Making a friend: Ch 2 En Route
#2 of Making a friend series
_The continuation of making a friend. Scott and John are on their way back home. _
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The drive north from Seattle to the boarder took a bit of time with the heavy rain. There wasn't much traffic at this time of night. The windshield had fogged up some and I had to resort to cracking the windows to keep it clear enough to drive. The sounds of the rain and noise of the road created a relaxing white noise and the time passed on in relative silence. I glanced back at John to find him craning his neck around to look out the back windows of the van and he even stretched it forwards to look out the passenger side window and it was then I noticed the sound of him sniffing at the air blowing in somewhat. I smirked at his curiosity and also was intrigued by what experiences our future together would bring. John was very different than any human and his outsider perspective of humanity and the world was something I was looking forward to learning from.
As we drew nearer to the border checkpoint I checked on my companion once more and found him to be a sleep. His long neck hung down over his chest and his long arms limp at his sides. The harness he wore held him in his seat even with his huge feet and legs stretched out before him. The overall visual made laugh to myself, my big new friend looked so dare I say it...cute in his current sleeping form, not unlike that boneless relaxed state small children display.
I returned my attention back to the road and saw the checkpoint station ahead and a small line of cars waiting their turn. I slowed to a stop to await my turn and reached over to get my paperwork out of the glove compartment. It was then I remember John's paperwork was still with the cases in the back of the van so I unfastened my seat belt and tried to get in back without waking my sleeping passenger. Somehow my sneaking was not up to the task and John flinched awake suddenly startling me in the process. He looked quickly to me then ahead out the window.
"Is something wrong?" He asked.
"No, no, we are just coming up to the border crossing checkpoint and I needed to get some paperwork from the stuff in back." I explained as I opened up the big binder and looked through some of the pages.
"Why do we need papers to cross a boarder?" He asked as he turn his long neck to look at me once more.
Having found what I needed I returned to my seat and buckled back in. Two cars had progressed past and I pulled forward enough to close the gap.
"Well it is something that different counties require people to do so they can keep track of who and what comes into and leaves their lands."
"Sounds very complex, what happens if someone sneaks in or out?"
"Well if they are caught they get sent away out of the country or they could be sent to jail. We don't want bad people coming in and hurting others."
"What is jail?" He asked.
"That is a place where people are sent as punishment for breaking laws." I explained.
"What are laws?" Queried John, his mind seemed eager to learn of the world around him.
"Laws are rules that everyone in a society must follow, they are made to keep people safe and out of trouble." I said to him as I pulled forward some more. Two cars left ahead of me.
"Does the paperwork you have allow us to get in to this country?"
"Oh do not worry I am a citizen of Canada and have my passport. And the paperwork I had to get was yours so you could enter the country."
"Will I be a citizen of Canada to?" He asked and looked at me.
I turned to look at John, "I don't know, we will have to look into that once we get home and your settled in."
"Good, I don't want to go to jail, I want to stay with you." He said and gave a sharp bob of his neck in a nod of affirmation.
Once more I pulled forward and rolled up under a lighted covered section of the road. The boarder agent walked up to my driver side window with a tablet computer in his hand. As he approached I lowered the window down to talk to him.
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The agent wore a uniform with the required badge and belt. He was about 5'8" and had a stocky build. His head was balding but what hair remained was brown mixed with gray. He carried a tablet pc in his left hand and had a tired express on his face.
"Hello sir, welcome to Canada." He intoned wearily.
"Hello and thank you, I am glad to be back home."
"You're a Canadian citizen then sir?"
"Yes."
"May I see your passport then please?"
I passed him my papers, he took them and gave them a look over.
"Okay sir, what was the nature of your business in America sir?" He asked as he tapped away on his tablet and entered information from my passport.
" I was in America to pickup my companion and bring him home."
"Does your friend have his passport?" The agent asked as he looked passed me and towards to passenger side.
"My companion is seated in back and here is his documents." I offered him John's paperwork the company had provided for me.
The agent took the papers and looked them over. Turning the pages he came upon his photographs and that gave the agent a noticeable pause. His right eyebrow arched in a very "Vulcan" like way, but the look on the rest of his face had a hint of something darker.
"You have this thing in the van with you?" He asked in a less than friendly tone.
"Yes, my companion is seated in back as I said, is something wrong?"
"Sir I will need to inspect your van and your cargo, please step out of the vehicle and open your side and cargo doors."
A bit worried I did as requested. The agent waved at some other agents in the other booths who made their way over to my van. Four agents total and two of their dogs now stood near the side cargo door. I was feeling rather alarmed by this reaction they were having.
"Okay sir, open the door slowly." The original agent instructed me and I did so. The door slid open and there was John looking down at us with curious eyes and big round ears trained forward.
The agents just stared and the dogs began to growl aggressively. The original agent swore under his breath and his hand flinched towards the gun on his belt.
"Please have that thing get out of your van slowly please."
"Excuse me, but he is not a thing and HE has a NAME." I retorted as I grew a little angry with the agent's attitude and tone.
The agent bristled at my comment and I noticed his face turn a shade red. One of the other agents stepped up and addressed me more civility.
"Sorry sir, but could you ask him..."
"John." was my companion's simple statement.
Everyone turned to look at my companion. "What?" Asked the second guard.
"My name his John and I will get out if you need me to, but please do not send Scott to jail.", he replied with a note of alarm, his eyes flicked from the agent to me with some uncertainty.
"No one is going to jail John", the second agent assured John. "Would you please step out of the van?"
"As you wish." And he worked at undoing his harness. Having some trouble I helped him and we managed to get him free. I moved out of his way and John moved to get out of the van. As nearly 10 feet of white furred bear stood up the van rocked and raised up visibly. Another of the agents whistled in surprise at my friend I noted with some pride.
The dogs growled more at John and he regarded them with interest. The other agents hauled the dogs back and the first agent told them to check the van. With dogs in tow they gave my van an inspection.
"May I have John's documentation, I am more familiar with these companions." The first agent gave John a hard to read look then handed over both our papers to the second agent. After that the agent walked over to stand by the back of the van.
After looking both sets of paperwork over he gave a nod to both of us and then passed everything back to me. "Thank you for your compliance, all appears to be in order. Once we clear your van you can go on your way."
A few minutes later the agents shook their heads at their comrade standing next to John and I, then returned to their booths. The original agent turned and went back into his own booth as well.
The remaining agent glared at the last man to leave then turned and smiled at us. With that he welcomed John to Canada and me back home. We returned to our van and departed. I was glad to have that whole mess behind us. The one agent's reaction confused me and I couldn't figure out any possible reason for it. One thing worried me as we travelled farther down the roadway, how were other people going to treat John.
I looked back at him to see how he was doing. John was looking back out the rear windows, back towards to the border checkpoint.
"I'm sorry about that John, not all people act that way."
"I don't understand, Did I do something wrong?"
"No, you did nothing wrong my friend." I assured him.
John turned back to me and gazed out the front. The rain was finally letting up. We had several hours left ahead of us and so we drove on. We talked about different things John would encounter in the world and I assured my friend I would not let anyone hurt him. He seemed to take comfort in that and soon dozed off again. Another hour passed and my eyes began to tire and sting with fatigue. So I pulled into a decent looking hotel and while John slept I got a room with two queen sized beds. Once we got to the room we once more unharnessed John and he shambled inside and sat upon the nearest bed. Outside dawn was breaking but we both were too tired to notice.
"Here John make yourself comfortable." And I helped him onto the bed. He fumbled at the metal snaps holding his clothing together and popped himself free of the nylon jump suite. With some wiggling he got the outfit off and kicked off his large boots. There he flexed his toes with their thick short claw tips. Finally he stretched out on the bed in nothing but his fur.
"Comfortable now?" I asked as I looked over his form. His body was very impressive to me and I admired the view. I tried my best to avoid looking at his bearhood, but failed. I indulged a quick glance then looked away.
After a jaw popping yawn he nod to me. "I am very tired and starting to feel hungry." He informed me.
"First we sleep then we can get something to eat." I explained as I sat on the other bed. I removed my own shoes and took off my over shirt. Still in my pants and t-shirt I lay on top of my own bed.
John looked over at me then at himself. "Is it customary to sleep in the clothing?"
"Different people sleep in different ways. I often sleep in my pants and shirt."
"Do you want me to wear the clothing I had on?" He asked as he looked at his discarded outfit.
"I want you to be comfortable around me and at home once we get there. You are free to choose what or what not to wear." I explained, "but when other people are around it is customary to wear proper clothing."
"I understand, please help me if I am not doing something right." He asked and then with another yawn, he lay back and closed his eyes.
Fairly soon I was asleep myself. The only thing to disturb me was my bed sagging deeply to one side and something warm now very near to my right side. But my mind paid it little interest in its sleep addled state.
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I don't know how long I slept, but I felt rested enough once I awoke. The room was dark for the most part except for a thin stream of sunlight shining through the crack in the curtain. I noticed at once that something big and heavy was in bed next to me and I took no time to figure out who it would be.
The dim light illuminating the room was enough to allow me to see him next to me. He lay on his side, his broad back was turned to me but he was practically right up against me and I could see the rise and fall of his ribs as he breathed. He was so close that I couldn't resist slowly running my left hand down his back, his fur felt so soft yet was still firm to the touch. I let my hand wondered up his back along his spine and felt the mass of muscle at his shoulders, everything under his fur was hard muscle and rather thrilling. I caught myself wondering just how strong he possibly was and gave a slight shudder at the power housed within his body.
I rubbed his broad back again and John stirred slightly and gave a soft growl that I hoped was a note of pleasure. I still had much to learn about him and his mannerisms. He stirred more and leaned back towards me trying to see me in the dimness.
"Hello there." He grunt to me, he still appeared to be groggy with sleep.
"Time to get up." I informed him with a gentle push towards the edge of the bed.
He grunted and made to get setup and I sat up quickly myself. Only then did I notice his bed appeared to be rather a mess. The sheets and pillows were on the floor and the top mattress itself was near off the bed as well.
"Sleep okay?" I noted with some sarcasm, but that appeared to go over his head.
John looked at the other bed then look up to me. "I couldn't get comfortable so I slept next to you, that seemed to help me." He stated it as a simple fact.
I sat down next to him after he set up. I looked at the bed again and then back to him. "You sure your okay John, If you want to talk you can tell me anything."
John rubbed the side of his neck and under his chin." I didn't like being alone and couldn't sleep over there." he then looked at me intently, "Did I break another human social custom?". He appeared slightly alarmed at the idea.
"Well sleeping in bed with someone is not very uncommon, but you might want to ask permission if it is okay with whomever is in bed first." I couldn't help but laugh a little as I continued, "But it is not a major issue normally, friends often share a bed together if they are very tired so we're okay together."
John gave me another nod of understanding. "I hope I did not make you uncomfortable sleeping next to you."
"No you didn't, It means a lot to me that you feel comfortable around me." I assured him.
John smiled then for the first time and I my eyes lingered, momentarily lost in his golden eyes.
"Come on, let's get something to eat and get back on the road, we will be home soon."
And so we got dressed again and returned to the van and our journey.