Dave, known disaster bisexual, is in love with Marie. But Marie is dating Dean, the handsomest guy in town.
After being gifted a magical bracelet, Dave gains the ability to transform into a totally different person...Jade, a beautiful, alluring al...
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The next day, Mom told me to leave and get some air.
"Go, go," she shooed me out. "Nothing to see here. Get out, get out."
I protested, trying to say that I wanted to spend more time with Bup. She just shook her head and thrust him into my arms, foisting him off onto me like an unwanted burden. "Take him," she said curtly. Whenever she got annoyed, her words became more clipped. "Take him for a walk around the neighborhood. But go now!"
So I did, awkwardly placing the same worn old red leash around his collar and letting him guide me around as he pleased. It was as if nothing had happened. Bup excitedly yanked on the leash and pulled me forwards, determined to move forward if I wasn't going to be the one to lead him. Just like when we were teenagers, he started marching forwards at a surprisingly quick pace and going about his merry way.
At first, we passed by relatively usual haunts. The park, the doggy water fountain, the soccer field where I used to play ball with him. Although he was old enough to the point that I was slightly worried about his joints, Bup started barking excitedly and running around, chasing an invisible ball that no one else could see. The soccer field had been left unkempt, and the neighborhood kids had decided to take their playing elsewhere. I sat down glumly, thinking of how I'd always assumed there would be kids playing somewhere on this green grass. But Bup didn't care. As long as the place smelled the same, it was good enough for him, I guessed.
The next places we walked by were further away. Mom would never have let Bup take her on a wild goose chase like this, I reasoned. We walked past fire hydrants, duck ponds, clumps of weeds and places with no sidewalk. I awkwardly followed as Bup navigated us through bumpy asphalt and stretches of empty road. We passed a convenience store, a local middle school, and a four way crossroads. I could tell from his body language when he was just wandering aimlessly, but Bup's confidence felt determined. He knew where he was going. He wanted to be somewhere, and he knew exactly how to get there. Where that was, however, I had no idea.
Finally, we came to stop in front of a small house. It looked pretty, like the ones on Beacon Hill where Po Po used to live before she moved in with us. Like the other neighborhood homes, it was small and squat and had a matching garden no wider than ten steps across. The grass was tall and overgrown, but the garden was far from neglected. Although it was November, I could see that there were plenty of trees and bushes that were well-trimmed and taken care of. Perhaps if I had come at another time, like early spring perhaps, I might see some flowers blooming among them.
I peered at the house. It looked lovely, with its white paint and colorful shutters. Something about it definitely felt very homey. But there was no garage, no car in the driveway, no chalk drawings from children playing hopscotch, no rusty basketball hoops or bikes. It looked like a home, but only on the outside. Something about it felt strangely corporate.
As I stood right outside of the garden fence, I heard Bup starting to scratch my leg. He wanted to pee on the garden, I knew immediately. I started to scold him for even thinking of sullying the beautiful picturesque house, when suddenly I heard the sound of a door opening.
