Two men. Lies. And a Pig.

Two men died in the city last night, according to the newspapers Brooke glanced at before she laid them down in Dorothy's pen. One was a detective, the other suffered from a mental disease. Both were murdered. Both left behind friends and family, of some sort. Although Brooke did not read the articles or obituaries fully, she pondered the lives of these men all day. Did they have children? Was the mental illness debilitating? How can you know your effect on someone's life until you pass? 


While she wished to cogitate on the answers to her inquires, she had more pressing matters to deal with such as  the growing Dorothy, and more emotional turmoil. Her father and Silvia were coming over for a visit today to see the new pig and to congratulate her on making all A's and B's despite traumatic events throughout the school year. This would be their first encounter with Brooke as an official "couple." While Brooke knew she would always be her Dad's "Bubblebutt", Silvia's "cariña", and her Mom's little girl, she wished she could just be 
someone's "Brooke." After effectively alienating the popular kids at school, friends were hard
to come by, but Dorothy made Brooke's life worth living again. The little piglet was fast growing
into a full grown  potbellied pig, the ideal house pet. She was smarter than most dogs and 
as loving as any animal could be. 


She was on speaking terms with her mother, and she was coming to terms with the events of 
her childhood. The lies of Russia, Costa Rica, and why they had to move were brutal but 
necessary. How else would Brooke have coped with the idea that her maid was dating her
father? How else could she have dealt with the truth?


Brooke remembered Ms. Clara's advice in the graveyard, about patching up your family before it 
is too late. As Dorothy snuggled in her lap, she came to understand that her family may be 
broken, but she was not alone. She actually had a quite wonderful life with a new job, good 
grades and the promise of a wonderful education, a lovely Sherwood Forest to see the
beauty of nature, and a beautiful pig. 


Brooke held her beloved pet by its red sparkly-sequined collar, reminiscent of Dorothy's ruby 
slippers, and whispered "Thank you, for saving me." Dorothy grunted softly and licked her nose.