Time Ticks

The house smelled of strong coffee and rain. Interrupted by the drizzle, the chickens had resumed their clucking. You could hear them from the opened kitchen windows. Cats slumbered around as well.

Sassara stood in front of a mirror in the hallway. With the back of her hand, she cleaned the makeup smudged by her tears.

Her mother Chiara was in the kitchen where she was pouring herself coffee. Her unwashed mascara meant she must have written until late. Though she was a successful journalist, her mom had made the choice to be a housewife for almost twenty years. 

Sassara's little brother, Botan had become independent. Their mom had thus started writing again. This meant that Sassara helped a lot around the house.

"Stop crying," Chiara said, sitting down at the counter.

Their dog Salto, a large cloud of fur hid under the dining table, still sad and confused.

"I have stopped," Sassara said and met her mom's gaze. She smiled. "It's my fault if he attacked. We didn't train him enough when he was younger."

She had awoken at a reasonable hour. Her bag had been ready since last week, her outfit chosen last night. However, Botan had not walked Salto this morning, and so she had taken care of it. 

Salto was the sweetest. Sassara was biassed, but she did not care. He was eager to participate when people had fun. And thus, every time someone clapped, sneezed or counted, Salto barked and wagged his tail.

And so this morning as she walked around the forest with Salto, a sneeze overcame her.

She sneezed once. Eyes still shut. No barks from Salto.

Good, I'm okay.

And sneezed again.

Her eyes were still closed when she felt Salto's teeth close on her face. What was so problematic about that second sneeze? Who knows.

Sassara had wiped the sweat that trickled off her forehead, realising there was not just sweat on her palm. There was blood too.

"Well I taught him how to sit," Botan said, busy eating some very sour candies as he came down the stairs. His face was all twisted. "Wohoho! Sassara try this one, it's deadly."

"Oh no, I can't. Sorry. After school? Also, if you have time to eat candy, why didn't you have time to walk Salto?"

"Well he was walked, no?" Botan looked at her, chewing his candy with an obnoxious echo. Sassara strangled the air, not wanting to snap back some comments. She had to leave now. She did not take the bait, and Botan got bored. He went over to pet Salto.

Sassara put on red lipstick, for no real reason except that you always felt better once you wore a red lip. "Can you see the teeth marks?"

Her mom took a moment to answer. Which in and of itself, was enough of an answer. Sassara laughed and hugged her. "I love you."

"I love you too." She then kissed her on both cheeks. 

Botan screamed. They both jumped.

"Salto has a tick," he shouted.

Her mom came in a hurry. Her opened dressing gown flailing about. She checked Salto's right ear and swore in Italian. "Botan," his mother warned. "Help Mom remove the tick. You have to learn how to do it."

Her brother was already standing in the doorway, his school bag on one shoulder. "This is gross. I'm not doing it." 

"And Dad said that you better not spend your money on a new Fortnite gear or I don't know what-"

"Sure, yeah, no problem," Botan said, nodding his head along. Lies.

Her brother was wonderful. But he was 15 now, and had surpassed Sassara by a long shot in the year she was away. At least before, if he became annoying, she could still subdue him with sheer force. Not the case anymore. That was a pain.

"Come on." Sassara said. "Don't be a pain." 

That made him smile. "Oops," he waved at them. "Good luuck," and vanished.

"Don't worry Mom, I'll do it."

She kissed her on the head "Thank you, I really hate removing them."

"Don't worry," she repeated.

Relieved, Chiara went to the bedroom, coffee still in hand. Soon after, the gurgling of the ironing board started again.

She had to be fast. If she missed her bus, she would definitely arrive late for her first day.

Sassara leaned forward and took in the bloodthirsty beast in front of her. He had been there a while. If she caught Salto's hairs by accident, everything would become entangled. Sassara focused. She pressed her lips together in a thin line. Angled the tick-puller just right, slid it along, twisted and twisted and the tick resisted and its small black legs wriggled, his thick grey body like a piece of soft stone swayed. 

And he let go. 

Careful not to drop it on the ground, Sassara placed it on a plate. She ran to get the magnifying glass in her mother's desk drawer. "It still has its mandibles," she shouted for her mom. "We're good!"

"That's wonderful! Thank you honey," her Mom said. "Your dad will be able to pick you up today. Remind your brother. Now go!"

It's done. She squirmed, and exhaled a long sigh of relief. She never got used to it. 

"Alright bye Mom!" Sassara grabbed her bag, and ran out.