TAKING CARE OF THE PET.
The next morning, Wally started his duties as our servant/pet. He greeted both Margot and I at the parking lot, and carried our books, while following us. Of course, he was using the collar.
"Rhubella, that's hilarious! How you got permission to bring a pet to the school?" Giselle said to the rat girl, right after spotting her and Margot with Wally closely behind them.
"Oh, well, he isn't a real pet, you see. He is like one of those animals that are trained to assist people in need. You know, like a seeing-eye dog for a blind guy, or a monkey that answers the phone." Rhubella said in a snobbish tone, while she, her friend, and "pet" kept walking.
"Oh, and you need him because..." Giselle asked, with a teasing tone.
"Because we have a lot of things to do, since we are the top girls of the school, Swan. And our little puppy is going to be sure we are well attended all day." Margot replied in a superiority's tone while pointing back at the wolf. Giselle frowned, and walked away.
As expected, while the trio walked through the corridors, almost all the students were laughing at Wally. The wolf kept his head down, trying to ignore them.
"This guy is really pathetic! He already was a slave, and now he made it official!" Gunbo said in a superiority tone.
"Here, here, doggie! Nice doggie! Oh, and remember, you're not allowed to sit on the coach!" Nigel taunted him, chuckling.
"Yeah! And he's not even a pure-breed dog. I'm sure his parents raised him on a junkyard!" Ramon Ovine, a big black ram who was accepted with a sports scholarship, said while crossing his arms, and giving the wolf an evil smile.
This last comment really hurt Wally, who actually stopped walking for a moment, and snarled as quiet as possible. Rhubella noticed this as well, and she also felt a little upset. Even as a bad girl, she had certain limits concerning her enemies' families.
"Hey, cut it! He is our pet, and we are the ones in charge of making him miserable! So laugh at him if you want, but don't mess his family on this! May I remind you his uncle is the same lawyer that had cleaned your mess more than once?" The rat snapped at her classmates. This suddenly outburst surprised everyone, but not as much as it surprised Wally, and Ruby herself.
When I realized what I just had done, I covered my mouth with both paws. I was supposed to be the al-mighty Rhubella, Snobbish and Star Student Supreme, and there I was, defending the same guy I was supposed to give the worst time of his life. Margot noticed the way everybody was looking at me, and decided to act to save our images.
"Yes, guys, he is our loyal dog. Look at this." Margot said to her classmates, while standing next to Wally. The avian cleared her throat.
"Okay, Wolf, put those books down." Margot ordered Wally. He obeyed, and stood straight, waiting for orders.
"Now, SIT!" Margot ordered again. Wally obeyed in a split second, sitting in the floor. The other students started chuckling. Rhubella smiled a little, after sighing in relief.
"ROLL OVER!" Margot said. Wally rolled on the floor.
"TALK!" Now Ruby was the one ordering. Wally barked a couple of times.
"BEG!" Ruby commanded. Wally kneeled, and placed his paws together, while giving her and Margot a begging look, wide opening his eyes and lowering his ears.
"Please, please, Mistresses, please!" Wally said, in a really pathetic begging voice, causing everyone to burst out laughing. Margot chuckled a little, but Ruby wasn't that happy.
I just couldn't see him begging. I always enjoyed to make Roddy to do it when he still cared for our relationship, and he had to ask for my forgiveness every time he screwed things up... but Wally wasn't Roddy. He hadn't screwed anything. He was making a total fool of himself in front of everyone at the corridor, just because I ordered him to do it. Now, I REALLY was feeling more than a little guilty. Fortunately, I had an idea to stop the game, while protecting my image as well as Margot's.
"And now... PLAY DEAD!" Ruby ordered. The wolf stood up, and placed both paws on his chest, while closing his eyes. He then talked on his most melodramatic voice while pretending to be losing balance.
"Oh... you got me... I... am not okay... you stinking cops... ugh!" The wolf kneeled, and then extended his right paw, keeping the other on his chest, and giving everyone a hurt look.
"Is this... the end of Ricco?" Wally said in a pained tone, and then fell to the ground, pretending to be dead. Everybody looked at him, amazed.
"That was hilarious! Ruby, Margot, you really had trained this dog well!" Nigel broke the silence, laughing loudly. Everyone joined the laughter, and started walking away. However, neither Margot or Rhubella laughed. They just gave everyone a fake smile, and then turned to see Wally.
"Hey, Wolf, that was a great performance!" Margot said to the wolf, truly impressed. Wally opened his eyes, and stood up.
"Glad you liked it, Misses. I always liked acting on my old school." Wally comented.
"Well, I must admit you are really good, Mutt. Honestly, for a moment, I thought you were really going to visit Saint Peter!" Rhubella said, chuckling a little. She was as impressed as Margot. Wally smiled at her.
"Thanks a lot, Miss Rat... for that, and for defending my family." Wally said in a very polite tone before leaning to pick up the books. Rhubella gulped a little.
"Oh... about that... well, yes, I meant it, but I also meant the other part! We are going to make your life miserable, acting or not!" Ruby pointed to the wolf, while grinning at him. The canine shrugged.
"Two girls commanding me... that's the stuff dreams are made of." Wally said in a very cool tone while rolling his eyes. Ruby gulped, and actually blushed a little.
"Okay, enough chat! Come on, we have a class to attend!" Margot said to her companions, and then they continued on their way to the classroom.
Hey, you can't blame me for blushing! I had always been a Humphrey Bogart's fan, and Wally made a great impersonation of him! Anyway, we were dead serious about the whole "making him work like a dog" stuff. Poor Wally! I'm sure we broke a couple of laboring rules with him!
Right then, a lot of scenes of Wally working for the girls appeared.
Wally washing Rhubella's car while she was chatting at her cell phone.
Wally doing the girls' homework at the library, while they were chatting behind him.
Wally buying Margot her lunch at the cafeteria (with money she gave to him), and bringing it to her while she was hearing music from her I-pod at the school's spa.
Wally washing the cheerleaders' uniforms.
Ruby dictating him a lot of various stuff, while Wally is taking notes.
Wally giving both girls a pedicure and manicure's treatment.
Wally charging Ruby to her classroom.
Wally carrying the bottles of mineral water for the rat, the avian, and the rest of the basketball's team.
Wally giving Rhubella a massage at the school's spa (she was fully dressed, of course).
Wally driving Ruby and Margot to the mall on the rat's car, and carrying their stuff.
Wally carrying the girls' books while wearing a ballet's tutu, with all the boys at the corridor laughing at him.
Ruby calling Wally at midnight to change the tire of her car, since she got it flat on her way back home from Margot's place. Of course, the wolf had to run, since he had no vehicle.
Wally organizing the girls' desks.
Wally giving both girls a shampoo and a haircut.
This was about everyday... but, after a while, both Margot and I started developing certain amount of liking for the guy. And we started giving him a little compensation for his efforts. After all, we had to take care of our pet, right?
Again, some scenes appeared.
Ruby giving Wally some pointers about the classes he had more problems with.
Margot allowing him to keep the change of the money he used to buy her lunch.
Ruby thanking him for making a good job taking notes.
Both Ruby and Margot complimenting him for the great job he made with their nails and hair.
Ruby smiling at him while he was carrying the girl to the classroom.
Ruby sharing some of her cheese snacks with him (even if she was throwing them at him the same way an animal trainer does with a seal).
Ruby allowing him to have one of the team's bottles of mineral water.
Ruby smiling and giving the wolf the thumbs up for his massaging abilities.
Margot buying him lunch at the mall.
Wally getting a new uniform, bought by both girls.
Ruby driving him back to the dorms after he changed the flat tire.
Wally finding an envelope on Rhubella's desk, with "Your Tip" written on it. Wally opened it, and found twenty dollars inside.
Ruby throwing him a dog's toy in the school's yard, making him to catch it, and bring it back to her. Of course, everyone looking at the scene thought this was another way to humiliate the guy... but actually, both he and the girl were having a lot of fun.
Yes... maybe we treated him like a pet, but at least now he was receiving something for his efforts. And, from the first days, I was the one demanding his services the most; Roddy was starting to spend less time with me, and Margot still had a little bit of a relationship with Drake, so I usually was the one ordering Wally around, just to have some company.
Roderick and Drake, of course, thought, just like the rest of the students, that he was really suffering a lot as our slave, so they had no problem allowing him to hang around with us, the same way they didn't care for having a legion of servants at home to attend them. And, besides, they had another thing to think about. The Acme Bowl.
You girls hadn't seen how Roderick reacts when the Perfecto Team loses, and everybody had left the stadium. He just stays at the middle of the field, without moving, not even blinking... sometimes, he even stops breathing for moments. He stays that way for a time that can be just a few minutes, or almost an hour, and then... he yells like crazy, and starts hitting the ground with both fists and ripping pieces of lawn with his teeth. Simply, the Perfectos aren't used to lose, and that is just to much for him, especially because he always bets a lot of money on that game.
Anyway, as you girls know, that year, just like it had happened since Buster is the Acme's Captain, Perfecto lost. And we did it by a major beating, despite all the cheating Roddy and his partners tried to perform during the game. To make things even worse, after the game, it started to rain, so Roderick was getting soaked while standing at the field.
Wally carried Ruby's umbrella, covering the rat from the rain, on their way to the stadium' parking lot. The rat almost jumped inside the car.
"Miss Rat, I have to leave you now. I have to pick up the team's uniforms to wash them. Need anything else?" Wally asked the rat while passing her the umbrella. Rhubella motioned him to keep it outside.
"No, Wolf, that would be all for now. Keep the umbrella; I don't want to get my car soaked. Just remember to give it back to me on Monday, okay? And don't worry about Margot. Danforth is taking her home." Rhubella explained. The wolf nodded.
"Okay, Miss. And, if I can recommend you something, wait a little until the rain lowers its intensity. It will be safer. Oh, and thanks for letting me use the umbrella. See you on Monday." Wally said while waving her good-bye, and started walking back into the stadium. Ruby decided to listen for his advice, and, since she actually liked watching rain without getting wet, stayed on her car, listening some music. She wasn't so worried about Roderick; she knew that, eventually, he would cool down and go home (actually, maybe the rain would help a little), but, right now, the best was leaving him alone.
Now that I think about it, I realize how stupid I was for not warning Wally about Roddy's mood after losing a game. Margot was with Drake, watching at Roderick from a safe distance; she later filled me with the details of what happened then.
Roderick was at the center of the field, with anger boiling inside him. Drake and Margot, from the players' entrance, were watching him.
"I hate when this guy starts doing his crazy yelling, but I hope he decides to do it fast. Otherwise, Ruby is going to have a pneumonic boyfriend in no time." Margot commented.
"Yes, in deed, but I'll not be the one trying to make him react. The last guy who approached him while Roddy was on this state, ended at the hospital with 3 broken ribs." Drake replied. At that moment, Wally approached them, holding a bag with the uniforms, and Ruby's umbrella.
"Excuse me, Mister Danforth, but I noticed you forgot to give me your uniform." Wally said in a very humble tone, after giving Margot a little nodding in salute.
"Oh, don't worry, Imbecile. I gave it to my butler; he always washes it with some water imported from Switzerland, and French soap. Now, leave this place, and go to your doghouse." Drake said to the wolf, in a mocking tone. Wally nodded, and started leaving once Margot told him she wasn't needing him either. However, Danforth had a devious idea right then.
"Oh, Fool, just one last thing. Roderick is getting terrible soaked in there, and we can't move him when he is in that state. But I notice you have an umbrella, so you'll better go next to him, and cover my friend with it." Danforth ordered the wolf. Wally nodded, and walked to the field. Margot got a worried expression, and opened her beak, but Drake silenced her with a sign.
"Drake, are you crazy? You know how Roddy is going to react!" Margot said to him in a low voice. Danforth shrugged.
"Well, you are my girlfriend, so your things are mine as well, including the dog. And, well, better him than me, don't you think?" Drake chuckled, and turned to look at the field. Margot gasped, and started writing a message on her cell phone.
Wally approached Roddy, and placed the umbrella over him, protecting the rat from the water, even if that meant getting wet as well. Roderick, when sensing no more rain falling over him, rolled up his eyes, and spotted Wally. The wolf gave him a friendly smile.
"Hello, Mr Rat. Sorry for bothering you, but you shouldn't be here at the rain..." Wally started talking to the rat, but then the rat slapped the umbrella, making the wolf to drop it.
Roderick looked at Wally with a hateful glare; even if Wally was taller than Roderick (the wolf was about the full height of Buster Bunny, ears and all, so he actually was taller than Roddy or the rabbit by a little more than one head), the canine felt intimidated. He then realized that Danforth had set him in a dangerous situation.
Roderick jumped at Wally's throat, trying to strangle him. The wolf tried to keep down the rat, and succeeded, since he was way stronger. Roderick realized this, and stopped trying to strangle him to start throwing punches. The wolf blocked almost all of them, but, unfortunately, since the field was wet, the wolf slipped, and fell over his back. Roderick took his chance, and jumped on top of the wolf, punching, biting, and hitting him; Wally never tried to fight back, and limited his defense to placing his arms in front of him, trying to block at least part of the punishment. He didn't want to hurt one of her mistresses' boyfriend, but he might need to do it to stop Roderick.
At their observation's point, Drake was laughing loudly, while Margot was in shock. She was hesitating about what to do next, when Ruby appeared next to her; she had received Margot's message, and dashed out the car after reading it.
"RODERICK RAT, STOP RIGHT NOW!" Rhubella angrily yelled at her boyfriend. She was so furious, that actually made Roderick to stop. Wally uncovered his face, and gave her a good look. Even if she was soaked by the rain, and extremely pissed, Wally thought she looked beautiful.
"Roddy, you know that this beast is my personal slave! I don't go to your house to kick your maidens, or bite your butler, so stop hurting him, you hear me? How is he going to learn to be one of us, if he is scared to even approach to you?" Ruby snapped at Roddy. He panted, and glared at her. For a moment, it was like a little personal glaring battle between the rats... and the girl won.
Roderick, mumbling, stood up, and started walking away, passing next to Rhubella without saying a word to her, and then exiting the place without saying anything to the birds as well. Drake shrugged, and grabbed Margot's arm/wing to motion her to leave with him. The duckette looked at her friend; Rhubella nodded, and motioned her to leave. She would be the one attending the wolf. Margot understood, and left with Danforth.
"Sorry... about the umbrella... I guess I'll need to wash it as well." Wally said while painfully standing up. Even if he was used to be beaten by now, and by many guys at the same time, Roderick managed to give him a few good blows with his craziness-enhanced strength. Ruby looked at him, and lowered her ears.
Poor Wally! Again, he was punished for trying to be nice and obedient, and yet, he still was doing his best to keep his good nature intact. He was covered by mud, had a blackened eye and a few bruises, and was apologizing for the umbrella! Right then, I really wanted to do two things I hadn't done in a long time.
Cry, and wish for Roderick to break aleg.
Rhubella picked up her umbrella (also covered by mud), and then walked next to the wolf. She grabbed his arm, and placed it on her shoulder. Wally gave her a puzzled look.
"I can't have an injured pet, right? Come on, I'll give you a ride home... and, if you know something about first aids, maybe you can tell me how to heal that eye." Ruby said to the wolf, while giving him a little smile. Wally smiled back, and they started walking out from the field, with the canine using the rodent for support.
I was soaked to the bones, and coveredwith mud... and yet, I felt... well, happy. It actually felt okay to give him a paw, and even better when he smiled back at me. That night, I healed his eye, and we even shared a bag of my snacks at his dorm. I left a little late, and the next morning I had a major cold... but I'm sure I would do it again.