Part 2
Part 2
“Oh, Puppy!” Cat sang. Puppy looked up. Cat was still sprawled on his white mat, his yellow eyes fixed on the front door. “Look who’s here!”
Puppy sniffed the only scent she could never forget. Paw! She screamed in her head as she lunged off Jon’s bed and scrambled toward the doggy door.
The handsome black Border Collie that lived across the street stared down at her lovingly as she jumped out the doggy door and bumped straight into his legs. “Calm down, Puppy,” he said as she smiled back up at him.
They walked straight to Jon’s bedroom like always, leaving Cat scowling behind them. “Is Fernickle being okay to you, Paw?” Puppy asked immediately after Paw helped her up back onto Jon’s bed. Paw took his usual spot on Jon’s empty shelf on the other side of the room.
“Same, same,” Paw replied, flicking off a dust bunny with his tail.
“Then bark at her! Do whatever it takes! Paw, are you listening to me?” Puppy demanded. Paw was examining a crack in the corner of the shelf.
“Yes, I am, Puppy. But you should listen to me. I’ve tried that so many times! It gets worse!”
“Why do you even live with Fernickle, Paw?” Puppy asked quietly.
“Ugh, I’m so tired of that question, Puppy!” Cat rudely interrupted from the living room.
“You’re not a part of this conversation, Cat,” Puppy called back before bringing her gaze back at Paw.
“Cat’s right, Puppy. I’ve told you many, many times. She bought me from the shelter. I wish I could live with you. With Jon!”
Cat scoffed, not hearing his name. “Speaking of Jon…” He purred.
“Get off the shelf!” Puppy ordered Paw. “You get off the bed!” Paw barked at Puppy. They both jumped off their seats in unison, trotting toward Jon.
“Hi, Paw!” Jon smiled at him, giving Puppy a satisfying rub on the head. Cat stretched his legs on the mat and with a soft groan got up and walked to Jon.
“Did you have a good day?” Jon asked, grinning at Cat’s relaxed face. “At least someone did.”
Puppy whined up at him. “Well…” Jon started, running a hand through his dark hair. “Work was fine. But on the way back, I ran into Mrs. Fernickle.”
Paw’s ears perked up at the sound of his owner’s name. Cat could tell Jon definitely saw that he had Paw’s undivided attention, but he could tell Jon was ignoring Paw.
“Paw, I’m so sorry,” Jon said. Paw could tell something bad was coming up, and so could Cat. Puppy was just plain confused.
“She’s sending you back to the shelter.” Paw stared at Jon with a blank face. Cat stood at Jon’s legs, not knowing who to look at, and Puppy stared at Paw as Paw barked at Jon.
“I know, Paw. Fernickle said she… wants a better dog. One that ‘actually helps her.’” At Paw’s louder barks, Jon said, “I’m sorry. I don’t know what to do.”
At this, Paw just whined. Puppy jumped a foot backward in shock, while Cat gawked at Paw. This sound had never come from him. He barked, he growled. But never had he just whined. Paw was a brave Border Collie, one of the bravest Puppy had ever met. The sound that Paw just created was an insult to her… even to Paw himself.
So before Puppy could stop herself, she bounded out the front door, which Jon hadn’t bothered to close, and to the house across the street. The house of Mrs. Fernickle.
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