A Pet To Keep

Bath Time Blues

When lunch was over and the milk fiasco was all cleaned up, Jack decides it's time to get the boy groomed. The pet was pacified by cartoons, and suckling on the empty blue bottle.

"Come on. You need a shower," Jack holds his hand out to the boy. The pet doesn't seem to even notice, his eyes glued to the screen. Jack hits pause on his remote. "Cartoons after your cleaned up. Come on."

"Wwaaa!" The boy scowls as the screen freezes. He glares up at Jack and points at the screen. "Want!"

"I know. It's just paused, you can watch it when you're clean. Come on. I'll get you some apple juice for the shower," he hopes to bribe the boy.

The pet scowls, cheeks puffing up as he looks between the bottle and the screen. He grumbles and stands up with Jack's help.

"There we go, good boy, thankyou," Jack tries to praise him. Which only leads to antagonize the fussy boy, who just thrusts the empty bottle up at Jack.

"One sec, let me record your show so it's still here when we get back." Jack struggles with his remote settings for a moment. Until the blue bottle flies past his face, and the pet hits him in the leg.

Jack looks down at the boy as he turns to take off across the house. "Hey!" Jack grabs his arm. "What was that about?" He holds the boy.

"No!" The pet smacks Jack's leg again.

Jack grabs his hands, "don't hit. It's very bad to hit. Would you like it if I hit you?"

"No!" The boy kicks Jack.

Jack hisses a the sharp pain to his shin. Then he gives the pet one sharp swat to his bottom. "Bad, you're being bad."

The pet yelps and freezes. He starts sniffling, and whimpering. When he looks up at Jack, tears were filling his eyes. Jack sighs and kneels, holding the boys hands. "Hey now. No crying. You're just fine, calm down."

"Owie!"

"It didn't hurt. Barely touched you." Jack rubs the boys hands.

"Don' like."

"Yeah that's the point. If you're gonna throw a fit, and hit, you're in trouble." Jack gently wipes the boys cheeks.

The pet sniffles and leans into Jack's hand. "Sowwy," he whimpers.

Jack lifts him, and holds him close. "You're forgiven. It's okay. Just no more hitting. Kay?" The pet nods and wraps his arms around Jack's neck. Jack grabs the bottle from the floor. "Alright then. Shower time." He sets the bottle on the counter and carries the pet to the master bathroom.

"You can use my soap. I don't care. I'll find you something to wear when you get out."

Jack sets the pet on the bathroom rug and he stands there, looking around at the light blue walls and all the furnishings. Everything was large, to suit Jack's size. With the tall, wide shower, and a long, deep tub. The big, bright room made the pet only seem smaller.

He looks up at Jack curiously, tilting his head, confusion clear on his features.

"Undress. Get in the shower," Jack coaxes.

The pet starts to take his shirt off, then stops to check with Jack to make sure this was right. He struggles with the shirt, getting his arm twisted up in it and whining.

Jack strides over and helps him out of the shirt and his shorts as well before tossing them in the trash. "Okay bud. Get in the shower and wash up. I'll go find clothes." Jack motions to the shower.

The pet watches Jack walk out before he wanders to the large, glass walled shower. Stepping inside, he looks at everything curiously. The nobs on the stone wall we're shiny chrome. The boy was taken with curiosity and reaches out to the shiny nobs and twists them. Water bursts from the big shower head, soaking the boy.