"I want to get a quick peek at the puppy," Sheila said to Boyd.
He opened his winter coat.
The puppy's eyes were closed.
There was blood dripping down Boyd's sport jacket.
Sheila let out a scream. Some patrons turned around. Sheila covered her mouth.
"We got to get out of here. What's your name?" she asked.
"Mickey," I replied.
"No, not you. You?" she asked looking at Boyd.
If this was later in the day, I guess this encounter could have been called Strangers in the Night, but it was morning. None of us knew each other until a few moments ago. This injured puppy had brought us together.
Maybe together is too much of a description--because we were not friends or anything---we really were not a "together"---heck I do not know if I have ever had my act together. Kind of a messed up life. Before this dying thing became my thing.
Boyd replied with a name.
"You have a car?" she asked him, gasping for air.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"Am I okay? Am I okay?" she screamed.
I just looked at her.
"If we don't get this puppy to a Vet, she's gonna die," she replied. Sheila was shaking.
She got up---and ordered Boyd and me to get up.
I knew I had to and fortunately the coffee was in a to go cup.
Outside the White Castle, Boyd said he had to get to work. Sheila called him a jerk.
"You can't go to work like that, boy!"
"Boyd," he whispered.
"Do you have a car or not?" she demanded.
"Yeah, but it's parked 3 blocks from here."
"Listen, Boyd, I have a job too but no car. I don't want this girl to die."
She placed her right hand on Boyd's shoulder.
"Take us to your car."
"Him too?," he asked.
"Yeah, Mickey too."
She must have been a Disney mouse fan or just a caring heart. I think the latter. Or maybe her real name was Minnie.
The three us hurried, as fast as I could. I was slowing them down, though---as we headed down the sidewalk toward where Boyd had parked his car.
"Mickey," she said, turning to me. "You sit down here on this bus stop. We will come up the street and pick you up, okay?"
This Sheila was in control mode and that's what three of us (Boyd, me and the un-named puppy) needed. I sat down as they jogged away.
I needed to catch my breath. Let them do the running, I thought. I sipped my coffee. It was still hot. And I was still cold.
