Chapter 1, R.I.P. Man's Best Friend

Summary: This is chapter 1 of A Blind Teen's Gotta Do what a Blind Teen's Gotta Do. In this chapter, it's the first day of school for the gang's junior year of high school, but when Tommy awakens that morning to find that his furry companion since infanthood has gone over the rainbow bridge, the afternoon after their first day of school has concluded, will be a very emotional one for them all, as they see to giving their friend, a proper burial in the backyard.

Disclaimer: I do not own Rugrats AGU, they're the property of their original creaters. I only own any OC's you don't recognize, which includes Zack and his family, while Peter is owned by TCKing12, and Jesse is owned by Jesse J. Barrow.

It was September 4, 2027. It had been a few weeks since the gang had taken that trip to Neverland, and Tommy had discovered his echo location powers, and met up with his favorite movie director of all times, Martin Costomoris, and since they returned to Yucaipa, Tommy spent the remainder of his summer, filming for the movie being made about Ben Underwood, with him playing the part, under the direction of Mister Costomoris, called The Mystery Boy. They were only through the first few scenes by the start of the school year, but they agreed to continue production and filming on the weekends.

Tommy POV

It was the first day of school of my junior year. I had a lot to look forward to, from continuing work on the movie with Martin, to being captain of the wrestling team, after earning my title during senior prank day in the tenth grade, and I was taking AP Gym, where I'd get to do such activities as rock wall climbing, and tight roap walking. And after having to miss most of my tenth grade year as a result of my accident that left me blind, only attending for the final two weeks in June, to take my CCAS tests, as well as final exams, and get things in place for next year for me, something told me this was going to be a very good year. Of course, I was still girlfriend less, as while I met Silvia on that cruise ship, well, I hadn't heard from her since I returned, but maybe it wasn't meant to be. Nonetheless, when my alarm went off at 6:00 AM on that fine Tuesday morning in early September of 2027, I got out of bed, and headed downstairs to do the chores I did every morning before school, which were to feed Spike and Spikfee their breakfast, and unload the dishwasher. Then I'd grab a Reptar cereal bar to go, shower, get dressed, and head out the door. Well, little did I know this morning would have other plans for me.

"Spike, Spikfee." I called as I put their bowls of dogfood down on the ground. I knew when they were near, as each one of them would come up to me and lick my hand, but on this particular morning, only one dog was licking my hand. I knelt down to find that Spikfee had come for his breakfast, but Spike did not.

I called for Spike several more times, but he didn't come. Then I remembered, he had slept outside last night, while Spikfee had slept with Dil, who had to leave early because he was trying out to be on the Yucaipa High track team this year, and they were having tryouts early on the first day of school. Well, I headed out to the backyard to look for Spike, and my foot bumped into something lumpy on the patio. I knelt down, and found it was Spike, but he was, well, he was, dead. My heart sank, as I burst into tears, unable to move. Now Spike was over sixteen, which is old for a dog, was overweight, and I noticed during my tenth grade year, especially since I was home a lot, that Spike moved a lot slower, but did this day finally have to come? I knew it would eventually, but it's one of those things. You're never ready for it when it does, it always feels like, it hit sooner than you would have liked. Nonetheless, it's as if nothing else mattered to me at that moment. The only thing that disturbed me from my thoughts and tears, is when I heard footsteps come up behind me.

"Hey, Tommy, what's wrong?" Jesse asked, stooping down and laying a hand on my trembling shoulders.

End of Tommy POV

Jesse POV

It was the first day of school, and just as I walked Tommy to school during CCAS week last June, I agreed to continue it once the new year started in the fall. So I headed to his house, to have Dil let me in on his way out, as he was running late to track team tryouts. I looked all over for Tommy, but couldn't find him in the house, and his parents were sleeping in, since Stu worked on his own schedule making inventions, and, I'm guessing the school where Didi worked, wasn't starting the same day we did, as even she wasn't awake, as I peaked into their bedroom to find them still asleep. I then found Spikfee carrying an empty food bowl in his mouth, so took it from him and got him some water, when I saw out the kitchen window, that Tommy was out on the patio near the swimming pool, next to Spike. But I noticed something else too. Tommy looked like he was crying, which told me something was wrong. So once I refilled the water bowl for Spikfee, I headed out to the backyard to see what was up.

"Hey Tommy, what's wrong?" I asked, as I knelt down and lay my hand on his trembling shoulder. Then I saw it, Spike's dead body lying on the ground, just inches from the edge of the swimming pool, thankful that while he had died, it wasn't because he fell in and drowned. Tommy turned around towards me, his face streaked with tears.

"Spike died last night in his sleep." Tommy replied to me, in a barely audible whisper.

My heart sank at that very moment, as I started crying, and gave Tommy a huge hug.

"I am so sorry pal." I said in between tears.

We continued to stay embraced like that until I heard a vibration from my pocket. Then, it hit me. The alarm I had set on my phone had gone off, reminding me that we needed to be at school in ten minutes, we'd better hurry if we were doddling along or anything. Well, we surely were running late, and Tommy wasn't even dressed yet.

"Oh my gosh, Tommy, we need to go! You go get some clothes on and I'll grab you a couple of Reptar cerial to go bars from the kitchen, and an energy drink." I said.

"I don't think I wanna go to school today." Tommy replied.

"But you have to go, it's the first day. And, it will take your mind off of the events. Don't worry, we'll give Spike a proper funeral after school. Now hurry and go put on something quickly. Afraid while your under shirt and boxer shorts look nice, you can't be seen in those in school." I said, helping Tommy up from the ground and leading him back into the house.

Tommy ran upstairs and threw on some clothes, while I got some breakfast to go for him. He came back down and I handed him the Reptar cerial to go bar, but he just, thrust it back into my hand.

"I'm not hungry." Tommy said, as we headed out the door towards school.

"Come on Tommy, you should really eat something." I said, but he just, shook his head, and we walked the rest of the way to school in silence.

End of Jesse POV

Zack POV

It was the first day of our junior year in high school, and I couldn't wait to get to school, and tell everybody of the awesome summer I had, getting to play in the Beepball championships with the Bay Area Microchips, and the trip I took to Neverland for Tommy's sweet sixteen, where I got to spend practically everyday there with the love of my life, Kimi. Not only that, but I was getting to take the AP courses I had been longing to take, or though I thought. Anyway, my thoughts were interrupted when Chuckie's blue sports car pulled into the apartment parking lot. Nicole was riding shotgun, Chuckie was driving, and there was Kimi in the back, finishing a powdered doughnut, and holding out a cherry one to me and a pineapple mango smoothie, as I hopped into the car.

"Well good morning sugar lips." I said to Kimi, staring at her face, all covered in powdered sugar. She turned away and wiped her face clean with a napkin before responding.

"Morning Zack, ready for the first day of school?" Kimi asked.

"As ready as I will be I guess." I replied, taking a bite of my doughnut.

We finally got to school, and I finished my doughnuts and smoothie just in time. As I was heading towards my locker, an announcement came over the P.A. system that caused my heart to jump a beat.

"Would Zack Wehrenberg, report to my office immediately. That is all." Said Principal Johnson over the P.A. system.

I couldn't believe it. Barely two minutes at school, and I was already in trouble. Nonetheless, I went to his office, as it seemed rather strange, unless, something was up with one of my classes.

"Good morning Principal Johnson. You asked to see me?" I asked, as I took a seat across from his desk.

"Yes Zack. As you know, Tommy Pickles lost his eyesight in an accident last year, and this is his first day back at school. And while he has someone to adapt his work for him, he refuses to have any adults go with him to his classes." Said Principal Johnson.

"Where do I come in in all of this then?" I asked.

"Well, we would feel better if Tommy had someone in his classes who was familiar with the blind and visually impaired, and since your aunt is blind, and nobody else in this whole school has a clue, I'm sorry to say that you've been removed from all of your classes, except for band and jazz band, and you and Tommy will have the same schedule for second, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh periods." Said Principal Johnson.

I was displeased that they were doing this. And besides, it's not like Tommy's going to want me there. The trust between him and I was broken last January when the love triangle between him, Kimi, and I was revealed. But I wasn't up for arguing on my first day back at school, so reluctantly went along with it, taking my new schedule from Principal Johnson's hand, and headed down to band, where they were starting to warm up, and sign up sheets for marching band were out on Mister Deadly's desk. I picked one up, eager to march this year in the Halloween parade, as well as the Veterin's Day parade, and, it appeared we marched in the Fourth of July Parade every summer as well too.

The rest of band was relatively uneventful, as Mister Deadly went over what we would be playing this year, talking about how we would be selling oranges and grape fruit later on to raise money for our upcoming band trip to Vancoover Island in Canada, and we played a few scales on our instruments, to warm up and get a little bit of practice in before the bell rang for second period. I knew today would be a relatively easy day, as most teachers would be going over the syllabi, and talking about what we'd be doing this year. Nonetheless, I headed to my second period class, which was now, English with Mrs. Kong, but on the way there, I ran into Lance and Dil in the hall, who were now sofamores this year.

"Hey you two, how goes it?" I asked.

"Oh it's fine, just heading to our next class, in hopes that no aliens invade the school and attack us." Replied Lance.

"Man, when are those two going to grow up!" I thought to myself, and then, I looked over at Dil, who not only looked, sad, but was being normal for a change.

"Hi Zack." Dil said quietly under his breath, as he continued walking towards his class, not backwards, not on his hands, but like any typical student.

"Hey Lance, what's up with Dil?" I asked.

"I don't know, he's been, well, too quiet and normal today. Maybe aliens have landed in his brain or something." Replied Lance.

I didn't reply, but rather, shrugged it off, and headed in the opposite direction towards class, hoping that Dil was ok.

I got to my English class, and found it pretty much filled up, with one empty seat open next to Tommy. I sat down, and looked over to see Tommy there, his iPad out on his desk, ready to take notes, as he had his earbuds in so as none of us would hear Voice Over, but he looked as miserable as he could be. I don't think I saw him look that miserable since the day I moved away over five years ago.

"Something bugging ya pal? It's Zack." I said, tapping Tommy on the shoulder.

But he just brushed my hand off his shoulder, not saying anything to me.

"Good morning class, I'm Mrs. Kong, and welcome to English 301. Let's settle down and get started." She said, passing out a bunch of syllabi to all of us.

The rest of English class was uneventful, as we talked about what we would be reading this year. I recall it would consist of such stuff as The Great Gaspy, Romeo and Juliet, and The Oddisy by Homer. I then went to jazz band and my fourth period math class, unable to get Tommy and Dil off of my mind. What could be bugging them, and why was Dil acting, well, like a normal person. I was thankful to have first lunch this year, which met after fourth period. It was then, when my questions were answered. I didn't have my Reptar skateboard, since Chuckie and Kimi gave me a ride to school, so settled for a salad at the cafeteria, in hopes it would be edible, and found Jesse at a table with Chuckie, Lil, Nicole, and Kimi. Then, I noticed at the next table over, Tommy was seated with Dil, Lance, and Phil, which totally threw me for a loop, as Tommy hardly ever sat with the weird, annoying, gay folk, or at least he usually tried to avoid them at all cost whenever possible, since he had to put up with them much of the time at his house after school and on weekends.

"Hey, Jesse, have you noticed something going on with Tommy and Dil today?" I whispered in Jesse's ear.

"Yeah, well, I have a bit of bad news for you." Jesse whispered back.

"What?" I asked.

"Their dog Spike died this morning." Jesse replied.

I nearly stopped eating, unable to move. Our furry companion since toddlerhood, gone. I'll never forget when Chuckie and Kimi lost Feefee a few years ago. Ok, it was more like a couple of years ago. I was still in Wheeling, and it was my freshman year of high school, when I gave Kimi a call late one night, to find her crying histarically into the phone. I asked her what was up, and she told me how her dog Feefee had run out into the road, and gotten run over by a car. They had her creamated, and buried her ashes in the backyard, but still, it was very sad, and now, here it is again, only now, it was with a furry companion who we spent a ton of time with, as hardly a day went by when we were kids, when we weren't in Tommy and Dil's backyard, going on some adventure, with this furry companion of ours, and now, he was, gone.

None of us spoke the rest of the lunch period. If anything, we all just sat there in silence, thinking about all of the times we had with Spike. I knew exactly what we'd be doing after school, and I didn't hesitate one bit, as soon as the final bell rang, I met up with Chuckie and Kimi, and, sure enough, we drove to Tommy's house.

End of Zack POV

That afternoon, everybody had gathered in Tommy's backyard, where Phil was digging a whole to bury Spike's body in, which hadn't left the patio where he was found that morning all day. Tommy, Jesse and Zack carried Spike's body to the whole once it was dug, placing him in, and Phil covered it up. Chuckie covered it with dandelions, and the gang stood there in a circle around where Spike had been buried, in silence for several minutes. Zack was there, along with Peter, Jesse, Chuckie, Kimi, Phil, Lil, and of course, Tommy and Dil. Angelica and Susie weren't there because they were away at college.

"Ok guys, I know this isn't going to be easy for any of us, but we should each go around, and share our most fondest memory of our time with Spike. It's the only way I can think of, to say goodbye, not to mention, I'm filming this ritual, it would be wrong to post a silent funeral on to the infamous youtube channel of Spike's owner and friend." Said Zack, pointing to the camera across the way on the tripod, and glancing around the circle of friends.

"I'll go first. Spike, you were a dear companion to us. I'll never forget that time when the Reptar wagon got stolen at the park. I think Tommy and I were about 2-years-old at the time. You and Chuckie had left the park the day before, making Taffy angry with us, so the following day, she wasn't going to take us back there so we could continue looking, in hopes to get it back for some contest we were entering it in. But Tommy wasn't giving up, and, I knew just what he was going to do. Sure enough, he, Chuckie and I road Spike and Spikfee, all the way to the park, and it was fun!" Said Zack.

"I don't have a lot of memories of Spike, I just remember him being fun and playful. He was always there for us." Said Jesse.

"Spike was one in a million. Nothing would ever be able to replace him. Not a poodle, not a spider, not even jerbals. And believe me, we tried all of those that time when Spike ran away, nothing cheered Tommy and me up until the day Spike came back." Said Chuckie.

"I remember when Spike and our now late Feefee had puppies. It was my first Easter with you guys, and Angelica told us that Spike would forget about us, but Tommy wasn't giving up. Spike remembered us, and was the best daddy ever." Said Kimi.

"I remember when we thought Spike was a wonderdog, and Angelica tricked us into making us think Spike could talk." Said Lil.

"Yeah, I seem to recall that too. You guys had me tied to a tree, in hopes Spike would come save us, and, he sure was a funny wonder dog. He didn't save uncle Liol or nothing." Said Phil.

"I remember that time when Spike took care of a bunch of lost kittens in a whole in the wall of Tommy's house. The way he used Chuckie's shirt as a blanket, and made a house out of Angelica's barbeque. Then, we got the kittens some milk, constantly messing up Stu's sidewalk path, but in the end, we got the kitties some milk, and everyone put their footprints into the sidewalk." Said Peter.

"I'll never forget when my brother didn't want to share Spike with me. So he got Phil, Lil and Chuckie to be my pets, but then, Angelica tried to take my snack, and Spike saved me, and from that day forward, my older brother shared him with me, just as it should be." Said Dil.

After Dil finished his speech, it all went silent, as they waited for Tommy to go, who was the last one to speak up.

"You got anything to say Tommy? I know this is hard for you, so we'll give you all the time you need." Said Zack, putting an arm around Tommy.

Tommy POV

That first day of school was a total blur for me, as I couldn't concentrate. All I could do was think about Spike, and all we had been through together. What memory of our past could I share, then, it hit me, I had the perfect one.

End of Tommy POV

Tommy sighed and took a deep breath before he began.

"I'll never forget that time when grandpa was taking us to the museum. I was sad cuz Spike couldn't come with us. So we ventured through the museum to find a present to take home to Spike. We found a whole bunch of bones, and while some lady stopped us, and my grandpa had found us, I managed to catch a bone for spike as the statue fell, and, he loved it! I'm gonna miss you old pal, Spike, may you, rest in peace." Said Tommy, as everyone gave one another, a group hug.

The End

Author's Notes: I know that was a sad story, but it had to be done. And, I couldn't have picked better memories for each character to reminiss about, I almost think those memories of Spike fit each one of them perfectly, in terms of what they would have had to share about him. Look for more stories, coming soon.