My prompt was... A boy is stuck in an elevator with a mysterious hobo and a talking dog.
He pushed the UP button angrily, fuming silently.
I'm not crazy.
He waited, arms crossed, tapping a toe, as the elevator dinged down, a light identifying each floor.
I don't need a therapist.
His parents had dropped him off. "You're out of control, Jason. Therapy will help you. We've got to go." And they drove off into the smoggy city.
I'm fine. I don't need therapy.
The doors slid open, and he stepped into the metal box with the ugly patterned carpet. He leaned against the wall and glanced at the slip of paper. Room 507 Dr. Robinson
The elevator slowed to a stop, and the doors opened again.
A man walked in with a black lab following at his heels. He nodded in greeting and moved to the opposite corner.
Jason stared, first at the man and then at the dog.
The man was obviously homeless. The gray hair spilling out of a tattered navy-blue toboggan needed a good wash, and his tan leathery skin could go for one too. His dirty green jacket covered a shirt that may have once been white.
Jason sighed and closed his eyes as a horrid smell wafted over. He frowned nervously as the elevator shuddered to a stop uncalled for. The lights flickered crazily, throwing them into darkness, only to jerk them back into the light.
The man didn't react at all, though the dog whined softly.
"Come on, Bernie. We've been through worse than this. Remember the time that train stopped?"
"And we got kicked off, because you didn't have me housed properly."
Jason blinked and studied the dog. In the odd lighting, he couldn't tell, but it was almost like... No, that was impossible, that was... crazy.
I'm not crazy.
"Well, for that, and I didn't really pay for a ticket."
The dog seemed to lose interest in the conversation, if there ever was one, and focused on Jason. "Hello, I'm Bernie."
Jason grew cold.
I'm not crazy.
The hobo sighed and shrugged. "He can't hear you either."
The elevator was silent for a minute, and the dog shook its head. "I could have sworn he looked straight at me, when I was talking about that train."
"You're barking to him. You know how people are, touchy about noise and such."
Jason backed against the wall. "I'm Jason," he managed through dry lips.
I'm not crazy. I'm not crazy.
The man cut him a suspicious look. "Who're you talkin' to?"
Jason swallowed and replied, "The dog." If the hobo could hear him... Maybe this really was a- a talking dog.
The man beamed at him. "What'd he say?"
"His name's Bernie. You didn't... put him in a cage, when you boarded a train."
The hobo was in front of him suddenly, smiling and shaking his hand. "Yes, yes! I've been waiting for someone, and finally, someone can hear him!" He did a little dance and pointed at himself. "I'm Grayson."
Jason smiled, trying to breathe through the pungent smell. "Where'd you get the dog?"
Grayson shrugged. "Just found him."
"Ahh..." He looked at the black dog again as it approached.
"Don't talk about people behind their backs."
Jason had no answer to this.
I'm... not crazy?
Grayson began on a long story, the dog inserting his own opinions here and there.
Jason listened, confused and worried.
I'm not crazy. I'm not crazy. I'm not crazy. I'm not crazy.
He jumped when the doors were forced open. He looked up, and a man smiled down. "Hey. The elevator broke down. Luckily, it was a quick fix, and you're gonna get out of here. You're way better than most other people. Normally they're freaking out by now."
"Well, you took your precious time," Bernie said drily.
The elevator techie acted like he didn't hear the dog and motioned for Jason to come out.
Jason stared at the elevator techie.
I'm not crazy. I'm not crazy. I'm not crazy. I'm not crazy. I'm... crazy. I can hear a stupid talking dog that only a hobo can hear.
He stumbled out of the elevator and ran down the hallway.
501, 503, 505, 507
He pounded on the door and sighed in relief when it opened.
Dr. Robinson was a tan man with gray hair. He wore a green jacket over a white shirt. "Hello, I guess you're Jason. I'm Dr. Robinson, but you can call me Grayson."
