Dodger was dragging on his cigarette, puffing the smoke slowly into his lungs and then finally exhaling with relief. He was lying back in his bed completely naked and Rita by his side, stroking his chest with her paw.
"Ya want me to open the window" Dodger said, while offering his cigarette to Rita.
"Sure, it'd be a good thing since Oliver's in the other room" she said while taking the cigarette.
Dodger opened the window and then returned to his bed where he began making out with the lovely Saluki.
"Wait a minute" Rita said pushing Dodger away softly and then she stared deep into Dodgers eyes "where are we Dodge" she asked him curiously.
"Well I'm looking around and I'm seeing a chair, a lamp, a closet and a nightstand by my bed, I'm gonna go with bedroom" he said sarcastically.
"You know what I mean" Rita said seriously.
"Jesus Rita, give me a break" Dodger said sitting up.
"Look Dodge, I've had my heart broken many times, I just want my pain now and not later" she said, almost demandingly.
"Look Rita" Dodger began "I'm not the relationship type and you knew that when we started this" he said to her.
"Oh I get it" Rita said "so you're saying that I screwed myself when I got into this" she continued harshly "well fuck you and fuck this shit, I'm gone" she said picking up her clothes.
"Now hold up a second Rita" Dodger said walking after her.
"Don't you 'hold up a second Rita' me" she said looking back at Dodge "two months we've been fooling each other and all I want is the love and respect you can give me" she spat at him. "I need a man you hear me, a man, not some pup who can't move past his pain" she said glaring at him.
"The fuck you know about pain" Dodger shouted at her "have you ever opened that garage door and see him dangle by his neck with the hose tied around it" he said referring to his brother "I saw him in pain, I've seen him grow thin and torn before he was sixteen" he said.
"Cut the crap Dodge and tell me what's really bothering you" Rita demanded.
"I'm just..." Dodger shouted, but then he paused for a breath and calmed down "I'm just not settled yet with my job and everything" he said.
"I knew it" Rita said "you see, that's the difference between us Dodge, unlike myself, you haven't done anything with your stuff" she said harshly, but truthfully. "Are you afraid that you'll fail is that it" Rita asked "Dodge you are so talented with your music" she said more kindly "if you would push yourself, you could make something of yourself and maybe we could move out of this neighborhood" she finished, putting her hands on his shoulders.
"Look, I wouldn't know where ta begin" Dodger said "I had an opportunity and it's gone" he finished.
"It's never too late Dodge" Rita said cupping Dodgers left side of the face "just let me call Rudy and he can-" Rita said before Dodger cut her off.
"I'm not talkin' to that snake" Dodger said "four times he's promised a break for me and every time he's let me down" he finished, turning his back to Rita and then sitting down on the bed.
"We'll think of something" Rita said wrapping her arms over Dodgers shoulders "for now, let's relax" she said motioning her hand towards his crotch.
"Well hallelujah" Dodger said as he turned to Rita and embraced her in complete ecstasy.
Oliver was playing video games in the living room with Tito and Francis was on the couch reading "The Once and Future King" by Terence Hanbury White. Suddenly Oliver and Tito's attention turned to the sound of a thump against the wall.
"Damn he laying that pipe in there, go any longer the roof might cave in, know what I mean gato" Tito said laughing.
"Tito" Francis shouted "there is a child in the room, please" he finished.
"Mr. Francis, you don't have to I've heard worse from my mom" Oliver said.
"My dear boy it's called common decency" Francis said to Oliver "something that this house is lacking" he shouted over to Dodgers room, but no response was heard.
Suddenly, Einsteins door opened and out came the Great Dane wearing a tucked in blue shirt, blue jeans, brown shoes and carrying a black jacket.
"Well, where are you off to sir" asked Francis.
"I uh, got a date tonight" Einstein said putting his right hand behind his head.
"Oh yes, with that fellow from work" Francis asked curiously.
Einstein nodded and Tito groaned in disgust.
"Einy, whatever you do, don't kiss him in front of us, please man" Tito begged.
"Oh for gods sake man don't be such a prude" Einstein said hitting Tito on the back of the head.
"Uh, sure Tito, sure" Einstein said respecting his friends point of view.
It's not that Tito had a problem with Einsteins sexuality, it was the kissing that grossed him out more than anything. Their thoughts were cut off by a knock at the door and with that Einstein went to the door to answer. On the other side was a tall buff looking Labrador retriever wearing a salmon t-shirt, blue jeans and white sneakers.
"Hey Rodney ya made it" Einstein said.
"Hey there stud" Rodney said as he reached over and kissed Einstein on the lips.
"Ugh" was Tito's response upon seeing the two males locking lips.
"Ah, that must mean you're Tito" said Rodney responding to the Chihuahuas obvious disgust of the display of affection.
"Yeah that's Tito and that's Francis, but we call him Frankie" said Einstein, despite the fact that Francis was fuming.
"It's just Francis and it is a pleasure sir, your exactly as Einstein said you were, excluding the part about your posterior" said Francis getting Einstein back for the Frankie bit.
"Frankie" said Einstein blushing wildly.
"Oh, been talking about my butt to your friends eh" said Rodney teasing Einstein playfully.
"Yeah, we've really been enjoying it, ugh" said Tito sarcastically.
Suddenly Rodney was taken off guard by the little orange kitten standing in front of him.
"Well and who is this" Rodney said bending down to Oliver's eye level.
"Hello sir my n-name is Oliver, i-it's very nice to m-meet you" Oliver stuttered while holding out his little paw.
"Oh Einy he's so cute" Rodney said with a look of 'omigod' written on his face as he shook Oliver's hand.
Suddenly, the moment was cut off by an abrupt shout from across the hall.
"Oh me, oh me, OH ME!" Georgette shouted.
"Oh stop" said Francis "stop butchering theater as we know it you unbearable cow" Francis shouted to the door across the hall.
"Hey whatchu doin' insultin' my woman man, let her work" Tito said shouting at Francis.
"Ah, so that's Georgette" Rodney said with a smile on his face.
"I take it Einstein has told you about our dear Ms. Foxworth" Francis said turning to Rodney.
"He sure did, but of course he called her the loud lady across the hall" Rodney said.
"Well he's not wrong" Francis said sarcastically.
"Say, where are those Rita and Dodger characters I've heard about, I haven't seen them yet" Rodney said searching the room.
"Oh never mind about them, they're...very tired" Tito bursting into laughter.
"Tito for the love of God" Francis said falling to a chair and hitting himself in the face.
"Einy said you'd say that" Rodney said while pinching Einsteins rump which made the taller dog yelp and blush.
"Uh, we'd better go" said Einstein grabbing his jacket.
"Okay, but remember Rod man, his curfew is the first week of August and if you keep him out by then, really man thank you" Tito said with an air of sarcasm.
The two made their way out the door, down the stairs and out into the street, leaving the trio alone in the living room.
"Hey Tito" Oliver said "the Nintendo won't start" he continued.
"Ah don't worry about it" Tito said "plug-ins probably overheated, does that after a while" he said while pulling out the plug in from the back "give it a blow would you gato" he said motioning the plug-in to Oliver.
Oliver gave a small blow to the heated plug-in and then Tito placed it down.
"While that's coolin' let's see what's on TV huh" Tito said grabbing the remote.
The TV flipped on and a Shakespeare play was playing live.
"Ah Othello" said Francis cheerfully.
"Ah, gag me" said Tito flipping the channel.
"You just have no taste for culture" Francis said scoffing.
"Hey man I got culture, but I call them family and I visit them twice a week in Harlem" Tito said retorting back to Francis.
Tito changed the channel to a Luchador fight on Telemundo between a giant and two midget wrestlers.
"You see Frankie, this is my culture and it's kick-ass" Tito said.
"Oh yes, grown men wearing Halloween masks and pounding their brains into mush, that's culture" Frankie said in a sarcastic tone.
"Who are they" Oliver asked with curiosity.
"Okay see the big guy Gigante he's the champ, but the little guys, the Chilito twins, they've been winning match after match and this is the championship where they're fighting to see who's the next champion Luchador" Tito said.
"Lunchador" Oliver said confused.
"Na, na, Luchador Mexican masked wrestlers, they wear masks so people know who they are" Tito explained to Oliver "here get up, let me show you how they fight" Tito said standing in a fighting stance. "Now the main idea is to pin one of us to the ground" Tito said putting his hands on Oliver's shoulders and trying to push him down.
Tito thought that his size would win over Oliver, but before he knew it he was pinned to the ground by the little kitten.
"Like this Tito" Oliver said to the dumbfounded Chihuahua as Francis was laughing incessantly.
"Yeah Gato can we not mention this to anyone else" said a nervous Tito.
"You're a little late for that pequeño" said Dodger walking in with Rita walking behind him.
Suddenly, their laughter was cut off by an abrupt knock at the door. Rita walked to the door to answer and on the other side was a white furred timber wolf in a police officers uniform.
"Can we help you officer" Rita asked the serious faced wolf.
"You have an Oliver Twist living here ma'am" he asked.
"Why" Dodger asked while walking up behind.
Suddenly the timber wolf pulled out a warrant from his pocket.
"We have a warrant to take the child down to the station" he answered.
"From who" Dodger asked annoyed.
"The boys mother" the timber wolf said "in here boys" the wolf said and two other officers, both timber wolf, except with blue fur, entered the premises and picked up Oliver, who immediately started kicking and screaming.
"Hey, you can't just-" Dodger said before being cut off by a growl by the timber wolf.
"Sir, if you interfere, you and your companions will be incarcerated" the wolf said raising his voice a little.
"On what grounds" Francis asked from across the room.
"Kidnapping" the wolf said with a glare.
Dodger immediately became defensive "that's bullshit, his mother abandoned him, alone, in a bad neighborhood" he said out loud.
"Well sir it's your word against a mothers, so you really don't have a choice" the timber wolf said staring him down.
"Dodge" Oliver shouted "I don't wanna go back" he shouted from the stairs.
"Don't worry kid we'll fix this, I promise" Dodger shouted to Oliver downstairs "I promise" he shouted once again.
All that Dodger heard were sirens pulling out of Avenue A, which to Dodger was the most frightening sound at this point. Somehow it felt obvious to Dodger that both Roscoe and Desoto had something to do with this and whatever they were planning, it wouldn't end well for anyone.
Oh my god this chapter! I had to redo it at least three or four times! At one point I thought of redoing the whole thing altogether, but I just needed to make a better ending. Ooh, smells like trouble *gasp*. Next chapter has my first Disney cameo, so be prepared! Please fave and review!
