�You thought that was funny you little punk, didn�t you? Well why don�t you come out and take your lickings like a man?�
Theodore didn�t answer the enraged teen. Instead he remained hidden underneath the conference table. The �Common Room� was large enough to make it difficult to search in the dark. Hopefully Jimmy would just give up and leave him alone.
�Come out now and maybe I�ll let you off easy. Otherwise I�m really going to beat the shit out of you!� Jimmy growled.
The young fur knew better than to fall for that old trick. Last time he trusted Jimmy to let him off easy, he beat the crap out of him anyway. Besides the look on his face when he bit into the shaving cream on his pie was almost worth the penalty.
�Alright then puppy. Here I come and when I find you I�m going to��
�Do what?� An authoritative voice asked.
�Nothing Ms. Walters...� Jimmy stuttered nervously, �Just putting him to bed like he should be, it�s past curfew.�
�Oh� Well then you should be in bed also young man.� Walters replied pointing to the hall, �Let me worry about Theodore.�
�Yes Ma�am.� Jimmy replied and scurried out of the common room pouting.
�Now Theodore, it�s your turn.�
�Yes Ms. Walters.� The fur replied as he climbed out of his hiding spot.
�You know sweetie one of these days I won�t be here to stop Jimmy.� The proud woman announced while gently stroking the fur on Theodore�s head.
�I know Ma�am�� The pup replied shamefully.
�Good. Now go to bed and we�ll talk about your little prank in the morning.�
Theodore smiled and darted out the door. As he walked down the hall to the bedrooms the young pup thought of how nice Ms. Walters was. She had always been kind to him and�
�There you are you little shit. Now I�m going to make you pay!� A cruel voice announced from the shadows and pulled him into a dark closet.
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�Oh Theodore, why do you continue to aggravate him? You know he is just going to beat you up.�
The pup looked up from his pillow into Sheila�s beautiful green eyes. Very few of the children at the orphanage wanted anything to do with Theodore. Being the only fur there, many of them seemed to avoid him like a plague. But not Sheila, she seemed to enjoy spending time with him.
�Jimmy is a bully and a jerk. He needs someone to put him is his place.� Theodore replied sternly.
�You�re right,� Sheila replied while tending to his battered ribs, �but that person is not you.�
Theodore laughed. Although the chuckling made his bruised rib ache even more, it was worth it just to see the beautiful young lady smile. What she saw in a poor mutt like him�
�Children�� Ms. Walters hollered while rushing into the group bedroom, �We�ve got a couple coming in this afternoon. Put on your good dress cloths and gather in the common room in two hours.�
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Theodore�s heart skipped a beat when Sheila entered the common room. Although he�d seen her in that pink dress many times before, the way she looked in it never failed to take his heart away.
�Wow you look great!� The pup announced.
�Oh you always say that.� Sheila replied and kissed him on the cheek, �And don�t you ever stop.�
�Sheila you�re next.� Ms. Walters announced and waved.
�Wish me luck Theodore.�
After only ten minutes, Ms. Walters walked Sheila out of the common room. When she returned, the orphanage�s administrator walked Theodore over to the interview table and waiting couple.
�Theodore this is Mr. and Mrs. Thompson.� Ms. Walters announced and pointed him to a open chair at the table.
�Nice to meet you Sir, Ma�am.� Theodore replied while forcing a smile.
�Theodore what happened to your face?� Mr. Thompson asked.
The wolf rubbed his swollen eye lightly and replied, �One of the older boys and I got into a little scuffle. He won.�
Ms. Walters stepped forward and injected, �That really isn�t like Theodore. His is normally a sweet and kind boy.�
�Theodore are you normally on the losing end of these scuffles?� Mr. Thompson asked.
�Always�� The pup replied shamefully. �The older boys don�t like furs like me.�
The Thompsons looked at each other and whispered for a few moments. Afterwards they looked back up at Ms. Walters and nodded.
�Thank you for talking with us Theodore.� Mr. Thompson announced and watched as Ms. Walters escorted him from the room.
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Theodore growled as he pulled the tight dress shoe off his foot paw. The damn things never seemed to fit right and only managed to make his feet ache. But at least his interview was over and things can return to normal now.
�How did you do handsome?� Sheila asked and entered the room.
�Oh they only asked me about the fight. They didn�t seem interested at all!�
�Well that doesn�t mean anything silly. The couple that adopted Missy last month only asked about her favorite TV shows. Besides who wouldn�t want a sweet young wolf like you?� Sheila replied playfully.
The young wolf just smiled and gave the lovable girl a hug. Her optimism was almost contagious. Unfortunately he�d had too many disappointments in the past to get excited. Couples these days don�t want 8 year old wolf furs that get into fights. They want newborns and infants that can raise like their own.
Sheila gave him a little kiss on the cheek, closed his door, and went off to get undressed. None of the orphans liked the uncomfortable garbs they had to wear during the interviews but they made them look presentable. Well everyone except the wolf that just had a run in with a pissed off teen and his fist.
So now it was back to getting those damn shoes off. One down and one to go, at least that was what he thought as he pulled the other shoe off and�
KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK
�Come in.� The wolf hollered.
Ms. Walters opened the door and entered his room with a smile, �I�ve got some great news sweetie. You�ve been adopted.�