The Inside Stories

Chapter 6

I wake up to the smell of an exploded stink bomb and find Popcorn lying near my bedpost, farting away to glory. The stench was unbearable, seems like the meatballs didn't do too well. He sniffed a little and then went back into his slumber, leaving me alone in the stink. I should really tell Sofia to stop pampering him so much. I leave my room and tiptoe into the hallway. The light near the staircase is still on, I wonder why dad didn't switch it off.
Suddenly, my stomach gurgles like a whale. The salad definitely didn't do me any good. I go down and find dad there, sleeping on the couch. He must've been really tired because he didn't even care to take off his shoes.

I go into the kitchen and open the fridge to look for some leftover salad but there is none. After taking out the apple juice, I try to look for a glass in the dark but after almost toppling over a bowl on the table, I switched on the light. Guess my night vision isn't that great.

While pouring my juice, dad stirred awake. He got up and looked around like a lost puppy, clueless of what's happening. After he came out from his daze, he came to me and sat at the table. He took the bowl and started munching on the few nachos in it. After finishing and wiping off the crumbs on his pant, he said, "I heard what happened at school today. I know that your mom and Mrs Peige have grounded you enough."

I breath a sigh of relief. I was nowhere near ready for another lecture. Dad got up, took out a box of cocoa pops and poured some into a bowl. After looking at them longingly, I picked up a few and slowly ate them, relishing the few calories I could afford. He looked at me sympathetically, opened his mouth to say something but then decided against it. He didn't know exactly what happened in middle school, just bits and pieces. Nor were we even friends back then. Only in freshman year I started accepting him as someone to me. He never really pushed me to like him and left me alone most of the times. I guess what really made me like him was that his influence in Crompton High which got me an easy way out of doing well in academics. Till now, at least. And also, he doesn't mind most of the complaints he receives from my school. My mom was also like that, again, till now. Coming back to reality, I realised he had finished the entire bowl of plain cocoa pops, without any milk. "You should sleep, you have school tomorrow." I got up, muttered a quick good night and walked away. After going back to my room, I lay down and started contemplating how my next few months were going to be. No parties, maybe I would sneak out. Actually, who am I kidding, let a month pass by and I'll make my mom believe I'm going to the library and then go have fun. I check my Instagram and my entire feed is full of pictures from Damien's party. In one of Chelsea's pictures, Damien and Chris were in the background, looking intensely at each other, like they were having a super serious talk. I really hope they fought. Damien would then stay away from us at least for a few weeks. God be with my wish. I really wish I had attended the party. The pictures and short videos make it seem so much fun when all it is is a bunch of horny, drunk teenagers who are lucky enough to be called for one of the "popular guy's" party.

Suddenly, I remember that I have to convince Jeremy to tutor me. Mom really seems to like him. No offence, but he's really weird. The previous me would've found him pretty good but now he doesn't seem my type at all. He helped me twice and I shouldn't be judging him, I agree, but we live in a shitass judgemental society, where we are taught to judge right from birth. I hope a little of the previous me is still alive so I can at least tolerate his presence. Fingers crossed I can convince him.

I guess I fell asleep in my whirl of thoughts. Popcorn's drool all over my face woke me up. He was near my face with his leash between his teeth. I checked the time, only 5:45 in the morning. Guess the meatballs have been converted into stinky organic mush earlier than the usual 6:15 when I take him for a walk. Now some of you may wonder how I wake up so early, let's just say it's a childhood habit. I used to go for a jog every morning with poppy and now I go with his gift. After I changed my clothes, put on my shoes and tied up my hair, Popcorn and I left the house at about 6. We both headed towards the dog park. Most of the early risers would be there with their dogs. Popcorn could play with them while I did my laps on the track in the park. I completely forgot to take my gloves and the disposable plastic to pick up the poop but that didn't worry me too much because they usually had a counter at the park where they sold these. However, my dear dog decided to do the deed on the way. Curse this guy! He just had to do this the day I forgot the gloves. After pooping, he looks at me with his adorable puppy dog face and starts wagging his tail. I can never hate him. He was with me through everything. But I really have to think what I should do with his shit. For a second I decide to just leave it at the side of the pavement but then decide against it. I look around for a big leaf with which I could pick it up and quickly throw it away but all I find are blades of grass. I leave Popcorn there and he sits down proudly right next to his poop like he has been appointed Protector of the Poop.

I walk for a minute and there I find Jeremy with his dog. I could tell it was a she. I went up to him. At first he didn't recognise me, then realisation struck him and his eyes opened a little more. "Hee... Hey. Wha.. What do you ne..need?" Is this guy scared of me? "I was wondering if you had extra gloves. I forgot to bring them with me." He looked at the glove in his hand, just one, not even the pair and without thinking too much he gave it to me. I looked at him and he just smiled. "I'll manage. It's okay." Hmm. He didn't stutter this time. But anyways I was happy to get at least one glove. Jeremy's dog starts licking my leg. I look down at her and pet her. "She's Caramel. Before you ask me why I named a chocolate brown retriever Caramel, let me tell you my little sister named her that." I laughed and continued petting her. "You heading to the dog park?" He nodded. "Why don't we go together?" He looked at me, quite surprised I asked him that but then shrugged and started following me. We went to Popcorn and he was still sitting there, guarding his own shit. Jeremy saw him and burst out laughing. I too joined in. Caramel ran towards Popcorn and my dear dog, being the Protector of the Poop, didn't think that a female dog was running towards him but started barking when she got close to his poop. Caramel got so scared that she whimpered and backed away, as if the love of her life just said no to her. I went to Popcorn and he quietly moved aside and let my pick up his excreta. Wait. Did my dog just protect his poop for me? Jeremy looked at all this with amused eyes.

After putting our dogs back on their leashes, we headed off to the dog park. Caramel and Popcorn made pretty great friends on the way. Guess he's got his own way of playing the role of a highschool bad boy in dog life.

At the park, Jeremy volunteered to sit at a nearby bench and watch over our dogs. Caramel was still young and he said he didn't want her to get scared of other dogs so he was always around.

After finishing my laps, I went to Popcorn and put him on the leash. Jeremy came up to me and jokes, " Guess Popcorn is really protective of his Caramel." After talking a little more about random things, we both left, going our separate ways. Neither of us said it, but I know that we wouldn't make a mention of this Outing in a Dog Park.