A/N: This story was inspired by my favorite book of all time as well as it's film adaptation, 'The Fault in our Stars' by John Green (The book and it's author will be referenced a lot in this story). This is an AU where Sherman is diagnosed with type IV lung cancer and has to carry an oxygen tank and nasal cannulas wherever he goes. Now when he's seven, Sherman meets a beautiful girl who is in his cancer support group with him and they get closer and closer day by day. Anyways, enjoy!
(Sherman P.O.V.)
I'm Sherman, the boy who was adopted by Mr. Peabody, the world's most inteligent and most accomplished dog back in 2007. I was perfectly normal until I was four years old. I woke up in the middle of the night feeling like I couldn't breathe and I was coughing up a storm. Mr. Peabody took me to the hospital and I got treated.
It was the saddest day of both our lives because the doctors said that I had lung cancer, type IV I might add. Ever since then I've been taking three prescription cancer medications three times a day. And I've been told by the doctor to carry an oxygen tank with me with a nasal cannula attached to it to help me breathe.
But that day really hurt my dad, Mr. Peabody. He found out his adopted son, his puppy had cancer. But ever since then he's been spending a lot of time with me. We do everything together. We like the same TV shows, we share a hobby of painting miniature Godzilla figurines. He even took me to Disney World and Epcot Center for my sixth birthday.
I have a lot of friends, but they mostly come from my cancer support group that I attend every Saturday. Ever since I started going there when I was about five, I've been having great friends who go through their lives knowing they have cancer and they're able to rise above it and be like everybody else.
Also, there is one thing you might wanna know about me that you might either find strange or interesting. Ever since Mr. Peabody gave me this book for my seventh birthday, I've come to relate to it a lot and it's become the only thing I read over and over again. It's called 'The Fault in our Stars', it's about a girl who (Coincidentally) has the same cancer I have and falls in love with some guy who had cancer in his leg so he had to get it cut off and get a prosthetic to replace it and the rest of it is romantic and sad at the same time.
The author of the book, John Green is my hero to this day ever since I've read his book for the first time. His book made me cry as well as making his characters and story very similar to my situation and my life. I hope I get to meet him one day, I would truly faint from happiness if I did.
Also, I've been pretty much home-schooled my whole life. But the city of New York had to submit one lone phone call to us saying I had to go to normal school. Lucky me (Notice the hint of sarcasm).
(Normal P.O.V.)
Sherman walked through the hallways of 'Susan B. Anthony Elementary School' wearing a long sleeved gray shirt, black jeans, his favorite pair of black high top Chuck Taylor sneakers, and on his head was a gray wool beanie. He was carrying his oxygen tank around in a black single strap bag with the strap going over his chest and his cannula was connected as well.
"Okay, classroom C" Sherman said to himself as he looked to his left to see the class he was looking for. Once he opened the door, he saw his teacher as well as his classmates who were wearing uniforms.
"Are you Sherman?" asked the teacher. He only nodded and walked over to his seat, hanging his bag with his oxygen tank on the back of the chair itself. As he sat down, he overheard people talking about the cannula as well as the oxygen tank, and he overheard people complaining why they had to wear uniforms to school and he didn't. The teacher caught that comment and spoke up.
"Because the school board made an exception for Sherman to wear what he wanted to class" she said before continuing writing stuff on the board. Sherman knew that having the privilege to wear his normal clothes to school was simply a mere 'Cancer Perk'.
Cancer Perk: Something that people diagnosed with cancer get because the other person feels sorry for them. Examples: Getting to wear normal clothes to a school that has the students wear uniforms, celebrities signing their treasured personal belongings, etc.
Sherman just took out a notebook and just copied down everything the teacher wrote off the board and answered some history questions correctly. History was one subject that Mr. Peabody tutored Sherman in very well. He knew almost everything about history. The other students were even impressed at Sherman's knowledge.
(Sherman P.O.V.)
Class was over right about now and I was sitting with my new friends, Mason and Carl. I told them all about my cancer, what my hobbies were, my support group, and a few other things. I noticed one girl from my class, Penny Peterson walked over to our table and began speaking to me.
"What'cha got there, Sherman? Kibbles or Bits?" she joked. I just decided to ignore the joke and just answer the question normally because that's what Gus would do (One of the main characters of 'The Fault in our Stars').
"Actually, I've got baby carrots, organic apple juice, and a tuna sandwich" I said right before taking a bite of my sandwich and speaking again with my mouthful.
"It's a super high in omega threes" I said right before swallowing the food.
"So you eat human food?" she asked.
"Yeah, why wouldn't I?" I asked back. She then got a smirk, which signaled me that she was gonna do or say something insanely hurtful.
"Because you're a dog" she said. I knew it, I knew she was gonna say or do something like that. I lost my smile and it became a look that showed that her words really made my feelings hurt.
"No I'm not" I said, trying to stand up for myself. But I will admit that my attempt to get her to stop was a little weak.
"Sure you are. Your dad's a dog, so you're a dog too" she said with her smirk turning into a smug look that had 'I can get away with whatever I want because I can' written all over those pale pink lips.
"Actually, I think you've got it confused. It's an adopted relationship" said Carl. Penny gave him a death glare and told him to 'Zip it' and he did so.
"And seriously, what is with the tank?" asked Penny pointing to my oxygen tank in my bag.
"It helps me breathe" I told her. This girl was being so cruel, I couldn't tell if her cruel and abusive teasing was because Mr. Peabody was my dad, or if it was because of my cancer.
"Well, whether you need that stupid thing or not, you're still a dog. Let me show you. FETCH!" she shouted smacking the sandwich out of my hand and it landed on the floor. Everyone started laughing and I heard Penny talk into my ear.
"Sherman, go get your food. Make like a good little doggy. Arf! Arf!" she taunted. I just got up from my seat and walked the small distance to where my sandwich was and then I heard Penny talk again.
"Hey, dog boy!" she shouted. I turned around to her hand grabbing onto my cannula tube and yanked it off my oxygen tank. I then began worrying and ran over to Penny to grab my tube back. She just raised it up higher and higher and made me jump for it, but she refused to give it up.
"Come on, give it back!" I pleaded. I felt my breath getting shorter.
"Admit you're a dog and I will" said Penny. I then began gasping and coughing rapidly and I clenched my throat with my hands. I then fell backwards onto the ground gasping for air.
"Please (Gasp) please" I begged silently in between my gasping. Mason stood up.
"This isn't funny! Can't you see that Sherman is suffocating!? Reconnect the tube now!" Mason demanded.
"Shut up Mason" she said. Mason just sat back down. I felt like I was ready to black out within a matter of minutes.
"Get away from him!" a voice shouted. It was a girl's voice. I looked up to see a girl with short brown hair wearing a blue V-neck t-shirt with black and white striped sleeved underneath the shirt itself, and black skinny jeans punch Penny and swiped my cannula tube out of her hand and reconnected it to my tank.
"You okay?" she asked me as she sat down beside me. She raised her hand up and down and spoke as she did so.
"It's alright now, just breathe. In, out, in, out" I followed her instructions and I felt like I could breathe again.
"Are you okay?" she asked me. My eyes were letting tears fall out and I shook my head, I almost died because of Penny Peterson's stupid choice.
"What the Hell is wrong with you?" she asked as she stood up and stood in front of Penny. Penny now had a small purple bruise on the left side of her face on her cheekbone because of the punch the other girl inflicted upon her.
"You're defending a dog? Seriously? I guess that makes you a dog too" Penny said with her hands on her hips.
"You know what? Screw you" said the other girl extending her middle finger out at Penny. I heard the other students gasp at that. She helped me up and picked my bag that had my tank up in her hand.
"Let's get you to the nurse, okay?" she offered sweetly. I nodded and wiped my tears away.
A/N: There you have it! Chapter one! I hope you liked it. I wanna make it just like TFIOS, but not too much like TFIOS. I know how much you love that book and movie as much as I do, so I know this story is gonna appeal to a lot of you.
Penny was being foolish, she almost caused Sherman to die because she just wanted to tease him and go so far as to cut off his oxygen supply. More to come in the next update. Please review, thanks!