༺ Otis ༻
What's the difference between a human and other animals?
Here is what we learned in school:
Humans have the ability to reason, to create logical and complex thoughts and discuss those.
Humans can express themselves and converse on a level that no other animal can.
Humans have the ability to alter their environment, to change it to their own advantage whereas animals are forced to adapt.
But observing Ren and having him observe me, I'm starting to question what I have been taught.
These past few days I have been trying to avoid my parents like the plague, still mad about what I had to find out.
Therefore, whenever I heard one of them approaching in the hallway, I quickly jumped up from my bed and threw the door shut.
After only two days, Ren started copying my behavior and whenever he heard my mom's or dad's steps, he ran over to the door and pushed it shut. Quicker than I could have possibly reacted.
At first I thought he simply did this whenever he heard another person in the house but one time I went up to my bedroom when he was inside and he did not close the door.
This means that he not only knows who is coming up the stairs but also who to let in. And honestly, that's a lot for an untrained dog.
Furthermore, Ren actually figured out how to push my desk chair to be able to jump onto it and look out of the window. He even uses his snout to close drawers when they are in his way. With that, the second point has been refuted as well.
Coming to the third difference, of course Ren doesn't talk to me. I mean, he barks and whines but that's about it. But what is fascinating is the way he listens. Whatever I say, he seems to understand it.
"Are you hungry?" is always met with excited eyes and a wagging tail.
"I hate being locked in" is something he responds to by letting his ears fall and looking over to the door.
I've never had a dog before but even I know that this is not normal.
Ren also doesn't seem to be a very active dog. Due to the lockdown, we can't go on walks anymore but he doesn't seem to be sad about that at all. Whenever I let him go outside to play in our garden, he strolls around for a few minutes and then sits down in my mom's strawberry patch. Needless to say, she is never really happy about that but I don't care. I don't like strawberries.
I really don't know what kind of dog I have adopted, sometimes he seems to act more human than the people around me.
The lockdown has turned most citizens into wild animals.
People are protesting on the streets daily, police are unable to keep up with the riots. There is more violence than I could have ever imagined and if this continues, maybe the outside is a safer place than August. Maybe my country is turning into a bubble of danger.
All the new prohibitions and bans don't bother me too much, I'm more worried about the why.
What is happening behind the scenes? Was the guy with the petition right and August will soon be under control of TPN? What will that mean for me and my family?
Sora isn't willing to discuss these problems with me. She just keeps repeating that people are going crazy and that the government is flexing its power. But what kind of view on things is that?
"Otis?"
My mom softly opens the door but I refuse to look up from my book.
She sighs. "Are you still angry? Look, dad and I always wanted the best for you and August is the safest place to be."
As to fight her statement, a police siren goes off right outside my window. People start shouting.
"Thanks mom, I feel really safe."
"I give up," she says.
My mom has never been the type of person to get into conflicts so I'm not surprised by her surrender. But it's still disappointing.
"There is a man downstairs who wants to talk to you."
"Who?" I furrow my eyebrows and put the book down.
"I don't know, he is waiting in the living room." And with that she leaves.
I look at Ren who is sleeping, curled up next to my bed. This dog has great instincts. Should I wake him up?
No, I shouldn't be so dramatic. The man is probably just a professor of mine or the parent of a friend.
I get up from my bed and trudge out of the room.
From downstairs, I can hear quiet voices.
"He'll be here in a second," my mom says.
"Thank you," a deep voice responds. I don't recognize it yet but those were only two words.
Once I'm down the stairs, I walk down the small hallway and push open the door to the living room.
My mom gets up from her chair and I look over to the sofa.
The man who is sitting there does look familiar but I don't know where I've seen him before. He is dressed in all black, a grey handlebar moustache is sitting above his upper lip and he looks at me through a pair of thin-rimmed glasses.
"I'll go make some tea," my mom says with a smile and then leaves the room.
I walk over to the coffee table.
"Hello Sir, you wanted to talk to me?"
The man nods but doesn't get up so I sit down as well.
"Yes, I'm sorry to just turn up at your house but you see, a few weeks ago my dog ran away. Someone must have found him and gone to a shelter. And I think you're the one who adopted him."
"Ren?"
"Yes, Ren!"
My heart pulls together.
"I'm sorry that I have to ask you but this dog means a lot to me and I would like to have him back. I'll pay you of course!"
The stranger takes out his wallet. "How much do you want? 200? 250?"
I watch as he counts the bills. But something else stands out to me.
"What does your tattoo mean?"
He looks at the small black crescent moon on his wrist.
"This? Oh, I love astrology. It's a boring story. So what do you say?"
"Uhm…"
And then I remember.
This is the man I had seen in the park, when we were watching birds. Ren had gotten really angry and scared, basically forcing me to leave.
Why would he act like that towards his old owner?
Something doesn't add up. If I give him back his dog, I might put Ren in danger.
It's time to put my acting skills to the test.
"I'm sorry but I can't give him back. I really really like Ren. I've always wanted to have a dog and we get along so well."
I can feel how my eyes get watery. Good.
"He is my dog." A tear rolls down my cheek.
The man watches me without showing any reaction. But then he nods.
"I understand. Money can't buy love."
With that, he gets up.
"But you're making a big mistake."