The Dehumanization of Ethan Brown

Ethan changed into wolf form while he was left in the living room. Doris and Karen passed through the room hardly noticing him. “The dog food,” Ethan asked when he returned to human form.

“Wal-Mart. I’ve received email a pack member from San Francisco and he collects torn bags from stores. He says the employees hate to throw food away and no one questions if he\'s really from the humane society.” Ryan placed a large bowl of dog food from waste an employee of the local Wal-Mart thought he was giving to the humane society. The employee thought Ryan was a humane society employee when he arrived at the parking lot and gave him all food collected from accidentally torn bags from Wal-Mart receiving.

“Great idea,” Ethan said. “I can’t remember ever feeling this fucking hungry.”

“Return to wolf form and eat. Let your body heal.” Ryan stroked Ethan’s face.

“Have you ever thought about being a nurse? Your bedside manner is so much better than that bitch at the hospital.” Ethan closed his eyes and returned to wolf form then returned to the large bowl of dog food. The pain didn’t seem as bad in wolf form. He would have to spend the rest of his day wagging his tail.

“I don’t know if I could handle slow healing humans.” Ryan stroked Ethan’s coat a moment.

Ethan emptied a twenty-pound bag of dog food before he roamed to the kennel to find Juan. Juan was washing a Husky. He turned off the water as walked over to Ethan as the Husky shook out the water from his coat. Ethan pressed himself against Juan’s leg. Juan bent down and stroked behind Ethan’s ears. “Baby, you look much better out of the hospital.” Juan stroked Ethan’s coat as he pressed his face against Ethan’s side. Ethan turned and licked Juan’s face briefly while his tail was wagging, happy to be able to walk after being tied down to that torture device, then found a soft patch of ground and closed his eyes.

After Ethan woke to hear Ria’s barking, he licked Ria’s fur and started to bite and nip at her playfully. She wasn’t in heat so he wasn’t interested in sex but a friendly game of tag was fine in the twilight. He was hungry after a few minutes of chasing her and walked back to the house. Ria followed him to the house. Ethan knocked over a torn bag of dog food that must have been laid out for him. He shared the food in the bag with Ria. He didn’t have the energy or desire to hunt tonight. The memory of his injury was too fresh. Ethan slept in the living room after he filled his belly. He didn’t need that much food after the near shooting but his body didn’t need to grow need bones then.

Ethan woke during the night needing to whiz and pushed the screen door open. He wondered how long should he let his body heal in this form. The pain was completely gone. He ran around the grounds in the moonlight enjoying being free of pain and having his mobility returned. Life was so good at the moment. He returned to the kitchen and took a long drink from a water bowl set for him, appreciating that the other house members weren’tcingcing him to return to human form to get a drink. He felt loved after all the pack did for him after his injury.

During the next day, he watched Juan and Tony care for the Huskies while he was still in wolf form. A few of the bitches barked at him. Their odor was so good; he understood how Juan was tempted, but he wouldn’t stoop that low. A male Husky started barking at him. Ethan barked back before he realized that he was above instinct and walked away. Ethan lay on the ground enjoying the warm air on his coat. As the day progressed his appetite weaned as other pack members gave him the time and space to recover.

Ethan smelled Captain Brooks as he woke from his nap. Juan was explaining that Ethan didn’t want to be disturbed. “He needs to sign consent forms about leaving the hospital early. Tell him that I need to talk to him.”

“Help Tony clean the kennels,” Juan said. “I’ll locate him.” Juan followed Ethan to the bedroom containing Ethan’s clothes. Someone had put blankets in the bed so it looked like a sleeping person. Juan closed the door leaving himself and Ethan on one side so if the Captain wandered he wouldn’t see Ethan change shape.

Ethan changed to human. “I don’t want to talk to him.”

“Make us some excuse about healing fast,” Juan said.

Ethan dressed in a tank top and boxer\'s shorts. “How does my leg look?”

“Normal.” Juan put his hand on E’s h’s hand and squeeze. “It was your left leg that was crushed?”

“Very funny.” Ethan was limping slightly. “The right leg still aches a bit.”

“Let’s talk to your captain, before Tony makes him shovel shit.” Juan put his hand on Ethan’s waist and helped him down the stairs.

Ethan leaned into Juan as he walked over to kennels. “Captain,” Ethan said barely over a whisper. “I was recovering in bed.”

“Your leg was crushed. You should still be in traction,” the captain said.

“I heal fast. It’s a genetic condition,” Ethan said.

Camilla brought out a tray of lard and crackers. “Ethan, I think Margaret went to the hostess thrift store yesterday; maybe she brought those lemon pies that you like so much.”

“I’ll check later,” Ethan said.

Juan kissed his wife cheek. “Honey, could you bring us a pitcher of water and some cups?”

“Sure thing.” Camilla kissed her husband briefly before leaving the men to their conversation.

“I’m not going to ask how many people live in this house,” the captain said.

“That isn’t your business,” Ethan said. “This is my property and we aren’t breaking any law.”

“How are you walking on a crushed leg?” the captain asked.

“Sir, I’m still limping,” Ethan said. “It was only a hairline fracture. You must have been mistaken about it being crushed. The hospital overreacted.”

“Do I need to list all your miraculous recoveries?”

“No.” Ethan ate more lard than crackers although he hated the taste of lard. Mostly he was uncomfortable eating it because he grew up in a kosher home after Bonny and him left the pack. He also had big problems with eating spoiled food other than mildly overripe produce that he knew wasn’t harmful to people.

“Aren’t you Jewish and if I’m not mistaken that is pure lard?”

“We don’t keep kosher. The Lopez haven’t kept kosher since coming to the states. Many Jewish families don’t keep the food laws. That doesn’t mean that we deny our history. My leg will be strong enough for me to take that class. Hostess pies contain lard but you never made a fuss when you saw me eat them.”

“Except to complain that you’re talking about eating healthy and you’re seem to partake in eating junk food.”

“I hate the taste of lard.” Brown washed the grease down with plenty of water. It felt disgusting as it slide down his throat. He usually made better food choice, but since the injury he has been beside himself with hunger. “I prefer to get my fat calories from olives, nuts or seeds. Besides, lard is a very unhealthy food choice. I have been so hungry since I was hurt that I wasn’t completely aware of the garbage that I just put in my body. I truly prefer nuts or seeds.” Ethan washed the taste of lard down with more water trying to get that greasy feeling out of his mouth.

“You eat them in abundance in the office.” The captain handed Ethan a clipboard with paper to sign from the hospital.

Brown read the consent forms. He agreed that he left the hospital against medical advice. He felt it was better to escape the hospital than eat a greasy fat nurse. He wondered if that nurse would have been tastier than lard on stale crackers. Theble ble wasn’t too bad, but hostess pies sounded even better then he wondered if they had any corn on the cob.

“What the fuck are you?” the captain sneered. “This house is filthy and filled with women and children. Do you have a harem?”

“One wife is more than enough,” Brown moaned. “I have no intention of suing the hospital. I left from my own accord.”

“I saw the pictures that the man took of you in the ambulance.”

Brown seemed to recall the man that hit him took some digital pictures of him as he slipped in and out of consciousness. “I told you it looked worse than it was.”

“Your leg looked like that it needed to be amputated. Brown, I’m keeping my eye on you.”

“Sir.” Brown handed the police captain the clipboard.

Ria joined Ethan in the kitchen while she nursed their daughter. “Honey, did you talk to your captain?”

“He’s an ass. I’m glad that I’m quitting. Captain Wallace never questioned me about being well after consuming enough poison to kill five men.”

“Margaret brought the pies you like,” Ria said.

“Thanks.” Ethan found a bag of them at the bottom of the pantry. He ate them quickly barely tasting the artificial lemon flavoring that he usually enjoyed. “After the baby is asleep, we’ll enjoy a little quality time ourselves.”