12 Dog Days of Christmas Page #8

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Okay, it's just a silly

used book, Ryan..

No need to make a

big deal about it.

All right, fine. Should we

go get Petunia then?

You know, you don't give

yourself enough credit

as a writer.

Your stuff is

actually pretty good.

You went through my notebook

when you found it, didn't you?

Well, it fell open

with my hand--

What else was I

supposed to do?

Jack, I write those

stories for me.

Not for anyone else to see.

You love other people's

writing, don't you?

Maybe you shouldn't be

so selfish with your own.

You want to talk to me

about being selfish?

Okay. I'm working on it.

Yeah. I know.

Well, this place

is officially closed.

So what do we do

with Petunia now?

I guess I'll take her to the

city shelter before they close

and hope for the best.

How long do you think

she'll last?

Can we not talk

about that, please?

I hope at least

through Christmas.

It's not really our decision

to decide anymore, is it?

All right.

I'm gonna go.

Do you guys want to

hug her before we leave?

I just-- I can't do it.

(yipping)

Hello.

You know, you're the first

real family I've ever had.

When we get in there,

we gotta be real quiet, okay?

Jack, is that you?

It's Christmas Eve.

You missed dinner

with the boys.

Jack, you're in

big trouble now.

You know you can't have

a dog here, right?

That's why we gotta be

super quiet about it.

Is he our Christmas present

from you, Jack?

No-- she has to spend

the night here tonight,

but then tomorrow,

she's gonna stay somewhere else.

But I already love her.

She's pretty.

In an ugly kind of way.

What's her name?

Petunia.

But I also like

to call her Tunie.

Hello, Tunie.

I'm Tony.

Be careful, because she just

got hit by a car yesterday.

She's a little fragile.

She isn't gonna die,

is she?

Of course not, Tony.

She's fine now.

Right, Jack?

Yep. But she

needs some rest.

And so do you guys. You've

got a big day tomorrow.

Christmas and new parents?

Get to bed, okay?

Merry Christmas,

you guys.

Merry Christmas, Jack.

Merry Christmas,

Miss Petunia.

Merry Christmas, Jack.

Merry Christmas, Miss Tunie.

And who is Petunia?

Uh-oh.

It's the boys'

last day here,

and you just bring

a stray dog into our house

without our rmission?

She didn't have

anywhere else to go.

And it's Christmas.

Jack, you know the rules.

No pets.

Where else was I

supposed to take her?

To the pound perhaps? That's

where stray dogs should go.

And then they'd kill her

within a day or two,

if not sooner.

That dog is not our problem.

But she is my problem.

The dog can't stay here, okay,

Jack? Absolutely not.

It has to go today.

She's not an it, Lou.

She's a she.

And if she goes,

then so do I.

Don't be ridiculous,

Jack. It's Christmas.

Just find a place for

the dog and then come

on back home, okay?

I can't. I won't.

If this can't be her home,

it can't be mine either.

I have to provide

for her now.

And when

the boys are gone,

she'll be the only

family I have left.

I know how stubborn you are,

Jack, but this is absurd.

You don't have to

worry about it, Lou.

You don't have to worry

about me anymore.

I'm gonna go, you guys.

And you're not in trouble.

I just came by to

give you these presents

I want you to have.

Go on. Open them.

Wow! Talkies!

Yep-- Now that you guys

are each going to

have your own room,

you're gonna need a way

to talk back and forth,

you know, when

it's past your bedtime,

just so your new folks don't

catch you sneaking around.

Thanks, Jack.

Yeah, thanks, Jack.

And I want you to know

that I'm going to visit

as much as possible.

We love you, Jack.

Yeah, we love you, Jack.

I love you guys too.

Brothers forever?

It's a salad tongy thing.

I saw you broke

the last one you had.

It's a sporty magazine.

I know you're into

that kind of stuff.

Jack. Please don't go.

It doesn't have to be

like this, Jack.

You guys are moving

in a couple weeks, right?

So I think it kind of does.

Anyways, I'll be back

to get my stuff later.

And Merry Christmas.

Take care.

I know I'm going to juvie.

And I'm okay with that.

I've been there.

I can survive.

Well, you would. But there's

something I need to tell you--

Wait, Art, please.

Just let me finish.

Anyway, I'll survive there.

Look, I need you

to take Tunie.

At least until I get

a place of my own.

Then I'll take her back.

If she goes to

the city shelter,

she won't survive.

I don't think

I can do that, Jack.

What I'm trying to say is,

I don't think

I can split you and that

ugly little dog apart.

You belong together.

So I'm asking you to come

home with me for Christmas.

Wait. But as my probation

officer, can you do that?

Isn't that

a violation of protocol?

Well, as of yesterday,

I am officially retired.

So I'm just a friend now.

You retired?

Mm-hmm. I am a free man.

Just like you.

If I go home with you,

what's in it for me?

Tina's pumpkin pie.

You drive

a hard bargain, Art.

But, uh, I think

I can suffer through it.

(Art)

Sweetheart, are you sure

you're okay with all this?

Well, he does eat a lot.

(laughing)

Oh, honey, I'm okay with it.

You know I like Jack.

And the dog

is very well-behaved.

But it'll only be

for just a little while.

He can stay as long as

he needs to. They both can.

Look, we've taken in

nieces, nephews,

and friends of all sorts

over the years now.

I think I can handle it.

Besides, with the kids gone,

we have all this space.

And I like it better

when it's not so quiet

around the house anyway.

Well, with Jack around, I don't

think quiet will be an issue.

(laughter)

Don't I know it.

So, what's her name

again?

Petunia.

Oh.

Her name is Petunia.

Well, Miss Petunia,

welcome to the family.

So do you always

come here for Christmas?

Yep, been coming here

for years now.

Couldn't imagine being

anywhere else really.

And we couldn't think of having

Christmas without her.

Blair's like family

to us now.

Our kids think of her

as their little sister.

Where are your kids

anyway?

Oh, they're having Christmas

lunch with their own families.

Pretty soon

they'll come running in.

Like an army

of hungry hooligans.

(doorbell ringing)

Ooh, Jack, would you

get that, please?

It could be them.

Surprise!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, Ryan.

Right back atcha, Jack.

And what's this?

Just a few of

my short stories.

All edited and cleaned up

for public viewing.

You have no idea how happy

I am to see you, girl!

You look so good.

Thank you, Jack. For her.

Children outside

making angels in the snow

Smiling happy faces

although it's four below

Soon they will be fireside

warming up their toes

Sipping on hot chocolate

and toasting marshmallows

There's love in the air

all the family is near

Christmas is

my favorite time of year

It's Christmas

Christmas

Christmastime is here

It's Christmas

Christmas

My favorite time of year

With joy to the world

With gifts for

all the boys and girls

It's Christmas

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