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MITCH WALKED DOWN the chaotic Toronto streets with a burning hot coffee clutched in his hand. The sun was out, which warmed the city the slightest, though it was still quite cold for mid September.
Walking across the crosswalk, Mitch came closer to the park that was right in the middle of town. Kids played on the playground, their parents clustered around to keep on eye on them. However that didn't draw Mitch's attention; a group of people huddled around a mini van, parked in a little field of grass, did.
The young boy didn't take his eyes off the van, watching as people of all ages, smiled and laughed hugely. Deciding to tame his curiosity, Mitch made a bee line to the crowd, throwing his half full coffee out on the way there.
As the hockey player got closer to the van, he heard gasps of kids in awe, and parents looking knowingly at each other. Eventually making his way to the front of the small group, Mitch spotted a sign that said "puppies for sale!" and beside that, a gigantic box full of Toy Poodles.
Gaping at the scene in front of him, Mitch stood dumbfounded as the tiny puppies wiggled around, some people reaching in to pick up one, some putting one back.
"Wanna hold one?" A lady spoke, gesturing from Mitch to the box. The only thing Mitch was able to respond with, was a simple head nod.
"They're all eight weeks, ready to be taken home, now." The lady spoke as she handed Mitch a dark brown, curly haired puppy.
The boy's eyes lit up as he reached out to carefully take the puppy, "how much?"
Mitch began to pet the puppy gently, it instantly getting comfy and curling up in his hand, leaning against his chest. The lady smiled, looking down fondly at the boy and puppy, "$250. We could sell them for more, but I want them to go to good homes."
Nodding distractedly Mitch agreed, "of course."
After a moment of silence between the two, the lady smiled as she noticed the puppies eyes closed, clearly liking the boy. "A lot of people want that one you got there. However, that one, and this one-" She pointed at a small light brown one, huddled in the corner of the box, sleeping peacefully, "- are brother and sister. They're the only ones left from their litter, I'd prefer them to go together."
Nodding his head, Mitch looked at the one in his arms, smiling fondly at the idea of taking him home. Then he shifted his gaze over to the light brown one, who was just as cute as the one in his arms. Meeting the ladies eye with a grin, Mitch nodded excitedly, "I'll take 'em."
✿
Walking into his apartment, a puppy in each hand, Mitch slipped off his shoes, yelling excitedly. "Steph! Baby, c'mere!"
There was rustling from the kitchen before delicate footsteps made their way towards the front door, where Mitch stood with a grin on his face. "Mitch? What took you so long? I thought you were just going to get-"
Steph froze when she noticed the puppies squirming in Mitch's grip. Her mouth dropped to the floor, though her eyes lit up happily. "Oh my- wha- wher- holy shit," she jogged over, taking one from Mitch before starting to pet it in disbelief.
Mitch chuckled, "they're cute, no?"
Steph finally made eye contact with her boyfriend, "they're adorable! But- how? What-"
"They're ours, no refunds."
Steph's eyes widened, looking up at her slightly taller boyfriend. She looked at him in shock before a smile formed, letting out a small scream. She placed her puppy on the ground, Mitch then doing the same thing as Steph reached up to place a kiss on Mitch's lips. "I love you."
✿
"How could we let this happen?"Mitch spoke through his phone, walking through the streets of Toronto, looking for his lost dog.
"I have no idea, next time don't leave the door open." Steph spoke, her voice not filled with anger, but worry.
Mitch sighed as he jogged across the street, "at least we still have the other one. We do still have the other one, right?"
Letting out a breath of relief, Steph replied, "yes."
Mitch sighed, "good. Hey I was think-" The call was cut off as Mitch got an incoming call from... none other than the lady who sold him the dogs.
Mitch groaned, rubbing his face with his hands. "Steph, the lady's calling."
"Don't answer it! Wait no, you have to or it will look bad. Just- call me back once you talk to her," and before Mitch could respond, the line went dead, and he clicked the accept button to talk to the lady.
"Mitch!" She spoke, "how's everything going?" She asked a little less enthusiastic.
Clenching his jaw, Mitch replied, "oh, it's going great!" He covered the speaker on his phone slightly so it was muffled. "Tank! Stop that, be nice to your sister! Lulu! No!" Uncovering the speaker, Mitch placed his phone back to his ear. "It's going great!"
"Tank and Lulu, huh? I'm guessing the darker one, the boy, is Tank?"
Mitch nodded, though no one could see him, "yup."
"Huh, he's being a good boy?" The lady asked.
Mitch chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head, "oh, the greatest."
There was a pause from the ladies end of the line before she said anything. "Wow, thats funny you know that, because he's sitting beside me right now."
Mitch froze, chuckling nervous as he kicked a rock on the sidewalk, "then who's this Tank?"
✿
"Okay, we can not take our eyes off this one." Mitch declared, plopping down on the couch next to his girlfriend.
Placing Lulu on the spot beside him, Mitch swung his arm around Steph's shoulder, looking down at the puppy in her arms. Leaning over, he placed a kiss on her cheek, pulling away slowly, "I love you."
Steph turned to look at him, the puppy still securely in her arms. "I love you too," she said softly, shifting her gaze from Mitch's ocean blue eyes, down to the spot the other puppy was suppose to be.
Furrowing her eyebrows, Steph gazed back up at the boy, "Mitch honey, wheres Lulu?"
Frantically, Mitch tensed and looked down at the now empty spot beside him. He then averted his gaze to the front door, which happened to be open a crack.
