Now here is where things are about to get real.
"GET OUT OF MY LIFE YOU LEECH!"
Oliver woke up with a gasp before getting a hold of himself. The sun was finally shining, but that didn't do much to cheer up his little heart. Oliver looked down at his clothes, clearly seeing how torn and dirty they were. "I still can't believe that it's been seven days since-"
"HEY!", Oliver spun around quick to see the owner of that intimidating voice. A big, shaggy grey dog in worn out jeans and a thick black jacket towered over him with menacing red eyes.
"I thought I told you to stay off of my terf you little brat.", the big dog said as his paws clenched into tight fists.
"I-", Oliver stuttered for a moment, "I'm sorry, but that's what you said in the other ally way, and I'm sure that since we're both homeless we could-"
"DON'T YOU START WITH ME!", screamed the dog in stubborn anger.
"But I didn't mean any harm."
"DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHENEVER SOMEONE DISOBEYS ME MORE THAN ONCE?!", the dog then kicked a nearby trash can with so much force that it went over the chain link fence behind Oliver.
"Please, stop.", Oliver was beyond scared.
As the dog was about run over to the helpless and grab him, Oliver used his wits and quickly dodged sprinted under his legs and made a run for it while the big bully crashed into the fence. "COME BACK HERE YOU LITTLE SHIT!" Oliver began to kick it into high gear when he heard heavy stomps behind him.
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Beep Beep Beep
Dodger groaned as he heard that annoying sound his alarm clock was making. After adjusting his eyes, he slammed the snooze button and stood up. "Who the hell sets their alarm on a Saturday?", he asked himself before fully waking up to realization. "Oh, that's right. Working cats and dogs." Dodger was still a little upset, but that didn't stop him from putting a smile on his face in order seize a new day.
He got out of bed and went to the bathroom in his bedroom to take a shower. About twenty minutes later he came out, dried himself off, and got himself dressed. Dodger's outfit mostly consisted of a white T-shirt, a black leather jacket, and his signature red bandana he received from his father when he was about ten years old. He looked back at the happy times they shared, how he wanted to be a successful music teacher just like him. Then he remembered the day of the shooting.
The police didn't know how to explain that to a ten year old pup, and Dodger could hardly come to terms with reality that day. Dodger didn't have any other family, so childhood services had no choice but to put him in a foster home. He thought he was forever alone, that is until he met Rita in middle school. They quickly became the best of friends and they were both also cunning when it came to bullies. It wasn't long until they befriended Frances, and Tito in high school, then Einstein in college.
When Dodger made his way to the dining room where he heard Tito's fancy step music and Frances' usual groan
"I swear Tito, God only knows where you get this stuff from.", Frances said while cleaning his glasses with a hankerchief.
"Hey man, it's better than that Mofart music you listen to.", Tito retorted.
"Mozart.", corrected Frances.
"Whatever Frankie."
"For the last time, it's-"
"Well, isn't this a fine morning?", Dodger said as he smiled, amused by their behavior.
"Good morning Dodge.", Rita cooking her delicious bacon and eggs to get them started for the day. Einstein's mouth was already watering.
"This is my favorite part of the day.", said Einstein.
"Mine too buddy.", said Dodger as he was making himself a cup of coffee and quickly drank it like a fish. "Well, gotta go."
"Huh, where are you going?", asked Rita, upset that he's about to skip breakfast.
"I have to go get some more itunes cards for the shop. We might want to do business with them someday."
"You're not gonna eat first?"
"No, sorry. Catch ya later gang."
Rita sighed to herself when Dodger was out of earshot.
"Hmm, he was enthusiastic of us all when we started this little shop.", Frances said as adjusted his glasses.
"I'm sure he'll openly talk to us about it.", said Rita, giving her pan a sad look without the guys noticing. "I just don't think it's quite time yet."
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Oliver ran as fast as his legs could carry him, trying to avoid all the obstacles that were in his way. The big bully behind simply just pushed them with brute force. "GET THE HELL OUT OF MY WAY!"
"WATCH IT YOU JERK!", a grey she cat shouted after him as she picked up her purse.
"Oh, I need help.", thought Oliver, "Why won't anyone help me? What did I do to deserve this?"
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Dodger thought quietly to himself as he was walking down the sidewalk, wondering whether or not he should tell the truth about wanting to get some fresh air for a while before setting up shop.
"They must be thinking that I'm a real jerk right now,", he thought, "for not being completely honest on how I'm feeling." His thoughts were interrupted when he felt a sudden bump behind him and heard an oof sound. Dodger turned around to see a orange striped kitten sitting on the ground.
"Oh, sorry about that kid.", Dodger said while extending his arm to help him up, "Need any help?"
The kitten just got up quickly and sprinted into a narrow alleyway. Dodger stared in wonder before a big dog in a black jacket ran to the alleyway he just saw the kitten go into. "GOTCHA YOU LITTLE BASTARD!" Dodger was surprised to hear an adult scream at a child like that. "PLEASE, DON'T!" Concerned, Dodger quickly went to the alleyway to see the dog's massive paw around the kitten's wrist and about to strike him with the other. "HEY!", he bellowed.
"MIND YOUR OWN BEES WAX SCRUFFY!", screamed the grey brute.
"HELP ME!", the kitten pleaded in agony.
Dodger's blood began to boil as he ran towards the dog and pushed him away from the defenseless kid he had just met.
"WHY DON'T YOU PICK ON SOMEONE YOUR OWN SIZE YOU BUM!", Dodger's protective instincts completely took over.
"YOU ASKED FOR IT!", the dog ran to Dodger ready to punch him in the face, but Dodger ducked down and jabbed him in the midsection, knocking the wind out of him. Then Dodger grabbed the dog's wrist and twisted it enough to cause him pain and make him wimper.
"LET GO! YOU'RE GONNA BREAK IT!"
"Then we understand each other. If there is one thing I can't stand, it's bullies. Especially grown adults who think that they can harass kids and just get away with it. I should break your miserable wrist right here and now."
The big dog's eyes went from menacing to timidly afraid in an instant.
"Or you can get out of my sight.", Dodger pushed him against the brick wall. "Leave, the sight of you alone is making me feel sick." The big dog quickly obeyed and ran off. Dodger then made his way over to the kitten sitting there watching the whole thing. He again extended his arm. "Are you okay kid? That must have been pretty scary."
Timidly, Oliver took the paw before him. After he got up, he sniffled a little bit, that brought up Dodger's attention as he kneeled down and placed both paws on the kitten's shoulders.
"Whoa , hey.", Dodger tried his best to calm him down. "I'm not gonna hurt you. I'm to help, what's your name kid?"
"Oliver.", Oliver said once he regained control of his emotions. Dodger noticed that the kid was wearing torn clothes and worn out sneakers. He also took note on how thin he was and how hollow his cheeks looked.
"When's the last time you ate?", he asked.
"Well, I-", Oliver's stomach interrupted him before he could answer.
Dodger laughed a little seeing this. "Come on kid, how 'bout I treat you with hot dog."
"But I haven't done anything to-"
"Done anything to what? If talking 'bout earning your keep, then you might as well stop. Everyone's gotta eat to live."
"Well, I guess that's fair."
"There's not really anything to guess about. Let's go before anything else happens."
Oliver hesitated at first, but when Dodger started to walk away he quickly caught up with him and tried to stay close. About five minutes later they came upon a hot dog cart with a pudgy orange cat with thick grey whiskers and somewhere in fifties standing behind it. "Dodge!", he said in a cheerful down to earth tone. "The usual, I presume?"
"Not for me this time, Carter.", said Dodger nodding towards the scrawny kid next to him. "I'm actually saving someone from certain death, if ya know what I mean."
"Well,", Carter greeted Oliver with an honest smile, "and how are today?"
Oliver looked down at his feet trying to come up with an answer. "Well, I, umm, I-"
"That's alright. I have something that most kids your age like anyway." Carter whipped out hot dog in a bun and squirted mustard and ketchup on it. "Here you go sonny."
"Umm, thank you." Oliver said quietly as he took the hot dog.
"You're the best Carter.", Dodger said while handing him cash. "Keep the change."
"Thank you for being so generous Dodge.", Carter said, "You two have a nice day now."
"We will.", Dodger said, then he guided Oliver to a bench unoccupied by anybody else. Oliver only looked at the tasty sausage for moment. "Well, what are waiting for. Eat up.", Dodger was using his best encouraging voice. Oliver then perked up and quickly wolfed it down. "Someone was hungry." Dodger was mildly amused.
"Oh, sorry.", Oliver looked sheepish.
"Why are you apologizing? It's obvious that you haven't eaten in days, so you had to have something. I can also tell that you've been out here all alone for a while. You wanna tell me why exactly?"
When the stranger that have just saved him asked that, Oliver began to burst into tears again. Dodger was stunned seeing this again, and did his best to make up for it.
"Whoa, kid. I'm sorry, I didn't know that it was that big." Dodger tried to come up with a solution when it dawned on him just now. "Why don't you come with me to my place? Right now, it seems that out here is not very homey. So come on, I'm sure that my roommates won't mind."
"But I-"
"I insist kid. Don't' worry about a thing."
Oliver though about it for a moment, then it finally hit him that it was better than the street. "Okay."
"Great. Now up you go." When Dodger started to walk home with Oliver, he thought to himself "How will I explain this to the gang?"
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Rita was pacing in the apartment in front of the couch when she heard the door open. "Oh finally.", she thought. "Dodger, where have you-", Rita froze as she saw the kitten standing behind him. The others were sitting on the couch and had big eyes full of surprise on what just came in.
"Whoa man, what is this?", Tito practically jumped as he demanded an explanation.
"Are we gonna have to baby sit now?", asked Einstein.
"Of course not, ol' boy.", said Frances, "Though, I certainly hope not."
"Easy guys.", Dodger remained his cool. "I can explain."
"Well we're listening.", Rita said as she gave Dodger her full attention.
"Rita, I swear, he was in trouble and I was trying to help. I mean, I just saved him from being eaten alive by a big guy with a huge temper." Rita looked Dodger over and after a thorough search, she knew that he was telling the truth.
"All right Dodge.", she said, "But we need to clarify a few things." Rita gently pushed Oliver to the table and seated him on a chair. "Now kid, I know that this might be difficult for you to answer, but we need to get some things out in the open. I mean, for starters, where are your mother and father?"
Oliver couldn't come up with an elaborate lie, so he decided that the truth was the easy way out; even if it hurts. "I-", he started, "I don't have a dad, and my mom, she- she" Oliver started shaking a little.
"Yes? I'm listening", Rita coaxed.
Oliver sniffled once again before he answered. "She threw me out. After saying those horrible things she threw me out."
The group of dogs on the couch had open mouths hearing this. "What do you mean? What kind of things did she say exactly?", Rita needed more input.
"She told me that I wasn't supposed to be born, and most of the time she called worthless and slap me in the face. She even said that I ruined her life. I don't know what I'm going to do know." Oliver couldn't hold it in anymore. He started crying with his tiny paws clenched on his lap. Seeing this got Dodger looking back at his childhood after his father's murder. He remembered crying himself to sleep at the foster home he was sent to, and how lonely he was after he was given the horrible news. Then he remembered the spare empty room next to his room. Dodger may have been jumping to conclusions, but he just didn't want to see another kid go through that again.
"It's okay kid.", he said as he gently lifted Oliver up to his feet. "There's a room with an unoccupied bed three doors down the hall. Why don't you get yourself some sleep and we can figure this out later?"
Oliver regained control again thanks to the careful tone in Dodger's voice. "Okay.", said, then he made his way to the bedroom he was told about. When the whole gang heard the soft click of a door, they began to wonder what Dodger was planning to do.
"Where are going with this man?", asked Tito
"Nothing yet, Tito.", said Dodger, "I just have to make a few calls first."
"Well," said Frances, "could we at least know the young man's name before hand?"
"He said that his name was Oliver."
"Oliver?", asked Rita, then she smiled affectionately, "That's a nice name."
"Actually,", said Dodger, giving the same smile, "It kind of is. Now, let's get started." Dodger went over to the phone and called a few numbers that would be a big help for the poor kitten's future.
So far, so good. Keep me updated with the reviews.
