Magic Ball: the Billionaire in Ranch

3 Keep dogs

Noah quickly pulled the whimpering white puppy away from the Magic Ball and enclosed it safely in his warm arms. 

“How did you even do that?” Noah questioned in disbelief. He already knew that the puppy will not, in any way, respond to such a question. He practically went over in sequence of his actions through his mind: crossing his arms, closing his eyes, imagining the white puppy. Noah had no idea how he managed to do that! What was the last thing he did? Was it to scratch the back of his head? Noah jumped at the excitement coursing through his veins as he recalled the previous action he did. His heart pounded in his chest.

“I was doing the relaxation breathing!” he yelled happily as he gathered the three puppies in his arms in an attempt to hug them.

Noah let the three of them roam around in his living room as he prepared himself. Closing his eyes, he imagined all three puppies underneath the shade of the enormous tree. First, Noah took one deep breath and exhaled five times. He peeked with one eye.

The puppies are still there.

Noah found it odd. He was sure it worked with the white puppy before. Once more, he closed his eyes. Taking a deep breath, the image of the puppies running around the enormous tree came to mind. This time, he exhaled ten times. He heard a distant bark, and when his eyes opened, the black puppy’s tail was the only thing left of it. Its whole body got sucked inside the Magic Ball! Noah quickly penetrated his arms inside the crystal layer and pushed the black puppy back in his living room.

“You look like you’re having fun,” he teased as the black puppy ran in circles to catch his tail.

Closing his eyes once more, he took this opportunity to relax his mind and practice his breathing. Noah tried—not five or ten—but exhaling thirty times with one breath.

Silence. He waited for barks, loud whimpers, and shuffling footsteps—any noise that would indicate that the puppies were still around. He peeked a glance and found that all three puppies were gone. He immediately grabbed the Magic Ball and brought it closer to his face. He penetrated his head inside and laughed so loud he swore the neighbors could have heard his voice.

Underneath the shade of the enormous tree, Noah spotted the three puppies running and playing more actively than they did inside his living room. Soon, he found himself with them inside the Magic Ball.

He landed swiftly on the ground next to the pond, his eyes never leaving the three puppies that are happily running around the entire yard. Noah thought he opted to begin thinking of names for the three of them. But then again, he didn’t have the chance to know of their genders. Maybe later when the three of them grew tired from all the running and chasing that they are doing.

Noting the orange hue of the sky above, it was most definitely sunset inside. Noah wondered if he can find a way to look at the outside world from within this place.

“I guess that will come later,” he said to no one in particular. Eyes landing on the wooden cabin, Noah once again made his way towards it. He didn’t really get the chance to explore what’s inside of it since the first time he arrived here. Before, he got transported back in his car without any idea how.

Pushing the door open, Noah noticed that the window is still slightly open. Beside it was the shelf filled with books. Next to the shelf was the iron cabinet that caught his attention. Noah observes it from a reasonable distance. One portion of it, especially its sides, are already rusty. It was at least the same height as that of the wooden shelf. Noah looked at an alcove on its left side. When he succeeded returning inside the other night, he found a door that led to the backyard.

There’s barely light inside the room, and he didn’t want to risk starting a fire, especially if the cabin is mostly made out of wood. He had to take it out for some illumination. The sun was setting faster than he estimated it to be, so he started a little fire outside from the chopped logs he gathered behind the cabin. It was a good thing he participated in camping during eleventh grade, or else he wouldn’t have the slightest idea how he will start that fire.

All he needs to do is to get the cabinet out of the cabin. With ample caution, he began pushing the cabinet beneath an alcove that led to the backyard door.

Beads of sweat lined Noah’s forehead as he gripped his knees for support. Transporting the iron-cabinet wasn’t as easy as it looks like.

He turned his head to the sound of barking from behind. The brown puppy immediately nestled underneath his legs as the white and black puppy laid in their stomach and napped. He patted their tummies as his attention went back to the iron cabinet. Noah’s hand clutched its decorative pull handle. It didn’t budge, and so he went around the property. He happens to find an iron tong laying underneath the sink of the kitchen floor. He jogged back to the yard and used the iron tong to pry open the cabinet’s double doors. He pulled until the muscles on his arms bulged. Gritting his teeth, he gave one last push, and finally, it pried open.

Noah couldn’t believe what he saw: white clothes covered what seemed to be numerous frame-like objects. He grabbed the first one he saw and removed the cloth away. It revealed ancient paintings that miraculously seem to be in good condition. Noah wondered if he can touch it, although, in common knowledge, paintings that look this old are delicate. He pulled the other cloth away and found two more ancient paintings.

When Noah managed to confiscate all three paintings inside, he surprisingly found two books stashed at the corner.

“What are these things?” Noah asked no one in particular as he grabbed hold of one of the books. Blowing the dust over its cover, he flipped it open and scanned through its yellow pages. He noticed that it was some sort of account book with various records of numbers he had no idea about.

Closing the book, Noah took with him all the items he found and extinguished the fire. The brown puppy followed him as he made his way to the front door. Noah discovered that the only way to leave this world is through the cabin’s front door. If he remembered the trick correctly, he managed to leave the Magic Ball when he imagines his apartment’s front door while passing through the cabin’s front door. Noah questioned himself if he should start using the relaxation breathing to put the puppies in the Magic Ball. There’s still no harm in trying.

Breathing deeply, Noah opened his eyes and finds himself back in his apartment. He guesses the relaxation breathing also works with the sort of telekinesis he uses when exiting and placing objects inside the Magic Ball. Noah dotted the dog food he set on his kitchen counter earlier. He suddenly remembered that he needs to feed the puppies for tonight.

Placing the old paintings and account books on the sofa, Noah went back inside the Magic Ball to feed the puppies. While watching them eat on the temporary bowl he got on the convenience store, Noah decided to name the brown puppy ‘Ginger.’ He checked earlier, and Ginger is the only girl among them.

“Guess you’re stuck with rowdy boys now, huh, Ginger?” Noah said while smiling. Ginger frowned as if she understood what his owner just said.

Noah pointed at the white puppy who’s busy cleaning his bowl. He guessed the white one is still hungry. Noah poured another cup on his bowl.

“Help yourselves,” he said while pouring another cup on Ginger’s bowl. “How about I call you ‘San’ as in Santa?” smiling, he caressed the white puppy’s cheek. “Or I should have just named you Mik from the word ‘Milk’ because you’re hell as white as milk.” Noah rested his head on his knees. “You’re called ‘Mik’ now. And as for you . . .” he pointed at the black puppy already rolling over on his back. “Sleepy now, are we?” Noah chuckled, “how about I call you ‘Night’?” The black puppy barked at his suggestion.

“You don’t like that?” Noah argued as the black puppy whimpered. “Fine. Let me think about another name.” The fire he built for the three of them turned into nothing but coal. He looked at the puppies who are almost asleep underneath the stars. “How about ‘Cole’? That name sounds cool.” The black puppy wagged its tail one last time before surrendering to sleep.