An Average Life: Ruby's Tragic Tale

Part 1

It was the year of [REDACTED]. It was the beginning of summer, and it was getting extremely hot outside, especially in the small town of Sunroeville. Sunroeville wasn't like other towns in Zuberbinclocken. They had no electricity because they didn't believe it was what Lilac, their goddess, wanted for them. In Sunroeville there were no TVs, no videos games and no air conditioning. The summers were long and scorching, while the winters were cruel and could give you frostbite if you forget to dress warmly.

Despite the weather, everyone was usually happy this time of year, for the town of Sunroeville was a beautiful place in the summer. Around this time, the flowers had began to grow. Beautiful roses, poppies and sunflowers lined fields and blew gracefully in the breeze. Despite this, however, there was one individual who wasn't happy..

In this town, a young skunk girl named Ruby lived in a small log cabin with her mother. They were very poor, and didn't have much. Ruby was kind and caring, though her mother, Maranda, didn't always see her that way. One afternoon, Ruby returned home from school very tired.

"I'm home!" She called as she walked through the front door. "Anyone here?"

"Hi, Ruby!" Called her mother from the kitchen. "Can you do me a favor and wash the dishes?"

"But I just got home! Can I do it later?"

"You will do as you're told."

Ruby sighed. She walked to the kitchen and began washing the dishes.

"She doesn't understand.." She said, quietly. "Everyone at school hates me, and I come home to be a servant.."

Ruby's ear twitched. She heard something flapping towards the kitchen window. A small brown bat landed on the window sill with a gentle thud. It laid down and closed its eyes, clearly wanting to take a nap. Ruby approached the tiny creature and pet it gently.

"Hello." She said, quietly. "You look like you could use a snack."

She grabbed a banana off the counter and gave the bat a little piece. The bat happily nibbled at the fleshy fruit and let Ruby pet its back.

"My name's Ruby. Do you want to be friends?"

The bat, of course didn't reply. It just continued eating its dinner.

"Hmm.. I'll call you.. Muffin. Do you like that name?"

Ruby waited for a response, but of course, she didn't get one. She was about to give the bat another piece of banana, when her mother walked into the kitchen.

"What's going on here?" She said. "I don't hear the sink running."

She saw the bat on the window sill and shrieked.

"EW! YOU LET A WOLD ANIMAL IN THE HOUSE?"

Ruby's mother stomped over and flicked the bat outside. She slammed the window shut and scowled at Ruby.

"You know better than to touch vermin like that!" She snorted. "Go outside and trim the bushes!"

"Yes, ma'am.." Said Ruby, sadly.

Ruby left the room, trying not to cry.