I watch and whatever they is doing, it ain’t working. Daddy gives a big shrug and Momma copies him and they both drag Jacob back into the house and thump him onto the living room floor in front of the couch. “Well, I ain’t never seen the likes of it.” Daddy says “this here mutt ain’t learn nothing at all. Can’t even stand up or eat grass for pukin’ or nothing.

I tell you, I ain’t see much return in keeping this thing around if it’s too stupid to do what all we ask of it. I knew you all should have let me help with the choosin’ of this animal. If it was my way, we would have just kept the wolf dog instead of this here. At least that wolf could have protected the property or some such. I’m about all done in with the trainin’ of this wild beast.” Daddy shakes his head sadly. Momma opens up her blank face to give me a look and I measure what all I can do, and I ain’t see nothing else to do.

“Damn!” I say “I thought for sure this here mutt would take to trainin’ good. He sure seemed lively when we picked him out, right Momma?” Daddy looks startled for a second, then recovers “You all both took a look at this dog and said to each other, ‘this thing here will do everything what we tell It', and you ain’t even ask me about it? No wonder it ain’t worth a damn. Explains a lot.” I say “we sure did a terrible job with the pickin’, but like you all said and like I say, I’m the one to blame.

I’m the one who ought to have to train him in the ways of being a good dog. Maybe he can be trained to even pick up a dead bird or something, like in the magazines with hunting.” Daddy rubs his chin “I don’t know about that, I ain’t sure you even have the fortitude to train this grumpy thing. You have to be firm and fierce for that’s the only language a dog knows. They is used to traveling in packs and nipping at each other to keep the peace, and them what ain’t the topdog usually get the worst of it. This here sure ain’t no topdog...” Momma starts to say something but I cut her off

“you is right. This ain’t no topdog and needs a little nip to keep him in line.” Momma’s eyes are big now as she watches me cross the room and grab up a spatula from the crock on the counter. “this ought to do ‘er. Right, Daddy?” He looks at me close, then at the spatula. “Yeah. That oughta do her just fine. Show me your skills.” He crosses his arms to watch. I get to it, pulling the hits at the end as much as I can. It helps some that the spatula makes a loud whacking sound on Jacob as it’s wide and slappy enough.

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Daddy is whooping it up and hopping around like I just won the Olympics. Momma is looking away. Daddy says, “that’s good! Don't overdo it though, can only whack them so many times before they ain’t learn no more” but I go on hitting Jacob, and now I’m angry and taking it out on him. Angry at Daddy and Momma and Jacob too, and I ain’t sure if he really was trying to kill me all these many years, but I ain’t care in this moment and I can’t stop.

Daddy says “that’s good enough. Good enough! Good enough I say and I’m the boss!” He’s grabbing for my arm then, and I sidestep him and keep at it and I ain’t pulling the hits any more, and I’m slapping on him with the spatula like he was covered in fire. “Stop! Jesus Christ almighty!” Daddy finally grabs my wrist and takes the spatula out of my hand and looks at me with a half-smile on his face. “You believe me now?” I stare at him, still angry. Then I nod. Daddy claps me on the back and says “you’ll do just fine. Teach him real good you did. He’s learnin’ whose boss real quick I expect.” I look over at Momma and she looks at me like I ain’t the same person no more. And Maybe I ain’t.

I ain’t sleep too good this night. After I finally hear Daddy start snoring, I get up and look at Jacob close now, thinking about everything Daddy said about him. I know he ain’t no dog, but I’m getting suspicious about him, maybe laying there in wait to kill me like Daddy says.

Jacob ain’t able to answer no questions about it, and it’s getting so I ain’t trust him so much. Ain’t trust that he would take care of me like I take care of him. He been like this for so long I ain’t recall real memories. It feels like a T.V. show I watched a long time ago where I only remember the big points, like a shootout in an old dusty town where everyone seems like they is falling off buildings and it’s like that. like it ain’t really happen in real life. I always trusted Daddy and we was pals I thought, but look at how that turned out.