It’s Hard to Make Friends

by Quinntessa Ponds

Liza stood outside her father’s office with her head down. She was always alone, playing with her toys and only able to imagine having a friend to play with. It was nice when she had someone to play with, but daddy wouldn’t let them stay. She was getting tired of him always standing in the way of her having friends. She was careful, but he always found out and took them away. He took them into his office and she never saw them again.

Liza made a fist and pounded on the door as hard as she could. “Daddy!” She yelled into the crease where the door met the frame. She turned the handle vigorously, knowing it was locked, but trying anyway. “Daddy, please! Not again. Please don’t take away another one of my friends!” She kicked the door, hot tears of anger rolling down her cheeks. This always happened when she made a new friend. She begged and pleaded at the door until she heard his voice say, “We talked about this Liza, you can’t keep them. You can’t have them as your friend. Go to your room and stay there. It has to be this way, you know this.” She did not know this, she did not understand this, but to her room she would go.

Inside the office, he held the small, limp frame in his arms. He would never forget all the little bodies, all the little mounds of earth and plastic bags tossed into the water. It brought tears to his eyes, hot spills of shame boiling down his cheeks. It haunted him all of the time, but he couldn’t stop. How could he? He could hear his daughter at the door. He was always too late and she always begged, but he had to do it, there was no other way. She would bring them home, and he would take them away.

Liza strode purposely into her room. This was the last time her daddy would take a friend from her. She had a secret friend though, daddy didn’t find him. She went to her toy box and lifted the lid. She reached down through the childish playthings and pulled out a hatchet she had secreted away there. Daddy would learn and this was the last time it would happen. She would make sure of it. She patted the head of the little boy resting at the bottom of her toy box. His skin was gray and blooming with spoil, his clouded eyes staring half-lidded into nothingness. Daddy hadn’t found him and she was able to keep him and play with him. Now, however, she needed a new friend. Liza gripped the handle of the hatchet tightly in her hand. She would get into Daddy’s office this time.

“Don’t worry, Caleb,” she said to the lifeless boy, “Daddy can’t take you away, and I’m going to go get my new friend.” Liza left her bedroom, stepping softly with a smile, to get her friend.

Quinn is an author from Phoenix, Arizona who is living and writing in Portland, Oregon. Her career is in behavioral health, and her passion lies in writing short fiction and poetry. She often spends time hanging out with her dogs Olive and Charlifer, watching movies, and playing video games.