Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained

The little black cat crossed her path, but she didn’t believe in bad omens. She changed her direction and she followed the little black cat.

They both stepped on the cracks in the sidewalk and crept under the ladder that was propped up against the five and dime store on main street, towards the inky dark woods at the edge of the town.

The lightning pierced the sky as the two of them breached the border of the trees, but she loosened her grip on her umbrella not needing to open it yet because they were protected by the canopy of the elms.

The little black cat walked with purpose through the damp underbrush. She had never ventured this far into the woods before and she glanced from shadow to shadow half expecting a mystical woodland creature to join the two of them with every twist and turn of their journey.

Most of the people in the town were convinced that no good could come from such a deep exploration of the immense forest, but she had always been curious about the mysteries therein.

The little black cat’s plodding quickened to a trot as it skipped over a little creek that ran in a haphazard trickle through the forest floor.

She kept up with her eyes on the ground, matching the steps of her guide, listening to the rolling thunder over her head, oblivious of the clearing that was coming closer in front of them.

The little black cat stopped suddenly, looking back at her for the first time in their journey.

She scanned from the little black cat forward to the little black box that was only halfway visible, submerged in the dirt and the leaves.

The little black cat crept toward the little black box, stretching out languidly beside it and laying down to begin to bathe.

She knelt in front of the little black box and the little black cat. She couldn’t hear the sounds of the storm or the creek anymore. She only listened to the soothing murmur of the purr of the little black cat.

She reached out her hand and the little black cat nuzzled it towards the little black box. She touched the ancient black clasp protecting the contents of the little black box and caught her breath for a moment or two.

The clasp creaked with age as she lifted the lid of the little black box. The little black cat stopped purring and stared intently into the little black box.

She walked confidently through the woods back towards the town. She vaulted the creek, pivoting the tip of her umbrella in the dirt, skipping through the leaves as the lights of the town came closer into her view.

As she left the trees, a hazy sunset was beginning to wrap the town in its warmth. The town was beautiful from her vantage point.

She walked past the five and dime and the jingle of her pockets caught the attention of the little man who owned the store and had never noticed her before.

She paid him no nevermind, intent on reaching her room before dark. Her grip tightened around the little black book in her hand as the words for the story she would write swirled around her head.

She opened the little green door to her home and kicked the mud from her boots. She placed her umbrella in its stand and grasped the little black book with both of her hands for the first time.

The clatter of her pockets became a cacophony as she ran up the stairs and sat down to write.