Jasper

Jasper wasn't an ordinary dog. He was very smart and penetrating. He saw people's souls, knew their thoughts and anticipated their intentions. The only thing he couldn't do was talking. But it wasn't a problem for his hostess, Alice, to get what Jasper wanted to tell her. She understood him quickly and easily because he was her closest friend.
Alice turned 18 recently. She lived with her parents and studied a lot to enter university. Her family was rich. They lived in a family estate. Her parents were hereditary dentists. They had own dental clinic, and both worked there. Alice was going to devote her future to medicine too, and parents supported her intention.
Jasper became a member of their family 3 years ago. Alice's aunt presented him for the girl's fifteenth birthday. Everyone loved the smart dog, and Jasper loved them back. Especially he was fond of Alice. Jasper protected her from everything that could hurt her. He didn't let a single bad person to be close to the girl. Sometimes when Alice used to invite new friends to her house, Jasper began growling at them. Alice knew what it meant. She usually stopped communicating with such people and later noticed her dog was always right. The ones he growled at did bad things.
However, once Alice didn't rely on Jasper's opinion. She was going out with a boy named Chili. When Alice tried to bring him to her home Jasper was so angry that he didn't even let Chili step over the threshold. Alice and Chili had to turn back and go.
Returned home in the evening Alice tried to talk to Jasper.
– Jasper, you are my favorite, my best friend. I trust you more than anyone else. But I like Chili, and I can't refuse him only because you don't like him. Admit it, you just feel jealous because I pay some attention to him.
"No-no-no", wanted to say Jasper, but said:
– Bow-wow-wow!
– You know I'm right. Chili is a good man, he is kind, honest, and he loves me very much. I know you would prefer to see the neighbors' boy as my boyfriend, but Jack and I have been friends since childhood. When I look at him I see a 7 year old boy with whom I used to paint grass with the colors we found at his parents' garage or with whom I hid at our loft. It was forbidden to go there, but we went and occasionally broke down very old and expensive clock. We were afraid and spent there two days until we felt too hungry and came out. Our parents were extremely angry. They had looked for us everywhere, involved police, informed all relatives, and here we showed up saying we stayed at the loft.
Alice smiled. Jasper was looking into her eyes.
– Yes, yes, I get what you wanna tell me. He's a handsome and the captain of the school football team. There are many girls who dream to hear him saying 'hi' to them while I hear it every morning. But he will always remain a childhood friend for me, nothing more. Besides, Jack is so focused on football that he doesn't notice anything going on around. Chili is the best choice. I'm sure he won't do any harm to me. You'll see it.
– Bow-wow-wow, – said Jasper.
Jasper didn't agree with Alice, but he couldn't stop her.
Alice usually met Chili outdoors not to let Jasper interfere. Once in the evening parents of Alice left for some banquet. The girl immediately called Chili and invited him, She prepared a romantic dinner, fired some candles. The doorbell rang. Alice brought Jasper to the kitchen, came out and locked the door. Then she went to let Chili in.
Jasper felt something bad was about to happen. He tried to open the door, but didn't succeed. Then he noticed the window was partially opened. Jasper opened it more with his paws and jumped out. He hurried up to the neighbors' house and began scratching their door. In a couple of minutes Jack came out and saw the dog.
– Jasper? What's going on? What are you doing here?
Jasper pulled Jack's leg, and Jack said:
– Ok, I'm coming.
Jasper went back to his yard. He stepped slowly and moved his ears trying to catch any sound. Jack understood he should be silent. He carefully followed Jasper. When they approached the front door they heard a gunshot and a girl scream. Jack pulled the door handle. The door was locked. Jack ran around the house until he noticed light in a window. He stopped and looked there.
Jack saw a girl in a blue dress and hardly recognized Alice. She was sitting down the floor next to a metallic safe and crying. Her hair was disheveled, and her eyes were red because of tears. She raised her head and said:
– I told you I don't know the password.
Jack couldn't see the one Alice spoke to because of the wall, but he heard his reply.
– I'll count till ten. If you don't open the safe, I'll kill you. One!
Jack got the situation was complicated and dangerous. Jack bended to Jasper and whispered:
– Can you get me inside?
Jasper showed him the open window at the kitchen. Jack helped the dog to climb there, and then climbed himself. It was dark inside, and Jack occasionally touched something at a table. This thing fell down and broke up.
Chili counted till six when he suddenly heard a noise.
– Aren't you alone in the house? Who else is here? – shouted Chili.
– It's my dog, only my dog, – answered Alice.
– Where's it?
Alice was silent.
– Where's the dog? – shouted Chili again shaking the gun in his hand.
– In the kitchen, – whispered Alice.
Chili left for the kitchen. At the same time Jack found where to turn on the light. He grabbed a big pan, stood on the left side of the door and turned off the light. When Chili came to the door Jasper growled. Chili moved the key, opened the door and heard Jasper growling. He wanted to find and kill the dog, but as soon as he turned on the light Jack hit him with the pan. Chili fell down dropped his gun. Jack at once struck it with his foot, so the gun flew to the farthest corner. Chili came to himself. Jasper came to him, put one paw at his face and bared his teeth. Chili was frightened.
Jack called police and being sure that Chili was watched by Jasper went to Alice. The girl moved back when she heard the steps.
– Alice, don't be afraid. It's me, – said jack. The girl raised her eyes and couldn't believe what she saw. She stood up and looked at her friend for several seconds without a word.
– It's okay. There's no threat anymore. That guy is disarmed, and Jasper is watching him. The police will…
Jack couldn't finish because Alice rushed to hug him crying loudly. Jack hugged her too. He kissed her in the forehead and kept whispering:
– It's okay, it's okay…
The police came and arrested Chili. It turned out he was wanted because it wasn't his first crime. In some time Alice's parents returned home. They were scared when they saw police cars near the house. Alice was so shocked that she couldn't say anything. Jack explained both the police and her parents what had happened.
Alice stayed in hospital for a week because her parents worried about her condition after the incident. She returned home right before the weekend. Alice decided to thank Jack and came to his door. Jasper went with her. Alice pushed the button, and Jack's mother opened the door.
– Hello! Is Jack home? – asked Alice.
– Yes. Jack! – called his mother and went back inside.
Jack came out.
– Hi, – smiled Alice.
– Hi. How is it? Feel better now?
– Yes. I wished to thank you. I'm alive only because you came and rescued me. I have to admit I didn't expect you are so brave.
– You didn't expect? – laughed Jack. – I supposed only brave people could stay at your loft for two days without lamps surrounded by spider webs and bats.
– There weren't bats!
– Anyway, I was punished for a whole month after that.
– You still remember…
– I do. And you know there is someone braver than me. It's Jasper. If he didn't get out of the house, come here and make me go with him I wouldn't be able to help you.
– Thank you, Jasper, – said Alice, bended and kissed Jasper.
– I brought you some chocolate biscuits. You liked it when you were younger.
Alice gave him a box. Jack smiled.
– You still remember.
– Thank you, – whispered Alice and kissed him in a cheek.
– I thought we're not children anymore. Is this 'thank you'? – asked Jack.
Alice was confused. Jack said:
– Jasper, don't look!
Jack hugged Alice and kissed her lips. Jasper didn't look at them and didn't need to look. He knew what was going on and felt absolutely happy.

August 18 2014