On the road, Stephanie began to relax a little. The little scene in the diner was fresh in her mind, and she and Peter had had a narrow escape, even if he didn’t notice. It was the week of finals at the University, and she had been forced keep her “furry” side locked up inside while exams were going on. Her dawg was itching to get out, and that run in with Marcus had almost caused her control to slip---in the worst possible time and place. As it was, Marcus had reluctantly backed down to the much larger Peter, and they managed to escape without more than a few mumbled words and some black stares from the townspeople.

     “I still do not understand,” Peter was saying. “Of all places I have seen and visited, Cherry is only town I have been where EVERYONE is so unfriendly. And I stopped in Big Apple before taking flight to Texas, and got much nicer reception.”

     Steph just shook her head. “Its nothing that can be explained, I guess...some people just simply HATE. In Cherry, they are suspicious of others not like themselves. They just don’t like anyone...different....than themselves. I dunno. All I know is, for as long as I can remember, Cherry folk have always hated us Barken folk, and anyone else that seems to stick out in a crowd.” Stephanie kept her eyes on the road as she drove, but glanced at him from the corner of her eyes. She smiled softly. He WAS really cute, a tall handsome stranger. And gallant and polite too.

     Stephanie shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Then, with dread, she realized what was making her so uncomfortable. Slowing the car down, she turned off the road, and looked Peter in the face.

     Peter looked around. “What is this? We are in middle of nowhere? Is something wrong?”

     “Peter?”

     “Da, Miss Traxler?”

     “Stephanie. Just call me Steph.”

     “Okay. Steph.”

     “Peter...just how much did Maxie tell you about life in Barken?”

     “Eh? What do you mean? He told me everything about himself and his family and how things were going and all...”

     “I mean...ummm...did he mention anything at all about the town itself? Barken isn’t exactly...um...normal.” She shifted in her seat again.

     Pete looked at her blankly for a moment, then laughed. “Hahahaha. Oh I get it. You must mean about my cousin’s little jokes. He was going on and on about turning into dog. That Sasha. Growing up, he was always big practical joker.” He grinned, brushing back his stiff blond hair back from his face. “Do not worry, his silly letters do not make me think badly of your town. I will be glad to visit typical small quiet American town.”

     Stephanie sighed and lowered her head. Her control was fading fast, and in a few minutes Pete would be a believer whether he was ready or not. The least she could do was warn him. “Peter, your cousin wasn’t joking. He really CAN turn into a dog. In fact, about everyone in Barken can turn into some kinda dog.” In a small strained voice she added, “including me.”

     Pete blinked. “You are not serious. You are, how you say, pulling my leg? I am Medical Doctor, it is scientifically impossible to change from human into dog. You are just trying to play joke on me.”

     “Itttzzzz nooo gjjggrrrroookkke, Peeetrrrrrr” Stephanie mumbled, half-growling. The change was coming over her now, and she was fast losing her ability to speak. They were parked on the side of the road about halfway between Barken and Cherry. If Pete wasn’t able to handle what he was about to see, they would be in serious trouble. Quickly, she unbuttoned her shirt and slipped off her shoes, preparing for the change. Peter turned his head a bit at that---an expression I often did as a dog, to express confusion, Steph thought giddily---and opened his mouth to protest her obvious stripping, when he got a clear look at her face and hands. His jaw dropped and he stared bug-eyed as her furry stubby fingers fumbled clumsily with the zipper of her pants, sliding them down to the floorboards. He watched in shock as Stephanie settled back in the seat of the truck, growing steadily furrier and furrier, her face elongating, her legs shortening and reversing at the knees, her fluffy tail bursting out from nowhere behind her. Within a few minutes, Stephanie the young woman had been replaced by Steph the Golden Retriever. Tentatively, she lowered her head to Peter’s hand and licked it, whimpering softly. After a moment, Peter broke out of his shock, muttering Russian.

     “Well, that is definitely something new for me,” he said at last. “Stephanie, is that really you under all that fur?” A bark. “Ha! Of course it is you. Silly question...after all I watched you change with my own eyes! Wow!! This is...it is...incredible!! I should be scared out of my wits I know, but I can’t help myself...this is so fascinating!! You actually changed into a dog!”

     Steph rolled her eyes at him reproachfully. She had wanted him to take this truth about Barken well, she hadn’t expected such giddy scientific interest. It would be a wonder if he didn’t try and dissect her there on the side of the road.

     However, Peter had interpreted her glance and chuckled heartily. “I am sorry little one. I am merely acting like eager beaver here. Forgive me. It will take me a little while to get used to this but I will be fine. Now, please, change back to young woman and let us be off to town.”

     Steph put her head between her paws and whimpered again.

     “Hmmm. You cannot change back to human yet?” A bark.

     “There is a time limit or something on how soon you can change?” Another bark.

     “Hmmm. Okay. I will have to drive the truck then. I should be able to get to Barken from here, but I will need you to guide me to your house, so someone can take care of you till you can change. Can you do that?” Bark.

     “Okay.” Peter opened the door and went to the driver’s side, sliding in as the large brown dog slid over into the passenger seat. Taking off once more, Peter drove with one hand on the wheel, and the other rubbing and scritching her behind the ears. Laughing at the joyous expression on her face, Peter said, “I think I am going to enjoy my vacation here.”

     From his taxicab, about 100 feet back, Marcus Coleman lowered his binoculars, cursing loudly. His gut instincts had told him that stinking commie and that slut had to be up to no good, so he had followed them discreetly. He had watched the pull off the road along a bare stretch of highway out in the middle of nowhere, and his blood had begun to boil. That BITCH, he had thought to himself. Then he had taken out the binoculars to spy on them, and saw just how true his words had been.

     He felt nauseous, filthy, unclean. She was one of THEM!! He had dated her, kissed her, even tried to feel her up (before she blew me off, the little tease!!) and all the time she was really one of those Barken devils in disguise! She had made a fool of him, once in the scene when she broke up with him, and then again today in the diner, and now she had made him a fool again for lusting after a demon-spawn!

     “Go ahead and run back to your hell-hole, bitch,” he mumbled softly to himself. “I’ll see you again, and when I DO you will pay for making the fool of me!” Slamming his fist down hard on the hood of the car---then painfully recalling it was his injured hand---Marcus began making preparations to exact his revenge.