Short Stories

"The Chimpanzee"

I am all alone, trembling with fear in a small box, unable to move with bars all around me.  I look out with my frightened eyes and all I see is a peculiar place with small boxes, like mine.  I hear cries coming from within those boxes. 

Someone or something stronger that I took me away from my home.  I’m here locked up, not knowing why.  I was always good and I never treated anyone wrong, so why are they doing this to me?

I am petrified for myself and the others.  I have not eaten for days, and I cry myself to sleep.  I feel an emptiness inside of me.  I miss them, and I miss home.  I wish I were back there, safe. 

Why didn’t anyone come and get me yet?  Am I here for a purpose?   If so, why am I here against my will?  I have so many questions without any answers.

These strange looking creatures come by our boxes and take some of us away.  Some return but are hurt.  The others don’t come back.  I had a friend I met here.  The first day those creatures took him he came back with a broken leg.  The second day he wasn’t at all himself.  He was always lively, and always fooling around; now he was practically dead.  The third day he did not return. 

Something is coming towards me.  I know it is my turn.  It grabs my arm real hard and I panic.  I struggle to get free, but it is too strong.  Maybe they are taking me to see my parents I thought, and hoped.  I am going home!

They took me to a room as strange as the other one.  This is not my home.  I am not going anywhere.  I will be stuck here for life.  I was free once, so free; now I’m here locked up forever.

What are they doing to me?  They laid me down and they put these cold, hard, silvery things on my wrists and ankles.  I let out a sigh because they tightened it too hard.  I was too scared to move.  I was terrified of what would happen next and of what they would do to me.  I could not see what they were doing, but I felt them putting something on my head that made me flicker.

I turned my head looking around this strange place with these strange looking creatures.  It was completely different from where I came from.  As I was turning my head I saw a body.  It was one of us.  A pain went through me.  It was just laying there on the floor, motionless.  I knew for sure it was gone, never to see life again.  Is the same thing going to happen o me?  Am I not seeing my family or my world ever again?  I started to shed heavy tears.  Something inside of me knew those would be the last ones.  I closed my eyes tight as they proceeded with what they were doing.  What could I do but just lay there?  I am nothing compared to these creatures.  My life is totally upon them.