Her bare feet felt slightly sticky against the wooden floor beneath her. The humidity of the air caused the warmth and slight dampness to cling onto her skin. Grains of wood in the floorboards were cool and smooth to the touch. She could finally breathe again, with her window wide open above her bed. The world was spilling into the barren room as her nostrils were filled with fresh scents of flowers and pollen and freshly cut grass. Songs and sweet melodies of birds chirping rippled like a small symphony through her ears. Air around her was thick and slightly crisp on her tongue as she drank it in.

The walls around her were empty. Nothing in the room but a bed and a small desk that was overridden with a plethora of textbooks. Each of the texts untouched with clean and smooth pages.

She sat on her sheets, a small imprint in the mattress where she was resting on her hind quarters, peeking out the window at her little view of the world.

This world, the world at play outside her window, was not something she was not a stranger to, and yet the empty environment inside was vastly unknown. She hung over the edge of the window, a small grin toying on her lips as her hands rested on the window sill. A quiet breeze whistled through the trees, rustling the leaves of the big oak that towered above her.

Outside of her window, she had the perfect view of her neighbor's house. Her neighbor who was also her very best friend.

Mr. Kim was 67 years old. A tall, slim gentleman with a balding head of gray, wispy hair. The man may have been old physically, but he was a whiz; his heart was as youthful as they come. He loved nature and cars and hiking. Anything that kept him moving really, not making him sit idle in his house. He was also the kindest, most generous person that she had ever known, especially for someone who was extremely rich. And he was not only her best friend, but her only friend, and she wouldn't have it any other way.

Shortly after she, her name is Edith, had fed herself a light supper of saltine crackers and peanut butter, scurried up to her room for the evening.

She quickly stopped in her tracks when she discovered her mother in her room.

"Edith." Her mother snapped as she slammed the window down and locked it with a small key. After it locked with a small click, she dropped the key into her suit pocket and turned to shoot daggers at Edith. "What have I told you about opening this window?"

Her mother's stare felt like an icy blade across her stomach. "To not open it-".

"Then why don't you listen?!" Her mother growled.

"I-it was hot- and I just thought-".

"Well you thought wrong. Listen when I tell you something."

With a small click of her heels her mother stamped out of her room, closing the door to Edith's room behind her. Another small click sounded as her mother locked her in for the night.

Her mother hadn't always been so cruel...not when her father was still around. In fact, her mother was quite opposite to how she was now. Never had Edith seen such a carefree and free-spirited woman. They went on vacation all the time, just three of them, which is why Edith is so messy and, I guess one could say, unmanageable. She grew up as such, from the model of her parents who acted the same way.

One day when her parents were having a normal day at home, her father was called away on a business trip for his company. What was supposed to be a few days turned into a few weeks. Soon enough weeks turned into months and so on. As my mother soon found out with the elongation of his "trip" and the lack of contact...he was either dead, stranded and injured, or he had run away with another woman.

After that, the woman she had known built walls up higher than the eyes could see and she buried herself in her work to slowly erase the memory of her husband, the man who was supposed to be there for Edith as her father.

She let out a small sigh before she climbed onto her bed. Her hand wriggled under the fabric of the sheets in search of something. The small object was cool to the touch despite the warmth of the air in the room. She tightly gripped the small key in her hand and unlocked her window with a small click.

About six years or so ago, Mr. Kim had given Edith and her mother two gifts to welcome them to the neighborhood. Her mother had received many strings of pearls and other jewelry, while Edith had received a small lockable music box that came with a small key. Ironically this key fit in the same lock as her window. The day her mother took the music box from her, was the day she held that small key in her hand like her life depended on it. Something popped into her head that same day as evening came, and she put the key in the lock on her window. The first time she heard the click of the window unlocking, her heart jumped for joy.

After safely placing the key into the pocket of her jacket, she pushed the window up with a small creak. Feet first, she began her descent out the window, carefully placing her hands and feet on branches as she climbed down the tree. The sky was nearly dark now, meaning she could barely see a thing. It didn't matter though; she had made this small journey a thousand times before, each movement was engraved in her body as muscle memory. Before she had time to really think, she landed on the ground, feet first, with a quiet thud. She rapidly zipped up her jacket before hurrying across the yard to mr. Kim's house.

The ground softly crunched under her feet until she reached his back porch. The wooden stairs that lead up to the deck made a hollow thud as she scampered up them. The back door was left unlocked as usual, opening silently as she went inside.

She quietly slid her shoes off and placed them on the doormat before walking down the main hallway to the living room where Mr. Kim would be sipping his nightly cup of tea.

As she walked through the hallway, she passed the picture-filled walls of Mr. Kim's past and the O.L.D club.

The O.L.D club:

               Overdo everything.

               Live life to  fullest.

               Die satisfied.

It was the mantra that Mr. Kim lived by, and they were the only rules he followed in life.

Every Friday night the street would be packed with old fashioned and newly fashioned cars and automobiles of all different makes, models, colors, and styles. People would pour into the Kim's household and the party would commence. This was what the O.L.D. club meetings consisted of. A large group of elderly people got together and partied the night away. Edith was never allowed over on those nights. It was a strict "O.L.D. members only" policy.

So, every Friday night, Edith would rest her head on her window sill and stare out at his house as their meeting took place inside. They were all old in age, but young at heart. They laugh, cry, dance, and love just like the rest of us. Mr. Kim in particular, loved. Every Friday night his lady friend would show up in the same little yellow dress and the moment she reached his front door they were arm in arm. They gave off an aura of familiarity whenever they met, Edith could only imagine they had been close friends for many years.

She could only imagine what took place at O.L.D meetings, but she knew it was something exquisite and amazing. The girl had always wished to have an party or some type of meeting of her own, but that would be impossible. But since her mother was nearly always gone on some trip or activity for work, she threw small, quaint little parties for herself and her cat Edwin. He was a nasty little devil, especially to her mother, but to her, he was the sweetest creature on earth.

"I'm here!" Edith called as she entered the living room, a huge grin on her face.

"There she is!" Mr. Kim called as he moved to the edge of his chair. His face lit up when he saw her face. She quickly hurried to his side and hugged him before taking a seat next to him on the sofa.

The room was dimly lit from the one lamp in the corner. It made the room seem warm and safe and cozy. Her hands ran over the smooth leather of the sofa. It was filled with small grooves from years of weathering and spills of random food and drinks. He had a Ferrari in the garage, yet he wouldn't replace his 20 year old couch.

The smell of baked chicken wafted into the room from the kitchen.

"What are ya cooking tonight?"

"Your favorite," he grinned, "chicken."

Right as those words rolled off his lips, Edith's stomach let out a gurgled grumble. He just laughed and told her it would be finished any minute now. She leapt to her feet and frolicked into the kitchen just as the timer went off.

The tile in the kitchen was old and cracked but still cool and smooth enough to be comfortable on the naked balls of her feet.

She squatted down and pulled hot pads from the bottom utensil drawer before she stood up and took the chicken out of the oven. She carefully placed the hot pan of chicken on top of the stove as the warm plush of the oven mitts hugged her hands. As the cooked bird cooled off, Edith dug through the pantry and pulled out pulled out plates, mugs, and utensils for Mr. Kim and herself. She grabbed a knife and cut portions of meat from the bird, placing some on each plate. The warm scent filled her senses and made her mouth water. After filling both plates, she carried them into the living room and served both of them before going back for the mug of coffee and chocolate milk.

She handed him his mug then sat in her chair. The cracked leather of the chair felt cool against her skin despite the warm night air that was outside, flowing inside through the windows. Gripping her fork tightly in her hand, she took a bite. The sweet tang of the chicken danced on her tongue, quieting the growl of her stomach.

Mr. Kim let out a slight chuckle.

"See? It's good, right?"

She nodded rapidly as she shoveled a few more bites into her mouth.

"It gets better every time." She grinned.

The two ate dinner and talked. Laughing at jokes while contemplating life. After the two of them had finished, Edith cleaned up the dishes and put them in the dishwasher. After brewing a fresh pot of coffee she refilled Mr. Kim's mug and walked back into the living room.

The mug was hot in her hands, but not too hot. It was just right, comfortable and cozy against her skin. She handed him his mug before settling back into her seat.

"So miss Edith, what story would you like to hear tonight-?"

Her eyes lit up as a library of stories he had had told her filled her head.

"Hmm...can I hear a new one-?"

"Whatever you want kiddo. How about..." He sat back and thought for a moment. "Perfect! How about the story of the time I got lost in the jungle?"

Edith nodded in agreement, amazement already clearly visible in her eyes.