Clockwork [final]

Eleven

“We need a pet,” Adette announced.  

“What?” Derek mumbled, confused. They had both been reading when she had suddenly burst out with this unexpected remark.

“We need a pet. It’s too quiet around here.”

Derek raised an eyebrow. “So, you came to this conclusion after you have someone living with you?”

“Sure did!” she grinned.

“Can’t you just make a robot dog or something?” he whined.

Adette looked both outraged and a little disappointed at his reluctance. “No! It’s nowhere near the same!”

“You’re right, but it’s better,” he muttered, “No mess or annoying noises or behavioural problems or anything.”

Adette ignored him completely. “Maybe we should get a bird. Or a dog, or a cat, or a turtle, or a fish!”

She seemed so excited about the idea that he was a little bit apprehensive; well, he had been apprehensive in the first place, but now he was even more so. “Uh, we’re not getting all of those.”

“Yeah, I know,” she sighed regretfully, “It costs too much.”

He couldn’t help but feel slightly amused that cost was what she identified as the main problem of having a miniature petting zoo living in her house, but he decided to say nothing.

Before he knew it, he’d been dragged along to the local shelter and was disinterestedly trudging along behind her as she bounced around, examining every single animal in her path closely and asking the staff so many questions that they began to look a little annoyed. Stereotypically, after she rejected pet after pet, there was one that happened to catch her eye.

It was a small dog which did not appear to behave like any of the other dogs. The others bounded around playfully, wagging their tails and pleading for the attention of any person who may perhaps adopt them. This dog just lay on its back, legs in the air and tongue lolling out. It was an unusual looking dog, too, with a body that seemed too long and chubby for its short, stubby little legs and ears so long that it looked like she might trip over them. Its fur was white and covered in black splodges, and when it rolled over onto its stomach, panting, it was long enough that it flopped into its blue-green eyes.

“Excuse me,” Adette said, tapping one of the employees on the shoulder, “I’d like this one, please.” The confidence in her voice took both the staff member and Derek aback.

“Are you sure you want that one?” the shop keeper asked, throwing the animal a doubtful glance, “She’s pretty strange.”

Adette beamed so brightly that no one could further question her decision. “Strange is perfect.”

With a look of slight doubtfulness remaining on his face, the man unlocked the cage and the little dog was deposited into Adette’s arms. The strange little animal was so pleased that it covered her face in gleeful licks and Adette erupted in giggles, not bothered in the slightest.

“What should we name her?” she asked Derek eagerly, looking down at the squirming little dog in her arms.

“I don’t know,” he grumbled.

“Come on,” she complained, “At least try!”

“Um… Fluffy?” he offered weakly.

“That’s lame,” she told him, giggling.

“Then why did you ask me?”

She shrugged, still smiling, and looked back at the little dog.