Stories 

The Dog Ate My Paper

 

 

“The dog ate my paper.”

The fidgety young man said to the teacher. She had heard this story before and knew his words were not so.

“Stay after class. Now go take your seat,” she said and collected the papers from the others waiting in line behind the cross-fingered storyteller.

“What kind of dog is it? Asked a classmate as they went to their seats.

The relieved paperless boy wondered huh, realizing he had to have a dog now that one ate his paper, and he said, “He’s a puppy.”

“What kind of puppy?” 

A fellow student asked as they walked down the aisles to their seats, the imaginative one thought of the kind of puppy dog he would like,  “It’s a German Shepard” he said, surprised at this choice.

“Wow, does he bite?”

“Just a little”  

They both went quiet as they took their seats since the teacher was strict and would not tolerate talking in class, and they were two rows apart.

 

After the lunch break, the class continued without any more spontaneous fib-telling creations.  The bell rang, and all left the classroom except the ones without their paper.  There were three; two had very understandable excuses - they forgot to bring in their papers and would lose a grade for their thoughtlessness.  The teacher dismissed them and looked the shifty-eyed one in the face and asked, “Tell me about your paper.  What is the title?  

 

Umm, it’s… The boy knew a reply had to come fast and confident, or his alibi would be worthless. “Pirates! It was about Pirates.”  

Pirates? Asked the teacher, amazed he had a response so quick and convincing. 

 

And your dog ate it? 

“Yes, he did.”

“And what is your dog's name?” 

 

“Umm Zeke, he said, seeing the name on a Dick and Jane book

“How many pages did he eat?”  

“All of them,” he said, hoping the interrogation would stop before he ran out of lies.

“Well, I guess you’ll have to write another one, said the teacher in a resigned that’s that tone.  The boy nodded.  

 

He took the long way home and wondered if his fib would catch up with him.

When the fib teller got home, a fluffy German Shepard puppy was waiting for him. The dog ran across the yard and nibbled at his corduroy hems.  The boy’s eyes popped, his jaw dropped, and his face turned red. He did not have a dog when he left this morning.  

 

“How was your day?” his mother asked in a cheerful, not surprised way.  She called to the puppy and said, “Stop that, Zeke no biting.”  Zeke knew his name and turned, but ignored the warning and continued to tug on the pant leg and growled a confident puppy growl.

 

“Where did you get the dog? The bewildered boy asked.

Zeke? His Mom asked. “What do you mean? She said with a concerned tone. Why have we had him for a month now, honey? You know that.

 

The boy was totally confused and looked so.

“Are you alright?” his Mother asked as she wiped her hands and got ready to pick up the dog, who was now beginning to tear the young man's pants.

 

“What?” He said, wondering if he was all right. “What?” He repeated. 

Honey, what is the matter? Was school OK? She asked with a maternal detective tone.

 

“Yeah, it was fine, he said distantly as he wondered about the new dog.

Did the teacher give you more time to write the paper?  His eyes popped as he heard her say, “Dad pieced together a few of the pages.  You only have a couple to rewrite.”  She smiled, knowing it was her fib, but not letting on!

 

What! Came back from the boy, as he looked her in the face with a look that said, “I am not OK! What is happening?” He stood staring off, wondering where his imaginary dog came from.

 

“Honey, you look pale. Are you feeling OK?  She said as she petted the puppy.

 

I don’t know, Mom, I’m confused.” 

 

“Confused,” she said as the shepherd's tiny teeth gnawed away at her knuckle, and she smacked its nose and got a canine whimper.  Why are you confused, Honey?

 

“I didn’t know we had a dog.”

 

“Oh, Timmy, go on into the house and get ready for dinner, his Mom said as though nothing was amiss.

 

The boy went into the house, and the Mom waved at a car passing. It was the boy’s teacher, and she winked at the boys Mother, and she winked back!