Submission

            Samantha Johnson. An eighteen-year-old self made artist and video game lover. She was a small girl, only standing at a height of five foot, with blonde, curly hair flowing freely down her back, hardly ever made to stay up. Samantha's eyes were a unique grey color, the rarest shade of that belonged to the blue eye color group, and freckles on the bridge of her nose and cheeks complimented her young features like the moon and stars on amongst the night sky. Samantha was also a smart girl, a creative young woman that has always had a passion for art and literature, and now makes her living off of her work, carrying on that passion in the brush and pencil strokes she makes effortlessly almost everyday.           Even though she was young, she lived alone, rather than with her parents, however, Samantha never minded being in solitude. It was peaceful to her actually. She had friends to make up for the little family she had in her life, but even then she was content with just a handful. To her, if you couldn't count your friends on your two hands once then you had too many. That was, and still is, how she thinks, having no more than ten friends, one for each finger she had. Samantha wasn't completely alone in her suburban home though, the teen had a companion in the form of a four-month-old Great Dane puppy named Damon. A black shadow that followed Samantha everywhere and accompanied her in her big home.           The third morning of October 2018 was just a normal morning for Samantha. Damon, the puppy, came into the room as the sunshine shone through the curtains, licking her face until she smiled and woke up. She pushed him off sending the little pup into play mode almost instantly. "Alright you furry little alarm clock, I'm up, I'm up. Common let's go get some breakfast." Said the girl groggily, yawning, her nappy hair strung all over the place atop her head that she paid no mind to at the moment. Coffee first, hair can wait.           Damon beat Samantha down stairs, eagerly waiting for his breakfast. But Samantha went straight for the coffee maker, Damon giving her a look as she made the coffee and set the pot to brew. "What?" The pup tilted his head. "Hey now, you know I have to make the coffee first then I make your food. So don't give me that look." She said with a turn as she headed to the fridge. Opening it, she looked at the homemade dog food that she makes every two weeks for Damon. "So you have your choices of Beef Stew, Steak and green bean with potato, Chicken and peas with rice, or Sweet potato pork with carrots. What'll it be today?" Damon looked down briefly as if thinking about his choices before giving two barks as if to answer for his second choice. "Alrighty, Steak it is." Samantha removed the container, then tossed the meal in a pot on the stove, heating it up to just the right temperature as her coffee finished the brewing process.           Once her coffee and the puppy's food were both done, Samantha put Damon's food in his bowl, washed the pot, then made her coffee. She took a sip and sighed, taking her abnormally large mug with her to the living room. She sat down for a moment, took a few more sips of her precious morning dose of hot Joe then turned on Netflix. This was how Samantha's mornings started out. Make coffee, feed the dog, then sit and watch TV as she slowly woke up enough to function and get her day rolling.           A whole pot of coffee and a banana for breakfast later, Samantha was finally awake now. Her hair had been fixed and her teeth had been brushed. "Woke up at nine and it took me till eleven o-clock, two hours, to get woken up. Wow! New record!" Samantha joked with laughed to herself. At least she didn't have to work for any person or company like Burger King or Wal-Mart and could do stuff like that. Sleep in. Take forever to get the day started. Those are the perks of being your own boss.           "Damon, hope you're ready. We'll be going to the dog park here in about thirty minutes." Damon wagged his tail as he laid lazily on the love seat next to the couch. Samantha finished up the episode of Bones she was watching then got up. Going to the dog park was routine for them by now, she did it to wear Damon out, and Damon loved it because he got to play with his dog friends. Samantha put Damon's leash on, then grabbed her car keys and headed out the door, Damon hopping into the backseat. The car hadn't even been started yet and Damon was already excited and ready to go. "Damon calm down. " She giggled. "We're going silly." Samantha commented as she started the car and drove off.           The short car ride there was mostly peaceful until Damon saw the park ahead. The sight of it made the young puppy start bouncing around. This made Samantha laugh every time he did it. "Someday you'll be too big to jump around in the backseat like that." She said. After putting the car in part she got Damon out. Hinto and his mommy Christiene were there. Christiene was one of Samantha's best friends and both Damon and Hinto practically grew up together.           Both of them got out of the car, Damon rushing happily through the first gate where Samantha finally let him off his leash before letting him through the second gate, Hinto immediately jumping all over and greeting Damon. Samantha walked to the bench where her friend waved from. "Hi sis!" The curly haired, sandy blonde exclaimed happily. "Hi Christiene!" Sam shouted back ecstatically, happy to once again see her best friend. Samantha sat next to Christiene. As usual the girls hugged each other, they were more like sisters than best friends, although you wouldn't be able to tell the difference since they both looked so much alike. Samantha with long, semi-curly blonde hair, almost of a strawberry color if you looked at it just right, and grey eyes that sometimes changed into a light crystal blue or a dark green-blue color, fair skin and freckles lined her pale Irish toned skin.          Christiene was much the same. Her hair was slightly shorter than her friends, but it was a light sandy blonde, curly, also with a noticeable red hue to it, her eyes being more of a baby blue, unlike her friends grey ones, and her skin had a darker tint, freckles in a higher abundance as well. They looked like sisters. And they acted in a sister like mannerism too, despite them not being blood, yet they were still family to each other, and that's all that truly mattered to them.           "Damon has grown quite a lot, hasn't he?" Samantha nodded to her friend. "Yes." She sighed with a chuckle. "Yes that little butt head has gotten big. Hinto has grown more too." Christiene laughed. "Not by much. Damon looks like a grown dog, Hinto looks like a small fluffy puppy still." The two friends laughed together as they watched the two pups rough and tumble around the park. The dogs didn't seem to pay any mind to the major size difference. Like their mommies, they were brothers to one another, their size and breed difference didn't waver how they saw each other. Friends, brothers, and pack mates.           About thirty minutes had passed and the puppies were slowing down. Thirsty and panting, yet still wanting to bounce around and play, however thirsty they may be. Samantha and Christiene got up, giving the two dogs a good, cool drink. Naturally, they lapped it up. "I think it's time to head back to the house so these two can rest. Plus it's time for Damon's vitamins." Said Samantha. Christiene gave an agreeing nod, standing up. "Are we still getting together around dinner time?" She asked. "Yeah, I just got new mods for two of the games we were planning on streaming tonight. Should be fun." A smile crossed Christiene's face. Both of them being huge gamers, new mods and packs excited them and they always had to try them out during a stream on either Twitch and YouTube. "Nice."           They spoke more about the new mods and what they were supposed to be and do, along with the packs Samantha had gotten for them to use. Afterwards, Christiene hugged Sam and gave Damon a pat on the head, bidding the two goodbye for the moment. Sam loaded up Damon. With the turn of her car keys the car started and she left the parking lot to head on home. Damon sleeping peacefully in the backseat.           Not much longer later and they were home. Samantha had to wake up Damon in order to get him out of the car. Despite the pups sleep-filled protests, Samantha finally convinced him to get out with promises of a treat and his favorite bone to chew on. As promised, Damon got his bone and treat, only to go back to his bed to sleep with his bone beneath his big paws. She smiled at the site. 'I love that dog so much. My baby with four legs and fur.' She thought to herself, redirecting her attention back to what she was about to do when they got home. ~           It was now turning into late afternoon. Samantha had been doing a lot more work on the art piece and had gotten the entire outline done, detail and patient strokes decorating the entirety of the canvas, with not one spot left untouched by Samantha's artistic hands and pencil. She sighed once the start of one of her work was complete. "Ah, finally done." She slumped back in her comfy trampoline chair. That type of bouncy chair, that's round and has a net for the seat. Yeah, that kind of chair, and this one was her favorite. For more than one reason that you could probably guess. Samantha hummed to herself. "What to make for dinner. Hmm..." She jumped up when the idea came to mind then headed towards the kitchen. Damon followed her knowing dinner was going to be made soon. "Looks like we're having breakfast for dinner buddy. Eggs, bacon and grits for me and sis and eggs, hamburger and sweet potato for you and Hinto." Damon just wagged his tail, Sam dismissing him out of the kitchen before she began cooking.           It was now almost seven o'clock when the doorbell rang, naturally Damon barked at whoever was behind the door. Samantha yelled for them to come in and in came none other than Christiene and Hinto. The puppies instantly engaging in play. Christiene made her way to the kitchen where Sam was just finishing up dinner for the four of them.           "Breakfast for dinner?" Sam nodded. "Awesome. Smells great." Christiene complemented, Samantha nodded once again. "Thanks sis. It's our favorite. Grits with bacon and eggs, along with cheese and pepper. And the dogs got a healthier dinner, it's in the fridge cooling now." Christiene stole a piece of bacon and ran into the living room. "Hey!" Sam laughed. "Sorry too tempting not to!" Her friend yelled back from the couch. Samantha shook her head. "Well at least come make your plate. Dinner's done dumb nut." The sound of loud laughter could be heard as Christiene came back to get her food. "Did you just call me a f*****g dumb nut!?" Christiene laughed hysterically.           Samantha laughed a bit as well, trying not to drop the hot skillet of eggs in her hands that was being carried to the island across from the stove. "Yeah, make your plate before you choke on the food in your mouth. See this is why we are best friends. I call you a dumb nut and you laugh with food in your mouth and we go back and forth with endless name calling that makes us both die laughing at some point." Samantha giggled. "Yeah and we wonder why people think we're sisters." Christiene said as she swallowed the bacon in her mouth.           The two girls filled their bowls and sat on the couch, the pups already eating the food they got. All four of them watching television, Samantha and Christiene filling their bellies before turning their new found energy to playing Call of Duty, cursing at the screen of other players, laughing, and being trolls just to be funny and mess with people after being fed up with constantly being targeted.           They streamed their game play live, as always, getting tons of LOLZ and laughs in the live chat feed as they continued their charades and cussing fits, not realizing what time it was till they finally looked after what felt like the hundredth match of the night."Holy s**t its two in the morning." Said Christiene. "Guess we should end the stream here." Samantha nodded in agreement. They said goodnight and made their closing thoughts to the people in the stream and in game then ended it. Both of them stretching before sluggishly heading upstairs. "Goodnight sis. See you in the morning." Samantha yawned out, her friend nodding and saying the same. "Same to you, goodnight."           Not long after laying their heads on a pillow, and the dogs had made themselves comfortable on a spot on each of their beds, Samantha and Christiene nodded off to dreamland. The only thing, or, well, things that made a noise throughout the night were Damon and Hinto. Being puppies they would get up and drink water or chew on a bone, sleep, then get up and do it again, playing a little in between. That is until either Sam or Christiene yelled for them to stop.           When morning came, Christiene and Samantha shared coffee. The dogs ate breakfast. Then an hour later, Christiene left for work. She worked at a dog grooming shop that her and her mom owned and worked together. "Welp, looks like it's just me and you today buddy. Let's go do something fun." Sam said to Damon. With that Samantha's day off work began with a boring start. Days like this one are why Samantha hated her days off sometimes. All her friends worked during the weekdays. Yet Sam just didn't feel like changing her off days to the weekends, plus, it wouldn't make much of a difference.           Damon sat by Samantha, waiting for her to pick something to do. Even the dog was bored. Samantha looked at her dog, who sighed. "Wanna go for a walk?" She asked. Damon's response being a clear indicator that he wanted to. With his tail wagging frantically and him jumping around excitedly. Sam chuckled as she reached for his leash and her keys. "I figured." Hooking the leash to him, she locked the door behind them as soon as they stepped outside, into the quiet neighborhood. No kids playing. No adults home. All other living beings were either in school, at work, and all pets at home waiting for their masters to return home. The streets of nice homes and front yards that were normally filled with kids and pets playing in them now sat lifeless, everything was quiet and the trees had began to get cold as their leaves began to change color, even the grass had fallen to Autumn's cold bite.           Samantha loved weather like this. Hot summer weather just wasn't her thing, she preferred the cold air, the way it felt when it nipped her skin as it blew over her. It relaxed her. The added benefit was that all the screaming kids that disrupted her work were sent off to school and stayed there for eight hours a day for five days a week. While summer was the time of year that she was forced to blare her stereo system in order to drown the loudness of children's screams as they played about. It thoroughly annoyed her. Don't get me wrong though, Samantha loved kids. Just not when she needed to focus and get stuff done.           During their walk, Samantha and Damon went ahead to the store. She knew the owner and he said Damon was always a welcome site since he was so well behaved inside the store. He gave the young pup a bone from his meat locker every time they visited. This store was dog friendly anyhow, it was for people and their animals to shop together. The humans could get their meats and groceries and the pets had a whole section all to themselves with food, treats, toys and more lining the shelves. Ricardo, the store owner, was from a small village somewhere in Europe where dogs were allowed in many shops and parlors still, without too much of a fuss, if any at all, from other visitors that were also in the stores. So, he brought that same animal friendly businessman personality to America. Ricardo was an older man, a gentleman in his early forties. A bit on the heavier side, and a jolly man. Always making his customers feel like his shop was their shop.           Samantha and Damon walked in and were instantly greeted by the friendly atmosphere and a big hug from Ricardo. "Ah Samantha. It's nice to see you again! What brings you here today? I noticed you haven't been around for some time." Samantha smiled. "Hi Uncle Ricardo. It's a pleasure to you again too. I've just been busy the last two weeks. Me and Damon need a snack and something to drink." Ricardo turned around without a word, knowing exactly what Samantha and Damon got on a regular basis. "So, how is the art career coming along? Still going strong huh?" Sam nodded. "Yes sir, in fact I'm doing a piece now. Just finished the outline work, next will be the line darkening and paints." Said Samantha with a smile, Ricardo gave a hearty chuckle. "Well, I will just have to get a painting from you myself to hang up in the shop. I'm proud of you. You went from a shy, little girl, to a bright, independent young woman." Samantha smiled and thanked him, spending a few more minutes talking to Ricardo before making the journey back home.           Later on after Samantha and Damon returned to the house, Damon had calmed and fallen asleep, as puppies his age do, and Samantha wasn't far behind. She wanted a nap. Deciding to watch TV as she lay in bed; Damon asleep at the foot of the bed. An hour of television later and Samantha had started to doze off. Falling asleep at the end of the movie she was watching. Most of her day was spent resting until it was time to wake up and get dinner started. But all was peaceful and stayed peaceful until then.           The next day, Samantha had been up and atom since one o'clock in the afternoon. She had little sleep last night, as a result, the painting she had been working on had a lot done to it, and her sleep, and what felt like brain function, had adamantly suffered for it. There was too much to be done today to be a lazy, sleeper today though. So, she drug herself around the house, doing the dishes, cleaning, and other general housekeeping tasks she does twice a week. Any other day she merely would wipe down the stove or counter and rinse off dishes that she used and set them in the dishwasher till she had a full load, the bathroom would get a good wipe over too, but her cleaning days, however, were when she cleaned everything spotless.           Samantha sighed. Knowing she wasn't done. She had been cleaning the kitchen for the last forty five minutes, all it needed was for the countertops and table to be wiped off and then that was it. The floor could wait till the rest of the house was done.           Damon trotted over to his tired mommy, begging to go outside for potty time. Samantha got up and went to the backdoor, not saying anything other than "Go potty, Damon." shutting the door back. Samantha slumped down in a dining room chair, taking a sip of the tea she had sitting on a place mat. "So much to do but not enough energy to do it.." Her mumbling was the only thing keeping her awake, it was her way of keeping her brain aware of the things needing to be done. Although it had some affect, her mind would seldom care, wandering off till she felt tired, snapping herself back to reality.           Eventually, the tired blonde arose from her seat. Somehow she managed to find the motivation to move on to the next task, that task being to clean the living room and rid her furniture off all dust and dog hair, stuff that she always cleaned up, but that always made its way back onto everything not even a few hours later. This was the one room she hated to clean. Yes, her bedroom had the same issue, however, her bedroom was her private space, a room nobody else was allowed to enter without her permission. Her room was her least concern anyways being as it was all the way upstairs. The living room, on the other hand, is the very first thing you see when you walk through the front door, so she wanted it to look presentable at least to any guests who might come over. Not like she gets many of those to begin with. But whatever.           As Samantha was clearing everything off the shelves and table, setting them neatly on the couch and love seat, Damon began to bark at the backdoor. This was his cue to his human mother that he either wanted in or needed water. Samantha got his water bowl, adding water and some ice cubes to it, then she set it outside on the shady part of the patio where his outside dog bed and toy box were at. "Mom is cleaning the living room right now love. You will have to wait till I'm done. I won't know what's dog fur free and what's not silly thing." She said playfully yet seriously to Damon.           Now the real cleaning begins. Samantha looked around the room, armed with a spray bottle of Comet, a rag and a lint roller, getting to the hard work of clearing away dog fur and trying to reach the high places she was too short to get to. This was going to be fun is what she thought to herself sarcastically.             An hour had passed since Sam had started on the living room. It was done. Finally. "Damn I forget how big my house is sometimes." The living room alone could fit well over 20 people in it. The house itself could hold an entire college dorm party of 100 students inside. Well at least that's how it appeared, Samantha chose not to test that theory though. I mean, she might not be a clean freak, however, a house filled to the brim with frat boys and chicks caked in makeup with alcohol in hand could only end in a flirting, passed out and sick mess getting scattered about in her home. And that's one mess she would hate to clean up.           Damon was now allowed inside. A late lunch was in order for both him and Samantha. Chicken and sweet peas for Damon; spicy shrimp ramen for Samantha. "I think it's time I get these cabinets full again." She said to herself. "Ah, it can wait till tomorrow, I have enough for now." Sam was satisfied with how the house looked now. A few hours after lunch and some painting was done, Samantha, with a glass of sweet tea in hand, went to sit on the front porch, Damon, as always, following her to enjoy the cool air and colorful leaves. 'Beautiful.' Was all she could think. This was by far her favorite time of year. The day went on, sadly, soon bringing darkness over the bright colors and a sudden sense of loneliness to Samantha. A feeling that she isn't used to feeling. And one that she would understand more than ever as Autumn turned to Winter and the once colorful leaves were buried beneath the harsh snow, leaving the trees bare and dull. A person could only live a lonely, barren life for so long before their hearts and need for the comforting touch of another soul would catch up to them. For now, however, it was just Samantha and her dog.