Puppy – Short Story

The woman who answered the door startled Carl Gerard.  A mess of curly hair crowned a round face with ruddy cheeks, thin lips and piercing eyes.  Hers was a very average frame, and she was shorter than he’d expected.  

“Yes?” she asked, her voice raspy.

“Tiffany Corman?” he asked, realizing he was staring at her.  “I’m Carl Gerard.  We met on Craig’s list website.  I’m here to pick up the Pug puppy.”

Tiffany stared at Carl, making him slightly more uncomfortable than he was already.  Although he couldn’t put his finger on it, she possessed some intangible quality that unsettled him.  Locking eyes with her, he figured it might be her unrelenting stare.  

“Of course,” she greeted finally with an insincere smile.  “I just had to make sure you were the right one.”

Tiffany wheeled around and walked back into her apartment.  Carl’s forehead wrinkled in confusion as she disappeared around a corner.  “I, uh, do I have the right place?” Carl called out.  “We exchanged some emails about adopting a dog?”

“We sure did,” Tiffany called out from somewhere down the hall.  Carl took a half step forward, unsure if he had permission to enter.  The apartment was small, cluttered with knick-knacks, and stuffed with too-large furniture.  Looking around, Carl guessed why this odd woman was giving away a dog.  This was no place for a pet.

“Then I’m the right one,” he asserted, annoyed with the way she made him feel.  Tiffany emerged from around the corner and stared unsmilingly at him.

“Yes, I think you are,” she answered evenly.

A tan pug appeared from behind her feet.  Sitting next to Tiffany, the pug panted lightly, the tip of his tongue forming a U-shaped protrusion from underneath his snout.  Bending over to invite the pug to run toward him, Carl smiled and forgot the tension of only a few seconds before.

The pug stopped panting and gave Carl a very serious expression.  As Carl’s smile began to fade, the pug charged him without warning.  He tensed and extended his arms as if to catch the tiny dog.  In response to the gesture, the pug leapt into the air at him.  Not expecting the airborne display, he almost dropped him.

“God he’s cute,” Carl remarked, trying to contain the squirming ball of fur.  The pug struggled to  lick Carl’s face while climbing up onto his shoulder.

“I didn’t know pugs could move like this,” Carl admitted, craning his head to look at Tiffany.

Tiffany regarded the pair speculatively.  “When they’re young they can be quite a handful.  They don’t tolerate cold very well and need a lot of affection.”

“That shouldn’t be a problem,” Carl asserted defensively.  

“They’re prone to sinus problems,” she blurted.  

Carl stared at her evenly.  “Look Ms. Corman.  I know that I have what it takes to give this dog a good home.  I have a big back yard, a nice home, and lots of free time to spend with him.  If you think you can find a better owner than me, let me know now before I get attached to him and I’ll leave.”

The pug froze, craning his head to look at Tiffany.  He offered her the same severe expression that he’d given Carl a moment before.  Tiffany looked at the dog and her poker face fell slightly.

“No, no, you’re the right one,” she sighed.  “I’ll miss him, that’s all.”

The dog whimpered slightly, still looking at Tiffany.  Carl blew gently on his head, and the Pug turned and grabbed Carl’s collar in his mouth, tugging gently.

Carl laughed.  “So what’s your name, little guy?”

“His name is Puppy.  That’s all he’ll answer to,” Tiffany explained, handing Carl a collar, leash, and a small plastic bag full of toys.

“A dog named Puppy, huh?” Carl asked, petting Puppy behind the ears.  “Okay then.  Does Puppy have any special needs?”

Tiffany laughed a howling, dry cackle.  “Mr. Gerard, Puppy will let you know what he needs.”

****

Once in the car, Puppy bounced back and forth from the front seats to the back, sniffing wildly at everything.  

“Puppy, let me sit there,” Carl said, ushering Puppy out of the driver’s seat.  Puppy obediently flung himself into the back seat and sat down for about one second before running to look out the window.  He started the car and began the drive home.  Negotiating the traffic, he caught several peeks of Puppy moving back and forth between the windows.

“Sit down, Puppy,” he ordered calmly.  

Carl barely registered that the dog complied immediately.  After driving for less than a block, he heard shuffling in the back seat.  

This is my toy.

A quick glance in the rearview mirror revealed Puppy chewing on the seat belt.  “Puppy, be good,” he called back.  Puppy appeared on the island between the front seats, intent on licking Carl’s face.  

“No no, Puppy.  I’m trying to drive,” he cautioned as if Puppy would understand.

Okay Mister.

Puppy jumped back to the seat, and Carl was sure that Puppy had somehow acknowledged what he said.  Shaking his head, he returned his focus to the traffic around him.  

When they were only a few blocks from Carl’s house, Puppy distracted him again.

I’m going potty.

Carl suddenly knew that Puppy was peeing in the back seat.  “Puppy!” he shouted, looking for the nearest place to pull over.  Jerking the car to a halt, he surveyed the puddle in the back seat before searching his glovebox for napkins.  Puppy stared at him, his ears pinned to his head.

“Puppy, that was bad.  You do that outside!” Carl scolded.

Puppy dropped his head low to the seat, and the wrinkles on his face helped to form a giant frown.  His tail, forming a double-curl rare in pugs, had straightened out and fell behind him.  Carl patted at the pee spot with the few napkins he could find.  

Mister, I’m real real sorry.

Carl froze, and his jaw dropped.  He didn’t actually hear the words, but the message reverberating in his head was unmistakable.  

“Puppy,” he whispered, staring at the forlorn dog.  “Did you, did you just apologize to me?”

Puppy’s face brightened and he cocked his head.  Yes, mister!  I’m real sorry!

Carl shifted in his seat to get a better look at Puppy, his eyes wide.  “You did, didn’t you!  You just said you’re sorry!” he declared.

Puppy’s tail curled back up and began to wag hesitantly, swinging back and forth like a metronome.  

“You understand me, don’t you?”

Puppy’s face seemed to part in a wide grin, the U-shaped tip of his tongue appearing.  Yes mister!

“Huh!” Carl turned back into his seat.  “I have a talking dog,” he remarked, “sort of.”  Reaching up, he adjusted the mirror to get a better look at Puppy, who stared back at him through the reflection.  Puppy shifted in anticipation, his tail rapidly swinging back and forth.

“Come here, Puppy,” Carl ordered.  With the words barely out of his mouth Puppy bounded off the back seat, ricocheted off the island, and landed firmly in the passenger seat.  He faced Carl and planted his butt hard, sitting politely.

“Say something else,” Carl demanded.

Mister, let’s play!  Without hesitation, Puppy spun around and grabbed at the seat belt hanging near the window.  With the strap firmly in his teeth, he looked at Carl out of the corner of his eye.  Here’s my toy!

Mesmerized, Carl watched Puppy tug at the seat belt.  This dog wasn’t actually talking, but somehow Carl knew what he was thinking.  More amazing than that, the dog seemed to know what he was saying.

“So, do you actually understand me?” Carl asked.

Puppy wheeled around and gave Carl a severe expression.  Yes Mister.

Carl stared at Puppy a second longer, shaking his head slightly.  “I’m losing it.”

Not taking his eyes off Carl, Puppy sat down and cocked his head.  I don’t know, Mister.

Carl looked around to make sure no one was watching them.  “I mean I’m going crazy.  Nuts, cuckoo, off the deep end, padded cell.  Do you get it?”

Puppy’s ears dropped, and he let out a slight whimper.  Mister, do you have a tummy ache?

Carl laughed in spite of himself, and he reached out to pet Puppy, who began panting and wagging his tail again.

“What am I going to do with a talking dog?” he asked, scratching his back.

Puppy’s ears pricked up.  I don’t know, Mister.  Can we go home?

Carl thought about Tiffany Corman, and the strangeness of meeting her suddenly made sense.  “First things first.  I want some answers.  Let’s go see your former owner.”

Where’s Missus?

“Come on.”  Carl pulled back out into traffic and drove back to Tiffany’s apartment.  Once there Carl turned off the car and reached for the leash.  Puppy hung his head and his ears peeled back.

Mister, I’m a good boy.  I’ll be good.

Carl stared hard at Puppy for a moment.  “Okay, but you stay right next to me, understand?”

Puppy’s face split in what looked like a smile.  Yes mister.

Carl and Puppy walked around to Tiffany’s apartment and found the door open.  Carl knocked on the door and looked inside, freezing in the doorway.

“Holy crap,” Carl whispered.

The apartment was completely empty.  No furniture, no decorations, no Tiffany Corman.  Behind them, a woman cleared her throat.  Carl turned and looked at the elderly lady standing politely behind him.  

“Are you interested in the apartment?” she asked.

Carl was stunned.  He was sure this was the right apartment, but he’d been gone only ten or fifteen minutes.  “Where’s Tiffany?   Tiffany Corman?”

The lady shook her head.  “I’m sorry, I don’t know that name.  If you’d like to see the apartment, I’m afraid we don’t allow pets,” she explained, smiling politely.

Carl’s head was spinning.  He looked back into the empty room, barely able to grasp what was happening.  “No, she was here!  Tiffany Corman!”

The old lady regarded him blankly.

Mister?

Puppy’s interest in him reeled him back to reality.  Carl looked down at the pug, who was staring intently at him.

“I’m afraid there are no exceptions to our rule about pets,” the lady asserted, less friendly.

Carl smiled and shrugged at the dog.  “Well Puppy, I guess we’re going home,” he chirped.  Puppy stood up and began wagging his tail furiously.  “Thanks anyway, ma’am.  Come on Puppy,” he ordered.  Puppy dutifully trotted alongside Carl and jumped right into the passenger seat when he opened the door.  

****

Carl oscillated between joy and frustration while Puppy integrated himself into Carl’s life.  Puppy managed to behave himself while Carl was at work, only making one or two messes in his absence.  The two quickly formed a routine that began the second he walked in the door to the time he went to bed.

MISTER!  Oh mister, I’m so happy to see you!  Mister you’re home!  I was so sad without you and you were gone a real real long time and I ate and I took a nap and I had to go potty and I’m real real sorry and I defended the house aren’t you proud of me, Mister, I’m so happy you’re back!

“It’s good to see you too Puppy.  Come on, go potty outside.”

Okay Mister!

Puppy’s time outside would vary from less than a minute to the better part of an hour.  Carl would feel Puppy’s absence in the house and open the back door.

“Puppy, come inside!”

I’m a good boy.

“Yes, Puppy, I know.  Come inside!”

Mister, I like to sit outside.

Carl shook his head.  “Okay, Puppy.”  He was only a few feet from the door when the scratching began.

Mister!  Don’t leave me out here!  I want to sit with you!

Carl chuckled in spite of himself as he turned back to the door.  “Okay, Puppy.”

Dinner was another ordeal.  Carl could feel Puppy’s imploring eyes scrutinize his every bite.

“Puppy this is my dinner.  You have your own food.”

But Mister it smells real real good!  Can I have some?

“No, Puppy.”

How about now?

“No, Puppy.”

After dinner, Carl would do the dishes and Puppy would nestle between his legs.  

“What are you doing Puppy?” Carl would ask as he whittled down the sink load.

Mister I like to sit with you.

Carl laughed every time.  “Yeah, I can see that.”

After the dishes, Carl would sit down to watch TV and Puppy would bound up onto the couch with a sock absconded from Carl’s dresser.

Mister let’s play!

Carl would frown or shake his head.  “Puppy, that’s one of my good socks.  Go get your toy!”

Puppy would drop the sock and bounce off the couch.  Yes, Mister!  

After a moment of excited searching, Puppy would appear with a bit of rope hanging from his teeth.  

Mister, let’s play!

A brief and exciting tug of war would ensue, with Puppy invariably working himself into a frenzy and bolting around the house in frantic circles.  Every time Puppy worked himself up, Carl laughed with delight.  Afterwards, Puppy would nuzzle up next to Carl on the throw pillow on the couch.

Mister, this pillow is luxurious.

“Puppy, how do you even know that word?”

I’m a good boy!

Carl’s brow wrinkled in confusion.  “But how do you -? Never mind” he dismissed, electing to rub Puppy’s head.

Mister, I love you.

Carl felt his heart swell, and he smiled broadly.  He scooped Puppy into his arms and squeezed him.  “I love you too, Puppy” he answered, receiving a flurry of licks on his face.

On some nights, long after Carl had fallen asleep, Puppy would startle him awake with a frenzy of barking.

“Puppy stop it!”  Carl hissed.

Mister, this is very serious!  Puppy erupted into another cacophony of barking.  Carl sat bolt upright and grabbed him by the scruff.

“Puppy, please stop!  I’m trying to sleep!” he scolded, releasing his grip on the tiny dog.

Puppy’s ears pinned against his head, and his tail drooped.  But Mister!  They’re coming!

Carl rested his head in his hands.  “Puppy, nobody is coming.  This is not serious.  Don’t bark at night anymore, understand?  No more!”

Puppy hung his head.  Mister, I’m just trying to help.

Carl felt awful for chastising Puppy, but his job required a full night of sleep.  “Then you have to be quiet when I’m trying to sleep!”

Mister, I’m real real sorry.

Carl peered at Puppy in the dark.  “It’s okay.  You just have to be quiet at night, okay?”

Puppy nuzzled closer to Carl.  Okay Mister.

****

A few weeks later, Carl was again jolted awake by Puppy’s barking.

“Puppy!  Stop it!”

But mister!  They’re coming!

“Puppy!  Nobody is coming!” he hissed.

Puppy whirled in two complete circles.  Mister!  They’re HERE!

Carl rubbed his eyes.  “Puppy, I told you -”

The sound of glass breaking was unmistakable.  Carl rolled out of bed, frantically groping for the Louisville Slugger he kept underneath.  Once he had a grip on it, he looked at Puppy.  

“Don’t make a sound,” he whispered.  Puppy couldn’t decide whether to sit or stand, seesawing between both poses.

Carl looked out his window and saw someone hanging half out the driver’s seat of his car.  Blood coursing through his veins, he tightened his grip and bolted for the front door.  

Looking up through the windshield, the thief caught a glimpse of a man in pajamas, wielding a bat, emerging from the house behind.   He began kicking to free himself from the side window when the first explosive stings of impact struck his legs and butt.  The shouting and commotion brought Carl’s neighbor out his front door.

“Call the cops!  Call the cops!” Carl screamed between swings.  He was trying to hit the thief and miss his own car, so his swings were clumsy and hesitant, but still painful.  The thief had finally wrestled himself free and hobbled desperately away.  Carl, hot on his heels, swung again and sent the thief slamming into the garbage cans set out only hours before.

Soon after, Carl was wrapping up his statement to the cops.  He’d told them everything, not wanting to be sued or arrested himself.  The cop scribbled notes and asked a few questions for clarity before congratulating Carl.

“This matches several burglaries in the area over the past few weeks,” the officer explained.  “He’ll be questioned, but you may have just beat up the guy responsible for those crimes, Mr. Gerard.”

Carl turned and saw Puppy staring nervously out the screen door at him.  “My dog woke me up.  I would’ve slept right through it if not for him.”

The cop nodded.  “That’s a good dog.”

Carl smiled at Puppy, who’s face split in a panting smile.  “Yes, he really is.”

****

A month later, Carl was jolted awake by Puppy’s barking in the wee hours of the night.

“Puppy, what is it?”

Mister!  They’re coming!

Carl rubbed his eyes and yawned.  “Let’s go check it out.”

Puppy leaped off the bed, grateful to be taken seriously by Carl.  Yes mister!

After staring out every window of the house for signs of activity, Carl turned to Puppy.  “I don’t see anything this time.”

Puppy pricked his ears to confirm Carl’s findings.  Sounds quiet, mister.

Once back in bed, Puppy let out a long sigh and nuzzled close to Carl.

Mister, I love you.

Carl scratched Puppy’s belly.  “I love you too, Puppy.”