Part 129, Chapter 2196
Chapter Two Thousand One Hundred Ninety-Six
13th January 1973
Tempelhof
Sprocket knew that it made his people happy when he responded to the name which they called him. Usually that was when he followed his nose towards something interesting or was interfering with the other that existed within his territory, the feline they called Cheshire who hissed at him when he got too close and wasn’t above swatting him across the nose, Which he didn’t like. He had gotten to know the garden quite well when he lived in the shed during the first weeks, but more recently he had moved into the house and found himself with a far larger set of people.
First there was his girl, whose bed he slept in most nights. As a dog he relied mostly on observing the cues and smells of his people and the girl occasionally slept fitfully, and the smell of fear was on her when she awoke on those nights. He was there to protect her though, so she had nothing to fear. Then there were the other times when the girl came home smelling of exertion, she just hugged him as she fell asleep and was still for the night.
There were the other girls who often played with Sprocket but weren’t as close. There was the older one who never smelled the same way twice. The one who was the same age as his girl, but whose right leg smelled odd and was cold and smooth as he had noticed the few times that he had licked it. Finally, there was the youngest girl. She frequently gave him a tidbit off her plate when the family were having meals and sang in a language that wasn’t what the others spoke. There was a young man who could throw a ball far further than the others, which was why Sprocket liked him. He had once told Sprocket’s girl that Sprocket was probably a Yorkshire-Poodle mix, among other things. That didn’t mean anything to Sprocket.
Beyond them, there was the young woman who came and went. Sprocket noticed that there was a great deal of tension in the house whenever she was around. There were the three women who were found in the kitchen, laundry room or the top floors of the house. Two were old, one was young. They smelled of spices and food. There were the two men who were with them most days who carried the interesting smells of alcohol and tobacco on them. Then there was the older man who frequently smelled of chemicals. Lastly, there was a woman who Sprocket occasionally encountered who came across with a great deal of authority, he had realized among his people, she was the one in charge and that the chemical man was her mate.
Today, things had changed again. Sprocket was sitting up in the basket that his girl had put on the front handlebars of her bicycle. The wind in his face brought a wealth of smells and there was all manner of movement in the bright winter day…
Sophie could see that Sprocket was excitedly watching the world from his basket. This had been Doug’s idea when she had gotten the rack that went behind the seat. He had suggested that she get a wicker basket for Sprocket that she could strap to the handlebars and how to fasten his leash to the inside to keep him from trying to jump out. His reaction seemed to be one of glee as he was wagging his tail furiously as Sophie pedaled up the street.
It was Sophie’s intention to run errands when she was free on a Saturday afternoon. That included stops to pick up a stack of used records from the music shop she frequented. The owner had been holding them for her until she had the money to pay for them, but not forever. She had finally gotten to that this afternoon. Then came the stops at the Bakery and a couple different shops to pick up items on the list that Petia had given her. In the process she filled the bags hanging off rack having to take care to balance the load. Everyone seemed happy to see Sprocket, that was, until she entered a Market that was her last stop.
Sophie had just locked up her bicycle in front of the Market, Petia had acquired the stout chain and lock for her. The Russian woman had made a point in telling her that it would be difficult to cut and if any man ever gave her some unwanted attention it made a great weapon. Entering the Market, the Clerk had noticed Sprocket and was not welcoming.
“You can’t bring your dog in here!” The Clerk yelled at her, forcing her to take Sprocket back outside.
“Can you at least keep an eye on my bicycle?” Sophie asked as she clipped Sprocket back into his basket. The Clerk made an indifferent noise that didn’t fill her with a whole lot of confidence. That made her move as quickly as she could as she grabbed the items and headed back towards the sales counter. No sooner than the items had been rung up and paid for, Sophie heard Sprocket going nuts. She left the counter as the Clerk was bagging and rushed out just in time to see a young man a couple years older than she was backing away from her bicycle. Sprocket wouldn’t have reacted the way he had unless he had been up to no good.
“What do you think you are doing?” Sophie demanded.
“Your dog tried to bite me.”
“Good” Sophie replied as the Clerk stepped outside and handed Sophie her bagged groceries. She couldn’t help but notice the Clerk had a smirk on his face suggesting that the young man was known to him.
“It would have been just deserts if your dog had gotten a piece of him” The Clerk said as the young man fled.
13th January 1973
Tempelhof
Sprocket knew that it made his people happy when he responded to the name which they called him. Usually that was when he followed his nose towards something interesting or was interfering with the other that existed within his territory, the feline they called Cheshire who hissed at him when he got too close and wasn’t above swatting him across the nose, Which he didn’t like. He had gotten to know the garden quite well when he lived in the shed during the first weeks, but more recently he had moved into the house and found himself with a far larger set of people.
First there was his girl, whose bed he slept in most nights. As a dog he relied mostly on observing the cues and smells of his people and the girl occasionally slept fitfully, and the smell of fear was on her when she awoke on those nights. He was there to protect her though, so she had nothing to fear. Then there were the other times when the girl came home smelling of exertion, she just hugged him as she fell asleep and was still for the night.
There were the other girls who often played with Sprocket but weren’t as close. There was the older one who never smelled the same way twice. The one who was the same age as his girl, but whose right leg smelled odd and was cold and smooth as he had noticed the few times that he had licked it. Finally, there was the youngest girl. She frequently gave him a tidbit off her plate when the family were having meals and sang in a language that wasn’t what the others spoke. There was a young man who could throw a ball far further than the others, which was why Sprocket liked him. He had once told Sprocket’s girl that Sprocket was probably a Yorkshire-Poodle mix, among other things. That didn’t mean anything to Sprocket.
Beyond them, there was the young woman who came and went. Sprocket noticed that there was a great deal of tension in the house whenever she was around. There were the three women who were found in the kitchen, laundry room or the top floors of the house. Two were old, one was young. They smelled of spices and food. There were the two men who were with them most days who carried the interesting smells of alcohol and tobacco on them. Then there was the older man who frequently smelled of chemicals. Lastly, there was a woman who Sprocket occasionally encountered who came across with a great deal of authority, he had realized among his people, she was the one in charge and that the chemical man was her mate.
Today, things had changed again. Sprocket was sitting up in the basket that his girl had put on the front handlebars of her bicycle. The wind in his face brought a wealth of smells and there was all manner of movement in the bright winter day…
Sophie could see that Sprocket was excitedly watching the world from his basket. This had been Doug’s idea when she had gotten the rack that went behind the seat. He had suggested that she get a wicker basket for Sprocket that she could strap to the handlebars and how to fasten his leash to the inside to keep him from trying to jump out. His reaction seemed to be one of glee as he was wagging his tail furiously as Sophie pedaled up the street.
It was Sophie’s intention to run errands when she was free on a Saturday afternoon. That included stops to pick up a stack of used records from the music shop she frequented. The owner had been holding them for her until she had the money to pay for them, but not forever. She had finally gotten to that this afternoon. Then came the stops at the Bakery and a couple different shops to pick up items on the list that Petia had given her. In the process she filled the bags hanging off rack having to take care to balance the load. Everyone seemed happy to see Sprocket, that was, until she entered a Market that was her last stop.
Sophie had just locked up her bicycle in front of the Market, Petia had acquired the stout chain and lock for her. The Russian woman had made a point in telling her that it would be difficult to cut and if any man ever gave her some unwanted attention it made a great weapon. Entering the Market, the Clerk had noticed Sprocket and was not welcoming.
“You can’t bring your dog in here!” The Clerk yelled at her, forcing her to take Sprocket back outside.
“Can you at least keep an eye on my bicycle?” Sophie asked as she clipped Sprocket back into his basket. The Clerk made an indifferent noise that didn’t fill her with a whole lot of confidence. That made her move as quickly as she could as she grabbed the items and headed back towards the sales counter. No sooner than the items had been rung up and paid for, Sophie heard Sprocket going nuts. She left the counter as the Clerk was bagging and rushed out just in time to see a young man a couple years older than she was backing away from her bicycle. Sprocket wouldn’t have reacted the way he had unless he had been up to no good.
“What do you think you are doing?” Sophie demanded.
“Your dog tried to bite me.”
“Good” Sophie replied as the Clerk stepped outside and handed Sophie her bagged groceries. She couldn’t help but notice the Clerk had a smirk on his face suggesting that the young man was known to him.
“It would have been just deserts if your dog had gotten a piece of him” The Clerk said as the young man fled.