The next morning.
"Honey, wake up." I groan a little and turn on my back. "What?" I see her having her yoga pants and top on. "Yoga time." "Why should I wake up for that? I never do yoga, you know that." I turn on my side again and close my eyes. "If you come with me, I'll promise to give you a surprise in the shower." I sigh lightly and turn my head to look at her again. She's smiling. "All right, but you better keep to your promise, only because you didn't want last night since you think these walls here are thin." I get out of bed slowly. She came closer and lays her hand on my chest. "I can see your problem, but first yoga." I watch her biting her lip as she turns around. I take my shorts and put them on. After I put my shoes on, I follow her downstairs. "A shirt, honey?"
"Nah, don't need a shirt, it's warm outside." I'm still tired. I wish she didn't wake me for this. Dad is already awake as well, but that is normal for him. We walk outside. Dad watches us as he is drinking his coffee. "Here, sweetie, this spot is great." She lays the yoga mats down. She even has a little one for Bella. I watch her putting Bella on the mat who lays down as if she knows it's yoga time. She looks at me while she pats on the other mat. I went on my knees. "Okay, we start with the dog first." I watch her taking the pose and try to copy her. "You need to hold it for at least thirty seconds." She has her eyes close. I look at Bella who has taken a pose too.
"Beebee is better at it than I am, why am I doing this, Brit?" She opens one eye to look at me for a second and then closes it again. I watch her letting the air slowly go out. "I want you to be one with your mind and your soul. I want you to start doing yoga with me. It will make you a better person." I'm not even going to discuss this with her. This is nothing for me. "Okay, we're going to change into the swan." I watch her and my eyebrows went up. Dad came to us. He tries not to laugh. "You're flexible for yoga, but not for sex, why?" Britney growls. Dad starts to laugh. I turn my head to look at him. I stand up as I give him a grin. He looks at Bella. "This lab rat is even better than you, son, you better stick to the dancing." He pats my upper back once. I stumbled forward.
"Here, son, you clearly need it more than me. I'm going to start work… I'll see ya at breakfast." He gives me his cup and walks to the stables. I watch him pushing his hat a little back while he whistles a melody. I smile and look in the cup and sip some. This is some good coffee. Britney watches me. Jamaal came outside with a yawn. He stops when he sees us. "Coffee is so bad for you." I look at her and sip some again. "But it's good though." Jamaal came closer. I look at him and smile. "You do need that coffee, Dancer." "It's great coffee." I drink some more. "I made it, pa said that ma can stay in bed longer since he likes my coffee more than hers." I start to laugh. Jamaal grins and pats my chest. I rub my chest. He chuckles as he walks to the stables. Bella barks and runs after him.
"Bella!" Britney shouts. "Beebee, come back here at once!" I watch Bella running around Jamaal who smiles at her. They went into the stables. "Can you go and get her, honey?" "Why don't you go yourself?" "There are big animals in there. I don't want to get dirty." She pouts. I move myself so I stand against her. She looks in my eyes. "You can get dirty on me." I bite my lip. "I can feel it, but I've promised to give it to you after yoga, and you haven't done any yoga and it's way too disturbing here." "It's a ranch, what do you expect? That people can sleep in every day and that the animals feed themselves in the stables?" She pushes me away.
I watch her taking the yoga mats and going inside. I could see with the way she walks that she's really pissed. I hear a car coming. I look to my left to see my brother Jamie stepping out. He walks to the house as he looks around. Then he sees me and stands still. "Johnny?" I start to smile. He came to me. "My gosh, little brother, I thought I would never see you again." We hug shortly. "I heard from ma and pa that you've got your own ranch now." Jamie chuckles with a half grin. "Yeah, at the other side of town, I need to talk to pa, is he awake?" "Yeah, he's in the stables." He looks at my chest. "Still the bare-chested boy I see." I chuckle about it. "My fiancée woke me up for yoga, and I didn't feel like getting fully dressed for it." Jamie's eyebrows go up. "Fiancée? What are you hiding, brother? Since when are you engaged?" We walk to the stables. "Since about a week." Jamie watches me closely, and then lays his arm around my neck.
"You're a yoga, nutritionist, and vegan freak now that you live in LA?" I start to laugh about his question. He laughs with me. "No, I'm not… actually, she is, I don't know why she wants me to do this as well." Jamie stops at the door from the stables and turns to face me. "Aren't most people from there thinking like that? Does she think she's rich too?" I look away as I inhale deeply through my nose. "Brother, I know you don't fall for such women, why in the world are you engaged to one?" I cross my arms, not replying. "Listen, if you're happy than so am I… for you but let me be honest with you. You don't look happy."
I look away again. Bella barks again and runs out of the stables, followed by a bigger dog. "What the hell was that?" "That was Bella, Britney's dog." Jamie starts to laugh again. "I forgot that women like that always have lab rats with them." Jamaal came outside and looks around. "Have you seen Beebee?" Then he sees Jamie and they hug shortly. "I'm going to dad." I only nod. "Beebee went that way." I point to the bushes. "I'm gonna get her, old Rosco is after her." "Wait, what?" Jamaal looks at my face. "Rosco is still alive?" He chuckles and nods. "As old as he may be, he's still a womanizer… way too many females like him, he even had a nest of puppies from Dorothy's young Labrador about three months ago."
"He must be ancient by now." I think about when Rosco came here, he was only four weeks. I was thirteen at the time. "He's twenty-four since last month." "Let's find them." I look at the cup. "Bring that inside. I might know where they've headed to." I nod. "Don't tell your fiancée about this, okay? I'll try to make sure Rosco won't do anything inappropriate." I chuckle about it. I look at the house and see Britney standing on the porch. She's looking angry. I drew out a deep breath. Normally, I stay out of her way when she's in this mood. But I can't avoid her now. Jamie came back outside and sees me. I see Britney's posture changing when she sees Jamie. I turn my head, he chuckles.
"Don't say anything, brother." I point at him. Jamie lays his arm around my neck and drags me to Britney. I struggle to get free from his grip. "You want to introduce me, brother?" He let me go when we are close to her. Britney checks Jamie out and bites her lip. "Brother, this is my fiancée Britney Martins… Brit, this is my brother Jamie." Jamie extends his hand and she shakes it carefully while he gives her a half grin. "Nice to meet you, Britney Martins." I watch how my brother is working his charm on her. I look at her and see how she reacts to it. This is so typical Jamie. I punch his upper arm once and he looks at my face. "I'm sorry, I need to go. I'll see ya later." Jamie walks away and Britney looks after him.
"You want a napkin?" She looks at me. "Your brother is nice." "Yeah, I know… a little too nice to the ladies most of the times. Don't fall for it, okay? He's a womanizer." "Okay, whatever you say… where's Beebee?" She crosses her arms. Why is she so offended? "Jamaal will bring her back, why are you reacting like this?" She keeps looking at my face without replying. The she turns around to go back inside. "You know I'm yours." I frown and walk after her. I put the cup in the sink. "I know." I reply. "I know you do, but what are you to me?" I want to reply to her question, but she turns the blender on. I see her mean girl face. I start to frown. "Nevermind, I'm going to get a shower… alone." I walk upstairs to get my stuff. I lock the door to the bathroom and turn the shower on. I could use some privacy now. We are here since yesterday and so much has happened already.
I step in the shower and let the water fall down on my face. I'm holding my breath while I'm thinking. I didn't tell her about the dream I had last night. I never thought I would dream about her again. It was quite arousing. I close my eyes as I let my hand go down. I try not to moan when there is a knock on the door. "Who's in the bathroom?" I hear mom. "It's me, ma, Johnny!" "Why is the door locked, are you ashamed of yourself?" I sigh. "No, I just need some privacy, I'm almost done." I didn't get a reply. I close my eyes again. "Don't take too long, okay?" I open my eyes again. "Okay, ma!" I try to think about the dream again, but the moment is ruined.
When I went downstairs, mom and dad look at me with a smile. "Where's my son?" I sit down. "Still asleep, he sees this as a holiday." Mom replies with a smile. "You checked on him?" Mom nods. "That boy is very private, just like you." Dad chuckles about it. "You never should disturb a man when he's busy with himself." Mom looks at dad with her eyebrows up. "God did not give you your hands to only play with your willy… that should only be for reproduction." Dad and I start to laugh. Britney came inside. She sits down and looks a little bewildered. "What's going on?" She looks at me. "Beebee." I start to frown.
"What happened?" Jamaal came inside, holding a total dirty Bella on his arms. "She's all dirty, god knows what she has done. She stinks too, she's getting wild here." Britney is being dramatic. "So, she found the cattle's shit?" Jamaal came closer and we all cover our noses. "I'll wash her." I stand up and step closer to Jamaal. Bella starts to growl at me. Jamaal chuckles as he watches me taking a step back. "You're afraid of this little girl?" I look at his face. "She hates me, god knows why." "I know why, you don't find her a big dog, so you treat her like a little lab rat, don't you?" Why does he know me so well? "All right, yeah, I do. But it's also because Brit accepts things from Bella that I don't agree with, so I try to correct her."
"I don't think she really hates you, Dancer, just be gentle." I look at Bella again. She is panting while she looks at me. "You do need a wash, Beebee, what have you been doing?" Jamaal chuckles and steps closer to me. He leans in so he can whisper. "Rosco showed her all the good doggie things, but he hasn't been inappropriate yet… he's seducing her." I start to laugh. "Let's get you clean so you can bother mommy again, okay?" Jamaal hands me Bella. I walk outside with her. I remember how I needed to wash Rosco most of the times. I did it with the hose because Rosco is a Sint Bernard. He's huge. I walk into the garage and look around.
When I found the dog shampoo and a tub, I walk back outside. "Let's put you in bath." I take the hose and fill the tub while I keep holding her in my other arm. "So…" I start as I look at her for a moment. She looks around while panting. "You and Rosco…" She looks at me. "Are you two an item now?" She waggles her tail very fast. "You like him, don't you?" She tries to lick my face. I chuckle. "You're cute, what ya think? Shall we become friends instead of enemies because of mommy?" She growls and barks once. "What? You don't like mommy?" She growls and barks again. I start to frown about it. I went on my knees. "Here we go. Now, I'm not gonna wash you every day because of big ol' Rosco taking you to the dirt, you hear me? And if you're dirty later today again or tomorrow, then you'll be sleeping in the stables." I warn her, but she waggles her tail.
"I mean it young lady, in the stables and no, not in Rosco's stable." I point at her and take the shampoo. She looks at me as I wash her little head. I smile as I can see she is enjoying the bath. "You love it here, don't you? I can see how you totally live up since you got outside this morning." I rinse the shampoo off her body. She barks happily and licks the water. I chuckle. "You're hungry? I bet you would love to have a big fatty bone, don't you?" She barks. I take her out of the tub and put her on the grass. She starts to shake. "Thanks." I stand straight as I watch her. I went to empty the tub. She walks after me. I put everything back and walk to the house, she keeps following me.
Britney sees me coming inside, with Bella following me. "She's all wet, you need to dry her." I look at Britney as I open the fridge. "She'll dry in the sun. She loves it outside." I take the left-over roast and a plate. Bella looks at me and sits down while waggling her tail. I start to put some meat on the plate. Jamaal looks at her and smiles. "She's starting to like you, Dancer." I look at him and smile. "I had a good talk with her." I wink. "Son, what are you doing?" Mom came closer. "Feeding Beebee, she's hungry." Mom smiles and opens a cupboard.
"Look, you can give her this, it's food for Rosco. Ben has told us to give him soft food because he nearly has no teeth no more." I look at the big can of dog food and smile. "Thanks, ma, but let me give her this now. I don't want to disappoint her." Mom chuckles and shakes her head. "Don't spoil her." "I'm not spoiling her." She puts the can back and closes the cupboard. She turn and gives me a kiss on my cheek before sitting down again. Dad and Jamaal stand up. "We're gonna herd the cattle, we need to check if some of them are in their heat period." Dad gives mom a kiss and went outside. Jamaal gives her a kiss on her cheek and follows dad outside.
I put the roast back in the fridge and take the plate. "Come, Beebee, you need to learn that you'll be eating outside." "Honey… let her eat inside. Why are you not giving her vegetables? She's a vegan dog." Mom and I look at Britney. Mom starts to laugh. I went outside. I put the plate down and watch how eagerly she starts to eat. "You love that, don't you?" I smile as I caress her head a little. "I'm gonna make a real dog of ya."
Mom looks at Britney. "Sweetie, there's no such thing as a vegan dog, they need to eat meat, there's a lot of proteins in meat, it's good for them." Britney starts to frown. "Meat is unhealthy for everyone. Besides, why would anyone eat other animals?" Mom watches her as she sips her coffee. "Why would one only eat plants? They are also living beings. Having a good balance of both meat and vegetables is what's healthy." Britney snorts, shaking her head a little. Mom straightens her back, pushing her shoulder a bit back. "Dogs do eat vegetables too. I've been told by Bella's vet." Britney crosses her arms. "They do, but it's not a reason to let them only eat vegetables. Balance it out." Mom stands up when Bryan came inside the kitchen.
"Morning." Mom looks at him and chuckles. "You're just like your father." Bryan looks at her and then down at his bare chest. He gives her a kiss on her cheek. "You want eggs?" "If it's not too much of a trouble. I can make them myself as well." Mom looks at his face and lays her hand on his cheek. "I've learned myself how to cook." "Why? You're only twelve." "I know, but dad is always busy and often away already when I wake up and…" He looks at Britney for a second. She is looking at her phone while sipping her smoothie. "She can't cook, and she doesn't care about me." As he leans a little in to whisper. Mom looks at her for a moment. "I had to, mawmaw." Mom sighs and shakes her head. "Well, you're not gonna do that here, okay? Sit down, you want some juice?" Bryan nods and sits down.
She takes the jug and fills a glass for him. "How do you want your eggs, sweetie?" Bryan thinks. "Scrambled is just fine." He sips some juice. Mom takes the frying pan and starts making eggs. "What are you going to do today, Bryan?" Bryan turns his face to Britney, who is looking at him with a little smile. "I don't know yet, being outside I think." "Don't you want to game or so? Like you always do with your friends." "I don't game that much. We only do that in my room to avoid being in the same room with you. I prefer to be outside." Britney looks away and her phone vibrates. Mom only listens while she bakes the eggs. She looks outside and sees me helping dad and Jamaal. Bella is running around us while Rosco is laying on the ground, watching Bella. She smiles and wishes that I would stay here with Bryan.
"Here you go, sweetie, if you like, you can help pawpaw with feeding the calves." Mom lays the plate on the table in front of him and gives him a fork. Bryan starts to eat as he smiles. "Thanks, mawmaw, I will." Mom looks at Britney and sighs. "Don't you want to go outside and have a nice walk or something? The fresh air would do you good." Britney looks up at her. "No, thank you. The air isn't that fresh here, I'm going to do my nails." She stands up and went upstairs to the bedroom.