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They need groceries, they haven´t been to the store in some time and they really need food. Mac is in the garden playing with Avogadro and as much as he hates to pull Mac from his play time with the dog, they really need to get going before it gets too busy at the supermarket. Mac still doesn´t cope well with large crowds. It has something to do with being locked up alone for so long. The therapist explained that Mac has a distorted view of the world because of his so called ‘training’. No need to dwell on it. They need food.
‘Mac! We really need to get going to the supermarket.’
Mac immediately stops what he is doing and calls Avogadro to him. The dog quickly goes in work mode. When Mac enters the house he takes the dog´s harness and pulls it over her head.
‘OK, let’s go, than we are back before the big rush.’
Mac follows him to the car without saying anything. Jack drives them to the large Walmart out of town, so they can get everything they need in one go. He pulls out the list he made and hands it to Mac, you are in charge of the routing, how do we get everything the fastest? Mac immediately starts studying the grocery list and tells they need to go to the produce first. Jack steers them towards it and they starts getting fruits and vegetables for the rest of the week.
‘Next is meat.’ Mac states quietly.
‘Oh, that is close to the pet food. Why don´t you get Avogadro´s food while I get the meat.’
Mac looks up from the list. For some reason he is not at ease in the large supermarkets. He is OK when they go to pet stores, but the larger stores for some reason aren´t his thing. Too many variables Jack guesses. He can remember he had problems going into these when he first arrived back Stateside. Jack thinks this could be a good exercise in gaining more independence. He can see Mac´s hand is resting on the dog´s head, seeking reassurance. Avogadro stands still full confidence, looking up at Mac.
‘Go on, you can do this, I will be here. You can´t miss me. Avogadro is with you.’
Mac is clearly in doubt, he looks behind him towards the aisle and back to Jack.
‘You can do this Mac. I am right here.’
Mac gives a small nod and slowly walks towards the aisle with the dog food. Jack can see Avogadro has picked up on Mac’s insecurity and stays close, giving Mac support. He knows Mac can do this and he is here. He turns and makes his way to the meat, checking out what they will need for a couple of days.
* * *
Mac walks through the aisle, looking for the snacks they always buy. Avogadro earned her snacks. Now that his mind is busy, he is OK. When he finds them, he studies all the options, he never realized there were so many.
‘Hey, cute dog you got there.’
Mac ignores the voice, he just needs the snacks and get back to Jack.
‘You are not too bad looking yourself.’
Mac can feel a shiver travel over his spine and Avogadro must pick up on it, because the dog stays close to him, facing whomever is talking to him. Mac moves away and Avogadro stays between the two men, her attention full on the man.
‘Hey, I’m talking to you, pretty. Are you alone?’
The moment the man comes closer, Avogadro starts growling low in her throat.
‘Hey man, call your dog off. I am just talking to you. Look at me!’
Mac has gone completely still. The moment the man reaches out to take Mac´s arm to pull him around, Avogadro starts barking.
‘Hey! What do you think you are doing?’ Jack barks, running towards the scene.
‘Mind your own damn business, I was talking to this fine piece first.’
Before the guy can say or do anything, Jack pushes him away from Mac, ‘stay away from him, pervert.’
‘Hey, what now? The kid never said he didn´t want me here. I thought he was alone and needed help.’
‘Was the dog’s response not enough? Walk away before I do something I am going to regret.’
Meanwhile store clerks arrived at the scene and Jack explains what he saw. The man states he just wanted Mac’s help with something. Jack already turned his attention to Mac and Avogadro.
‘It’s OK Mac, he can´t do anything, Avogadro had your back. Good dog!’ he pets the dog who whines to get Mac´s attention.
‘I’m sorry this happened sir, why don´t you give your grocery list to us and go have a seat in our office and have a drink to calm down.’ The store manager offers. ‘We are taking the gentleman to another office to have a talk to the police. Do you want to press charges?’
‘Yes, I would like to talk to the cops, but we will take that offer to settle Mac first.’
‘Sure, follow me.’
The store manager leads them to what appears to be a cafeteria for the staff, but there is nobody there. There are several vending machine with sodas and coffee. The man hands them two tokens they can use to get a complementary drink.
‘I am going to wait for the cops.’ The man says.
‘Thanks.’
The man leaves and Jack turns his attention to Mac, ‘ hey kid, how are you doing?’
‘I’m fine’ he whispers but the rocking clearly tell a different story.
‘No you are not, and it is OK to be scared, that man had no right to approach you like that and I am sorry that I pushed you to do something you weren’t ready for.’
Mac shakes his head, his eyes look sad and Avogadro paws at him and Mac pets her, calming himself. Jack gets them both a soda and hands it to Mac, ‘drink up Mac, you can use the sugar.’
‘Sir?’
Two police officers are standing in the door opening. Jack tells Mac that he is going to talk to the police officers but that he will stay in Mac’s line of vision. Getting up, he walks towards the officers.
‘Good afternoon, we were called by the store manager, we understand that your son was harassed by the man they are holding?’
‘Yes he was, he has a therapy dog since he has trouble communicating and the man was coming on to him.’
‘The man claims the dog attacked him.’
‘Have him checked in a hospital, the dog never touched him, It’s a therapy dog, it was wearing a harness identifying it as such. The dog started barking when the predator tried to grab Mac´s arm. That is what alerted me and the store clerks.’
‘So you didn´t see him making a move?’
‘No, I didn´t but it was clear when I arrived what he wanted, he told me so himself.’
‘Do you want to press charges?’
‘Well, you won´t get much from Mac, but yes.’
‘Can you come to the precinct to give your statement?’ The officer looks sympathetically at Mac who is holding on to Avogadro.
‘I can´t leave Mac alone and I don´t want to upset him by having to stay in a crowded police station.’
‘No problem. We can come to your house to get it. Do you have ID?’
‘Sure.’ Jack hands his ID over to the officer, who jots down the info before handing his ID back.
‘You are free to go, if you want. Hope your son can place the incident.’
Jack nods, before walking back to Mac. Almost at the same time the store clerk arrives to tell them the groceries are ready at the register.
‘Ready to go home Mac?’
Mac gives a small nod. Jack takes his arm and pulls him up and guides him to the register the store manager indicates. Jack can see they already scanned and bagged everything, so he pays and one of the clerks pushes the cart to their car.
‘Thanks.’ He says, giving the man a generous tip.
‘You are more than welcome, sorry that this happened in our store, sir.’
‘Not your fault.’
Jack drives Mac home and is worried about how still Mac is. He hates that what was supposed to be a step in more independence may have backfired and caused more damage. When they arrive, Jack lets Mac in the house.
‘Can you take care of Avogadro, so I can unload the car?’
Mac nods.
When Jack has carried everything in the house, he sits down opposite of Mac. Avogadro is sitting almost on top of Mac´s feet.
‘Look, I am sorry Mac.’
Mac looks up in confusion, so Jack clarifies, ‘that that jerk came onto you. That I wasn´t there with you.’
Mac shakes his head indicating he doesn´t think it is Jack´s fault.
‘It feels like I failed you.’
Mac shakes his head, ‘you didn´t. You were there for me, like Avogadro.’
‘Yes, but still.’
‘Why did he do it? Was it something I did?’ Mac whispers miserably.
‘No, no, kid, don´t ever think that. He is a predator, but it wasn´t something you did. Remember that, OK?’
‘But Master always said I was gorgeous and made for this.’
Jack grids his teeth taking deep breaths.
‘That man wasn´t your master and he had no right to abuse you.’
He can see Mac doesn’t agree, he can see it in Mac´s eyes that he still believes that garbage Philips told him, but doesn´t want to confront Jack. It is a miracle in itself that Mac talks this much, so the incident must have affected him quiet badly.
‘It’s OK Mac, let’s get some milk and some of those delicious chocolate chip cookies you chose.’
Mac smiles at the memory that they got those at the store bakery and gets up and goes through the groceries to find the cookies while Jack pours them two glasses of milk. They will need to address this, but not now. He will make a call to Matty later when he is alone. She will find out who this guy is that bothered Mac.