Good byes

After much discussion between Lizzy and Amethyst, the decision of what animals were coming was decided. 

Lizzy's heart sunk of the thought of euthanizing Snowball but he would starve himself to death. Her parents signed Lizzy up for a youth camp a few years back and Snowball refused his feed and barely drank while she was away. The veterinarian said it was depression. 

The cows are going to Kathy's sister's ranch where they had originally been bought from. Zena and Billy are going to a farm club member that just lost their show goat the year prior. Kathy and Hank are keeping the rest of the chickens unless the neighbor wants them. The barn cats will stay in the barn if the farm is sold.

So Lizzy is bringing Beatrice, Speckles, the red hen Henrietta and Fluffy the yellow hen.

It's been made clear to Lizzy she has to leave or she will loose what little she has left. The anger still burns toward her parents for what they have done.

Several days have past.

It took Lizzy three hours to dig Snowball's grave. Her boss who is also the veterinarian came out and comforted her for awhile. Telling her to remember all the good times. She brought up the story of how he use to bite her before Lizzy learned how to administer medication. Always in the love handle or behind the knee. Without fail. That did cheer Lizzy up a bit.

Today's the day everyone is to be at the high-school football field to get on a bus. Sunshine gave Lizzy a suit case to pack for her clothes. Lizzy takes pictures on her cell phone of the trophies, ribbons and other things that will not be coming on the trip.

Steeling her nerves she tells herself. "One day I was going to have to leave anyway for college. Just think of it as I'm leaving a little early. I will become the best veterinarian that I can be."

In the cab of Hank's truck sits a dog kennel with the three chickens. Lizzy makes her last trip down the gravel path to the barn. She is fighting back tears. She grabs a leash and collar then scoops up Bea. Tears stream down her cheeks while she tells the remaining animals good bye.

Lizzy hops into her father's truck with Bea on her lap. Bea squirms for freedom so Lizzy puts her on the floor board while hanging onto Bea's collar.

"Easy now. Not much longer." She whispers to the young goat.

Her parents are in the front seat. The drive felt like it was long but it also flew by. Bea laid down on Lizzy's feet for the ride. Speckles eyed her down the whole truck ride. And the hens huddled in the corner talking to each other.

"I still can't believe you're coming!" Stacy shouts across the parking lot before running over to Lizzy.

"Yea. I guess it worked out." She replied.

Stacy gives Lizzy a big hug and nuzzles Bea.

"Oh noooooo! Bea is loosing her baby fuzz! But she is still soft!" She says with her face buried in Bea's neck.

"That happens when they grow up sadly." Lizzy says stepping back and putting Bea down and hooking up a leash to her collar.

Bea has not been leash trained so Lizzy is hoping she is a fast learner. If not she will be carrying the thirty pound goat.

The girls get to the check in spot for the bus. They will ride it to where the time warp is. Hank opens the back of the bus and sets the cage on the floor in the back.

Everyone is saying teary or cheerful good byes to family and friends. The Miller's good byes are rather silent.

"I hope that one day you can forgive us." Her father says holding his hat with his head low. Lizzy's mother is crying. She isn't hanging off of Lizzy after the tongue lashing she received a few days prior.

"I'm going to go and become the best veterinarian." Lizzy stands tall. Her parents nod and smile trying to hide the sadness of their child leaving.

"We know you will go far." Her mother says trying to give a smile through her tears.

Lizzy turns to leave.

"You should hug your mother." Her father speaks up.

Some guilt from being so harsh to them surfaces in Lizzy's heart. She turns back and hugs her crying mother and her father hugs them both. Lizzy is fighting back tears.

She is scared of the travel but understands it's the best shot she has.

She leaves quickly hoping her parents don't see the tears welling in her eyes. Bea follows close behind. Lizzy picks up Bea before stepping onto the bus.

"Miss, you can't have animals on the bus." Says the shorter female driver. 

"She's coming with me." Lizzy says grabbing the drivers trash can. "This is for the mess." Then she walks to the back of the bus. Speckles gives a crow from the back where her father had set their cage.

"Ummm." Lizzy could hear the driver behind her. Then her short phone call to whomever that ended up with her sitting back in her seat and starting the bus.

"Wow I know you to stand your ground but dang girl." Stacy sits across the isle from Lizzy.

The other ten people are giving them a funny look. Then the nine girls start whispering of how crazy Lizzy could be and asking themselves how she got chosen. 

There was only one male in the group and he was the quiet one at school. A very smart kid and doesn't talk to any girls. A few of the girls have tried but could never keep up with his topics of compressors, wire materials and what not. Lizzy recalls reading in the school paper he won first in robotics in the county. Or was it country?

"You think it's going to look like it did in the pictures and holograms they showed us?" Lizzy asks her friend. The bus moves forward and the others wave good bye out the windows.

"I'm sure it will be. I wonder if we will be in the same classes since we haven't graduated yet." Stacy comments.

"I would like that." Lizzy replies quietly.

They make it to the worm hole sight after an hour drive. Everyone unloads in a field not far from a town. The police have things fenced off to keep the extremists at bay. There was a large pill shaped piece of metal infront of the worm hole. 

Stacy has Bea while Lizzy carries the chickens cage.

"Now everyone please place your items in these cubbies for the trip." Aspen has a mic on and is guiding the other people around. Helping the girls get their suit cases loaded with a big smile. There is a total of forty girls and ten guys.

"I'm glad you made it." Amethyst hovers to Lizzy and Stacy. "Now let's get them in their spots and sedated for the trip. It will be easier on them."

The two follow the robot to the back of the capsule. Stacy had to pick up Bea because she was scared of the steps.

Amethyst molds to the cage and when it gets off all the chickens are sleeping. It does something to Bea by wrapping her head up.

"Bea goes in this one. Be sure to secure her breathing mask." Amethyst opens a bay. Stacy hands over Bea to Lizzy then she places her into the bay. Lizzy holds what Amethyst said was the breathing mask and it comes to life shaping itself to Bea's sleeping face. The bay fills with a foam to keep her from getting bumped and bruised. She does something similar to the chickens.

Everyone starts to strap themselves into seats lining the capsule. The seats come to life and wraps them in suits and masks for protection on the journey.

"I don't like this." Lizzy whispers to Stacy.

"I know but we are in this together." Stacy holds her hand.

"Doors are shut. Let's get a move on." Sunshine seems very happy to be heading home. The three of them are up front. Sunshine didn't come off as smart but her fingers flew over a board similar to a touch screen phone making sure everything was ready for the ride. The board flashed at impeccable speed.

"I see someone is ready to go." Aspen chuckles.

"All systems go." She smiles back to him.

"Prepare for take off." A voice spoke over the intercom in everyone's head gear.

Lizzy squeezes Stacy's hand and closes her eyes. Stacy's squeeze back helps comfort Lizzy's heart. The jump happens. Lizzy feels them move a little bit forward.

"Yes! We are home! Finally!" Lizzy hears Sunshine cheer. Then everyone's wow's and aww's made her open her eyes.

"Welcome to 2121 everyone." Says Amethyst.