Rex was Jimmy’s pet. Jimmy called him a dog and gave him praise or scolding as the situation required. When Rex did tricks, like shaking hands or begging, Jimmy gave him a delicious treat. But sometimes Rex was rebellious, as dogs can be. Rex sometimes refused to beg, or tried to steal treats without performing the expected trick. This happened typically when Jimmy asked Rex to perform more strenuous tricks. A full backflip, perhaps, or singing a song. Rex had trouble pronouncing the words in Jimmy’s songs while keeping in tune.

Whenever Rex was disobedient, Jimmy knew he had to lay down the law. Dogs can only learn through experience, he knew: disobedience had to be punished. Jimmy might refuse Rex food for the night, or give Rex a short yet fierce blow to the nose. These were punishments Jimmy knew were effective in teaching dogs.

Rex’s name was given by Jimmy. Rex, Jimmy thought, was a good name for a dog. Rex had to accept the name Jimmy gave because any whimper of protestation led to the aforementioned punishments.

This is the story of the way Rex, Jimmy’s beloved pet, died.

Rex had spent a night with no food for failing to complete a Rubiks cube for Jimmy. He was hungry and had gone the night whimpering, as dogs do. Rex, with sweat pouring down his smooth skin, and a feverish mindset, decided to take a chance for food. He ran at the gate that kept him in his dark metal cage, and pushed with all his might, but to no avail. The metal was too resistant. It came upon Rex that he had to be strong in wits to escape, rather than strong in physique. His cage was locked by a padlock that he could open, if only he had a key. Rex happened to know that there was a work table next to his cage, just in reach from the bars. Before looking Rex hoped and prayed under his breath that the tools had been left out, and they were. Just in reach, Rex caught a glimpse of the shine on the end of a screwdriver. Finally, he thought, something of use. Rex’s hungry mind remembered now his previous night’s dinner of which there remained a bone. Rex gathered his tools: a screwdriver and a bone, all he would need to escape. Rex now proceeded to gnaw on the bone with a new resolved strength. He continued for hours until the bone was a sharp point. He knew he had to finish quickly: Jimmy would wake up soon. Rex brought the bone’s point and the screwdriver to the padlock through the bars. He had learned how to pick locks before Jimmy had owned him. Now Rex the dog used his hands, taking advantage of his opposable thumbs to pick the lock. After several attempts the lock gave, and fell from the door. Miraculously, the door opened.

Rex knew Jimmy kept his food in the room that he slept in, so Rex knew he would have to sneak carefully past Jimmy’s sleeping body. To his surprise, however, upon opening the door to Jimmy’s room, Rex found that Jimmy was not inside. This puzzled Rex for a moment but soon his hunger took over and her dove for his food. It was a feast, with no sign of stopping, a full bag of food just waiting to be eaten. A fridge, full of meats, vegetables, Rex didn’t care so long as it fed his insatiable stomach.

Jimmy walked in. “What are you doing out, Rex?” he demanded. “Get back in your cage!”

Rex knew not what to do: he did not want to go back into the cage. Jimmy took decisive action, however, grabbing Rex to force him to his cage. Rex went into a rage. Like the dog he was, Rex bit Jimmy to try to get loose. Jimmy shouted and pushed Rex away. Rex had his chance to leave but he didn’t. His eyes never left Jimmy and he charged to cause more trouble.

Bang.

Rex the rabid dog fell, hit by the shot of Jimmy’s shotgun, and died. Like a dog.

Having heard the blast, police officers arrived at the scene promptly. But it was fine, Jimmy explained, nothing but a disobedient dog.