Ralph took the length of rope and tied it into a secure knot around the M-shaped metal bars of an empty bicycle rack. He gave the sheepdog a nod and some acknowledgment.
"Good boy," came with a pat on the head. "You behave and look after the shed. I'm tired of kids sneaking into the place to smoke their cigarettes or make out with each other."
Jared tugged again the leather belt and rope that restrained him. "You can't just leave me here," he objected with a couple of curt woofs.
The janitor started to leave, but looked overhead and noticed the sun. "Better get you some water."
He walked a few feet to a yellow mop bucket. After he emptied the foul-smelling contents, he carried the bucket over to a hose and re-filled it with fresh water. He left the yellow bucket full of water. "I'll bring you some food later, but you should be good for now."
"Are you serious?" Jared whimpered. "I am not drinking from a bucket that you've used to mop the school's filthy floors!"
An hour later, his tongue felt like dry sandpaper and his throat felt parched. He found that sheepdogs drool, a lot, and he must have made himself dehydrated. He looked reluctantly at the water in the mop bucket and finally sacrificed his pride for a drink. He lapped up the water with his tongue, splashing much of the water on the ground. He tried to ignore the slightly soapy taste to the water.
He was still lapping water when he heard something...