The Orb of Time

Part II - Remember

by LDEJRuff

Chapter 2 - Brian and Vinny

The seven friends finally made it to the Founding Father restaurant to eat for lunch. Almost none of the people eating there had noticed that New Brian was with them. The only person who saw him and was shocked was Mayor Adam West.

"Good gravy!" he exclaimed. "The gray border collie's alive?"

"Hello, Mayor West," New Brian greeted. "I know you're surprised to see me alive."

"I'm not just surprised," Mayor West replied. "I'm shocked! And I'm just glad I used that 'none of you came to my funeral' excuse to break away the boredom."

"Is that why you just faded out and walked away?" Brian asked, shrugging. "I saw you do that at the funeral."

"I didn't know you were watching," Mayor West answered.

"Anyway, a table just opened up for us," New Brian said, "and I'm just starting to get a nibble. This is the first time I ate since my revival."

The seven friends have just ordered what they were about to eat. While they were all waiting for their food, Brian was about to begin his story.

"Okay, everyone," Brian began. "I had left the Griffin house in my Prius, and since I was about to see the world, I had to stop for gas at the gasoline stand."

"And that's where yours truly came in," Vinny added.

"I can tell it, Vin," Brian replied.

As Brian stated in his story, his Prius stopped at a gas station. Brian got out of the Prius so he could fill it up with gas. The gas mart door opened, and out of the mart was a small figure, about Brian's size. His familiar grayish-brown back paws stopped a few feet away from Brian.

"Hey you, red collar," the figure greeted him in a familiar Italian-American accent. "I can see you're fillin' up for some'n."

"You can say that again," Brian replied. "I just left my owner's house not too far away from here. Anyway, this is the first time I've filled up for gas in this station." He turned his head to the figure. It was Vinny, who approached closer to Brian. "I can see you're a dog, too."

"Yeah, and that ain't the half of it," Vinny replied. "I'm a pussyhound. That just means I'm one-sixteenth cat. I know it's a technical impossibility for a dog breed, but I can tell if you don't want me for a friend."

"No, no, it's okay," Brian assured. "I can befriend you."

"Really?" Vinny smiled, his tail wagging. "That's cool."

"Yeah," Brian agreed as the gas pump dinged. "And my car's full of gas. Let me just pay the station and I'll get to introducing."

"No need, perro blanco," Vinny halted. "Let me help you."

With that, Vinny pulled out a credit card from behind him and slid the card into the machine. The receipt printed out, and Brian put the receipt into his pocket.

"Thanks," Brian said. "You know, you're a really terrific and amazing dog. Can you do tricks?"

"Of course," Vinny answered. "I can fetch a stick or an iPhone that fell off a truck. I even compliment a family of humans for their well-bein'."

"Well, that's something," Brian said. "I'm Brian, by the way."

"Vinny," Vinny replied. "It's short for Vincenzo. You want me to come with you? I just walked to the gas station to buy a few things for my owner, who lives a few blocks away, and have come a long way from him."

"Sure thing, Vinny," Brian answered. "I need a place to stay anyway."

With that, Vinny wagged his tail, and Brian allowed him into the Prius.

"So," Brian began, "where do you live?"

"I live in an apartment building with an old man," Vinny answered. "My phone has a GPS app so it can give you the directions."

The Prius drove all the way to the apartment building where Vinny lived. As soon as the two dogs got inside the tiny apartment, Vinny took off his collar and placed it on top of a dresser.

"Uh, why are you taking off your collar, Vinny?" Brian asked. "Won't you get impounded without a license while found in the street?"

"Nah," Vinny assured. "It's just a thing I do in and out of my apartment. I put my collar on outside my apartment so people will know I'm owned."

"Well, that's something. Maybe I can try it."

"You don't have to, Brian," Vinny disagreed.

"Welcome home, Vinny," Leo greeted, coming out of the bathroom. Upon noticing Brian, Leo continued, "I see you've brought a friend with you."

"Leo, this is Brian," Vinny introduced. "He's a dog I found at the gas station, and he's going to be staying with us."

"Yeah," Brian agreed. "I left my previous owner's house on account of his wife thinking I'm too old. Anyway, I'm eight years old. That's a dog-year equivalent of fifty-six."

"You kidding?" Vinny replied, surprised. "I'm only seven. Eight is still as young as seven."

"Well, you're welcome to stay with us anyway, Brian," Leo offered. "My apartment has enough room for two dogs."

"Yeah, and maybe I can treat you like a brother," Vinny added. "I've always wanted to have a brother-like figure around the house. It'd be like inviting my actual brother Vito to visit, and he's an evangelist."