"Nothing Ever Lasts Forever" DOGMAN PETEY ANGST

*Happy Birthday, Mom*

**While Dogman, LP, 80-HD, and Petey were walking back to Dogman's house, Petey stoped, remembering that today was his mom's birthday. "Crap. . ." He muttered. "What papa?" The rest of the people, well, not really people, and stopped too, and were all looking at Petey. "I, uh, just remembered that today was my mom's birthday. . ." "Well, then let's go visit her grave! OOH, can Dogman and 80-HD come too?" "Uh. . . sure." Dogman did the goofy smile he always did, and Petey felt something warm in his chest. "Uh, come on, I guess." Everyone turned around and followed Petey to his mom's grave. They all look at the gravestone which says "Here Lies Grace T.  Cat, beloved wife and mother." Petey smiled, thinking about what his mom would think if he saw where he was now. She would be proud of how far I've come. He thought. "Hey papa, can I go grab some flowers that are over there?" LP asked, pointing to a flower patch. "Sure kid. They'll look nice, my mom would love them." He softly smiled, and Dogman did too. Petey looked at Dogman, who signed "Happy Birthday, Grace." He smiled at him, feeling that strange warmth in his chest again. "Here ya go, papa!" LP says, handing him some flowers. "Thanks kid." He grabs them, and gently places them in his mom's grave. "Happy birthday, mom." He says as some tears roll down his cheeks.

**As they walk back to Dogman's house, Petey gets an idea. "Hey, I should make you a translator, Dogman. That way you won't have to do sign language all the time." "That's a great idea papa! Can I help?" "Of course kid." Dogman smiles and does a little skip to show his approval. My dad was wrong, these guys are such good-hearted. But. . . it could be an act. I mean, people aren't always what they seem, I know that for sure. But these guys seem different, so maybe they are. But what if- "PAPA DID YA HEAR ME?" Petey jumped, surprised by LP's yelling. Damn it, I was spiraling. "I was lost in thought, what did you say kid?" "I said, what are we having for dinner?" "Oh. Hmmm, probably pasta, or something like that." "Yay, meatballs!" LP exclaims! 80-HD does that thing where he puts his arms over his head, and Dogman barks. "OK, ok, I get, you're excited." Petey scowled, but actually amused. "Sorry papa!" "It's ok, kid."

** "Yay, spaghetti and meatballs!!!" LP says as Petey puts down a plate for LP, Dogman, and a make-shift spaghetti made out for wires and bolts for 80-HD. "Hey, where's your dinner, papa?" "Oh, I'm not hungry right now. I'm going to go work on the blueprints for Dogman's translator until I am." LP looked at Petey with a worried expression. "Hey, kid, don't  look at me like that. I promise, I'm just not hungry right now. I'll eat later, ok?" And with that Petey walked away to his room. Dogman saw that LP still looked a bit worried, so he quickly finished his food and put his dishes in the sink. He grabbed a new plate and put some spaghetti and meatballs on it, and signed to LP "I'll bring this to Petey, that way he can eat it if he gets hungry." LP brightened up, and said, "Ok Dogman!" Meanwhile, Petey was sketching out a design of the translator. What is I make it look like a collar, hmmm. . . He heard a know on the door. "Oh,  come in!" Dogman walked through the door, carrying a plate of spaghetti. He signed "Lil' Petey still looked worried, so I bought this to you just in case." He grinned as he set the plate down on Petey's table. Petey smiled back at him, feeling that warmth in his chest again. "Thanks Dogman." As he said that, the warmth spread a bit. What is that feeling? Dogman licked Petey on the cheek. "AUGH, DOGMAN DON'T DO THAT, BLECH!" He yelled, scowling. Dogman only smiled, then walked out. "Hmph." Petey got back to the blueprints, eating the spaghetti, while smiling softly to himself. "Dumb dog. . ."