Chapter 2: Chapter 2
The stout woman returned, followed by a uniformed man in his early thirties holding the leash of a black dog that resembled an adolescent German shepherd. Her shoulder came up to her person’s knee, but the tips of her ears were almost level with his hip. Her coat was a pelt of long curly fuzz, like most other poodle mixes Austin had seen, except for the straight fur on her tail that waved like a sable flag.
“Mr. and Mrs. Inverness, this is Airman Neil Stafford from the Travis Air Force Base in Fairfax. As I’m sure you saw on Bunny’s profile, he’s being deployed to Turkey for about six months. That is how long you said you were willing to foster for, right?”
Austin nodded. “Absolutely.”
“Great!” The woman smiled at the three of them and said, “I’ll let you guys talk for a while then, see if Bunny will be a good fit for your home.” Then she shuffled off to meet with other foster families.
“So…this is Bunny?” Erika asked.
Airman Stafford grinned sheepishly. “I let my little niece name her. Her mother and I had already turned down Cheese and Sparkles, so we went with Bunny because of her big ears.”
“What will you be doing in Turkey?” Austin asked Airman Stafford. Though he didn’t want to invoke bad luck, Austin didn’t know what would happen to Bunny if her human died overseas. He supposed he and Erika would keep her, but he was concerned nonetheless. Airman Stafford looked like a good man.
“I’m in Aircraft Maintenance, so I won’t be seeing much of the action myself,” Airman Stafford said. He scratched under his cap, revealing a freshly shaven head. “I could fly if they needed me to, and might have to fly out to reach someone downed in a remote area, but most of my job will be helping other guys fly.” He patted Bunny on the head. “Last time I got shipped out Bunny here stayed with my sister and brother-in-law, but their apartment complex recently changed its rules and now it doesn’t allow pets larger than a Jack Russel.”
Erika rubbed Austin’s arm. “Well, truth be told, I thought she would be…smaller.”
“Yeah, her mom was a Standard poodle. Don’t ask me how that happened ‘cause I don’t know and frankly I wouldn’t have wanted to be there anyway. She’s an absolute sweetheart, though. Knows plenty of commands, doesn’t bark at the door, only pulls on the leash when she wants to go meet another dog. She’s my little lady.” Airman Stafford crouched and snapped his fingers. “Bunny, salute!”
Bunny’s ears folded back at the sound of two dogs barking at each other. She turned her head for a moment, but when Airman Stafford repeated the command and pulled a treat out of his pocket, she sat down, reared up, and lifted one paw to her head.
“Good girl!” Airman Stafford gave her the treat and scratched between her ears. “That’s the other thing: if at first you don’t succeed, she is very food-motivated.” He stood up, still petting Bunny. “Other than that, she’s spayed, up-to-date on all her shots, no allergies, doesn’t really shed unless it’s stupidly hot out, and…um…oh, she doesn’t bark much, unless you bring out the vacuum cleaner. If I don’t lock her in the bathroom when I’m cleaning she’ll throw a fit. Even then, she’ll whine, but…yeah, just don’t let her near a running vacuum.”
“We have a Roomba,” Erika said. “How does she do with those?”
Airman Stafford shrugged. “She’s never seen one, so you should get her used to it first. If it doesn’t make too much noise, she should be fine.”
“Can I pet her?” Austin asked. He had held back that question long enough. His hands had itched to pet every dog in the room, but this dog was probably going to be his responsibility for the next few months. It was high time they got acquainted.
“Sure!” Airman Stafford smiled. “Bunny, Bunny go say ‘hi.’”
Bunny took a few cautious steps towards Austin, who knelt with his hand out for her to sniff. Her tail wagged slowly. It picked up speed when he patted her.
“Can you sit?” Austin said. “Sit!”
Bunny sat dutifully, back straight as befitted the dog of a serviceman. She looked to Airman Stafford for her treat.
“Okay, you spoiled brat,” Airman Stafford said with a chuckle. He took a treat from his pocket and knelt next to Austin. He was wearing some form of cologne that Austin thought he recognized from somewhere, like a magazine sample or a department store, something he had tried once and contemplated buying. He nearly asked Airman Stafford where he got it. However, Airman Stafford was having Bunny do another trick. “Bunny, say ‘please!’”
Bunny sat back on her hind legs again, but this time she put both her paws together in a begging motion.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone