Sweetness

Introduction

I said I'd never let you go, and I never did
I said I'd never let you fall and I always meant it
If you didn't have this chance then I never did
You'll always find me right there, again

I sing softly to my A Day to Remember music while Kipper dances by my side looking up at me with his tongue half out of his mouth, it's flowing with the cool July breeze and he's content. This is one of his favourite songs.
He's the most loyal and intelligent dog anyone could ask for, he needs a lot of exercise but it's worth it because he brings joy to every situation. His grey fur looks black after running through the tall grass next to the footy field with Rosie. Rosie is Totti's 14 week old Pure Red Heeler. Poor Rosie got lost because she couldn't see through the grass but Kip found her and dragged her out and ran around the oval instead. He's a good boy. They are inseparable when they are together, but it's so worth it watching them have fun. Totti and I used to be like that; always together, never leaving each other's side, playing on the playground and eating lunch together...and now we don't. She's always too busy with work, we were best friends. Never had a day without spending at least half of it together. Everything went downhill last year. After Heath left, she was never the same. Started working overtime, didn't eat much, spent most of the time she has off either in her bed with Rosie or in my bed with Rosie and Kip watching movies or staring at the wall where Heath would always lean against.

I'm afraid that she won't realise this blessed place for anything more than the dark one where she once watched her big brother play every weekend, where the sun still shines and where her puppy is learning new things every day. These moments for her were sacred, especially when she felt lost and alone. The only thing is, is that they were all done with Heath. He bought Rosie for Totti before Rosie was born. He had a mate who had two pure Red Heelers and obviously they were going to have puppies, so Heath said he would buy the smallest puppy of the litter because Totti is a short chick herself. He thought it would be funny. I thought that was funny. Totti got Rosie at 4 weeks because her mum, Pie, actually disowned her because she was too little. To think it has been over a year since Heath drove off. No warning. No hints. Just gone.

While thinking of these sad times, I round the corner of the club rooms to get out a cigarette, someone who doesn't really want to see me is waiting like he always does... Like every other Sunday morning.
"Hi Dom" I say, just a little too loud.
Nothing
"Hi Dom!" a few decibels higher.
Still nothing.

"Dominic Tobias Warner!"
"What! What do you want Rose! What could you possibly want? Leave a man to close his eyes for fifteen minutes and this is the welcome he gets? I call bullshit!" he says while straightening himself up against the cream brick wall of the club rooms
"I had my music up the whole time I drove up the drive way, so don't you start complaining about not hearing me, mister"
"Well excuse me for being in an induced coma-like state!"
"Are you done?" I ask sarcastically and yet, still not amused
"I think so" he responds groggily, while squinting at the sun behind me
"Right then, let's get you home, okay? My place or yours?"
"Shouldn't you buy me a drink first?" he asks smugly, always the joker, especially when hung over
"You drank it all last night, so no point there I'm afraid."
"My place then, your Dad will crack a gasket if he saw me pissed...again" as he supports himself against the wall in a chair sit, taking in the cool breeze and fading sunlight

"Kipper! Rosie!" I yell after the dogs who are now chasing the ducks. Poor birds. "Come on Dom, let's get you cleaned up" I say sympathetically, ever since his girlfriend passed away in that horrid car accident he has been like this. I feel for him, I really do. He is Dads best mate, he's like the Uncle I've never had. Dad and Dom have been through everything together; relationships, break ups, jobs, travel, pretty much the whole of life these two have been by each other's side since they met. Sure they have had their own arguments over girls and fist fights for the last beer in the eski, but nothing could tear them apart. Not anymore.

I help a struggling Dom to the car and strap him into his seat, I should really stitch 'Doms Seat' onto the seat cover because he is my main passenger, besides Kip of course. My most trusted adviser, if I had one.
I open the tray of my Land Rover, ready for the wet and muddy dogs to jump in but Kip hasn't rushed up onto it and is barking his head off in the distance. I turn, squinting at the light mist that is like a thin sheet of grey fabric against the landscape. I see Rosie has got herself stuck in a deep puddle of mud, it's all up to her stomach and she's growling and howling like a child. Toddlers.
I run over, stumbling on the muddy trail myself. "I got you, I got you." I repeat while stroking her back, trying to sooth her. No doubt she was trying to copy Kipper, what a great role model he is. My hands are covered in mud within the first contact I have with the overwhelmed pup. I grab Rosie with both my hands and it takes a couple tugs to get her free but I finally get it done. Slipping as I try to stand up, I land on my back and Rosie lands on my chest which is now drenched in yellow clay-like mud. I'm in need of a long and hot bath...
Rosie and Kipper gang up on me and start licking my face, I'm guessing as a thank you. I'm laughing now but my arse is so sore already. I'm too old for this.

Finally standing and covered in my new body scrub for skin and clothes, I hold Rosie while Kip runs to the back of my beautiful little Lexie.
Rosie is very at ease when being carried. She positions herself like a baby and will fall asleep sometimes, she is so cute. I give Rosie a cuddle before putting her back on her lead in the tray and scratching my little man behind his ears.
I open my door and Dom is fast asleep, nothing new. He needs to get his act together and that is for everyone's sake, he has already made a name for himself in town. He says he doesn't care but I know he does.
I chuck my mud coated jacket at his face which startles him but he goes back to sleep while cuddling the jacket and sleepily smiling. He needs help.

I drive slow and take in the thin layers of rain that is serenading my windscreen. Not many cars are out, but that is normal when the weather is uncertain like it has been these last few months. We've had floods three times over the nation, all up north and all major, needing immediate assistance. Dad has been to all of them; Saint Margaret Island, Somersby and Cape Moreton. The satellites say that the storms are travelling north still. We don't know when the next one will take suit but it will be soon.

Taking the last right into my court, Dom finally awakes from his booze induced coma. The white house blinds him as the sun breaks out of its pearl oyster, which makes the rain drops on the weatherboards shine like diamonds.
"Don't drop the clutch or your Dad will ask for me"
"I never drop the clutch, thank you very much"
"Just don't drop it. Please"
"Okay..." I drop the clutch
"Damn it Rose!" he's pissed now but it will pass when he sobers up, completely. Shouldn't be too long now with any luck
"Whoops...sorry" I whisper but as promised, Dad walks out onto the rain covered porch and looks unimpressed. Sorry Dom.

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@covers_101 made the cover, thank you!

Have Faith In Me – A Day to Remember