Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, but I'm grateful to Stephenie Meyer for her dream/vision.
I wanted to get this next chapter out ASAP so you all aren't totally worried about Jake. Things will be looking up for him! There is a bit of a disturbing image depicted in this chapter, but it will never come to pass, so you don't have to worry about it! Things are on the up-and-up for our doggie!
I've been here – "the pound" the other dogs call it – for several weeks now. It's very dark at night with only a hallway light on. I get to go for walks sometimes with a volunteer person who comes in just for that purpose. It's nice to see the sunshine and smell the grass. Inside feels like purgatory.
Several times during the day, people come in where the cages are and look at all of us. It's weird. Sometimes a dog is taken out to go with a family. Rarely, they are brought back and reinstalled in their cage. Where do they go? I saw one of my brothers and one of my sisters pass by with some people and never saw them come back. I'm even lonelier now.
Once, I was removed from my cage to spend time with a family which had two small boys. One of them pulled hard on my tail and I snapped at him because it hurt. Didn't he have any manners? Obviously not! I was put back in my cage that day. I'm glad, too. If that was the deal – I'd have to go home with that family – I'd rather stay here.
One morning, I woke up to find a red plastic disc had been affixed to my cage. This was new. I stood up on my back legs and could barely reach it with my teeth. It was hard, but I couldn't dislodge it from where it was hanging. I looked over at the fluffy dogs in the cages across the hall. They didn't have a disc. They also seemed to go out with families with more regularity. This is such a strange place.
Two men from the facility walked through; one was wearing a white jacket. They were talking low, so I could barely hear them. "…by the end of the week," the man in the light brown uniform said. The man in the white jacket nodded firmly, without smiling. His eyes flicked to mine for a moment and then at the red disc on my cage, and then at some other cages. What would be happening by the end of the week? Would I get to go on another car ride?
A solitary man then entered the walkway and looked at the dogs in each of the cages. He had a kind face with an easy smile. I liked him immediately. One of the workers stopped in front of my cage with the man and let me out on a leash. I was able to spend some time with him. He scratched me behind the ears – ooo…that felt so good – and petted me. I liked this man a lot!
The man said to the worker, "I'll take him!" I knew then I wouldn't have to stay here at the pound. I'd be going to a real home with someone who wanted me; someone who was affectionate. Maybe he would have a pond with ducks! I was happy. I'd have a Daddy.
Author's Note: As always, I love to know what you think! Thanks for reading.