Chapter 17: Chapter 17

Chapter 17 A New Friend

Ever since grandma gifted Brian the pet, Mr. Biscuit they had been no day they didn’t train at basketball court. As Brian busied himself with other kids at the court Mr. Biscuit sat at its spot and learnt some of the basketball tricks from top-notch players. Really it had learnt how to punch ball into the rim, using its forehead. Once Brian had thrown the ball at Mr. Biscuit and it thumped up with its head and dunged the ball into the rim- and it had missed the rim only but a few times. Days past, Mr. Biscuit had been the center of attraction; as it entertained onlookers and amassed gifts from loyalists.

“I once had a smart dog as this,” said a sonorous cute voice that sounded like two waterfalls splashing on a rock. She was in her late twenties, average height with narrow hips and annoying bust that pressed on her blouse for escape, and dark short hair over dashing, please-kiss-me face. Brian had been noticing her for some days when he came around and she was fond of getting along with Brian; discussing a thing or gossiping another. She played basketball avidly and often caught attention by riding on her skating board as she played superbly.

“Mr. Biscuit is a human-dog,” Brian remarked, “It conveys most of our abstract thinking, “he stole a glance at the tattoo on her left arm; it was the head of a dog. “That must be your dog,” Brian muttered, looking in the direction of the tattoo.

“Yes, rest in peace, Mr. Biscuit,” she added after looking at it briefly before planting a kiss on it.”

“Oh yours was named Mr. Biscuit too,” said Brian, as they started walking along the lawn after their training session.

“Mr. Biscuit is the alias for species of this dog,” she rubbed Mr. Biscuit on the head. “It strikes this same resemblance with this, except for its brown lush hairs,” she said, and gave an infuriated look in confirmation of the ills in what she was about to say next.

Brian listened like a sheep.

“I came back some day and found it missing, even after disclosing a notice of a missing dog and involved the police yet it wasn’t found. Although after some time a few people heard about a certain dog that was ran over by a truck but I doubted if it was Mr. Biscuit – it was far way smarter than that, and till now I am yet to see it,” she said, stealing a glance at Brian who had a straight gaze; “Perhaps you are from Miami,” she said.

“No,” Brian shook his head. “I am from California, Miami is my maternal home. And you?” asked Brian throwing his stare at her, and admiring her freedom with him and the thick eye lashes that endowed her face. “I guess you are a New Yorker,” he said.

Indeed I am and Miami is also my maternal home,” she said, thoughtfully ticking a five star for his calm collected personality and his choice of words too. “What school do you attend?”

Brian pouted his lips, peered at her and smiled, “Well Royal College. They call it royal but I think it should be loyal because all the teachers there are loyal badass.”

They burst into laughter.

“And you?” asked Brian, taking a fancy on her smile and the dimples that dug into her cheeks whenever she smiled. She was calm and patient, never inquisitive but might not be submissive like Kate. Brian perceived she was intelligent up to her tongue that she deemed it fit to start a discussion so fast without delay; maybe she had been liking him, and wondering ways to engage a talk. But it was written clearly in her eyes and the smiles that dilated her face.

“I school at Treasure College and work at a restaurant, DG Foods,” she replied, still keeping to her smiles.

“Wow but you don’t look it,” said Brian, “I thought you were the daddy’s girl or some couch potato that sucks her mother’s breast.”

“Oh no,” she chuckled and, touched Brian’s arm and Brian held onto her hand like a monkey clenching onto a banana after decades of hunger. “May his soul rest in peace,” she said briefly, scowling afterwards.

“Uh, apologies I never knew your dad was late,” said Brian, inwardly praising her scowled face – she looked ravishing even while frowning - Kate almost beat that record.

“He was such a caring father. I did not see much of him while growing up because mom had divorced him few weeks to his death,” she said soberly.

Brian wanted to ask her the cause of his demise but he declined his intention, not wanting the greedy hands of death to also steal away their joy. He will be happy wherever he is right now because his daughter is not doing badly at all,” said Brian, watching as the smile on her face coiled back to a frown like stretched elastic.

She glared at her wrist watch and sighed, “Before placing her skating board on the ground and mounting on it, “I got to go. It is almost my resumption hour at my work place,” she told Brian.

“Well, well, but you skate perfectly well. I don’t know how to skate. I hope you will teach me soon?”

“Why not,” she brought out her hands for a handshake, “I am Meyer, is my pleasure meeting you,” she introduced herself.

“You can call me Brian, the pleasure is all mine,” he said and took her fragile palms on to his.

At once she swirled swiftly on her skating board, and took off like a jet, swerving over obstacles on the way and consuming the distancing ahead of her. Brian kept to his smile and stared until she disappeared out of sight. He shrugged, stroked his hair and wondered what would become of this admiration and was he falling for her? Or was he keeping the low profile and seeing every girl as Kate? He was going to take one step at a time, not to be too quick to fall like he did to Kate.

Mr. Biscuit ran to his side and rubbed his fluffy body against Brian’s and they walked to the car. As they walked, he resumed his thought and planned to sit back and watch Meyer, his new found friend, who might be the first to give him love; first to fall for him and willing to take his bullet.

Like a flash of lightning, the old Cadillac swerved onto their direction and came to a screeching halt. Mr. Biscuit started off a die-hard barking at once as the four boys heavily armed alighted violently and one of them corked his pistol, and aimed at Brian to take a shot.