"Another month?"
"Just until the album's finished, love. I'll be back before the tour starts. I promise."
I sniff my owner's shoes. They smell like grass and petrol. He kneels down and pets me behind the ears. I lick his face and he smiles, closing his eyes. I love him. He's gone a lot but he still loves me. He loves all of us. He smiles and he speaks and he laughs. I wag my tail.
"Linda, are you seein' what I'm seein'?"
The woman kneels down next to him. "What?"
"Little guy's got grey hair!"
I try to lick both their faces. My tail scrapes the carpet. They smell like flowers and beer. Or...beer and flowers...it's hard to tell which is which nowadays.
"He's only five, how can he be grey already?"
"It's from these kids chasin' ya' around, isn't it?"
The little girl comes running up to us. She's holding a stick with ribbons on one end. I try eating them sometimes. "Where Daddy going?"
"I've got to get back to work, my love. But I'll be back soon."
The man hugs his daughter. The baby boy cries from the crib. The woman leaves and comes back with him in her arms. "Everyone wants to say goodbye."
"I'll see ya' later, buddy. Don't turn one without me." The man kisses the baby then kisses the woman. He has his guitar with him. I follow him to the door. He kneels to me again. "Be a good boy, okay? An' don't worry 'bout those grey hairs, you're a young stud yet." He kisses me and I whine. "Love ya'!"
"We love you too!" He's gone.
**********
I scratch behind my ear and it still itches! No matter how hard I scratch the itch won't go away! I sit down and shake and roll around on the carpet and nothing works! I nibble my hips and roll on my back. This is ridiculous. I better stop this itching or else the woman will give me a bath!
"What Charlie doing?"
"I don't know, honey, is he acting funny?"
They're watching! I better cut it out! I stand up and shake and try to limp away from the woman who holds me still and checks me over. I stand still and look away from her. She won't give me a bath if I don't look at her....no, I looked!!
"Uh oh...someone's got fleas." She lets me go and I scurry away from her. I need to find a private place to scratch in peace! I run past the baby boy who's got one of my toys in his mouth and it's covered in slobber. Maybe he's growing teeth like I did. Chewing on toys always helped me. But I appreciate when he uses his own toys. I take it from him and trot off. "Looks like I'll be giving him a bath..."
Oh, that feels better....I scratch and scratch and scratch to my heart's content. I smell blood. There's blood on my paw. I lick it clean and continue to scratch. I hear running water and I scurry under the bed. She can't find me, I won't let her! Flea baths always have the worst smelling bubbles! It always runs in my eyes and it stings! But...these fleas don't feel good either....
"Charlie! Come here!" I stay right where I am. I'm too itchy to move! "Come on, I don't want your fleas biting my kids!" I feel her hands grab my legs and she gently pulls me out. She picks me up and I don't struggle.
The bath is warm. It's cold here and the water feels good. The woman sings while she pours water on my fur. Her hands are gentle and soft and I start feeling sleepy. She pulls out a bottle of bubbles and pours some on me. It...doesn't stink...and she doesn't get any in my eyes! I close them all the same. I might fall asleep standing up...
"Cara take bath?"
"I'll give you a bath after Charlie's done. And I need to disinfect it first."
"Where Ross go?"
"He's in his crib, honey. He's sleeping."
I think I'm sleeping....their voices keep drifting in and out...this feels nice...I want a bath like this every day....
**********
The children squeal and laugh as I run around the house! I'm soaking wet and I must dry off! I shake and water sprays everywhere! The woman is laughing and chasing me with a towel! This is so much fun!!!
"Charlie, hold still!"
I evade their grabs! The baby lies on the floor helpless! I leap over him and roll around on the carpet! My itching is gone! My bleeding has stopped! I'm cured! I love this woman, she cured me! The little girl runs straight for me and I dodge her! I'm too fast! Even my short leg is quick!
I feel great! Everybody should take flea baths!!! I want another one!!!
