Fagin saw that the cat was trying to climb the stairs and gently picked him up.
He was mumbling again because he obviously had no idea how to find so much money. He was surely done for…
As the man was stroking the kitten to try and calm down he felt something on his neck.
"What's this?", Fagin asked as he was looking at it.
It was a tag with a name and address – OLIVER 1125 5th Avenue
"So that's where you've been.", the man said surprised, "Looks like you're doing alright for yourself, Oliver."
Oliver? They even named him? Dodger had wanted to name the kid. He even had a nice name picked for him. But it didn't matter anymore. He was done with… Oliver.
"Your owner probably spends more money on catnip than we do on food in a month.", Fagin had a point, "He's probably worried sick about ya. All alone in that big house, with only his money to comfort him. Only his millions and millions of dollars and-"
That's when the man had an idea.
"He-he-he. That's it! We're saved!", Fagin said as he leapt out of the chair and started running around the place not paying attention that he almost stepped on his dogs.
"What a plan, yes! P-paper! Paper!", he grabbed a random piece of paper from the bin and a green crayon as he pulled out a broken ironing board and used it as a desk.
"Dear Mr. rich-. Nah!", Fagin scratched that, "Mr. very rich, ha-ha-ha." As he was writing this later he was sliding down because the ironing board broke down completely.
He thought that keeping Oliver hostage and asking for ransom money could save him.
Once Fagin was done with that he took Dodger and Oliver with him to meet with Sykes.
He probably brought the dog for protection even though he was too small to defend his master against those huge Dobermans.
The strange thing is the man put Oliver in his pocket. He would've suffocated if it weren't for the holes in the coat.
The kitten tried to talk to Dodger while they were walking towards the shark and begged the dog to help him but he acted indifferent.
„Relax, Oliver. He's just gonna talk to Sykes.", the dog's tone was dripping with sarcasm and sardonic overtones.
The kid wasn't stupid. He picked up on it and that made him sad.
"Dodge, why do you hate me?", Oliver clearly had no idea what he did wrong. He just wanted to be happy.
His question made Dodger think. He didn't hate the kid - he was jealous and hurt.
"I don't hate ya. You made yourself crystal clear. Ya don't want to be around us, 'cause ya prefer the company of shallow rich kids who begged mommy and daddy to buy them a kitty just 'cause they really want one!", the dog said that low and emotionless on the outside but on the inside he felt like growling.
"Jenny's not like that!", Oliver tried to defend his friend, "She helped me, fed me and treated me well. She's got nobody. Her parents are never home. I'm all she's got. Ow!"
Fagin patted his pocket to make sure the cat wasn't trying to escape.
"And what about the Champ, kid? She's got that b-", Dodger almost let it slip, "That poodle. She just likes to collect animals like all the other rich kids. That's how it starts, she's treating you well now but once she's tired of you, she'll get another pet."
"How do you know that? Because Fagin has five dogs?", Oliver countered the mutt's statement looking at the man.
"That's different. He's poor, kid. He appreciates the little things in life like family. Not like that girl Penny's parents.", Dodger corrected.
"Her name is Jenny and you don't know her or her parents. They're just very busy.", Oliver was getting pretty defensive.
"Jenny, Penny, same dif. Rich kid names. Her parents don't care for her, they've got money, that's all they care about. She's probably gonna grow up to be the same only more depressed.", Dodger concluded.
"You're very mean!", Oliver didn't like Dodger's attitude.
"You're very naïve!", the mutt countered.
"Why are you doing this? Do you know what I've been through?", Oliver asked a bit emotional.
"I was left alone on the street. Every single one of my siblings was picked by someone but I wasn't. I spent the night hiding from a pack of hungry dogs. Then you found me and… and tricked me into stealing food that you stole from me. I hated you for it but… you were nice to me… And now you're mean again! You're not being fair.", Oliver wasn't angry. He was just hurt by Dodger's words.
"Listen, kid. You're not the only one who's had rough times. Don't be a prima donna.", The dog replied.
"What do you know?", the cat was fed up with Dodger.
"A lot more than you. I've had the experience.", the dog said.
"I'm starting to doubt it. The only experience you have is being a jerk."
"Watch the tone, cat! I said I don't eat cats but I haven't had anything in two days so I'm willing to reconsider", Dodger warned him.
"I believe you…"
The canine sighed.
"Look, kid. Let's just agree that we're very different. You're not like me. I thought that maybe ya had it in ya, but now I see that you're just a cat. Ya like the comfort of the warm bed by the fire - I like the discomfort of my freedom. Ya weren't picked by a human. I wasn't let in the box."
Oliver was actually listening to the dog through the pocket.
"But now we need money to pay this shark or else we'll be sleeping with the sharks. You'll be with your Jenny soon and you'll never have to see me again, don't worry."
And with that, Dodger said no more.
Probably because the three of them reached their destination.
