Chapter 8: Even Pups Need To Reach Out For Help Sometimes
After going through an unsettling ordeal, Nameless has difficulty returning to everyday life. But with Gray at his side for support, he gets the help he needs to put the experience behind him and move on.
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- “Look, Nameless! We’ve been invited to a party at a new sushi restaurant.” “Let’s go Gray! We’ve never had sushi — or been to a party — before.”
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- There was a DJ at the party spinning records, and he let Gray & Nameless choose one to play!
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- The DJ even showed them how to operate the mixing board.
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- Gray & Nameless loved the little sake glasses — just their size!
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- There was even a TV camera crew taking pictures! Gray & Nameless — who won the award for “Littlest Guests” (they made a special category just for them!) — were asked if they would pose for a picture. Of course they were happy to do so.
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- Finally: SUSHI!!! Gray was so curious about all the exotic food they put out for guests — seaweed! octopus! — she wandered around and tried it all. Nameless was very content with the tuna roll.
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- When Gray returned to their table, Nameless was gone! She waited, then she looked… soon everyone at the party was frantically searching and the police were called. But no sign of Nameless. It was as if he’d disappeared.
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- The police took Gray home, and promised they would keep searching until they found Nameless. Too sad and worried to sleep, she waited all night in the window for him to return.
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- The next morning, Nameless woke up in a park he’d never been to before, frightened and alone.
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- A nice lady saw that he was lost, and brought him to the nearest police station.
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- Nameless explained to an officer that a man had taken him from the party. The man was very gentle and treated him well, but strangely, he kept calling Nameless “Zeke”. When they got to the park, the man got very sad and said he couldn’t remember where he was going. So they stayed there, and eventually fell asleep.
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- The police brought Nameless home, where Gray was waiting for him in his favorite spot: under the lemon tree. It was the happiest moment of their lives!
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- Later, Nameless helped police identify the man who took him on the restaurant’s surveillance tape. It turns out the man is “sick”. Not like when you have a cold; “sick” in that he gets confused and doesn’t remember things. He had honestly mistaken Nameless for a dog he had when he was a little boy. He never meant to harm or frighten Nameless, and he felt just awful when he learned what he had done.
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- Nameless found that returning to everyday life wasn’t so easy. He couldn’t sleep, remembering how frightened he was and not knowing where he was or how he was going to get home that night. Also, he felt guilty about how worried Gray was while he was gone, even though it wasn’t his fault.
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- Concerned about Nameless, Gray went online and learned about something called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and encouraged him to talk to a counselor about his ordeal. Nameless agreed, but under one condition: that Gray go with him.
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- With Gray by his side, Nameless talked about what had happened, and all the confusing feelings he was having as a result. The counselor listened and helped him understand everything a little better. He also suggested that Nameless might want to get out of the city and go someplace peaceful, where he could relax and recharge for a few days.
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- And so Gray & Nameless headed off for the mountains, and the peace & quiet you can only find outdoors in nature.
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- It was exactly what Nameless needed! He and Gray had fun climbing trees…
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- … and discovering exotic plants. Of course, Gray & Nameless know better than to eat mushrooms growing in the wild!
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- They took long, long naps out in the fresh air and sunshine.
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- Eventually, Nameless found himself feeling strong and happy again. “I’m ready to get back to our life in the city, Gray. Let’s go home!” Gray couldn’t agree more.
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- So Gray & Nameless returned to the city. That evening, they relaxed by watching one of their favorite movies, “Lady And The Tramp” — and as usual, they shared a big bowl of spaghetti afterward. “You know Gray, having lots of people and DJs and a TV camera crew is okay. But I think THIS is the best kind of party!” Once again, Gray couldn’t agree more.