Daddy dries me and I chew the towel as he does. It looked like it would be fun to chew, and I was right. It is a very fun towel to chew.
"Sit still, Black Hayate." Daddy says, trying to dry me. He still laughs under his breath when he says my name. I can tell he thinks it's stupid, and it makes me embarrassed. I wish Daddy liked the name Mommy gave me, and wouldn't laugh at me. But I do still enjoy chewing the towel. "I see he's starting the teething phase."
"I am only playing." I explain. "I want to chew this towel. You can dry me after I am done chewing." But he doesn't seem to hear. Perhaps he does not speak such good dog after all. I will have to teach him as well as teaching Mommy.
"Oh, great." Mommy sighs. "The best part of raising any dog." I think Mommy might be being sarcastic. She doesn't seem very pleased.
"Chill out. Every dog goes through it. It's just what need to do when they get their teeth." Daddy explains. He is very correct. My teeth need exercise, and right now my mouth is sore because I am not used to having teeth very much. New puppy teeth are very sensitive.
"Easy for you to say. It's not your apartment he's going to chew up."
He smiles. "Well, that's true. I dodged that bullet, didn't I." He continues, petting me on the head. "He hasn't bitten you yet, has he?" Daddy asks. But I would never bite Mommy, because Mommy loves me very much. You don't bite people who love you very much. I know not to.
"Oh no. I think he knows not to do that." Mommy says, confidently. Mommy knows I wouldn't be a bad dog and bite her.
"Puppies can't help it. It's not their fault. They aren't used to having teeth, so they bit everything. Don't treat it like a big deal." Daddy says. Even though my teeth are uncomfortable because they are new, I still would never bite Mommy. It would make her upset.
"Well it is a big deal for me. I'm in charge, and Hayate follows my rules. And there's no bigger rule than 'don't bite your commanding officer'. How would you like it if I bit you?" Mommy smirks.
"Do you really want me to answer that?" Daddy asks. I don't understand but they both laugh, and then look away. "There. Done." He says, setting me back down on the floor. "All clean and all dry, Bruce." Daddy says.
"What did you call him?" Mommy asks. I don't understand either. My name is Black Hayate. I've made very sure to remember it already.
Daddy shrugs. "A dog should be called something that sounds noble and obedient. Something like Bruce." He says. "That's the name I'd want if I were a dog."
"Well you aren't, and he has a name already, so get used to it." Mommy says, crossing her arms. "Get another dog and you can call him whatever you want if you don't like it. But this dog is called Black Hayate."
"Another dog?" I ask. "Because you don't like my name?" I didn't realise 'Bruce' is what a dog should be called. Would Daddy really want to replace me just because he doesn't like my name?
"Maybe I will." Daddy smiles, crossing his arms. "I could get myself a real dog." Daddys says, looking down at me.
"But... But I am a real dog." I explain, pawing at Daddy's feet. "Shiba Inu. I'm your boy. A new dog wouldn't be your boy. You wouldn't be their Daddy." I tell him.
"A handsome bulldog. A big, smart dog from a good breeder. I could get him already fully grown and skip the puppy stage. Then he'd already be housetrained and know how to be quiet." Daddy says mockingly.
"Won't that be nice." Mommy grumbles.
What Daddy says makes me very upset. "No! Please! Don't get a new dog!" I bark, loudly. "I'm your boy! You couldn't do that to your own boy." My barks turn into whimpers.
Mommy turns around and scolds me. "What did I just tell you?" She says, looking straight at me. "Be quiet! No barking indoors. We have neighbours to think about." But I do continue barking, because I am very upset, and angry at Mommy and Daddy for wanting to replace me and throw me away. "Quiet!" Mommy snaps at me, putting her finger against her lips. "What has gotten into you? I'm sorry about this." Mommy apologises to Daddy.
I bark, angrily. "You want to throw me away, and leave me to be eaten! You want a new dog! You said so. I heard you tell Daddy to get a new dog."
"I don't know what to do!" Mommy groans loudly, covering her face with her hands, getting more distressed by the second. "He won't shut up. The whole building can probably hear him. I haven't even told the landlord that I've got a dog yet."
Daddy puts his hand on Mommy's shoulder and crouches down so that his face is level with mine. "It's just me, Black Hayate." Daddy says. Then he holds my muzzle shut, which I hate. I was not expecting Daddy to do that, but I'm not sure why I'm surprised when Daddy wants to throw away his own boy and replace me with a whole new dog. There must be some misunderstanding. Daddy couldn't do that. Not to his own boy. I know he wouldn't. I was trying to ask, but he wouldn't listen. Now he won't let go of my muzzle. It's not fair, and it's very uncomfortable. Dogs should be allowed to express their feelings too. Unfair treatment of dogs.
"Colonel, don't." Mommy says.
"I've got this one." Daddy replies.
"Be careful not to hurt him. He's only a puppy." Mommy says.
"Take a moment, and quiet down." Daddy says, calmly but firmly. "I know you're only a puppy, but you're still a little old to be throwing tantrums, don't you think?" He smiles. I do stop barking after a few seconds, even though I am still upset. There is no point trying to bark while my muzzle is held closed, because no one can hear me anyway. I just do soft whimpers to myself instead. "There we go. Now, if only a certain State Alchemist I know would learn listen like that." Daddy says, smiling at Mommy. "He's even smaller than you. Or very nearly at least." Daddy lets go of my muzzle. "Good dog. Now isn't that better?" He says. It wasn't sore having my muzzle held closed, because Daddy didn't hold too hard. But it was uncomfortable, and I didn't like it. I am glad he let go, and I don't want him to do it again.
"Good?" I ask, carefully. I am still worried because of what Mommy and Daddy said before, about a new dog. "I am. I promise you I am a good dog. Please don't get rid of me. I can't go back to living on the street." I beg, dipping my head to his feet.
"You're a very good boy. But you have quite a lot to learn about living in an apartment. It's going to be very different to living on the street, isn't it?." Daddy says, scratching under my chin.
"It's very different!" I say. "It is much better. I love our den so much. I will learn all about being a good dog. I will remember everything you tell me. Honest." I say, hoping to change Daddy's mind. I knew it was a mistake. Daddy wouldn't replace me with a new dog. But I must still make very sure to be good just in case I might be thrown away.
"I know this is your home, but you have to be quiet. Because other people's homes are just next door. And they don't want to hear a dog having a tantrum. I know you can be well behaved. You don't want the neighbours to think you're a baby, do you, Black Hayate?" Daddy says. He doesn't laugh at me now. It is the first time I have heard him say my name and not laugh. I was very worried he did not like dogs called Black Hayate, and maybe only liked dogs called Bruce.
"No. I am not a baby. I still may be a puppy, but not a baby. Baby puppies don't have teeth and can't eat real food. They just drink milk. I am far too old to drink milk." I explain. What I say is proof that I am not baby puppy. I don't want anyone to think I am a baby because it's not true. "I am learning all of the rules. I promise. But sometimes they are hard to follow, and there are a lot of them. Mommy only found me today, so I still have to get used to the new rules." It is quite like with my puppy teeth. I didn't have them before, so now that I do I need to get used to them by chewing and giving them exercise. That takes time to learn too.
"Good. Then that's settled. You're going to have to listen to Lieutenant Hawkeye from now on. You won't be disobedient around her if you know what's good for you." Daddy smiles. "You need to make her proud, and me as well. I'm counting on you. So don't let me down."
"I won't let you down." I say, looking quite sorry. "I will make you very proud. You'll see. You and Mommy both. I am sorry for barking. I am just very afraid of being thrown away." I explain. It must be hard for Mommy and Daddy to understand. They have never had to live in the alley. They live here, where it's warm and dry and safe. "I am very scared of going back to the street and having no home. Nearly as scared as I am of being squashed into mush, or gobbled up and eaten." I tell Daddy. I wonder maybe if Daddy is scared of those things too. He doesn't say. But I am very glad that Daddy will not be replacing me and throwing me away.