Authors Notes: All characters are legal age.
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Rufus yawned and raised his head from where he was snoozing on the floor. Cindy and Steve had their eyes glued to the TV. It was time for him to get some fresh air and do some business.
Out in the kitchen, he used his paw to snag the back door open. He loved those new lever door handles Steve had installed throughout the house. It let him open the doors himself to go outside any time nature called. After Steve had seen him pull off that neat trick he was all in favour. They left the back door unlocked so he could take his business out anytime he needed, without them needing to let him out.
On the deck, he took a deep whiff of the scents wafting on the gentle breeze. There were messages in that cooling air telling him what was going on around the neighbourhood.
All his friends were down the block. He could smell them and faintly hear the barks and yips of them chatting. Time to go.
He sailed over the back fence like it wasn't there, making Steve's denials to the neighbours about the fence being too high to jump a lie. Launching over the next fence from the middle of their rose garden, his paws dug deep furrows into the soil, the source of their ongoing frustration.
He greeted his buddies with a polite woof and settled down looking around the group to see who was there. It was the usual group of hangers-on, all intent on discussing the day's happenings and who was doing what.
As it seemed to every time, the conversation soon veered into discussing their humans and the ongoing difficulties to train them properly. Roy, a Border Collie, and the smartest of the group trotted out his well worn theory.
"They can't smell, they can't talk, they babble nonsense. No matter how many times I try to get my human to speak properly they insist on making silly noises back at me. I doubt they'll ever improve!"
Rufus had to agree. He'd often shown Steve how to hold his mouth when he spoke, but it seemed pointless. He didn't make much effort to speak back and the odd time he came close, his accent was atrocious. Worse than the Pugs whose short snouts made them barely intelligible. When he did attempt something it was often just nonsense noises. Rufus had given up any hope of ever getting an intelligent word out of him.
Sweet as Steve was, Rufus figured for sure he was touched in the head and not overly bright.
The group all agreed, however, that the humans had an incredible connection to the 'Great Bone Maker in the Sky'.
Roy, the Collie, had his own pet theory about that.
"The Great Bone Maker blesses humans with those incredible bones so that we'll stay with them and help them through their miserable lives. Without us, they'd be helpless and die off."
Everyone nodded their heads knowingly. It was obvious. The humans needed them to survive. Bones were just their heaven-on-earth reward to keep them connected, helping out those poor creatures.
Once the usual gossip dried up it was time to head back home. Jumping back amongst the neighbour's roses, he paused, then took a dump around the roots of a fragile-looking plant. The poor thing needed fertilizing to help it grow. He knew the neighbours appreciated his efforts, but felt sorry for them. Their red faces and fists shaking in the air were an obvious reaction to their frustration at not being able to speak properly. To thank him for helping with their gardening.
He was gracious when he saw them do that, barking back and telling them that despite their speech impediments, he understood their gratitude.
They often came over afterward, ringing the doorbell and expressing their appreciation to Steve for Rufus' efforts in their garden. He knew they were impressed by his success in looking after their roses. He could hear it in their excited voices going back and forth.
Lying on the back porch listening to their noises, he resolved to redouble his efforts to help them have the best damn roses in the neighbourhood. It was the least he could do for such gracious people.
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Sitting at the kitchen table Cindy sipped her coffee. She'd gotten Steve fed and off to work and was now relaxing. He made a lot of money so she didn't need to work. She was bored though with nothing planned for the day. Her phone beeped a notification. Her app was asking permission for an update.
She stared at the screen. She should delete the app. Since she'd married Steve three years ago she hadn't used it. A married woman shouldn't be on dating app. Curiosity made her accept the update and when it was finished she clicked it open.
HE popped up.
She remembered seeing him three years ago, shortly before she married Steve. He had superliked her one day and OMG, WHAT A STUD! He'd since updated his picture and if anything was even hunkier than before. She gasped when she spotted that blue bar pop across the top, he'd just superliked her again.
How was that possible? She had been on the phone for only seconds. Superlikes only lasted for a day. They must have popped up on each other's apps the instant she logged in.
Stunned, her finger swiped right before she realized what she was doing. Her breath hitched and she felt her nipples erect. She had a match.
She couldn't. She shouldn't!
In the backyard, Rufus was dozing in the warm sunshine an hour later when the doorbell rang. He heard voices in the house and then silence. A short while later Cindy started moaning.
Curious, he let himself into the house and checked out the shoes by the front door. Immediately revolted he jerked back in shock.
'Ewww! Great Bone Maker!'
Did this person know nothing of foot care? The shoe reeked. Even puppies were better at keeping themselves clean than this.
He could help Cindy's friend. Show whoever it was how to take care of themselves. He trotted into the bedroom where a moaning Cindy was bouncing up and down on the top of her new friend. Her head was thrown back and she looked happy. Rufus had seen her get her exercise with Steve like this. It was good that she took care of herself.
But, how could she stand that reeking foot? It was impossible to ignore.
