I am Clara

A Human Build-A-Bear

It wasn't as late as I had hoped it would be, when I returned. Most kids were still out, meaning the Andrews would definitely still be up, likely sitting on the front porch with a bowl of candy. Which also meant I'd have to use the window, again.

     I received a deep frown from a certain judgemental fairy, as I half crawled, half walked to the side of the yellow house. I couldn't climb trees on a regular day, so Clara Molino climbing a tree with a half-opened foot? It wasn't pretty. My already bruised skin was littered with scratches from branches smacking me on my way up.

     Finally, just as I feared my muscles might give out, I collapsed on my bedroom floor. I pretended the trail of blood that followed me didn't exist.

     "Breathe," someone advised me. "Don't panic, it only make it worse."

     "Don't panic?" I asked incredulously. "If I were to force it, my toes could probably touch my heel!" That may have been a slight exaggeration, but the cut was almost that deep.

      "Best not to think about that," Mimpi said. Easier said than done. "Go to the bathroom and wash the wound. Once that's done come back with a wet towel and sewing kit."

     "Sewing kit?" I croaked, bile rising to the back of my throat. I eyed my room for a trash can or bag, I had a sinking feeling (in my gut), that I would need it.

    "The cut is deep. It need to be stitched back together... I imagine a sewing kit is best you'll be able to get."

    I whined, the panic rising in my chest left no room for breath. My foot was going to be sewn together like a Build a Bear.

     "No think about it," Mimpi ordered. "Just do it." If it weren't for the nauseating pain and fear, I may have made a wry suggestion that she quite her warrior job to film Nike commercials.

     I nodded mindlessly. Just do it. I did have the tendency to over think things. Freaking out as I sat on the floor, wouldn't help. I forced myself to stand, and shakily made my way towards the door, most of my weight kept on my left leg.

     "Um, Clara?"

     "Yes?" I asked.

     "Unless you alone, I advise you to get changed."

     I groaned. I couldn't prance around the house in the dress. That'd be sure to make it into Andrews' notebook. Not caring that Mimpi was in the room, I tore the dress off, and threw on a pink robe that I had had since I was twelve.

     Luckily, I didn't have far to walk. The third floor was smaller than the others, it only consisted of a bathroom and my bedroom. Which also meant the others had no reason to be up here, though, lately Andrews had been great at contradicting that statement.

     I did as Mimpi told me and did a quick job of wrapping a bandage around the wound. I threw a fluffy pair of purple slippers a top the bandage, in case I met a snooping Andrews. He wouldn't take a bloody sock lightly. I had a good couple of minutes before the blood passed through the thick slipper.

     "Why are you back so early?" Speak of the devil. Andrews popped his head in the hallway with a bowl of popcorn in hands. Discretely I titled my head to the right, hiding the side of my face. I didn't know how bad I looked, but I could barely open my eye. Surely the injury was noticeable.

    "Mom's meeting finished early. Emma called to inform us that Laine would be checking up with the kids," I lied, rummaging through my second closet of the night. Still no sewing kit. The Andrews didn't own tape, I really wouldn't be surprised if they didn't own a sewing set either. God, I'd probably have to walk to the corner store, to find one.