As Kat pulled her new car into the driveway and arrived home from school, her puppy ran out and jumped up to greet her. "I bet you're ready for supper, huh boy?" she said. Her puppy barked with enthusiasm. "OK, let's go!" The dog was getting bigger now, so he followed Kat down the steps into the basement. He knew by now that the stack of cans were his food. He sat down, his front paws dancing in place as he looked at Kat, then stared at the cans. She only felt the slightest bit of guilt as she looked down on the cans and briefly thought of Dan. She realized that she had been so busy with school, training her new dog, and going out with friends in her new car that she hadn't paid him any attention at all in the last few weeks. Not that she needed, to, however, he was only dog food now. But the curiosity got to her. She wondered just a little about how he was handling his predicament. "Lay down, boy" she spoke to the dog, and he quietly laid down, and waited patiently. Kat had done an amazing job with his training. Then she knelt down next to the cans, knowing no one else was home at the moment and whispered "Hey Dan, how's it going?" "How's it going?!," he screamed at her. "Let me tell you how it's going! Every day is the same for me! I sit here alone in the basement, in a stack of cans on the floor, bored out of my mind. Literally, the only thing I have to look forward to is when you get up in the morning, or come home from school. The sounds of barking, then the can opener, your excited voice as you talk to your dog, his panting, whimpers, and prancing paws as you spoon me into a cold metal bowl and set me on the floor... And your little sister's happy cheers as she watches on, while you release that dog to devour me! It's an excruciating hell for me, as he chows down, stuffing his belly and licking his lips while you all laugh and praise him!" "Wow, I didn't know you looked forward to that!" Kat said, as she smiled. "Come on, Kat, you know that's not what I meant! And this is all your fault!" "Oh, really, you're going to blame me? How is this my fault?" "Because you turned me into dog food!" yelled Dan. "Hey, that was not me!" Kat answered. "Not my fault at all. It was you or the puppy, and you know I needed a dog! It was that farmer who sold you off to become dog food. I only bought you. Have you even thought once about what a kind favor I did you that day? For the farmer to make his measly 250 bucks, I had to pay over 2000 dollars to purchase you in full! You realize you haven't ONCE thanked me?!" "Why in the hell would I thank you for that?" answered Dan. "You would have been bound for not only supermarkets across the region, but dog pounds and shelters as well. Isn't twice a day a bit better than that? If you don't think so, I will be happy to start piling you in my trunk and donating you to dog pounds and shelters. And keep in mind, I will never run out of you, Dan. As long as I have a can of you left, I can transform you into more." "Well, thanks Kat. I hadn't thought of it that way before. How have you been, anyway?" he answered. Kat smiled and said "Why I'm glad you asked! I've never been better. Getting ready to finish school. Got a new sports car... A convertible, super fun to drive. Been having a blast going out with my friends at night, enjoying the nice weather and of course playing with my new dog here... Isn't that right, boy?" The dog happily wagged his tail. Kat continued "Now, I have a new job and my own apartment lined up for next month. I have an exciting and important life ahead of me. YOU, on the other hand, are literally mush packed into cans, sitting on our basement floor. You are at the bottom of the food chain. You are food for my dog. I actually feel a lot better, now, having reminded myself what a generous favor I have done for you." As Kat picked up a can, she said "I don't like how you talked back to me, but I think we have an understanding now, don't we? It's about time you accept your place!" Dan responded "OK, Kat. Please forgive me if I don't quite share the same love for your dog as you do, but I will accept my place." "Good," said Kat, I think this will help you remember your role as well... "Come on boy, let's go eat!" Her dog raced her up the stairs. She opened the can, grabbed a spoon, and told the dog to sit, while she scooped his food into his bowl. "Now, Stay!" she said, as she placed the bowl at the dog's feet. Her well-trained pup kept eye contact with Kat, as she waited. He began to drool and lick his lips in anticipation... "This is your place, bro," she said to Dan again, as he felt drool dripping onto him, and listened to the ever-increasing lip smacking sounds from above. "OK boy, ready?! Get it! Get it boy! Eat it up, boy, that's it! Who's a good boy? Huh, who's Kat's good boy! You're such a good dog!" She smiled once again as she watched her dog lick his bowl clean.