Three Animal Stories
Gary Whitmore
Copyright By Gary Whitmore 2011
Smashwords Edition
This story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to events or places or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
A Dog’s Life Story
Chapter 1- A Dog’s Life
It was a beautiful early day in May across Western Pennsylvania and especially in the city of New Castle.
On the outskirts of New Castle, a new housing development was being build by the Hanson’s Construction Company. This new development was called Highland Estates with thirty new homes being built in a nice woodsy country setting.
At the entrance of the construction site was the office for Hanson’s Construction, which consisted of a single wide old trailer. The owner of this company was Mike Hanson; a 40-year-old married man of average height and average potbelly for men of his age group. Mike was still a handsome man with some gray hairs that started to peek through his full head of brown hair. Mike inherited the business from his father, Ernst, who founded it in 1960.
It’s now 4:30 in the afternoon and the sounds of power saws and hammers pounding nails just ceased to indicate the end of another workday.
Mike stepped out of his office trailer and watched while his workers headed to their cars and pick up trucks parked in the dirt parking lot.
“Great progress today, guys. See you tomorrow,” he called out to some of the workers while they got into their vehicles.
A few of the workers acknowledged Mike with some waves or nods of their heads.
“We’re going out for a few beers. Want to join us, Mike?” one of his workers offered.
“Nah, I have tons of paperwork to finish, you know, paychecks,” Mike responded.
“Well, then, I think you should get back to work,” another worker replied jokingly then got inside his pick up truck.
Mike went back inside his trailer and walked over to the coffee pot. He poured a cup of coffee then walked over to his desk filled with paperwork and sat down.
The trailer door opened and Russ Gates, a 55-year-old foreman for Mike, entered the trailer. Russ was hired by Mike’s father back in 1975 and had continued to be a valuable asset with keeping Mike’s company successful.
“Progress is looking good with the units,” Russ said while he removed the hard hat off his head and sat down at his desk. He kicked his Steel Toed boots up on his desk and ran his hair through his gray thinning hair.
“Good, are there any concerns with making our August deadline?” Mike asked then sipped some coffee.
“No indications yet,” Russ replied then placed his boots on the floor and stood up. “I’m going out for a few beers, want to join me?” he offered.
“Thanks, but I need to get the payroll finished,” Mike answered then sipped some more coffee.
“Well, don’t stay here all night,” Russ replied then walked to the door. “See you in the morning,” he said then left the trailer.
Mike went back to work writing out paychecks for his workers.
While Russ walked over to his Chevy Silverado pickup truck, a mangy looking female reddish haired terrier mix mutt named Ginger, snuck out of the construction site through a hole in the fence.
Russ got into his pickup truck and drove out of the construction site while Ginger moped down the side of the two-lane country road.
Thirty minutes later, Mike walked out of his trailer and locked the door.
He walked over to his Ford F-250 pickup and got inside. He started it up and drove out of the construction site. He stopped, got out of his truck and locked the front gate to the site. He got back in his pickup and drove off down the two-lane country road.
A little while later, he turned on his radio and the Aerosmith’s Walk This Way song played.
“Then you’re sure to be a-changin’ your ways,” Mike sang along with Steven Tyler and played some air guitar.
Then he spotted Ginger while she moped down the road on the right hand side. An evil smirk grew on his face while he accelerated his pickup and raced after the stray dog.
Then the second the front of his pickup was by Ginger, he blew his horn.
Ginger got startled and jumped off the road and landed in a big mud puddle on the side of the road.
Mike glanced in his rearview mirror and saw Ginger while she stepped out of the puddle, soaking wet, then she shook off the water. She continued to mope down the road. He chuckled and felt proud of himself. “Stupid ugly mutt,” he said then returned to his song. “Walk this way, talk this way,” he sang out along with Steven Tyler while he drove down the road.
In Mike’s neighborhood, Louise LeBlanc was 70 years old with long white hair that contained some purple dyed streaks down the side. She walked down the sidewalk with a limp and a cane. She was a spooky woman from New Orleans and spoke with a Cajun accent. A massive male Mastiff dog named Boodro walked alongside Louise where he was connected to a leash.
Louise and Boodro walked at the end of Mike’s driveway at the same time he pulled his pickup into the driveway. Louise felt threatened by his pickup so she bolted across his front yard dragging Boodro by the leash almost choking him. She stopped and glared back at Mike.
“I hope that stupid Boodro didn't use my front yard as a bathroom!” Mike said while he got out of his pickup and walked to his front door.
“You shouldn't treat your neighbors that way!” Louise scolded Mike.
“I don't consider a dog or a weird voodoo lady my neighbors. If I had my way, I would give him to that new Chinese restaurant down the street. And deport you back to New Orleans!” Mike replied with a mean tone.
Louise hissed at him like a mad cat. Boodro snarled at Mike.
“Give me five seconds alone with him,” Boodro said quietly to himself.
Louise walked Boodro across Mike's yard to her house, which was next door, and was painted a light purple color.
Mike walked to his front door.
The Hanson home was nicely furnished. The living room had a mahogany wood entertainment center with a 52-inch HDTV on a stand, nice expensive beige couch, plush lazy boy chair and wooden floors.
“I want that voodoo queen and her ugly mutt to stay off my grass!” Mike said the second he stepped foot into his living rom.
Jenny Hanson, Mike’s 6-year-old girl daughter rushed into the living room. “Daddy!” she cried all excited out the second she saw Mike.
Then Chris Hanson, Mike’s 8-year-old son rushed into the living room after Jenny. He had a baseball glove in his hand.
Mike knelt down and gave Jenny a hug the second she rushed up to him.
“Daddy, will you have a catch with me?” Chris said excitedly while he held up his glove and baseball.
“Then will you join my tea party?” Jenny asked with a gleam in her eye.
“Maybe another day kids, daddy's exhausted from a hard day at work,” he said while he walked over and plopped down on his lazy boy chair. He grabbed the remote off a small table next to the chair and turned on his TV.
Debbie Hanson, Mike’s 40-year-old blonde haired wife entered in a jogging outfit and stood at the archway.
Chris and Jenny moped out of the living room and felt hurt that Mike wouldn’t play with them.
Debbie watched while Jenny and Chris moped down the hallway and went inside their bedrooms.
“What did you say Mike?” she asked a little concerned.
“That voodoo lady,” he answered.
“Her name is Louise LeBlanc and don't make her mad,” Debbie quickly interrupted him.
“Whatever, anyway, she had her ugly dog in our yard again,” he replied while he surfed through the channels.
Debbie eyed the hallway. “Okay, but what did you say to Chris and Jenny to upset them?” she asked a little concerned.
“They wanted to play, but I'm too exhausted, Debbie,” he replied while he stopped on the ESPN channel.
“You better get some energy before the kids are all grown up and will definitely want nothing to do with you,” she snapped back.
“I hear you,” Mike replied but he could really care less, as all he wanted to do was relax and watch TV.
She rolled her eyes knowing she was up against his thick head. “I’m going jogging, I’ll make dinner after my five mile run. We’re having spaghetti,” she said then walked to the front door and left.
Mike turned to an ESPN channel and kicked back in his lazy boy chair.
Later that evening, Mike sat in another lazy boy chair in their fourth bedroom, which was his playroom.
Mike played the Aerosmith Train Keep A Rollin song on his pristine Sunburst Les Paul guitar. He was really good and missed those days more than 20 years ago when he played in the band called The Rockers in high school.
Debbie entered the den all sweaty in her jogging outfit. She glanced over at Mike and got a little upset. “I guess you're not too tired to play your guitar?”
“When's dinner?” Mike replied ignoring her question.
“After I take a shower and hopefully in twenty minutes if I’m not too tired,” she replied then walked away upset with him.
Mike continued to play his song on his Les Paul.
Later that evening, the Hanson family sat around the dining room table and ate their spaghetti with meatballs dinner.
“Chris has a little league game this Saturday and Jenny has a ballet recital,” Debbie told Mike.
He frowned while he sipped his ice tea. “I can't Debbie, the crew's working Saturday. I could get a nice bonus for finishing this project early,” Mike replied then he munched on a meatball.
“You're always working! Can't you spend a weekend doing something with the family for once?” Debbie scolded him.
“I’m sorry honey, somebody has to work to pay for all this,” he quickly replied then looked at Jenny and Chris. “So kids, how was your day at school?” he asked to get Debbie off his back.
“Carey Whitestone got sick in class so we had to stand in the hallway while the janitor cleaned the room. It stunk!” Jenny said when slurped up some spaghetti noodles.
“Joey Brooke showed us his new puppy. Can we get a puppy?” Chris said excitedly.
Mike frowned at his request. “You know how I feel about dogs. All they do is use the house as a bathroom and chew toy,” Mike replied.
“But Mommy talked with Uncle Kenny and he has a new puppy at the shelter,” Chris added with a gleam in his eyes at the prospect of having a puppy in the house.
Mike gave Debbie a stern look. “I don't think so, they're a waste of precious money.”
“But they’re so cute!” Jenny added.
Mike continued to eat and ignored everybody.
Debbie discreetly winked at Chris and Jenny.
They both smiled and knew what that meant.
Chapter 2 – A Dog’s Life
It was another beautiful morning in New Castle.
The Hanson household woke up, ate their breakfast and then Mike was off to work while Debbie got the kids ready for school.
Then she went off to work as a bank teller in town.
At his construction site, Mike wore his hard hat while he walked with Russ down the main street of the new neighborhood.
The sound of nail guns and saws filled the air while the workers worked on the homes in various phases of construction.
“Looks like our load of plywood for roofs of units twenty-five thru thirty will be late,” Russ said.
“When will it arrive?” Mike asked a little concerned.
“In five days,” Russ replied.
“Five days? I can't wait five days,” Mike said worried that the good progress will slow down.
Then something caught Mike’s attention while he looked at a framed house when they turned and walked down another street. He didn’t see the white Chevy government car that was parked at one of the homes down that street.
Mike walked Russ to the framed house and they saw Ginger in the living room area eating part of a sandwich on the wooden floor.
“Get out of here you ugly mangy mutt!” Mike yelled at Ginger while he ran over to the framed house. He picked up a sawed off piece of 2x4 board then ran through the framed front door opening.
They didn’t notice the government Chevy that drove down the street and turned onto the main street.
Ginger saw Mike with the board in his hand and she knew this meant trouble. She grabbed the sandwich and ran between the openings of the framed outside wall.
Mike ran back through the front door opening and ran across the yard after her. He threw the 2x4 piece of board and it bounced in the ground a foot behind Ginger’s running paws.
Mike walked back to Russ who stood in the front yard and saw the whole event.
“Tell the crew I don't want them leaving food around the site. And check the perimeter fence for any gaping holes,” Mike ordered while he watched Ginger run away. “Also have someone check the property to make sure that dog is gone,” he added.
“Got it boss,” Russ replied while he saw a worker walk out of the framed house. “Hey Jack, boss man wants you to check the property and make sure that stray dog is gone,” Russ called out.
“Okay,” Jack replied but he’s the one that’s been leaving Ginger food and will pretend he’s checking the area over.
Mike and Russ walked back to the main street and headed toward the office trailer.
A few minutes later, they walked back to the trailer where that government Chevy was parked.
“This is just great. OSHA is here,” Mike replied as he recognized the car.
They walked to the trailer with some hesitation.
Mike and Russ entered the trailer where Danny Malone, an OSHA Compliance Officer sat at Mike’s desk and wrote on a pad that contained a government form. Danny saw Mike at the door of the trailer. “Good morning, Mister Hanson,” Danny said while he stood up and tore off the form. “I found four of your guys not wearing eye protection when using some power saws while cutting two by fours,” he said then handed Mike the citations. “I saw this three months ago and gave you a warning,” Danny said then walked to the door then left the trailer.
Mike slammed the fines down on his desk. “Now I have to deal with these OSHA citations. Can my day get any worse?” he said very upset. “I want a meeting right now with everybody,” Mike yelled at Russ.
“Yes boss,” Russ replied then walked to the door and left the trailer.
Mike ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
Ten minutes later, Mike had his entire crew out by the trailer and yelled at them for violating safety rules. He dismissed them back to work and he went back inside the trailer along with Russ.
Fifteen minutes later, the trailer door opened and Howard Langley, a 50-year-old homeless man with long stringy dirty hair and a long beard stepped inside. Howard reeked of body odor and his clothes were filthy and tattered, and stood by the door with a dirty old brown Fedora hat in hand. “Excuse me sir, my name is Howard Langley and I'm looking for work. Any work even if it’s picking up trash,” Howard asked with hungry eyes.
Mike and Russ looked over at Howard. Russ cringed the second he smelled his body odor. Mike couldn’t smell due to some sinus problems 20 years ago.
Mike got up from his desk and walked over to Howard a little bothered. “Like I've told you before, we don't have a job that's suited for you. So you better get off my property or I'll call the police,” Mike told Howard with a raised voice.
“Sorry sir and bless you,” Howard replied then opened up the door and stepped outside.
Mike walked over to his desk and sat down.
“Man, it's a good thing you can't smell. That was some strong body odor,” Russ said while he sighed a sigh of relief Howard was gone.
The phone on Mike's desk rang. “Hanson’s construction,” he answered the call.
“Hi honey. How's your day going?” Debbie asked from the phone.
“Lousy, OSHA was just here and left me some fines,” he replied.
“That’s too bad, listen, I was talking with Kenny and was curious with your decision with helping him expand his animal shelter?” she asked.
Mike frowned at her request from the phone.
Inside Kenny’s I Luv Animals shelter, Debbie sat by Kenny at his desk. Kenny Hamilton was Debby’s 37-year-old younger brother. He held Rascal, a 1-year-old white haired Weshi puppy with a unique patch of brown hair on his left side, in his arms. Kenny looked hopeful while Debbie talked into her cell phone.
“I can't ask my guys to work for free on a weekend,” Mike replied from her cell phone.
“You can call it charity,” she said while she petted Rascal’s head.
“I'll think about it some more. I gotta go,” Mike replied then disconnected his end of the call.
Kenny looked at Debbie with hopeful eyes.
Debbie shook her head and indicated Mike wasn’t going to build his expansion.
“Oh well,” Kenny replied very disappointed.
Debbie looked at Rascal in Kenny’s arms, and her eyes lit up. “He sure is adorable,” she said while she petted his head.
“His previous owners left him out in the woods when they didn’t want to care for him. So the little guy needs a good loving home,” Kenny said while he kissed the top of Rascal’s head.
Debbie looked at Rascal and she smiled while she had an idea, as she couldn’t resist his adorable brown eyes.
Back in Mike’s trailer, he got up and walked over to the coffee pot. He poured another cup of coffee.
“Another request on expanding Kenny's shelter job?” Russ asked while Mike sat down at this desk.
“I need to come up with a good excuse to get out of it forever,” Mike replied then sipped his coffee.
“I think we could handle a little charity work,” Russ quietly replied to himself while he went back to ordering some supplies.
Mike ignored him and went back to his paperwork.
It was later that evening and Mike pulled his pickup truck into his driveway. He frowned when he had to park behind Kenny’s Toyota Prius.
“I just don’t feel like dealing with him tonight,” Mike said with a whiny tone while he got out of his truck.
He walked across the grass and headed to the front door. Then his face suddenly cringed when something didn’t feel right. He looked down at the bottom of his right boot and saw dog poop smeared all over the bottom. “That stupid voodoo woman!” he cursed while he wiped the bottom of his boot on the grass.
After his boot was cleaned, Mike went inside his house and he didn’t notice Louise who stood by her front door. She heard the mean comment he made about her, and went inside her home furious.
“I'm home,” Mike called out while he closed the front door. He heard laughter that came from the bedrooms. He smiled at the thought of Jenny and Chris having fun.
Then Rascal raced into the living room. He stopped five feet from Mike and wagged his tail. He ran up to Mike and jumped up on his legs wagging his tail.
“Get this dog out of here!” Mike yelled out furiously.
Rascal raced out of the room, scared with his tail between his legs.
Jenny and Chris ran into the room.
“Daddy, you scared Rascal,” Jenny scolded her father.
“Rascal? Why is there a dog in my house?” Mike asked a little upset.
Kenny and Debbie entered the living room.
Mike frowned. “Kenny, don't bring your animals in my house. Keep them at the shelter where they belong,” he said.
“But daddy, Uncle Kenny gave us Rascal,” Chris told him while Rascal poked his head around the wall from the hallway to see if it was safe. He gave Mike the sweetest brown eyes he could muster. He crawled on his belly to Mike to become friends.
“I told you, I don't want a stupid dog. They're useless!” Mike yelled while he glared down at Rascal.
Rascal sensed his hatred and got up on all fours. He made a quick turn around and ran out of the room and down the hallway.
“How could you not want a beautiful dog like Rascal?” Kenny asked a little upset with Mike.
“Jenny and Chris, go play with Rascal in one of your rooms,” Debbie told them while she glared at Mike.
Jenny and Chris ran out of the living room and then down the hallway.
Debbie looked mad with Mike while she walked up to him “What's wrong with you? You had a dog when you were a kid,” she said in a raised tone.
“Yeah and the stupid thing got rabies, bit me and I had to get all those shots along with eighteen stitches,” Mike replied. “Then dad shot it,” he added.
“Not all dogs get rabies, Mike,” Kenny said and felt sorry for Mike feeling the way he does about dogs.
“Did you see how much those kids love him?” Debbie asked.
“He'll stink up the house,” Mike quickly replied.
“You can't smell and besides, this is my decision and Rascal stays!” Debbie said and gave Mike a look that meant she wasn’t going to back down.
Mike opened his mouth to say something, but immediately closed it when he saw Jenny, Chris and Rascal poke their heads around the hallway with hopeful eyes.
“That thing can stay, but under my conditions. One, the mutt sleeps in the back porch,” he said.
“Ahh Dad!” Jenny and Chris replied in unison from the hallway.
“Like I said, he sleeps in the back porch. Two, you'll clean up any mess he makes in the house or in my yard. Three, you'll feed and give him water, as I won't. Four, he's not allowed in my den and I emphasize not allowed. And five, he's not allowed in the kitchen. If any of these rules are violated, the mutt goes out the front door,” Mike declared.
Jenny and Chris jumped up and down in excitement. Rascal joined not knowing why they were happy but it appeared to be a good thing to do at the time.
They ran down the hallway, and Rascal ran after them.
Debbie and Kenny smiled.
“I better go,” he said then headed to the door.
“That would be nice,” Mike replied quietly to himself.
Debbie opened the door for Kenny, and he gave her a quick kiss on her cheek then went outside. She closed the door and looked upset with Mike.
Debbie glared at Mike. “You know, it wouldn't hurt for you to be nice to my brother, for once!” she scolded him then walked out of the living room.
Rascal inched his way back in the living room. He looked at Mike, who lunged at Rascal.
Rascal ran away scared down the hallway.
Mike looked proud of himself while he sat down in his lazy boy chair and turned on the TV.
A little while later, Debbie snapped a digital picture of Rascal with Jenny and Chris. She emailed it to her mother, down in Orlando, Florida, who quickly replied a little while later stating Rascal was adorable.
It was later that night and quiet in the Hanson household.
Mike and Debbie slept in their bedroom. Then Rascal was heard while he cried and howled, from the screened-in back porch, scared from being left alone.
Mike woke up and heard Rascal. He nudged Debbie’s sleeping body. “Shut that mutt up,” he said then rolled over.
Debbie placed her pillow over her head and ignored him.
After a few minutes of Rascal crying and howling, Mike couldn’t take it any longer and got out of bed. He placed his feet on the floor and his face immediately cringed and looked grossed out. “That mutt vomited on the carpet,” he told Debbie who was asleep and didn’t hear him.
Mike hobbled out of the bedroom with one foot off the floor out of the bedroom and hobbled into the bathroom.
After he washed his foot, he rushed down the hallway.
Louise entered her back porch with a Homes For Sale magazine for the New Castle area in one hand and a glass of wine in her other hand. She sat down and opened up the magazine then sipped her wine. Boodro entered the back porch and lay down next to Louise.
She heard Rascal cry and howl from Mike’s back porch. She curiously peeked over her magazine.
Boodro jumped up on all fours and looked over at Mike's back porch when he heard another dog.
“He got a dog? No way,” she said while she continued to hear Rascal cry.
“Shut up you ugly mutt!” Mike was heard when he stuck his head into his back porch.
“Yep, he got a dog,” Louise said then got a smirk.
“That dog’s a whiner,” Boodro said while he looked at Mike’s back porch.
Louise looked down at Boodro. “I can arrange for you to sleep outside!” she threatened him.
“On second thought, poor guy,” Boodro replied.
Boodro and Louise stared at Mike's porch while Rascal got quiet.
Chapter 3 –A Dog’s Life
It was the next morning and Mike didn’t talk to Debbie or the kids while he got ready for work.
Later that morning, Russ reviewed blueprints at his desk in the office trailer.
Mike entered the trailer with bags under his eyes. He was exhausted and Russ noticed.
“You look awful,” Russ said.
“I didn't sleep a wink last night?” Mike replied while he walked over to the coffee pot and poured a cup.
He walked over to his desk and plopped down in his chair.
“Playing the guitar all night?” Russ asked.
“I wish but no, that stupid dog was crying all night,” Mike replied.
“The Voodoo neighbors dog?”
“No. Debbie got the kids a puppy,” Mike replied then sipped his coffee.
Russ looked at unsure he heard correctly. “Did you say that Debbie got the kids a puppy?” Russ asked.
“Yep, an ugly mutt,” Mike replied then drank some more coffee.
“Are you kidding me?”
“I'm not, but it won't last long,” Mike said while he drank some more coffee to get motivated for the workday.
“Why do you say that?”
“I laid down some rules and I know in a couple of weeks, they'll break them,” Mike answered with a smile knowing the puppy will be gone soon.
“It would do you good to have a dog. They’re man’s best friend,” Russ said while he got up from his desk and walked over to the coffee pot with his cup.
Mike glanced out his window and saw some of his workers at a nearby house feed Ginger in the front yard. He jumped up from his desk and ran over to the door.
“They’re also like,” Russ said then the slamming of the office door while Mike ran outside stopped him.
“Family,” Russ finished while he walked over the windows and watched while Mike was outside running over to that house.
Mike ran to those workers who fed Ginger.
“Quit feeding that thing! It might have some type of disease!” Mike screamed at his workers.
They quickly scrambled back to their work locations the second they saw Mike running mad at them.
Ginger saw Mike and she ran away as fast as her little paws could move.
Mike walked back to his trailer and went inside.
“All I need is that mutt getting hurt on my site, then I'll have those SPCA and PETA freaks picketing outside my gate, he said while he walked back and sat down at his desk.
Russ rolled his eyes then returned to his work knowing it would be pointless to discuss this any further with Mike.
It was 6:00 p.m., and Mike drove his pickup home fretting seeing Rascal.
Mike pulled his pickup in the driveway and parked.
He got out with a newspaper in hand and went through the front door.
The second Mike entered through the front door he saw a puddle on his nice expensive wooden floor. He instantly got mad. “That dog of yours made a mess on our floors. It's going to ruin it,” he yelled out.
A few seconds later, Rascal poked his head into the living room from the hallway.
Mike saw Rascal and immediately rolled up his newspaper. He ran after Rascal who immediately ran down the hallway.
The second Mike stepped into the puddle on the floor, his shoes went out from under him and he landed on his butt and splashed in the puddle.
He cringed when the puddle started to soak through his pants.
Debbie walked into the living room with a rag and cleaning solution to eliminate doggie odors. She saw Mike while he got up from the puddle and saw the huge wet spot on the seat of his pants. “I guess I don't need the rag,” she said with a chuckle.
Mike fumed. “If this keeps up, that dog will be out of here,” he said then stormed out of the room and went to his bathroom to change his pants.
Debbie shrugged off his comment while she got on her knees and wiped up the remaining puddle deposited by Rascal.
Later that night, Mike sat barefooted in his lazy boy chair while he watched the ESPN channel on his TV.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Rascal while he zoomed down the hallway toward the kitchen. Jenny and Chris laughed while they raced after him.
Mike got irritated. “No running in the house!” he yelled then he returned to watching ESPN.
Then from the corner of his eye, he saw Rascal run back down the hallway toward the bedrooms. Jenny and Chris were hot on his tail.
“I said, no running in the house!” Mike yelled a little louder. Then he heard a splash come from the bathroom and he got mad. “What are you doing in there?” Mike yelled a little louder.
“We're giving Rascal a bath,” Debbie yelled back from the bathroom.
“In the house? That's what the outside hose is for,” Mike yelled out.
“No Daddy! Bathtubs are for baths,” Jenny corrected him from the bathroom.
Mike rolled his eyes then heard more splashes and giggles from Jenny and Chris from the bathroom.
“No Rascal! Come back!” Debbie yelled out from the bathroom.
Rascal raced slopping wet into the living room. His paws slipped out from under him and he slid across the floor. He slammed into Mike’s feet and came to a stop.
Rascal stood up and shook himself and sprayed water all over Mike. He got furious with Rascal. “That dog is getting the wooden floor and me wet!” he yelled out.
Mike jumped out of his chair and quickly grabbed Rascal by the scruff of his neck. Rascal yelped in a little pain from Mike’s grip.
He stormed out of the living room and into the kitchen while Rascal looked terrified while he dangled from Mike’s grip.
Debbie, Jenny and Chris ran into the kitchen and saw Mike with Rascal.
“Where are you taking Rascal?” Chris asked and got worried while Mike headed to the kitchen door.
“Outside where he belongs!” Mike said while he got to the sliding glass door.
Jenny looked concerned. “But he'll get fleas.”
“That’s not my problem,” Mike said while he opened up the sliding glass door and dropped Rascal on the porch floor.
He slammed the door shut and locked it.
Jenny and Chris ran over to the door and looked out its window. They looked ever so sad while they saw Rascal who sat on the porch with the saddest puppy dog eyes.
Debbie looked furious with Mike then she stormed out of the kitchen.
Jenny and Chris’s eyes welled up while they watched Rascal who just sat on the back porch who whined to be let back inside the house.
Mike walked out of the kitchen with a smile and wiped his hands on his pants.
Later that night, everybody in the Hanson household was sound asleep.
Then the sounds of Rascal crying and howling from the porch were heard throughout the house.
Mike and Debbie were sound asleep in bed.
Mike woke up and realized it was Rascal he heard. “Will someone shut up that dog, or else?” Mike called out.
That woke up Debbie who looked mad at Mike. “It’s your fault since you stuck him out on the back porch. You live with it!” Debbie snapped back then put her pillow over her head and went back to sleep.
Mike placed his pillow over his head to drown out the sound.
Then Jenny poked her head out of her bedroom doorway and looked up and down the hallway. The coast was clear so she stepped out in the hallway and tiptoed down the hallway to the kitchen.
She tiptoed through the kitchen and up to the door.
Outside on the porch, Rascal immediately wagged his tail the second he saw Jenny at the window in the door.
Jenny unlocked the door and opened it and Rascal immediately rushed into the kitchen. He jumped up on Jenny’s legs, and wagged his tail so happy to be with her.
“Be quiet Rascal,” Jenny whispered in one of his ears. She picked him up and tiptoed back through the kitchen and down the hallway.
Jenny tiptoed into her bedroom while Rascal licked her face.
Once she was inside her bedroom, she placed Rascal on the floor then closed her door and left it cracked opened about an inch.
She walked Rascal over and set him down on the edge of her bed. He wagged his tail so happy to be inside the house.
She walked over and grabbed a book off her bedside table. “I'll read you a story if you stay quiet,” she told Rascal while she got under her covers.
Rascal ran over and lay on the bed and placed his head on Jenny’s leg. He closed his eyes while she read him a story.
It was hours later and Jenny was sound asleep with her book in her lap.
Rascal woke up and looked around the room. He then got curious when he spotted the cracked door opening.
He got up and walked to the edge of the bed. He jumped down and walked over to the door.
He used his paw and opened up the door.
He walked out into the hallway. He sat down and looked up and down the hallway.
He got up and walked down and poked his head into Chris’ bedroom.
He walked farther down the hallway and poked his head into Debbie and Mike’s bedroom. He wagged his tail when he saw them sleeping in their bed.
He walked into their bedroom and jumped up on their bed.
He walked over and lay down between Mike and Debbie. He closed his eyes and fell fast asleep.
Chapter 4 – A Dog’s Life
The sun rose in New Castle to start another day.
Mike and Debbie were still sound sleep and Rascal slept inches from Mike's face. Rascal woke up and licked Mike’s cheek, and he smiled. Rascal licked Mike’s lips, and Mike kissed back with a smile. “Mmmm! What's the occasion honey?” he said while he opened up his eyes in anticipation of Debbie kissing him. His eyes widened in surprise when he saw Rascal’s happy brown eyes that admired Mike. “Ahhhh!” Mike screamed and jumped out of bed.
That woke Debbie up in a panic and she jumped up and looked around to see the emergency. “What happened?” she asked a little bewildered, as to why Mike screamed.
“That ugly mutt kissed my lips!” Mike yelled out while he pointed at Rascal who cowered in fear on the bed.
Debbie saw Rascal and laughed.
“Come here boy,” Debbie called out to the dog.
Rascal quickly ran to her and wagged his tail.
“Get this dog out of my room,” Mike yelled out then frantically wiped his lips with the sleeve of his tee shirt.
Debbie chuckled some more while she took Rascal out of their bedroom.
Later that morning, the Hanson’s sat down for breakfast.
Jenny and Chris at their Cocoa Krispies at the kitchen table.
Debbie cooked some scrambled eggs and bacon for Mike on the stove. Rascal sat on the floor near her and watched with a vigil eye in hopes she would accidently drop food on the floor.
Mike entered the kitchen dressed for work, and had a look of disapproval the second he saw Rascal. “We need to talk. I've just about had enough with this dog,” Mike told Debbie while he crossed his arms.
“About what?” she replied with a tone that she knew what was coming next.
“About what? I’ll tell you about what. This dog broke the rules I established,” Mike snapped back with a raised tone.
Jenny and Chris looked upset while they glanced over at Mike.
“Lighten up. He's only a puppy. He doesn't mean any harm,” Debbie said while she scooped up some eggs and placed them on a plate.
Mike walked over and grabbed Rascal by the scruff of his neck. Rascal yelped in pain.
“Daddy, you’re hurting, Rascal!” Jenny cried out concerned.
Mike ignored Jenny’s concern. “Like I said, he's not allowed in the kitchen,” he said while he walked over to the kitchen door. He opened it and dropped Rascal onto the floor of the back porch. He slammed and locked the door.
Rascal stood by the door with had the saddest brown eyes wanting to be inside with his new family.
Jenny and Chris got up from the table and rushed over to the window of the door. They looked upset when they saw Rascal who looked so sad.
“You're a meany Daddy!” Jenny called out and ran out of the kitchen then down the hallway, and to her bedroom.
“Yeah, a meany!” Chris joined in and ran out of the kitchen then down the hallway, and to his bedroom.
Debbie looked at Mike with his plate of eggs and bacon in her hand. She looked at Mike and got mad. She walked over and opened up the cabinet under the sink. She dumped Mike’s breakfast into the trash then set his plate in the sink.
“What are you doing?” he asked her.
“Make your own breakfast, meany!” she said at a raised voice at Mike then walked over to the kitchen table and grabbed the kids cereal bowls.
Mike walked out of the kitchen knowing he better leave for work.
Debbie walked over and set the kids cereal bowls in the sink. She waited for Mike to leave the house.
After a few minutes, she heard Mike leave through the front door. It was safe so she walked over and opened the kitchen door.
Rascal ran inside and jumped up on Debbie’s legs with his tail wagging.
He ran out of the kitchen and down to the hallway to be with the kids while they got ready for school.
Thirty minutes later, Mike entered his office trailer with a Burger King bag in hand.
Russ reviewed some blueprints and looked up at Mike while he sat down at his desk looking upset. He opened up the bag and removed a Sausage Egg and Cheese Butty sandwich and a large cup of coffee.
Mike took a bite out of his breakfast sandwich and stared out the windows in deep thought.
Russ knew something was wrong and waited a few seconds while Mike chewed. “What’s bugging you? That OSHA citation?” Russ asked a little concerned then he sipped his coffee. “When do you meet with them?” he added.
“Tomorrow morning at eight and I want you there. And I’m not worried about them,” Mike replied.
“Then what’s eating you?”
“It's that dumb dog. I have to find a way to get rid of it,” Mike said then took another bite of his sandwich.
“What's wrong with having a dog?” Russ asked.
“He's ruining my home life,” Mike replied then sipped some coffee.
“That's too bad as like I said before, a dog is known to be man's best friend.”
“Not this man! I hate dogs with a passion,” Mike replied then took another bite of his sandwich.
Russ rolled his eyes and knew it wouldn’t be worth his time to argue with Mike’s thick head.
Mike stared out the window while he sipped his coffee. He noticed some scrap plywood and 2x4 boards on the front yard of a nearby house. His eyes widened with an idea. He got up from his desk and rushed over to the door.
Russ watched curiously while Mike rushed out of the door. He looked out the windows and saw Mike rush over to that house with the scrap wood. He watched while Mike rushed inside the house.