"Come on Patches! Let's play!" Rebound was jumping around the black and white dog.
"No thanks Rebound. Not in the mood." Patches was typing a message on the computer he had in his room.
"What's that say?" Cupcake had come up.
"I can't tell you."
"Why?"
"Because. It's classified."
"What's that mean?" Cupcake cocked her head.
"Yeah! Isn't that what Bondo said?" Rebound agreed.
"It means it's a secret. Top secret info. For my eyes only. So stop staring at it!" Patches barked.
"You sure you don't want to play?" Rebound got down low. "You are a pup after all-"
"Never call me that." Patches said through clenched teeth. He was standing over Rebound who had gone limp. Submissive. Patches was surprised. He got off her and returned to his computer.
"Well okay. Come on Rebound let's play." Cupcake gave Patches a nervous glance and ran off.
"Hey kid! What are you doing?" Lucky had come up.
"Classified. Jeez, how many times do I have to repeat that? I think I'm the only smart one around here…" Patches rolled his eyes.
"Whatever it is you're gonna tell me." Lucky glared.
"I don't have to if it's my own personal business." Patches turned to face Lucky.
"Actually, you do. I'm the leader of this pound. I deserve to know."
"Are you the leader of Dog. H.Q.? I don't think so."
"Drop the act Patches."
"I'm not acting Lucky. I'm standing up for myself. I'm doing what I think is best for me. You aren't me, so you wouldn't know."
Lucky sighed with exasperation. "Look, I know things have been tense since the fight, but you have to tell me."
"It's Top Secret stuff! I swore not to tell you or anyone when I went to that interviewing that night, and I'm not about to break that promise. Oh, guess what Lucky? I passed!" Patches started typing again.
"What!?" Lucky gasped. "You aren't going, are you?"
"Lucky, the Pound Puppies mean a lot to me, but it's time for a change. I want to live my life the best I can, cause it' not gonna last forever. We haven't set a time to meet yet." Patches explained. "I agree I should've told you before, but you can't control my life anymore. I have to listen to your commands all day. Patches! Be careful crossing the street! Oh, don't do that it could be dangerous! You have to ask for permission before you leave the Pound! That's not how I want to carry out my life. A little bit of breaking the rules is good, and that's what I'll do at D.O.G., to save the world."
"Alright. I'm sorry. It is your life and I should let you do whatever you want with it. I just don't want you to get hurt, okay?" Lucky turned and walked off.
Patches continued typing.
From: patchesmcf
To: roscoer , juniorl
Titled: so mad!
i cant believe him guys hes all up in my biz now he just yelled at me for not being careful and not telling him about top secret stuff hence the name! :( !
Reply
From: roscoer
To: patchesmcf
Titled: wow
sorry to hear that dude i cant say i know how it feels but hes getting worse
Reply
From: juniorl
To: patchesmcf
Titled: thats so annoying!
sometimes my mom is like that shes like junior did u take a shower and im like yes i did mom! it can b so annoying!
Patches emailed back and forth with his two friends the whole afternoon and they made plans to go to the park.
"And where do you think you're going?" Lucky had spotted Patches leaving the pound.
"To the park. To meet Roscoe and Junior." Patches replied.
"Not without me you aren't." Lucky stepped in front of him.
"Lucky, do you really want to fight again?" Patches said, letting his hackles rise a little bit.
Lucky didn't say anything as he watched Patches leave the pound.