Welcome to Puppy Parenthood
The muffled sound of barking dragged Vi from her sleep. Groaning, she squinted at the clock on her nightstand—8:00 AM. Far too early for the chaos she could already sense brewing. Pulling on a hoodie, she shuffled out of her room, rubbing her face. The barks grew louder as she stepped into the living room, her bleary eyes landing on Jinx sprawled on the sofa, laughing as a tiny, scrappy puppy wiggled in her lap.
“Jinx,” Vi groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. “What the hell is this?”
“This,” Jinx said, holding the squirming puppy up like it was a trophy, “is Chip. He’s the newest addition to the family.”
Vi stared at her, then at the puppy, then back at her sister. “Chip?” she repeated, her tone flat. “Why is there a dog in my apartment? And more importantly, who said he's ‘family’ now?”
Jinx shrugged, grinning as she set the puppy back down on her lap. “He followed me home last night. Guess he liked my vibe.”
Vi crossed her arms, leaning against the doorframe. “Your vibe, huh? And who’s gonna take care of him? You?”
“Obviously,” Jinx said, rolling her eyes like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “But, uh… he might have to hang here for a bit. Y’know, while I’m out and about.”
Vi let out a long sigh, already feeling a headache brewing. “Jinx, you can’t just pick up random animals off the street and expect me to be okay with it.”
“Relax,” Jinx said, scratching behind Chip’s ears. “He’s cute, he’s small, and he’s low maintenance. I’ll handle everything. Food, walks, baths. You won’t even know he’s here.”
Vi gave her a pointed look. “He’s barking in my living room at eight in the morning. I know he’s here.”
Chip barked again, wagging his tail as if to emphasize the point. Jinx just grinned, unbothered by Vi’s growing exasperation.
“Where exactly did you find him?” Vi asked, her voice edging on suspicion.
Jinx waved a hand vaguely. “Down the street. He just… followed me. Probably thought I looked cool.”
Vi arched an eyebrow. “Uh-huh. And by ‘followed,’ you mean—?”
“Followed,” Jinx repeated firmly, though her grin hinted at something less innocent. “Don’t worry about the details.”
Vi groaned, shaking her head. “Details are exactly what I’m worried about. And for the record, no dogs on the sofa.”
Jinx gasped dramatically, clutching Chip to her chest. “What kind of monster are you? Look at this face! How can you say no to this face?”
Chip tilted his head, his big, floppy ears perking up as he stared at Vi. For a moment, she wavered, but then she straightened, pointing a finger at Jinx. “Not falling for it. Off the sofa. Now.”
“Fine,” Jinx grumbled, sliding onto the floor with Chip in her arms. She shot Vi a mischievous smirk. “But you’re gonna love him. Just wait. He’s a good boy.”
Vi sighed, rubbing her temples. “I swear, Jinx, if this turns into another one of your ‘great ideas,’ you’re cleaning up every mess he makes.”
“Deal,” Jinx said cheerfully, ruffling Chip’s fur. “Now, can we keep him?”
Vi glanced at the puppy, who was now gnawing on Jinx’s sleeve with fierce determination. She groaned again, throwing her hands in the air as she turned back toward the kitchen. “Whatever. But you’re on thin ice, Jinx. And no barking while I’m having coffee.”
Jinx saluted mockingly. “Yes, ma’am!”
As Vi poured herself a cup of coffee, she couldn’t help but glance back at the puppy, now chasing its tail while Jinx laughed. Shaking her head, Vi muttered under her breath, “What did I do to deserve this?”
The clinic was quiet except for the faint hum of the lab equipment as Caitlyn sat at her desk, flipping through lab test results. She was focused, her pen tapping lightly against the paper as she made notes. The calm was interrupted by a soft knock on the door. Caitlyn’s assistant, Connie, poked her head in.
“Dr. Kiramman, your next patient is in the consultation room,” Connie said with a polite smile.
Caitlyn nodded, setting the papers aside. “Thanks, Connie. Let’s go see them.”
She grabbed her tablet and followed Connie into the consultation room. As she stepped inside, she froze for a moment, surprised to see a familiar face. Vi was standing there, looking slightly out of place, holding a squirming golden-furred puppy.
“Vi?” Caitlyn said, her tone curious. “What are you doing here? And… who’s this?”
Vi gave her a sheepish smile, scratching the back of her neck. “Uh… this is Chip. Jinx’s puppy. Well, sort of. She left him at the apartment, and she hasn’t been back. I don’t know what to do with him. I figured… maybe you could help?”
Caitlyn’s lips curved into a soft smile. “You should’ve just called me,” she said, her tone teasing but kind.
Vi shrugged, holding Chip a little higher. “Didn’t want to bother you. Besides, this seemed like the responsible thing to do.”
Caitlyn chuckled, her eyes softening as she gestured toward the exam table. “Well, you’re here now. Let’s take a look.” She turned to her assistant. “Connie, this is Vi. Vi, this is Connie.”
Vi nodded politely, and Connie gave her a friendly smile before stepping aside as Caitlyn gently placed Chip on the table. Caitlyn began her examination, her hands moving deftly as she looked over the wriggling puppy. At the same time, she pulled up Chip’s new patient record on her tablet.
“So,” Caitlyn said, glancing at Vi, “Chip might be a golden retriever. Based on his size and teeth, I’d estimate he’s about ten weeks old.”
“Ten weeks?” Vi repeated, her brows furrowing slightly. “That young, huh? Jinx really didn’t give me much to work with. She just said he followed her home.”
Caitlyn arched an eyebrow, her lips twitching into a knowing smile. “That sounds like Jinx.”
She continued her examination, checking Chip’s ears, paws, and teeth before reaching for the scanner to check for a microchip. She ran the device over Chip’s shoulders, but there was no beep. “No microchip,” Caitlyn confirmed, setting the scanner aside.
Vi sighed, her shoulders relaxing a little. “Okay, so… what now? What does he need?”
“Well,” Caitlyn began, her tone professional, “since we don’t have any vaccination records, we’ll need to start from scratch. He’ll need deworming and his first round of vaccines today. After that, there are a few booster shots we’ll need to schedule.”
Vi nodded. “Whatever he needs. Let’s do it.”
Caitlyn smiled at Vi’s determination and turned to Connie. “Take Chip to the backroom for deworming and his vaccinations. We’ll bring him right back.”
Connie gently picked up Chip, who wagged his tail happily as he was carried away. Caitlyn turned back to Vi, leaning casually against the counter.
“He’s in good hands,” Caitlyn assured her. “We’ll make sure he’s healthy.”
“Thanks, Cait,” Vi said, her voice softer now. “Honestly, I have no idea what I’m doing here. Jinx has all the crazy ideas, and I’m the one left picking up the pieces.”
Caitlyn chuckled. “It’s what big sisters do, right?”
Vi shrugged, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “Yeah, I guess.” Cait chuckled and left the room.
After a short while, Connie and Caitlyn returned with Chip, who seemed just as energetic as before. Caitlyn took the new vaccination record from Connie and handed it to Vi. “Here’s Chip’s updated record. These are the dates for his booster shots. Don’t worry, we’ll send you reminders.”
Vi took the record, glancing over the dates. “Thanks, Cait. So… where do I pay? Reception?”
Caitlyn shook her head, her expression warm. “No need. This one’s on me.”
Vi blinked, looking almost embarrassed. “C’mon, Cait. Let me pay. It’s only fair.”
Caitlyn raised a hand, cutting her off gently. “Next time,” she said with a smile. “Chip will need booster shots anyway. We’ll call it even then.”
Vi hesitated but eventually nodded, her smile a little sheepish. “Alright. Thanks, Cait. I owe you one.”
Caitlyn’s smile widened as she handed Chip back to Vi. “Take care of him.”
Vi chuckled, holding Chip close. “Got it. See you around, Cait.”
With that, Vi headed out, Chip wagging his tail happily in her arms. Caitlyn watched them go, a soft smile lingering on her face before she turned back to her work.
As the door swung shut behind Vi, Caitlyn exhaled softly, her focus briefly lingering on the empty space she’d just occupied. Connie, who had been tidying up the counter, cleared her throat, a sly grin spreading across her face.
“So,” Connie began, leaning casually against the counter, “that’s Vi, huh? The one who’s always waiting outside for you?”
Caitlyn glanced at her assistant, eyebrows raised. “What are you talking about?”
“Oh, come on,” Connie said, waving a hand dramatically. “Don’t act like you don’t notice. She’s practically a fixture out there on Fridays.”
Caitlyn chuckled, shaking her head. “Vi just likes to keep me company. It’s nothing.”
Connie wasn’t convinced, her grin widening. “Nothing, huh? Well, for ‘nothing,’ she’s doing a great job making an impression.”
Caitlyn rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress the amused smile tugging at her lips. “What are you getting at, Connie?”
Connie tapped her chin thoughtfully, her tone playful. “I’m just saying… she’s pretty. And handsome. Like, how does someone pull off both? I can’t decide, but either way, she’s hot.”
Caitlyn groaned, shaking her head as she busied herself with the vaccination records. “Connie…”
“What?” Connie teased, her voice laced with mock innocence. “I’m just pointing out the obvious.” She leaned in slightly, her grin turning mischievous. “So, should I start calling her your ‘Friday date’ or what?”
Caitlyn let out a soft laugh, shaking her head again. “You’re impossible.”
Connie shrugged, still grinning. “Hey, just making an observation. But seriously, doc—Vi seems… different. In a good way.”
Caitlyn didn’t respond immediately, her fingers brushing over the edge of the counter. Finally, she looked up, her smile calm but fond. “She is.”
Connie’s grin softened, turning genuine. “You know, it’s nice seeing you like this.”
Caitlyn tilted her head, her expression curious. “Like what?”
“Happy,” Connie said simply, then grabbed her clipboard and turned toward the door. “Alright, back to work. Can’t let the boss slack off.”
Caitlyn chuckled, watching as Connie left the room. She stood there for a moment, her thoughts lingering on Vi’s easy grin and the way she’d handled Chip with surprising gentleness. Shaking her head lightly, she returned to her tasks, the faintest smile still playing on her lips.
Caitlyn lay on her bed, scrolling idly through her phone, the soft glow of her bedside lamp casting a warm light over the room. Her hair was loosely tied back, and her blanket was draped over her legs as she relaxed after a long day. The faint hum of the city outside was the only sound, a comforting backdrop to her quiet evening.
A notification buzzed, breaking her focus. She glanced at her phone and saw a message from Vi. Curious, she opened it.
The picture loaded, and Caitlyn burst out laughing. It was Chip, sitting on the sofa with wide, innocent eyes. Beside him, unmistakably, was a small puddle of pee. The caption beneath it read: "Caught red-handed. Chip’s officially a little shit."
Before Cait could reply, another message followed.
"What the hell, Cait? He peed on the sofa. Jinx is gonna owe me a new one."
Caitlyn typed back, still grinning. "Maybe he’s just marking his territory. You know, staking his claim."
Vi’s response was almost immediate. "He’s staking his claim on my patience, that’s for sure."
Caitlyn laughed softly, shaking her head. "Sounds like you’ve got your hands full. Welcome to the joys of puppy parenthood."
A few seconds later, another message from Vi popped up. "I put him in his cage after that, but he wouldn’t stop crying. So now his cage is in my room, and he’s snoring like he’s been working hard all day."
Caitlyn couldn’t help but smile at the mental image of Chip snuggled up in Vi’s room. "Looks like you’re a new mom now, Vi."
Vi’s reply came with a grumbling tone Caitlyn could almost hear. "Jinx should be the mom. She’s the one who brought him in and then pulled her classic disappearing act. I swear, Cait, this isn’t what I signed up for."
Caitlyn teased back. "You’re doing great, though. You even moved his cage. That’s very… maternal of you."
A pause before Vi replied. "Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up, Cupcake. But he’s lucky he’s cute. And… you’ve got a way of making things easier, you know that?"
Caitlyn paused, her thumb hovering over the keyboard. There was something softer in Vi’s message, something unspoken. She felt a faint flutter in her chest, wondering what exactly Vi meant.
She replied casually, masking her thoughts. "Anytime. You know you can call me if you need help with Chip. Or Jinx, for that matter."
Vi’s reply came quickly. "I know. You’re solid like that."
Caitlyn stared at the screen for a moment, her heart skipping slightly at the unexpected compliment. Was that... sweet? She shook her head lightly, trying not to overthink it.
"Goodnight, Vi," she finally typed.
A beat later, Vi’s response appeared. "Night, Cait. Sleep well."
Caitlyn placed her phone on the nightstand, leaning back against the pillows. A small smile lingered on her lips as she reached over to turn off the lamp. The room plunged into darkness, but her thoughts remained bright, her mind turning over Vi’s words.
"Making things easier," Caitlyn murmured to herself with a soft laugh, her heart feeling strangely light as she drifted off to sleep.
Vi locked the screen of her phone, letting it fall onto the mattress beside her with a soft thud. The room was dark, save for the faint glow of city lights filtering through the blinds. She leaned back against a stack of pillows, her hand running through her messy pink hair as she stared at the ceiling.
Her mind replayed the conversation with Caitlyn—every word, every laugh, every teasing remark. That one message she’d sent, the one that felt too honest, lingered in her thoughts like a neon sign she couldn’t turn off.
She sighed, her hand dropping to her side, fingers curling into the sheets. “Shit, Vi,” she muttered under her breath, her voice rough and low in the quiet of her room.
Her brow furrowed, frustration and something she couldn’t quite name twisting in her chest. “What are you doing to yourself?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
The silence stretched on, heavy and unrelenting. For a moment, she considered grabbing her phone again, typing out another message. But what would she even say?
Instead, Vi closed her eyes, letting out a long, uneven breath. The weight of her own thoughts pressed down on her as she stayed there, staring into the darkness, wondering just how much further she could let herself fall.