A Little Bit of Yin & A Little Bit of Yang

There was something persistent in Michael’s mind eye. Something not quite right about his neighbour’s white linen sheets flapping in Sunday’s late morning breeze.

Not the breeze itself. Or the sheets. But the crouched down dark figure between them.

It was a lean body. With charred looking skin. A flickering, arrow-headed tail. And possibly… horns?

Spotting more of the strange creature with every bounce on his trampoline. Seeing the figure still there on the next bounce, Michael decides to climb his neighbour’s fence for a closer look.

After scaling the bricked boundary in record time, Michael excitedly leans forwards on the rough ledge. His hand brimming his brows to stop the sun’s glare.

Finally, he could see what he could only catch glimpses of before.

There was a creature. Hunched down between the sheets.

And not a figment of his wild imagination.

Sharp talons. Horns shooting from temples, curving up and slightly backwards. Flickering with focus, the scaley black tail does end in a sharp arrow. Polished black, leather-like skin gleams in the sunlight. Except on its’ legs. Where instead fur grows in tuffs, before falling into hooves. Hooves Michael had only seen on animals at his grandfather’s farm.

“Excuse me.” Michael says to the strange creature, wondering if it would understand him.

Horns lift to reveal fiery, orange eyes. Catching the curiosity in Michael’s brown-eyed gaze.

Focusing in on the young boy, the horns begin to tilt, along with the creature’s triangular head, and slight snout.

Michael waves, a delighted smile spreading across his face.

Instantly those orange eyes widen.

“You can see me?” The creature splutters with a forked tongue snaking out. Simultaneously, a clawed hand lets go of the linen sheet.

His question gives Michael pause. Was he not meant to see the creature?

“Yes,” Michael says before pointing at the sheet the creature had been holding. “What were you doing?”

Suddenly a puff of smoke explodes into the air, hiding the creature for a time. Until the slight breeze pushes the grey mist away, revealing the creature again.

“What about now?” It asks.

“Yes, I can still see you. What were you doing with Mrs. Eaton’s sheets?” Michael asks in return.

Arms folding, tail whipping, the creature replies. “I was putting dirt of them.”

“Why?”

“Becaussssse.” A forked tongue snakes out, “Mr. Eaton put them out.”

“So?”

“So, Mrs. Eaton will get angry at Mr. Eaton.”

“Why?”

“Because she will think he was careless with their sheets.”

Michael frowns, “But he wasn’t.”

“No, he wasn’t.” Razor sharp teeth gleam in a wide, happy smile.

“That is wrong.” Michael quickly surmises. There was no doubt the creature was up to no good, as his mother would say. 

“Why?” The creature asks.

“Because getting Mr. Eaton in trouble is bad.”

“So?”

“So, they will fight each other.”

“Why?”

“Because Mrs. Eaton thinks Mr. Eaton is careless with the sheets.”

Checking the cuticles, the creature shakes its head. “Mrs. Eaton is wrong for getting angry.”

“No, you shouldn’t put dirt on their sheets.” Michael crosses his arm. Giving the creature the best ‘you’ve been naughty’ look his mother fixes him with.

“Oh, it was just a little fun,” the creature chuckles. Waving a dismissive hand in Michael’s direction.

“If you want to have fun, come bounce on the trampoline with me.” Michael motions behind him.

Giving the linen sheets one last look, curious eyes follow Michael’s hands. An arrow-headed tail suddenly flickering behind the creature’s lean body. “What is a trampoline?”

Soon the two were bouncing the remainder of the morning away. Collective laughter at each other’s antics filling the small yard.

Holding hands to try and jump each other higher.

Bouncing from their backs to their fronts.

Michael even tried a flip at the goading of this new friend. Something his mother had warned him against.

“Michael!” His mother calls from within their house.

“Ba’al!” A similar feminine voice calls from the other side of the fence.

Instantly they stop bouncing.

Laughter quietening into deep smiles.

Taking his new friend in, Michael notices the orange eyes returning his stare seem browner like his own. Less fire, more earth.

“Is that your name?” Michael asks.

Nodding, Ba’al adds, “My mother is calling.”

“Where are you Ba’al?” On cue, the voice calls out again.

“I guess I’ve got to go,” Ba’al says, looking down at his hooves. His tail drooping between his legs.

“See you tomorrow?” Michael says, his smile turning hopeful.

“Ba’al?” Michael hears the same tone his own mother often used at the park. “It’s time to return.”

Ba’al looks to the voice before sighing, “I don’t think so.”

Michael’s lips begin to drop, his hands fisting.

“But…” Ba’al looks back to Michael, smiling with almost human-like teeth, “You were right, this was fun.”

Michael laughs, “Better then dirtying the Eaton’s sheets?”

“Somewhat,” Ba’al winks, waving to his new friend. “Good bye human.”

Smoke explodes out in front of Michael, this time Ba’al disappearing within the sudden grey cloud. Leaving nothing but the breeze dispersing it.

“Goodbye demon.” Michael sighs at the empty space.

“Michael?” His Mother’s voice sounds closer.

Turning, Michael jumps down from the edge of the trampoline and runs to his mother standing just outside the sliding door of their house. “Mum! Mum! Guess what?!”

Before his mother’s mouth could even open, Michael jumps straight to the answer. “I did a flip!”

“A flip?!” His mother exclaims, hands shooting to her hips. “Michael James Donnally, what did I say about flips?”

“Mum…” Michael groans, stepping inside at her ushering. Wondering if Ba’al was also in trouble with his mother?

“Heavens be,” His mother closes the back door behind them both, clicking the lock into place. “What if you broke your neck?”

Michael slumps, “It was only a bit of fun.”

But his mother continues to scold him. Finally giving the young boy a reprieve when motioning to the bathroom to clean his hands for lunch.

Michael takes it, scrambling towards the bathroom. Pumping soap on his hand before turning the cold-water tap. Catching his reflection in the recently polished mirror in front of him.

For a minute he forgets the soap. Forgets the running water. And just looks.

Leaning closer to make sure what he was seeing was true.

To his surprise, his once brown eyes now had an outer ring of orange surrounding them. They almost looked amber in the low light of the bathroom.

And his teeth…

Ever so slightly, were a little bit sharper.