54
Frisky's heart pounded in his chest. In the back of his mind he thought he heard the voice of a ghost, the voice of John hysterically warning him that if he is seen chained down on all fours by someone else, a man, his life and reputation would be over.
He closed his eyes wishing to just disappear. If Frisky can't see Randy's reaction to him, did he really see him? Maybe he could stop these panicking emotions from taking over his entire being. And to think just moments ago he was content.
"It better not be another dog, Val," Randy said coming around the trees and leaves. "These two don't get enough attention as it is. We don't need..."
"Shhhh..." Valerie hissed as she sprinted ahead to Frisky's cage. She looked in with an uneasy smile then looked back to her approaching husband. She apprehensively let her hands console one another.
Frisky sat on the ground looking up at his owner, pretty as ever. There was a calming sensation that washed over him as Randy walked into sight. Now that their eyes met, there was no more Frisky could do even if he could. The dread, the horror, the worry was over.
"What," Randy asked, "am I looking at?"
Valerie continued to smile first looking at Frisky then back at Randy. "Not to worry. Ashley is picking him up in two days," she said reassuringly. "She comes Saturday."
"What the hell is going on here?"
"You remember Ashley's boyfriend." Valerie said as if introducing them for the second time.
"Why is he padlocked in the kennel, half dressed and chained up like a dog?"
Valerie nervously raised her eyebrows. "That's kind of a long story."
"Damn it, Valerie," his anger barely showing just enough to incite her talk to him.
"He locked himself up like this," she said putting her hand out toward Frisky like a game show model over a display prize. "He made Ashley leave the keys at home while they went to stay at our little party house up north to make his dog/slave fantasy real."
"Dog/slave fantasy? I told you this guy was a little different."
"He knows," she said. "I know. It's just how he is."
"Well, let him out and he can do it somewhere else," he said turning to leave before his anger became a real issue.
Valerie reached out and grabbed his arm gently. He stopped and turned back.
"Well, that's just the point, honey," Valerie said. "While Ashley was there she ended up in jail for the weekend and called me to take care of him. She left him at the house with no food or water. So I drove and picked him up for her."
"This has got to be the kookiest shit I've ever heard." Randy glared in at Frisky. "Why didn't you cut those locks with a bolt cutter?"
"I don't know what a bolt cutter is," she admitted. Or, better still, had to admit.
"I'll go get one," Randy said walking off. "We'll get him a shirt and put him on the bus home."
His wife ran behind Randy and stopped him again. "This time of night? Honey... He's been like this the whole time he's been here. Another day isn't going to matter."
"My God, Valerie. The kids..."
"That's why I've kept him out here," she said, "You know-- with the other dogs."
"He's not a dog, Val. You're just feeding his perversions."
"There's more to it than that, I think, Randy."
"Let me guess," Randy said mockingly. "He was born in the wrong body?"
"No, no. It's like a mental..." she paused. "Look. Honey. Thank you for staying calm and not getting upset. But can we talk about this tomorrow?"
"No! I want him gone." Randy peered in at Frisky through the chain link. "And you?" he firmly stated to Frisky. "Why don't you have anything to say?"
Frisky simply sat in place looking at the two humans. His new found self would not let the words spoken to or about him reach any part of his old self. He remained calm knowing Valerie was there.
Randy took a step toward the cage still addressing Frisky. "You show up at my house dressed like some bondage fanatic putting my family at risk."
