of Darkness and Evil? How is that possible?!”

“No, it’s actually my kingdom’s name for the Dump.”

“The Dump?”

“You don’t wanna know how it got that name. It’s a long story.”

“Okaaay. So how were you put on this train?”

“Oh, one day I decided to take a stroll around my kingdom/street, so I hired a couple of dogs, those dogs right next to you, actually.”

I turned around to them and they waved, knowing they were toast for listening in on the conversation.  I turned back around to her.

“Anyway, I made those dogs carry me around my street, one carrying an umbrella because I was so used to the darkness, a little ray of light could BLIND me!” I stared at her. “Well okay I was overreacting at the time, but anyway. Soon, I told them to slow down, because the cold wind was getting to my face, but they said they couldn’t because they were suspicious about a white car following them. I didn’t care at the time, and just told them to do what I said. Later we were close enough that people got out of the car and started chasing us. Now I ordered them to go faster, and faster, and at some point, I was home. But they cornered me against the end of the alley, with the other dogs. I wasn’t afraid though. I ordered them to stop, but they still kept coming toward me. That was very new to me, well not brand new, because I couldn’t order anyone before the sickness epidemic. I ordered them again and again, and they still stayed. I was getting frustrated! So I ordered the dogs to fight the men. And all that was left were some chained up dogs in the back of the car. I was the only one left. They started to come toward me again. But one of them stepped on a small blanket. He picked it up and looked at it, then he tore it to shreds and threw it on the ground. And then he stomped all over it and shouted stuff. I can’t speak human. But the men didn’t know that was all to personal, because that very blanket was the prized possession of Scruffy!! Then I remembered those last words he’d said to me, and put them into action. I was so mad, because they destroyed the last connection I had to my brother! But I didn’t know what happened next because it was all a blur before I got thrown into the car. I was in a frenzy the whole way to the train station, and I couldn’t stop! It was madness I had! MADNESS!! And you probably know the rest of the story because you were there. Not much happened after that.”

“Wow…So now you’re yourself again, because of me?”

“Yep. I owe it all to you. Now that I’m not ruling a kingdom anymore I can start a new life.”

“But are you going to miss the old one?”

“Of course I will. I mean, what’s better than for people to listen to you for once?”

“Do you mind if I ask where your alley was, what state?”

“Washington.”

“WASHINGTON! Are you sure?!”

“Yeah, why?”

“They’re taking us north!”

“Huh? Ok, what are you saying, Buck?”

“I’m saying that I’m from L.A!”

“L.A? What does that mean?”

“It means Los Angeles, California!”

“Ohhh! I get it. So we’re traveling north. Why north?”

“How should I know? Oh man! This is big! At least we know what direction we’re going.”

“But we might go as far as Canada, you know. Or even Alaska!”

“ALASKA!”

“I’m just saying. I mean this train could stop any minute.”

“But we could already BE in Canada by now at the speed we’re going! Aww man!”

“I’m sorry, Buck. But there is nothing we can do to stop this. Even when I was in my frenzy I couldn’t bust this cage open! We’re just going to have to wait and see where they take us.”

“I know. I just wish I could go back to my owner again.”

“Ha! So you ARE a housedog!”

I just rolled my eyes, and I tried to look at the train window, but all I could see was white.