Dario

 

“I wish Lennox could come to live at our house,” my younger cousin Freddie hinted, as we sat watching an episode of The Originals on the giant screen inside my movie room. I had brought Freddie home with me when he begged to leave as I was leaving my mother’s house. There wasn’t a time that he wasn’t wrapped up in my dog, Lennox. Lennox was a beautiful Doberman/German shepherd mix that I had gotten when he was just eight weeks old. Freddie was obsessed with Lennox and was really good with him. In fact, it was pretty normal for Lennox to climb under Freddie as he did me because they’d formed such a strong bond. I looked over at the two sitting like best friends, then turned back to the television and released a light chuckle.

“Now, Freddie, you know that you wouldn’t take care of a dog if you had one. That’s why Zii Veronika and Christoph won’t allow it.”

“No! I would, Dario. Like, for real, I would! If you talk to them they’ll let me. Or, I could see if Lennox can come with me when you have to go out of town for your fights.”

“Not the second part, dude. Not at all. Lennox is more than a handful and you can’t do it.”

“I can,” he stated, rubbing the top of Lennox’s large head. “And Dad would help me.”

“Yeah, right!” I laughed. “That’s a firm no, dude. As for a dog, I think if you present a good argument, that you could possibly get your wish. And, if you ask and they say yes, then I’ll buy you one.”

“Really?!”

“Yeah, really. Your grades are good and I think you’d do a good job with your own puppy.”

“Aww man, that’s so cool, D! Can I call them now?”

“I think we should wait until tomorrow. Maybe after I drop you off you can talk to them and let me know what they say. Then if they want proof that I promised you a dog, just call me and I’ll cosign for you.”

“Cosign? What’s that?” he asked, his eyes squinted.

“I’ll have your back.”

“Oh, okay.”

“But understand, though, that life is gonna change when you get a puppy. Going to hang out, sleep, homework time . . . did I say, sleep? Yep, all of that, kid. Oh, and let’s not forget sleepovers with your friends.”

“Ha! I get it. You say you’re gonna have my back but then you go and try to scare me out of it. Not gonna work, big cousin.”

“What?” I remarked. “That’s not what I’m doing at all,” I said, telling something that resembled both the truth and a lie. “I was just giving you the reality of such a situation.”

“So, first I don’t really care if I don’t get to hang out as much. Second, I know sleep is gonna be different; I’ll figure that part out. As for homework . . . I’m kinda smart . . . like all A’s and B’s smart, so even if I don’t get to all my homework, I’m still gonna make the grade.”

“Braggin’, much?” I kidded.

“I’m not braggin’, it’s just the truth. I’m something like a scholar. I gotta be. The girls like a smart guy at my school.”

“Oh boy,” I sighed. “So, you’re making the grades for girls and not for you.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. It was too bad that Freddie was born after Lucas’ passing because he would’ve gotten to see just how much like his big brother he was—especially where girls were concerned. I already saw the traits. He was going to be Lucas 2.0. He had every last one of Lucas’s facial features. From the firm jaw line, to the same intense eyes that always looked like he had a lot on his mind, to the same forest green color of his eyes. He even had Lucas’s dark brown hair.

After finalizing his point, Freddie abruptly got up from the sofa, Lennox right on his heel. “You want something to drink from the kitchen, D?” he asked.

“Nope, and if it’s red you don’t either. I don’t want it in here!”

“Okay!” he laughed. Seconds after leaving out he was back in the room. “Oh, I forgot to add something,” he said, pertaining to our recent conversation. “I’m not really tripping off of sleepovers because me and my puppy can sleep over here with you and Lennox.”

Oh brother, I inwardly sighed.

 

“Hey, I got an idea,” I told Freddie when he reappeared a short time later.

He twisted the cap off of his bottle of Jones cream soda. “What’s that?” he asked.

“How would you like to meet somebody?”

“A girl?” he asked with a sly smile appearing across his face.

“No, not a girl.”

“Mmm,” he moaned. “If it’s not a girl, then why would I want to meet them? Who is it?”

“Hold on, let me make a call to see what I can arrange.”

“But who is it?”

“Just chill out, kid, and be patient.”