New Experience: Bathing

Chapter 16

Trent walked down the center of the street without a thought to the state he was in. Every inch of his body was covered in the hardening goop of the pool he had fallen in, but he gave no impression that he was aware of it.

The dog following a few steps behind him didn't look any better. It had long ago lost any claim to cleanliness. If anything the fight in the stagnant pool had removed some of the grime it had collected over the years.

Trent couldn't imagine what made the dog want to follow him, but she didn't seem to have any intention of leaving. The sun beat down with its usual ferocity, but the mud kept a lot of the heat away. Apparently the dog knew what she was doing when she doused herself in mud.

He didn't say a word to her, and she didn't say a word to him. No one else was foolish enough to be out in the heat, so no one stared at the strange pair. He wouldn't care if anyone did, and would have actually liked to see another human being just to break the isolated feeling creeping up on him. Houston felt like a post-apocalyptic wasteland where his only friend was the filthy animal trailing behind him.

Trent reluctantly stopped outside his apartment. There was a fierce 'No Animals' policy at the Golden Plaza, but he had never bothered to follow the rules before. He doubted this particular animal would do anything to get him caught; she hadn't barked while fighting for her life, after all. Why would she bark at the sound of someone walking around on the floor above her?

There was an issue that had nothing to do with the rules, though: He said critically, “You need a bath.”

The dog stared after him in confusion as he walked away from the front door, but followed without questioning when it became obvious Trent was turning around.

He walked around the side of the building, recalling there was an old hose somewhere. The trick would be finding it among the overgrown weeds and knee high grass. The hot grass smelled great, so searching for an entire minute before finding the hose wasn't such a chore.

His building had more than proven its ability to withhold even basic amenities. The gurgle and groans that escaped the wall after he turned the spigot had him wondering if the hose even worked. With a shudder the water sprayed out of the ripped end of the hose and Trent waited for his new friend to panic and probably run.

She walked up and licked the water pouring out. Trent used the opportunity to run the water through her thick coat of fur.

“I thought animals hated getting baths?” Trent asked. The dog beneath his hands wagged her tail and rubbed against him as if it was enjoying the attention. She had probably never been looked at long enough for anyone to try and give her a bath. No one paid any mind to the stray dogs in the slums. Of course, no one pays much attention to stray dogs anywhere.

The water ran off in inky black rivulets, and Trent gagged at the smell that accompanied it. “Holy Crap! You don't know nothin' about stayin' clean, do you?” She seemed to regain some of her energy with the water in her stomach, and her attempts to bite the hose became more animated. Trent had to fight to keep her still, and laughed at her attacks.

He involuntarily smiled, enjoying the sight of the dog playing in the water. His parents hadn't approved of animals in the house, so he didn't have any experience to compare this to. He was surprised she was as aggressive as she was. Girls were supposed to be nice, right? Thoughts of Penny and Erin crossed his mind. They were a quick reminder that aggressive girls were the norm, rather than the exception.

It took the better part of an hour to get her completely clean. She no longer smelled as if she had slept on a pile of dying skunks for the past year, but now Trent was the one who smelled like a three day old corpse. He needed a shower. He shut the hose off, turned, and screamed.

There was no chance to get away. The dog's body corkscrewed wildly and water droplets flew through the air thick enough to cause a rainbow between them. He cursed at the pretty sight. Now he was wet again after drying off in the sun.

“S**t...” He scowled at the dog. “Really, that's the thanks I get?” She grinned at him, and he groaned. He gave up the argument, sure he was going to lose if he kept going. She was a girl alright.

He had created a major puddle on the side of the apartment without a second thought for where the water would go. It would probably seep into some unwary person's apartment. Luckily his apartment was on the other side of the building. He squelched through the water without a thought for his shoes. They were an old pair, after his last ones had been stolen by the Clans. His shirt was still mostly dry, but with its drying, it had turned a sickly brown color.

He trudged wearily to the entrance of the building and tromped through the hall. The pair of them made wet tracks on the carpet all the way to his door. The dog gave it as little thought as Trent did.

Apparently Dave made it back without any trouble. He was standing in front of the stove, still with a pair of forks in his hand. Everyone else was still asleep, but Bobby was kicking fitfully, at least acting like he would wake up before long.

Trent shut the front door quietly behind him, and nearly fainted as Dave yelled in the near-silent room.

The cooking bum was staring down at the dog, who had dragged the plate of bacon to the floor and was setting to as if she'd expended the energy to kill the pig herself. Trent laughed at the sight of the dripping dog eating all of Dave's hard work. He cut himself short at the thought that he wouldn't get any bacon if she ate it all, but by then it was too late to worry about it.

Dave's jaw dropped when he finally took his eyes off the dog to look at Trent. “What the hell happened to you? Ya look like you got dragged through the sewer.”

Trent squelched his way across the room. “A puddle, actually.” He pointed to the dog at Dave's feet, “By that little s**t. I didn't get a damn thing outta Bailey's.” He looked at Bailey sleeping a few inches away from the hungry dog. “He still ain't up?”

He ignored Trent's question about Bailey; the answer was obvious. “Dude, what the hell happened to you? I thought you were right behind me. Instead, I've been waitin' nearly two hours. I thought ya got pinched or something.” Dave glanced at the dog. She was looking up at him expectantly. “Oh, HELL no! You ate all my damn bacon.” The dog laid down to wait him out.

“Looks like ya made yourself a friend.” Trent looked at his clothes and grimaced. “I need a shower.”

“That you do.”

“You find her somethin' else to eat?” Trent nodded toward the dog and ignored the barb from the old guy.

Dave looked incredulously at the guy that had taken him in. Apparently he did this kind of thing often. The half-dozen people sleeping in his apartment attested to the fact.

“Are you serious?” He stared at Trent. “You're serious. You're gonna keep this thing?” He pointed at the animal already fast asleep behind him, and Trent just grinned. “I dunno, but I'll try an' find her somethin', I guess.”

“Thanks. I'm outta here. Good luck with these losers.” He walked into his room and peeled off his crusty clothing without glancing at the woman in his bed. He tossed the clothes into a trash can and walked grimly toward the bathroom. He hated that shower.