the three-legged dog - Jake's Avoidance(6/6)

 This is the sixth chapter of the short story I wrote called 'The Three-Legged Dog'. Please enjoy reading it. 

A week later, puffy clouds billowed across the clear Florida sky. It was a peaceful afternoon, as usual, but the atmosphere inside Jake's house was a little different. Today was the day his dad brought Cooper home from surgery at the vet.

 ,,,,,

The front door opened, revealing Cooper in his father's arms. His right foreleg was bandaged and empty, but his tail spun powerfully like a propeller as soon as he saw Jake.

"Cooper! I missed you!"

Jake ran over and hugged Cooper tightly. Though he couldn't run on all fours like he used to, Cooper buried his head in Jake's shoulder and sniffed, expressing relief. Feeling Jake's warm body heat, Cooper steadied himself on three legs and Jake let out a cry of joy. The feel of his rough, warm fur, the dampness of his nose. It was the warmth of life that the robot's sleek metal exterior could never provide. 

Just then, a large truck stopped in front of the house. It was a robot collection company employee.

"You requested the return of the RECTface, right?"

The staff approached the robot, standing expressionlessly in a corner of the living room. RECTface was still standing, looking pristine. It was the robot that had abandoned its owner, Jake, in front of an alligator, avoiding that even one of its parts would be damaged, and fled. Before the collection crew powered off RECTface, the robot's screen flashed the last bit of data. 

​“Jake, the analysis shows I'm far more effective than Cooper. I can give you more accurate information. Sending me is an illogical decision." 

At the cold, mechanical sound of Rectface, Jake hugged Cooper tighter and looked straight at the robot. Jake's eyes weren't the same as those of a young boy, fascinated by robots.

"I'm going to avoid you now."

Jake's voice was firm. 

​“You avoided me because you were afraid of crocodiles, right? I'm avoiding you now, not because I'm afraid of you, but because I don't need a mechanical lump like you. You, who only knows how to calculate, will never understand. How valuable is the heart that would lose a leg for me and still wag its tail?"

RECTface’s yellow eyes flickered briefly, then shut off. The workers loaded the robot onto the truck and drove away.

The gate to the yard opened. Despite losing a leg, Cooper walked slowly across the Florida grass with Jake. Jake no longer asked the robot difficult scientific questions. Instead, he walked very slowly, matching Cooper's pace, and listened to the sounds of nature carried by the wind. 

The convenience was gone, but the yard was once again filled with love. The shadows of Cooper, walking on three legs, and Jake, standing by his side, stretched out as one in the sunset.