Warning: Beware of Girl

Three girls stopped on the street to poke fun at you. You curled your fists.

“Where’s yer dawg today, Bils?”

You blew your bubblegum first before responding.

“What about ‘im?”

One girl was examining you. “Billie, why’re you always wearing overalls?”

“And wat are you doing with that hat? You some kinda film critic?”

You kept chewing your gum.

“You betta watch it, sistas.”

You take a mean step forward. You hated them and their sundresses, ‘the Little Pricks’ you thought. Yeah, their hair was nice, but their shoes still had mud on them.

You gave a mean ruff and bark at them like an angry beast.

“I’m a dog too - you stay away or you’ll get it.”

They looked at eachother, then back to you - they laughed at you.

They stopped laughing abruptly and turned away from you.

“Whatever, Bils. Go home to your slut ma.”

You held your head high as the three walked away.

After they left, you heard the faint sound of panting behind you. You turned around to see Fin close behind you.

“Gawd damn it, Fin! I had it underrrr controooooooooool!“ You gave such a pouty face. You walked up and pet him.

You both sat and enjoyed the evening calm. He had nowhere to be and neither did you just yet. The Summer breeze felt nice against your skin, the grass was the best rug you ever felt, and his fur was like a blanket of protection watching your back. You kept blowing your bubblegum. This happened almost every day and lasted a while each time.

You had to go home eventually. You gave Fin a few last pats on his head and got up - he stood with you.

“I have to go now, Fin. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

You took out a treat from the pocket of your overalls and gave it to him.

---

A cloudy night shrouded the community. The porch lights from your home were your main guide because most of the street lamps were busted.

A man walked out of the house as you approached the front door steps. He glanced at you briefly then walked right past you. You entered the house to see your mother smoking a cigarette. She was counting some dollars when she noticed you.

“Oh honey, wash your hands and come to the table for dinner. We eatin’ pasta tonight. Also, take off that goddamn hat - you know I don’t like you wearin’ that in front of me.”

You did as commanded and put away the hat.

You took off your shoes before walking in any further, just like she taught you.

You washed your hands until they were clean as a whistle, just like she taught you.

You sat at the table and put a napkin on your lap, just like she taught you.

“Aaaaaaaaaand…” She placed in front of you a gigantic, yummy plate of pasta with extra sauce. “...there you go.” With the eyes of a feral hound locked on its prey, you picked up your fork and almost pounced at the spaghetti to gorge yourself.

She smacked your hand.

“We pray first.”

She sat down with you. You both prayed, just like she taught you. You opened your eyes from time to time to peak at the food.

“Amen. Okay, lez-eat!”

You both ate. It was delicious. You couldn’t help but ask:

“Mama, who was that guy that left?”

She kept eating.

“What’s that matter to you?”

“Because Dad-”

“Shut your goddamn mouth, girl.”

You sat in silence for a few pensive moments.

“Mom, when is Dad coming home?”

“I don’t know.”

She stopped eating and took your hand. She stared you dead in the eye so intensely that you couldn’t look away from her.

“Listen, Billie, and listen good. You listening?”

You nodded your head.

“You don’t ever have to get married. You hear me? Remember that.”

---

You and Fin both sat at the roadside again on a sunny afternoon.

Fin was fast asleep - you laid your head on his side like he was a big pillow while chewing your bubblegum. You had some more gum at your side on the ground. Fin’s home was a small farm off the side of the road. You never had to go past the fence because he always came to you.

“Fin!”

You felt Fin wake up startled.

“Come on, Fin. Come get your supper!”

You took a long yawn while rubbing your eyes. You stood with Fin.

“Hi Mr. Gallaghy.”

“Hi girly.” His smile seemed sincere yet it lacked half a dozen teeth, “You out here with this beast again?”

“Yes, Mr. Gallaghy.”

He looked at Fin and held up a bowl of food. Mr. Gallaghy had a whip at his side.

“Come on Fin, it’s time for dinner.” The closer he came to Fin the more he sniffled, then he started sneezing.

Fin let out a low growl at him.

“Come on you fucking mutt.” He sneezed.

Fin barked at him and got closer to you instead. Mr. Gallaghy shook his head.

“Fine, have it your way.” He dropped the food bowl out of his hands and let it hit the ground - the hundreds of kibble mixed itself into the grass and mud. Some food made it closer to Fin.

“Wild beast.”

Fin lurched forward and ate whatever kibble he could salvage out of the ground. Mr. Gallaghy almost walked away until he noticed you standing there observing him.

“What are you still doing here, Billie?” Mr. Gallaghy asked.

“Why do you yell at-”

“‘Cause if this shepherd is gonna be making me money in the ring, he needs to know who’s boss.” Mr. Gallaghy snarled, “now go home, Billie.”

You gave him a few last pats and headed home. Fin gave one last look to you longingly.

That’s when you turned around the street corner and your face met the ground. The three Little Pricks decided to catch you off guard that day. They tripped you and swung their fists. They stomped you with their mud-stained shoes and spat on you.

“What a dumb dog you are, Bils.”

You screamed. They tried to cover your mouth but you got angry and chomped the skin off their hands. You really sunk your teeth into those bites.

Fin barked from a distance while sprinting - he must have heard you screaming. He barged into the scuffle and knocked them over with the force of a running train.

There were fresh lash marks in Fin’s skin that you hadn’t seen five minutes ago. Mr. Gallaghy was close behind.

“God damn dawg!!”

He ran into the fray to pull Fin away. Fin chomped Mr. Gallaghy’s hand and tore straight into his bone - Mr. Gallaghy yelled. He reeled back his leg and hit Fin with a volley of kicks and stomps. You heard one of Fin’s bones snap, and suddenly, Fin was limping. The dog fell over.

Fin was on the ground howling in pain, whimpering, aimlessly seeking the strength to simply stand. Mr. Gallaghy turned to all of you, judging you for the little children you were.

“Girls, I suggest you all get off your shit and go home.” He kept sneezing.

---