"Oh, Malcolm, I'm just worried sick about him! He's not eating or anything!"
I stand by the window. The sun is out and I can see the world outside better. I lick my paws that are wet from the grass. It's extra wet and messy out there now from me. But not by much. I'm still not hungry or thirsty. I must watch and wait again. He'll come back today.
"He's just sitting by the window waiting for you! I wish he would eat...."
The woman has one of those things humans talk to. She's talking to someone and looking at me. She's upset. So am I. My owner can't have left me here. He hasn't given me away. He still loves me!
More cars! Must yip! Must dig the windows! Maybe he can't hear me. I'll yip louder! With every ounce of my body! Every strand of fur! Every muscle! I'll use my weak paw and break right through! I can feel my teeth growing! Sharp and sharper still! I'll chew right through, I'll get to him! I'll find him!
"If you really think so...okay..."
The woman stops talking but I barely notice! I'm yipping up a storm!
"Malcolm thinks he'll eat eventually if we just leave him alone."
"And if he doesn't?"
"Call the vet, I guess..."
The cars disappear one by one. My owner isn't in any of them. I stop yipping and digging and chewing. I go back to watching and waiting. My shoulders ache and my stomach churns. Cold air still blows around the house. I shiver. I lie down. I sigh and close my eyes.
**********
I finally give in and lick a bit of water. I nibble a bit of food. I keep looking back at the window to make sure there really aren't any cars coming. There's nothing. So I eat and drink. The woman is on the floor with me. She pets me and speaks softly.
"That's a good boy...good boy..."
Her hands are gentle. I don't mind that she pets me. I can smell something on her. Something familiar. I look into her face as I eat.
"He's eating now, William."
"Oh, that's good."
I drink more water. It splashes all over the floor. My stomach doesn't churn anymore. I stretch and my shoulders don't ache. I let the woman pet me and I stand there.
"He'll come back, Charlie. He'll come back."
I lick her hand. She really isn't so bad.
**********
I still refuse to sleep with the humans. I must sleep out here in the cold air and wait. He will be back any minute. And I'll be here when he does. I'll be the first to say hello. The first to lick his face. And we'll go home. And he'll never leave me again.
**********
The weather is getting colder. The cold air that blows inside is gone. It's replaced with warm air. Sleeping on the floor isn't as bad as before. I love the warm air blowing through my fur. I sleep better. I wake up with more energy. I don't shiver anymore. I wait eagerly for my owner's arrival. I eat more and drink more. Knowing that any minute he'll be here.
**********
There's rain everywhere. Outside is cold and wet and I want none of it. The woman takes me outside to wet and I do but I do it quickly. I don't bother kicking up wet dirt. It gets in my toes and I have to lick them clean. It tastes awful. The woman takes me back inside and I shake. I shake and shake and roll around on the carpet. I sneeze and sneeze again. I hear water running inside but I don't bother to check. I have to stand by the window. He might be here.
