[Text/Audio]

[dreamtamer]

Date: [3/18]
Characters: Thom

---

 [A new number appears on the network, this time drawn out in block letters, and quickly filled in with different patterns using colored pencils. And then a thump, as Thom notices that Gizmo has spotted one of the family cats and hastily drops his sketchpad on the desk.]

Gizmo! What are you doing? 

[The sound of footsteps and a second voice.]

I wanted to play, but it ran away again. I don't think cats are very good at playing.  

Comments

[dreamtamer]

I guess? I thought it was just something from school that got stuck in my head.

[scarsolderthanyou]

No, that happened to a lot of us. Me, one of your mom's, Nel, and Feste. We all have our own numbers. When we write it down or say it out loud to something that can receive it, it opens a network connection kind of thing. Which is how you can hear me now.

[dreamtamer]

So it's like a secret password?

[scarsolderthanyou]

Kind of. You shouldn't share it out, except maybe to your family.

[Shit, now they're going to have to get Thom a cell phone, too, like they did for Nel in case of emergencies.]

You really shouldn't tell anyone else about this, either, unless they have a number too. It might get you, or the rest of us, in trouble.

[dreamtamer]

I won't!

But I don't think Gizmo understands what secrets are yet.

[scarsolderthanyou]

... Gizmo?

[There's a pause that might be a little horrified.]

The dog? What does he have to do with this?

[dreamtamer]

He started talking this morning! Isn't that amazing?

[scarsolderthanyou]

[Right. Amazing. Except totally not, that's kind of frightening. Is their dog going to wind up like Chad? On the network and turning into a human sometimes?]

What kinds of things is he saying, exactly?

[dreamtamer]

He's mostly talking about food and playing. He asks a lot of questions too!

[scarsolderthanyou]

[Sam should probably be there. He may in fact be collecting his keys and shoes and things to drive over right now.]

You should bring him to your mum. Mary Anne, not Janice. She can explain the important things about this to him. And you, for that matter.

[dreamtamer]

I talked to her a little, but I don't think she knows that he can talk yet.

[scarsolderthanyou]

That is absolutely a thing your mum is going to need to know. Having a talking dog in the house is a big thing.

[dreamtamer]

Why? He doesn't really act any different? Apart from all the talking, of course.

[scarsolderthanyou]

The talking is pretty important, kiddo. And your mum is on this network thing here, too, so she'd find out eventually and it's probably better to come from you than finding out here.

[dreamtamer]

I just thought it was cool. I've never talked to a dog before.

[He sighs.]

I promise I'll tell her.

[scarsolderthanyou]

Not saying it's not cool. Just that it's important, and your mum needs to know.

He does know not to talk in front of anybody else, right? Anybody who doesn't know already?

[dreamtamer]

I don't think he really understands things like that?

[scarsolderthanyou]

He's going to have to learn, or he could find himself snatched away by someone who heard the talking dog and who want to study him or put him in a show. Or else we'll have to keep him at the house all the time.

[dreamtamer]

[ Thom immediately starts to panic.] That could happen? I thought things like that only happened in movies!

I'll teach him! I don't want anyone to take him away!

[scarsolderthanyou]

[Better that Thom should be aware of the danger than oblivious. Now he'll be more careful. To stave off the worst of the panic, though, he adds,]

The rest of us will help, too. We'll make sure he doesn't get taken. We just all need to be careful, including him.

[dreamtamer]

But what if someone finds out and tries to take him away?

[scarsolderthanyou]

Then we stop them, or get him back for you. But that could get us in trouble, so it's best if we keep that from happening to begin with.