Scott didn’t pick up on anything out of the ordinary that evening. He commented on Jack now owning a green robe, but that was easy enough to explain away. Jack offered to clean up after dinner, and halfway through the dishes Spot came bounding into the room.
Things felt like normal. Well, as normal as they could be in a house full of magic. Jack would study in the evenings, Scott would unwind as Spot, and the two both fell into a nice pattern.
Jack’s days were a bit more busy. He had his normal day job to balance as well as his little pop-up costume shop. He sold four more costumes that week. Another cat, and two dogs, and a janitor outfit of all things. His boss seemed happy with the demotion though. At least he didn’t have to file employee evaluations anymore.
Everyone seemed in good spirits. They’d been nudged into a reality where they all worked at an office with really liberal bring your pet to work policies, and their open office floor plan suddenly seemed far less crowded.
Jack was expecting a lot more business that Friday, but he had to get through Thursday first. He rolled out of bed and slowly got dressed. Brushed his teeth, combed his hair, trimmed his beard, the usual. When he walked out into the rest of the house though, he found thing oddly quiet.
Spot looked up from his favorite corner of the kitchen. “Good morning sir!” he barked eagerly.
“By the maker, you nearly gave me a heart attack Spot!” Jack laughed and dramatically clutched his chest. He glanced down at his dog. His furry, fully on all fours dog. “Don’t you… need to be getting ready for work?”
“Umm…” Spot bashfully scratched at his ear with his hind leg, “I was thinking of taking a day off?”
“I think you’ve got enough sick days saved up,” He rubbed the dog’s head, “But why all the fur? Not that I’m complaining.”
“I uh- I don’t want to take a day off work. I want to take a day off err, being human?” He let out an anxious whine.
“Really?” Jack’s voice betrayed a certain amount of excitement. “Why the sudden interest in…”
Jack tapered off. Spot looked up with the best innocent puppy panting he could.
“Wait a second- The guys from the Jefferson account are stopping by today, aren’t they?” Jack laughed.
“Arf! I hate their on-sites! Consultants are so annoying sir!” Spot whined, “They ask for a million corrections, and they always want to go out to sushi for lunch.”
“Hey, I like sushi,” Jack laughed.
“Arf! I know! That’s why- Can’t you just deal with them today?” Spot wagged excitedly, “I can’t just skip out on work… But if I’m Spot, no one will notice Scott’s missing. I’ll just be one of the office dogs!”
“Uh huh? And what about after that? They might get stuck being my account,” Jack laughed.
“Please sir?” Spot started to whine again.
“How can I say no to a face like that?” Jack ruffled Spot’s head fur, “But you gotta commit to it boy. I’m not bringing you a change of clothes for when they leave.”
“Arf! Really? Thank you sir!” Spot let out an excited bark.
“Don’t thank me yet boy,” Jack laughed and picked up Spot’s leash, “You’re going to practice being a guard dog today.”