Who's this? He smells just like the man and his brother....is he another brother? A friend? His fur is long just like the man's. I tilt my head. In a way...he sort of resembles the man.... "Where are the new kids?"
"Kids, your cousin Stevie is here to visit."
This new man has a guitar too! He must be related to my human somehow! I limp after him as he walks through the house. The children stand together by the couch. The new man smiles at them and holds something out for them. I try to have a sniff. It smells like sugar and I back off. No thanks, new guy.
"Better take this before the dog does." The children take whatever he gives them and run off. "They're cute, Linda."
"They're just a bit shy, is all. Would you take some tea?"
I smell my human. He's awake! I limp over to greet him. He pets me. His fur is dripping wet and some lands on my snout. I sneeze. He smells like bubbles! "Mornin', Charlie."
"Hey, Mal. Was jus' tellin' Linda how great your kids are."
"They're the best. Thanks, mate."
Humans have a funny way of greeting each other. I always see them hug or kiss or touch hands. These two ruffle each other's fur and push and shove while laughing. I think humans should lick or at the very least sniff each other. You can learn so much about someone by the way they smell.
"You doin' alright, Mal?"
"I'm alright....jus' might need a break is all...."
My human seems to be okay. No one is crying. No one looks anxious or upset. They're just talking. I sniff around in my food bowl and eat whatever leftovers I can find. Figure I may as well get comfortable. Looks like this new man is going to be here a while. I sniff the guitar he left on the floor. Such a musical pack! I could join them! I can howl and bark! I can yelp when I yawn!
But first...I'd like a nap.
The couch is too high for me now. My hip won't let me jump. There's no one here to help me so I find a nice place on the floor to lie down. I sigh. I lick the air. I close my eyes.
**********
"You're sure you can do this?"
"I think so....jus' a couple months, right? No one will even know you're gone."
"Ya' play good, kid. If anybody has to take my place I'm glad it's you."
Is he leaving already? He just got here! Or...perhaps I fell asleep! Time always goes faster when I'm asleep. I stand up and everything hurts. My legs, my hips, my paws....that's what I get for not sleeping on a soft cushion. I stretch as best as I can and limp to the parting man. I must pay my farewells after all.
"This is a great dog ya' got, Mal." The new man pets my ears between his fingers. I sniff his hand. "What's his name?"
"Charlie. Found him in a shelter. Wore the cage like pantyhose."
After I sniff the man's hand I go on sniffing his feet. My back hurts a bit. Where did all this pain come from? I'm not that old, am I?
"I'll see ya' Stevie."
"Bye, Mal. Bye, Linda, thanks for the tea."
"Sure, love. Come back anytime."
Wait, he's leaving! I'm not done sniffing! My owners close the door and that's it. I can't believe I slept for that long! What's gotten into me? What time is it? The sun hasn't gone down yet. How could I let the days slip by me?
"I'm going to run a bath for the children."
"Alright. Charlie an' I will catch up out here."
The woman leaves the room. My owner picks me up and sets me on the couch. Oh boy! What are we going to do? Tummy rubs? Pets? Scratches? Treats? Guitar playing? Howling? Oh, I can't wait! I love spending time with my human! He always makes me feel so safe! I lick him and sniff him! I wag my tail!
"You're a good boy, Charlie...glad I got ya'."
This is great. Just me and the man. Two best friends. Two members of a pack. The man stands from the couch. I'm comfortable where I am so I don't follow. I watch him. He disappears into another room. I hear the cold box. I hear clinking. I hear splashing and sloshing. The man comes back with a bottle in his hand. It's already half empty. He sits next to me again and pets me while he drinks. I sniff the bottle and it smells awful. But the man really seems to like it. He drinks it all the time. I always find empty bottles around the house. The man sighs.
"Love ya', Charlie. Love every last one of ya'."
I hope my owner is okay.
