“Please don’t make me,” I said.
A smile widened across carries face as I realized my fear.
“What are you afraid of?” Carrie asked. Her playful gaze let me know I’d never hear the end of it if I wimped out.
“Nothing,” I said, but I could feel my face flustering red.
My bright red face was particularly visible with the snowy background. We were in the middle of the field at an old rotting barn. The wind blew gusts of white snow across the snowy field and with each gust the barn howled as the wind ripped around the haggard old pieces of wood that held the frame together.
“Then we are going in,” she said grabbing my hand and yanking me under the broken and decomposing door.
The inside of the barn was filled with snow. Carrie spun around in a circle to see the whole barn and looked back at me.
“Lame,” she said frowning.
“Lame?” I asked.
“This place was supposed to be haunted!” Carrie said as she walked over to an old barrel and jumped up to sit on it.
I looked around the place. There were old window’s with glass so dusty it could no longer been seen through. If it weren’t for the howling hole in the roof I’m sure that there would be no light at all in the old barn.
Carrie was kicking her legs back and forth when all of a sudden there was a loud crash from the loft that hung above the barn. Carrie lurched backwards when it happened. As soon she she recovered she was up the ladder into the loft.
“Carrie wait!” I called out.
She disappeared into the loft above. As I walked to the ladder I heard a loud gasp.
“Carrie! Are you ok?” I yelled pulling myself up the ladder as quickly as I could. She was my best friend since the first grade. I couldn’t let anything happen to her.
As I came up into the loft Carrie said, “Look!” she was holding up a puppy with her hands under it’s front paws. His little golden ears hung down and I couldn’t resist holding it.
“Awe it’s so cute,” I said as I held him in my arms cradling him back and forth against my breast like a baby.
The puppy looked up at me to my eyes and winked his right eye.
“Do you like hugs?” I asked him.
He wagged his tail and barked twice in two little arfs.
“It’s like he understands you!” Carried said ruffling the fur of the golden retriever’s head.
“I know right?” I asked.
I didn’t want to set the puppy down in the loft because I was afraid he’d fall off. I climbed down and carefully placed him at the bottom of the stairs on the snowy floor below.
“Hey you don’t have a collar!” I said to him.
Carrie was down at this point and she said, “Some sicko must have abandoned the little guy up there.”
I looked down at the puppy with pity and he looked up at me with his big brown eyes. “How would you live to come live with me?” I asked him.
The puppy licked my face.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” I said smiling and pulling the dog in for a hug.
A few hours later I arrived at my apartment. My car puttered to a stop and I twisted the knob on the door. The last shades of sunlight were fading as I brought the puppy into the house. As he hit the floor he began to prance around.
“I’m going to bed. Make yourself at home,” I said as I headed into my bedroom. I passed my stick note reminding me to grade my students tests and I plopped down on the bed and passed out. When I woke up the next morning to my alarm it was the first thing on my mind.
“The tests!” I said.
I hoisted my feet over the side of the bed and ran to my backpack for some frantic grading. My student’s had all studied so hard. It wouldn’t be fair to make them wait.
As I opened the backpack and pulled out the tests I noticed something strange. The tests were all graded. The handwriting was a bit sloppy. My normal curly q’s and p’s were replaced with more rugged ones. It was as if a guy had written them.
“When did I do this?” I asked myself aloud.
I wracked my brain trying to figure out when I had done them. Did I do them and forget? I questioned.
The puppy came up and nuzzled my leg with his cold nose.
“Good morning!” I said excited to see him.
The little guy was wagging his tail.
“Apparently I graded my tests last night so I have more time to play with you,” I said picking the puppy up with my hands under his front legs.
I lifted the dog to eye height and asked, “What do you want to be named?”
The dog looked me in the eyes as if he understood that I was talking to him.
“How about Winker?” I asked.
The puppy growled.
“Greg?” I asked.
The puppy’s ears dropped and it looked sad for a moment.
“Tim?” I asked.
The puppy sighed and then wagged his tail.
“Am I really that bad at naming?” I asked him.
The puppy barked twice to tell me I was.
After the ordeal with the puppy I made breakfast. Scrambled eggs, my boyfriends favorite meal. Although I’d never admit it to him, I liked them too. I made a portion and a half, enough for both me and the puppy. I decided to use some of the extra time to see my boyfriend. I’d bring him some of the eggs.
I walked down the hallway toward my boyfriend’s classroom. The student’s wouldn’t be here for some time. I was holding the Tupperware when I looked into his window and saw him kissing Carrie.
The Tupperware fell onto my boots and eggs sloshed everywhere. I closed my eyes for a moment and reopened them hoping it was just a figment of my imagination that would go away. Then he saw me.
He rushed to the door and I began to walk back towards my room down the hall. He opened the door and burst into the hallway and I began to run.
“Wait I can explain!” he yelled.
I went into my room and shut the door propping a chair in front of it. Loud banging came from the door. “Honey, I can explain,” he said frantically as he pounded the door.
“I’m calling for help if you don’t leave now!” I warned.
“Bitch! After all I’ve done for you!” he screamed into the room.
I dialed the phone number of the principle. My hands were shaking as I punched in the keys. My former boyfriend was still pounding on the door. “Help, Greg is pounding on my door,” I requested.
“What!? I’ll be there this instant,” the principal said leaving the phone on his desk.
A moment later the pounding stopped and a light knock came at the door. “Hey, Sarah it’s me, Principal Grange.”
I walked over to the door and moved the chair and opened it. The principal was in the window. As I opened the door the principal opened the door and gave me a big hug.
“You poor girl, I heard what happened from the other teachers,” he said. My head was against his shoulder. He was strong and caring, I can see why he’s been married for so many years. He was nothing like Greg.
“I fired him and a sub is on the way to take his place,” Grange said tapping me lightly on the back. I wasn’t crying, or smiling. I didn’t know what to think.
The day went by slowly as I taught the first graders arithmetic. I didn’t want to think about anything other then my work. My thoughts were entirely on curling up with a good book and the puppy when I got home.
The hours eventually ticked by and I arrived home. The couch and my Norah Roberts book were both waiting for me. As I opened the door the puppy began licking my legs and jumping on his hind legs to greet me.
“Arf arf arf,” he said.
` I picked the little dog up and gave him a hug.
“At least someone is happy to see me,” I said.
I carried the puppy over to the couch and cried in the dog’s warm fur. The dog sat there patiently and waited for me to soak his fur with tears. When I was done I looked down into his big brown eyes.
I told him, “You’re such a sweet heart. You’d be the perfect guy if you were human. You’re cute, your smart and you actually care,” I said looking lovingly at the puppy who’d relocated himself to the other end of the couch. He was sitting there watching me like a sentry, making sure I was safe when he transformed.
In an instant his fur thinned out to reveal stark pale skin. His big brown eyes seemed to shrink as his head took form. His tail receded into his stark shapely butt. My eyes widened and I screamed.
“No, don’t do that!” he said.
I ran away into the other room and he followed. He was still stark naked.
“What are you!” I yelled as I ran into the bathroom and locked the door.
He didn’t bang on the door. He just talked through it.
“During the day, I’m a dog. During the night I turn back into a human,” he said.
I thought about this. I’d seen him transform in front of me. Am I crazy? I wondered. Maybe all the stress had gone to my head and I’d finally lost it. How could this have happened?
“Sorry to frighten you, but I had no way to tell you and I can’t control when I transform. I transform with the sun,” he said.
“Please unlock the door, I’ll explain everything,” he said.
I unlocked the door.
First I gave him some sweatpants to wear and we went over and sat on the couch. He was muscular, his arms muscles were some of the biggest I’d ever seen. It shouldn’t have surprised me considering he walks on them all day. He looked to be in his early twenties, maybe a year or two younger then myself.
He sat down next to me still shirtless, none of my shirts would have fit him.
“So explain,” I said.
“When I was born I was human. The night I was taken home I became a dog. The same thing happened every day and night after that. My Mom thought it was a genetic mutation, my Dad thought it was some voodoo curse placed on the family,” Tim explained.
“So why aren’t you living with them?” I asked.
His gaze fell to my gas fireplace and he began to watch the flames for a moment as his face crumpled from happy and confident to sad and depressed. He said in almost a whisper, “They died.”
There was silence for a moment and then I said, “So how did you go to school?”
He was cheery again and his goofy golden retriever smile returned again. “I was home schooled up through high school and I attended University classes via the internet,” he said.
This lead me to wonder even more questions, “Do you have any friends? What were you doing in that barn? What do you do for work?”
“I don’t have many friends. I try to keep my secret hidden. It’s my home, I live there. No one ever goes there and there are a good amount of animals around the area to hunt for food,” he said.
“What do you do for work then?” I asked again.
“It’s kind of hard to work when you’re a dog,” he replied.
“You could work nights,” I suggested.
“I don’t want to risk too many people finding out about me. Besides I can hunt racoons and squirrels in the woods just fine. I’m also an excellent gardener,” he said.
“It’s probably creepy having me here. At least, now that you know that I’m human I mean,” he said.
I began to speak, “I-,” but suddenly, the doorbell rang.
“I’ll be back in one moment,” I said and I went to answer the door. Leaving Tim on the couch.
I opened the door and Greg was on the other side. He had a beer in his left hand and he was clearly drunk.
“You got me fired Bitch!” he said slurring the last word.
He pushed his way into the house and grabbed my arm, “Help!” I yelled and Tim came charging.
Greg had time to look up and say, “Who the Fuck!” before Tim punched him in the face knocking him unconscious.
I called the police and two squad cars and an ambulance pulled up a moment later in succession.
Two officers walked up to the door and rang the bell. Greg was still completely unconscious. I talked to the officers and told them what had happened both here and at work and the officer said, “You’re lucky your new boyfriend was here. Just last week we had a women murdered by her ex because no one was around to help her.”
“He’s not my-,” I began and Tim walked outside still shirtless.
“There’s the man!” the officer said going up to shake his hand.
“You may have saved your girlfriends life, you’re a real hero you know?” the officer said patting Tim on the back.
“Eh, she might have saved mine yesterday,” Tim replied.
I looked at him. He was humble, he was strong, he was kind and even smart. I could feel my face turning red as the thoughts rushed through my head.
An hour later the whole situation boiled down and everyone left. We headed back inside and sat right back down on the couch.
“Is there any way I could convince you to stay for a few days?” I asked.
He looked over at me and smiled, “Of course.”
We watched Mary Poppins on one of my old DVDs. As the movie progressed he nudged himself closer and closer to me on the couch until I could feel his warm leg against my own. As Mary continued to perform her various feats of magic I dozed off.
When I awoke the next morning to the puppy licking my face. A blanket was over me and the sunlight was out and Mary Poppins was on the title menu. Then I realized what time it must have been.
“Thank you!” I told the puppy.
I went over to pick up my bags and I noticed that next to my school bag was a brown paper bag full of lunch. I ran over and picked Tim up and gave him a hug.
He licked me across my lips. I wasn’t sure where it was a good thing or a bad thing and I said, “Eww, don’t do that when you’re a dog.”
Tim wagged his tail.
I ran off to my car and drove to work. When I walked down the hall into my classroom Carrie was waiting for me by the door.
She ran up and hugged me.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for all this to happen to you,” she said.
“You slept with my boyfriend,” I replied.
“If I didn’t you’d never have realized what a jerk he was,” Carrie said.
The logic was completely backwards but when I thought about it it made sense. I said, “I’ll have to think about it.”
“Come on, I did you a favor in the long run. I heard you met a better guy because of it anyway,” Carrie said.
Once again her backwards logic was dead on. I thought, There’s no way I can’t forgive her. So I forgave her.
“You’ve met him already,” I said.
“I have? Is it Eric?” she asked referring to a guy who we’d met at the gas station.
“No, let’s just say you wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” I replied. My silence would be my revenge. At least for a little while.
“Oh come on, you have to tell me,” she said.
“So you can sleep with him?” I retorted.
“Look, it won’t ever happen again,” she replied.
I sighed. “I’ll introduce the two of you sometime next week,” I told her.
The day passed by quickly and I rushed home slightly before sunset. I wanted to thank Tim for helping me and at the very least ask his name.
When I arrived home Tim was sleeping on the couch. His eyes shot open and he wagged his tail when he heard me. As he ran over he transformed and stood up to face me.
“So how was your day?” he asked.
“It was fine,” I said smiling.
“What’s with the smile?” he asked and I kissed him. He wrapped his arms around my back and gave me a kiss back.
He let go and I said, “Get dressed, I want to take you to the movies.”
“I should be the one taking you to the movies,” he said.
“But you don’t have any money,” I replied.
“I never said that!” he said smirking.
He dressed in sweats and I found an old shirt that Greg had left in the house. We got into my car and drove off towards the theater. As we pulled up to the movie theater I noticed a car I’d seen before. It was Carries.
“That’s Carrie’s car,” I said.
“The other girl from the Cabin?” Tim asked.
“Yes,” I replied.
“Do you still want to go in?” he asked.
“I’m not going to let her ruin our fun,” I said.
I parked the car and Tim ran around and opened the door for me, “Thank you,” I said.
“No problem,” he said grabbing my hand to help me out of the car.
As we began to walk I asked, “What’s your name anyway?”
“Tim,” he said.
“No way, you’re lying,” I said laughing.
“No, I’m just wondering about your psychic aptitude,” Tim said opening the door for me.
Carla was on the the other side of the door. She was looking the other way and seemingly waiting for someone.
I grabbed Tim’s hand and dragged him towards the ticket booth hoping to go unnoticed by her but she yelled, “Sarah, is that you?”
I cringed and turned around. “Hey Carrie, what a surprise. What are you doing here?” I asked.
Carrie frowned and said, “I’m waiting for Greg.”
“Oh that’s horrible,” I said nudging at Tim’s hand trying to get him to walk to the next row over. He didn’t seem to pick up on what I wanted him to do.
“Is this him?” Carrie asked staring Tim down.
Tim looked at her and then back at me. It was in a confused expression that said, “Help!”
“Where do I know you from?” Carrie asked.
Tim gulped and said, “I haven’t a clue.”
Carrie said, “You look so familiar,” she said.
I stepped in between them and shot Carrie a look.
“Where’s Greg?” I asked.
Carrie’s expression suddenly turned dull, “He hasn’t showed up yet or called since yesterday,” she said.
I simultaneously was filled with anger and pity for Carrie. She’d probably been planning to steal Greg from me for awhile but at the same time she stole Greg from me and this is what Karma dealt her.
“Don’t worry about me, go have fun!” she said.
“What about you?” I asked I was starting to feel bad for her.
“I’m sure he’ll show up,” Carrie said.
“He’s in jail,” Tim said.
Carrie’s face contorted and Tim explained what happened.
Carrie came up and gave me a hug and said, “You’re right, Greg is a jerk. I’m so sorry I did this to you.”
Carrie was now more pitiable then ever and I gave in to my pity and said, “Carrie, come sit with us.”
We went in and sat down near the middle. We’d arrived early and the previews were just starting when Carrie asked, “So when did you two meet?”
Tim replied, “Two days ago.”
“Really?” Carrie asked rolling her eyes. She thought she’d caught him in a lie.
She and I had hung out the entire day. It wasn’t until later that night that we’d gone to the barn. I wanted to say something but I didn’t know what to say. It wasn’t like I could say, “My date turns into a puppy during the day.”
“We did,” I said, affirming his story.
Carrie looked surprised by this, “When?” she asked.
“After we’d hung out,” I lied.
She looked me in the eyes with a hint of suspicion. I wanted to tell her that she had no right to judge me, but I kept my mouth shut.
As the horror film went on, I squeezed Tim’s hand and Carrie shot me dirty looks periodically. Something was on her mind.
I leaned over and whispered to Tim, “I have to go to the ladies room, I’ll be right back.”
Carrie followed me.
As we stepped out of the theater she said, “Were you cheating on Greg?” she asked.
“How could you of all people accuse me of that?” I said.
“Answer me you Cunt!” Carrie yelled.
“No, the only cheater here is you,” I replied and began to turn to head back into the theater.
Carrie slapped me and I slapped her back knocking her head sideways. In a flurry of slaps, swipes and clawing the argument had turned into a cat fight and the manager had pulled me off of her.
“Get them out of my store!” he said to his bruisers. A few of his staff escorted me out one door and Carrie an other door. I put my head in my hands and cried. I cried for my best friend and I cried for my life’s state and a warm hand landed on my back.
“Hey, it’ll be OK,” Tim said in a warm tone.
I put my head on his shoulder and cried. He was warm and firm. He was strong and caring, as far as I could tell he wasn’t married. He was nothing like Greg.
His arms were wrapped around me and patting my back. “Are you alright?” he asked.
“I am now,” I said.
He walked me to my car and I drove him home. When we walked into the apartment he took my coat off for me and hung it up. I grabbed his hand and led him over to the couch and he kissed me softly. I kissed him back harder. His eyes shot open playfully and mine were there to match his.
He kissed me again and again and again, his lips were warm and his arms were strong. I slipped his sweat shit off and exposed his smooth, yet firm chest. He slipped his hands down my shirt and the night went on and on.
When I awoke the next morning and the beams of morning light shone through the light curtains illuminating the room, once again there was a warm puppy sleeping between my breasts.
“Good morning” I said.
Tim opened his eyes and gave me a big toothy yawn. He barked once and wagged his tail.
“What a strange situation we’re in,” I said as I sat up grabbing him and pulling him in for a hug.
Tim looked up to me with his big brown eyes.
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to be the one to call it quits,” I said.
Tim wagged his tail and jumped down off of the bed and ran into the kitchen.
I got up and put a shit on. After I followed him in I noticed, before he’d turned back into a dog he’d made us breakfast.