A Tanuki's Life (Paused)

Chapter 3

~ 9 years later~

Tom sat in school, staring impatiently at the clock. Time just didn't seem to pass. Why are Mondays so tough? He closed his tired eyes, he couldn't keep them open for a second.

However, he was immediately startled when he felt a thud on his head. His physics teacher stared down at him grimly. He was holding a book in his right paw. "If I see you sleeping one more time in my class, I'll send you to the headmaster immediately. Did we understand each other, Nook?"

Tom sighed. "Yes, sir..."
"Good." The lion turned and walked back to his desk. A few students grinned stupidly at him. He growled gruffly. Only Sable gave him a sympathetic look and smiled slightly.

Immediately his bad mood was gone and a warm feeling spread in his chest.
Sable and Tom had decided to go to the same high school. They had been in the same class in middle school too. They just couldn't part.

He never wanted to part with her either. What would life be without her?
When the school bell finally rang, all the students packed up their things and left the classroom. On the way home, Sable walked with Tom, as usual.

But today she was very silent. "Are you okay?" He asked. The hedgehog hesitated and didn't look at him. "You can tell me everything," Tom said lovingly. "You know that."
"My mother ..." she began quietly. "She's not feeling very well lately. She has lost a lot of weight, is always tired and has difficulty breathing. She can not even work anymore because she is so weak."

Tom stared at her in horror. "I'm ... so sorry," he whispered. "What do the doctors say?" She shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. Mom never tells us. She's probably trying to keep us from worrying."

The tanuki gently held her paw. "She will definitely get well soon. You just have to believe in it." Sable looked at him with big, sad eyes but said nothing. "Can I ... maybe do something for you?" Tom asked.

"Cheer you up somehow? Hey, we could eat some ice cream! I invite you!" Tom wagged his tail. "Ice cream puts everyone in a better mood!" She smiled in amusement. "Sure, why not. That might give me other thoughts."

So the students marched to the next ice cream parlor, which was not far from here. After enjoying their ice cream, the two of them strolled through the park for a while and chatted about any topic.

Tom had so much fun hanging out with Sable. It had been a little longer since they last met. In the past few weeks there was a lot to do for the school, so they had hardly seen each other in private.

"It's so beautiful here," Sable said, looking up at the sky. The weather was perfect. Blue sky, the sun was shining - no sign of rain. Tom could have walked through the park with Sable for hours. But all good things come to an end at some point.

His mother called. He sighed. "My mom ..." After a moment he picked up the phone. "Hey, what's up?"
"Tom, where are you?" She asked sternly. "You should be home by now!"
"Calm down. I'm in the park with Sable," the tanuki explained.

"I see." At the name of Sable, Millie seemed to calm down again. "Okay. But don't be late."
"Yes, yes. Bye." Tom hung up. "Man, sometimes she can be so annoying!"

Sable giggled. "Mothers, huh?" Another phone rang. However, this time it was from Sable. She gave a short laugh. "Look. Now I can probably listen to a lecture too!" She joked and pulled out her phone.

"Yeah? Oh, hi dad!" Her expression suddenly changed and her face turned slightly pale. "I ... I'm coming immediately." Tom looked at her worried. "Did something happen?"
"My mom is feeling worse," she replied hoarsely.