Hey everyone! I'm back with a new chapter. This will be a much longer chapter than usual, but I hope you enjoy it!
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Chapter 5: Big "girl" Talk
I woke up to what I assumed to be hours later to find that it's still nighttime…probably in the early morning. I'm still under the tree…
I cringed once I realized where I am…I'm STILL in this body…still in this strange world!
I would have tried to sleep again, but it was futile…if it wasn't obvious before it is now: I'm stuck here!
I grabbed my ears as I groaned loudly in frustration, "no! I won't give up, but…whoever you are…whoever sent me, please, just give me a sign!"
I slumped down against the trunk again and sighed loudly. I should have broken down, curled up on the floor, and cried my eyes out, but maybe that's a thing I SHOULDN'T DO! The more I think about it, the more I think the way I'll return home is somehow connected to Bluey and her family!
It sounds crazy, but hear me out: I wake up, the first people I meet were Bluey/Bingo and I somehow (by a 1 in a million chance) manage to find THEIR home all on my own. Nah, it had to have been fate, come on!
It's not long before I realized that some time had passed, and my mind was having a mental battle inside. I scoffed, standing up and dusting my fur off.
"Well…what now." I looked around, trying to think of a place to go and what to do. Welp, since I'm stuck here, I might as well find out more about the world I'm stuck in.
Dang it, I should have asked for some books to read while I was in Bluey's house or something. I should have gone to a library, but they'd be closed for a few more hours…my seven-year-old self just couldn't bear to wait.
I huffed, looking up to see the moon hovering overhead with some clouds filling the night sky. I stared for several seconds; a bold idea crossed my mind for a second.
No, don't you DARE think about it!
What if I sneak in, and try to find more information on everything? I know exactly where the office is, and I can probably get to it, no problem!
You idiot, no! What if you get caught, you'll be in a heap of trouble!
Oh goodness, did I just THINK to myself in an Aussie accent and lingo!?
I growled at myself, frustrated by all this. You know what, I don't care anymore…I'm doing it!
And so, I stood up and stealthily made my way to their house once again. Obviously, the front door is locked. I'm across from it, shaking my head slowly at what I'm about to do…just get it over with, Dustin.
I made my way to their backyard and lo and behold: the doors on their patio were wide open for entry. I stood there for a few moments…while a million thoughts raced in my mind. Soon enough I shook them off and gave a determined look before entering the Heeler residence.
As silently as I could I tiptoed through the interior. The lights were off, but I could still make my way through thanks to my enhanced sense of smell as a dog. Eventually, I made it to their living room, and I could sense the stairs in front of me leading to the second floor. I carefully walked up the steps, taking deep breaths…hoping I wouldn't slip and tumble down.
I wouldn't have imagined ever doing this in my life…nothing justifies this…
What would Julie think of me doing all this? She'd probably throw me out, and call me a scumbag…she'd be right…
I stopped, noticing I had reached the outside of the office and my thoughts went away again. I sighed softly, shaking my head once again…I reach for the doorknob and quietly open the door as it slowly creaks open. I walk in, closing the door behind me slowly. I turn on the lights and look around: I start searching every nook and cranny for anything I could read. Their laptop, where is it…it's gone! I growl silently in frustration, looking around more until I run into a full-body mirror in the corner, and I am distracted for a solid minute.
My reflection is the same small German Shepherd…but now much more detailed compared to the reflection I saw in the water inside the forest. The shape of my body is oddly square-rectangular like all the other dogs in this universe…a weird body plan but I nevertheless gulped at the creature staring back at me.
I look away, deciding not to stare anymore and I continue my efforts. After some time, I found an encyclopedia. I set it on the floor, and I open it up…glancing over its contents (I'll look over it really quick and take it with me if need be before anyone shows up.) I turn the pages to see what this world is all about. Much to my dismay: every piece of information inside this adult book is pretty much the same as in my world. Heck, they even have the SAME historical events we did. They have the same animals, same plants…same continents; however, there is no mention of humans anywhere as to be expected.
I slam my paws against the book in frustration, "place is just Kafkaesque in nature, isn't it!?"
Before I could continue my research or attempt to take my leave, the office door opened slowly, and I pulled back as I looked up in dread…I felt a sharp pain in my chest. My dog eyes widened as I gasped in sheer terror. Inside came a tall, and oblivious, adult Blue Heeler. They were wondering why the lights were on…thinking nothing of it (probably thinking it was from one of his daughters) but sure enough, they looked down to find me on the floor with the book.
"Huh!? W-what, what's going on here?"
I stood up, crossing my arms repeatedly to try and diffuse the situation. He stepped forward, still confused as ever, "kiddo, why are you in our house…" he demanded to know, though he tried not to wake the others as he did so.
"I needed to know…." I tried explaining but the blue anthropomorphic dog stepped even closer, "where are your parents, come on" that last part he tried to usher me out, but I suddenly resisted.
"No, wait, you don't understand! I have no parents!" I shouted, stopping him in his tracks, "not in this world anyway…"
"W-what…" he didn't know what to say, or what to do but I continued…inching closer to him with a serious look on my face (the face of somebody beyond their years) "let me explain, I'm not…I'm not what you think I am-" of course, he heard that in my seven-year-old voice.
Sure enough, the noise we were making got the attention of his wife and she finally showed up. The same confusion (but with slightly more ferocity compared to the husband) appeared in her expression, "what's going on here?"
"I dunno, I found them in 'ere as I was going to get the charger!"
"This is going to sound absolutely crazy…but I'm NOT a child!"
At that moment, both parents looked at each other, almost blankly. I suppose they thought this was some sort of game or some way for me to distract them and run off, but that isn't the case.
"Not a child, what-"
"I'm thirty-one" I scoffed at that, "yea…I don't look like it, I know…how the HELL can I convince you?"
Both parents were kind of shocked by my use of profanity, but their patience is wearing thin. I needed to convince them somehow…but…how can I!?
"Ask me anything adults know. Go on…" I smirked, folding my arms. Inside, however, I HOPED they would play along, or this is going to play out a TOTALLY different way in the next ten seconds.
Both canines just look at one another. The wife was more willing to just cut the nonsense and take me away, but the husband, on the other hand, wanted to play along…at least for the moment.
"Okay, mate…how many bones do sharks have."
"Oh, come on!" His wife tried stopping him.
I thought about that actually, oh jeez…wait, no…they don't…right? Imagine I just mess up my first answer…
"No…" I said that with some hesitation. The husband smugly crossed his arms and looked over to his wife, who rolled her eyes a bit at what was going on. I then thought about his profession and, mentally, I grinned.
"You're an archeologist, right?"
"Correct."
"Okay, so obviously you had to have gone to school for that…it wasn't easy."
"So what?" He raised an eyebrow before I continued, "four years of hard work, and you probably have postgraduate qualifications too. Heh…I sometimes feel like I WASTED four years of my life…felt like I got a useless degree even though it's not…but I didn't feel happy with it. And don't get me started with the debt. The loans…the credit cards…gosh…I mean…what a hole I put myself in. The debt may not be as bad as my neighbors to the south…but still. I worked on an apprenticeship with a boss I didn't like, and I had to put up with that for four years. But hey, at least I can pitch you a stock to invest in that might give you decent returns in the future" I scoffed silently, a barely noticeable tear fell from my face as I sighed softly afterward, "now that I'm like this, maybe I can start all over…study archeology and actually do something fun in my life…"
They just stared at me, and tried numerous times to interrupt my rant, but both were equally confused. From my ranting to my depictions of work, they wondered how the hell I knew all this. Maybe they thought I was taught by somebody…maybe…but they couldn't know for sure. My vocabulary was certainly beyond that of a normal seven-year-old.
"Look, guys…what more can I say? Do you want me to tell you that I know something else that kids don't? Maybe I should tell you about Georgia O'Keeffe and her paintings!? Because…I can tell you this for sure…most of her paintings aren't really about flowers!"
Their eyes widened, mouths starting to hang low before I decided to continue, "or…how about this: white rum…lime…club soda…mint…what do those make in a drink, hmm?"
"Uh…Mojitos?" The husband muttered before the beige dog next to him elbowed his side lightly.
"That is quite…strange…I have to ask…who is teaching you all this…" she asked before I grunted loudly…grabbing my ears.
"What more can I say to convince you two that I am a thirty-one-year-old MALE trapped in this body!"
"Crazy talk! You expect us to take your word for it…we're both supposed to believe you?" The mother snapped back.
I looked away, sighing softly before both parents whispered to one another, "I suppose not. Why SHOULD you? If you take me to the police station, or an orphanage, or whatever…they won't find any record of me anyway. You'll just be throwing me away at this point, maybe…it's for the best. Maybe I'm just wasting my time with you, it's all…futile."
"W-what if they're telling the truth, Bandit, really!?" The wife whispered, repeating what her husband just whispered, but I could faintly hear.
"I just hope…one way or another I can make it back to my family…" I slumped toward the ground, letting gravity take me…not caring if it hurt. The adults pull away and approach me slightly, "where is your family, Dustin?"
"They're not here. If you didn't think I was crazy before, you'll probably think I am now…" I look up at them: they seemed terrified, unsure how to truly react to the situation before them. It was as though they actually ARE talking to another adult…because they are, "I'm from another…world…but it's actually not that different from yours. Gosh…how can I explain this…" I laughed at myself at the ridiculousness of it all.
"Just spit it, kiddo" he demanded.
"Dogs aren't…they…don't walk on two legs and talk where I'm from. They're like any other animal out there…"
"Sounds a bit like a sci-fi flick" Bandit, as I now know him by, whispered into his wife's ear before she rolled her eyes at that.
"Okay…so then what are you?" She spoke out.
"I'm a human. We're called humans, we do the same thing you guys do…but we're hairless…we're basically apes without fur."
"Monkeys?" The adult male rose an eyebrow.
"Not exactly. We don't have tails and whatnot. I'd have to draw it for you guys."
"So let me get this right, because this is mad talk. You are an adult MALE…some…strange creature…from another world that's like ours, and dogs are…"
"Basically, our pets" I deadpanned, interrupting Bandit.
Needless to say, both parents were shocked to hear it; however, I started explaining to them more in detail about my "world."
I guess the more I explained everything, the better they took it all in. It got to a point where we went downstairs to the living room to talk. Both just had to sit down and hear what I had to say. By this point, they figured a lot of things were off about me, especially with my talk about what I do as a human. All my stuff regarding the financial world…my role in it all seemed to convince them finally.
Still, they had their doubts…I don't blame them. Even though they're basically CARTOON DOGS it's obvious that they're grounded.
"My father was a stockbroker for many years…he was there for 1987, 2002, 2008…all bad years. He saw it all. My mother worked for the council, she's originally from Sheffield."
"Sheffield?" Bandit asked.
"Britain, right?" Chili, who was his wife's name, asked me before I nodded.
"I fell in love with a woman, Julie is her name…and…well…you guys wonder why I'm so hellbent on getting back? We're expecting a daughter in a few months' time…"
Both parents looked at one another, understanding the significance of that statement.
"So…you really ARE a male?" Bandit asked.
"I am…or…was…yes."
"So…that means…you're going to be a…dad?" The adult Blue Heeler smiled softly at me before I sighed back.
I scoffed soon after, "hopefully…if I can return home. Gosh, what must she be thinking right now…she must be worried sick! It's been two days now!" For some reason, I started breaking down and the parents approached me and, instinctively, held me.
"We're sorry to hear…" Bandit muttered.
"This is all so strange…why would you end up here?" Chili asked.
"I don't know! That's the part I'm trying to understand, but you got to believe me!" I retorted, still crying.
"We'll help sort this out with you, mate" I heard Bandit say before I sniffled, wiping tears with a furry arm. I pull away, "y-you will?"
They turned to face each other and nodded, after considering the notion.
"As much as I'd want to scrutinize you any further, you seem sincere, Dustin. I noticed just how odd you were around the kids today. Your name, your traits…I dunno, you seemed odd from the start I'll admit." She added.
"I'm sorry, it's that…I wish I could show you." I stood up, pacing the room as the parents watched me while still seated on the couch, "I just don't get it."
"What you mean?" One of them asked.
I looked towards them again, "why me? Why make me like this…what's the point? D-did I do something wrong?"
Bandit the Blue Heeler scratched his "beardy" snout in thought, "maybe, it's some sort of lesson, mate?"
"What do you mean?" I laughed at that.
"Bandit might be on to something…it might be because of how much of a workhorse you seem to be. Someone brought you here to learn how to balance work with family!" She said, smiling as her tail wagged.
"That's a BIG stretch" I folded my arms, looking away in thought, but what if she's right?
"But…perhaps you're right" I added.
"As I said before, Dustin…we'll help 'ya out, mate."
"I appreciate it, really…but…I don't want to be a burden."
"You're not!" Chili snapped at me, "I couldn't tell before, but you have been living out there…outside in the streets…haven't you?"
"Yeah, it was kind of obvious smelling 'ya, kiddo…and your fur's even more messy now too." Bandit added.
I nodded, shaking my head in embarrassment, "I mean…I had no recourse…I've got nowhere else to go. Something in me brought me to this house and I can't explain it!"
Both of them whispered to each other again before pulling away with smiles on their faces, "we got an extra room, squirt. We don't mind if you wanna stay for a few days" the adult male explained.
"We assume we don't have to worry about you doing everything an older kid ought to do: brush their teeth, get up early, stuff like that, ye?"
"Of course" I nodded, giving a soft smile to them as my tail (unbeknownst to me) wagged happily.
Then, as if on cue…the three of us heard a commotion from upstairs. Chili sighed, knowing what it is: we heard two voices upstairs.
"Come on out, kids."
I can see from upstairs Bluey and Bingo…who had been eavesdropping, for who knows how long.
I quickly snapped my head back to the two adults, s-should we tell them? I thought to myself.
"Dustin?" Both said in unison as they carefully came down to meet us in the living room. Sure enough, the parents explained some of the things to the two sisters. Bandit and Chili weren't so sure about sharing some of the things about me, but I told them I could, and they considered it. For the time being, however, the parents would announce the following:
"Dustin 'ere is going to stay with us for a few days" the father explained before the kids got very excited.
"Sleepover!"
"No, NOT a sleepover! You girls ought to get back to bed. Tomorrow you can play with them!" Their mother explained.
Not surprisingly, both children groaned, almost in unison, and I walked up to them with a reassuring grin, "don't worry, like your mom said…tomorrow."
"Okay…" both girls sighed in defeat. Chili led them back upstairs to their room and my ears drooped. I'm left with Bandit as a result. I scoffed afterward before pacing back and forth, "I have a lot to look forward to, don't I?"
He shrugged in response, but his body language seemed to suggest he knew what he was saying, "taking care of little ones can drain you. They're bundles of energy" he chuckled at that last bit, "come on then, I'll show you to your room, Dustin" he stood up and led the way. We head upstairs and down the hall, we make it there: it's a small room…practically meant to be an office space; however, it's a basic room for a guest.
"Sorry if it isn't much, mate."
"Choice" I said before stopping myself, there's that Aussie lingo again.
"I really appreciate this" I added, smiling softly to them as a show of appreciation.
"Sure thing. Let us know if you need anything, kiddo" Bandit said before I nodded. The Blue Heeler walked to the door to leave and close it behind him, "see you at brekkie, mate." He said, closing the door and I am left by myself. I sighed softly, tail wagging behind me.
Well, I guess everything worked out in a weird way. I won't be out on the streets anymore, and it seems as though I can finally catch my breath. Still…as I turned off the lights and climbed onto the bed, seeing light from the night sky come inside the room, I thought about my predicament.
Lesson…my thoughts went back to what their mother, Chili, said. Maybe it IS the reason why I'm here. Maybe I just need to spend time with the Heelers and learn more about what it is to be a father! I bet that's it! Yes, I'll do it, I won't let you guys down!
With optimism growing for the first time in a long time, I closed my eyes and sighed:
You got this, Dustin…you got this…
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Phew! That was a long chapter to write. I hope you all enjoyed it; I'll see you in the next update. Please consider leaving a review with your thoughts on how this story is going so far. Either way, take care!
