Under the Poplar Tree

Then I remember the leaves. They fell down, creating a bedding for me to rest upon as I gazed. I would inhale their fresh, sweet scent and sigh.

Then I remember closing my eyes and leaning backwards, rubbing my Zafara spikes against the tree's rough bark. I sunk into the bark and would close my eyes, listening to the tunes and ditties and songs the Outdoors played for me. I remembered sinking into her arms and feeling safe and warm…

But after The Day, I never got back to the Poplar Tree.

But I shall.

* * *

"Ellie! C'mon, get up! Breakfast is on the table!"

I groaned as my sleep was interrupted. I peered at my clock. 6:48 AM. I sighed and smashed my face into the pillow, inhaling its light, cool scent of detergent. The sun hadn't even risen yet…it was still dark.

Suddenly, I felt something pound on my stomach. Moaning, I looked up to see my ebony Spardel, Goober, wearing the same silly grin he always wore, with his little tongue sticking out of his mouth stupidly.

"You have problems, Goober. It's too early." Obviously, Goober translated this to, "Jump on my stomach like it's a trampoline," because he did just that. Then he dragged the blankets off of me.

I sighed and sat up in bed. "Goober, you're smarter than you look." I smiled and gazed at myself in the mirror. I reached for a brush and attacked my starry fur. I was pompous about my starry coat and I knew it as I primped and plucked it to perfection. It signified one of the important things that happened to me after The Day.

"Ellie!" I heard a voice boom from the kitchen. "Breakfast is ready! NOW!"

* * *

I walked into the tiny kitchen to see my owner, Tiffany, washing out glasses. She smiled at me blandly. "Morning." She said, turning off the sink. I poured some Spardel Chow into Goober's bowl and watched the greedy black Spardel eat the food with no hesitation. I slid into my seat and did likewise with my Faerie Pancakes, as Tiffany had neglected the cause to give me dinner the previous night.

Tiffany looked at me in her infuriating "know-it-all" way that I hated. "Ellie dear, I have some housework I need to do today. Do you think you and Goober could stay out of the house all day?"

I sighed. I hated Tiffany's lies about "housework." I knew that she really would be catching up on sleep and painting her exaggeratedly long nails a nice shade of teal. "Yeah, whatever." I said. I had learned quickly that Tiffany wasn't a one to rebut against.

"Good, good" she said, grabbing my dish even though I wasn't done. "Now, go on. Out." She pointed to the door. I sighed and motioned to Goober.

"C'mon boy."

* * *

Here I was again…Pet Central. Whenever Tiffany kicked me out of the house, (which was fairly often) I would come here, sit down on a bench, and watch the dozens of pets trickle by me.

My favorite bench by the Faerie Fountain was occupied, so I had to settle for one relatively close to the gray concrete Pound. Forcing unhappy thoughts out of my mind, I smiled as I watched young pets skip along with their siblings, owners, and friends eating sweets and singing merry songs.

I closed my eyes. Happiness encircled me like a Christmas wreath.

When I opened my eyes, however, they fell upon an unhappy sight. A small Gelert was crying hysterically as her owner dragged her to the Pound.

"Don't do this!" she cried. "This isn't right-"

I started to breath heavily. Goober nudged me with his nose and looked up worriedly.

"No! Please…I beg of you…" The Gelert's cries were muffled as the door closed with a sickening clank behind her. Moments later, the owner came out empty handed. I felt lightheaded; dazed. The scene rolled over and over in my head like a bad horror movie. And then I saw something different…a whole new scene erupted into my mind…

The blue Zafara wept bitterly as she sat in the dark at the feet of her owner, who was a tall auburn haired girl. The girl sighed as she signed tedious paperwork and glimpsed down at the Zafara.

"You needn't cry so." The girl said coldly.

"But I must!" the Zafara wept. "My heart is broken…shattered into a million small, unfixable pieces!" she clung to the girl's leg. "Christa…Christa, what have I done wrong?"

"Get off me." the girl snarled, shaking her leg. "You know I have no money to feed you!" She signed something carelessly and knelt down to the tiny Zafara's eye level. The Zafara looked at her with the utmost disgrace. "I'm sorry." The girl whispered, hugging her pet. Only then did she show any emotion, or care for that matter. "But this is for the better." Then, the girl stood up, dusted her jeans, and left the room. The door shut behind her.

"She's coming back. Any second now." The Zafara thought. But the doors didn't reopen.

"Come, young one. We have a cage open for you." The old, yellow Techo said, bending down to pick the Zafara up.

"No!

No!

No…"

* * *

I woke on the bench hours later…it had to be noon. I heard my stomach rumble. I sat up dizzied. Then I saw the Pound and everything flooded back to me, like rough waters breaking through a dam. I cried and sunk back down. Goober looked at me with concern.

"Oh Goober," I said, touching his cheek lightly. "If only you knew."

I sighed and closed my eyes, trying to remember happier days with Christa. A certain memory stood out…somehow.

"The poplar tree…" I whispered, remembering it's tangy, piney smell. My soul longed to be under the poplar tree again.

"Goober," I said, looking at the Spardel with a maniacal glint in my eye . "We're going to find that tree."

* * *

"I'll know it when I see it, Goober." I said, as I walked down the dusty lane. On either side, a plain, post-and-rail fence ran the length of the lane. I sighed and learned up against it, panting from the long walk and coughing from the dust that kicked up every time I stepped. It was obvious the road was highly unused and uncared for. Goober whined as she flopped down next to me.

"We're getting close, Goober. Don't give up." I shifted my weight off the fence and started to walk. "Goober I can feel that this is right. I remember running down this lane with Christa in the summer's heat." The thought made tears drip from my eyes, but I brushed them away quickly. I wasn't going to be stupid about this, and get all gushy and start crying.

"The poplar tree is somewhere near, Goober. Really."

It was another ten minutes of silent walking before I saw the first poplar tree. It seemed to greet me, and waved at me friendlily.

"Goober!" I said. "A poplar tree, Goober! It's a poplar tree!" And there I saw the proud, yellow cottage I knew as "home."

* * *

I knew I had found the Poplar Tree before I even saw the tiny, welcoming cottage. Tears leaked down my cheeks as I walked towards it, and sat down again. Under the Poplar Tree.

"I'm home." I whispered. The sky had been overcast all day, but as I sat underneath of the Poplar Tree revisiting cherished memories, the rain fell, dotting my starry fur with droplets. I cried happily as I looked up into the downpour. I stood and felt the rain wash over me, and watched the poplar shake with the indignity of the wind.

"Who are you?" someone barked angrily. I whirled around, and happy moments rushed away as I stood face-to-face with an outraged blue Lupe.

"You think you can just come in her and sit down?" he growled in rage.

"I-I!" I stammered, unable to conjure and intelligible sentence.

"Tony! Tony, what in Neopia…" a teenage girl ran out, her hands over her auburn head to protect it from the rain. She gasped when she saw me.

"Ellie…" she said quietly, her eyes widening.

"Christa…" I said, emotion closing my throat and promoting tears. She reached down and caught me up in a hug…just like the old days. Tears glistened in my eyes as I looked at her. "I'm here." I said.

"You're here..." she murmured dreamily. She looked at Tony. "Tony, if you could give me a few moments alone…I'll explain later." Tony looked utterly confused, but not wanting to disobey his obviously cherished master, he trotted into the cottage.

We sat together, just Christa and me, under the poplar. Christa put her arms around me and held me.

Just like the old days.

We said nothing, for there seemed to be no words to be said. The poplar said it all somehow. Finally, I broke the silence with,

"So…you got a new pet."

"Tony, yes." Christa said quietly, scratching a sleeping Goober behind the ears. "And you've found an owner…Tiffany I believe is her name."

"How did you know?" I said quietly, looking up at Christa.

"The day after I let you go, I came back to the Pound to ensure you had found a good home."

I chuckled softly. "I'm not sure if I could consider living with Tiffany a "good home."

"Is she mean to you?" Christa asked; perplexed.

"Let's just say she has more of an interest in her nails than me eating three square meals."

Christa didn't say anything; she simply hugged me tightly.

We sat quietly for a few more minutes, watching the rain and breathing in the poplar's faint, sweet scent. Finally, I said, "Christa, when you left I waited for you to come back."

Christa sighed sadly and was silent for a few minutes, watching the rain. Finally, she said, "Ellie, maybe I wanted to start over."

I jumped up in shock at this statement. "Ch-Ch-Christa! You…you didn't want me back? You don't' want me back?" my teeth chattered, but perhaps it wasn't from the cold.

"Ellie…sweetie…" Christa worked hard to stay under control.

"No." I said. "I don't want to hear it. Coming back was a mistake." I breathed deeply. "Christa, good-bye…for forever. It's time for me to start over." With that, I stood up and ran away, the rain beating fugitively at my back.

It was time for a new beginning.

* * *

Dear Christa and Tiffany,

I'm sending you each a copy of this letter, because I simply don't have the time to write two different letters. I have come to realize that there is so little time, and so little room in this world for me.

Tiffany, you've tried. You've tried to care for me ever since the day you adopted me. But you're just not the right match for me. I've come to realize that no one is the might match for me. This is nothing you can help, because I have also come to realize that you can't change who you are, no matter how hard you try. Please accept my most gracious thank yous for the home you have given me the past year.

Christa, for us the past shall never return, nor shall it be reconciled from its grave. The past is over. The past is a chapter that has already been written. We can't re-write is, much as we try; I'm afraid I found that out the hard way. Just remember that past, and give thanks for the jovial days we were able to exploit together. For those days, I am thankful. They give me something joyous to dwell on now that my life is one big rain cloud. Hopefully, you will be able to make such memories with Tony as well as Goober, whom I give to you as a girl of our friendship.

I wish you both the best. I shan't reveal my current location, but I shall tell you I am safe, even though I am owner-less. The Gelert I saw being dragged to the Pound has escaped, and we are currently living together and reconciling with the past, and I find a great deal of comfort in it, even though it darkens my days, to some extent. I am just glad that I can remember out times…under the poplar.

Ellie

The End