Glancing around furtively, she poured herself a mug and took a sip. Her eyes widened. Warmth spread through her body and a buzz went through her head.
She quickly downed the mug and filled it...and down it. Michelle gave a whoop of excitement and threw the mug aside. She wanted to join the happy kids enjoying the island.
For a moment her mom came to mind. What would she think? "Hey bud, how about another?" Michelle was broken from her thoughts by a boy offering her a mug.
Forgetting her mom, she took it and downed it. Her wish had come true. This was the simple life she'd hoped for.
"Why are you still standing there dude? Everyone else is having the time of their lives!"
"You don't have to tell me again!" she shouted. Michelle ran off into the crowd of excited boys. She felt different. Free. She felt like there was an animal inside her that had always been pent up. But now, it was finally bursting free, and she welcomed it!
For a moment, she felt like braying like a donkey. She laughed it off giving a mock “hee-haw”. It was time to have fun again.
Michelle hear music pumping from a nearby. She ran straight to a keg for another beer. Man if mom could see her now. She was absolutely smashed on Donkey Beer by now.
The sound of donkeys was becoming very familiar to Michelle the more time she spent on the island. The more she heard it, the better it sounded. She loved the sound donkeys made. She wanted to make it herself so much.
As she waited in line for another beer, the boy behind her gave a loud bray. Michelle's ears twitched at the sound.
"How did that feel?" Michelle asked the kid. "Oh better than you can imagine." The boy leaned back and gave another bray, when he came forward his nostrils were stretched across his face.
Smiling and believing Michelle is a boy, he. said to her. "Why you holding back, man?
"Why indeed?” Thought Michelle. She felt the animal welling up in her again. She'd kept it down for too long!
"Hold on." she told the kid. Michelle sucked in a deep breath. She felt it rising in her chest. She leaned back... "HAWWWWWW! HEEE HAWW! HEE HAWWWWWWW!!!!!!!”
The force of her bray knocked her to her hands and knees. Michelle panted hard, "Hee, hee, hee, hee." in a high pitched voice.
The boy patted on her back. "First one is always the loudest. Don't worry, it comes easier now."
She was finally free. Michelle thought. From the moment she let the animal inside her out she felt wonderful. She stayed on her hands and knees for five solid minutes, just enjoying the feel of her chest heaving back and forth with her braying. The crowd of boys cheered her until she finally got to her feet, feeling the best she ever had.
Michelle felt like she would never have another responsibility again. Still, something felt wrong. Getting to her feet, she asked the boy she had met. "Doesn't this place seem weird to you?"
"Of course not." The boy said. "We are all here for the same reason. To leave our lives behind. I know I don't ever want to go back!" The boy ran off.