Interview in the Fields

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Icon	Pig and Whistle story universe

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Author's Comments

For those who wish to offer critique, please keep in mind that this story serves three main purposes. The first is to expand on the information in Case Briefing: Leon v. Stewart, the second is to give me a chance to practice my dialogue and characterization, and the third is to introduce Chloe, who I plan on using in a later story(s).

Chloe Fields was on her first assignment as a reporter—a people’s interest story about the twenty-year anniversary of the Leon v. Stewart decision. To that end she had tracked down Benjamin Leon’s last known address and was currently standing at what could possibly be his front door, where she was attempting to calm herself and mentally go over her interview questions rather than think of how screwed she would be if Leon no longer lived here.

After taking a series of calming breathes, Chloe rang the doorbell and waited nervously. A minute passed, then two, but no one came to the door. Partly disappointed, partly relieved, she turned away and was about to head back to her car when a voice asked, “May I help you?”

Spinning around, the reporter found herself face-to-face with a morphic timber wolf.

“Ack!” She exclaimed. “Mr. Leon! I’m, uh, Fields Chloe—no, Chloe Fields. I’m an interviewer reporting on you and I’d—wait.”

“Take your time”. Leon said, amused at the startled woman.

“Right… thank you.” Chloe said. “My name is Chloe Fields, I’m a reporter. I’d like to interview you about your lawsuit twenty years ago if that’s alright.”

Leon considered her. “You’re the fourth reporter today who wanted to ask me about that. I’ve turned down the others, so why should I talk to you?”

Chloe began to fumble with a pocket on her jacket—the wolf’s gaze was making her nervous. After managing to get it open she took out a wrapped, rectangular package.

“Because I… umm… brought… chocolate?”

Leon burst into laughter. He doubled over as the reporter stood there, growing redder and redder by the second.

“Hehe… I’m sorry but that was just too perfect. I mean with the way you are—and what you just—seriously, chocolate?”

“It’s not that funny…” Chloe mumbled as she looked at her feet.

“You’re right, it isn’t.” Said Leon when he had calmed himself. “But the other three who came were so serious, and then with you it was just so…” He trailed off, trying to find the right word.

“Pathetic?” Chloe offered dejectedly.

Leon looked alarmed. “What? No, no! Nothing like that! It was just kinda… quaint...” His ears drooped. “I’m not making you feel any better, am I?” She shook her head. He sighed. “Fine… if it’ll stop you from looking like I just shot your dog I’ll do the interview.”

This made Chloe perk up instantly. “Thank you, Mr. Leon!”

“Please, call me Ben, everyone else does.” The wolf said as he stepped aside to let her into his home. He led Chloe into a small sitting room and gestured to a chair, which she sat down in. After taking a seat across from her, Ben looked at the reporter expectantly.

“So, what would you like to know first?”

“Well,” Chloe said as she took out her notebook and flipped through it. “I guess the first thing would be to ask if there’s anything about the original incident that wasn’t included in the case file.”

Ben thought it over before shaking his head. “No, not that I can think of, it’s pretty much all there. Was a courier for five years before TFOR made me the handsome specimen I am today. Did the rehab thing and was fired two days after coming to work and I sued to get my job back.”

“I was also wondering about the—uh—quote, in the file;” Chloe asked. “Is it true what Stewart said when you asked him why he was firing you?”

“If you’re referring to the ‘wild animal’ comment then yes. I don’t recall it word for word but he did say something to the effect of not wanting one around.”

The reporter nodded and looked down at her list. She was about to ask the next question when her curiosity got the better of her.

“Sorry, but, I have to ask: how could you possibly want to get your job back after the way you were treated?”

“I was trying to maintain my comfort zone.” Ben answered, shrugging. “You have to understand, I’d been a teefer for less than two weeks; I had already gone through one major change in my life and I wasn’t in much of a mood for another. Besides—part of me understood his reasoning.”

Chloe raised an eyebrow. “His… reasoning?”

Ben rolled his eyes. “What do you see when you look at me?”

Chloe looked the teefer over, trying very hard not to stare at his teeth. “I see a… man in his late 40’s to mid 50’s.”

“You can be as politically correct as you want but sometimes a spade has got to be called a spade.” Ben said exasperatedly. “I’m a wolf, plain and simple.” He held out a furred hand. “My nails—claws, I guess—are designed to rend flesh. My teeth have the sole purpose of tearing meat from the bones of prey. The closest thing I have to a smile amounts to a modified snarl. I’ve been blended with a predator so yea, I can understand why people might be afraid of me.”

“That’s quite an admirable view of things considering Stewart’s defense at trial was based around saying you weren’t a person and didn’t deserve any rights.”

“Now that I understand.” Ben said, chuckling. “Stewart was a very proud man, he hated having to admit his mistakes. The guy would rather be seen as a racist S.O.B than admit he was wrong to fire me. Even back then I didn’t think he truly believed that defense.”

By now Chloe had begun to relax. Her apprehensions about doing the interview had subsided significantly, thanks in part to her subject’s laid back demeanor. Flipping the page on her notebook, she moved on to her questions about the verdict.

“Many legal scholars consider the judge’s ruling to be a landmark precedent that changed the way civil rights played out in the NAR. You yourself have been compared to Rosa Parks on multiple occasions. I was wondering what your own views on the case’s legacy were.”

The wolf rolled his eyes. “The ‘legacy’ as you put it is one of clarification. Even back in ‘012 it was obvious the Torch and TFOR weren’t about to go away any time soon and that people were just going to get furrier. I’ve had law students, lawyers, and professors all ask me about the significance of that case over the years and I told each of them the same thing: teefers would’ve had their rights secured even if I had never filed that lawsuit—the judge’s ruling just gave the easiest argument to understand.”

Ben sighed. “There really isn’t anything else to the case than that. I’d appreciate it if we could talk about something else.”

Chloe blinked. “Oh, alright then.” She looked down at her notebook before remembering she hadn’t prepared any questions not related to the case.

“Umm…” The reporter mumbled, trying to think up a topic. “Are you seeing anyone these days?”

A grin—which really did look like he was bearing his teeth—broke across Ben’s muzzle. “Why Ms. Fields, I must say I’m flattered, but I don’t think this is very professional of you.”

“What? No—I wasn’t! I mean—you seem very nice but—“ Chloe spluttered as Ben broke out into laughter again.

“I’m kidding, I’m kidding! Don’t worry! But no, I’m not seeing anyone. I’m also not working if that was going to be your next question. I’m sort of semi-retired; I make my living doing handyman work around the neighborhood here.”

“I see…” Chloe said absently as she jotted down his response. After going over her notes to make sure she didn’t forget to write anything down, she looked up at Ben.

“Thank you very much for your time. I think I can write a good article with what you’ve given me.”

“Glad to be of help. Though I do believe there’s one thing you’re forgetting.”

Ben stood up and held out a hand expectantly. Chloe looked at him quizzically for a moment before remembering her offer. Looking slightly embarrassed, she reached back inside her jacket and handed him the chocolate bar.