A Gift

The Story of Andy(updated)

February 14, 1995

Yosemite California, USA

"I always wondered why the cold didn't bother me as much... Now I know..." -Andy



Just past midnight in a forest on an especially snowy Valentines Day morning, a single figure wades through the thick snow and ice.  She is carrying something close to her just under her cloak, checking every few steps to see if it was ok.  Eventually, she sees a cabin in the almost unforgiving environment, kneeling in the snow to make final decisions.

Inside the cabin, a couple is still awake, unable to sleep with news that they would not be able to have children of their own.

Daniel: It IS possible that the doctor made a mistake... a mix-up in the paperwork?

Samantha: No, Danny, he didn't make any mistakes or lose any papers or anything like that.  It just simply isn't meant to be.

Daniel is a stag, and a fine specimen at that.  Tall, lean, yet well built with tannish fur and brown hair on his hair in a messy fashion, dark blue eyes to round it all off.  He was by his love's side, trying to comfort her as best he could, but feeling her pain all the same.
Samantha is a bobcat, visually majestic and prowling with what seemed like tribal markings in her grey and black fur.  Her currently depressed demeanor had her pointy ears in a downward position and her hazel eyes gazed at the floor, as if searching for something elsewhere.

Daniel: We'll keep trying, I know something will happen if we do.

Samantha: Whatever you feel would help us, love...

Her response seemed to indicate she was indeed elsewhere, trying to escape this situation.  Daniel decided to leave her to her thoughts, and entered the kitchen towards the back.

Samantha: Sometimes I wonder if miracles exist...

Back outside, the figure removes her hood, revealing a nearly indiscernible form.  Her extremely light fur only allowed the basic shape to be viewed.  She was like a beacon in the dark, cold morning.  She was known to few as Gaia, Greek Goddess of nature.  She drew her cloak back from what she was carrying; a baby cat.  The baby, though wrapped in a blanket, had fur that seemed to be like his caregiver's, except he did not shine like a bulb, so more of him could be identified, even his heavenly blue eyes through his sleepy nod offs.  

Mother: My best intentions go into this, my boy.  I hope when you are older you can forgive your father and me.

The baby stirred and awoke, cooing and reaching up at her.

Baby: Momma...

Mother: Ssshhhh, mommy's here, love.

She managed to soothe the child enough to be quiet for her and hesitantly proceeded towards the cabin.  She gently knelt down a few feet from the door, and cleared away some snow in front of her.  The baby began to stir again.

Hel: There, there, it's alright.

She opened a music box, wound it up, and placed it down in the area she cleared, she then carefully placed the baby next to the music box.  The slow, mesmerizing music calmed the baby enough to almost sleep, not noticing his mother as she backed away slowly. Unfortunately for them both the music box slowed and stopped playing before she could get more than ten feet.  The baby snapped out of his trance and immediately began calling out for his mother.

Baby: Momma!  MOMMA!

Hel stopped in place for a moment and put a hand over what could be assumed to be her mouth.  She watched in horror as her child continued to scream and cry desperately for her to come back.  Samantha heard the crying and quickly stood from her seat, looking towards the door as the origin.

Baby: MOMMA!

The baby only seemed to get louder as his mother drew farther away.  She never took her eyes off him until she was approximately 25 feet away.  She adjusted her cloak and reached for her hood.  Samantha ran to, and threw open the door, feeling the chill of the winter's night and immediately seeing the baby on the ground, crying.  She went over to him and took him up in her arms, trying to comfort him. As she stood back up, she caught a glimpse of a shining woman staring back with her hood half on.  Their eyes met for less than a second and the figure seemed to glow brighter and disappear entirely.  The baby reached at the open air where she was moments ago, still screaming for his mother.

Daniel: Sam?! What was that?!

Daniel came rushing from the cabin, startled by the bright light.  Samantha was awestruck and had yet to move, the baby writhing in her arms.  Daniel approached her and placed a hand on her shoulder, causing her to jump and turn to him.

Samantha: What?!

Daniel: What was out here just now?!  Are yo-

Daniel had just noticed the baby and looked down at it then back to Samantha.  Realizing she still had the baby, crying but now stuffing its face into Samantha.  She went back to comforting him, and looked around, stunned.

Samantha:  I heard this one crying and came out to see why.  Then I saw something I'm not so sure I actually saw...

Daniel: Did you see his mother?  She couldn't have gotten far in this snow.

She looked slowly over to Daniel, almost as if she still needed time to form her answer.

Samantha: Danny, I'm not sure what I saw...

Daniel seemed confused and went to investigate the tree line.  As he walked forward, he kicked the music box, which began it's song again.  The baby responded by slowly going from a cry to a sob to a deep sleep.  Samantha picked the box up and kept it near the baby, in her hand.

Daniel: Was that there before?

Samantha: Danny, I'm telling you whatever happened out here, I may never be able to explain.  I opened the door, saw this baby, looked up to see.... someone.... walking away... we looked at each other for a second and she just disappeared in a bright light, like an alien or something... You have to believe me Danny, I wouldn't make something like this up.

Daniel looked around for a moment, then to the baby, then to Samantha.  He then patted the child's head, causing him to coo softly in his sleep.

Daniel: Well, I know you don't want to leave this one out here, and neither do I.  I didn't see what happened out here, but I believe you. And as far as I can tell, we have a child now.

Samantha looked down at the child, who stirred a bit, but was otherwise in a peaceful state.

Samantha: I guess we do...


Years later, the couple raised the boy as their own, hiding what happened that night all those years ago.

Daniel: Andy! Need you to go to town and pick some stuff up!

Andy came into the room to his father.  He was a handsome blonde furred cat, averagely built and innocent looking; by all accounts, cute.

Andy:  Yeah dad, you got the keys?

Daniel: Yeah, here.

Daniel handed Andy the keys to the car and pointed at him with the same hand.

Daniel: No "pit stops" got it?

Andy: I..... I-I don't....

Daniel gave Andy a look of suspicion.

Daniel: So all these rumors about you and the neighborhood girls is what? A myth?

Andy: I really have no idea what you mean.  

Daniel: Just go and pick up screws from the hardware store.  I'm trying to fix your mother's bedroom door.

Andy: Mom's door...?

Daniel: You know what I mean....

Andy proceeded outside and to the car.  Driving into town, he noticed one of the local girls from school trying to flag him down.  He pulled over and rolled down the window.

Andy: Hey Brit, whats up?

Brittney, as well as the other girls at school, never seemed to pay any actual attention to Andy, save when they needed something from him, in which case, they where generous with the attention.

Brittney: Hi Andy!~  I was wondering if you'd help me with my computer? Pleeeaasse?~

Andy: Sorry Brit, dad says "No pit stops", whatever that means....

Brittney leaned into the car window and almost headbutted Andy.  She then ruffled his hair with her hand and smiled at him.

Brittney: It'll be really quick, I need it before tomorrow night.

Andy: *Just tell her no and get dad his screws.* Sure, if you don't mind bringing it out here. *Push over....*

Brittney: Thanks!~

She proceeded into her house and returned soon after with her laptop.  Andy was waiting next the trunk of his car.

Brittney: Here, thanks again.

Andy: Sure thing.

Andy took the laptop and opened it.

Andy: So, what exactly is wrong with it?

Brittney: Well, I haven't finished our last paper for English, and my mom's had my laptop for about a week.  I get it back and the document writer is gone.

Andy fiddled a bit with the computer.

Andy: It's right here.

Brittney looked over his shoulder.

Brittney: Where?

Andy pointed at the screen where he found the program.

Andy: Your mom must've deleted the shortcut off the desktop.  It's still here in your start menu.

Brittney: Really?! I've been so worried that I wouldn't be able to finish my paper!

Brittney didn't seem too convincing, but Andy could tell she was looking for an excuse.

Brittney: Maybe later, you could come over and help me with it? You're so good with these assignments.

Andy: I was never really good with essays.... Sorry, but good luck with it.

Andy quickly climbed in his car and drove away.

Brittney: O.... K.... Bye then... Damn!

When Andy returned home, he heard his mother yelling and stopped before entering the room. Wouldn't want to be her next target.

Sam: Danny, we don't even know who his real parents are! And you want to send him away like that?! 

Dan: No... It's just... hes a grown man now and he's graduating soon, so I thought he'd make good use of the old commun since he's heading to college out there anyway.

Sam: That's on the other side of the state! What about his friends?! Us?!

Dan: Honey, he's great with making new friends, every girl in school talks about him and he has study groups every week. I doubt he'll have trouble doing the same in San Francisco.

Sam: I have done nothing but protect that boy since the moment he was given to me! You can't just let him be by himself in an abandoned house!

Troubled by his mother's inadvertent revelations, Andy knocked and entered. Sam and Dan looked over to him, Sam drying her face as quickly as she could.

Andy: I got what you needed... dad...

Daniel, feeling rather guilty after hearing Andy call him that, walked over and took the bag of screws.

Dan: I... think you and mom need to talk...

He left the room, Andy looked to Sam and was about to speak when she raised a hand to stop him.

Sam: How much did you hear?

Andy: Only enough to know I'm not really yours...

Sam: Then close the door and sit with me... It's time you knew the truth...

Andy did as he was told and the two sat by each other, Sam beginning to cry again.

Sam: Danny and I... we... No, I have never been able to have children... The night you came to us, we had just failed another pregnancy... I heard you crying outside and when I opened the door, I saw this... perfect little baby... in the snow..... It was like a Godsend... 

She took a deep breath and continued.

Sam: I picked you up like anybody would do with a baby in the snow. When I looked around, I saw someone...

Andy: Was it...?

Sam: I don't know... But she was the only person I could see out there... She was glowing... like the sun, but more brilliant... We looked at each other for what seemed like forever... Then she disappeared in a big flash of light.

Andy: I don't get it... Why?

Sam: We asked the same thing for the longest time... It made no sense... we live in the middle of nowhere on a mountain... whoever she was, if she didn't want you, she would have dropped you off at the nearest firehouse or hospital... but she ventured all the way out to our cabin to leave you all wrapped up on our doorstep... No note... No given name... just you, a blanket, and a music box.

She put a hand on Andy's shoulder and looked him in the eyes.

Sam: Honey, we love you. We would never trade you for anything in the world... But I believe you're here for something more... I won't pretend to know or even understand just what that is... but DO know you're something special.

This had Andy crying too.

Andy: Mom, I'm a loser. What am I destined for? I'm only good for doing other people's homework.

Sam: Sometimes, potential has a way of... revealing itself... when you're ready... For all I know, you're the Second Coming... Or Superman... My point is... since the moment I laid eyes on you, greatness emanated from you. It's only a matter of time before you know what you can really do.

She hugged him tightly, the both of them trying to process what just happened.

Andy: I heard you talking about a Commun?

The broke the hug and Sam sniffled a bit, remembering what the argument with Daniel was about.

Sam: Danny wants to offer you our old house outside of San Francisco... It's generator powered and not far from town, so college would be easy traveling from there.

Andy: After that whole pep talk, I think college may wait...

Sam: You're an adult, so I won't stop you. But the Commun is designed for several people to live in, it's a lot to maintain for one person, so you'd better get housemates fast.

Andy: I don't think that'll be a problem. I may be a loser, but I have a magnetic personality...