Friend and Foe

The young Fox saw the train fast approaching while her paw was stuck in the tracks. She tried to bolt, but could not. The train was almost there - making that ungodly wail, eeerrrr! Eerrrr!…

Beep! Beep! Valerie of the Foxes heard the alarm and struggled to open her eyes, relieved that the source of the noise was the alarm clock and not that horrendous train. She could barely make out that the time was 6:50, and class started at 7:10. That meant she didn’t have much time.

She somehow pushed herself out of the bed and went downstairs to get breakfast. On the way to the fridge, she spotted her pet squirrel, Dodo, who was chewing on the research paper due that morning. “Dodo! Put that down now!” she yelled.

Dodo chuckled and ran out the door.

“You stupid squirrel! Come back here!” She followed him out the door and onto the street. He led her all the way to the courthouse, before which the President was giving an oration.

“We will make sure those dastardly Humans never make it into our territory again...” said Mike to the several hundred animals surrounding him.

Valerie’s ears pricked up at the sound of the nasal, yet melodious voice. Looking up, she beheld the finest Fox she’d ever laid eyes on. She could no longer see anything save for Mike’s face. His voice sounded like a symphony to her pointy ears.

“Wow,” she said, starting to salivate.

She listened to the rest of his delivery in a trance. She noticed his striking eyes - auburn, like hers - and how they looked almost gold as the sun shined on them. She couldn’t help but notice his Cheshire cat grin as he posed for the many photojournalists.

As his presentation drew to a close, Mike looked out over his audience, failing to notice the brunette ball of fur he had mesmerized. He waved goodbye and stepped down from the stage and into the crowd.

Valerie tried to make a beeline to his side but was obstructed by the many animals blocking her path. After some time, the crowd dispersed, revealing a tired Mike sitting at a bus stop. There he is! This is my chance! she thought, running directly to him before stopping abruptly. Wait! What should I say? What can I say?

Before she could come up with an answer, the bus arrived, and Mike boarded. Valerie instinctively ran on after him, aware of no one else.

“Miss, I need to see your pass,” said the driver.

Valerie stopped dead in her tracks. “Pass?”

“Yes, you either have to show me your pass or pay fare,” he said.

She searched her pockets, but came up with nothing. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know...”

“What, you’ve never been on a bus before?” the driver said.

“I’ll take care of this,” said a distinctive voice from behind. Both Valerie and the driver turned around to see a very tall Fox with an outstretched paw, holding just enough to cover the fare.

Valerie’s jaw dropped when she saw that the President, of all people, was paying her fare. “Th-th-thank you,” she stuttered.

“My pleasure,” he said, and took a seat in the back.

It was a very crowded bus, and the only open seat was next to Mike. Dang, I don’t have the guts to sit next to him, she thought, but there was no place else to sit. She took a deep breath, and, shaking, made her way over to Mike.

“Is something wrong?” he asked.

“N-n-no.” She heard her heart pounding, sounding louder that the horrid train in her dreams.

“You look uncomfortable. Is there anything I can do to help?” asked Mike.

Valerie tried to respond, but no sound came from her mouth.

“I’m sorry, how rude of me to not introduce myself. I’m Mike,” he said and extended a delicate paw. “And you are?”

“Valerie,” she answered, starting to calm down. “It’s an honor to meet you, Mr. President.”

“You can just call me Mike,” he said.

Valerie felt her tail brush against something warm and soft. She looked and saw it was lying on top of Mike’s tail. She yanked her tail away. “I’m sorry…”

“S’ok,” Mike replied. “Not the first time someone’s tail accidentally touched mine.”

She noticed that there was something unusual about his tail. Foxes usually have white tips on their tails, but the tip of Mike’s tail was black.

Dang, was that embarrassing… thought Valerie. “Where do you get off?” she asked him, trying to shift focus.

“Pretty soon,” he said. “This is my neighborhood.“

Soon they arrived in front of a three story stone house that looked like it had come straight out of a fairy tale, with its turrets and elaborate windows. “Well, this is my stop,” said Mike. “It was nice meeting you.” He gathered his bags and got off the bus.

Valerie watched as Mike walked up to the door, where he was greeted by another Fox wearing a beautiful dress and holding a baby. Mike and his wife exchanged a brief kiss before going inside.

“Dang it!” cried Valerie inadvertently. “He’s already taken!”

At that the rest of the bus turned around and looked at Valerie with strange looks on their faces. “Ooops,” she whispered. “I think I’ll get off here, too.”

By that time, Mike had already gone inside. Valerie crept up to the window and peeked into Mike’s living room, where she saw a diploma hanging on the wall from 1984. He got his degree the year I was born? That makes him too old for me! Double dang! she thought. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw one of Mike’s guard squirrels run up to the window and bark at her. Time to scram.

She walked back to the bus stop and began to sniffle. Here was the Fox of her dreams and he was married and too old for her.

For weeks after, she couldn’t think about anyone but him. “Why am I wasting my time obsessing over him when there are more suitable matches in my own backyard?” she asked herself, but could come up with no answer.

One day, she saw that the house next to hers had a new owner, another Fox, but he would disappear frequently for varying lengths of time, usually whenever Mike did anything public. He looked strangely familiar - Valerie thought she may have seen him before but couldn’t recall where. When she saw him walk his squirrels by the window one morning, she decided she should go outside and introduce herself to her new neighbor.

As she stepped outside she smelt squirrel dung - the neighbor’s squirrels were defecating on her lawn. Their owner had his back to her. He was wearing sunglasses, a dark suit, a fedora, and a very expensive watch. Valerie walked up to him. “Excuse me, sir, your squirrels..”

“Who are you?” he asked, looking down his nose at her.

“I’m Valerie, your new neighbor. Nice to meet you,” she said, extending her paw, which he disregarded.

“I’m Mishiko,” he said flatly before turning his back on her.

“Excuse me? I’m trying to talk to you…”

Mishiko pulled the squirrels off the lawn and left, snout in the air, without looking back at Valerie.

“Sir!” Valerie yipped.

Mishiko stopped and turned around to face Valerie. “Why should I bother with a poorer creature than I? You’re obviously just a zilch. Don’t waste my time.” He turned back around and left.

“That freakin’ jerk,” growled Valerie to herself. “I hope I never see him again.”

Later that afternoon, Valerie was shopping for groceries when she ran across a gossipy Hen. “Valerie, I hear you have a thing for President Mike,” clucked the Hen as she winked.

“Wha?! Who told you? I’ll kill whoever leaked that!” growled Valerie.

“I heard it from Mishiko,” the Hen said dully. “He also said that you bombed your last test in biology class and that you go to community college because you couldn’t get into any university.”

“That jerk!” Valerie hissed. “It’s on, you turd!” she barked as she pictured Mishiko chuckling condescendingly at her.

That Sunday, it was Valerie’s turn to serve the altar at church. As much as she loved lighting the candles, collecting the offering plates and helping with Communion, this week she did so with a heavy heart. She could not fully dedicate herself while loathing Mishiko - he was her neighbor in the most literal sense and as a child of God it was her responsibility to love him. But how?

She decided to talk to Pastor Chip about it. As soon as she finished extinguishing the candles she trotted to the back of the church and pulled him to the side. “Pastor, do you have a minute?

“Yes, what is it?” The Chipmunk looked up at the Fox with love, wanting to help her however he could.

After a pause, Valerie said, “Well, I have this neighbor whom I can not for the life of me find any way to like. I know it is my duty as his sister in Christ to love him and I just can’t,” she sighed.

“What’s so horrid about him?” asked.

“He’s a total snob, for one. He thinks I’m some kind of second-class citizen and it irritates the heck out of me.”

“Has he had some things in his past that make him hard to get along with?” asked Chip.

“Well, he could have had a pretty tough life but that doesn’t give him the right to treat me like trash.” Valerie said, trying to hide a growl.

“True,“ said Chip, “but try to turn the other cheek. Next time he insults you, respond with a blessing.”

A confused look crossed Valerie’s face. “How?”

“You have to realize that when people are disagreeable it is usually because of some kind of hurt they feel. Once you understand their pain, it is easier to get along with them.”

Valerie chewed this over in her head for a second before saying, “That makes sense.”

“Read Matthew 5:44,” said Chip. “If you are kind to him while he treats you like trash, you are the one with the upper hand.”

“That sounds awfully hard,” Valerie said softly.

“It is. But learning from things like this one reason why we are alive,” answered Chip. “Would you like to role play it?”

“Sure, why not?” she replied.

“Ok, I’m your neighbor and I am going to put you down. You respond like a Christian,” said Chip. “Ready?”

“Go for it…”

“Get out of here, you little zilch,” said Chip.

Valerie laughed. “You sound just like him,” she said.

“Yah,” said Chip, “What are you going to say?”

“Um,… good morning?”

“Almost there,” said Chip. Up the positivity a little more.”

“…You look nice today?”

“Good,” said Chip. “Paying a compliment to every insult is hard, but if you develop this ability you’ll find it much easier to get along with people. Should we keep going?”

“No, that’s ok. I think I get it,” she answered.

“Ok, good. Let me know how it goes,” said Chip.

“I will. Thanks, Pastor Chip,” she said as she gave him a hug.

“My pleasure,” answered the Chipmunk.

Later that morning, Valerie met with her friend Estelle of the Flamingoes for brunch. “This new neighbor of mine seems to think he’s better than me and it’s frustrating,” said Valerie.

“What’s his name?” asked Estelle.

“Mishiko.”

“Mishiko of the Foxes? I used to be his maid,” said Estelle.

“How could you work for him of all people?” asked Valerie.

“I had to so I could pay my rent. I got to know him quite well,” she answered. “Besides, you wouldn’t hate him so much if you knew his background.”

“Like what?”

“Well, he grew up dirt poor for one,” she answered. “His dad couldn’t hold a job and his mother was too ill to work while she was alive. She passed away of pneumonia when he was five. His dad had to raise five kits single handed, plus, the family was too poor to buy new shoes for him and his brothers, so the other kids teased him for wearing beat-up shoes.

He didn’t do well in school because he was dyslexic. The other children mocked him because he wore tattered clothing, (his dad couldn’t afford nice outfits) and couldn’t read because of his dyslexia. They said he was a ’ filthy, stupid loser.’ All through his childhood his teachers told him he was a zilch and would never get anywhere because he was too dumb.

He wasn’t about to take all that lying down. He decided he was going to prove everyone wrong by getting over his dyslexia, going to college, getting a top-notch job and being the success no one ever dreamed he could be.

For the next twelve years he busted his behind putting himself through college, eventually earning a doctorate in economics. He eventually became the CEO of a bank and started making a six figure income. He relished getting to fire all of his peers who teased him as a kid and started to see other people as being unconditionally inconsequential to him. Because he thought no one else had worked as hard or gotten as far as he did, he considered them all inferior. He saw anyone without a Ph.D as a fool not worth his time.

He was driving his Ferrari home from work one night when he fell asleep at the wheel and drove his car off a cliff.

Everyone thought he was dead, but a few days later he was seen walking around the neighborhood again. He looked a little different - the tip of his tail had turned black, for instance - but the voice, personality, and mannerisms were all the same as before.”

“Wow,” said Valerie. “I had no idea…”

“Now you know why he’s a ‘turd.’ How could he have been otherwise? It’s not his fault,” said Estelle. “You should get to know someone before writing them off.”

I can’t imagine going through everything he has, Valerie said to herself. I think we should talk.

The next Sunday after church, Valerie knocked on Mishiko’s door. “Hi, Mishiko. I need to talk with you.”

“What is it?” he asked impatiently.

“Well…I recently realized that I’ve been a little too harsh on you. Now that I know some of what you’ve been through, I sympathize, and I think it’s time we sign a ceasefire.”

“You mean we’re at war?” He looked over his sunglasses.

“Well, yeah, look at all the crud you spread about me, and I wasn’t so sweet to you either…”

“Yes but I didn’t think you capable of retaliation,” he said in his usual flat manner.

Dang it! Must…be…civil.. Can’t…fight any…more…Valerie thought. “See, this is what started the war in the first place. You need to not be so disrespectful to other creatures!” she barked at him. “I may not have a fancy degree but that doesn’t mean I’m less than you!”

“I’m pretty sure you didn’t grow up without a mother or put yourself through college for twelve years,” he said. Despite his passionate diction, he spoke this with no emotion in his voice. “And I can guarantee I got much farther than you.”
“It‘s too early to say that. I’m not done with my degree yet!” yipped Valerie. “For heaven’s sake I’m only twenty-four years old! I have decades ahead of me!”

“So you think. You have no idea how much longer you’ll be around. You could die tonight for all you know,” said Mishiko.

Valerie felt a chill as Mishiko said this, but it was true.

“Look, you turd, you need to learn some respect!” growled Valerie. She picked up a large stick on the ground - she was a Martial Arts student and knew how to use one - and took a swipe at him, almost knocking the sunglasses off his face. He blew a whistle and an entire pack of squirrels flew out the door and chased Valerie. She dropped the stick and darted away.

Valerie high-tailed it out of the neighborhood, not sure where she was going. All she knew was that she had to scram to not get caught by the cops.

She was so lost in her thoughts that she failed to notice who was in her path. A high, nasal yip brought her back to Earth. “Who was that?” she thought.

She looked up ahead to see Mike silhouetted against the evening sky. The angle of the sun in the sky created a soft, beautiful light that went perfectly with the hues above, illuminating everything with an almost surreally gorgeous flair, which photographers call “sweet light”. Valerie silently complimented God on his artistry before bringing her attention back to Mike. “Hi,” she said quietly.

“ ‘ello,” said Mike. “How goes it?”

“Well, thanks. Beautiful evening. Care for a stroll?” she asked.

“Erm, ok..” he replied.

Valerie felt an exhilaration as their eyes met. “You know, ever since I first saw you give that speech in front of the courthouse …” she started.

“Yes?” he asked.

Valerie held the pause a little longer before continuing. “…I’ve been unable to think of anything but you.”

“Oh, I see,” he thought aloud. “So that’s why you’re so shy. I understand.” he gave her a little wink.

Valerie took Mike’s paw as they trotted down the grassy knoll to the beach, and then onto an old sailing ship in the harbor. She hopped onto the rigging with the words, “Come follow me.”

Laughing, the two quickly made their ways to the top before meeting up in the crow’s nest. Looking off into the sunset, Valerie whispered, “This is the most beautiful moment of my life…” before grabbing Mike and giving him a big kiss.

Mike’s eyes became huge. Woah, he thought, Hey, this isn’t so bad. He licked her back.

The two of them continued to cuddle in the crow’s nest for quite some time before they heard another voice calling, “Mike! Mike! Where are you? Come home!”

“Uh-oh,” said Mike. “That’s my wife.”

“Mike! I hear you. Come down from there!”

“Crud,” said Mike.

“I’ll handle this,” said Valerie. She started to descend so she could address Mrs. Mike. “Ma’am, I’m sorry for…”

Mrs. Mike’s ears pulled back at the sight of Valerie emerging from the crow’s nest. “Where is my husband?” she demanded.

“I’m right here,” he said with trepidation as he and Valerie descended.

“Mike! Were you cuddling with that tramp?”

“I’m not a tramp!” barked Valerie.

“She’s not a tramp, just an acquaintance,” said Mike.

“I’m only an acquaintance? I thought I was more than that to you,” she said to Mike and began to sniffle.

“It’s ok, Valerie,” he said as he pulled Valerie to his side, trying to comfort her.

“It’s not ok, Mike! I’m at home trying to raise a sick son while you’re off snuggling with other vixens!” barked Mrs. Mike. “What do you have to say for yourself?”

“It’s my fault, not his,” said Valerie, shaking.

“What?!” yelled Mrs. Mike.

“I started this, he’s not to blame.” Valerie hung her head.

“How dare you go after my husband! You little …” she threw Valerie to the ground. Valerie got back up and grabbed a long stick, as did Mrs. Mike. The two started to spar with Mrs. Mike on the offense and Valerie on the defense. Valerie was able to block almost all of her attacks, but just once Mrs. Mike’s stick flew right into Valerie’s left eye. Valerie howled in pain before passing out.

“Valerie!” cried Mike as he ran to her side. “Valerie! Say something!”

In the meantime someone had seen the fight and called the cops. They took Mrs. Mike into custody and an ambulance arrived for Valerie.

As the crew loaded Valerie into the ambulance, Mike fought back tears. He pleaded for the crew to let him ride by her side but they wouldn’t allow it. Mike got into his car and followed the ambulance to the hospital. As soon as he was allowed he went to visit her.

Valerie was asleep when Mike arrived. He knew he probably shouldn’t, but he softly woke her. “Valerie, I’m so sorry, this is all my fault..”

“No, it’s not, Mike. I was wrong to go between you and your wife.”

“At least you’re ok. I was scared when you didn’t answer me,” said Mike. What have the doctors said?”

“I’m probably not going to be able to use my eye much any more,” she answered. “They said I would need surgery but could leave in a week.”

“Poor baby,” he said and licked the top of her head.

“It’s ok, Mike. I’ll be fine.” She took his paw in hers and relished the fact that she was getting so much attention from her love.

She fell back asleep, smiling despite the pain.

Valerie found herself in a beautiful garden. She was wearing a long, elegant white dress. Several dozen other animals sat nearby on either side of a long aisle. At the end of the aisle she saw Pastor Chip and another Fox.

Valerie’s father stood next to her and prepared to walk her down the aisle. Valerie could not help but notice how bright, airy, and happy everything seemed as the violins played Pachelbel’s Canon in D.

Finally, Valerie and her father were at the end of the aisle. She stepped away from him and towards the other Fox with the words, “Mike, you’ve made me the luckiest vixen alive,” before closing her eyes and giving the other Fox the kiss of a lifetime.

She opened her eyes, but to her horror, she saw that the other Fox was not Mike.

It was Mishiko.

“Ahhh!” she cried. “Eeew! Not Mishiko of all creatures!” She emerged from the dream and opened her eye to see Mike sitting by the bed while holding her paw.

“What’s wrong?” asked Mike.

“Just a freaky dream, that’s all,” Valerie said.

A tall vulture in a white coat knocked on the door. Mike got up to answer it. “’ello,” he said.

“Hi. It’s time for Valerie to go into surgery,” said the vulture.

Mike gave Valerie’s paw a tight squeeze. “Good luck,” he told her as she was wheeled away.

Now left all alone, he had time to think about the two vixens in his life. “Of course I still love my wife, but Valerie has wormed her way into my heart as well,” he said to himself. “And both of them are in trouble - Valerie’s in surgery and my wife is in custody, plus I have a sick son I’m raising on my own at the moment.” He put his head in his paws. Perhaps it’s time I talk to someone, he thought.

That Sunday, Mike spent two hours on the bus going to church. Even though he didn’t go often, he felt the need to this morning. Mike arrived and took a seat. As he watched the altar server he couldn’t help but think of Valerie - she had told him about her position there and how much she loved it.

He started to sniffle as Pastor Chip lead the confession but was comforted by his words, “In the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit…”

What magical words! All his sin gone in an instant because of just one belief - that Jesus already took his sins. Mike thought there was nothing more valuable or beautiful than those few words and what they meant.

The sermon that morning was about marital faithfulness. It was hard for Mike to listen to. He had never felt so dirty and worthless as he heard the words of that sermon.

After the service, Mike approached Pastor Chip feeling like he had an apple in his throat. “Pastor, I have something I need to confess,” he said.

“What is it, son?” replied the Pastor.

“Well, … the other day I snuggled with another vixen instead of my wife, and they were fighting over me and one of them is in surgery because of it and the other is being held by the police and I feel like a turd because it’s all my fault! I don’t know what to do and I feel like the worst sinner in the world.” By this time he was sniffling again.

“Son, you’re not responsible for other creatures’ actions. You did not force them to do that, they chose to act that way on their own,” said Chip looking up at him.

“But if it wasn’t for me, they wouldn’t have chosen to act that way in the first place,” said Mike with a conscientious look on his face.

“It’s still not your fault,” said Chip. “Everyone is accountable for their own actions and no one else’s.” said Chip as he gently touched Mike’s paw.

“There’s still the fact that I paid attention to someone other than my wife…”

“Well, there is a commandment against adultery, but not against snuggling with someone,” answered Chip. “If the two of you had been more intimate than there would be a problem, but it’s fine to be close to other creatures as long as you don’t take it too far.”

Mike took a second to wrap his brain around this. “Well, Valerie and I weren’t too intimate, but all the same my wife was furious,” he said, looking down.

“Understandably. It wasn’t a good idea for you to snuggle with someone else and she probably feels jealous of Valerie.”

“Oh yes. That’s what lead to the duel, which was how Valerie got her eye knocked out by my wife and why she is in the hospital right now…”

“I’m sorry to hear that, “ Chip said softly. “But don’t beat yourself up over it.”

“I feel particularly bad for Valerie because it took a lot of guts for her to confess to my wife’s face that she was with me and this mess is what she gets for it,” Mike sighed.

“That’s how it is sometimes. But suffering for doing the right thing is what pleases God. The more you take now, especially when you are not to blame, the better off you’ll be in the next life.” Chip cracked a smile as he said this.

“That makes sense,” said Mike as he looked down at the wise little minister.

“My point in all this is that you are responsible for your own load - no more, no less. You have to account for your actions, but not for anyone else’s. While snuggling with Valerie was not a good idea it doesn’t condemn you because you didn’t go too far with it.”

“I feel like I’ve torn my relationship with my wife by doing this and I need to put it back together,” stated Mike.

“Maybe you do. But she also needs to learn not to be so jealous,” said Chip.

“How do I win back my wife?”

“Just tell her what you just told me - that you care about your relationship with her and you want things to be right again. Doing something nice for her would help, too.”

“Thanks, Pastor Chip. I appreciate your help,” said Mike as he shook the Chipmunk’s paw.

“No problem,” he answered.

A week later Mike went back to the hospital to check on Valerie. When he arrived she was awake, reading a book. The room was full of flowers and balloons, and cards lined the table. “ ‘ello,” said Mike as he peaked in.

“Hi Mike. How goes it?”

“Well, thanks. How are you feeling?”

“Ok, except my eye is still sore. I can’t see very well out of it any more,” she said while gently rubbing it.

“Bummer. How was the surgery?” He came further into the room, taking a seat at the side of the bed.
“
It went ok except it didn’t restore my sight all the way. I can see light and colors out my injured eye, but I can’t make anything out.”

“You can still read. That’s good,” said Mike in an attempt to stay positive.

“Yes, the book’s pretty good. It’s about a monk on a journey to regain his faith after losing all he has after his monastery collapses into the ocean.”

“I talked to Pastor Chip,” said Mike. “He said that we don’t have much to feel guilty about,” smiled Mike.

“You sure are in good spirits today, aren’t you?” noticed Valerie.

“I just feel relieved and happy that you are ok now,” he replied. “I wish I could restore your eye.”

“It’s ok, I still have another one. Good thing God gave us two, isn’t it?” chuckled Valerie.

“So, when do you think you’ll be able to come home?” asked Mike.

“The doctors said I could be discharged tomorrow,” Valerie answered. “The only question is how I’ll get home…”

“I can walk you home,” said Mike. “You don’t live too far away.”

“You’re right. I’d like that,” said Valerie.

At ten the next morning Valerie finished filling out her discharge papers when Mike arrived to take her home. It was a sunny day, she was out of the hospital, and she got to take another walk with her love. She couldn’t have been happier.

On the way to Valerie’s house they had to cross the railroad tracks. Mike’s eye was caught by a beautiful sapphire blue stone lying between the boards. At once he reached for it, but it was stuck. He continued to try to pull it loose. “What is it?” asked Valerie.

“Look at this stone. It’s perfect,” answered Mike.

“Yes, it is, Mike, c’mon, let’s keep going.”

However, Mike wasn’t listening. He was so engrossed in prying that stone loose that he failed to notice the oncoming train.

Valerie heard it loud and clear. “Mike! Watch out!” But Mike remained transfixed and blissfully unaware of the impending danger. As the train approached and Mike failed to budge, Valerie decided to sacrifice it all for the one she loved. Seconds before the train would have hit Mike, Valerie took the leap of her life and pushed him out of the way.

Mike landed on his face. “What the -?” he said before getting up and turning around to see a lifeless Valerie lying on the side of the tracks. “No! Valerie, no! You can’t be…”he cried before everything went blank.

Valerie’s spirit looked at Mike’s form . He had his back to her. She floated towards his ear, wanting to tell him that it was ok, she’d made the transition and could now go on to eternity, but before she reached it the other Fox turned around, and Valerie’s jaw dropped. It was Mishiko.

“How the he…” she started.

“Welcome to the Other Side, little kit,” said Mishiko.

“But you were Mike a minute ago…” said Valerie, floating back away from him.

“I see it’s time I spill my little secret,” said Mishiko. “I’ve been dead since my car drove off the cliff. I don’t want to move on yet, so I’ve been occasionally possessing Mike’s body. He looked similar enough to me that most creatures wouldn’t know the difference, save the black tip of his tail, you’ll recall. It’s really very kind of him to let me take this body for a spin every once in a while. So now you see, mademoiselle, your true love and your archenemy are the same creature.”

“Woah, this is pretty trippy,” said Valerie. “I didn’t want it to end this way, but I’d rather be gone myself than to live on without him. At least I can watch over him now. But it’s not right for you to keep stealing Mike’s body when he still needs it. Our time is past and we must move on, but he still has things to do.”

“I can’t go yet, there’s still money to be made,” said Mishiko.

“Can’t you see that money isn’t the answer to everything?” barked Valerie. “Now leave this innocent Fox alone!” She became a small ball of light and hurled herself at Mike/Mishiko, knocking the latter out of the body, which fell to the ground. “We are both leaving this plane right now, like we should have already done,” said Valerie. “Now hold on.”

The two of them faded away from earth and through the tunnel before arriving before the gates of Heaven. Valerie was granted immediate access, but the angel stopped Mishiko. “Son, you don’t deserve to be here,” the angel said to him.

Mishiko bowed his head in sorrow.

“But then again, neither does anyone else. We will grant you access on one condition.”

“What would that be?” asked Mishiko, looking upwards.

“Accept that Jesus paid for your pass. That‘s all you have to do. Sure, you had mixed up priorities and an inability to care for others, but you went a long way, and that has to count for something. Jesus offers you a way into here by having died on the cross for your sins. Accept it and it‘s yours.”

“Wow,” breathed Mishiko. “I accept it.”

At that instant a beautiful light encircled Mishiko. When it faded, he was in a spotless white robe. “God’s love has washed you clean of your sins. Welcome home,” said the angel.

Meanwhile, back on Earth, Mike reclaimed his body for good from Mishiko. He awoke - as himself - not having any conscious awareness of the fact that he had been possessed by another soul. He looked at Valerie’s corpse. “If it hadn’t been for that freakin’ stone she’d still be alive,” he sobbed. “How could I have been so petty?”

A few days later Mike looked on as Valerie took her final repose in the cedar casket. She looked so peaceful and at ease. Mike put his paw on hers and felt how it was cold as ice. “Dang, I wish it had been me; it should have been…” wept Mike as he watched her being lowered into the ground.

Valerie’s spirit watched on as the living honored her life. She floated to Mike’s ear and whispered, “It’s ok, Mike. I’m very happy over here on the Other Side. There’s nothing to be sad about…”

If only he could hear her. All he felt was a gentle wind blowing on his ear.

After the service ended, Mike went to the side of grave in the churchyard and knelt by the headstone. He pulled out the stone that had distracted him on the tracks and set it on the pile of dirt, never to touch it again.