Finally the air cools down outside. I thought it never would! I hope my fur starts to grow back soon. It usually does when the weather gets colder. Sometimes I lick myself and I taste skin where I usually taste fur. The sun feels extra hot on those spots and I don't like going outside much anymore because of it. I haven't quite memorized the layout outside but I think I have the house down pretty well.
I chow down on my soft food. Another tooth has fallen out. I don't feel new ones growing in. I think they're gone for good. I don't chew on bones much anymore. I stick to soft toys. Sometimes I drool. I always drool but lately it's been more than normal. The humans clean me up.
The children are gone again. For a while they were at home all the time but they leave now. I wonder where they go all the time. My owner is about to leave again too. I've learned how he acts when he's about to leave for a while and how the woman acts. How the children act. Everybody leaves. But they always come back.
I hope they always come back.
"We won't be workin' on the album too much longer....I'll be back in a couple of weeks."
"How long is the tour this time?"
"The first half? Until Christmas..."
"I should have known..."
I let the wall guide me away from my bowl and back to the couch. It's the place to be these days. Warm, soft, and sometimes I find food if I sniff hard enough. The other day I found a huge potato chip wedged between the cushions. Don't mind if I do.
"You'll keep Charlie safe?"
"Of course."
"Ya' know...if somethin' should happen to him while I'm gone..."
"I'm sure he'll be okay, Malcolm. If something happens I'll call."
"I hate leavin' him like this..."
I yawn so hard it hurts. I need to lick the air. Or my paws. I think I smell something in the couch but it might just be the lingering scent of the popcorn the humans feasted on last night. They wouldn't let me have any so I'm sure they cleaned the couch out to make sure I wouldn't find leftovers. I lick the couch hoping to taste just a little bit.
"You're the greatest woman in the world, ya' know that? An' you're the greatest family."
**********
The man is gone again. The children are gone. It's just me and the woman. She doesn't leave. In the past she's left me alone in the house but now she never does. I'm glad she doesn't leave me alone anymore. I hate being alone.
It seems I can see and hear less each day. But I can still smell. My nose still works like a charm. I think it's my favorite feature. But I have a pretty nice tail too.
I sleep a lot. I really took sleep for granted as a puppy. Now I could sleep for days at a time if my empty stomach didn't wake me up. And I'm getting used to the soft kibble. It really isn't that bad.
**********
Everyone is in much better moods around here. No more empty bottles and no more cleaning and crying. The children bring other children over and they pet me. Human children aren't bad, I guess. But none of them hold a candle to my children.
The woman turns on the television sometimes and the kids sit with us on the couch. I can't see it very well. I don't bark at it anymore. There's no point. I don't bark much at all anymore. It simply takes up too much energy that could be spent licking or sleeping.
Sometimes the children sleep in our bed. The woman lets them come in and we all snuggle together in our great big bed. That eyesore of a cage is gone where the children used to sleep. It's been gone a long time now and there's so much more room to walk. I wish the man were here. I wish he were here to join our pile.
**********
"How's my boy? How's my good boy doin'?"
I get as low to the ground as my aching bones allow and hang my head, wagging my tail. I don't wag it as high anymore. But I'm still so happy my owner is back! I knew he'd come back, he always does! He never lets me down!
"How was he?"
"His eyes are cloudier than they used to be. But he's been okay, nothing major happened."
"That's a relief, eh, boy?"
I love this man. I couldn't love a human being more than I love my owner. He's simply the best owner in the world and I'll growl at anyone who thinks otherwise. I can't see him anymore. But I can still feel his hands and I can still smell him.
And I still love him.
