Chapter Two: Understanding Of Sorrow And Hatred

Courage meekly typed in the sentence he hoped he never had to 'Muriel is dead…' Silence fell between the two again, much thicker and in a more depressing manner than before.

Clouds slipped past the moon, covering parts of the light shining in through the single window of the attic. No sound seemed to disrupt the silence between the two, the cricket's outside sounded like they were trying their hardest to stop the eerie silence befalling the two in the room. The computer stalled by coming up with a snappy response for the dog, "Y-you twit, that old bag couldn't have died… after all these years nothing had gotten her before...close but never actually dying."

Courage growled slightly as the tears poured out typing slower than before but putting a lot of pressure on the keys hoping to hurt the computer in some way,

'Don't you dare talk about Muriel like that! She died of a cancerous tumor and doesn't deserve that said about her!'

The computer paused again before answering the dog, still trying to find anything to say in this situation though it was hard. He had never experienced this first had and telling the dog 'I understand it's hard, but it's time to move on' wouldn't work for in fact he didn't understand one ounce of the pain the dog was feeling now.

Courage sighed slightly and removed his paw from the keyboard. The computer had fallen silent for nearly five minutes and didn't seem to be making any move to answer him. Things were falling apart and he hadn't eaten ever since Muriel closed her eyes for all of eternity in a peaceful dream of most likely a farm full of harvest and a happy life.

The computer stuttered again while trying to come up the right words to say. It was so hard...so hard for something that doesn't understand feelings to answer! He always could answer the twit, always giving the perfect solutions to problems, but how....how could he give advice on something that he had no data on? Something he would never understand?

"W-wait you twit! What about the other one living here? What has happened to him…?" The computer had to do anything, keep the dog from leaving this room. So many possible tragedies could befall the dog now and what with him being a computer and all how could he stop it while he was trapped in this damned monitor? The probability of the dog just committing suicide was high. If the computer could scan the dog's status right now he would understand that probability was higher than he has processed in his program.

Courage looked back slowly and went to go type  on the keyboard again. Just the thought of Eustace's last words before taking what he had needed and starting up that old truck angered him to no end. The growling started, Courage bared his teeth at the image of Eustace in his mind. Oh how Courage wished he could just go up and bite that man once and make him suffer for crushing the dreams Muriel had so willingly given up for him. Being gentle with the keys were the last thing on Courage's mind at the moment so again the pounding came though. The computer wasn't so glad about it at the moment under the current circumstances they were in right now.

'He left, abandoned the farm and everything in it but his chair and the T.V.!'

The computer was a little glad that Courage could get irritated at something like this, if he played everything out right then Courage could find another reason to live. Though the computer would rather this not be the reason for Courage to hold on but there was no other option available. So long as he had his twit alive until he understood another way to help, understand the feelings the dog was feeling.

"You'll just have to go after him then. Won't you, twit? Why don't you make him pay for leaving Muriel's dreams behind?"

Courage looked speechless at the moment after the computer's response. He had no idea where the man was right now or if he was okay for that matter. Plus Courage was the type of dog that would think of doing something like this then back out when the actual thing comes his way. Courage's paw shook as he went to go type something but jumped slightly when the sound of the door being knocked on loudly filled the gloomy house.

The computer didn't want Courage to go not with all the enemies he had made. This would be the perfect opportunity to strike him down. The endless possibilities made the computer uneasy, but Courage still went down anyway...slowly and cautiously.

"Hey! Come back here you twit!"

Courage ignored the computer's protesting and taunting comments as he went down to the door. The knocking was now gentle, making Courage a little less frightened in the back of his head. Nothing could be seen from the screen, and the knocking was seemingly coming from the lower part of the door. Quivering slightly Courage opened the door of the dark and depressing farm to find Shirley standing there with deeply sympathetic eyes.

Shirley stood there a moment then emit a sigh of relief. Her voice was soft and caring as she talked, "I saw what happened to your owner... and I wanted to help you out of this..."

Courage looked at her with false hope, she could contact the dead couldn't she? Then Courage could talk to Muriel again! Shirley understood what he was thinking and raised her paw to silence him,

"I cannot contact your Muriel... she has moved on to eternal rest by giving all of her dreams to somebody else and truly believing that they would accomplish those dreams..."

Courage looked upset and started to growl again, attempting to shut the door before she could try and earn money form him. Shirley moved quickly to stop Courage from slamming her out,


"Please... I wish to help you..."