Author's Note

Incase if some are familiar with this story, I’m the author of it. With that being said I hope you all enjoy the story.

CH. 1 - An Odd sight from behind the kennel

Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.

—Plato

Clear and blue the sky was.

Morning had arrived for everyone in Dable town, mostly everybody was outside going about their daily business such as going to markets, having breakfast at the restaurants, or young kids having fun with their own friends either by playing in their backyard, playing castle, or skateboarding down the empty street. Everyone else who remained inside were either busy with their own activities or were just working at home.

The clear sky was also welcomed by the sun that arrived just in time, it’s rays aiming down at the park where Kids were playing with their friends, parents and siblings. Sun’s and daughter’s with their Mothers and Fathers pushing their children on swings, birds eating seeds off the ground from an elderly woman pulling more seeds off of her bag.

A man was down on his knees holding a tiny black box and showing it to the women he loved; everyone would already know what’s bound to happen between those two, there’s a saying: “Love is love,” and what would men do to be with the women they love so dear.

The woman squealed like a fangirl when the man asked her to marry him, and she instantly accepted the offer. Far off from the two love birds was a young man sitting on a bench watching the two now married couples from a-far. He wore clean white shoes, black jeans, a long-sleeve white shirt underneath his grey charcoal coat. His skin was brightly green and he bore a deep-black question mark on his forehead. He was usually called in proper manner as Mr. Anonymous. But those who knew him call him by his first name: Anon.

Anonymous came to the park because he wanted some time to clear his mind, and put the pieces of his shattered heart back together.

It still hurts just remembering how it all ended.

Two days ago, he got a call from his ex-girlfriend: she was talking to him over the phone, explaining that both of them should take a break. She apologized but Anon told her it was okay; on the outside he was fine—yes, to his friends including her, they thought he took it very well like it didn’t hurt him at all. But deep down behind that smile. His heart was ripped in not one, not two. But thousands of pieces.

There were times where he would wake up at night and he’d felt like his heart was being stabbed by sharp knives again and again. And the cycle repeated every night he’d go to sleep. But Anon stayed strong not just for himself, but for his friends as well.

“Yo Anon!”

His thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice. He turned to look behind his shoulder and saw his childhood friend, Ben. He wore an orange tangerine jacket, blue jeans, a beanie over his head and had black gloves to keep his hands warm. One eye was normal on the right, a perfect chocolate brown color. The one on the left was the opposite, they were contacts.

“Ben, what’re you doing here?” Anon asked with bewilderment.

“Came to see you best buddy,” Ben responded before jumping over the bench landing safely while putting his hands over his head and letting out a relaxing sigh. “You didn’t answer any of my calls! Sooooo I decided to find you here, since this is your "secret" spot.”

Anon crossed his arms looking at him curiously. “And how did you know this was my 'secret,' spot?”

He hummed for what felt like two minutes tapping his finger to his chin.

“I don’t know, I just guessed.” He replied, shrugging his shoulders. Anon let out a sigh before turning away from Ben and staring at the ground.

“What do you want Ben? Shouldn’t you be with Crystal right now?” He asked him, wondering what brought him here when he’s with his boyfriend during Tuesday’s. Ben’s expression changes from a smile to a pouty face. He huffed then turned away from anon, crossing his arms like a wimpy five year old.

“Well! If you must know Crystal is out of town and she won’t be back until Christmas,” Ben responded, “Ugh and I miss her already too!” He cried. “I was gonna go take her out for dinner, go ice skating with her and—“

Ben stopped noticing Anon biting his lips holding in a few chuckles. Ben felt blood rushing through his cheeks feeling a bit embarrassed glaring at his chuckling pal.

“W-What!?”

Anon lifted his head to face him. “You’re such a white knight Ben.”

“S-Shut up!” Ben shouted, rolling his body around bringing his arms to a cross. There was a moment of silence between the two and Ben changed the subject. “Look um, you sure you’re doing okay? You know, after what happened?” Ben asked with a bit of concern in his voice. He turned to Ben, his face filled with worry; he knew what he was talking about and Anon didn’t want to bring it up again, not now. He placed his palm on his shoulder smiling at him.

“I’m fine.” He reassuringly said to him. Ben sighs out of relief, letting all the worry be lifted from his shoulders. The air had felt thick between them as time went by. None of them said anything since Ben had arrived. The only sounds they listened to were the kids playing through the park and the cold breeze that seemed to blow through the town. And then like a light bulb an idea came to sparked in his mind.

“Hey you know I was thinking. We should get you a dog!”

Anon blinked. “A dog?”

“Yeah! Dogs make everyone’s lives better, my sister’s got a dog, my grandma has a dog and they made them happy so I’m sure it’ll do the same for you!” Ben said, hoping to convince him. A part of him wasn’t sure about the idea let alone having a pet; the last time Anon had a pet was that time he had a goldfish when he was four. Anon left his fish for a few minutes to head into the bathroom but when he came back he found his fish being swallowed whole by his neighbor's cat Vicky. Those were bad days that he’d never want to go through again.

“I’m not sure...” Anon responded.

“Huh?” Ben looked at Anon with a perplexed look while scratching his head. “Why not? Dogs are awesome!?”

“Yeah I know,” he explained before Anon stood up and walked past him. “I just don’t think I’m ready for that kind of responsibility.”

“But wait!” Ben followed after him and stopped him by waving his hands. He reaches for his pocket and pulls out a card, he places it on the palm of Anon’s hand and closes it. “Here.” He said before rolling his body around and walked to the other direction.

“W-What— Ben!” Anon turned to his shoulder watching Ben leave. “What is this!?”

“Get yourself a dog Anon! Trust me! It’ll all be worth it!” He shouted without looking at him and kept walking straight.

Anon was alone once again. What was that all about? Why was Ben so eager for him to get a new pet; he doubted having a pet would somehow cheer him up let alone having a dog in his apartment. Anon looked down at the card he’d given him and read the logo.

Armies, Pet store.

There was an address on the card, this place is out of town and it’s not too far from where he is. He let out a defeated sigh and shoved the card down in his pocket before heading off.

Anon finally made it to his destination; there weren’t many cars nearby so he was the only one in the parking-lot. After he’d stepped out of his vehicle he made his way towards the double doors before pushing through them gently and hearing the bell ring.

One of the employees saw him come in and stepped towards him with a smile on their faces. She wore her uniform with her name-badge on the right side of her chest, her hair was wrapped up in a ponytail and had mascara on her eyes.

“Hello sir.” She greeted “How may I serve you today?”

“Oh nothing really, I'm just here to look around.” He replied.

“Are you here to find a new pet?”

“I guess I am..”

“Well then you came to the right place! Whatever you want to get, whether it’s a dog or kitten, reptile, whatever you desire you’ll find them in the next room.”

He looked to his left where the girl pointed the door straight ahead. He nodded to the girl in front of him and made his way towards it. On the way there he started thinking about what kind of pet he wanted. He still wasn’t sure about having a dog and cats were out of the question since he’s allergic to them. Maybe a husky? He always loved huskies, he always wanted to have one ever since he was little.

Yes, a husky would be enough.

As he turned the knob while pulling the door open he entered. His ears were filled by so many noises: there were many barks and meows from left to right, birds chirping and humming loudly and wolves howling along with their cubs joining with them. As he walked down the hall passing all of their holding pins he began looking at them one by one.

On the fifth pin was a bull-dog wagging his tail while panting very heavily. The sixth pin was a golden retriever who was also wagging its tail and panting but when she saw him she got excited and almost jumped at him but only to be blocked by the metal bars. The seventh pin was a small horse sitting in the corner of the room and—

Wait, a horse?

“What the Hell..?”