The Foster

Everyone should have a dog.

You can usually tell a good person by a good pet. Good people enjoy a good scratch and some may mess up but it's forgiven. Since good people, can be willing to learn.

Rodney might be one who needed a dog the most.

The leader of the pack was Tally. She had a mate named Marcus who understood the order of the pack for the most part. Most of the time.

But Tally had gotten her way nonetheless.

She told me of something called a foster.

The foster was named Rodney.

Rodney, was a boy. A very quiet boy who wasn't like kids. Big two-legged pups explored and ran around, else how did they get the lay of their land and start making their place in the pack.

The Pack was to have eyes watching out and watching over to make sure everything ran smooth.

Rodney didn't understand a lot.

Rodney was going to be shy and possibly not enjoy a hug. Being gentle was going to be very important.

"Rodney doesn't like loud noises."

Tally spun her finger, which I followed.

"Wag your tail."

"Good boy!"

Rodney was going to need a lot of looking after. A lot more than normal big puppies.

But, I was here. Don't worry Tally, he'll be a good dog in no time.

Wait, wait where are you going? Aren't we-- Rodney's being picked up. Today. Today Tally, did you forget?

Why did you close the door.

I scraped up my nails at the door.

Dumb doorknobs.

I got off my hind legs and lay down, curled in front of the door step.

When they came back I just about leapt out of my skin! They were gone so long! It was forever and forever...!

"Um."

Rodney was here!

Eager to please I toddled around in the awkward circle that made Tally laugh and call me good boy.

And again she laughed, almost losing her sense when I nipped my tail.

Humans. Always giddy at the smallest things.

"Hello doggy."

Yes! Hello Rodney!

Rodney got a lot less hackled, he had no fur, but I could just feel it in the air like sewing needles all around like that spiky bush dead on the road during a big trip.

For the time being he was as docile as he'd probably ever get.

His eyes were sharp. Too sharp and empty.

Whatever poured out that was so heavy and mean made me want to just shake it, shake it off but I remembered everything Tally had said.

I remembered how we'd met at that big white building where he'd been in scratchy, stiff clothes that could not have been comfortable. I lightly wondered if it was some punishment vest.

And his hair then had been held down by a snapping, stinging odor of hair spray.

We continued our stare.

Tally was really nervous, smelling of sweat and some other feeling that was... familiar. Once.

When she'd had this big belly and a second heartbeat.

Rodney finally looked at Tally. "Can we-- play? Is he mine?"

"Well he's the family dog but, I do think he likes you quite a bit."

Rodney flinched a bit as his fingers brushed up my wet nose. I whimpered, asking, for a pet.

Slowly, I nuzzled my sweet spot at his hand.

Making him pay attention and with an uncertain crease did he pet me.

Rodney was gonna be a real good boy.