Just Me-2

Chapter two1

The lady held me up. Being so high off the ground was scary so I whimpered and squirmed. She held me tight against her warm chest and I felt safer so I laid my snoot in her neck and tried to be still. This cuddling by the lady was grand and I nearly stopped trembling. Her face close to mine, she kept rubbing my head with her lips. Her soft dark fur felt nice when it brushed my nose. 2

Now I could see Pritchard’s face. Papa musta been kidding when he said, “It will make you laugh.” Laugh, shucks it scared me so bad I wanted to pee. The eyes, smaller than Pops’ were hard points of darkness. Set between the narrow eyes was a wide nose with two flared holes. Fuzz on his cheeks stood out like the hair on Mum’s belly, while his tight stretch of mouth opened and shut continuously with words dribbling between flat yellowed teeth. “Gonna have yourself one fine animal there…” he went on and on. Secure in nice warm arms with my snout buried in the soft flesh of the lady’s neck, my interest in Pritchard or what he had to say temporarily faded.3

But then Pritchard shook his granite colored fur that slapped at his rotating head. His tone, icier than fresh water, started me shaking again. “That ain’t no lap dog you’re buying little lady,” he said through the kinda snort Pops’ used when he reprimanded me. “He’s gonna be a big bruiser, and if you don’t set some rules from the start, you’ll be regretting it soon. You know what I mean, Ben?” Pritchard put his paw on the man’s shoulder. He stood several heads over the couple and was as wide as the two put together. “You got to let a pup know who’s boss, especially a male or as he gets bigger he starts thinking he’s Top Dog.”4

“He’s right Annie. He’s not a Poodle.” The man laughed and rubbed between my ears.5

“Come on Ben. He’s just a baby.” Annie kissed me on the nose. “He’s got time to learn manners.” She kissed me again and I stopped trembling. I felt warm, cozy and safe in her arms so I licked her cheek. This got me a pleasant squeal and a tighter hug.6

“Don’t think you’ll get that pup away from her, Ben.” Pritchard was pleased and it caused his thin lips to crease outward. “Let’s go back to the house and we’ll settle up,” he said. “Won’t take but a minute to fill out his papers. And seeing how I like you young people, and I know he’s going to a fine home, I’ll give you a break on the price.”7

I’d been born with the sound of engines, one kind or another, always bombarding my hearing so I wasn’t afraid when we left Pritchard’s place. I’d watched Pops jump in the back of Pritchard’s car, but here I was curled up in Annie’s lap in the front seat no less; or hugged in her arms with Ben reaching over to give me an occasional pat or scratch and life looked mighty fine. Annie kept calling me her baby, telling me how grand things would be in my new home. 8

The idea of going into a house like Pops did was exciting—but a bit scary. I saw a big white door blocking the way and buried my nose under Annie’s chin and softly sucked. Sucking always made me feel better.9

Holy Hell? It attacked before Annie could get through the door. Growling and spitting and trying to tear me out of Annie’s arms. Sharp teeth sunk into my paw, my leg, my hip—then it had hold of my tail, it hurt like the blazes and I figured I’d never have to worry about it curling again. All my pitiful yelps and squeals added to Annie’s howls of, “Kelsey! Kelsey!” were having no effect. I was gonna be chopped meat in a minute. 10

Where was my Mum! This was worse than an attack by Lady Lana’s pups. And no Mum to the rescue—I piddled all over me and my hot urine sprayed Annie.11

Thank the Maker! Ben grabbed the Bitch’s collar and though I thought he would lose his arm, he held on and twisted. She attempted to turn her head but with her air shutoff all she could do was gasp and let go of me. 12

“Kelsey! Kelsey!” Ben shouted, Annie yelled and I was cursing between wails—some frigging homecoming.13

The lack of her air had the effect of preventing any further damage to my hide. Ben dragged the Bitch outside and left her howling behind the closed door. Good, leave her out there. I’d rather go deaf than be dead!14

Annie’s tears wet my fur as she cooed and comforted. Her fingers were gentle as she attempted to discover if I would be permanently crippled. 15

Ben expressed his opinion as he joined in my examination. “She didn’t break the skin. He’s just bruised and lost a bit of fur. He’s fine.” 16

Where in Hell did he get his Veterinarian’s degree! A pity he didn’t feel the way I did. If only Mum was here, she’d have the Bitch running with a chunk of her tail missing. Annie set me in a high sink and sponged my bruises with warm water before she cleaned herself. Then she wrapped me in a big fleecy robe and held me in her lap until I could finally stop yelping.17

“Maybe we made a mistake.” Ben stood at the door watching the ruckus outside. The Bitch barked enough for three dogs and peppered it with howls. Every so often she’d throw herself at the door and I hoped, she’d smash her teeth. Ben rubbed his forehead as he said, “I figured Kelsey being a female and it being a puppy it would be okay. I wonder if Pritchard will take him back?”18

Great! Take me home. Even Pritchard wasn’t as scary as that raging lunatic on the other side of that barrier.19

“Kel will come around.” Annie stopped crying. “We just introduced them wrong. We still have Kel’s puppy cage in the cellar. We’ll crate the baby until she gets use to his scent. Please Ben—let’s at least try.” Annie was whimpering again.20

Ben came over, bent down and hugged her then petted me. “Okay. So what do we call it?”21

Now Annie smiled. I liked it when she smiled. She said, “I thought maybe Barron?”22

Ben must like it when Annie smiles because he grins. “I don’t know,” he said. “I heard that a big dog’s name is important. Imagine if you call, ‘Here Killer’ people will automatically panic and dogs can smell fear.” Ben laughed. “If we give him a pleasant name or something cute he might just live up to it.” Ben laughed again and rubbed my snout. “What do you think runt—how ‘bout we call you Scooter or Jigs?”23

“Can’t you just see the looks we’ll get putting that on his papers.” Annie giggled. “I could just call him Boo Baby.”24

“Yah, right.” Ben shrugged his shoulders and said in a nasty tone, “Then you can exercise him. I’m can just see myself calling, ‘Here Boo’” They both laughed. Ben walked back to the sink and took something from a drawer. “His dame’s name is Lady Alaya and the stud is Dark Ranger. Pritchard said we could work with either as long as we use our name.” Ben put a sheet of paper and pen on the table in front of Annie. “You start composing,” he said. “I’ll get the cage. Then we can let Kelsey in before the neighbors call the cops. Think I’ll have a beer. You want one?” He opened another white door. I went into a shivering mode. But only two bottles came out.25

With Ben gone, Annie pampered me some more and scribbled on the paper. Sometimes she laughed, sometimes she groaned, mostly she sipped her drink. It didn’t smell so hot—this beer stuff. But I was thirsty and wiggled free of the towel. I stood on her lap with my front paws on the table to help myself to a gulp. 26

Yikes! I was shaking my head trying to toss the taste away. Annie giggled. “You don’t like beer,” she said. Then suddenly the taste got to me and I tried again. I didn’t shake as hard this time. And by the fourth lick, it tasted pretty good and I felt much better. “Little piggy,” Annie said. “No more for you.” She put me on the floor by a big dish of water that smelled like the Bitch outside. I wasn’t about to drink that. I plopped down and took a snooze.27

Apparently Ben didn’t care that I was trying to sleep. He laughed very loud at Annie.28

“Maybe you should try,” she snapped. “How does this sound? Fitzgerald’s Dark Lord Aaron.”29

I stood on shaky legs and looked around. Metal poles enclosed me. I took a few turns and came snout to snout with the Bitch! She lay out of reach of me, glaring in. She yawned exposing those white daggers and I quickly scurried back. 30

“That’s an awfully lot of name for such a little fellow,” Ben said.31

“It’s just for his papers. Silly boy, we won’t call him that. We’ll call him Aaron.” Annie came over and knelt down with the Bitch. She put her arm around its neck and kissed its head. “See Kel. He’s just a wee baby. You’re going to just love him like I do.” She was hugging a neck that looked like a tree trunk. I had backed as far away as I could and was whimpering. Discovering a nice fluffy blanket, I crawled underneath and stared out.32

“Don’t you be scared Little Arie.” Annie put one hand on the cage and wigged her fingers at me. I started to come out but the Bitch growled and I scurried back under the blanket and only peeked out. “Now Kel—you be a good girl and stop scaring Arie.”33

“Arie isn’t going to cut it,” Ben said and leaned over the cage. “It sounds like you’re calling him an airhead. Eight hundred bucks for an airhead—let’s hope not. Come on Kelsey.” He took hold of the Bitch’s collar and yanked to get her up on those long legs. “I’m going to put you in the cellar for awhile so Annie can play with her puppy.”34

“How about Arnie?” Annie called as they moved off.35

“Then instead of Aaron you better make it Arnold.” Ben yelled back. “Arnold, hey I like that. It doesn’t sound threatening at all. In fact it makes him sound like a wimp.” 36

“Annie’s little Arnie,” Annie was singsonging as she opened the cage. “Come here baby.” I scurried to her and she swept me up to receive more of those hugs and kisses. Annie was mine.37

Much later Annie gave me hugs and kisses before she put me back in the cage. My belly full, my blanket warm and cuddly, my jaws kept spreading in wide yawns… I was awfully sleepy. ..38

Then I was wide-awake.39

It was quiet! I sniffed around. No Mums! No warm belly! It smelled funny---actually there was no smell of my siblings, no groans and pushing legs. So dark! I was alone! I started crawling and came up against something hard. I couldn’t go any further. The metal poles pushed into my snout. I started to squeal.40

‘Oh shut up.’41

I yelped. Backed up into my blanket. I could make her out and did a quick recall. That Bitch Kelsey. She was glaring in at me. I stood there trembling in terror. If she opened that latch I’d be chopped meat.42

‘Oh you are a sorry sight. I knew Annie wanted a pup. But I never figured Ben would buy her a wretched little misfit.’ Kelsey strutted around a bit showing off her shape. As Prichard would say, “She’s a picture perfect lady.” Long lean body with a sloping back and slightly lower hindquarters. A proud head held high with sharply pointed ears. The bushy swishing tail turned slightly at the end with all the browns and tans of her coat blended flawlessly.43

‘I’m gonna be big.’ I grunted. ‘Bigger than you.’ I figured she couldn’t lift the latch and that made me feel more courageous.44

‘That’s not such a great thing.’ She sneered and showed those sharp pointed teeth. ‘I could fix it so you never get bigger.’45

‘Ah, come on. What’s your beef with me?’46

‘Just your being here.’ She tossed her head and kind of snickered. ‘For a long time it was Ben and me. Ben was mine.’ She sounded sad. ‘I didn’t like it when he brought Annie home. But we make do. Now you!’ She growled deep in her throat. Apparently, she felt threatened by me. Well, that made sense. After all Annie was only a female human, I was a male canine.47

Like Pops would say, try logic. ‘Gee, we can make do too yah know. I don’t want Ben. And if Annie has me, she may not want Ben. If you keep trying ta tear me up, I stay in this cage and you’ll spend a lot of time in the cellar.’48

She strutted around some more, those black eyes flashing on me. Finally she stopped, sat on her haunches and her glare turned into a frown. ‘You may have something there. Annie wants a kid. Having a human brat around would be more trouble than you.’ She gripped the latch with her teeth and pulled it aside. 49

I squeezed as far back as I could get. I expected her to grab me by the throat so I turned up my most pitiful whimper. Goodbye Arnold!50

She dropped the side of her jaw in a half way grin. ‘Come on. You can sleep with me—so you don’t keep up that wailing.’ She turned her back on me and strolled to her bed.51

I swallowed my fear and crawled on out of the cage. She had a huge soft pillow bed. I cautiously shimmed in close to her warm belly. She lifted her head, but only grunted. ‘Just don’t goof and think I’m your mum. I’ll make you toothless.’ 52