Chapter 4

Home?

625 entered the house first while the girl stood behind him. He saw how big the house was. He was about to enter the living room until he noticed that his feet were all muddy. He walked past the girl and wiped his feet onto the welcome mat. The girls mother went up to 625,'' Marina, did you let this dirty mutt inside our house?''

'' Um, yes'', the girl said, innocently.

625 wiggled his rusty red nose, trying to look cute as possible so he won't get sent back to the street. He really hated sleeping in the mud.

'' Can I keep him please? He scared off those bullies when they were chasing me'', Marina said,'' I'll take super good care of him. They say a dog is a girl's best friend. Come on mom, he's been living off the streets and if he stays on the street he'll get sent to the pound. Can I keep him? He's so cute!''

625 couldn't help but blush at the compliment. He still didn't talk. He widened his eyes and made a sad, but cute look on his face.

Marina's mother sighed in defeat,'' Okay, you can keep him, but you have to give him a bath since his fur is matted with mud.''

625 shuddered at those four words that the lady said. BATH.

'' Yes!'', Marina said, happily,'' Thank you, mom!''

'' I'll go to the pet store to buy some things for him, while you take him to the backyard and bathe him. See you later honey''.

Marina led 625 through a hallway. 625 saw lots of pictures on the walls. Most of them were just Marina with her mother, then one certain picture caught his attention.

There was this tall skinny man in the picture with Marina who was wearing a navy seals suit. 625 saw the many badges that the guy on the picture had. He was interrupted by this call,'' Oh, little doggie come here!''

625 looked at Marina looking at him from the backyard. He walked up to her and tilted his head to the side. Marina giggled,'' Time to give you a bath.''

She turned in the garden hose and picked up a brush. 625 gulped and clenched his teeth together when the water ran down his back. He relaxed quickly after he realized that the water was warm. Usually the baths that Gantu gave him weren't relaxing. He'd usually get washed off with cold water and couldn't get to be rinsed off without nearly being drowned from the force of Gantu's hand. 625 allowed Marina to scrub the mud off of him. As soon as she finished cleaning 625 she turned off the hose and went to retrieve a towel.

625 shivered as he was cold from his fur. He realized that he's being treated with kindness. He has never been treated kindly and with respect and now he's found this girl that was willing to take care of him, even though he's rarely accepted help from anyone. He smiled to himself until Marina came back with a towel. She dried 625 off from head to toe.

When she was drying off 625's right arm, 625 squeaked and seethed when he just remembered the cut on his arm that stung greatly.

'' Oh, sorry. Did I hurt you? Let me see your arm.''

625 showed her his arm, while he bit his lip.

'' That must hurt you. Let me get a first-aid kit, you wait here''.

625 looked at the deep gash on his arm and seethed once more,'' Next time I'll watch where I'm going. Where's that girl with the first-aid...''.

He went silent when the girl arrived with the kit. She cleaned off his arm and wrapped it with a bandaging cloth. 625's arm was like a cast, even though he didn't break his arm.

Well this isn't so bad, 625 thought. I wonder what kind of sandwiches she likes.

He walked inside the house while Marina gathered the stuff she had outside to clean 625 with.

625 laid down on the sofa and closed his eyes. Marina saw him,'' Now you're all clean.''

Yeah, yeah. Sure, sure, 625 thought, sarcastically. Just don't touch me.

Marina watched her mom walk into the kitchen,'' Marina, would you like a grilled cheese sandwich to eat?''

'' Okay mom'', Marina called back.

Sandwiches? Just in time. I'm starving! 625 thought, as he walked to the kitchen.

'' Shoo, shoo! Out of the kitchen, shoo!'', Marina's mother said.

Sorry, I don't wear shoes, 625 thought, jokingly. He was picked up and dragged out of the kitchen. Hey! That was so uncalled for! Nobody touches me or picks me up, 625 thought, angrily. He watched Marina walk to the kitchen, Oh sure, and she doesn't get booted out of the kitchen.

Marina sat down on the table in the kitchen. Marina's mother gave her a plate with a grilled cheese sandwich in it. 625's mouth watered when he saw the sandwich, Where's my sandwich? I'm hungry!

Marina's mother opened a can of dog food and plopped the food in a bowl. She placed the bowl in front of 625,'' Here's your food, now eat''. She went to the living room.

625 looked at the runny dog food, Excuse me, but where's my sandwich?

Then he looked at the food once more, Ewwww! I'm supposed to eat this? I'm starting to feel sorry for earth canines. This doesn't look good to eat. I feel like I'm going to be sick. Why does she get the sandwich? Why am I asking so many questions to myself, when I'm thinking them in my head? I hope Marina shares.

He walked up to Marina and widened his eyes, while staring at the sandwich.

'' Begging? Want some? Here.''

Marina gave 625 half of her sandwich. He gobbled it greedily.

Marina giggled,'' Good dog''.

625 made a look on his face, I wonder why she thinks I'm a dog? Oh well. If I get treated this nicely, then let her think I'm a dog.

Marina filled a glass full of water and put it on the table. 625 sat on the chair and ate the rest of Marina's sandwich.

''Hey! You've must have been very hungry''.

625 drank the water in the glass cup.

'' And very thirsty. Would you like more water?''

625 filled the glass with more water from the water dispenser and drank it.

Marina rolled her eyeballs and walked away. She went upstairs. 625 curiously followed her. Marina opened a door and walked up another flight of stairs. 625 followed her, since he had nothing better to do and he didn't know the house very well. He opened his mouth in awe when he saw all the boxes full of material. Felt, corduroy, silk, cotton, fleece, you name it, that was there too.

625 looked inside a box full of fleece and took a piece to feel. With his hand, he felt how soft it was which caused him to sigh. He dumped the box and laid down on the pile of fleece and closed his eyes, trying to enjoy the warm feeling of it. Marina saw him relaxing in the pile of fleece.

'' Would you like me to make a bed out of this fleece? Just choose what color you want it to be.''

625 pulled out a bright blue piece of fleece and handed it to Marina. She took the fleece and turned on the sewing machine. 625 curled up into a ball on top of the fleece pile and fell asleep.

Marina worked in 625's bed, pillow, and blanket for two hours. When she was finally done she saw 625 sleeping in the pile of fleece,'' Aww, the cute little doggie has worn himself out.'' She shook 625 awake.

He slowly opened his eyes and glared at Marina.

'' Come on. It's time for bed. Also don't worry, you'll sleep right next to me''.

625 followed Marina to her bedroom. The bedroom was big. The curtains in her room were a peach color while the carpet was a beige color. Her bed was a king size bed which was huge, but soft. She set up 625's doggy bed next to her bed,'' You sleep here.''

625 yawned and he curled up into his bed and fell asleep. Marina got into her pajamas and crawled into her bed. She looked at 625 who was sleeping, before she turned off the light and fell asleep.

TBC...

R&R for next chapter which is ready.