Calm. Peace. Happiness.
I look around. I don't recognize this place. I blink a few times. I can see again. I can see the grass under my paws. I sniff it. It's delicious smelling. I'd like a taste, but maybe later. First I want to find out more about this place.
I sniff around. There's grass everywhere! It's beautiful! The air feels good and clean and cozy! I can see and I can hear and my body doesn't ache! Nothing hurts! This is wonderful! I never want to leave! I feel like a puppy again!
I run! I run faster than I ever have before! I bark! I bark as loud as I can! I haven't barked in forever! And everyone must know that Charlie is here!
I find a soft spot of grass and roll around on it! This is so much fun!! I've been missing out on this place! I roll around and make it my own! I find some good dirt and get straight to digging! This is great fun! I'll dig the biggest hole ever! And everyone will know it was me who dug it!
I chase butterflies! There are so many of them here! I don't catch any but that's okay! I can still chase them!!! I can run as fast as possible and I don't even need a break!
Wait....something feels different....
My paw! My leg! It's not shorter than the others anymore! I don't limp! I hardly noticed, I'm so focused on running and chasing and licking!
I run everywhere! This place is so big! I can see colors! What colors are these? I never saw anything like them before? There are more than just blues and yellows! There are so much more! Everything is so vivid and bright and beautiful! I never want to leave!
I smell someone.
Is it...can it be?
MUM!
It's my Mum!!!! I can't believe it! I'd know her anywhere! Oh, she looks wonderful and smells even better!!! I run to her! She wags her tail, she knows me! She remembers me! I bite her ear and pull! She licks my face! This is wonderful, I found Mum!!!! Oh, I'm so happy!!! It's so good to see you again!!! Her tongue is warm and safe just like I remember it!
I smell someone else! I sniff around and see....my brother? One of my brothers? I don't see the whole litter....just him. But it's good to see him too! I haven't seen you both in so long! I've missed you, you don't even know! We wrestle and bite and nip! Mum watches us with love! We're together again! I won't ever leave you! We'll be together forever now, I promise!
My brother sneezes and I nudge him with my nose! Someone sniffs me from behind and I startle. I tilt my head. There's another dog here. A female. She looks just like Mum....
My...sister....
I sniff her face. She holds very still. She's definitely my sister. My Mum licks her face and then licks mine. I never knew my sister very well. She came here when she was very young. But it's good to see her again. I have my family here with me! My litter! I wonder where my other brothers are. They're not here yet. But we'll be waiting for them!
Me and my litter set up another game of biting and chewing and chasing. We all have endless amounts of energy and never tire! This is great! All dogs should be here! We jump on Mum and nip her! She nips at us and barks! We bark back! All tails are wagging! All teeth are gleaming! Fur is flying!
**********
Who is that? That man over there? His fur is wild. His eyes are gentle and kind. He sees me. He's coming! He feels so familiar...I raise my nose to sniff. Mum and my siblings sniff too. I know him! I remember! I remember this man!!!! I run to him!!!
He kneels down and opens his arms to me! I leap into them! I lick his face and wag my tail! I bark and sneeze and sniff the man! He's laughing! He's so happy and pets me and scratches me! I can't believe he's here! We're all here together!!! "Hi, Charlie. Ya' remember me? Your old pal Bon?"
I must introduce my family! I bark and they come running! They all pounce on the man! This is my friend! I know this man! He knows me! I haven't seen him in so long, I'm so happy!!! He pets all of us and he smiles and laughs and we're all so happy! This is the happiest I've ever been! My tail wags faster than ever before! We all bark and howl! We all love this man!
"Lovely singin' voices, I wish I were half that good."
**********
We play with the man a lot. He leaves sometimes but we always see him again. Sometimes we see other people and other dogs. We see lots of animals. We chase them sometimes but there's no animosity. It's all for fun. My sister and my brother have a wrestling match and Mum watches. She's eating something. She shows me where all the best tasting food is. I've never eaten food this good before! I've been missing out! I want to join them all but I'm playing with this man! He sits down with me and throws toys for me to catch! And I never get tired!
"Still the same ol' Charlie, huh? Never change, buddy."
I run straight for him. I feel like I'm flying. I wonder if I can. He catches me and tries taking the toy from my mouth. I clench my strong teeth and refuse to let go! I shake and growl and raise my rump and swish my tail! What fun! He can try all he wants, he's never taking this toy from me! I'm too strong!
Suddenly the man sees something. His hold on the toy relaxes. I stand up straight. Is there something behind me? He releases the toy and I carry it with me in my mouth. I watch the man with the wild fur. He looks out somewhere and I look at him. I tilt my head. Is someone here? He steps around me and takes off and I watch him. My Mum and siblings are watching me. All their tails are wagging. I want to wag mine but I want to know what's going on first!
The man with the wild fur sees someone, alright. They're hugging and laughing and talking. But I can't tell who it is! I stare straight at them, refusing to blink. I must not miss a thing! Not a single detail! My siblings continue to wrestle and nip and pull ears. They yelp and whine and bark. Mum watches me. I keep my tail as high and rigid as I possibly can.
I see the man.
I drop my toy.
I don't believe it.
I remember.
I remember exactly who that is.
And I take off running.
I fly. My paws don't even touch the grass.
He kneels down to me and I crash into his arms. I lick him! I lick every inch of his face! My tail keeps smacking his face and I lick it as an apology! It's him!!!!! My human!!!!!! Oh, I've missed you so much!!!!! My human, my best friend, my owner, my family!!!! It's him it's him it's him!!!!!
I crawl on my belly and whine and whimper and roll over so he can scratch me! I can't control my tongue! It starts licking whatever it wants! He laughs and pets me and kisses me and smiles! His teeth gleam!
"He remembers ya', Mal."
I want to introduce my litter to him! But first I want him all to myself! My human!!!!!! Joy fills me up from tooth to tail and I don't know if I can take it! My eyes roll in every direction and my ears flop inside out!
All these colors....all this new food....all this energy....doesn't compare to seeing my human again.
I knew everything would be okay.
Everything will be okay forever. As long as we're here...together....we'll always be okay.
"I've missed ya', my boy. My little Charlie."
The End.
