Growing ties

Keziah's eyes were distant her lower lip stuck out in a pout. Her overall mood was as someone a part of a funeral march.

'You said you would give me a week with him.'

'And you promised to leave him at the house and keep him away from my room.'

She turned in the car seat. 'If we are giving him away then Keziah goes too.'

'I believe that is why she is in her carrier with David.'

Very unfortunate that was the case since she gave me little to no problems.

'He didn't mean to chew on your notes, he didn't know better. Just give him one more chance.'

I took a chance to send her a glare before returning my attention to the open highway.

'And will that be after I find a 'chocolate-colored surprise' in my shoe again?' I snidely asked.

'I told you that was Keziah.' Keziah insisted knowing I wouldn't believe her.

'Why are you so bent on keeping him, you barely know a thing about pets.'

She faced away from me, her demeanor resembling a child not getting her way.

'Of course, I don't have any experience. My dad never let me have one growing up even though I wanted one so badly. Do you know how many strays I have had to give up? This is just so unfair.'

She refused to get out of the car once we arrived at the shelter.

'What's the use? I'm just going to cry.'

I've heard it said that pets can sense when something wrong is about to happen.

That was the case for David who began to whine. Both he and Keziah refused to leave the carrier.

Heartless was not a description associated with me in any way and on any given day. I tried to disassociate myself from the entire process. Instead, I followed the associate into the kennels just to make sure he placed them in safe cages. I couldn't have those big dogs or cats scaring the newcomers.

It was the hardest thing to do to walk away from them when their large eyes remained glued on me. This was the ultimate betrayal to them.

Not to even mention Keziah's reaction to the entire thing.

My feet paused on the landing, refusing to take the step out of the kennel.

I was a weak spineless idiot who would likely regret this someday. Oh well, C'est la vie

*******

Keziah hadn't been in the car when I returned. And she didn't answer any of my calls so though I was relieved to hear her voice in the room, I was also mad at her childish behavior.

'You shouldn't have gotten attached so quickly.'

Anne replied.

'And you're point is?' Keziah asked, her tone clearly stating her displeasure with Anne's reasoning.

'I'm going to miss him so much.'

'Oh who am I kidding.' Anne sighed.

'Me too. I'm so glad you sent those pictures. Now I want one too.'

'Should we?' Keziah hopefully asked.

'We can get one when I come back. We'll figure out the rest. Oh Anne say yes?'

I let open her door and allowed the fury bundle to ran inside.

Keziah's intake was intense.

'Anne! He's back! David is back!'

She discarded the phone and grabbed the pup with overflowing joy.

'I was wondering why you'd need a new one when you already have this handful.'

She rushed to me.

'Why? What happened?'

I was weak. And I hated to say it, I'd also grown attached in the few days despite my chastising Keziah, I'd crumbled. But the main factor was her Keziah. She had been so happy with Junior around the house, and to take that distraction away from her... wrong.

'The Vet on site convinced me to keep them since they were running out of space there.'

'But you said we can't take care of them?'

I nodded.

'They showed me ways we could work around being pet owners and working full time. I've hired a trainer for the two puffballs and Ahjumma can continue taking care of them when we are away.'

Done and done. Keziah stared, as though I was Superman reincarnated.

The hug was a very welcome contact albeit unexpected.

'You've made me so happy.'

And she made me happy. Her hair smelled so nice and her body was supple in my arms.

She cleared her throat, 'David?'

Damn. I let her go.

She got her phone back,

'Did you get all of that?'

'And you thought he was the pride of Frankenstein.' Anne said.

She'd called me the what?

'What?'

'Oh, Anne. You misheard me. I never said that.'

She was obviously telling lies. Her telltale nervous laughter gave it away.

'Why did you leave without me and why didn't you pick up the phone? I thought something bad had happened.'

Tugging at her finger and looking away she muttered.

'I didn't want to be around you at the time.'

'Don't do that again, please.'

I had genuinely been worried. It's a good thing I decided not to immediately call the police.

'Next time, stay in the front seat fuming and irate.'

'Jerk.' She chuckled.

'What is this, he has a new collar.'

Keziah fawned.

'And it's yellow! That's my favorite color.'

I knew that. I remembered it from the conversation at dinner the other day.

'J as in Junior.'

'Keziah has one too.'

Anne laughed.

'You were serious? He named the cat Keziah.'

She laughed some more.

'You two sure are something. I've got to run. I'm having dinner with Don's mom. Bye, Kay, love you.'

'Love you too.'

I stayed still as Keziah the kitten rubbed herself on my legs.

'We will be meeting the trainer today, he is coming in today.'

'Yes. Great.' She was so excited and David the puppy exuberated the same energy. They were certainly meant for each other.

I couldn't tear my gaze away from the two of them.

What I said the other day to Keziah, I meant every word, she should give Thomas a second chance. And I should give this friendship thing a chance before I ruined it with thoughts of kissing her again.

A sly part of my head whispered to me, 'Would be terribly wrong if I tried to woo her to my side?'

Thomas did lose his chance. And who's fault was that?

'Keziah,'

She gave me a little of her attention.

'Have you had any strange calls? Or emails or messages?'

'Like marketers? Or scammers?' She wanted to clarify.

No like a Claire.

'Yes. Or foreign numbers from the US?'

'When I think about it yes. At least I used to. But not recently. Why?'

'Nothing.' I went for nonchalant.

'I was just wondering because these telemarketers can pull several tricks.'

'Nope. None.'

I nodded.

Keziah couldn't keep still when the trainer came by that day and got right to the nitty-gritty.

When Junior actually sat on his tenth try at the trainer's command.

'David you've made me so happy. I love you right now.' She squealed.

Hope. My heart fluttered although I knew better, as usual.

'Who knew you'd make such a great friend.'

Straight. Through. My. Heart.

I kept an impeccable smile on.

'What do you want to do tonight.'

I read the text one more time.

'Why?'

'Eun Soon's cousin invited us to get together at the new hot club tonight.'

She peered over my shoulder.

'Oh. Tell him we can't. We will be watching the kids.'

I texted our inability to attend without hesitation.

We needed to be responsible for the little ones.

'I feel bad because I think he's a really cool guy.'

Was that admiration I detected in her voice?

'If we can't go we can't go.'

I groaned.

'What?' She asked.

'He's texted that Hae Soo would be there.'

That did little to convince me.

She rolled her eyes.

'I thought you'd be happier. I haven't forgotten what I walked in on.'

'I told you not to misunderstand.' My tone bordered on whiny.

'She came on to me. She's not the one I like.'

Keziah gave me a look.

'So there is someone you like? Tell me.'

It's you.

'It's no one.'

'This is what friends are supposed to tell each other.'

'It's no one. And it's certainly not Hae. She just doesn't get the hint.'

'Well, when you put it so nicely...'

'I don't. I don't want to come off as douchey.'

She gaped.

'It was so easy when you were doing it to me.'

'That was unintentional. I'm sorry.'

She smiled.

'It's okay. And I think I will be able to help you with your Hae problem. Someday. But right now, we should get ready to take David and Keziah to the park. After they meet the trainer of course.'

*****

The park became a safe space for KZ and Davey to get used to other pets. I sat on the picnic blanket reading in one hand and playing tug of war with the bouncy kitten.

'Good boy.' Keziah praised David for returning his green and blue ball again like it was the greatest thing in the world.

She picked the ball up and threw it farther and watched David dart after it like a bat from hell.

'Are you going to just sit there and read?' She said coming closer.

I did this every time we cane to the part so I wonder and then when her arms grew tired she'd try to badger me into playing with David. 'Yes. And I'm playing tug of war with the kitty as you can she. Wow, she's so strong.' I returned to my book.

'Keziah, isn't the only pet you know? How do you think David feels with all the attention you're giving to her?'

'He should already know that she's my favorite. But I love him too.'

'You don't show. If you do love him. Play with him. And don't just throw the ball twice and call it done.'

'He could do what I like and just sit with me as I read?' I argued.

'He needs to learn how to be calm in certain situations like KZ.'

Keziah shook her head at me. 'At least when he's around don't make it too obvious that you like her more. Kids don't recover from that easily you know.'

I corked my head for a moment in a moment of self-realization.

'Why hasn't he returned with the ball yet?'

She careened her neck searching for the little bundle of energy.

'David.' She called and stalked off in search.'

I closed my book after a few minutes of contemplation.

'All right KZ lets go and look for your brother.'

Reading the situation, KZ climbed up my leg and perched around my neck.

We eventually Keziah cradling David in her arms with thunder in her eyes.

'Keep your little thief away from my toys.'

'David is not a thief. And that is his ball.'

I know they aren't fighting over a ball, I thought to myself. Keziah had a bag load of toys among other things. She'd come prepared with towels blanket and treats for her fur babies. Those were her words, not mine.

Surely she could let the ball go.

'Is everything okay here?'

My sentence barely ends and Keziah grabs my arm already fuming with her side of the story.

'I found this person chasing David with a blanket because he'd taken his ball. You should have seen him, he was so scared.'

'That is not his ball. That ball belongs to Sunflower. I saw your dog, fighting her and he was hurting her. Well, I wasn't going to sit aside and watch him.'

I looked behind the older lady and found her dog perfectly fine wagging its tail. No doubt if I inspected a little closer I'd find no tell of an injury. And for Christmas sake, David was a pupper, his teeth could hurt anyone.

'If your dog can't behave don't bring him to the park.'

I petted David's little head and directed my attention to the liar.

'I do not appreciate the way you harassed my dog. Would you like it if I had chased around yours with a stick? Is that how you treat your kids?'

I scoffed at her, I was getting so angry. People just had no sense sometimes. To scare the pupper like that?

'And all for a damn ball ... in fact give me the ball. You have proved to be an unreliable person. Give me that before I call animal control.'

I snatched the ball from her grasp.

'Our boy is well behaved and very smart. Do you think he won't recognize his favorite toy? You should stay out of the park if you can't behave. Thank you and have a good day.'

I took Keziah's hand.

'Let's go.'

'Next time I see you near him, you'll see.' She suddenly stepped forward causing the woman to flinch.

'Keziah we aren't gangsters.' I said to her when we were out of earshot.

'She made David pee himself.'

Okay, then that was good enough for me.

'Let me carry him.'

She transferred him into my arms and then pulled out a treat for David and KZ who was curiously looking at her brother.

'We should get going. That's enough excitement for one day.' I announced.

'I'll drive.' Keziah volunteered.

'I said we've had enough excitement.'

She softly slapped my arm.

'Shut up and get in.'

I inspected the ball in my hand on the car ride.

'Keziah?'

'Mhmm.'

'We initialed DJ on the ball correct?'

She shook her head.

'No.'

'So then we didn't leave any Korean initials on the ball.'

Keziah's mouth fell open when she realized what we had done being overprotective.

'We never said he was perfect. Anyone could have made that mistake.'

I smiled at her response and agreed wholeheartedly.

'Exactly.'

'Now they know not to mess with us and our babies. We'll return the ball tomorrow. Still you know what David?'

No, I didn't know what.

'We make an awesome team.'