by Darrell Bain
"All right." Elaine opened the back door. Shufus looked up at her, gave a small happy yelp of thanks and ran to Samantha.
"He said 'thank you', Mom."
Elaine looked back and forth from Samantha to Shufus and then to her husband. He was grinning.
"Well, I'll grant you that you seem to be able to make your pup understand easily enough, but I still don't think you can really talk to him."
"He doesn't understand a lot of things yet, Mom. Remember, he's just a puppy. But with me being able to talk to him, he'll learn much, much faster than any other dog ever could."
"I guess so," she said, but Samantha and her father could tell she still wasn't convinced. Not really. She left the room.
"Give her time, Sammie," Mr. Douglas said. "Just try to stay out of trouble and she'll come around eventually."
***
Shufus was brought home the first part of summer vacation so that he and Samantha spent much of their time together the first months of his new environment. He was very smart and had to be told only once or twice not to stray from the yard or to chew up shoes. He never got into trouble over all the sins little puppies are usually prone to as they began exploring the world around them. Elaine was so happy that he was a good and obedient dog that she bought Samantha a book about the history of dogs.
Samantha discovered that dogs had evolved over tens of thousands of years to be companions to humans. This was surprising, but not too much. She already knew that her new pet quickly grew to adore her in a way no other species of animal ever would or could. It was humbling to listen to the puppy burble his love in dog language, a love enhanced by her ability to converse with him. It became so deep and all-encompassing to Shufus that she thought he would die if anything ever happened to her. And she knew without asking that Shufus would protect her to the death if the need ever arose.
"He's a smart little fellow, isn't he, Elaine?" Ronald said one day.
"That's because he understands when I tell him something," Samantha said. "Isn't that it, Shufus?"
"Woof!" Shufus barked then nodded his head as Samantha had taught him.
The compliant bark was what the adult Douglas' heard. To Samantha, he agreed that he was a good dog because he could understand Samantha.
"Nonsense!" Elaine exclaimed. "Honey, he's just a smart dog and he likes you. Oh, I'll admit you do have a way with animals but there is no way a dog can understand human language. Not like us."
"But he always understands me, Mom. All animals do. Of course none of them are as smart as Shufus. He's already learned to stay in the yard and when we go walking he looks both ways before we cross a street. He'll learn lots more when he gets older. He's sort of like a human baby now, though." As she spoke it was as if she thought the words to her puppy at the same time. She had gradually come to understand that was how animals understood her. It usually wasn't even necessary for her to speak out loud, although it was helpful in order to make her wishes known in detail. And Shufus loved to hear her voice.
Elaine shook her head and looked at her husband. He shrugged, not wanting to get into the old argument again. She left the room.
"Honey, you aren't going to convince your mother, not for a long time, yet," he said to Samantha. "It would be best if you don't say things like that to her for now. Okay?"
"Uh huh," she nodded. "But, Dad, you believe me, don't you?"
"Yes, sweetheart. You've convinced me. As you get older we'll have to figure out how you should use your talent."
"I don't want to use it, Daddy. I just like to talk to animals. And they love it when they find a human who can talk to them. They all tell me I'm the only person who can talk to them that they know of."
"All right, Sammie, but you start school next week and you have to keep your talent to yourself. Remember what happened in Alaska."
"Is that what it is Dad? A talent?"
He laughed. "That's as close as I can come to describing it, Sammie. Use it wisely."
"How will I know?"
"You'll have to decide yourself, like when you saved the school children from the rabid wolverine. But that was a one-time thing. I believe you should start thinking of a way to work with animals when you get older since you're so good with them. But don't decide yet. You have a lot of school first and a lot of growing up to do."
"I guess you're right, Dad. The people didn't appreciate what I did with the wolverine anyway, did they?" It was still hurtful to remember the reaction of the people, the ostracism and fear.
"I'm sure they appreciated it, Sammie. People are just scared sometimes when someone is so different from themselves. That's why you have to be careful."
"Alright, Dad. I'll try."
***
Samantha's first year in Middle School was exciting even if it was sometimes intimidating. Before, she had been older than most of her school mates. Now the sixth grade class had all the youngest students, including her. Nevertheless, she enjoyed it and began making friends, although she was slow and careful about it. One girl in particular she liked was Betty Orleans. Betty was small for her age and had curly taffy-colored hair. She was quiet and thoughtful, the same as she was herself, and liked to read just as she did. They gradually became good friends. She knew they must live close together because their bus stops were only a few blocks apart.
The school wasn't near enough to walk to class in the morning so she had to take the bus or one of her parents had to drive her. She liked to take the bus sometimes so she could talk to the other students about teachers and homework on the way. And sometimes she and her girlfriends talked about boys and how strange they were. The subject made her feel funny inside but it wasn't an unpleasant feeling.
During the summer her mother had taken her aside for a long talk about how her body was changing and how it would change more in the future. Even before school opened the changes were already becoming noticeable, with a good start to what promised to be a nicely sized bosom, along with an already apparent widening of her hips.
A few weeks after the school year began the bus slowed down for Betty to get out at her usual stop. She lived in the center home of a cluster of three on a short paved street named Rucker Road. The homes were all red brick and fenced in back but the front yards were not.
"Oh, no!" Betty exclaimed, hurrying to gather her backpack. "Tuffy is out again!"
"Tuffy?" Samantha asked but Betty was already gone from the bus and running fast to capture a dark brown Dachshund that was moving amazingly fast for having such short little legs. As the bus pulled away she looked out the window and saw Betty corral the little dog and swat it several times. She saw it crouch down in fear then roll over onto its back in the surrender reflex, the one that dogs assume when a more powerful dog is beating it up, or sometimes when humans are being forcefully dominant as she had just seen with Betty. Samantha cringed. She had never hit an animal. She had never even thought of hitting one.
All that evening she was quiet, thinking about what she had seen. It was obvious that Betty couldn't talk to her dog in order to discipline it, but no one else other than herself could either, so that was nothing new.
Elaine finally noticed that Samantha wasn't talking much and was paying even more attention than usual to Shufus.
"Is something the matter, Sammie?" she asked. "You're being awfully quiet."
"I was just wondering why people have to hit animals in order to make them behave. I saw my friend Betty slap her dog for getting out of the yard. I think I ought to talk to her and her dog, too. I heard her call his name. It's Tuffy."
"Now, Samantha, I've told you I don't want you to begin with that kind of thing here. You are not to tell that girl you can talk to her dog. You hear?" Elaine said sternly.
"Yes, ma'am. I won't let on. But I think maybe I can help her."
Elaine shook her head apprehensively. She didn't like the sound of that but she couldn't bring herself to forbid her daughter from seeing her friends.
The next morning as
she and Betty rode the bus on the way to school, sitting together as they usually did, Samantha noticed that her friend appeared almost ready to cry.
"What's wrong, Betty?" she asked.
"It... it's Tuffy," she sniffed. "My Dad says we're probably going to have to get rid of him because he won't stay home. He finds a way to get out of the yard about once a week and Dad says we can't afford to pay the pound to let him go like we did the last time the dog catcher got him. He goes to the bathroom in the house and he growls at my Dad when he hits him for being bad. I'm afraid Tuffy will bite someone if it gets any worse and then he might have to have Tuffy put to sleep instead of taking him back to the pound."
"Is that where you got him?"
"Uh huh. We couldn't afford to buy a dog."
"Did you know I have a dog? His name is Shufus."
"Does he mind you?"
"Oh, sure. He does just like I ask him to."
"Did you get him from the pound, too?"
"Oh, no. A... we got him from a friend. Their dog had just had pups and they needed to find homes for them." Samantha didn't want to make Betty feel bad because her parents had been able to buy her a purebred dog. Not that she would have minded a mutt so long as it was fun to play with.
"I guess you're lucky you got an obedient puppy. I sure wish I had."
Samantha thought for a moment, trying to figure out how to approach Betty's problem, but it was obvious she would have to talk to Tuffy in order to know why he was so disobedient. On the other hand, she couldn't let Betty or Betty's parents know that animals could understand her and talk with her when she spoke to them.
"Maybe I can help you with Tuffy," she finally ventured. "My Mom says I have a way with... with dogs." There. She hadn't even mentioned she had a way with all animals. A very big way! Or that she could talk to animals.
"Do you really think so, Sammie? That would be wonderful."
"I can't say for sure without talking--without seeing Tuffy. Could I come over some time?"
Betty's expression brightened. "Could... could you maybe come over after school? Didn't you say you lived on Tasker Street? That's not far from us."
"I'll ask Mom as soon as I get home. If I can come, I'll call you." Samantha already had Betty's phone number. They talked or texted sometimes on the weekends but she had to limit her minutes. Having a phone she could carry around with her and that would perform all kinds of fabulous tasks was still new to her. She used it excessively at first but then learned to slow down. She had received her own phone when they moved from Alaska and she had been allowed to go out by herself within a few blocks of home. "You have to be more careful here, Sammie," her mother had warned her. "Don't talk to strangers and always keep your phone handy and put our number on speed dial. Always call if you're going to be late. With Shufus and your phone you should be safe enough."
Samantha did ask her Mother if she could visit Betty after she arrived home.
"Where does she live? Is it very far from us?"
"No, ma'am, it's just a couple of blocks over on Rucker road."
Elaine was reluctant but finally gave her permission. "Just remember, this isn't Alaska. Don't talk to strangers. And don't you dare say a word about talking to animals. You hear me?"
"I won't Mom. I promise."
"Very well, just be back well before dark and don't be late for dinner."
"Yes ma'am," Samantha said hurriedly. She pulled on a light sweater against an early cold front and left quickly. Shufus, as usual, tagged right by her side, never straying far. He knew that one of his primary duties was to protect Samantha from anything that might threaten her.
Elaine watched her daughter from the front window as she skipped eagerly along with Shufus right by her side. So long as the dog was with her she wouldn't worry much. He was very protective of Samantha and he acted as... almost as if he understood every word she said to him. She shook her head at the unwanted thought. Of course she couldn't talk to animals, not and make them understand her. No one could do that! Sometimes she wondered how Samantha would have turned out had she been able to have more children. Unfortunately, complications with her pregnancy had necessitated a hysterectomy at the end. She had kept her ovaries, fortunately. She still thought wistfully that it might have been helpful if her daughter had siblings to play with as she was growing up.
***
Betty opened the door just wide enough to let Samantha inside. She saw the dachshund Tuffy just behind her, probably waiting to streak past her and get outside, she thought. At the sight of Shufus, however, Tuffy backed away with a low growl. Shufus looked up at Samantha for direction.
"It's okay, Shufus," she said. "I don't think he really wants to fight. His name is Tuffy. Betty, is it okay if Shufus comes inside?"
"So long as he won't pee on the carpet or fight with Tuffy, I guess so. Be careful, though. He might bite."
"It's alright, Tuffy. Shufus doesn't want to fight you or hurt your people. And Shufus, be nice. We're guests here," Samantha said. The belligerent little dachshund stopped growling. He sat back on his haunches and cocked his head at an angle, clearly puzzled at the new human child who could talk to him and have him understand.
She and Shufus entered the small home. Samantha immediately caught the smell of animal waste. It was just as Betty had said. Tuffy had been going inside the house. She went over to Tuffy and bent down to rub his ears. "There, doesn't that feel good?"
Tuffy closed his eyes for a moment then opened them in order to sniff noses with Shufus, who had joined her. The two dogs exchanged doggie greetings in the manner of strangers meeting of the first time but there was no animus, not with Samantha soothing Tuffy's resentment of strangers entering his home.
Betty joined them and soon all four were seated on the floor playing. In a moment Betty asked, "Can you really stop him from doing his business inside the house? He's got a big back yard but Dad doesn't want him to go out there unless he's on a leash and he doesn't like to do anything when he's restrained."
"I'll try," Samantha said. "Come on, Tuffy, let's go outside. But you have to promise not to run away. Okay?"
"Erf. Woof." Tuffy made other doggie noises of agreement and promised to stay. Samantha clearly understood him, just as Tuffy had comprehended what she said to him.
"We can go outside now. He won't run away."
"Are you sure?" Betty asked doubtfully.
"Uh huh. Come on. Come, Shufus. Come, Tuffy."
In the back yard she talked to Tuffy and led him to a far corner of the yard. "Now, Tuffy, this is where you should go. Shufus, show him so I'll be sure he understands."
Obediently, Shufus cocked his leg and urinated a small amount.
"See, Tuffy? If you go here, the big human and your little human won't be mad at you. You're not supposed to go in the house."
She and Betty stayed outside for a bit longer then went back in. The two dogs played together while they did some homework, then Samantha looked at her watch.
"I have to go home now but let's take Tuffy outside one more time to make sure."
The little dog followed the girls and Shufus happily. It was nice to be understood and to be able to make a human understand him. He used the backyard as a potty again.
"Good dog, Tuffy. Now when you need to go, you bark or scratch at the door so the humans will know you have to go outside. And don't run away any more. Okay?"
"Woof!" Tuffy barked. Sammie heard it as Yes. Be good dog.
Tuffy asked if Samantha and Shufus would come again.
"We'll come back, Tuffy. Now you be a good dog."
"Woof!" Be good.
***
Samantha and her classmates were surprised the next day. Just before the last class was dismissed the teacher, Ms. Smithers, made an announcement. "Class, every year the school schedules two field trips in order to help you learn about the city of Lufkin and some of its facilities. The Saturday after this coming weekend we would like to take you to the zoo." She paused and smiled
as a buzz of excitement overcame the students, causing them to momentarily forget the no talking without permission, then she continued. "However, we will need some adults for chaperones to make sure you stay together and help me in other ways while we're there. Now I'm going to hand out permission slips for you to take home. It has the date and time of the trip listed. Your parents must sign them or you won't be able to go. There is also a space on the permission slip for parents to volunteer to help chaperone you. All they have to do is call the number listed and if they agree, then they should be here at the specified time on the slip."
The last bell rang and the students filed past Ms. Smithers and were handed their permission slips. Samantha was excited. She read a lot about animals and wanted to see some of the more exotic ones up close.
When she got home she had dinner, then quickly finished her homework in time to stay up and watch television with her parents. After living in Alaska they liked programs about animals as much as Samantha did. The program reminded her about the trip to the zoo. She had completely forgotten!
"Dad, Mom, guess what? Our class is going to the zoo!" she said.
"Oh? When?" Elaine replied, not very enthusiastically.
"The Saturday after the coming weekend at ten o'clock, but you have to give permission first." She looked hopefully at her parents.
Elaine started to say something then stopped and reconsidered, but finally decided she needed to speak. "Ron, do you think that's a good idea?"
Ronald was reading the permission slip. "Elaine, honey, it says here that they need some parents to chaperone the class. I'll be off work and could volunteer. Sammie certainly can't get into trouble if I'm with her."
"Well... "
"Oh, please, Mom. I'd really love to go. I've read about zoos on the internet. They have lots and lots of animals from all over the world."
"Alright," Elaine said hesitantly, "but promise me you won't try to talk to the animals while you're there."
"If I do, I won't when anyone else is nearby, Mom. I promise."
Elaine rolled her eyes. "Better if you don't talk to them at all."