My Dawn

Chapter 13

“Hello.” Dawn said nervously.

The hawk squawked and looked like it was nestling into Dawn for a nap.

“I think it likes you.” Mark said.

Dawn slowly moved her hand to its head and scratched it behind the neck. It made a weird sound as it enjoyed her scratches.

“I think you have a new pet.” Mark said.

Dawn looked at him with wide eyes.

“I don’t know a thing about taking care of myself, I can’t take care of anything else.” Dawn whispered.

“Tell that to the hawk.” Mark said.

They got to the shops and Dawn got out of the car slowly. The hawk got up and flew onto the car. It watched Dawn as she walked away. A lady screamed at her little toddler who was running while the mother held her newborn. Dawn took off after the toddler quickly. She was catching up and heard a car coming. Dawn picked the toddler up and just avoided the car that was screeching away. She looked at the toddler to assess any injuries before picking him up and walking towards the mother. She was hugged by the mother who then scolded her son for running away. Dawn walked back towards the shops and Mark was running towards her.

“Are you okay?” Mark asked.

Dawn nodded.

“I’m fine. I’m just worried about the kid.” Dawn said.

“You need to stop putting yourself in danger.” Mark said softly.

“I can’t.” Dawn said.

“I know, you want to protect people. But you can’t do that if you don’t protect yourself.” Mark said.

Dawn sighed. Mark walked into the shops when the other kids caught up. Mark noticed her holding her stomach again. He got on his knee to whisper to Dawn.

“You keep holding your stomach, are you okay?” Mark asked.

“I have a sore tummy. I don’t know why.” Dawn said softly.

“Should we make a doctor appointment?” Mark asked.

Dawn shook her head.

“Well, if it’s still bad tomorrow, I will make one.” Mark said.

Dawn nodded slightly. Tate walked over and Mark told him about the hawk, the toddler and the sore tummy. Tate was more surprised at the fact she told him she was in pain. It’s when Tate realised she is considering them as family. He watched her after looking at the cuts on her arm from the hawk. He saw a loose feather on her shirt and laughed. They shopped for a whole wardrobe for Dawn and then Mark got them all phones including Jessie. He had them on a plan so they all had credit. He promised to text the number for Dawn to Tate. Mark grabbed her a strawberry thick shake with some crushed up oreo and honeycomb inside it. Dawn was in heaven. As they left, he had gotten them a hotdog each. Dawn was eating her hotdog while walking near Tate and Mark. The hawk flew on her shoulder but was slowly trying to eat her hotdog. Dawn ripped a bit of the sausage and tried feeding it. Mark noticed a lot of eyes on them as a wild hawk was sitting on a young girl and eating.

“You’re cute, you know that?” Dawn asked.

The hawk extended its wings and screeched then crawled onto Dawn’s chest and rested as she got into the car. It tried eating more food but she kept moving it away. It gave up and slept on her while Mark and Tate spoke.

“How long has she known the hawk?” Mark asked.

“I’ve never heard of a hawk with her before today.” Tate said.

“It landed on her while we were driving.” Mark said.

“Maybe it sensed her need for a safe place. Or maybe it sensed she was broken and it’s offering comfort.” Tate said.

“I don’t know, but it’s clearly interested in her. I think we are going to have to bring it home with us.” Mark said.

“Have fun with that.” Tate laughed.

“If I give you my card, could you go and bye some equipment for rat breeding and some rats and frozen rats?” Mark asked.

Tate nodded, Mark gave him his card.

Mark and Tate had a laugh before Mark got into the car.

“So, Dawn, would you like to keep the hawk? We won’t keep it in a cage.” Mark said.

“I’d love to but it isn’t my decision.” Dawn said softly.

“Who’s decision is it?” Mark asked.

Dawn looked at the hawk sleeping on her.

“The hawk’s decision.” Dawn said.

“Well, it looks like he or she decided yes.” Mark said.

“We have a bird?” Laura asked.

“No, Dawn does. Hawks are wild animals and are aggressive. If it doesn’t come to you, don’t touch it because it has talons that can rip your skin apart instantly. It can bite your fingers off in a second. Don’t touch it unless it allows you to.” Mark said.

“Dawn gets a bird but we can’t get a stupid fish?” Patrick complained.

“Shut up Patrick, the hawk chose Dawn. Did you get a fish swim up to you and choose you?” Mark asked.

“No.” Patrick grumbled.

“Then shut up and respect the decision. The hawk chose her.” Mark said.

“That is so cool. You get to take it to show and tell.” Laura said.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. If it gets spooked it might attack.” Tate said.

“And that’s not a smart thing to do. Traumatise small kids.” Mark said.

When they got home the hawk stayed on Dawn. She supported it with her hand while walking. Mark heard it snoring then laughed.

“How about you show it your room and place it on your bed. I’ll bring your stuff up soon.” Mark said.

Dawn nodded and walked to her room. She left the door open and opened the bedroom window for the hawk to leave when it wanted. Tate arrived with frozen dead mice and a large enclosure that Mark set up. The enclosure was full of pet supplies for rats and mice with dividers to breed them for the hawk. He set it up near the back door. Then they put one of the frozen ones on a plastic bag to defrost. Dawn and Laura were giggling upstairs and the hawk woke up. It noticed Dawn holding it still.

“Hello again.” Dawn said softly.

The hawk looked around.

“The window is going to stay open for you to come in whenever you want to.” Dawn said.

The hawk walked down her bed sniffing. They laughed. Mark carried up her bags.

“The phones are on charge downstairs. I’ll set them up when they are charged and we can give Tate the number.” Mark said.

Dawn nodded. Mark noticed the hawk.

“He smells the rats I take it?” Mark asked.

“Rats?” Laura and Dawn asked.

“I got Tate to use my card and buy some. So, we had food for it.” Mark said.

“Can we look?” Dawn asked.

“It’s near the back door.” Mark said.

Dawn and Laura walked out the door. The hawk screeched but they ignored it to run down the stairs. The hawk flew behind them as Dawn ran down the stairs with Laura.

“Damn that’s a lot.” Dawn said.

“We are going to breed them for him.” Mark said.

The hawk screeched and sniffed the air.

“He smells the frozen one.” Patrick said.

“Frozen one?” Dawn asked.

“Check the sink.” Mark said.

Dawn walked to the kitchen, she saw a plastic bag in the sink with a rat on it.

“Ew yucky.” Dawn said.

Tate laughed.

“Try to see if he wants it.” Tate said.