Tooty Cluster: Chapter 4

TOOTY CLUSTER

CHAPTER FOUR: THE FLAMES

There I was, pondering my belonging on this planet when out of nowhere I heard a scream and In the distance, I saw fire.

One of the clones began to run toward the flames, “The village” he screamed,  and the leader held him back.

And said “No. You’ll get hurt!”

“But… [he pleaded] We worked so hard…”

Another clone sighed, “It’s alright, We’ll build it again.”

A man fell to his knees, defeated. Another shed tears. We stood there and watched the flames burn their homes to the ground. Even from a distance, the heat from the fire prickled across my skin. It reminded me of a fire I had seen years ago… a distant memory I tried so hard to forget. 

I was young, I was standing next to my father watching a small village full of people who were ‘different’ burn to the ground. My father never confirmed that he started the fire. But looking back, I knew it was him.

While watching this fire, that awful memory was painted across my face. I must have looked dejected, horrified and distraught, because one of the clones put his hand on my shoulder and spoke softly to me. “Don't worry, We built a village once. We’ll do it again”

Once the flames died down, we walked slowly to the wreckage and sitting in the midst of the ashes was a single plant. It was tall, spiked and bright pink. It had three large arms reaching toward the sky and its spikes reminded me of a porcupine. 

The closest resemblance I had ever seen to this plant was a picture of a cactus I had seen in a text book I stole from my father’s bookshelf.

That’s when the revelation hit me. Cacti store water in their stems. 

I rushed towards the cactus and to my surprise, several of its spikes came shooting toward me. “Oh fuck.”

TOOTY CLUSTER CHAPTER 5 COMING SOON

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