12 Can you be my pet?

My legs were hurting so much yet I followed the boy in front of me.

His trousers were dirty and cut in certain areas. His legs were scratched and blistered. Leaves were sticking on his hair.

I looked down at my own dress and it didn't look any better. To top it all off, my left leg had a small cut, which was bleeding. Though it wasn't hurting, the mild sting reminded me that my leg needed a band-aid when I got home.

"Danuj, are we there yet?" I whined as I swept back the sticky hair falling on my forehead. "Amma and aunty are going to be worried sick if we aren't at the school waiting for them."

"Uthra! Will you keep quiet for a moment?" Danuj asked, sounding cross, "I'm trying to show you something I haven't showed to anyone. We'll be there soon, so keep quiet!"

Danuj brushed the small twigs and branches that were low enough to be in the way of us, despite how short we were.

"Danuj..." I called again. "I don't think wandering off in the woods is a good idea. We are just kids."

Danuj completely ignored me and walked faster.

"We will get lost easily," I said, worried, trying to keep up with his pace.

"Being ideal student, again?" he barked annoyed. "For love's sake, we are nine!"

"That's the problem. We are only nine!"

"Shut up."

"Are we there yet?"

"Shut up."

"My legs are hurting."

"Argh, why did I even think of bringing you here?" Danuj said angrily.

"Because we are friends!" I chirped proudly.

"I wonder how I even became friends with you."

"That's mean."

"Oh, don't start crying, crybaby."

"I'm not a crybaby!" I said, stomping my feet.

"Stop whining. Crybabies do that."

"I'm not whining..."

"I said shut up," he said as he held a branch away so that I could walk by, "we are there."

I looked forward and saw more trees. More dark, intimidating, scary, coniferous trees.

"What's here to see?" I asked meekly, looking at Danuj, whose face was covered with dozens scratches from the thorns and twigs.

This many blisters to see more trees? I was disappointed.

"Look here, dummy," he said, and walked a few yards forward, kneeling beside a pile of rocks.

I went behind him and crouched to get a view of what he was showing. At first all I saw was a white ball of fur but when I strained my eyes, I made out its shape. "It's a rabbit!" I squealed, stretching my hands to take it.

"Wait," Danuj stopped me, "it's injured." He took it gently from its well-hidden spot, cradling it to his chest. His eyes were glowing and there was a kind smile on his lips. Danuj loved animals.

"Can I hold it?" I whispered, looking at Danuj's warm brown eyes.

"That's why I took you here, dummy, " he said placing the baby rabbit carefully in my outstretched hands.

"I found him last week when I came to my secret place in the woods. He was badly injured but I treated him. Today, I'm taking him home."

"How do you know he is a he?" I asked as I kissed it's small head.

Danuj looked at me as if I was the stupidest person ever.

"I just know that he is a boy," he said stroking the rabbit's ears.

"I feel like he is a she," I said, hugging the rabbit ever so gently. "What is her name?"

"I thought I'd discuss with you and name him."

I laughed mildly when I saw how he stressed the word “him.”

I saw Danuj's cheeks going rosy. I didn't know how he managed to make them go all rosy. I'd tried to make my cheeks rosy but they never become red. Maybe it was because he was fairer than me.

"Jeremy," I said, smiling.

"Not again," Danuj groaned, his voice sounding even more girlish and squeaky than mine.

I always found it strange. All the voices of the grown men were loud and gruff. But the voices of all the boys in my class were even more high pitched than us girls’ voices.

"Please?"

I tilted my head and gave my best puppy eyes. My daddy always said okay when I gave him the puppy eyes. I saw Danuj's rosy cheeks turn even redder.

"No."

"Please, Danuj."

"No."

"Danuj, Danuuuujjjj... please, please, pleaseeee," I whined, pouting my lips.

Danuj's whole face was red now. I really, really envied him. How does his face change colour like that?

"No, Uthra."

"I want to call something Jeremy," I said, my eyes welling up.

"Stop that!" Danuj shouted. His eyes widened when he saw tears flowing down my cheeks.

"Uthra," his voice was worried and shaky. "Uthra, don't cry. Please? Don't cry."

"Then let's call her Jeremy."

"No."

"Danuj!" I wailed loudly. "Please." Danuj moved closer and rubbed his sleeved hands over my eyes and nose, spreading tears and snot everywhere. I controlled my tears and looked at him.

"Okay, okay, Uthra. Stop crying. We are going to call the rabbit Gonzales—" my eyes welled up again "— but you can call me, Jeremy."

"What?" I asked, looking at him with the expression with which he, most of the time, looked at me.

Was he stupid? Why would I call him Jeremy? He was already named Danuj.

"Call me Jeremy."

"No." I shook my head seriously.

"Why?"

"Because you are Danuj."

"But you said you wanted to call something Jeremy."

"I meant pets, Danuj."

"I'm—" Danuj stopped and looked away, his cheeks were once again becoming rosy. I really, really, really envied him for that.

"You are...?" I asked slowly.

Danuj sighed and his whole face became red. "I'm your... pet. So please, call me Jeremy."

"Seriously?!" I squealed with happiness.

I felt like jumping up and down and screaming at the top of my lungs. All these years, I've wanted to call a pet Jeremy and here Danuj was, asking me to call him Jeremy.

Yay!

"Can I pat your head since you are my pet?" I asked Danuj.

"Whatever."

He shifted his eyes towards the sinking evening sun.

I giggled as I patted his fluffy chocolate hair as I balanced Gonzales in my other hand.

I felt Danuj stiffen under my hand but he stiffened even more when I caressed his cheek. This time, along with his face, his ears and neck became red.

"You look like a tomato."

"Shut up."

"Mmm, I love tomatoes!"

"Shut up."

And before I could say anything, he started walking after snatching Gonzales away.

We walked silently when I remembered something.

"Danuj?" I called softly.

"Pet," he whispered, and a huge smile spread on my face.

I giggled uncontrollably. "Je— Jeremy?"

"Mmhmm?"

"Are you a pet dog or a pet cat?" I asked as I hopped alongside him.

He stopped at my question. I turned to him and suddenly he pinched my cheeks, looking very serious.

"I'm a dragon," he said and started walking, "so now, shut up."