Trading Places [Part 1]

As I drove to work that day I thought about what I had seen the night before. The man who sat like a dog in my front room was handsome—muscles well toned and defined. He worked out for sure, but did that mean that he really was a soldier? At first he seemed to be happy to be human again, but when he could only speak as dogs did his expression had changed to worry for me. Why? Was he afraid I'd abandon him because of what I saw? Or was it something else? I was glad work was mindless today, because my thoughts kept being drawn back to that experience.

"Carolynn, are you alright?" my cubby partner, JoAnn asked.

"Fine, why?"

"You keep whining like a dog."

"I do?"

She raised her eyebrows and nodded.

"Sorry, I didn't realize."

I kept my focus on my work, but when I heard myself whine without meaning to, I left. The whine was an unconscious thing so I didn't know how to prevent it from happening. I sped home and ran up the stairs to my apartment. Brandt barked as I approached the door then whined as I fumbled with the key before unlocking the door. Looking at Brandt, I heard myself whine. He came to me and I hugged him.

"What is happening?"

Brandt backed out of my hold and pawed at the closet door where the mirror was.

I opened the door and he touched his nose to the mirror before turning to look at me.

"What are you trying to tell me?" I asked, kneeling.

He nosed his image before getting into my face.

A muffled yelp escaped my lips. "I'm becoming a dog?!"

Brandt barked once before flattening his ears and whining.

"How?"

He lay on the floor and covered his face behind his paws.

"It's not your fault, Brandt. Is there any way to stop it?"

He whined and didn't move.

"Do you know how long I have?"

He moved his paws but whined again.

"Okay." I pet his head, but each time my hand came down to touch him he flinched.

After a few times of this, I just left my hand on his head and lovingly rubbed his ears. What was I going to do? There was no way we'd survive if I too became a dog. I kissed the top of Brandt's head before entering the kitchen to cook. I made a couple of hamburgers before putting one on a bun for myself. The other I put on a small plate for Brandt and set it next to his water bowl. Brandt crawled to the kitchen doorway then lay there watching me. Had he been expecting me to react differently?

A soft whine escaped my lips and I finished my first bite. It was weird hearing it, but I knew—emotionally—being cursed in some unknown way was not what I wanted. Brandt had been cursed, too, and it had affected him, but if there was a way to break it completely then better for the both of us. About halfway through eating my burger, I turned to Brandt. He hadn't moved from where he lay in the kitchen doorway. Putting my food down, I left the table and sat by his food dish.

"Come, Brandt."

Slowly he crawled towards me. He was acting completely different than he had after I bought him. I broke the hamburger in pieces and he stopped a few paces from me.

"Come here," I said.

He crawled to me until he could rest his paws in my lap. I held a piece of the broken hamburger to his mouth, but he wouldn't take it.

"Open up, Brandt."

His eyes shifted slightly before he ate the piece from my hand.

"Good boy."

I gave him the next piece which he ate a little more willingly from my fingers. Each piece after that he took a little quicker until he had finished the hamburger.

"Such a good boy you are," I said, taking his head in my hands and fondling his ears. Then I got up and finished my sandwich.

Brandt sat next to the food and water dishes, but his head remained down. Once I was finished, I washed the dishes then grabbed the leash. He didn't react to it this time, but walked beside me. I took him to a small consignment shop a few blocks from the apartment. They had a few racks outside and I looked through them trying to mentally figure out clothes that would fit Brandt once he was human again. At first, Brandt just sat by my feet until I got his attention.

"Hey," I said.

His ears perked up and he looked at me.

"Which one? 32/32?" I asked, moving the pair of pants in my right hand. "or 32/34?" I asked, moving the other pair.

Brandt nosed the 32/34 pair before tipping his head to the side. He watched me pull out a few different pairs of 32/34 size pants before I turned to the rack of shirts. I picked a few I liked and held them out for Brandt to pick.

"Medium or extra-large?"

He touched the medium shirt with his nose before I turned back to the rack. He whined as I selected a variety of medium shirts.

I took the clothes I wanted to the register and paid for them.

Brandt yelped and whimpered to get my attention. I scratched him behind one of his ears as I gathered the bags.

"Thank you," I told the cashier. "Come Brandt."

He walked beside me to the store. I wrapped the leash around the bike rack.

"Stay. I'll be right back."

Brandt shifted and whined.

"I know what I need. I'll be quick." Then I hurried into the store with Brandt barking after me. In the men's section, I grabbed a package of boxers that should fit Brandt, provided the size of the pants was correct. I was on my way to one of the self-checkout stands when a blur of black and white entered the building.

"Brandt!" I yelled.

He stopped and came to me. He sat and barked once, panting happily.

"Bad dog. Go back outside and wait for me."

He whined.

"Go."

With his tail between his legs, he left the store.

I bought the boxers then left the store.

Brandt lay next to the bike rack. The chain that held his dog tag lay broken on the ground with the leash still attached to it. I unwrapped the leash and collected his dog tag and chain. The chain was broken in half so there was no way he'd be able to wear it again, even when he was human. Brandt cringed as I reached for him. Lightly I set my hand on his head and left it there.

He whined.

"I know you are worried but, as my dog, I need you to obey." I let my hand slide to lift his chin a little. "Let's go."

Brandt walked by my side as I carried my purchases back to the apartment. Brandt was first to go into the bedroom. I followed and emptied the sacks, removing tags and setting the clothes on top of the drawers that served as my dresser. I glanced at Brandt. He lay curled on the oval rug with his back to the room. It was hard seeing him as my Dalmatian now that I knew he was a cursed soldier. I knelt beside him and ran my hand down his back. Then I scratched his back and got him to wag his tail and roll over. This was the happy dog I knew. I smiled as I rubbed his belly.

His head tipped to the side when I stopped. Then he rolled back over and his ears perked up. Another whine escaped my lips and I could no longer be analytical about my situation. Getting off the floor, I lay on my bed and buried my face behind my arms. I felt Brandt climb up on the bed. He tried to lift my elbow with his nose, but I didn't move. One of his paws stepped on my arm, but I only curled into a ball and cried. Brandt lay beside me, his head resting on my back. He didn't move, or make any sound. He just lay there. My tears soon softened and I fell asleep.

When I woke again, Brandt was human once more. I reached out to him and a paw touched his bare shoulder. I whined and his hand brushed my now furry cheeks.

"Sorry," he said, softly.

He slid closer to me and held me against his chest; petting my head until I could sleep again. Morning sunlight woke me the next morning and I found myself naked and only covered by my blanket. Brandt, my Dalmatian, still lay by my side. I pet his head and he turned to me.

"What…" I started before a bark escaped my mouth.

His tongue ran across my cheek as more tears filled my eyes. There was no way I was going to work. This curse was moving too quickly for me to ignore. I pet Brandt's cheek and he stopped licking my face.

"This is so … cool," I said, cringing at the yip that broke my English. Sighing, I rubbed my eyes then sat up to get dressed.