Woof Me Baby (MokieDokie x Eli)

[MokieDokie]

"Paiigeey, dear! We are going to be home late! Call me if you need anything and don't stay up too late!"


Paige Jennings sighed. "Ooookay, mom!" It was so tiresome to her how her parents always acted like them not being there was something occasional. Paige couldn't even remember the last time the family sat together at the dinner table for longer than ten minutes without someone getting up to do something. There was always another call to take or some paperwork that required immediate attention.


Finishing her homework, Paige turned on the TV and sifted through the channels.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


"Megan and James, thanks for coming to see me..." A nervous looking man addressed Mr. and Mrs. Jennings. It was a cold, dry evening and the three couldn't help shiver a bit.


"So... what was it you wanted to see us about? If it is about what we talked about earlier... couldn't this wait until tomorrow? It's pretty late and if we weren't heading to the office anyway..."


"I'm sorry! I just can't take it anymore! It's just too... unnatural!"


"Sigh..."


After Megan and James finished speaking with their coworker, they went their separate ways.

 

[Eli]

"I'm sorry! I just can't take it anymore! It's just too... unnatural!"


Martin wrung his sweaty hands together like a wet towel. He briefly glanced over his shoulder. The thing might have stalked him here, and was watching them as they spoke... He shook the thought away. Too disturbing. Too probable. Instead he addressed the Jennings once more, the plea apparent in his voice, despite their exasperated sighs. His coworkers had to understand; he'd tried to get rid of Pluto, several times, but the dog -- alien, thing, whatever it was -- kept popping back up on his doorstep like an evil little daisy.


"I tried the shelter, I tried dumping him off on the highway, I tried bringing him to my mom's." And he was distressed enough that he only felt somewhat remorseful for forcing the alien into his own mother's home. "But he seems insistent... On somewhere homier?"


It was then that Martin realized that, if he wanted to get rid of Pluto, he needed to be a salesman. "But he's not a bad dog! Not at all! Just a little... quirky." He nodded with forced conviction. "Totally potty trained too -- your little girl, she'd probably love a dog, right? Doesn't bite." Much, he added internally, and thought back to that one time... "Please, consider it? It'd be a life saver. I'm, um..." He tapped his foot against the floor, trying to think of a sufficient excuse. "My landlord won't take pets! But I can't abandon the poor little guy..." Because who knows what he'd do for revenge. Again.





Finally, mercifully, Martin ceased his rambling and his fibs. And, with his most impressive puppy dog eyes, he asked the Jennings once more to take the dog off his hands.


"Please?" He paused. "It's just... I'm a cat person?"

 

[MokieDokie]

Glancing at each other with uncertainty, the Jennings wondered why their coworker Martin was so scared. Even more strange was how Martin basically begged them to consider taking the dog... for free? James Jennings gave Martin a calculating gaze, as if considering whether it was a scam of some sort, but other than the possibility he was lying about the dogs conditions, why them?


"Well then, we would definitely have to meet the dog... of course, not now... bring him to the park near here tomorrow around lunch? We can make the decision then... POSSIBLY, but the earliest we would take him would be tomorrow late afternoon. That is of course, assuming we do want him..."


Megan Jennings nodded in agreement. To be honest, she could care less what the decision because at the moment she just wanted to get some of the paperwork done. The client was in a different timezone and this made business very difficult. "Well, we will see you tomorrow at the park then, I take it by your, um nodding that you are fine with this..."


After the Jennings and Martin went their separate ways, James looked at his wife with a raised eyebrow. "I think this could be good for Paige... I'm still not sure though, what could possibly be so scary about the dog if it doesn't bite, doesn't have potty issues... We definitely need to have him checked in at the vet, Martin said the dog was healthy and had him checked recently... but lets be sure."


The next day during their lunch break, Megan and James first met up and went to the park together. Finding a bench to sit on, they quietly waited for their strangely fearful coworker.

 

[Eli]

Relief washed over Martin's features as the Jennings agreed to meet with him at the park to take a look at the dog. If all went well, he might be free of the nerve-wracking burden once and for all. After a number of rushed thanks yous and goodbyes and see you tomorrows he hopped in his car and puttered back to his apartment. Tomorrow was going to be a good day.


---


All is well. With proper execution of my masterful plan I should be out of this human's smelly house and in an improved shelter by tonight. I've grown tired of messing with this little worm. Will update later.





With a tidy flourish Pluto completed his latest entry in his personal journal. It was important to keep track of the day-to-day happenings while he was stranded on this Earth -- well, if not important, it at least kept him sane. With the click of one of his last remaining gadgets the journal and pen dematerialized. The "dog" was essentially packing up his few remaining possessions in anticipation of his upcoming relocation. He glanced at the clock ticking upon the yellowing wall; it was time to head out to the park soon.


And, like clockwork, Martin poked his head into the living room, face expectant but apprehensive. "O-okay, Pluto... We're going on a little trip, alright?" The jangle of a collar and leash met Pluto's ears. The dog glared at his ward through slitted eyes and a stern growl rumbled in his throat. No leashes. Martin hastily set the leash down on the side table. Good dog, Pluto thought, canine-like lips turning up in an almost human smirk. He padded to the front door, displaying his willingness to leave. Martin followed suit, and after a bumpy ride in the stuffy and silent car, the pair arrived in the designated park.


They soon approached an old wooden bench, where a man and a woman waited under the midday sun. Pluto, who despite being completely alien looked nearly identical to an earth mutt, pranced obediently beside Martin, who was fidgeting nervously. The dog trotted the rest of the way to the two strangers, putting into action the behavior he had studied over the recent months about pets. He waggled his little tail, perked his floppy ears, and positively trembled with pure puppyish excitement as he got within arms-reach of the strangers. If he got everything right, these humans would be begging to wrap him up and take him home with them.


Meanwhile Martin did his best to sell the dog to the family -- he sugarcoated every word, even dared to stroke Pluto's back as if he would miss him. He didn't mention how Pluto's paws were strangely dexterous, how the dog seemed to comprehend human speech, how its beady brown eyes were strangely intelligent... No, no, none of that. This was the perfect family dog.

 

[MokieDokie]

"Aw, how adorable!"


"Pluto, right? It suits him well."


"Okay... so THIS was the scary dog you were begging us to take in?" The Jennings were so taken to the excited and loveable dog in front of them that they immediately dismissed any notion of scam. Having momentarily forgotten the initial demeanor Martin had approached them with, they agreed to purchase price, which was much lower than market. "We will see you later today with the check and to pick up Pluto."


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Paige sat in the closed garage of their home in the unused car. Though it would still be a few years until she could drive, she sat in the driver's seat with the spare key. Paige stuck the keys in the ignition and turned it on. The garage door was still closed. Relaxing, she closed her eyes and started counting, intending to go on as long as needed. She only got to about 87 when she heard tires turning onto the driveway. Whipping out of the car after turning it off, Paige dashed back into the house just as the garage door started opening. She had tears streaming down her face as she went upstairs to her room confused. What are they doing back so early?


Climbing into bed, Paige purposely messed her hair up a bit and pretend to be asleep.

 

[Eli]

And so Martin and Pluto, both internally celebrating, went their separate ways. Pluto's research had paid off, and the Jennings had fallen in love with his performance of a cuddly little pup. They rolled into the garage, plopped Pluto down in the house, and immediately he went scampering to explore. He made a mental list of what he needed to do, which included taking inventory of all items in the house, any hidden cupboards or passageways, and most importantly, he needed to scope out if any cats were in the neighborhood. He'd need to scare them off -- this was his block now.


But first and foremost Pluto needed to introduce himself to the member of the family who would likely pay the most attention to him. From his observations it was common for a family to give their children a pet in order to teach responsibility. He needed to measure how well he could manipulate this child, and make sure she wasn't the type to pull on his ears or smush his face. If so, this venture was all for naught. And, if he was lucky, he might find a semblance of companionship in this household too. Though he'd never admit it, being stranded on an alien planet was a lonely business.


Pluto skidded to a halt outside of the girl's door -- he could smell a trail of deadly chemicals mixed in with her natural human scent, as well as the saltiness of tears, and scrunched up his snout in revulsion. He'd need to somehow communicate to her that chemicals didn't make her smell good. He'd already decided that humans had terrible taste in perfume, but, well -- he dismissed the train of thought. Time for introductions. He cleared his throat and barked, and pushed up against the door to demand her attention. After a mere second of waiting beyond the threshold, Pluto's patience got the better of him and, oblivious to the girl's plight, he barked once more.

 

[MokieDokie]

*bark!*


Opening her eyes for a moment, Paige, who was facing away from the door, wondered if she heard what she thought she heard. Closing her eyes again, Paige returned to her fake sleep, which was starting to turn into true sleep.


*bark!*


Jerking up and twisting over to see over her shoulder, Paige saw a dog right outside her door. Jumping up a bit, Paige bumped her head against the head board of the bed. "Ah!! What the- How did you get in???"


Her father came up behind Pluto and went to pat him on the head. "Honey... I know its sudden but... we decided to add another member to our family! Come on down, your mother is making some early dinner, we have to head out again..." He trailed off and turned to head back downstairs. Paige, still a bit shocked at the sudden addition, sat still in her bed registering what just happened. Tidying up her hair, Paige tied it up into a snug ponytail. Approaching the dog, Paige was hesitant. She had never really been the outgoing animal lover type, but she certainly had nothing against them. Awkwardly, she stuck her hand out to try and pet the dog. "Um... Hi, I'm Paige... Let's go eat dinner?"

 

[Eli]

The girl was clearly surprised to see a dog sitting outside her bedroom. Pluto withheld a snort when she knocked her skull against the headboard as she startled. But it was his turn to spook when a hand swooped down and palmed his head; humans had a strange affinity for ignoring personal space, and the alien had to force himself to lean into the touch when he would have rather ducked away. But soon the hand was gone and the heavy footsteps faded, leaving Paige and Pluto alone.


She greeted him in a stilted manner, but it was sufficient to him. He woofed, allowed her to stroke him -- it was something he'd need to get accustomed to -- and visibly reacted at the word dinner. He was eager to see what this household might offer as far as meals went; his alien stomach could burn through just about anything, but his taste buds were far more finicky. He nodded his head eagerly, in a too-human gesture of assent. He couldn't bring himself to care too much though, and he darted ahead through the hallway and down the stairs.


He halted to check if Paige was following. Maybe if he was sweet enough she'd give him something extra tasty. He barked once more before heading towards the dining table and promptly hopping onto a chair. Her father had said he was part of the family now -- shouldn't a family member be able to eat at the table?

 

[MokieDokie]

*I'mmMMmmmm gonna swinNGGGGG from the chandelieeeEEErrrr chandelieeERRrrrrr*





Paige heard her mom's ringtone go off and couldn't help giggle a bit. Earlier in the week she had secretly changed it but so far this was the first time she was able to hear it in action. Her mom didn't miss a beat though, and whipped the cell phone up to her ear. "Hello, Megan speaking... Yes... Of course, okay hold a second... Sigh... I told you-" Going into the other room, she shut the door. Her father had just finished setting out the dishes on to the table and chuckled at Pluto's chosen spot. "Now, now Pluto, don't you worry, we have got plenty for you."


Pausing a moment, Paige noticed that Pluto had a sense of dignity about him. It was a bit strange but she brushed it off. It was kind of cute actually, and smiling more warmly, she carried the plate of chicken over to Pluto and set it on the table in front of him. He was actually just the right size and would most likely have no trouble eating at the table.


"I am so sorry... I have to go now its urgent... honey, make sure to walk Pluto after dinner, hopefully we can avoid any accidents in the house, we probably have to figure out how to have him get used to our schedule here... okay, I'm off, love you guys!" Megan rushed out and moments later the sound of tires moving off the driveway followed.


"Dad, I can walk him after dinner, I'm done with my homework." Paige offered.