Cassidy smiled.

Dogs entertained him, particularly when they didn't do as expected. An hour could be lost watching funny animal compilation videos on his phone, and think only half that time had passed. He wasn't on to berate his own pet if it didn't immediately do as it was told. He liked to train them, offering treats for good behaviour, but felt the animal was still just an animal. They didn't always understand what they were meant to do, or their enthusiasm would cloud their judgement.

Bobby wanted to go upstairs. Maybe, in his old home, that was where his bed was, or his food bowls. He couldn't understand why someone, especially a well-informed breeder, would put anything belonging to a puppy upstairs, but you never knew. A pup would have difficulty navigating stairs. They could fall. He'd seen it himself with both Lady and Butch. They'd tried to get to the bedrooms where Cassidy had been. Lady managed three steps higher than Butch, and neither made it to the top. Cass had heard the yelp each time. He'd made it to the landing in time to see the small dogs land at ground level and roll to a standstill.

Luckily, both Lady and Butch were unharmed. They were more bewildered, and quickly forgot their ordeal when they were picked up and fussed, the picking up being to check for any broken bones and to calm Cass himself as well as the dog.

One of the first things he'd decided to do was to teach Bobby how to get up and down the stairs. The damage to seven meant that would have to wait until it could be repaired, but it was still high on his list of priorities, along with sit, lay and stay.

He picked the dog up and took him through to the kitchen. Keeping a hold of him, and talking about random nonsense to build a rapport, he took a bowl from the cupboard and filled it with water. Placing it on the floor by the skirting board, he put Bobby down.

"Fancy a drink, boy?"

Bobby, it seemed, did. He lapped happily at the water. Once his thirst was satiated, he returned to run around Cassidy's legs.

"I'll show you where the toilet is, shall I? Give you the guided tour. Come on"

The tour commenced, starting with the garden. Bobby followed obediently, and when they were outside, he scampered off to explore. He relieved himself against the fence and the corner of the shed and was praised each time. Let him know he did good. That's where you pee. Remember that.

Back inside, the rooms had been shown within the scant minutes it took to walk between them. Bobby followed Cass around, wandering off to sniff here and there. Generally, he seemed to be aware of what was happening, having taken to the human easily and being much calmer than expected.

When they returned to the hall, the composure broke, and he bounded to the stairs, attempting to climb them. With immense determination, he reached the first step. Spurred on by the success, he went for the second. Cassidy scooped him up and carried him.

"We'll be here all day! If you're so eager to get up there, let me help."

On the landing, Bobby was put back down in the centre. Before any words of encouragement could be spoken to spur him on, the dog was off. There were four rooms to choose from. Three bedrooms and the bathroom. There was no doubt in which one he wanted. Cassidy's own.

"Slow down, bud!" he said, going after his new friend.

It didn't occur to Cass what might have been causing Bobby's eagerness. He'd assumed it was because of a new environment and unfamiliar smells. When he entered the room, the dog was already in place.

Sitting in front of the mirror, looking up.

On the glass, Amy had welcomed the animal.

Bobby!

"Bobby," Cassidy said, crouching. "Come here, boy."

The Cockerpoo turned to Cass and barked. It was more like the roar that Simba was attempting in the Lion King, when Scar arranged the murder of his brother, Simba's father, Mufasa. It wanted to be a bark, but needed a little more practise.

The dog's attention returned to the glass.

The message changed.

Good boy.

Aren't you adorable?

Simba's roar sounded again, and the tail responded accordingly. Could he understand the messages? Could he read? No, that was insane. Dogs could recognise the shape of letters and words, then connect them to a command, but that wasn't reading. Besides, Bobby was far too young to have been taught any of that. He was obviously reacting to the words on the mirror.

"Amy, are you talking to him?"

No, don't be silly.

I can't speak.

I can only write.

He can understand it, though.

"But how? He can't read. He's only a dog."

No one is only anything, Cassidy.

He's a dog.

They're intelligent.

But

It's something to do with what I can do.

I can write and

He can hear it.

"Wow. That's amazing."

Yes.

He's adorable.

Why didn't you show me him before?

"I've only just got him. He's our new friend."

Ours?

😊

Cassidy had said the word without thinking. On reflection, he didn't want to change his statement. Amy was there too. In fact, it had been her home before his. Was he the intruder? Well, if so, he was paying plenty for the privilege!

"Sure," he said. "Ours. Do you like him?"

He's gorgeous.

I was never allowed a pet.

"How come?"

My dad.

Stepfather!

He hated animals.

Thought they were dirty.

Noisy.

Annoying.

"Oh, how nice!"

He thought everyone was dirty, noisy and annoying.

"Except you, of course."

Can he sleep up here?

With us?

Sleep? Cass suddenly saw himself in bed, with Bobby on the bed beside him. And he, naked under the covers. The messages were text. Not spoken words. He knew Amy could see him, somehow, from their conversations, but she wasn't physically in the room. As such, it didn't occur to him when he had been walking around with no clothes on.

He felt embarrassed and could feel the awkward silence that filled the pause between her question and his lack of an answer.

What's wrong?

You've gone red.

"Nothing."

Go on.

Something's bothering you.

"It's just... Nothing. Don't worry about it."

Are you OK?

"Yes," Cass said, touching his cheek to see if he could feel the rising heat. "I'm fine. I just... You've seen me naked."

🙄

I have.

I couldn't help it.

You were just...

There.

"I know, but couldn't you have, like, looked away or something?"

I don't have a body,

So no eyes.

I just see.

If you didn't want me to see

You should have put something on.

Well, yes. He should have. He would have, if he were used to hiding his dignity from the dead. It was new to him, so he wasn't quite used to the correct etiquette yet.

"I will in future."

Well

I've seen it now.

What's the point?

To stop her from seeing 'it' anymore, of course! To protect his... what? She had already seen him unclothed. Was wearing pyjamas or a dressing gown now a redundant act? Did it really matter? He couldn't say for sure either way. If he tried to hide behind garments, there'd still be times when he'd forget. Plus, Amy had proven she could see the entire house. If not, how could she have tried to stop him falling? He couldn't be wearing something everywhere.

Oddly, he didn't feel as if he were being spied upon. She couldn't help the extents of her vision. Unless he used the garden shed as a dressing room, he really couldn't hide anywhere.

"Well, seeing as you put it like that, I suppose you're right."

It happens a lot, you'll find.

"What does?"

Me being right.

Besides...

"Besides what?"

I liked it.

"What?"

You.

"Erm... Huh?"

You have a nice

Figure.

Don't be so coy.

Cass didn't think he was being coy. He believed he was being suitably embarrassed. He had never been happy with his body. He didn't have well-defined abs. His arms weren't muscley. He couldn't lift twice his body weight and didn't want to. He was pretty ordinary, and didn't like to compare himself to others, as he'd find himself lacking.

"Thank you. I think."

Any further awkwardness was interrupted by a loud knock on the front door. Bobby jumped from his position and started to yap, running to the top of the stairs to warn anyone who might enter that he was guarding his territory and they'd better watch out. Cassidy just jumped. He wasn't expecting any visitors. Ethan was the only one that might be coming and that wouldn't be until...

Oh, that would be today.

Damn.

He ran to the landing after Bobby and picked the dog up, then quickly descended. In the hallway, he gave himself the chance to take a breath, ignoring the repeated knock from his brother, and took hold of the door handle.

"Say hello to Uncle Fish Face," he said to Bobby.

He opened the door and smiled. Ethan grinned back and stepped past his brother.

"Cute dog. Show me this haunted mirror thing, then," he said. "Let's meet your ghost."

https://youtu.be/YnOk3b3PBk8