Finally

Part 21: Glen

"You have got to be kidding me."

"What? He's cute." I state.

Glaring at me, Lauren shakes her head as she looks at the dog sitting in his own manner before her.

"You got a dog? Was a baby and Luna not enough excitement and work for you?"

"He really is a sweetheart. I mean, how can you deny his proper nature?" I say and gesture at him. 

"Max is going to kill you- you know?"

"Max will be fine with it. He's mentioned wanting a dog before."

"Helen, this is not a dog. This is some...some gremlin you were talked into taking. Twenty bucks for this. Something is so obviously wrong with it." Layla walks over and hands Lauren and I tea before sitting to join us. "Babe- tell her she's insane."

"I think he's very charming. What did you name him?"

"Glen."

"Oh Christ! You can't even give the dog a dog name? You named him Glen?!" Lauren spouts and the dog looks at her sideways. "See! The damn dog doesn't even approve of it!!"

"Calm yourself. Glen is very astute and finds your lack of empathy and manners appalling." I say and the dog gets down from his high sat position and now sits like a normal dog. "See, now you've upset him."

"He's a dog. Not a human. Besides- he's ancient! You basically just bought yourself a dying creature. Did the woman at least give you a pet urn?"

"LAUREN!" Layla and I retch at her. She widens her eyes and shrugs her shoulders as she sips her tea.

"What?! Dogs have a short lifespan and you already bought one that's have expired."

"Baby- you are being hurtful. Helen adopted the poor little man. I'm sure he is grateful for it. Most people only buy puppies. There are plenty of older dogs who need just as much love."

"Exactly. Glen is so sweet and calm. He knows better than other younger dogs- I'm sure. I don't have to potty train him or teach him things I would've had to with a younger one. And he's already kid friendly. I won't have to worry about the baby around him."

"No, because he'll probably croak before the kid gets here."

"Why are you being like this? Your friend just wanted to give him a better retirement life. What has you all against him?" Layla asks and Lauren just shakes her head. Something is obviously bothering her.

"Are you not a dog person?" I ask and she shakes her head once more and looks away from us. "Then what is it?"

It takes her a few moments before she looks at us and speaks.

"I had a dog when I was younger. His name was Dash and...and he was my best friend. We found him when I was nine and the vet said he was about 8 years old. He was some kind of shaggy blonde mutt." Lauren says and we listen quietly. "I loved that damn dog, but he would wander off and when he got out one day, he broke his hip slipping on ice... my dad wasn't around and my mom was so drunk—she didn't even know we had a dog. My sister kept asking me what was going to happen- so I told her I would take him to the vets. I carried him three blocks and when we got there- the secretary took him back and then called my Dad. Of course, he wasn't going to pay a lot of money to have the surgery to fix his leg and he said the old thing was hardly worth it any how. He had told the doctor just to put him down so he didn't suffer and the guy listened to him. I didn't even get to say good bye to Arthur. Didn't get to see him. They just took him back and did God knows what. My sister hated me for taking him. Said I should've just fixed it myself because so was the big sister and I could fix anything. The next time my dad came home, he brought a puppy and my sister fell in love with it as if she forgot all about Arthur. She just moved on....it didn't take long for her to get annoyed with the puppy who was eating her stuffed animals and peeing inside- only to get us screamed at by mom. So Mom got rid of the puppy and once more my sister acted as if nothing happened. After that—I never really saw the point in wasting your money and time on things that don't last."