entryway, hands deep in pockets of his mechanic's overalls. He relaxed against the door jamb and regarded her with raised eyebrows.
Resigned, Lyssa dropped her pillow and held up her hand. "Yes, I have my medicine." She recited her parents' list, checking off each point with a bending of a finger. "Yes, I have Dr. Gate's phone number. Yes, I'll be careful. Yes, I'll call when I get to Faith's."
Grinning, her father added in, "What about clean underwear?"
"DAD!" Face flaming with embarrassment, she glared at him as he guffawed with laughter. Lyssa turned to check the neighbors' and sidewalk for witnesses. Aside from Jo, who she swore gave her a wink, nobody heard. With a low voice she answered a tiny, "Yes. Can I please go now?"
Shoulders still shaking with mirth, he nodded. His hand stretched down to stroke the velvet top of the boxer's head. "Take care of her, Jo." The dog panted and her tail gave a wag before the sound of two snaps called her to Lyssa's side.
Ending written by @Blueeyes8960
Lyssa and Jo headed out the front door, feeling the sunshine and the heady sense of freedom. What a glorious day and such a rare treat to be on her own. Ummm, not on your own as Jo gave her a playful nudge and another wink. Lyssa stopped and bent down to Jo’s level, giving her a heartfelt hug and receiving a wet doggy kiss in return.
They continued jauntily down the sidewalk as Lyssa contemplated how she was going to win her and Faith’s next battle of Nerf Wars. She couldn’t believe her good fortune, not only was she getting to walk to Faith’s house, this was her first sleep over! Her parents were so overprotective! She hadn’t had a single seizure in months and she had perfect confidence that with her new medicine, it was the last one.
Faith was waiting on the front porch swing and ran out to give Lyssa hug and pull her into the house. The three of them bounded up the stairs to Faith’s bedroom and unzipped the backpack to pull out the Nerf guns. They spent a few minutes giggling and plotting the rules of their upcoming war then headed back downstairs and out into the back yard.
The game began in earnest when Becca and Troy came over from next door with their guns and split into teams. Back and forth, hiding behind trees, climbing into the tree house, making camp behind the pool deck, the battle raged most of the afternoon. Finally even Jo was getting tired and the battle was declared a draw. Becca and Troy headed back home and Faith, Lyssa, and Jo were called inside for snack time.
After cleaning up, the girls sat down to cookies and milk. Mrs. Brown told the girls there was a surprise in store for them, she was going to take them to the movie theater to see Ralph Wrecked the Internet! Both girls bounced in their seats and clapped excitedly. No, Lyssa, you can’t Jo put her paw up in Lyssa’s lap and looked at her. Lyssa knew she wasn’t supposed to watch a movie in a theater, there was a danger of the lighting setting off a seizure. She patted Jo on the head and pushed away the paw. She said to Mrs Brown, “I’ve never been to a movie before, I can’t wait!”
Mrs. Brown frowned thoughtfully and said, “Hmmm, I’m not sure they will let Jo into the theater. Will she be okay staying here? Is it okay for you to go without her?”
“Oh, sure” said Lyssa. “She be fine, we won’t be gone that long, and I’ll be okay!” Lyssa felt a momentary spark of guilt at this fib, but she let the excitement of a forbidden treat overrule her guilt.
But Jo had no such compunction. The girls ran upstairs to get ready for the movie. When they came downstairs Jo was standing in front of the door. No, Lyssa - this is WRONG! She looked sternly at Lyssa and refused to move. Lyssa tugged on her collar and explained soothingly that everything would be fine, they wouldn’t be gone long. But Jo was having none of it. No way was she going to let Lyssa go. The tremors of unrest were already visible in Lyssa’s brainwaves, just from the stress of doing something she knew was dangerous, from lying to Mrs. Brown, and from trying to ignore Jo’s warnings.
Lyssa’s vision was turning sparkly and her eyes began making jerking movements. Calm down. Deep breaths. Jo took Lyssa’s hand in her mouth and pulled her gently to the floor. Lie still Jo looked imploringly at Mrs. Brown and barked twice. That was her command to let the adults know they needed to get her medication. Mrs. Brown had been instructed on this by Lyssa’s parents and she ran upstairs to get the bottle of pills.
After the episode had passed, Lyssa’s put her arms around Jo’s neck and buried her face against Jo’s soft shoulder. “I’m so sorry Jo! You saved me again!”
art and flair courtesy of @PegasusPhysics
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