Hi everyone. I just wanted to say that these stories don't necessarily have to be in chronological order. I think they have been so far, but that's just a coincidence.

Beware of Dog

(Dexter's POV)

"Come on Dex play catch with me please." Deb begged me for the tenth time.

It's a hot summer's day and Deb and I are in our backyard. I'm 'playing'with the ant hill in the garden. I love watching the ants get washed away when I pour water into their hill. It's amazing how I'm destroying an entire city with one glass of water.

"No Deb, how many times do I have to say it? Would you leave me alone." I tell her getting annoyed.

I always try to be nice to Deb. Dad always tells me being nice gets you friends and having at least one friend you like, to lean on and help you in life is a great thing to have. I don't lean on people, and I don't like many people, but if I had to like and lean on someone Deb would definitely be that person. Today I just wasn't in the mood.

"Fine!" She said angrily storming off ball in hand headed for the tall fence separating our yard from the neighbors.

Deb threw the ball at the fence and caught it when it bounced back to her. She looked over at me with a smug look on her face.

"See I don't need you!"

I just smiled at her and went back to my ants. After about fifteen minutes I heard Debra let out a groan. I looked up and saw her looking at the fence upset with no ball in sight. Then she turned to me.

"Dex my ball went over the fence."

"Well you can play something else." I say. I am not getting it. No way am I getting it.

"But grandma gave me that ball when she came back from New York. It's got a picture of the statue of liberty on it. It's my favorite ball." She told me with pleading eyes.

"Go knock on the McKenzie's door and ask them to get it for you."

"Okay." Deb said running to the gate and into the front of the house. She was gone for five minutes when she came back looking upset.

"They're not home. Their cars not in the yard either. What am I going to do? What if I never get grandma's ball back?" She cried.

"Would you relax Deb we can just wait until they get home and then ask them to get it." I say trying to calm her down.

"But they have a dog. What if he finds it and puts a whole in it or buries it?"

"He won't Deb." I am so going over that fence.

I've never felt this feeling before. I guess it's guilt. If I would have just played catch with my sister this never would have happened. I sigh only for Deb.

"Alright I'll get your ball back."

"You will!" Deb yells happily and hugs me.

"Yeah, yeah just make sure mom doesn't see me climbing the fence."

Hopefully the McKenzie's dog is inside the house. I climb the fence slowly. This is harder than it looks. Getting over the top is the hardest part. There are sharp points on the top of the fence. I avoid them and drop down into the McKenzie yard with no dog in sight.

I search for the ball for a few minutes until I see it under a bush. I grab it and throw it over the fence. Deb yells 'thanks Dex' and I make my way over to the fence to climb back up. That's when I hear a growl. I turn my head and see the McKenzie's St. Bernard running towards me. I climb up the fence so fast that I slip and my side gets scratched on the fence.

I know it's bad as soon as it happens. I fall into my yard and Deb is screaming.

"Mommy, Mommy hurry Dexter is hurt!" She ran towards the house screaming.

I closed my eyes and the last thing I remember before blacking out was my mothers frantic voice asking for an ambulance.

I woke up in the ambulance my mother and Debra were no where to be found. It didn't hurt as much as before thankfully.

"Hey little man just relax we're gonna take good care of you. Is the pain a little better?" One of the Paramedics asked me.

I nodded at him.

"Good. We gave you a small dose of a pain killer"

"Where's my Mom and sister?" I ask

"They wanted to come, but your sister isn't allowed to ride in here. They'll meet you at the hospital, and so will your Dad." He said to me.

When we got to the hospital it took about ten seconds before my mother and my sister were hovering over me. Deb was hysterical and Mom wasn't much better. My Dad came next and told me I was going to be alright.

I lost a lot of blood and the doctor said I needed a blood transfusion. There were so many people yelling and rushing around me. Mom and Dad had tears in their eyes, but I was calm for a kid who might die. Deb was hysterical enough for the both of us.

I didn't see my family again until after I got more blood. The nurse said it was the recovery room. Dad came in first with a smile on his face followed by mom and Debra.

"Hey Dex how do you feel buddy?" My Dad said.

"Okay I think."

"Sweetheart we're so happy you're okay, but Debra told us what happened. If you ever climb that fence again you'll be in big trouble." Mom warned me. "That goes for you too Deb." She added.

"Yes mommy." Deb said.

Deb's eyes and cheeks were red from crying.

"Hi Deb." I said as cheerfully as I could trying to get her to lighten up. She waved at me but still looked upset. "At least I got your ball back right." I said smiling.

I guess that was the wrong thing to say because Deb started crying again.

"This is all my fault. I wanted you to feel bad for not playing with me so I told you it was my favorite ball and grandma gave it to me. All that's true, but I only said it to make you feel bad. I'm sorry Dexter. Please don't be mad at me." Deb cried.

"I'm not mad Deb. I should have just played catch with you and the ball would have never gone over the fence. It was my fault." I stated.

"Listen you two it was a bad decision on both your parts to think it was okay to climb the fence. You obviously didn't think of the consequences. Let's not put the blame on one person lets just be happy Dex is okay." My Dad said.

We both nodded at him and Deb came over to me and hugged me.

"I'm glad you're okay. Love you Dex." She said to me.

I was caught by surprise. She had never said that to me before. Was I supposed to say it back? I don't know. Do I love her? I don't know. Do I love anyone? She is expecting an answer.

"Yeah um… me too Deb." I say awkwardly.