Sorry for the slow updates! I've just got a lot going on right now. Well, I hope this chapter was worth the wait for you, because it was really nice to write. Please enjoy and feel free to leave any feedback at all! Thank you for sticking with me and reading this. :)
Charles agreed wholeheartedly that it would be beneficial to Roger if they got a puppy. He and Miss Ginny several nights sitting at the kitchen table while their child was sleeping in his little bed, mainly discussing what would be best for him—a large dog or a small dog; a rescue dog or a purebred; an older dog or a newborn. They finally decided to take him to the shelter (by surprise) and let him choose for himself.
One Wednesday morning, Charles called out of his work to stay with his wife and adoptive-son. Miss Ginny tried to busy herself all morning while Roger slept. She was too excited to just sit still. "Oh, can we please just wake him now? He can take an extra nap later if need be." she urged. Charles only chuckled and put his hands on her shoulder. "He'll never want to rest a moment once he gets home with his new pet. We'll let him sleep for fifteen more minutes, and then we'll wake him. Does that sound fair?" he responded. His wife pouted. "Pleeeeease?" she begged, trying to use her sweetest look on him. He sighed. "Alright, alright. We'll wake him now. I know that won't be the first pair of 'puppy-dog-eyes' I'll see today." He rumpled her hair and followed her skips to their bedroom.
Roger was all snuggled under the multiple blankets he always kept around him, dark-rimmed eyes shut peacefully as they were the only part of his face visible, save for his feathery hair. Miss Ginny gently sat on the bed with Charles at her side. She touched the sleeping boy's shoulder. "Love," she whispered tenderly. Roger stirred a bit, drawing the four favorite blankets closer. He developed a sort of everlasting chill since leaving the island—being so accustomed to living under a constantly blazing sun, he felt incredibly numbed without that tropical heat around him. Miss Ginny never minded because that only meant she could fill his closet with cute sweater and warm clothes. Charles enjoyed bundling Roger in at least the four blankets at bedtime every night. The parents watched as his sleepy eyes opened, blinking in the light from the sheer curtains. "Daddy?" he asked just before yawning. "Why aren't you at work?" Charles smiled as he stroked his son's cheek. "I'm staying home with you and Mummy today, dear. We're going on a bit of an adventure." he replied. Roger's eyes snapped open. "Adventure?" he asked in surprise. Both parents smiled. "Come darling, eat some porridge and get dressed—the sooner we start, the more time you'll have." Miss Ginny told him, carrying him out of the room.
Once Roger was all dressed and fed, the little family traveled through the city by car. Roger tried to guess multiple times where they were going, but neither adult would directly tell him—they instead just shared knowing smiles. The car stopped along the street, in front of a line of buildings. Miss Ginny and Charles each took one of Roger's little hands as they led the way to a doorway. They ushered him through first.
Roger gasped when he looked inside. All around him were cages—cages containing colorful little birds, squirming ferrets, mewling cats, and tail-wagging puppies. Miss Ginny knelt before him with her hands on his shoulders. "This is your special day," she whispered. "To pick out a friend forever." Roger was still stunned by what he'd heard and seen. "Anything?" he replied in awe. "I can choose anything?" Miss Ginny and Charles glanced at each other. They knew secretly that he'd probably end up with a puppy, but the decided it wouldn't hurt to let him experiment with the other animals too. "Anything," Charles answered gently. Roger took their hands again and slowly walked past all the cages, spending a good amount of time staring into each one.
Roger didn't seem to be too fond of the birds—every time they'd squawk or chirp, he'd get startled. The ferrets weren't too bad for him; that is, until while he was holding one, it managed to wriggle up the arm of his long-sleeved shirt. Roger cried when a cute little bunny nibbled a bit too sharply on his finger. It was between the puppies and the kittens for him now. He spent a while playing with some energetic kittens, but noticed that they lost interest in him after a bit and took to playing with their own toys. The puppies though. They never tired of him. He sat in a pen full of them, watching them romp beside him and eagerly lick his cheeks. He looked up at his parents. "I've decided on a puppy," he informed them. The two winked at each other, knowing that they'd predicted such a decision.
Roger spent a while trying to figure out which puppy would be the best fit for him—not necessarily the cutest, or the most playful, but the one that really made him comfortable. Miss Ginny and Charles admired their son's intuition and control; it seemed that he was beginning to function more normally (mentally) every day. They walked around the pet store a few times to let Roger get an idea of which one he'd like without feeling any pressure coming from them. Charles purchased some dog food, a bed, and a new toy for the dog. After about an hour of deliberation, Roger approached them with a little spotted puppy in his arms. "This one," he said. "He followed me everywhere, but when I sat down, he sat down too. I feel like he understands me." The parents grinned with tears in their eyes. These were the exact words they'd hope to hear their child say—that someone understood him.
Charles purchased the dog and the owner of the shop gave them a complimentary leash and collar set. "What's his name, love?" Miss Ginny asked as she watched Roger gently stroking the now sleeping puppy's head. He didn't hesitate. "It's Mulberry. See? Because he's got a little red spot right there on his back leg, near his tail." Miss Ginny nodded. The family drove back home with a new member of their household—Mulberry.
Charles was precisely right—Roger wanted nothing to do with a nap once they returned home. He took Mulberry out for a walk six times in one hour, he tried to teach him fetch, he attempted to dress him in a sweater of his own, he ran a comb through the short hair of the dog, and then took it out for a walk some more. Roger was in complete love for the puppy. At bedtime, he brought the new dogbed into his room. "I want Mulberry to sleep with me," he told his parents. They agreed (after a little deliberation) and tucked in their son. "Mummy? Daddy?" Roger asked sleepily. "Thank you so incredibly much for my new best friend. He's the best fit for me and I couldn't be any happier with how my life is now. The only other things in this world that understand me so well are you two." Miss Ginny put her hand over her heart, Charles smiled at his son. "We couldn't be any more proud of you, Roge." he whispered. They all kissed goodnight.
Roger turned over once the bedroom door softly closed behind them. Just as he was about to drift off, he heard a whimpering sound coming from the floor. Mulberry had seated himself directly in front of the bed, looking up at his new little master's tired body longingly. Roger smiled. "We can't play anymore. It's time to go to sleep." he whispered. The puppy whined and pawed at the hanging sheet. Roger bent door and scooped Mulberry up. He laid back down, puppy in his arms, and fell asleep clinging to the thing lovingly.
Oddly enough, Mulberry seemed to have wanted just that.