Within a few seconds of opening his eyes, Tyson was scrambling backward, kicking his covers away in a frightened manner. With his back to the wall, a bewildered Tyson blinked several times while looking at the small dog Alex had placed on his bed.
“Surprise! Meet Brutis.”
His nostrils flared, his lips frowned and he developed an intense look of disgust. “What is it, Alex?”
“Ha…he’s a dog, silly. We have officially adopted him from the shelter.”
Brutis submissively presented his bald, spotted belly for petting. Tyson remained fixed to the wall behind him.
“What the fuck is wrong with it?”
“Oh my god, you’re so mean. That’s just the kind of dog he is. He can’t grow hair. I thought because of that, he’d be a good fit.”
Tyson’s expression didn’t budge, his gaze glued to the trembling dog. “It’s seriously so ugly. I’ve never seen something that ugly before. It looks like one of those gremlin things on that movie you used to watch when we were little.”
“Tyson…he can hear you.”
Tyson cautiously pulled his comforter higher to his chest, adding additional barrier between him and Brutis.
“He won’t bite you, Tyson.”
“I don’t even want it to touch me, Alex. I don’t even want it on my bed. It’s hideous.”
If not for Tyson’s physical display of disdain for the dog, Alex would have believed his overreaction to Brutis was a joke. His cruel reception had Alex silently reaching for Brutis and exiting the room, wondering if bringing the small animal home was a mistake.
A few minutes later Tyson cautiously exited his room and crept to the kitchen. As little Brutis ran to greet him, Tyson jumped into one of the dining room chairs. “Alex!”
“What the…Tyson, he’s not mean.”
“Take it away!”
Alex picked up Brutis and cautiously approached her brother, who was standing in the chair.
“Ty…just pet him, he’s not mean—”
“I don’t like it, Alex. I don’t know why you brought it here.”
She turned from Tyson and placed Brutis in his pet-carrier. “I thought you would like him. He’s a nice dog and you’ve never had a dog…” She then realized her brother had never really been around dogs. Their mother had hard-wired it into their brains from the time they were little that dogs equal hospital visits.
“Tyson, Brutis is actually really cool if you’d just give him a chance.”
Tyson stepped down from the chair and made his way to the kitchen, fetching a box of Lucky Charms and the milk from the fridge.
Breakfast prepared, he made his way to the living room and sat down on the couch.
Alex peered into the carrier to see a heartbroken Brutis. The small dog appeared completely devastated, as if he was under the impression he was on his way back to the shelter.
I have to make this work. “You wanna go for a walk, little guy?”
Opening the carrier, Brutis wiggled around her and trotted straight to Tyson, as if he was dead set on securing his friendship.
Alex watched her brother swallow hard, his eyes widen and turn to her from the T.V. screen. “Alex.” His words were forceful but low key. “It’s licking my toes. Holy shit…it’s licking my toes.”
Tyson appeared petrified, holding his bowl and spoon and looking to Alex.
“He likes you.”
“Why’s it licking me?”
The small dog was voraciously licking Tyson’s toes, between them, on top of them—both feet.
“I don’t know; he doesn’t know how to shake hands.”
“Please make it stop, Alex.” Tyson appeared almost frantic.
“Just tell him no.”
He looked down to Brutis. “No…NO!”
Brutis stopped what he was doing and sat on his hind haunches, looking up to Tyson.
Tyson slowly reached into his bowl and grabbed a small cereal piece. Gritting his teeth he cautiously presented it to Brutis. “Here I hate these—” He gasped as the dog licked the treat from between his thumb and index finger. Alex was pleased to see the interaction placing a smile on Tyson’s face.
“See…he just wants to be friends.”
“He just wants my breakfast.”
“No…he was clearly trying to lick your toes before you offered the charms.”
“Yeah. Maybe.”
“Ty, I was really hoping you would like him. He’s had a rough life—”
“Rough like tough or rough like ruff?”
“Rough like his last owner threw him out of a car window.”
“While it was moving? What the hell?”
“Yes, Ty, while it was moving. It broke several bones and he’s had to have several surgeries.”
“Is that why it can’t grow hair?”
“No, goof. That’s just the type of dog it is.”
“Oh…well, I mean, it’s okay. I just have to get used to it. It’s really scary looking when it comes running at you…or when your dumbass sister throws it in bed with you at nine in the morning.”
“It’s nearly eleven.”
“Oh. Well it’s not the most pleasant sight to wake up to. He really is atrocious.”
“Ty…do you want me to take him back?”
Taking a bite of breakfast, Tyson just shook his head. “Nah, he’s cool. He can stay.”
“Really?”
“Yeah really. I haven’t had a toe-job that good since, damn…I can’t recall.”
“Oh my god you’re a mess.”
“But he can’t sleep in bed with me and I’m not taking him out for walks and stuff. If people see him they’ll probably call me into some public health agency or some shit.”
“Okay. Deal.”
“I bet I can scare the shit out of Becca when she comes over.”
“I’m pretty sure she’ll be more appalled by your greasy bed-head than this precious little guy. He’s not ugly; he’s just an acquired taste.”
“An acquired taste? Alex, you could wrap that dude in bacon and throw him in a pit of coyotes and I bet my ass not a one of them would touch him. They’d all be too horrified and wondering what the hell he is.”
“You’re awful. Poor Brutis. Listen, I have to run to the office. Do you want to go with me or stay here?”
“When will you be back?”
“Oh, about an hour and a half. I have to calibrate and do some tests.”
“’K. This dude should be okay for that long I guess.” Tyson extended his hand cautiously, petting Brutis. “Gross. He feels like a giant nut sack.”
“You’re too much, Ty. I’ll be back shortly.”
***
Her work completed at the office, Alex made a slight detour on the drive home. Coffee seemed legitimate. It was nearly four in the afternoon when she finally pulled into the complex.
Entering the apartment, Tyson was not initially seen. She checked the kitchen and the bathroom door was open. She slightly pried his door to find him and Brutis cuddled in bed, fast asleep. The dog’s leash was hanging from Tyson’s doorknob…he’d clearly taken Brutis for a walk.