This story belongs to Eric Holingsworth and i am posting it with his expressed permission.
Pup Tense
By
Eric H
Ah Spring Break.
To kids Arella's age it means a trip to the beach and general cutting loose for a few days. Ah yes, taking advantage of ones young years.
"Rotten son of a…" Arella grumbled while pushing the roaring antique vacuum cleaner across another of Wayne Manor's thousand or so Persian carpets.
Yes vacations were being had, but not for Arella. While Bruce was in Oslo taking part in a week long symposium on non-lethal weapons the girl was given the duty of watching Ace. She hadn't fancied a trip back to Kansas so a week in Wayne Manor seemed like a dream come true. A dream that is until Bruce gave her a list of chores he wanted done.
All of the list entries were pretty standard busywork fare: dusting of his porcelain collection, waxing the kitchen floor, etc. But her hostility came from the week's major project: vacuuming all the rooms on the first floor. One might easily dismiss it but the place was huge!
To make matters worse, she was forbidden entry downstairs. The girl had hoped to spend her vacation time scanning Bruce's artifacts and perusing the database but she had been entirely shut out. And God only knows what fail safes he had set up to keep her honest.
Arella had accepted some hardships when she agreed to be his intern but this was seriously going above and beyond the norm. Terry was the lucky one. He had fallen so behind in school he was spending his vacation back in Hamilton making up lost credits. Just her luck for being so damn smart
Early that morning she plugged in Bruce's steel and plastic dinosaur and began work. There were forty rooms on the bottom floor so she figured eight a day should just get her through. Hard to believe how much dust these rugs collect. She doubted any of these had been trod on in her lifetime.
"…from their tower they can see it all: Teen Titans." She sang over the machines roar
During a search of the net she found a recording of Ma's old theme song. So goofy, no wonder she had never mentioned it.
BING BONG!
The manor's booming doorbell trumped the machines ancient roar. She stomped the vacuum's power button and trotted through the foyer to the front door. Mister Wayne never got visitors so this must be something important. Ace was pacing expectantly by the entryway. Arella could sense the Doberman's hope it was Bruce
"Stand down Bat Dog 'Arella said twisting the doors massive deadbolt' He wouldn't use the doorbell."
She pushed the thick wooden doors open. Before her stood an older, rather irate man holding a large cardboard box.
"Where the hell is Wayne?" The stranger growled
"He's gone for the week. Can I help you?"
"I'll say you can. That mutt of his had its way with my Majestic Interlude."
"Majestic Interlude?"
"My purebred Rottweiler bitch."
"You named a Rottweiler Majestic Interlude?" She laughed
"Yeah go ahead and laugh kid but she's a five time winner in the hundred-pounds plus category."
"Well sorry about that but…"
"I'm sorry too."
He shoved the box at Arella. From inside the carton she could hear scratching and high pitched whining.
"Normally I would sell her pups for a thousand creds a piece but these are utterly worthless."
He stomped away.
"But…" She called
"But nothing, they're all yours. Tell your boss the next time that mutt of his gets near my dog, he's gonna hear from my lawyer."
She watched him until he disappeared through the front gate.
Arella placed the box on the ground and pulled apart the flaps. Inside, wrestling amidst a pile of shredded paper were four large black puppies. Ace looked inside the carton and gave the new arrivals a curious sniff.
"They should smell familiar 'She sighed' you made them."
Arella picked up the box and took them inside. Geez these suckers were heavy! And the boxes' shifting center of gravity didn't help either. Where to put them? Bruce would have a thousand kinds of hissy-fit if she lets them run around the main hall. Cripes this was something they never discussed before he left. Perhaps the servant's quarters?
She schlepped the box through the foyer and into the main dining room. Ace followed.
"This is all your fault you know. 'She groaned from the boxes' weight' one booty call and we all suffer. Hope you had one hell of a good time."
The Doberman remained silent: typical male.
They traversed the kitchen's linoleum expanse and into the servant's quarters. Alfred's apartment door was sealed but a delivery entrance led out the back. Arella pushed open the ancient screen door.
Aha! Perfect. The porch was entirely enclosed by screens and sported a cement floor. She placed the box on the ground and gently liberated the pups from the box. They ran about the porch, sniffing all there was to sniff.
"So what now?" She sighed aloud
Well no point in making a decision on their disposition, it wasn't her house. She reached inside her jeans pocket and produced her Cell phone. It was the only piece of equipment Bruce had issued her. The phone was linked to the Bat Computer and had unlimited long distance. From the screen's menu she found Bruce's number and hit speed dial. He had warned her not to call except in a case of emergency. Does this qualify? It will if he comes home to a house full of pee stained carpets.
Bruce's aged face appeared on the phones small screen. In the background the girl could hear someone speaking into a microphone, she must have interrupted one of their conferences. Arella was half expecting a strip club.
"What?" He whispered
"We've hit a, um, snag."
"What kind of snag?"
"Remember when Ace snuck off a few months ago?"
"Yes"
"I've found out why." She said pointing the phone pad's camera to the porch full of romping black puppies.
"Oh good God." He moaned
She turned the phone face back to her.
"Indeed. So d'you want me to build a pen out back or…"
"Get rid of them." He interrupted
"How?"
"Put an ad on the Net. I want them gone when I get back."
"Yes Grandp…sir."
Arella folded her phone closed and stuffed it back in her pocket.
"Well you heard the man." She told the pups
She stood. Even if she were to put up an ad right now, it would take a few days for them all to get adopted. They would be needing food and bedding.
"Most unshway." Arella sighed
Later…
With Ace looking on, she pushed through the screen door with her arms full of supplies. The pups mobbed her and began tugging her pants leg.
"Okay you guys, I'm back."
The puppies had already had numerous accidents. It had been an inspired choice to quarter them out here. Since newspapers were extinct, she would need an alternative. From the shopping bag she pulled out a bale of "Puppy Piddle Pads". Tearing open its cellophane wrapper she took a few of the white sheets and spread them out over the far side of the porch. Taking a puppy, she set it on the paper.
"Now if you twips want to relieve yourselves, you do it here. Got it?"
Her empathic skills make communicating with animals a cinch. Unfortunately, baby animals are nearly impossible to read or influence as their attentions are being pulled in a million different directions. As the result the pup couldn't care less and pranced away to play with its siblings.
She set out the blue plastic food dish and filled it with Puppy Chow kibble. The animals immediately converged on the dish and began gorging themselves on the tiny bone and cat shaped nuggets. God only knows when that creep fed them last.
"It ain't Steak but it'll do."
She also set out a new water dish and tossed them a squeaky plastic hamburger and miniature fire hydrant. They took notice of the playthings and began chewing on the toys, eliciting high pitched squeaks. Cripes look at the size of their paws! These buggers are going to be absolutely huge.
To make their identification easier, Arella produced a bag of multicolored garter belts. She had been hoping for blue and pink ones but this was all they had. Tearing open the bag she carefully organized the bands: cool colors (blue, purple, green) for boys and hot (red, yellow, and orange) for girls.
Arella snatched one of the pups eating from the food dish and examined it.
"You are obviously a boy." She said and slipping a blue garter around its thick neck.
She did the same with the others. Apparently the brood consisted of three boys and only one girl. Arella took the female in her arms where it immediately began licking her face, giving the girl a big whiff of its distinctive puppy breath.
Of all the pups, the girl was the only one to take on the distinctive Rottweiler characteristics. While the others were all black like their daddy, this one sported brown paws, bib and muzzle.
"You get a bright red one, hot stuff." She smiled slipping a ruby red garter on the pup and returning it to the floor.
They seemed content (hard to tell with puppies) so Arella stood and carefully slid back through the screen door. The ad would have to wait until tonight as she had more rooms to clean before the sun went down.
"Have a hot time."
As Arella walked away, a crying howl erupted from the porch. She turned to see the one female puppy watching her through the screen door and weeping.
"Stay out there and use the paper." She said walking away.
The cry returned, much higher in tempo. Stubborn little bugger. Obviously this one wasn't taking no for an answer. She opened the screen door a crack and the pup pranced in. It sat at Arella's feet, looked up at her and pasted on its finest panting doggie smile.
"Guess I could use someone to talk to."
The dynamic duo returned to work.
Later…
Yes they were a fine team. While Arella pushed the vacuum, the pup chased it across the floor and gave it firm barks and nips.
"That's right: show that Remington who's boss." She laughed
If it's this ornery now, the girl could only imagine how it will be full grown. Probably enough to give Tamaranian Boomfa dogs a run for their money.
She stomped its power button and the vacuum's roar mercifully died, returning the manor to its usual quiet self.
"Done and done."
The pup sat and gave the machine one last yap.
"Guess I better make the ad now eh?"
She scooped the pup off the floor and left the room. Not a bad day's work. Tomorrow will be the real test though; they have to hit the main sitting room.
After returning the pup to the porch with its snoozing brothers, Arella sat at the living room couch and opened her laptop. Bruce didn't give her this, all Hamilton students were issued one in place of school books.
Logging on the net she found the Gotham want ad section. Clicking on the "Pets" section she began typing. Let's see: it's gotta catch the eye but not make false promises.
Free pups to good home: Mixed breed (Rottweiler/Doberman) two months old. Contact Arella at 583-3433-3433422-34.
There, that should be good enough. She might have put in some choice adjectives like "cute" or "cuddly" but these WERE Rottie mutts. Guiding the arrow down to the bottom of the screen, she clicked on the "post" button.
Two days later…
"Yes, there're two left."
"Any males?" The caller asked
"One"
As they bantered, she pressed the small yellow button on the phone pad. The Bat Computer did a thorough background search through the police files. According to this the guy was clean save for a few parking tickets.
"Sounds good. 'He nodded' Where you at?"
"Know where Wayne Manor is?"
"Sure"
"Drop by tomorrow morning and he's yours."
"Gotcha." He said and hung up.
She looked down at the girl pup dozing at her feet.
"Well that's the lot except for you."
The puppy yawned wide and laid its chin on her foot.
After the last few days, the girl had built a great appreciation for the animal. It was ballsy and brave while still remaining cuddly and ready with an eager tongue. It was going to be tough saying goodbye to her. Kinda sucks her apartment building didn't take pets.
Three days later…
"We're out of males but got one female left."
"No thanks." He said and hung up
This was the twelfth call that day alone and no one wanted the girl. The arrogant fools mistakenly assumed that a female Rottweiler is any less imposing than a male and since she wasn't purebred, breeding was out of the question.
Maybe fate was telling her something? Yeah it was: get a dog and subsequently evicted. Bruce would never let her move in and then what? A box in Gotham Park? This place was the best she could afford on her meager savings.
God this was seriously starting to sting.
Saturday…
Bruce and Terry stepped inside the front doors. Terry had taken a few minutes from his cramming and gave the old man a ride from the airport. An overjoyed Ace ran about in excited circles.
"Welcome back. 'Arella said taking his bags' Good trip?"
"I've had better. And our OTHER problem?"
"One left. Sorry"
He remained silent and climbed up the steps; jet lag was a real bitch.
"Would you mind if I went home? 'She asked' I'd like to make sure my place is still standing."
"Do everything on the list?"
"Everything" She confirmed
"Go home." He nodded and continued up the steps.
"Could you give me a lift? 'She asked Terry' I'm spent."
"After cleaning this place no wonder."
Later…
Arella stumbled down the hallway to her apartment. God that bed was going to feel good. First though she was going to take a shower. The girl had been too spooked to use any at the manor.
She fumbled through her pockets for her keys. As she unlocked the door, a neighbor walked by. Before him, tethered with a leash, trotted a spotted Dalmatian.
"Excuse me, do you live here?" She asked
The passerby stopped
"Yeah."
"You keep a dog?"
"Sure"
"But the lease said we couldn't."
"Are you kidding? 'He laughed' In THIS neighborhood? More dogs the better. Just means less security our cheap-ass land lord has to flip for."
O good God! Now everything made sense. Ma always said nothing happened by accident. Fate wanted her to have that pup. She pulled out her phone and speed dialed Bruce's number. Crap! Busy. What if it is someone calling about the pup? If Arella loses that dog she'll never forgive herself.
She slapped the button on the window jam and it obediently slid open. It would take too long to walk or call a cab but Nil should get her there in a hurry. She climbed up on the windowsill and concentrated.
Nil took over and along with the Spirit Drinker consciousness went Arella's desires. She was rushing back to Wayne Manor over a dog? Sometimes her counterpart really confounded her.
The black wings sprouted out of her back and she leapt out the window. Adjusting her trajectory, she headed south.
Back at Wayne Manor…
Ace ran to and fro through the mansions cavernous halls and rooms, all the time with its sensitive canine nose pressed to the ground.
Bruce watched from afar.
"Not here either?" He asked the dog
The Doberman lifted its head and gave him a doggie equivalent of a shoulder shrug.
"This is all your fault you know."
Ace bowed his head and sighed.
The pair returned to the foyer. They'll just have to start over. As they made to check the living room again, Nil phased through the front door. Before Bruce or Ace could react, Arella sprinted by them towards the kitchen.
Nearly slipping on the newly waxed linoleum floor, she bounded through the servant's quarters.
"Sorry girl, I changed…"
The porch was empty. All that remained of the puppies were some squeaky chew toys, soiled pee pads and residual feelings of innocent bliss. Tears welled up in her eyes. Goddamn her for hesitating.
"God speed little one." She sniffled
She emerged back into the foyer where Bruce and Ace had not moved. Wiping her eyes Arella turned to her employer.
"What's wrong with you?" Bruce asked
"I missed a one in a life time opportunity."
"Learn from it." He dismissed and walked away.
"Easy for him to say." She sighed
As she made to leave, she noticed Bruce and Ace looking about.
"Anything I can help you with sir?"
"That dog clawed its way out of the porch. And due to your leaving every door here open…"
"She's still here?" Arella squealed
"She?"
"The puppy. She's still here?"
"Yes"
The girl fell to her knees and nearly passed out. Well that knocked a good ten years off her life.
"We've been looking for hours."
"No need sir, I have just the thing." She said and trotted off
Bruce looked down at Ace who was gazing back.
"Any idea?"
The Doberman chose to remain silent.
Arella ran in with the vacuum cleaner. She carefully set it on the ground and slapped the plug into the wall socket. Stomping the machine's power button, it roared into life. The girl then stepped back.
Suddenly a growling black streak bounded in, slipped on the hard wooden foyer floor and slammed into the front door. Hauling itself back to its feet, the puppy began growling and nipping at the machine. Come back for a rematch eh? Arella immediately snatched the pup from the floor and held it to her bosom where it strained up and licked her chin.
"The ad expired two days ago. You forgot to renew it." Bruce sighed
Was that her subconscious talking? Freud would have a field day with this one.
"Not necessary sir. Ill take her."
"Your building takes animals?"
"The rules are…ignored."
Bruce raised an eyebrow. Was she pulling a fast one?
The dog's huge puppy eyes turned to him. Oh how could he say no to such a cute little fuzzy wuzzy character?
"Just get her fixed. We don't a repeat of this mess."
"Yes sir." She smiled
Later…
Arella, with pup in arm, made their way down the front walk. From her elbow hung grocery bags stuffed with the dog bowls, pee pads and unused kibble. She would have to buy the stuff by the ton when the dog grows up.
She set the pup on the ground where it did its business. Wow, that much control already? As it squatted, she considered names. Taking into consideration its unique parentage, no ordinary name would do. It would only be fair to keep with the playing card theme. Royalty would make her sound like a show dog and numbers would just sound stupid.
"How about Deuce?" She asked the relieved puppy.
It sat and gave her a panting doggie smile.
"Deuce it is then."
Four years later…
"Nice try twips 'Mad Stan: nut job and resident anarchist guffawed' the mint is going down tonight!"
"It is full of people." Nil advised
"They're all part of the establishment! POWER TO THE PEOPLE!" He roared.
But Nil did not reply; she was giving her side kick mental instructions. As the stand off continued, a monstrous Rottweiler snuck up behind the bomber who was too busy being nuts to notice.
"Now" She thought
The Rottie pounced and grabbed Stan's wrist in it's massive jaws, shattering the bones and yanking him to the ground.
"Establishment dog…the corruption stretches into the animal kingdom!" Stan bawled as Nil stepped forward and grabbed the bomb trigger from his paralyzed hand.
"Deuce" Nil politely corrected
The End
.