Taur virus 5

Part 5

The loud day-end buzz of the school bell was a pain to my ears, but as any student I did get to enjoy the sound of afterschool freedom. "Alright class, I'll see you next week, have a nice weekend," said Miss Hawthorne, putting down the chalk and brushing the white dust off her fur.  I knew how troublesome it could be after the second day where she asked me to go up to the blackboard to solve a math exercise.

I began packing my books as the rest of the students headed towards the exit.  Some sharing their plans, others were just rushing to the exit.  I would have followed hadn't the teacher called my name. "And Marcus, just wait a bit, I'll give it to you in a minute," said Miss Hawthorn as she put her stuff away in her backpack.

It's been three days since I've turned into a taur and things have been going ok.  I was taking it easy, day by day.  I was glad I had my friends to help me deal with it.  Paul and Trish were particularly helpful.  He acted as if the changes were't much, which gave a rather normal-ish feeling.  Trish, was the expert in taurs, she told me all she knew about being one.  Sometimes she was overwhelming regarding the data input.  Miss Hawthorne was also a huge help to me.  She guided me and offered help and I have to admit that sitting in front of class was really helping me pay attention and no longer having my eyes forced to make out what was on the blackboard.

I still hadn't talked with my parents.  It was something I wasn't looking forward to.  I wasn't sure how I would be facing them but I was running out of time.  I had till tomorrow to get their signature or Norman would have no choice but to start charging me.  He recommended me that, the sooner I sorted things out with them, the better, but I'm pretty sure anyone would understand my reluctance on going.  It was a matter of preparing for that, something I've been practicing mentally for a while.

"Now here it is," she said, bringing me back to reality picking up and showing me a pack, just like she wore.  It was kind of a saddle with pockets on the side for ease of use and carry.  The reason why she was giving it to me was because, after a while I noticed that the usual backpack usually bumped and bothered my taur back.  Miss Hawthorne noticed it and offered to give me something that would solve my problems.

"Is that a backpack or a saddle?" I half joked half expected.

"Believe it or not that was my first thought when I saw it.  Now, this is one of the ways taurs can take advantage of their lower body's strength to carry books," she said coming closer.  I was beginning to try and leave behind all the problems we've had.  She proved far more helpful as I stopped trying to push her away.  I shouldn't have assumed she was gonna get back at me for all the things I've done.  She's a teacher and better than that after all.

I twisted to look at the saddle like backpack and checked it.  It really fitted my new back. "Thanks miss," I said fumbling with my wallet, unsure how much it would cost me this gesture.

"You're welcome. You can keep it," she waved dismissively. "When I first changed I stocked and bought one more of those saddles than I would use."  I was surprised by her generosity.  She was considered a friend by all those with the taur virus, probably because she had a better understanding than most people about it due to her condition.

"Thanks miss," I said putting my old backpack—which I would change soon—on and taking a couple steps to turn around to face the exit.

"You're welcome, I'm glad to help," she said waving as I left. "Have a good weekend." I was gonna try to.

---

I made my way down the hallway, which was now emptier as people had already either run home to enjoy the Friday's afternoon or headed to the extracurricular activities.  Me?  I was gonna head back to the inn and try to take the day off.  I was reaching the exit and making my way down the ramp (mastering walking downstairs was going take a couple more of days) when I heard it.

"Stop right there..." I heard Steve's snobbish tone say to me.  For a second I wondered what he would have to do with the latest taur.  "Marcus."  I froze in my place.  Crud.  And here I thought I could spend my entire taur month without having to do this... On retrospective that seemed like a horribly naïve plan.  I mean so far I've managed to skip the classes I shared with him and avoided interacting with him or anyone of the 'clean' group I would now be an ex-member of.

"So it is you," he spoke again after watching my reaction.

I sighed, turning around with my arms crossed to see him standing in the school's entrance, with a mask to cover his mouth, the usual when he decided to interact with taurs. "Yeah.  I guess the cat is out of the bag," I said making a small laugh, trying to keep myself calm.

He burst out laughing.  "Oh boy, I knew that Trish girl had infected you that day I saw you last," he said keeping his distance.

"I can't really tell." He smirked at my response.

"Either she or the teacher could've been responsible," he said amused. "Just wait till the group sees you, they'll be shocked… of course through a window to not risk contagion."

"Wait? What? And how come the group doesn't know of my situation?" I asked tilting my head, an ear falling down as the other remained standing.

"Oh, your parents have been quiet in the latest meetings and have avoided the topic when asked why you weren't going to school lately, or so say mine.  I haven't known anything about your whereabouts, nor has the group.  Well, at least until now when I cracked the case," he laughed feeling like he accomplished something.

"I see," was all I could answer.  So my parents were keeping this a secret. Why were they hiding this?

"Well, anyway, come over.  I want you to pass right before the classroom's window so the group can see you.  You'll help us get rid of the infected ones such as the math teacher or manage to have Trish suspended until there's a vaccine." He said which struck me as surprise.  I thought being a taur would get me kicked off the group (not that I really wanted to be in).

"Wait, what do you mean I'll help you?" I asked giving him a frown.

"With you we can claim the teacher or any other taur in the school infected you, it won't matter who, it'll just mean that, if even a guy like you, who grooms his own paws." He laughed at the rather bad joke. "With such high hygiene standards could contract the virus, and then it's only logical you got infected here."

"Wait, how are you even gonna proof that it was here?" I frowned crossing my arms. I wasn't convinced at all by this.

"Oh come on." He gave out a rather subtle mocking laugh. "Before this, did you hang out at other places other than school?"

I opened my mouth to answer only to find I couldn't think of a comeback to that. "I… um…"

I wasn't allowed to go to many places while living with my family.  A couple of times my parents yelled at me for going shopping on my own.  And I was pretty sure they would have flipped out if they had heard he was going to the cross country twice a week around the part… which was a safe environment and I would remember stumbling with a taur there.  That after class group was kind of a secret to me.

"See? This place is the only one where you could've contracted the virus, ergo we can have the parent board enforce a more rigid policy," he said with a tone of triumph.

I began thinking on what he proposed. Proving… no, arguing that I was infected here would have taurs banned, me included, which would be a stupid act.  Miss Hawthorne would probably get suspended, or worse, fired.  The new students would actually be forced to go home during their time of sickness, and Trish would probably be banned from school due to her being prone to infection.  I shook my head. "I think I'll pass.  See ya," was my answer as I took a step back, going down the ramp.

I would have wanted to see his surprised expression because what my ears picked was a tone of shock and indignation. "What? You can't just say no. You're a member of the anti-taur group, pal," he said from the same place where he was, not daring to take a step closer, the jerk.

"I would be a moron if I agreed to belong to such group," I said walking out. "After all, I never liked it," I said to myself as I adjusted the new lower backpack.  It was comfortable indeed.

---

I stood up in the middle of a homely street.  My paw idly scratching the pavement in anxiety, my hand clutched lightly the piece of paper I picked up from the inn after school.  I glanced down at the clock, it was 6pm.  Around that time usually my mom was home from her usual activities and my dad was still at work.

Both of my parents were difficult to deal with, they were stubborn and on occasions belittled me, thinking I wasn't really aware or capable and never felt I could really talk with them properly.  This was gonna be a test on my patience.

I took a step forward, questions invading my head: Will they still be mad?  How would they react?  Would I get the papers signed?  I hoped for the best, if not I would probably get kicked from the inn.  I placed the consent I was asked to sign in my pack's pocket and walked.  Placing my paws on the 'Welcome' rug (not sure if I should brush to clean them), I reached to the doorbell, hesitating for a couple of seconds and withdrawing my hand just to press the button and have my ears immediately pick the sound of the doorbell even through the door, unbearably louder than I recalled.

I waited for a couple of seconds.  My ears perked forward trying to pick on every sound from the inside. I heard an "I'm coming" in the voice of my mother followed by the sound of footsteps going down the stairs.  I took a deep breath, calming myself before preparing to greet her.  For a second I froze, not sure how to begin the conversation.  And just as I was about to practice, the door opened.

My mom didn't expect to see me, that am sure of, as we looked at each other in silence for a couple of seconds.  Her expression was one of surprise, joy, and some fright.  Mine must've been a mix of nervousness and indecision.

"M-Marcus?" she said rather surprised, not taking a step back, which was probably the closest distance she's ever been to a taur.

"Hi mom," I said meekly.

"I was worried," she said frowning. "You shouldn't have left how you did… hadn't Trish's mom called me I would've called the police." I had to admit that wasn't the best of the choices I've made.  Anyway, that's another debt I owe to her. "But, I'm glad to know you're safe," she said trying to hold back some tears, debating whether to hug me or keep the distance.

"I've been ok.  Having decided to stay at the taur hostal… I mean inn, doing good.  I'm sorry I left that way, I just thought you and dad were in some sort of denial gonna keep me hidden.  You know, because of the entire anti-taur thing, I mean the taur virus prevention front," I corrected myself.

"It's ok, you probably would've been right.  It would inevitably be something your father and I would have to admit.  It's had us thinking about what we've been trying to do within the group.  The idea putting the infected in an isolated location seems less than ideal now that you're like that." She let out a sigh moving back into home. "Come on in"

I didn't expect to be allowed in, guess this is a good sign. Giving a small nod I entered, being careful not to touch many things, I knew for sure my mom would likely clean up soon after.

"What strain of the virus did you got?" I heard her say, noting how she checked where my paws landed.

I took a small breath and answered, "The 30 day strain" Her reaction was one of shock, just as expected.

"Well… at least is better than the year strain," she said trying to be optimistic as she took a seat on the table after moving a chair aside so I could sit relatively by her. "So, this means we'll have to do the renovations to the house," she said, grabbing a paper and writing some notes.

"N-no." The last thing I wanted was to be a burden. "I-I could stay in the Four Legs Inn for more time, the first weeks are free, but I may need to pay for the last two."

"Are you sure?" She said rather concerned.  I was so glad she was still my mom. "Do they cook better than me?" She pouted making a small tease, which made me chuckle.

"It's alright," I said, thinking Bella off the conversation for now. "But I really don't think you should add that if I'm gonna be staying like this, I'll be more careful from now on about the exposure."

"Ok, if you say so… but, you have to know that if you need anything from us you can just let us know."  She placed her hand on my shoulder, ignoring the fact she wore a glove, trying to reassure me.  "We are your parents and we love you, no matter what." It was working, I felt back home.

"Actually there is something," I said looking into my pack. "While the first two weeks are free, underage taurs, such as me need the signature of parents on a document." I explained as I placed the document on the table "So, the owner heard of my situation and gave me an extended deadline to had it signed."

"Oh" she said picking her reading glasses and eying the document. "Well, if you just need a help, it's the least I can do," she said to me with a smile.

---

I spent the next hour talking and chatting about some small stuff, from how they were doing about the taur stuff.  Turns out they haven't mentioned my condition to the members of their community and it seems they haven't been as active as before.  I began to sense my change was pushing them towards a more sane direction.  I talked about the inn, the kind of things I've seen there and she was actually intrigued.  When I told her about the skunkgirl's incident she laughed.  It must've been among the longest and most enjoyable conversation's I've had with her.

Obviously, she signed the agreement, which gave me some security.  It wasn't till the clock marked 6:52pm, when I realized I should've gotten going back home, didn't want to risk awaiting till it was darker, neither running into my dad on his way in.

"Ok, I think I'll be going now," I said after some time,"It's getting late."

She nodded. "You're right, you don't know when someone may be lurking around, looking for prey."  I agreed. "I would take you there if you could fit in the car."

"I know. I'm still trying to figure what caused it," I admitted, heading towards the exit, with her following me. "And no link."

"Maybe it was that teacher," she pointed out.  That was prone to happen.

"Nah, I don't think so," I said casually and she didn't try to refute me. "She's rather nice once one gets to know her."

"I wouldn't be so sure," she said scratching my ear with her gloved hand, which I assumed was a 'substitute hug' that had me let out a small purr.  "Now go, I'll see you tomorrow". She said waving me as I walked away, down the sidewalk.

I looked back to see my dad's car driving in, my mom would explain things to him so he didn't had to worry.  Turning my face up at the starry sky I was rather glad as I felt things could be patched up with my parents, and they, maybe could possibly change for the better.