| General Fiction posted September 12, 2024 |
  |
Max needs a new home
Here's The Plan!
by Begin Again
"Mom, please —" Clark pleaded. He knew he sounded pathetic, but he couldn't think of anything other than faking tears to make his mother listen.
"I said no! We are not getting a dog."
He recognized his mother's "that's final" tone and sighed but quickly tried another tactic. "You know how you always say I should listen to the news and what's happening in the world? Well, I did. The reports say that crime is up. If we had a dog, it would protect us."
"Those reporters exaggerate everything. And since when do you watch the news?"
"I'm just saying —" Clark knew he wasn't going to win this battle, not this way, at least.
"And I've already told you no. Now finish the dishes while I put your sister to bed." She wiped her hands on the dish towel and climbed the stairs, calling to her daughter. "Amy, it's bedtime."
He heard his sister yell, "I don't want to go to bed. I am afraid of the storm."
His mother patiently answered, "The storm won't hurt you, Amy."
"There might be monsters in the storm."
"There aren't any monsters, Amy. It's time for bed."
Meanwhile, Clark sulked for a moment, then scooped up all the meat scraps from the counter and dashed to the basement, opening the door to his "man cave," which consisted of video games, unfinished model planes, and, of course, his newest addition — a dog.
"Here you go, Max," Clark whispered, kneeling beside the scruffy stray. "Good boy for staying quiet. It won't be long, I promise."
Max wagged his tail, sniffing eagerly at the scraps. Clark scratched the dog behind the ears before returning to the kitchen to finish his chores.
Thunder rumbled in the distance as he scrubbed the last dish. Rain pattered against the windows, and a strong gust of wind made the house creak. It didn't bother the teenager, but he could hear his sister crying.
He wiped his hands dry and tiptoed up the staircase. He stopped outside his sister's room and listened as their mother tried to soothe her.
"It's just a storm, honey. You're safe. There's nothing to be afraid of."
"But what if there's a robber outside, like Clark said?" Amy's voice quivered.
"Your brother said no such thing."
"He did! He said the man on the TV reported that crime was up. It's raining, and maybe they want to get out of the storm."
"Nobody is coming into our house. We are perfectly safe." Amy's mother tucked the blankets around her and kissed her forehead. "Now close your eyes and go to sleep. Goodnight."
Not wanting to get caught listening, Clark tiptoed down the stairs and back to the basement. Max's ears perked up when he saw his new friend. His tail wagged from side to side.
Clark settled on the blankets he'd arranged for Max and buried his face in his fur. "Don't worry, boy, I will figure this out. You aren't going anywhere."
A loud crack of thunder shook the old house, followed by another frantic cry from his sister's bedroom. "Mommy, someone is trying to get in. I heard monsters scratching on the window."
"Nobody's there, Amy. I promise. It's tree branches scraping the side of the house. Now go to sleep so I can take my bath." Once again, she tucked her daughter in, kissed her, and left the room.
"Storms don't scare us, huh, Max?" The dog's response was a sloppy kiss from his warm tongue. Clark ruffled the top of his friend's head. "Too bad Mom doesn't get scared when it storms."
Suddenly, a light bulb went on in Clark's head. "I've got it, Max, but I need your help."
After ensuring his mother was bathing, Clark slipped a leash on Max and whispered, "Alright, buddy. It's showtime."
As quietly as possible, the two pals climbed the stairs. Clark prayed Max wouldn't bark.
The storm had only gotten worse. Lightning flashed through the windows, and thunder boomed overhead as Clark led Max into the hallway outside his mother's room. He crouched beside the dog, rubbing his ears soothingly as he whispered his instructions.
"You just have to be sweet and quiet. No scaring her. We're going for adorable, got it?"
Max wagged his tail, oblivious to the plot.
Clark cracked the door open and crept inside, listening carefully. The sound of water draining from the bathtub told him his mom was still finishing her bath. Perfect timing. He guided Max to the bed and carefully lifted the edge of the covers. Sensing an invitation, Max happily crawled under the blankets and curled up.
Clark quickly ducked into the closet as he heard his mother's footsteps approaching, silently repeating, "Don't bark, Max. Please don't bark."
The bedroom door opened, and his mother entered, dressed in pajamas and a towel wrapped around her damp hair. She sighed heavily, clearly exhausted. With a soft yawn, she crossed the room and slipped into bed.
The moment she pulled the covers up, her foot touched something cold and wet. Her body stiffened, eyes wide in the darkness. Something licked her leg. "What the —?" she gasped, yanking her leg away.
Max shifted beneath the covers, his tail thumping softly against the mattress. His nose nuzzled against her leg, causing her to let out a terrified shriek. She threw back the blankets and leaped out of bed.
"Ahhh! What is that?!"
Clark, stifling laughter in the closet, had to bite his lip to stay silent.
His mother backed away from the bed, her breath coming in quick, startled gasps. She grabbed her robe and bolted down the hall, bursting into Amy's room.
Amy sat up, rubbing her eyes. "Mommy? What's wrong?"
"I just — I thought I'd check on you," her mother said, catching her breath.
"You screamed! I bet there was a hairy monster in your room."
"A monster?" Amy's mother shuddered, remembering the cold wetness on her leg. "No, honey, there's nothing in my room. Sometimes, when you are tired, your mind plays tricks."
Amy shifted in her bed and patted the space beside her. "You can sleep with me if you want."
Her mother smiled softly and slipped into bed beside Amy. She pulled the blankets over them, the rain tapping steadily against the windows.
Amy blinked sleepily. "Mommy, maybe we do need a dog," she mumbled as she lay back down. "A dog would watch for those monsters when we were asleep."
Amy's mother wrapped her arms around he daughter and kissed the top of her head as Amy drifted back to sleep. She let out a soft sigh. "Maybe you're right, sweetheart," she whispered, brushing Amy's hair off her forehead. "Maybe a dog is exactly what we need."
Clark, meanwhile, quietly tiptoed downstairs with Max, grinning to himself as his plan began to take root.
"Mom, please —" Clark pleaded. He knew he sounded pathetic, but he couldn't think of anything other than faking tears to make his mother listen.
"I said no! We are not getting a dog."
He recognized his mother's "that's final" tone and sighed but quickly tried another tactic. "You know how you always say I should listen to the news and what's happening in the world? Well, I did. The reports say that crime is up. If we had a dog, it would protect us."
"Those reporters exaggerate everything. And since when do you watch the news?"
"I'm just saying —" Clark knew he wasn't going to win this battle, not this way, at least.
"And I've already told you no. Now finish the dishes while I put your sister to bed." She wiped her hands on the dish towel and climbed the stairs, calling to her daughter. "Amy, it's bedtime."
He heard his sister yell, "I don't want to go to bed. I am afraid of the storm."
His mother patiently answered, "The storm won't hurt you, Amy."
"I said no! We are not getting a dog."
He recognized his mother's "that's final" tone and sighed but quickly tried another tactic. "You know how you always say I should listen to the news and what's happening in the world? Well, I did. The reports say that crime is up. If we had a dog, it would protect us."
"Those reporters exaggerate everything. And since when do you watch the news?"
"I'm just saying —" Clark knew he wasn't going to win this battle, not this way, at least.
"And I've already told you no. Now finish the dishes while I put your sister to bed." She wiped her hands on the dish towel and climbed the stairs, calling to her daughter. "Amy, it's bedtime."
He heard his sister yell, "I don't want to go to bed. I am afraid of the storm."
His mother patiently answered, "The storm won't hurt you, Amy."
"There might be monsters in the storm."
"There aren't any monsters, Amy. It's time for bed."
Meanwhile, Clark sulked for a moment, then scooped up all the meat scraps from the counter and dashed to the basement, opening the door to his "man cave," which consisted of video games, unfinished model planes, and, of course, his newest addition — a dog.
"Here you go, Max," Clark whispered, kneeling beside the scruffy stray. "Good boy for staying quiet. It won't be long, I promise."
Max wagged his tail, sniffing eagerly at the scraps. Clark scratched the dog behind the ears before returning to the kitchen to finish his chores.
Thunder rumbled in the distance as he scrubbed the last dish. Rain pattered against the windows, and a strong gust of wind made the house creak. It didn't bother the teenager, but he could hear his sister crying.
He wiped his hands dry and tiptoed up the staircase. He stopped outside his sister's room and listened as their mother tried to soothe her.
"It's just a storm, honey. You're safe. There's nothing to be afraid of."
"But what if there's a robber outside, like Clark said?" Amy's voice quivered.
"Your brother said no such thing."
"He did! He said the man on the TV reported that crime was up. It's raining, and maybe they want to get out of the storm."
"Nobody is coming into our house. We are perfectly safe." Amy's mother tucked the blankets around her and kissed her forehead. "Now close your eyes and go to sleep. Goodnight."
Not wanting to get caught listening, Clark tiptoed down the stairs and back to the basement. Max's ears perked up when he saw his new friend. His tail wagged from side to side.
Clark settled on the blankets he'd arranged for Max and buried his face in his fur. "Don't worry, boy, I will figure this out. You aren't going anywhere."
A loud crack of thunder shook the old house, followed by another frantic cry from his sister's bedroom. "Mommy, someone is trying to get in. I heard monsters scratching on the window."
"Nobody's there, Amy. I promise. It's tree branches scraping the side of the house. Now go to sleep so I can take my bath." Once again, she tucked her daughter in, kissed her, and left the room.
"Storms don't scare us, huh, Max?" The dog's response was a sloppy kiss from his warm tongue. Clark ruffled the top of his friend's head. "Too bad Mom doesn't get scared when it storms."
Suddenly, a light bulb went on in Clark's head. "I've got it, Max, but I need your help."
After ensuring his mother was bathing, Clark slipped a leash on Max and whispered, "Alright, buddy. It's showtime."
As quietly as possible, the two pals climbed the stairs. Clark prayed Max wouldn't bark.
The storm had only gotten worse. Lightning flashed through the windows, and thunder boomed overhead as Clark led Max into the hallway outside his mother's room. He crouched beside the dog, rubbing his ears soothingly as he whispered his instructions.
"You just have to be sweet and quiet. No scaring her. We're going for adorable, got it?"
Max wagged his tail, oblivious to the plot.
Clark cracked the door open and crept inside, listening carefully. The sound of water draining from the bathtub told him his mom was still finishing her bath. Perfect timing. He guided Max to the bed and carefully lifted the edge of the covers. Sensing an invitation, Max happily crawled under the blankets and curled up.
Clark quickly ducked into the closet as he heard his mother's footsteps approaching, silently repeating, "Don't bark, Max. Please don't bark."
The bedroom door opened, and his mother entered, dressed in pajamas and a towel wrapped around her damp hair. She sighed heavily, clearly exhausted. With a soft yawn, she crossed the room and slipped into bed.
The moment she pulled the covers up, her foot touched something cold and wet. Her body stiffened, eyes wide in the darkness. Something licked her leg. "What the —?" she gasped, yanking her leg away.
Max shifted beneath the covers, his tail thumping softly against the mattress. His nose nuzzled against her leg, causing her to let out a terrified shriek. She threw back the blankets and leaped out of bed.
"Ahhh! What is that?!"
Clark, stifling laughter in the closet, had to bite his lip to stay silent.
His mother backed away from the bed, her breath coming in quick, startled gasps. She grabbed her robe and bolted down the hall, bursting into Amy's room.
Amy sat up, rubbing her eyes. "Mommy? What's wrong?"
"I just — I thought I'd check on you," her mother said, catching her breath.
"You screamed! I bet there was a hairy monster in your room."
"A monster?" Amy's mother shuddered, remembering the cold wetness on her leg. "No, honey, there's nothing in my room. Sometimes, when you are tired, your mind plays tricks."
Amy shifted in her bed and patted the space beside her. "You can sleep with me if you want."
Her mother smiled softly and slipped into bed beside Amy. She pulled the blankets over them, the rain tapping steadily against the windows.
Amy blinked sleepily. "Mommy, maybe we do need a dog," she mumbled as she lay back down. "A dog would watch for those monsters when we were asleep."
Amy's mother wrapped her arms around he daughter and kissed the top of her head as Amy drifted back to sleep. She let out a soft sigh. "Maybe you're right, sweetheart," she whispered, brushing Amy's hair off her forehead. "Maybe a dog is exactly what we need."
Clark, meanwhile, quietly tiptoed downstairs with Max, grinning to himself as his plan began to take root.
Meanwhile, Clark sulked for a moment, then scooped up all the meat scraps from the counter and dashed to the basement, opening the door to his "man cave," which consisted of video games, unfinished model planes, and, of course, his newest addition — a dog.
"Here you go, Max," Clark whispered, kneeling beside the scruffy stray. "Good boy for staying quiet. It won't be long, I promise."
Max wagged his tail, sniffing eagerly at the scraps. Clark scratched the dog behind the ears before returning to the kitchen to finish his chores.
Thunder rumbled in the distance as he scrubbed the last dish. Rain pattered against the windows, and a strong gust of wind made the house creak. It didn't bother the teenager, but he could hear his sister crying.
He wiped his hands dry and tiptoed up the staircase. He stopped outside his sister's room and listened as their mother tried to soothe her.
"It's just a storm, honey. You're safe. There's nothing to be afraid of."
"But what if there's a robber outside, like Clark said?" Amy's voice quivered.
"Your brother said no such thing."
"He did! He said the man on the TV reported that crime was up. It's raining, and maybe they want to get out of the storm."
"Nobody is coming into our house. We are perfectly safe." Amy's mother tucked the blankets around her and kissed her forehead. "Now close your eyes and go to sleep. Goodnight."
Not wanting to get caught listening, Clark tiptoed down the stairs and back to the basement. Max's ears perked up when he saw his new friend. His tail wagged from side to side.
Clark settled on the blankets he'd arranged for Max and buried his face in his fur. "Don't worry, boy, I will figure this out. You aren't going anywhere."
A loud crack of thunder shook the old house, followed by another frantic cry from his sister's bedroom. "Mommy, someone is trying to get in. I heard monsters scratching on the window."
"Nobody's there, Amy. I promise. It's tree branches scraping the side of the house. Now go to sleep so I can take my bath." Once again, she tucked her daughter in, kissed her, and left the room.
"Storms don't scare us, huh, Max?" The dog's response was a sloppy kiss from his warm tongue. Clark ruffled the top of his friend's head. "Too bad Mom doesn't get scared when it storms."
Suddenly, a light bulb went on in Clark's head. "I've got it, Max, but I need your help."
After ensuring his mother was bathing, Clark slipped a leash on Max and whispered, "Alright, buddy. It's showtime."
As quietly as possible, the two pals climbed the stairs. Clark prayed Max wouldn't bark.
The storm had only gotten worse. Lightning flashed through the windows, and thunder boomed overhead as Clark led Max into the hallway outside his mother's room. He crouched beside the dog, rubbing his ears soothingly as he whispered his instructions.
"You just have to be sweet and quiet. No scaring her. We're going for adorable, got it?"
Max wagged his tail, oblivious to the plot.
Clark cracked the door open and crept inside, listening carefully. The sound of water draining from the bathtub told him his mom was still finishing her bath. Perfect timing. He guided Max to the bed and carefully lifted the edge of the covers. Sensing an invitation, Max happily crawled under the blankets and curled up.
Clark quickly ducked into the closet as he heard his mother's footsteps approaching, silently repeating, "Don't bark, Max. Please don't bark."
The bedroom door opened, and his mother entered, dressed in pajamas and a towel wrapped around her damp hair. She sighed heavily, clearly exhausted. With a soft yawn, she crossed the room and slipped into bed.
The moment she pulled the covers up, her foot touched something cold and wet. Her body stiffened, eyes wide in the darkness. Something licked her leg. "What the —?" she gasped, yanking her leg away.
Max shifted beneath the covers, his tail thumping softly against the mattress. His nose nuzzled against her leg, causing her to let out a terrified shriek. She threw back the blankets and leaped out of bed.
"Ahhh! What is that?!"
Clark, stifling laughter in the closet, had to bite his lip to stay silent.
His mother backed away from the bed, her breath coming in quick, startled gasps. She grabbed her robe and bolted down the hall, bursting into Amy's room.
Amy sat up, rubbing her eyes. "Mommy? What's wrong?"
"I just — I thought I'd check on you," her mother said, catching her breath.
"You screamed! I bet there was a hairy monster in your room."
"A monster?" Amy's mother shuddered, remembering the cold wetness on her leg. "No, honey, there's nothing in my room. Sometimes, when you are tired, your mind plays tricks."
Amy shifted in her bed and patted the space beside her. "You can sleep with me if you want."
Her mother smiled softly and slipped into bed beside Amy. She pulled the blankets over them, the rain tapping steadily against the windows.
Amy blinked sleepily. "Mommy, maybe we do need a dog," she mumbled as she lay back down. "A dog would watch for those monsters when we were asleep."
Amy's mother wrapped her arms around he daughter and kissed the top of her head as Amy drifted back to sleep. She let out a soft sigh. "Maybe you're right, sweetheart," she whispered, brushing Amy's hair off her forehead. "Maybe a dog is exactly what we need."
Clark, meanwhile, quietly tiptoed downstairs with Max, grinning to himself as his plan began to take root.
 Recognized |
|
You need to login or register to write reviews. It's quick! We only ask four questions to new members.
© Copyright 2024. Begin Again All rights reserved.
Begin Again has granted FanStory.com, its affiliates and its syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.