Chapter 8: The morning paper

Jet was peacefully sleeping as the morning sunlight started to shine through the bedroom windows onto his face.

"Jet?...Oh Jet time to wake up." A soft warm tender voice is heard as an orange paw tenderly brushes across Jet's face

Jet slowly opens his eyes and sees Diane in her usual grey suit and glasses kneeling next to the bed with a caring smile one her face. Jet sits up and lets out a yawn while stretching his arms.

"Morning there pup. Did you sleep very well." Diane asked softly

"*yawn* Yes Diane. This bed is so soft. Thank you." Jet smiled back

"*giggles* That's wonderful to hear. Oh hey I have something for you." Diane said

"Y-You do? What is it?" Jet asked with a look of curiosity

"*giggles* Come on out with me if you wanna see." Diane said as she stood up and held out her hand

Jet grabs Diane's hand and lets her help him out of bed. Jet follows Diane out into the living room where a shopping bag was sitting on the kitchen counter. Diane picks up the bag before kneeling down to Jet's level. She opens the bag showing Jet the contents inside.

"These are all for you." Diane pulls out one of the clean brand new shirts and pants hands it to Jet

"*gasp* These...are for me!?" Jet asked in a surprised yet joyful tone

"Mmm-hmm" Diane smiled warmly and nodded yes.

"Now before you can try them on, you gotta get yourself well cleaned up first. Now do you know how to take a shower?" Diane asked

Jet nodded yes

"Wonderful. The bathroom is just down the hall to your right and there's a new bottle of canine shampoo you can use alright?" Diane instructed

"Okay. Thank you." Jet said before excitedly running to the bathroom

After the bathroom door closed, Diane stood back up smiling to herself before going outside her front door. Outside Diane walked down the concrete pathway leading to her front door to pick up the morning Los Angeles times newspaper. Diane picks up the newspaper, unrolls it and looks at the front page to see what the news story for today was. The news story showed a photo of a house surrounded by yellow police tape and below the photo was the title for the article.

"ANTHRO WOLF LADY FOUND DEAD IN HER HOME"

Diane proceeds to read the news story.

"On the morning of May 7th, 2023, (The day before Diane found Jet and took him in) a female anthro wolf woman was found dead in her home by her landlord who was about to evict her from the residence in northeast Los Angeles at around 7 AM. The deceased was identified as 37 year old Courtney Pawser."

Diane's eyes lit up in shock and lets out a gasp upong seeing the last name but continued to read.

"Courtney was taken to LA county morgue were autopsy was performed. According to autopsy report, Courtney died of severe liver failure due to heavy alcohol consumption. According to Courtney's records, she was unemployed and widowed with a deceased husband. She was also a single mother with a 4 year old wolf son by the name Jet Pawser who is currently missing and being looked for by police. If you or anyone you know has seen or know anything about the missing wolf child, please don't hesitate to call 911."

Diane was downright shocked by the news she read and was sure Jet wasn't going to be happy when she shows him.

Meanwhile in the bathroom

Jet was happily washing himself with the refreshing hot water spraying down on him and applying the blue special anthro canine shampoo. Jet was surprised when he could see a lot of dust and dirt washing off of him and going down the drain. It made him wonder how long he lived on the streets. Oh well who cares he was now in safe hands with Diane. After fully washing himself, Jet shuts off the shower and dries himself with a white folded towel Diane left out for him. Finally he puts on his fresh new set of clothes. The clothes consisted of toddler size light blue plaid short sleeved button up shirt and light blue jeans. Jet comes out of the bathroom smiling to himself feeling all fresh and clean with his new clothes and goes back out to the living room to see Diane.

Diane had just came back in the house and sat on the couch with the newspaper in hand. When Jet came into the living room, she looks at him with a sad face expression that said 'I have bad news'. Jet looks at Diane wondering why she looked uneasy.

"Jet, Sweetie can you come here please...There's something I need to tell you." Diane said softly as she patted the couch

Jet did so and hopped on the couch sitting next to Diane ready to listen to what she had to tell him.

"Jet...is your mom's name Courtney?" Diane asked

"Yes...How did you know?" Jet asked a little surprised

Diane took a deep breathe before handing Jet the newspaper.

"Honey i'm so sorry but...your mom has passed." Diane said sympathetically as Jet looked over the newspaper

Jet reads the newspaper and couldn't believe his eyes. His mother has totally drank herself to death. Jet sets the newspaper aside and looks down sadly with his hands on his cheeks. He sighs in pure disappointment upon learning his mother totally let herself go.

Diane gently lifts Jet onto her lap and sympathetically cuddles him to help him feel better. Jet sighs again as he gladly snuggles into Diane's embrace.

"It's going to be okay honey. I promise." Diane whipsered as she rubbed Jet's back

As the two sat on the couch in each other's embrace, a light bulb suddenly goes off in Diane's head.

End of chapter 8