Proud by Trent Retallack

It was Father that had first shown him how to work the drill. He could remember his Father's big hands covering his own and guiding the drill as it bit into the wood.

"That's it Jimmy." His father would say. "Find the grain, let the weight of the drill do the work."

Jimmy remembered. He remembered good. Just like Father said. Let the drill go on its own weight. He set aside the drill and grabbed the power sander.

"Right Jimmy. You got it. Smooth strokes. Don't bear down on the sander." The memory flooded in. He did as he'd been taught, nice small strokes. Get the grain real smooth. No burrs.

The table saw replaced the sander. The blade whirled loudly. The smell of the oil filled his nose, and memories rushed in.

"Now be careful Jimmy. Always use the guide," the memory cautioned. A large hand wrapped around Jimmy's forefinger to trace the tip over a dragon tattoo that ran the length of his father's forearm. The fact that it was slashed with a jagged pink scar made it all the more appealing. "Jimmy see here? I was in a hurry one day and the blade bit me. Straight to the bone. You be careful. Use the guide and take your time."

Jimmy did take his time. He used the guide. He cut to length. The base and the legs of the chair complete. The sander back in hand.

"No Jimmy! Dammit!" The memory of his father's voice scolded. "I told you not to press down! You ripped the sandpaper." Jimmy fumbled in the workshop drawer for a replacement. "Gimme that!" A large hand snatched the sandpaper away. "Moron."

Jimmy blinked the memory aside and placed the paper in the sander. Jimmy felt stupid. He knew better. He should not make mistakes. The sanding done he started the table saw again. He used the guide to cut. The blade bit and caught. It threw.

"Dammit!" A memory screamed. A large hand slapped Jimmy hard across the face. Blood welled in his mouth from a cut lip. "You fuckin' idiot! I told you to go slow! You could kill yourself letting the table throw like that."

Jimmy tried again. Slower, more careful this time. The back of the chair was finally cut.

"No!" The memory yelled. "You hold the hammer firm. Never run your thumb up the side. You hold it like a..."Jimmy flinched back, tears streaking his face. "What the hell you cryin' about?" Father scolded. "I'll give you a reason to cry you fuckin' moron." The big hands came down.

Jimmy adjusted his grip on the hammer. Drove the nails in slow, careful not to mar.

Time to stretch the hide over the chair. Jimmy liked this. Jimmy did this good. A sharp corner, not sanded smooth, poked through the hide.

"Idiot!" A memory screamed. Large hands punched his side. "Do you know how much that costs?"

Jimmy knew. He knew the price. Luckily the puncture was near the edge. Jimmy sanded the corner and tried again. Hours went by. He pulled and smoothed the hide. He stapled. He pulled. He stapled. Done.

Jimmy smiled. The chair was done."You did fine Jimmy." Father's memory said. "You made me proud."

Jimmy sat back in the chair. He was pleased with his work. He felt good. He had done good. He let his fingers trace along the arm of the chair, which had an old pink scar that cut across a dragon tattoo.

Chloe climbed into bed and pulled the blankets up to her neck. Her Mommy and Daddy kissed her good night. Chloe was tired from a long Saturday and fell fast asleep.

A bright blue light fell across her face and woke her up. The light was coming from a glowing blue door that had sprung open in the middle of her room. Chloe got out of bed and moved as close as she dared to the door. She thought that maybe she would just peek in and see what was on the other side when WHOOOOSHHHHHHHHH. Chloe was sucked through the door and fell down a twisty slide. She was dropped out the other side when the door POPPED closed behind her!

Chloe saw a sign that read: BEWARE! MONSTER WOODS! Chloe was scared of monsters. She knew she had to get home but she did not know where the door had gone. She began to explore the woods when she heard a strange squish-crunch noise. It sounded like someone walking on wet cereal. Ducking behind a tree she peeked carefully around and saw two monsters!

“Did you hear that a human girl is in Monster Woods?” asked the warty red monster.

“No. What is a human girl?” Asked the green slimy monster.

“I don'’t know,” said the warty red monster. “But, I hear they are good to eat!”

Chloe covered her mouth to stifle a gasp and waited as quietly as she could for the monsters to leave. She knew she had to get home, because she did not want any of those strange monsters to eat her. She left her hiding spot and followed a trail when she heard a crackly- clomp noise coming ahead of her on the trail! Chloe leaped inside a tree stump to hide. A spiky yellow monster head peeked inside her hiding spot!

“What are you?” asked the monster.

Chloe thought as fast as she could and she said, “I am a rabbit.”

“Oh, ok.” said the monster. “I have never seen a rabbit. But, I am looking for a little human girl. If you see her will you tell me? I hear they are good to eat.”

Chloe promised she would tell him if she saw a human girl. Chloe raced down the trail as fast as her legs could carry her when she saw another monster in front of her! She scrambled up a tree to hide, but the monster had big white wings and flew up onto the branch to land right next to her! What are you?” asked the monster. Chloe thought as fast as she could and she said, “I am a bird.”

“Oh, ok.” said the monster. “I have never seen a bird. But, I am looking for a little human girl. If you see her will you tell me? I hear they are good to eat.”

Chloe promised she would tell him if she saw a human girl. Chloe dashed even faster down the trail when she saw the glowing blue door. There was a BIG purple monster standing in front of the door! Chloe dived under a bush to hide and wait for the monster to leave. She watched as the monster shook trees and flipped rocks looking for something. He came to the bush she was under and tore it from the ground!

In a big and scary voice he asked, “What are you?”

Chloe thought as fast as she could and she said, “I am a little human girl.”

“Oh!” said the monster. “I have never seen a little human girl before. I hear they are good to eat.”

“No, you must have heard it wrong,” said Chloe. “Little human girls LIKE to EAT monsters!” The BIG monster jumped back and screamed! Chloe ran after him making chomping sounds!

The monster ran into the Monster Woods yelling, “HELP! The little human girl is going to eat me!” All the other monsters heard his cries and ran as fast as they could.

Chloe stepped into the blue door and sat up in bed laughing. Her daddy was walking by her door in the hallway when he heard her giggling.

“Chloe, you should be asleep. What'’s going on?” asked her daddy.

Chloe gave a big smile and said, “Oh, nothing. I’m just a little hungry.”