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"No," Valerie said in answer to Francy's offer. "I think it best if it's back here in its cage."
"Okay. Sure. I'll bring it home then." Francy paused when she saw Georgia pointing at herself as well. "We'll bring him home," she corrected. Comparing the current time to when Daniel arrives home didn't leave much of a window to slip Frisky back in his cage un-noticed. "I guess we'll leave right now then."
"Thank you. Don't forget the big lock for its cage. I'll see you when you get here."
Francy ended the connection with Valerie with the touch of a stubby finger. Then she looked at Frisky sitting dutifully beside her. "I tried, little guy. Sorry, but Valerie does like to have things her way."
They took Georgia's car which was much newer than Francy's. Frisky rode in back, seat belted in, and non tinted windows so everyone looking in could see his naked chest and dog collar with the padlock hanging from it.
Valerie met them when they arrived making sure to get control of Frisky's leash quickly. She led him up the path to the kennels, into his cage. After unclasping the leash from his collar she knelt down and with one long finger jerking the waistband of his shorts down. Valerie's beautiful brown eyes glanced around inside to make sure that everything was just as she had left them. Locked and restrained.
Satisfied she looked up at her pet until he raised his eyes to meet hers. She smiled, stood up and made sure the gate to the cage was firmly padlocked shut before she left him without so much as a word.
Not hearing any car doors closing or engines starting Frisky guessed that all three girls went into the house. At least he had his water bowl filled to the rim, thanks to Manuel.
Frisky caught himself thinking that it was good to be home. Home..? Yeah, sure... why not? It's been his home for the last week and a half. It had seemed like a month now or maybe he was just thinking in dog years.. Regardless, like shade in a scorched desert it was a sanctuary from the heat of an overwhelming, emotionally draining day.
Manuel came later with his trusty food cart reminding Frisky of street vendors. This cart, however, was lacking a colorful umbrella, less technical and much dirtier as it hadn't seemed to of been washed from the morning feeding. By that he meant a few mornings ago.
Never the less, Manuel pressed on in his duties like a trooper, or better yet, a drunk trooper. At Frisky's cage, always to be the last, Manuel chuckled to himself while filling his bowl.
"The Hagan lady didn't give me anything from her kitchen table today. Seems she's got more important things on her mind. Eh..? So you get straight dog food today," he said with a smirk. "Probably on purpose to remind you of what you are, dog/slave. Who you belong to."
Manuel didn't make more of their encounter than that. Frisky ate his food, or some of it anyway leaving the rest to the bugs. It was still a hard sell that this was in any way tasty.
Frisky could tell the sun was going down earlier and earlier. The amount of time between feeding time, which never changes, to the time it becomes dark had shortened significantly of the last week or so.
If Valerie's friends were still in the house he wasn't sure. With so little amusement in the kennel cage he was always aware of surrounding sounds. Perhaps he missed them leaving during one of his short naps. Or maybe it just wasn't a dog/slave's business.
The night came and went. That morning even Manuel came and went regarding Frisky as just another dog he needed to feed. The only difference is he could laugh at Frisky, even torment him occasionally with some stinging words.
Some time later that morning Valerie made her way up the pathway to the kennel. "It doesn't take you long to get dirty and disgusting again, does it?" Valerie said standing outside the cage gate unlocking it with the key. She stepped inside where Frisky was just coming out of another nap. Her hair was a in a single pony tail and wearing plain flip-flops. Her pink T-shirt pronounced her breast in unintentional ways.
With her right hand, nails polished white, she held up the cage key between thumb and forefinger. With her pinky finger she rattled two smaller keys dangling down the key ring like a couple of chimes. "Not quite like Ashley's collection for you, but I've got my own started. The big cage key," she said the obvious, then her pinky pointed to one of the smaller keys. "Key to the dog/slave mask," she said, her pinky amazingly limber as it pointed to the third key, then the hand and keys dropped to her side. "And the key to your little, doggie ding-a-ling," she finished. She tucked the key ring into her white shorts front pocket.
The leash which hung handy right outside the kennel cage was already in her hand and being snapped onto his collar. "I sent Manuel on a mission to collect us three some smoked spare ribs for lunch. So he'll be gone for some while," she said leading Frisky out of the cage and down the path. "Mmmm Mmmhh," she hummed in anticipation of the ribs. "Sounds good, doesn't it?"
This time they didn't go toward the house as Frisky expected. But rather she lead him by the leash across the green grass over to the maintenance shed. It had already been unlocked for the day by Manuel, the open padlock clanking against the door on its opening and closing.
Inside was the instant recognizable smell of gas and dried grass. Lawnmowers lined the back wall. Trimmers, saws and other hand held garden implements hung on the walls like a mechanic shop displaying its tools. Extra blades, lines and small engine repair parts were strewn across a small work bench.
Valerie slipped the leash handle over a hook on the wall while saying, "I've only got a few days to finish up with you."
