Thanks for the reviews! I thought chapter 8 was long. It seemed long to me when I was typing it. Chapter 8 I know was very short. Here's chapter 9!

Chapter 9

The Morning News

Marie woke up early in the morning. 625 was still asleep in his bed. He couldn't remember a thing last night. marie walked downstairs to find Peg watching the morning news.

'' What's going on?'', Marie asked, yawning.

'' You know the grocery store that we go to?'', Peg replied, flatly.

'' Yeah?''

'' Well somebody broke into it last night, they destroyed thousands of dollars worth of food.''

'' The store we go to?''

'' Yeah.''

Just then 625 came downstairs, holding his belly. It bulged out a little bit. It bothered 625 alot.

'' Peg, do we have any antacids? I have a terrible stomachache'', 625 moaned.

'' Sure we do. They're in the cabinet in the bathroom. Did you eat anything inedible again?''

'' I don't think so. I don't remember eating anything last night. Say, why is our grocery store on the news?''

'' Somebody destroyed it last night''.

'' What kind of idiot would do that!'', 625 scoffed,'' Will somebody just think of all the sandwiches?''

Marie and Peg stared at 625 with a strange look on their face.

625 stomached grumbled audibly in complaint. He groaned,'' Oh, my aching stomach!''

'' Are you sure you didn't eat anything?'', Peg asked,'' Maybe you didn't eat anything at all and your stomach is telling you that you're hungry. I'll make us all breakfast.''

625 groaned,'' No thanks.'' He gagged and walked away.

Marie looked at 625, who was in so much pain. He collapsed on the floor, moaning. Marie picked him up and dragged him to the bedroom.

'' I'm putting you in bed today. Get some sleep then your stomachache will go away. I'll check on you later.''

625 began to feel nauseous. He panted heavily, as his purple tongue hung out of his mouth. Marie left the room, to give 625 some peace.

625 couldn't handle his stomachache any longer. He got out of bed and walked to the bathroom. He felt very sick. He gagged again.

Marie was settling down for breakfast until she heard 625 retching from upstairs. She sighed, as she placed her breakfast on the table to check on 625,'' Are you okay? 625, where are you?''

She saw the bathroom door closed, 625 moaning from the inside,'' Are you inside?''

'' Yes, don't come in, unless you want to see a very ill experiment'', 625 said.

Marie didn't listen she opened the door to find 625, with his head hung over the toilet,'' Are you okay?''

'' No. I ate something... (gag) strange, but... (gag) I don't remember eating... (gag) anything last night''.

'' Feel any better?''

'' Not really. My stomach doesn't fell too well.''

'' I'll make you some tea, to settle your stomach.''

'' Thanks (gag.)''

Marie had to look away while 625 hurled into the toilet, again.

'' Hope you feel better.''

625 sighed in relief, his stomachache was gone... he even saw what he ate.

'' I don't remember eating... some cereal, and eww... some of this other stuff. Hey, since when did I start eating cereal prizes?''

He groaned again.

Marie got a mug and filled it with water. Peg watched her daughter in wonder,'' Marie, what are you doing?''

'' I'm making tea for 625. He's sick. He tossed his cookies again.''

'' I'm going to have to take him back to the vet if he keeps doing that, you know.''

'' No don't! I wouldn't want 625 to stay there overnight! He wouldn't like that! He'd be homesick!''

'' Oh, okay.''

'' Good besides 625 wouldn't like to stay crammed in a crate. Remember what happened when we tried to do that?''

'' Oh yeah. We still have to get that window fixed.''

'' Oh, the tea's done'', Marie said.

She put a tea bag in the mug. 625 came downstairs.

'' Come on, 625.''

625 followed. Marie sat down on the couch and 625 laid down, resting his chin on her lap. He sighed.

Marie stirred the tea around with a spoon,'' Careful, it's a little hot.''

She placed the spoon with some tea on it into 625's mouth,'' Here you go.''

625 drank the tea and sighed again. He took the mug out of Marie's hands and began to drink some of it, taking in little sips.

Marie left the room, thinking 625 needed some time alone. 625's vision became distorted. The only thing he could see is static. He shook his head and he could see the living room, clearly again. He wondered what was that all about. He blinked, seeing static again. He still wondered why that was happening. He blinked, everything was normal.

'' I think I'm way too sick. Wait a minute, I'M BECOMING BLIND!''

Marie came into the living room, wondering what all the screaming was about,'' 625, what's wrong?''

'' I'm blind!''

'' What do you see?''

'' You, the chair over there, the ceiling, my sandwich squeaky toy sitting on the couch.''

'' Faker.''

'' But I was blind!''

'' But now you see the light!''

'' Yeah, I've sure seen the light'', 625 remarked, sarcastically.

'' Maybe you should visit Gantu, without me today.''

'' I'm starting to wish I was blind''.

'' What you say?''

'' I'm stating that I was eating... some pork rinds.''

'' I swore I heard you said something else.''

625 rolled his eyeballs. He didn't say anything else.

'' You visit Gantu, I have to go to hula class.''

'' Okay Marie. I'll see you later.''

625 left through the front door and walked to the next house. He knocked on the door,'' Hey G! It's me. 625, remember?''

Gantu opened the door,'' Hi 625. Where's Marie?''

'' She went to hula class.''

'' Oh, come in''.

625 entered the house,'' G, there's something I have to tell you.''

'' What is it?''

'' Something's wrong with me.''

'' What?''

'' Something weird. But you have to keep it a secret.''

'' Okay, what is it?''

'' I'm blind!''

If Gantu wasn't sitting down, he'd fall down anime style,'' 625, not another one of your crazy pranks!''

'' I'm not joking! Sometimes when I blink, I see static.''

'' So you're searching for channels in your head?''

'' Do I look like a t.v. to you?''

'' Sorry. Continue.''

'' I see static. It's so odd.''

'' Just static?''

'' So far yes.''

'' Weird. Are you sick?''

'' Duh. Gantu, I've been sick for the past few days. I just threw up this morning.''

'' I really needed to know that'', Gantu said, sarcastically.

'' Hey! I'm supposed to be the sarcastic one around here.''

'' Anything else going on?''

'' No. Except... Marie is going to be on for a hula dance show this weekend.''

'' That's in two days.''

'' It is?''

'' Today's Thursday''.

'' Oh, where has the time gone?''

'' Would you like anything?''

'' I really don't care, something that would settle my stomach I suppose.''

'' What about a chicken soup sandwich?''

'' It's been a long time since I've eaten a sandwich, sure.''

'' What do you mean by, it's been a long time since you've eaten a sandwich?''

'' Since I was sick, I've literally been tossing my sandwiches.''

'' Eww!''

'' I know.''

'' Too many headache's and nausea. Marie's taking good care of me, so you have nothing to worry about.''

'' Oh, anything else that illness has done to you?''

Gantu handed 625 the chicken soup sandwich he promised.

'' Well, (munch)... I've been eating grass to settle my stomach... (swallows)... but It doesn't keep anything down. Stupid dog care books!''

'' You've been reading dog care books?''

'' Yes. Dumb ways to get your dog to walk on a leash. I can walk better without the leash anytime. Heh. How to paper train your dog. I'm house trained, thank you. How to stop your dog from barking, I don't bark. I'm not the barking type. And don't get me started on the mailman. I don't chase mailmen.''

'' Poor earth canines.''

'' You can say that again'', 625 said, through a mouthful of sandwich.

'' Now you have to put up with what they go through.''

'' That's the worse part. I have a crazy vet.''

Gantu chuckled,'' You're going to have to get used to being a dog creature thing''.

'' Yeah. I know G. Speaking of dogs... I've got a garden to dig. Bye G.''

'' Bye 625. have a good afternoon''.

'' You too, G.''

625 left the house, waving goodbye to Gantu.

He went back to his house in the backyard and began digging. Peg was outside gardening,'' 625! I just planted those flowers!''

'' Hey! I buried a squeak toy in this spot!'', 625 remarked.

'' Marie's getting you one too many squeak toys''.

625 rolled his eyeballs. He resumed digging.

'' 625! Stop! Bad dog!''

She picked him up. 625 struggled,'' Let go! I want my squeak toy!''

'' Well you've ruined my flowers!''

625 groaned.

'' When Marie gets home, I'm going to tell her to give you a b-a-t-h''.

'' Peg, I know how to spell. NOT A BATH!''

'' Yes a bath.''

625 groaned again,'' It's just a little dirt.''

'' You're covered in dirt! Completely.''

'' So?''

'' You need a bath.''

Marie arrived,'' Hi mom! Hi 625.''

'' Marie, could you give 625 a bath?''

'' Okay. I see he's gotten into the garden.''

'' I was digging'', 625 snapped.

'' 625, come inside. I'll give you the bath'', Marie sighed.

'' Why me?''

Marie picked up a towel and 625 hopped into the tub. She turned on the faucet and lathered 625 with shampoo.

'' You're awfully quiet. Is something wrong?'', 625 asked.

'' No. Not really'', Marie answered quietly.

'' Out with it Marie''.

'' I've been worried about you. You've been sick lately''.

'' Marie, I'm fine now. Please, don't you worry about me. I'm fine.''

'' Really?''

'' Yeah''.

'' 625?''

'' Yeah?''

'' Here's a scrub-brush.''

'' You just ruined the moment.''

'' Ha ha.''

When 625 was done with his bath, he put a towel on around his waist and brushed his teeth. Marie was in bed, about to fall asleep.

625 hopped into his bed, but not without taking a last glance at Marie, before falling asleep, Don't worry about me, Marie. I'm feeling better.

TBC...