It was half past three when Todd showed up to pickup his dog.
"Thanks, Mr. Brooks," Todd said, as he retrieved Chad dog.
"No problem. Just make sure he doesn't follow you to school again."
"Yessir."
Todd pulled on the belt, and led Chad out of the janitors closet/office. As he led Chad by the row of lockers, Chad stopped and sniffed. Todd looked around, the locker room was mostly deserted. Todd opened his padlock, and emptied Chad's clothing into Todd's gym bag. The can of flea spray went in too. He wasn't sure, but Todd figured he might need it to keep Chad a dog. It had been months since Ponder, he old dog died, and he had been checking out his dad'said kennels for a replacement dog, but none felt right. Chad felt almost too right.
Carefully, Todd secured Chad in his backseat and drove off. He figured Chad might freak if he knew Todd was taking him to the vet's, but Todd knew he needed to get Chad all his shots, and have him chipped. He reassured Chad that he was the best dog ever, and that he was going to get Chad a new collar and a treat. Todd wasn't sure if Chad could still read, so he drove around the back way and up the alley to the veterinary clinic, so Chad wouldn't see the sign.
Meanwhile, back at the locker room, Rick and Bruno were standing by Chad's locker. I was empty. Rick stared at the master key in his hand, and inside Chad's empty locker. Even when the jock took his clothes home to wash, he always left his toiletries.
"Well, I guess we can't leave the spray can today,"Rick sighed.
"Already did, homes, before school," Bruno replied.
"Oh, fuck, then he's already a dog!"
"I did see the animal control truck at lunchtime over by the parking lot?" Bruno said uncertainly, "but you didn't tell me the spray would turn him into a dog."
"I did tell you to meet me at Chad's locker with the spray can at 4 pm, right?"
"Yeah, that's why I stowed the can in the back of his locker, so it would be here at 4pm."
"How did you get in without the key?"
"Chad always leaves his locker open while he showers, so I stowed it then."