hard life

part 14

eli: MAX. 

i look at him. 

max: what did you say sorry? 

eli: you kept saying bingo whos that? 

max: bingo he was a dog we had he sniffed out mines he was doing a good job and he got shot and died next to me. 

eli: oh max im so sorry we can get a cat or.......

max: no no eli a dogs fine. 

eli: are you sure? 

max: yea 100%. 

he nods. 

kate: mommy daddy im done. 

we get up and go tho her room it was clean but a shoe was on the floor. 

kate: the pwace it goes i couwdnt reach. 

Eli picks up the shoe and he puts it up.  

Eli: well your room looks good i think we go dog shopping.  

Kate: YAY PUPPY.  

She jumps up and down i laugh we get ready and we leave.  We go in pet smart a worker walks up to us.  

Lady: hi welcome to pet smart is there anything i can help you with?  

Kate: puppies.  

She crouches.  

Lady: you wanna see the puppies?

Kate nods and smiles.  

The lady stands and looks at us eli nods she agrees and takes us to the dogs she takes a dog pen out and she sets it up.  She places the 3rd puppy in the pen it jumps on kate and she giggles.  The dogs lick her face and she keeps laughing and petting them.  

Flashback.  

I was laying on the bed and the door opens something jumps on me i sit up quickly and theres a puppy on my bed.  

Mary: sargent this is your new partner bingo you will train him and teach him how to smell out mines.  

Max: ok commander i will.  

I spend weeks training bingo we got really close with each other i loved him his moationless body flashes in my eyes.  

Kate: MOMMY LOOK.  

I shake my head and look down shes holding a puppy.  

Kate: his name is duke. 

i smile. 

max: hes adorable. 

she smiles he licks her face she giggles. 

kate: duke duke stop it tickles. 

she laughs. 

eli: lets pick some toys out for duke. 

she smiles and sets him down i crouch and quickly grab him before he could run. 

eli: sweetie you cant let him go in the store ok? 

kate: sorry daddy. 

max: its ok honey ill carry him. 

we shop for toys for him and we get him a collar and a tag that has elis address and info on it.  He kept licking my face the whole time he reminded me so much of bingo but i pushed the memories away.  eli pay for the stuff and the dog.  we go back to his house it was late. 

eli: i think its bed time for someone. 

kate: noooo daddy i dont wanna sleep. 

eli: munchkin you have to and than you can play with duke all day tomorrow. 

kate: but daddy i dont want to sleep. 

he sighs. 

max: eli i got this go lay down. 

he nods and goes to his room. 

max: sweetie how about if you go to sleep ill ask eli to get ice cream for tomorrow. 

kate: ok mommy. 

she runs to her room duke following her she gets in be and moves over duke gets in bed. 

max: good night honey. 

kate: night night mommy. 

duke barks and he licks her face she giggles.  i walk out and leave the door open a crack.  i go and lay on the couch i drift off to sleep. 

i start having a really bad dream

max: STEVE GET OFF THE MINE IM GETTING ON IT. 

steve: no your not. 

i push him back and step on it blows i shoot up in tears and yelling. 

eli: MAX MAX HEY ITS OK. 

he hugs me i hug back and cry into his shoulder. 

eli: come on come lay with me you  have thats appointment tomorrow. 

we get up and go to his room he lays me down and he gets under the blanket too.  he covers us up i curl up he pulls me close to him and he wraps his arms around me. 

eli: its ok it was just a dream. 

he kisses my forhead i drift back off to sleep again.