Greg's story

jadams2k18 (64)in #twentyfourhourshortstory • 6 years ago

Matthew was 8 years old, when he first saw Yellow. The boy played in the garden in front of his house when a small stray dog stopped in front of him. The dog was skinny and looked tired. Mattew took a cookie out of his pocket and offered it to him

— Hello! You want a cookie — he asked

The dog approached waving his tail and took the biscuit, which swallowed quickly. The excited boy knelt in front of the dog and stroked it. The puppy corresponded his generosity through a series of licks. The boy laughed and stared at him

— I will call you Yellow

— Come! Let's get inside, there's more food in the kitchen.

Matthew ran into the house and the dog followed him. While the child was feeding the dog, the mother came in and saw the dog.

— Mom! Don't get mad, it's a little stray dog I found, can I keep it?

Yellow looked at Matthew's mother and waved his tail.

Helen worried about the animal, said:

— Let's take it to the vet first to have it checked and then we'll talk.

After being seen by the veterinarian and having administered the vaccines and prescribed vitamins, Helen decided to make a deal with Matthew

— If you make yourself responsible for feeding, bathing and giving vitamins to Yellow, you can keep it

— YAY! — Matthew shouted.

This is how the days went by and Matthew, after school, spent his time taking care of and feeding a small dog. Yellow learned very quickly the tricks that Mattew taught him

— Look Mom! Sit Yellow! — Matthew shouted and Yellow sat

— Roll over! — and the little dog rolled over

— Play dead — and Yellow fell flat on his back, paws up, sticking out his tongue.

— Wow! I see that you have become very close to your pet — exclaimed the mother.

One afternoon in his room, Matthew did his math homework and Yellow rested on Matthew's bed.

— Really, I don't know why they invented mathematics! — The boy said to the dog.

— 5 by 3 is 12, right? — He remained doubtful of his response

— Actually, the result is 15, you just have to add 5 plus 5 plus 5, three times — Yellow answered

Matthew was surprised to see that Yellow was talking and then with a smile he answered

— WOOOOOW! Great! You can talk!

Matthew was fascinated that like his favorite cartoon characters, his pet could also talk.

— Dear Lord! You must promise me, you will never tell anyone that I can talk — pleaded Yellow

— And by the way, my name is Greg — he added

— I knew you were special! But, I'll definitely keep calling you Yellow — Matt answered

Greg explained to Matt that he had not always been a dog; previously he was a knight who on his long journeys fought a witch, whom using a strange alchemy spell, condemned him to be a dog for all eternity until a selfless action made for a loved one would make me human again.

Matt was saddened by Greg's story

— Don't be sad — he added

— I've become accustomed to being a dog — he paused and then continued — also, for the first time, I've found a good place to stay.

Matt was thinking for a while and then said

— Tomorrow I'll take you to school with me!

— What are you up to? — Greg asked.

— You'll see

The next day Matt hid Greg in his backpack and took the school bus. Upon arriving at school, Matt placed his backpack on the shelf where everyone kept their school supplies. He opened the zipper and said in a low voice

— Stay here; when I get back, I want to introduce you to someone

Greg was going to say something, but was interrupted by the sound of the school bell, indicating that classes had begun. Matt left quickly, not without mentioning that he would return at recess time.

Greg took the opportunity to stretch his legs, managed to open the zipper from the inside. He wandered throughout the school area, hiding from the eyes of other children and teachers.

At recess time, Matt ran in search of Greg, next to a girl.

— Come Jessica, I want to introduce you to my friend Yellow — said Matt

The girl poked her head behind Matt to see the contents of his backpack. But she was confused to see that it was empty.

— Wow! Yellow really is beautiful! — Jessica yelled ironic

— Yellow is not imaginary — answered Matt — must have left my backpack — he added

Suddenly he heard a voice that made his hair stand on end

— Matt, Matt, Matt. You better have brought money, if you haven’t, you’ll already know what is going to happen

Nelson was the strongest kid in the classroom. All the children that were around fled in terror when they heard Nelson’s voice.

Jessica stuck to the wall, scared. Matt swallowed. Greg watched from behind a garbage can, hidden. Seeing Nelson take Matt by the neck, Greg shouted in a thick voice

—Mr. Nelson, you'd better be going to the principal's office now!

Nelson, frightened, released Matt. He turned around and did not see anyone.

— Immediately! Greg screamed again

Surprised Nelson ran out in the direction of the director's office.

Matt sighed in relief. Jessica, still confused, did not say anything.

— Saved by my pet! Thanks Yellow

Greg jumped into Matt's arms

— Jess, I'll introduce you to Yellow

— Actually, my name is Greg. Dear Lord, I did it again ... — Greg answered repentant

— You can really talk! — Jessica said surprised

Matt explained to Greg that Jess's dad was a scientist and could help him become human with the help of Jess.

Greg got angry and refused to talk to adults. Greg had had bad experiences with humans who wanted to use him as a guinea pig, previously.

Greg got out of Matt's hands and ran out of school without looking back and paying no attention to Matt's screams.

Matt decided to go after Greg.

— I have to go find him – he replied

Jessica stopped Matt and warned him that he would get into trouble if he left school, but Matt paid no attention to Jess's words and continued on his way. Matt was sorry for making Greg feeling bad. He thought he would never see him again.

Matt ran through the streets trying to find Greg

Finally he saw him in the distance and shouted with his eyes full of tears

— Don’t leave me!

Greg stopped.

Matt crossed the street without looking, wiping the tears from his face, when he heard a scream behind him

— MATT, A CAR! — Jessica exclaimed loudly

Matt paralyzed, saw the car braking in front of him, but suddenly felt the push that had given him Greg, to get him out of the way of collision. The boy fell in the distance and fortunately, the vehicle did not impact him. However, Greg was hit by the car.

Matt got up crying and ran to Greg's lifeless body

— GREG! — exclaimed for the first time

In a distant dimension, a human Greg woke up in front of a woman, whom he had not seen in many years.

— Where I am? — he asked

He looked around, was in a large medieval room. In the background there was a large wooden door. He looked at the woman again.

— I know you! You are the witch who turned me into a dog! — he added

— Apparently, you've finally managed to fulfill your part. You will reincarnate in human form once you have passed through that wooden door.

— At last! After 500 years, it was about time.

— Go ahead — the woman answered

Greg started to walk towards the door, but stopped before arriving. His clothes caught his attention; he wore a yellow long sleeve shirt. Suddenly, the word yellow came to his mind.

— Yellow! — He said loudly.

His eyes moved from one side to the other, searching between his memories

— Matthew! — added

Greg went back to the place where the woman was

— I must come back, someone must take care of that child!

— Are you sure? — the woman asked

— You will remain a dog for the rest of eternity — warned

Greg sighed

— Let's get this over with once for all.

The woman smiled and said

— Now you have earned your right to be human again. You have passed the true test

Greg was going to protest, but was interrupted by a signal that the woman made with her hand to wait

— As a knight, you were accustomed to surrendering life for a greater cause, regardless of the danger you would face. However, the disinterested act you just demonstrated is what broke the spell.

— But do not worry; you will continue to live in your dog body until you have passed 15 human years.

— A long life to be a dog – she added

The woman touched Greg's forehead and everything went white.

The cries of a child woke him up, his body was sore but did not present anything serious.

— MATT! LOOK! — Jessica shouted

Matt opened his eyes and saw Yellow getting up on his four legs.

Matt hugged Greg

— Don’t worry, kid! I won’t go anywhere — Greg whispered.

Epilogue

Twenty years later

Greg was sitting in front of a desk in a totally neat room. An old man, looks at some sheets and asks:

— Have you decided where you want to reincarnate?