"Well," Dad said as we sat on the edge of my bed, "I am very proud that you are willing to do this for her. I'm happy that you have this bright spot in this difficult time for you... but are you really, absolutely sure about this?"

"I am," I said, "I... I want to stay a dog person. Or whatever we're calling ourselves."

"Well I guess you can change your mind down the line," Dad said, "but... we don't know exactly how all this stuff with the virus works. If we do find a cure, then it might prevent... certain situations - on that topic Matt, separate from all this stuff with the virus, please, please be careful. I know that you both really like each other, but if you show restraint it will make things much easier for both of you in the future."

"I understand Dad," I said, "and don't worry. But even apart from all that, I feel like Jackie would feel... estranged from me if I was able to change back."

"There's always the chance that she changes her mind too."

"I guess," I said, "but if not, I'm going to hold to my promise to her."

"I never would've thought," Dad said, "that would have a desire to stay this way."

"I've just kind of gotten used to it," I said.

"Well, if that's what you decide," Dad said. "I know however, that there are many people that haven't gotten to decide. Maybe many will choose to live with it - even accept it. But I want to help those who want to be nor- human again. I want to prevent further spread."

"That's what all this is about isn't it," I asked, "the company didn't want to pursue a cure. You and the others do."

"Be very careful how you talk about this Matt," Dad said. "Talking about this to the wrong ears could be dangerous. Generation is dying a fitful death, but the people behind it aren't just going to rest. Especially because we made it difficult for them to do anything with the virus - at least quickly."

"You sabotaged them? If they were interested in a cure, wouldn't that -"

"They were not interested in a cure Matt," he refuted. "They want to profit, and I am fearful what they plan on doing if they recover their progress."

"Like...," I said anxiously, "a bioweapon? A... dog bomb?"

"I don't know Matt," Dad said, "a bomb that makes people grow fur seems laughable - but we don't know what they could modify this to do - if they could make a crowd of people into cockroaches. Or… or make inhuman monsters, completely foreign from anything in the animal kingdom. It seems fanciful, and they probably will have no need to do something so dramatic - but all I know is that genetic engineering is a dangerous, dangerous tool. Jurassic park is a dramatic example of it going wrong, but it could have a silent, damaging effect on people. Maybe they force everyone to rely on a specific product to stay alive. Maybe they use it to bolster totalitarian governments."

"I understand," I said, "I won't tell anyone. But... can I help in some way?"

"I don't know," Dad said, "what we're doing you'd need at least some college level studying to be able to help with - and even that is only a baseline. We're trying to find a needle in a haystack - no, a green piece of hay in a field full of haystacks - and that's assuming it's even something in the genes. What we need is people power. We've found a lab where we can work on it, but it'll take a long time to figure this out."

"I don't know what I can really do to help," I admitted.

"And that's alright," he said, "it's enough for me that you're safe - and that you're happy."

I wagged my tail slightly in response.

"Well then,” Dad said, “good night.”

“Good night.”

I laid down on my bed as Dad left the room.

And I immediately thought of Jackie. The floodgates had opened earlier that day, and I had it bad for her. Now I just needed to show that I cared about her. That meant that I needed to actually plan out dates and stuff. I needed to get to know what she was interested in.

I fidgeted around with my blankets. I was still trying to find what method would make sleeping comfortable, but not extremely hot.

If Jackie enjoyed being outside, maybe going on a hike would work. Maybe we could get around the quarantine rules that way. It'd be cold - but our fur helped. In that way, maybe Lexi and Douglas could do it with us. I wasn't sure though if hiking trails were really safe with the snow possibly obscuring the trail. That and there was also the possibility of dangerous animals. I'd have to -

My thoughts were interrupted as my ears perked up. I heard something. The sound of an electric razor. It was coming from the bathroom. Dad didn't use an electric razor, only I did.

I crept out of my room and down the hallway. Light glared out from underneath the bathroom door. I opened it.

"Aah!"

Ashley dropped the razor and it buzzed around on the floor. On the tiles were bunches of golden hair. Much was still growing on her stomach.

"I didn't know I didn't know....,” she cried. “I… I didn’t know that... that I'd dranken out of the glass that you used... I... I assumed the stuff in the dishwasher was clean..."

There was nothing for me to say in that moment. All I could do was hold the soon to be golden retriever in my arms.



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