12 Dog Days of Christmas Page #7

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But we'll feel bad

if we leave you though, Jack.

We don't want you

to be alone.

But you don't have

to worry about me

because you know what?

I'm actually going to eat

with my mom today.

Really?

So maybe

she'll adopt you again.

I don't know, I've seen

a lot of miracles

happen this Christmas,

so we'll see.

Ready, guys?

Hello, I'm Tony, and it's

a pleasure to meet you.

And I'm Trevor,

and I'm a very good boy.

This is Tony-- I wouldn't

say cute, but he's smart.

(Jack)

So where do

you want to meet?

(Martha)

Maybe we could meet

at that old diner on Seventh.

3:
00 p.m.?

That sounds great.

(objects crashing)

Jack, what are you doing?

Jack, please stop!

Whatever's upsetting you,

this isn't gonna help.

Okay, I'm gonna call Art,

he'll know what to do.

What is it?

Jack, what's wrong?

You're scaring me again.

You don't know

what it's like!

What what's like?

My family, my life,

my non-family, everything!

Go away, you stupid,

ugly dog!

No one even likes you!

Petunia!

Blair, grab her,

she's running out the door.

(horn honks,

tires screech)

What did you do?

I didn't see her.

I'm so sorry.

(Blair)

Jack, calm down.

Ryan, call the emergency vet.

I can't believe

I did this, is she--

Jack, her heart is beating,

and she's not bleeding,

but she was unconscious for

a bit, and that's not good.

Jack, maybe we shouldn't

move her.

She could have

spinal injuries.

Well, we gotta get

to the vet now.

I can't lose her.

Well, I don't see

any broken bones.

My guess is

she has a concussion.

How long was

she knocked out?

A few seconds,

maybe a bit more.

No, it was--

it was more than that.

Probably 20 seconds.

Did she cry in pain

when she came to?

Not that we heard.

No, she did,

just a little bit, though.

But she's still tough.

Well, that's obvious.

I'd like to keep her overnight

just for observations,

just in case there's

some internal bleeding

I didn't detect.

That's a good girl.

Just lay down.

You're gonna have

to stay here tonight,

but we'll be back

first thing in the morning

to get you.

And I'm so, so sorry.

You're not ugly.

I was the one being ugly.

You're perfect.

Guys, look, I'm so--

Save it, Jack, okay?

I didn't want to stress out

Petunia back there,

but I have

nothing to say to you.

That kind of behavior

back at the shelter,

I-- I can't believe

you would do that.

That's unacceptable.

Ryan worked really hard

to clean up that back room,

and you ruined it

with your stupid temper.

Blair, I didn't mean--

No.

We don't have time

for this.

We have to go back

and clean up all over again.

Come on, Ryan, let's go.

(door opens)

(door closes)

Hey, want me to give you

a ride home?

Come on.

Jack, you've done

enough work today,

and it's getting late anyway.

Come on in here and get

something to eat, okay?

Okay, I'm paying you

for today--

oh, 'cause if Art paid you,

it would be a violation

of professional protocol.

So you can thank me, okay?

I heard about what happened

with your mother today.

You okay?

Yeah.

Yeah, I'm fine.

Should have known

she'd bail on me.

It's what she's always done.

Well, she's missing out

on the wonderful man

that I've watched you become

over these years,

and that's a shame.

Thanks for that.

But I worry I'm becoming

just like her.

Mm.

I know you won't

be like that, son.

So just take the good memories

that you have of her

'cause someone has

greater plans for you.

I can feel it.

Jack, what is going on?

I thought all the acting up

and all the destruction

was all over with.

I guess not.

I'm sure I can't

go back there now.

Well, who says the shelter

won't take you back?

They worked so hard

to clean up that place...

and I just ruined it.

Look, Jack, just go over there

and apologize to them.

No way.

You heard Blair.

It's over.

It's done.

Jack, it's not for you

to decide.

Go over there

and apologize to her.

That's an official order.

Do you get it?

Blair... I'm so sorry.

From the very beginning,

I've just been a pain

to you guys,

and you've always

been so good to me.

You really

scared us tonight.

Promise me

no more outbursts.

If you need help,

we talk.

We don't demolish

things, got it?

Yeah.

You're not a pain, Jack,

at least not

most of the time.

It's been really great

having you here...

when you're not,

you know, destroying things.

And about

your birth parents--

you're not the one

who has the problem.

They do.

I didn't grow up in

the most stable home either.

You know, I-- I wasn't

a foster kid,

but I probably

should have been.

My mom passed away

when I was a kid,

and that's how I met Art.

Art was your probation

officer too?

Yeah, you got it.

He, uh, helped me

get a job here,

and eventually,

I started running the place.

I was able to channel

all of that bad energy

into helping

all the sweet animals here.

So, um, now

that the shelter's closing,

what are you gonna do?

Well, I mean,

we had a good run.

We helped a lot

of dogs.

You know, doing good

is a great thing, Jack.

It's good for you.

Remember that.

Yeah, I'm trying to.

Well, I mean, keep--

keep trying.

I mean, I keep trying.

You know, for someone

that had it really bad,

you turned out pretty good.

Maybe there's

hope for me yet.

Mm-hmm, that's the spirit.

Now, grab a box

and help me clean up

the mess you made.

So, um...

where is Ryan anyways?

Oh, I sent her home

to spend some time

with her family.

So, uh, she's still mad

at me, I guess?

Nah, I mean, if anything,

I think she's

really worried about you.

She really cares

about you, Jack...

which is why it hurts her

when you say mean things.

All right, come on,

help me clean up.

Who are you?

I'm Ryan. I work at the animal

shelter with Jack. Is he here?

Are you the hot sister?

No.

I'm the not-hot sister.

The one who gets on

Jack's nerves.

Don't feel bad. I get on

Jack's nerves sometimes too.

Uh, Jack,

a girl's here for you.

And she sure is pretty.

Cute kids.

Good kids too.

So why are you here?

I was going to stop by

your place earlier.

I just wanted to see if

you wanted to come with me

to pick Petunia up.

And why would you do that?

I mean, I totally demolished

the back of the shelter

you worked so hard to clean.

Yeah, well, I got a text

from Blair this morning

saying that you came

back in last night to

help clean it all up.

And with how angry I've

been at my mom in the past,

I can't even imagine

the emotions you go

through with yours, Jack.

Yeah, but that still doesn't

excuse the things I did.

I'm so sorry, Ryan.

So, why were you going to

stop by my place then?

I mean, Hillary went to

see her dad, so she's gone.

I wasn't coming

to see Hillary.

No?

No.

I was going to go over

to give you this.

Merry Christmas.

It's nothing much.

Christmas was

a little tight this year.

No, Jack, this is

really sweet. Thank you.

Don't mention it.

But why did you get me

a gift? I mean...

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