"-Will you get out of the way before my finger accidentally pull the trigger?
-I'M NOT GONNA LET YOU DO THIS! Answereed Jeremy
-Excuse me sir, is there a problem here?? Lucky asked"
Jeremy was on his knees, in front of a big black dog. The man was looking at Lucky, then back at Jeremy and the mutt.
"-Is this your kid?
-Yes he is. Now, mind telling me what hhe was yelling about?
-Tell him to get out of the way please"<
The guy took a shot gun from his side and pointed it at Jeremy.
"-What are you doing are you crazy? Asked Lucky
-This bastard killed three of my chickenn again and your son won't get out of the way for me to kill him.
-Don't let him do it please dad!
-Jeremy, come here right now. I'm not kkidding, Lucky said when he saw Jeremy wasn't budging.
-JUST BECAUSE HE IS A STRAY DOESN'T GIVEE YOU THE RIGHT TO KILL HIM! Jeremy yelled
-Jeremy, calm down and get out of the waay, right now.
-NO! Jeremy was crying. If he had met me before, would he have killed me too?"
Lucky was walking towards his son. Even if he had to use force to get out of the aim, he would. There was no way his 7 year old son would stay between a gun and a dog! Lucky quickly turned around when he heard someone whistling.
"-Come here boy!"
The dog ran from behind Jeremy and jumped on the guy who was calling.
"-Rover! Where the hell were you? Lucky saw...LUKE?
-Is that your mutt? Asked the guy
-That's Rover! I've been looking all ovver for him! Answered Luke, while the dog acted like he hadn't seen him in months
-Well, your dog ate 3 chicken of mine! Pay them back!
-No way! How do I know it's Rover? Cann't be him, he is a vegetarian."
The guy shook his head in disbelief and went on his way. The dog was sitting, waving his tail, looking at Jeremy. The boy ran to the dog, took him in his arms, and cried. Lucky was confused. Never, in all the months they were living with Jeremy, did he cry for nothing. It's like the kid blocked himself from tears and now, it was a flowing stream. Lucky put his hand on the boy's head, and saw hurt when the boy looked back at him. Lucky's heart broke at the amount of pain he read in the soul of his son.
"-Why did he wanted to kill him dad? Just because he didn't have a home, and wasn't loved doesn't mean he is bad"
Lucky finally understood what was hurting Jeremy so much. The boy saw himself in the dog. He understood the struggle "Rover" had to go through in order to survive. He understood the loneliness and pain of not having someone there to care about you. He understood the rage that was probably inside the dog, understood the hunger that made him kill the chicken. Lucky got on his knees and took Jeremy in his arms.
"-I know that son, but you see, it was probably not the first time the dog pulled something like that, and the man was tired of seeing his chicken die
-But, if he would've seen a kid take a cchicken, would he have drag him here and kill him too?
-Oh no Cowboy, said Luke, humans and aniimal are two different things. Humans don't care for dogs like they do for humans.
-Still it is not the dog's fault someonee gave him away. Can I keep him dad?
-I don't know Jeremy, he's quite big, annd we don't know if he is sick, or housebroken, or even dangerous. I don't think it's a good idea son. I'm sorry
-So you are pushing him away too?"
Luke was looking at his son, and was taken all the way back at the day Lucky showed up with Foster. Lucky knew what his father was thinking about.
"-Tell you what, said Lucky, let's try him for a couple of days and we'll see how it goes OK?
-Really? You mean it?
-Who am I to say no? But let's get someething straight. He is your dog, your responsibility. That means you have to walk him, feed him, keep him clean and out of troubles OK? You are the one who will clean up if he makes a mess.
-I'll do anything! Thanks dad!"
Jeremy took the mutt in his arms, and Lucky laughed, saying he was the one who deserved a hug. Jeremy jumped in his father's arms, just as Elizabeth walked near them. The dog ran, jumped and put his front paws on her shoulders.
"-WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?
-That's called a dog baby, said Luke
-I know what is it Luke, but what is it doing with its paws on my shoulder?
-He's just saying hello mom. Dad said II could keep him
-Oh he did, did he? What's his name? SShe said, caressing the big black and gold fur
-Well, Boss said his name's Rover, but II don't like it. I don't know what to call him, said Jeremy
-Why not Jesse? Is memory of your old mmiddle name? Asked Lucky
-No, I don't wanna have anything to do wwith that boy anymore.
-Well, let's go back to our tents and wee'll figure out on the way OK? Asked Luke"
Lucky was thinking about how funny it was that Jeremy always called Luke "Boss", never grandpa, or anything else. Jeremy said Luke was the "Boss", since he knew everything and everyone. The boy was in admiration for both his father and grandfather.
On the way to the camp, Luke told Jeremy the story of Foster, and the boy decided to name the dog Foster Junior, but the mutt would go by the name of FJ, or Junior. Lucky went back to the river and started fishing again, while Jeremy and FJ played near from him. Suddenly Lucky heard a big noise and a splash, only to see FJ in the water, running around. Lucky was about to yell at Jeremy to get his dog out of the water when FJ came to the shore with a fish in his mouth. Lucky and Jeremy laughed, as FJ put his gift in front of Jeremy.
"-Guess he is good for something. Jeremy said
-I'm not eating that! Lucky answered
> -Why not?
-Jeremy, the fish was in the dog's mouthh!
-So? The fish is still intact! Jeremy replied. Plus it's a well known fact that there isn't anything cleaner than a dog's mouth
-If you are so sure, you eat it. Or bettter yet, let's give it to Boss
-OH THAT WILL BE SO FUNNY!"
Lucky caught two more fishes, and they went back to the tent. Lucky had planted his knife in the fish FJ caught. Luke cleaned the fishes, and Elizabeth cooked them. Well, burned them was more like it.
After lunch Jeremy took his mitt out and started playing catch with Luke, while FJ ran back and forth between them trying to catch the ball. Lucky was cleaning the dishes by the river, while Elizabeth painted the forest around her. Every time FJ caught the ball and Jeremy ran after it, Elizabeth laughed at her son.
"-Bad Dog! Jeremy was yelling, even though he was laughing"
When Lucky came back from the river he sat down next to Liz and watched her paint for a while. He loved it when she was so concentrated on her work she didn't see or hear anything around her. He didn't see his father watching him, smiling at the obvious love he had for his wife. He also didn't see the man behind the trees watching them, holding a gun and aiming at Elizabeth.
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