Dog Boy

27

Jackie stood outside the school, pulling her hoodie tightly over her ears. There were people around her. They casually walked into the school without a thought. They were normal. They were humans. She however, was canis. She was only just now realizing how horrible of a difference that was going to be for a long, long time into the future.

She stood out there for a good while, as the morning went from dark to a light overcast. Even with her fur, the  time spent out there in the cold was beginning to wear on her. When there were only ten minutes left to the start of school, she finally saw the eyes of a golden retriever boy appear in the distance. He too covered his head with a hood.

"Gosh," Matt said as he walked up to her, "don't tell me you've been standing out on the curb like this this whole time?"

Jackie just shivered in response.

"C'mon," he took her hand, "let's go in."

"No... no...," Jackie whispered.

"You can do it," Matt said, "today is going to be tough, but every day after is going to get easier."

Jackie didn't say anything. He tugged her forward, and she began shambling toward the doors. She felt her tail, constrained down her pants, curl between her legs. It hurt being bound. She wanted it to be free, to wag it...

Matt was braver than she was. His ears were also covered by his hood, but his tail was plain to see. 

Warmth flowed over her as they entered the school - and then Jackie felt like she was going to faint. Or barf. Or go insane and run back outside and into the street. There they were, hundreds of people. All of her peers... they were staring at her, she was sure. Oh gosh oh gosh oh gosh....

"Just keep moving," Matt pulled her forward again. 

She held his hand tighter, as though if she let go, she would drown in the sea of people. She felt certain in that ocean of people, that monsters would be there. Monsters from the depths come to mock her awful appearance. She was the real monster. She was -

"Jackie," Matt stopped her, "you need to relax. I can feel through your very, very tight hand that you're extremely stressed. Just relax."

"I'm going to die Matt. The floor is going to swallow me and suck me into a horrible dimension of even more embarrassment."

"Just keep moving," he said. "Just keep moving."

She tried her best to, but it wasn't much more than shambling with a lot of intent. It didn't help that she felt very exposed with her paw-like feet visible. Shoes didn't work, and the school wasn't sure what to do about it dress-code wise.

After an intense trek that lasted only a couple of minutes, they were close to Mr. Dun's room, with several minutes to spare. The stress on her went down the slightest bit. They'd be there on time. On time for what though? Torture?

"We're here," Matt said, "are you ready to go in?"

Jackie shook her head. "No... no... no..."

"It's okay," he steadied her. "Do you need to get a drink, or use the bathroom first?"

She blinked, feeling the traces of tears forming. "No. I just... I just want to sit down for a moment before we go in."

They found a bench nearby, and she immediately felt worse upon sitting down. Now she was not moving. Now it was easier for people to stare at her. She saw eyes begin to cross her vision, they were staring. They were all staring! Oh gosh the staring was unbearable!

And then she saw something else - a face with a snout and fur. Then in another part of the crowd, another one. There were others. Other canis people. They looked so weird... seeing them in this place from her normal human existence. That was what she looked like to everyone else. She was a bizarre blot on reality, as though someone had ridden a unicorn into the hallway.

"Jackie."

She turned her gaze towards Matt.

"Just... focus on me okay? Don't focus on them."

Her face quivered. She felt so pent up. She wanted to escape. The idea of just sprinting out the nearest exit and ditching school didn't seem nearly so daunting as remaining here. She couldn't stay here. She couldn't...

"Is that okay?"

She looked to where Matt was pointing - to her imprisoned tail.

"No," she said, "it hurts."

"I know you're scared," he said, "but do you want me to help?"

He retrieved his pocket knife. She stared at it for a moment, and then silently, slowly, turned her back to him.