Feeling lost

• Amanda Facey
• Short Story
• 2003

It was a gorgeous morning and the sun came poring in through Tobies’ window. He gowned and pulled the bed covers over his head as the warm glow touched his face.

Tobies wasn’t an ordinary boy, in fact he wasn’t even human. Well he looked half human; he was of an ancient race called the Furchie. Furchie was like animals that have human figures. There are many types of Furchie, Tobies was a fox type.

He yawned and stretched, then rolled out of bed. He picked up some clothes that were lying on the floor and slipped them on. He walked sluggishly down stairs finding his mum working away in the kitchen.
“Good morning Toby, did you sleep well?”
Tobies yawned again, “Yeah, I slept all right I guess.”
Tobies sat down at the table for breakfast.

~ Tobies finished breakfast and was in the forest waiting for his friends ~
“Gemma!” Tobies called out to his human friend.
“Hay Tob, how are you?” Gemma sat down next to Tobies.
“I’m all right, I guess.”
Gemma looked at Tobies with concern, it wasn’t like him to be this down, and he was usually happy and active.
“Tobies, what’s wrong?”
Tobies sighed, “Why am I so different?” he asked, not looking up.
Gemma was a bit confused, “I don’t understand, what do you mean?”
“I’m the only one in this whole city that looks, well, like an animal!” he looked Gemma in the eye, “I don’t feel like I belong here.”
Gemma was surprised at what Tobies was saying, “Don’t be silly Tobies,” she said, “I know you might not be the most popular kid in school, but this is your home. This is where your family is and this is where your friends are.” She moved in front of him so that they were facing one another, “Listen, not one person in this world is the same, we’re all different, including you. That’s what makes you so great,” Gemma pushed Tobies playfully, “so don’t go thinking other wise, okay?”
Tobies managed to force on a smile, “If you say so.”
Gemma and Tobies sat in the forest until it was time for Gemma to go home.

Tobies sat in a tree looking up at the full moon. He was thinking about what Gemma had said, “Every one is different”. He sighed heavily, ‘ Is there any one out there like me?’ he thought. He could remember his mother telling his once that he was a special boy and that there were others like him somewhere out there. “I hope I find them one day,” he murmured to himself, “then I might not feel so lonely and empty…” the night dragged on and Tobies continued to stare at the moon. Its bright glow made him feel as though he was in another time in another universe. He sat up in that tree all night just staring at the moon just dreaming away, wondering and hoping…