Heal My Heart

T h i r t e e n : P u p p y

A/N: Comment & Vote

At home I raced upstairs to say hello to each of the stuffies I had to leave behind.

Scott talked a lot in the car. I listened as well as I could but not once did he answer my question. Bailey had told me about babies one day while he was sleeping. This was before the brown and orange lizards.

He said he and Kyle wanted one but babies cost too much money to have. He said they didn't have money. Scott had said he wouldn't share his before but I suppose he changed his mind. He was giving Kyle a lot of money.

Now they could have the baby.

But I wanted one too. And Scott did say if I ever wanted anything I just had to ask and he'd give it to me.

So why not a baby? I put Milo back with the others against my pillow and took a moment to really appreciate all the things Scott had given me.

I found them in the front office. Bailey wasn't there I noticed but it was alright. I'd seen Bailey every day for a week. I hadn't seen Scott in a while.

"This is a five year contract. Within this time frame you cannot work for any other horse breeder or discuss our work with others."

"No problem," Kyle chuckled. "Thank you so much Scott."

"And you have to attend those courses. They're nightly, from 6 pm to 8 pm at the technical career center. The first one begins on the fourth. The next on the twenty-fifth." Scott said. "Is something wrong Puppy? You look upset."

"I'm thinking," I whispered.

Scott nodded his head and continued talking. I formed the words and started to speak even though Scott still was.

"You didn't say if we can have the baby or not."

"Puppy I was talking. Interrupting is very rude."

"You didn't say if we can have the baby or not." I repeated.

"Puppy are you listening to me?"

I stamped my foot, growing frustrated. "I listened but you didn't say."

"No baby Puppy." Scott said angrily. "Go outside please."

"But-but no baby?" I repeated. My eyes filled with tears. "Why?"

"Puppy. Go somewhere else please. I'm trying to talk to Kyle right now."

I went outside into the heat. I felt pushed aside. I saw Bailey putting a saddle on the big horse. He waved and I shuffled over. "You looked sad--what's wrong?"

"I don't think Scott likes me enough to get a baby."

"Well... You two have only been together a few months now. I've been with Master for almost five years now. It takes time. It's a really big responsibility to have a baby."

"You don't think I'm resp-respon--" I grew frustrated. "That r-word?"

"I didn't say that. I just think you're not ready yet."

"Well what do you know?" I muttered angrily.

"Don't be a jerk cos you're mad." Bailey replied angrily. "See? You're not mature enough."

"That's not true. You're being mean."

"How can you feed a baby when you can't feed yourself?" He snapped.

He regretted it immediately--I could see it in his eyes. My eyes filled with tears and I turned away to hide it. "Puppy wait."

"Leave me alone." A sob broke free and I ran toward the house.

I threw myself into my bed, curling into my pillow and stuffed animals. I was mature--whatever that meant. I didn't understand why everyone was being so mean. Scott and Bailey both.

Eventually I dried my tears and turned on the TV. I'd missed my shows.

Bailey's just jealous cos I've got many nice things and he doesn't have any.

It was a rotten way to think and I felt bad for thinking it.

But no one thought I could do anything and they never listened when I talked. Probably cos it took so long to form the words in my head and get them out. But Scott always said he was listening. Not today. He didn't want to talk me.

Yes, he'd been talking but he talked to me first!

Scott came up later that night. I didn't want to talk to him--he didn't want to talk to me. "I'm sure you're upset Puppy."

"You hate me."

"Don't be so dramatic Puppy. I love you. But having a baby is a big responsibility and--"

"I'm too stupid to have one."

"Stop it. It took Kyle and Bailey five years to make such a big decision. Don't you think you want to wait?"

"Bailey said I can't feed a baby because I can't feed myself. Is that why? Cos I'm not so good at using a spoon? I'll try even harder Scott. I promise."

"My decision has nothing to do with what Bailey says."

"You won't let me have anything. Not Cat and not a baby--"

"Would you like to have a kitten? Maybe even a puppy?"

"I'm Puppy."

"I know that." He smiled and sat down, pulling into his lap.

I resisted slightly then melted into his embrace. I'd missed him. I was happy he felt better. "How about it?"

"A kitten? Or another me?"

"Not another you. A real puppy."

"I'm real--aren't I?"

Scott smiled. "A puppy is a baby dog. But having too Puppy's would be rather confusing. Perhaps it's time for you to find a new name?"

"A new name?"

"Well sure. You know how we have our own names. Like Scott, Bailey, Kyle..."

"Lola?"

"Yes that's a name too. But you can pick one for you. And together we'll go and get it changed on your license."

"You don't like me being Puppy?"

"Well, it's a cute name but you're not a kid anymore Puppy. And if you want me to start doing more adult things with you like sex and considering more serious decisions like having children or eventually getting married, then you need to show me you can be an adult."

"I'm an adult?"

"Technically yes."

"What do you mean tech-tech..."

"It means that you're an adult because of your age not by your maturity."

"I'm not mature?"

"Well... What do you think?"

"I can't read or write and-and use a spoon."

"Reading and writing has nothing to do with it. Using silverware does however. So do your stuffed animals and behavior."

"Behavior?"

"The way you act."

"I act...bad?"

"Not quite. You just don't act like your age."

I didn't understand. But I nodded my head like I did. "Good! Now, why don't you pick a name while I go make a call alright?"

"O-okay."

QOTC: what name should Puppy pick? Or should his name remain the same?