A/N so here is another story from me. Something I thought of while playing with my friend's dog. Also what do you think about my new avatar? I was at the store and saw these two toys and couldn't leave not buying. It was just screaming to me that's Ponyboy and Johnny:) Anyway hope you enjoy the story and leave me a review.
It was December 23rd right before Christmas. This Winter December was very cold. I was walking through the park on my way home from school. It was snowing hard and the snow was prickly and harsh. I flipped the collar of my jacket up and put my hood on. I was walking fast trying to escape the harsh weather, the snow crunching under my feet.
I was about to exit the park when I saw him - a puppy drowning in a pile of snow and making a low noise. I walked up closer. The puppy was black with hair curling on his back, and big black eyes. He was all covered with snow. I walked up even closer- he was shaking from the cold. When he noticed me he froze and his big black eyes were pleading. I felt a pang in my stomach. Who the hell left him here, I thought. I remembered that I had a candy bar. "Hey, here," I stretched my hand with the candy bar. The dog moved back then carefully sniffed the candy and took it from my hand.
I kneeled down to his level. His eyes were looking at me, and there was as so much hurt in them. I thought only human eyes can express so much sorrow, but apparently I was wrong. I started walking away, then turned around. The puppy was still there, and he was shaking something awful. No, there is no way I can leave him there to freeze to death, I thought. I walked back to the puppy and carefully so not to scare him stretched my arm and grabbed him. He tensed up in my arms. "Easy," I said stroking his hair, "whatever happened to you buddy. I'm not going to hurt you." the puppy looked me straight in the eyes, and I thought he reminded me of Johnny.
I unzipped my jacket half way and carefully placed the puppy inside so only his head was sticking out, hoping he'll warm up a little this way. The rest of the way I carried the puppy stroking his hair and talking in a soothing voice. He was still tens and shaking.
When I got home I set the puppy on the floor, and went into the kitchen to get something for him to eat. I could see from the kitchen the puppy went into the corner of the room and was sitting there shaking. I found fried chicken leftovers in the fridge. I put it in a bowl and set it in front of the puppy. He didn't move. I moved the bowl closer. "Hey, you got to eat something." The puppy took a step forward and sniffed the food. Then he started eating. "There you go," I patted him on the back.
He was still cold, so I decided to give him a warm bath. I filled the bathtub with lukewarm water, and brought the puppy. I liked him a lot already, and wished Darry would let me keep him. I gently put the puppy into the tub and grabbed the soap bar. He seemed to relax as I ran the soap through his hair. After I was done I wrapped the puppy into a towel and set him on the bed in my room. The minute I set him free he got out of the towel, and started to shake the water off, the drops of water flying everywhere, and I couldn't help it but chuckle. I sat down in a chair by my desk and was watching the puppy in the corner of my eye. The puppy looked around then yawned. Then he stretched out on my bed and fell asleep.
In a little while I heard the door slam - Soda was home. "Pony, are you home?" he yelled. I went into the living room, "Don't yell," I said.
"What's the matter?" Soda looked up surprised as he proceeded to take his jacket off and throw it on the couch. "It's nasty out," he complained, pulling his boots off and then taking his socks off too standing there barefoot. "So what's the matter? Are you in trouble? Do you need me to defend you from Darry again?"
"No, no," I assured him, "let me show you something." I started walking towards my room, and Soda followed me.
We entered the room, and I pointed to the bed. "What a hell?" Soda asked, his eyes wide.
"Found him in the snow in the park, he was about to freeze to death." I replied, grinning at Soda and then added "Hope Darry is going to let me keep him."
"Good luck with that," Soda chuckled, and I glared at him. "Alright, alright I'm only kidding," he held up his hands.
The puppy opened his eyes, and he looked scared. Soda walked up to him and tried patting him on the back, but the dog moved back and started shaking. "He is very scared," I said, motioning for Soda to let go.
"I can see that," Soda replied walking back to stand next to me.
"You should go get some dog food from the store," Soda said next.
"That's a good idea," I agreed, "I'll go, and you stay with him." I searched my pockets, "I don't have any change." Soda took out his billfold and handed me a $10 bill. "Get the one that's for puppies not for adult dogs." I rolled my eyes, as if I didn't know that.
On my way to the store I kept thinking of what to say to Darry so he lets me keep the puppy. When I got back home with the food, I found Soda in the living room patting the puppy and the puppy licking his bare feet, Soda laughing at him.
"I can see you two made friends already," I said, setting the bag of dog food on the counter. The puppy didn't look so scared anymore. I put the bowl of food in front of him, and he started eating really fast. "He must be starving," Soda said, leaning on the wall, watching the puppy eat.
"We should think of a name for him," I suggested. Soda gave him a long look. "How about Cody?"
"Cody?" I wrinkled my nose.
"What's wrong with it?" Soda said.
"Dunno he just doesn't look like a Cody."
"How 'bout shadow, he's scared of everything." I wrinkled my nose again.
"Fine, then you think of something."
"I guess we'll figure it out later," I suggested, picking up an empty bowl and quickly washing it.
After the puppy ate he seemed more relaxed, and went to the middle of the room. I found a small ball on the floor and threw it at the puppy. He caught it and brought it back to me. I threw the ball a few more times, and each time the puppy caught it and brought it back to me. Then I crumpled a sheet of paper into a ball and threw it at the puppy. He jumped up, made a small noise, and caught the paper with his paws.
"That's a good boy, good catcher," Soda said, patting him on the back.
"That's it, that's his name." I said exiting the kitchen and walking into the room.
"What?"
"Catcher - that should be his name." I said thoughtfully.
"Hm," Soda was thoughtful for a minute, "I guess that's a good name," he grinned at me. I sighed, "I really hope Darry lets me keep him." Soda only shrugged in response.
Then I looked at the floor, and there was a small stain on the carpet next to the puppy. "Shit," I mumbled, running my fingers through my hair, "he peed on the carpet."
"Great, that'll help to convince Darry to keep him," Soda said sarcastically. It was almost time for Darry to get home so I sprinted to the bathroom cabinets where we kept cleaning products. I found carpet cleaner and grabbed a paper towel. I sprayed the carpet cleaner onto the stain, and was trying frantically to get the stain off. It wasn't working. You could still clearly see the stain.
At this moment the door opened, and Darry walked in. The puppy ran to the coroner of the room, and to my surprise, started barking at Darry. I looked over at Soda, and he put a hand over his mouth so he wouldn't laugh. Darry stared at the puppy – "Ponyboy what a hell is going on?" He inquired, putting his toolbox down on the floor. All of the sudden I found it difficult to speak. "You see Darry," I started, and the dog barked again, "I was walking though the park and found this puppy. He was freezing to death so I took him home."
Darry gave me one long look, "Alright," he then nodded. "I will get the address of the shelter from the phone book, and we can take him tomorrow." I was silent not knowing how to start. Then I cleared my throat and said, "I thought … maybe… I could keep him..." Darry didn't let me finish the sentence – "Absolutely not." He pointed a finger at me. Then I interrupted him and didn't let him finish either, "C'mon Darry, it's Christmas, it was meant to be." I said reluctantly, biting my lower lip.
Up to this point he didn't notice the stain on the carpet, and I braced myself for the moment when he would notice it. He sighed tiredly and dropped into his recliner. "Ponyboy, I'm too tired to argue with you, but having a dog is a big responsibility. You got to walk him, give him baths, feed him, take care of him."
"I can do it," I hurried to say enthusiastically walking up closer to Darry.
"And who is going to look after him when you are at school and we are at work?"
"I get home at three," I protested, "and besides Soda can check up on him during his lunch break, right Soda?" I gave him a meaningful look.
"Alright, alright" he agreed.
Darry still didn't look convinced. "Please Darry," I pleaded, "who knows what can happen to him at the shelter. It's Christmas it would be the best Christmas gift I ever got." At this moment Darry's gaze fell onto the stain on the carpet. "Ponyboy is this what I think it is?" His voice roared. I nodded, "he peed on the carpet, but that will never happen again. I will walk him as many times a day as needed. Please Darry," I pleaded again. Finally he sighed again. "Alright I'm giving you one week to prove to me that you can take care of him. If after a week I don't think you can, we are taking him to the shelter."
"Oh Darry thank you, you won't regret it."
"Alright, I see the dog has his food, but do we have anything to eat?"
"I'll make sandwiches," I said quickly before he changed his mind.
On Christmas Eve everybody gathered at our place. Two- bit walked into the room and saw the puppy right away. The puppy was stretched out on the floor next to the couch. "Whoa who is this?" he chuckled.
"Found him in the park, he was about to freeze to death so I took him home." Two-bit picked up a ball from the floor and threw it at the puppy. The puppy caught it, and brought it to Two-bit. "Does he have a name?" Two-bit inquired.
"Catcher," I replied.
"I could see that," Two-bit chuckled again.
Dally was standing in the hallway observing, then proceeded to sit down on the couch. The puppy stood there for a little while looking at him and wiggling his tail. Then to everybody's surprise he jumped on Dally's lap. Dally cringed, while the puppy started licking Dally's nose. Dally looked like he didn't know what to do. "He likes you, man," Two-bit laughed.
"Right," Dally said sarcastically leaning deeper into the cushions. Then Johnny went into the kitchen, and filled a bowl with water and set it on the floor in the living room. The puppy jumped off Dally's lap and started drinking. Then he moved closer to Johnny, who was sitting on the floor watching TV, and rested his head on Johnny's leg.
"All right the food is ready," Darry called out from the kitchen, "Pony and Johnny set the table." We started setting the table, and the puppy followed Johnny around. Soon we were done, and everyone sat down to eat. This was one of the best Christmas Eves I ever had.