Small Stories And Skits

My brother

I looked at your photo on the screen. At the bed you laid on. At the bowl you ate out of. At the garden you ran in when you were young.

You never left my mind. I'd always be thinking of the day I first saw you. How cute you looked with your tiny ears and puppy dog eyes. You were different from them. They all had black coats but you proudly wore your yellow one. They stayed near their mother while you carelessly bounded towards me. I crouched down and held my hand to you. You nervously sniffed it but it wasn't long until you kissed it like a baby kisses their mother. You'd claimed a special place in my heart that day and no one would ever replace you.

Time passed and we aged. I left for school while you stayed home. I made friends while you watched your brothers and sisters leave. Yet you always looked so happy. I remember you'd always run up to me when I came home and kiss my hand.

Then it happened.

You were in pain. You couldn't control it. Blood frothed from your mouth and the room began to smell of urine. You were shaking, uncontrollably. I watched, helpless you to do anything to ease your suffering. Then when the worst was over you looked so different. Your eyes were misty and your face showed no expression. You looked at me and...

...growled...

Someone pushed me back before taking you outside. I was scared, confused and hurt. I moved to the window to stare at you. You'd lain on the ground and a bowl of water was placed near you. Your once golden fur was unkempt and the happy thing I'd come to know suddenly looked ten times older.

Your fits continued through the years. Each time you were in agony. Every time all I could do was watch helplessly.

After a while you were playing with your jaw. You'd open it then close it, rub it against the floor and your eyes pleaded with me for help. After you were checked we discovered that your gums were being destroyed. We tried everything to help you. You were given medicine after medicine. Your friend tried to help by cleaning your teeth but in the end it was useless.

One day I came home. Everyone looked at me in silence. Someone sat me down and said that you'd left us.

Now I make my way outside, somewhat in a daze, and stand in front of where you were buried.

Tears formed in my eyes when I remember your bright brown eyes that had dulled over the years. They fell when I remember your golden coat that had grown messy. They formed again when I remember our walks round the park and your swims in the river. I fell to the floor when I remember how you'd cuddle up to me. I screamed when I remember that I never got to tell you goodbye.

I wiped my eyes dry and forced myself to look at the future, the pain would subside, I knew that. I'd have to fight my emotions for years to come. But I knew I'd never forget your bark, how your fur felt under my hand or how you looked at me with with love, even if you did forget who I was after a fit.

Maybe in the future I'd get another one like you. But they'll never replace you.

I kiss the ground gently.

"Rest well my baby, my brother, my friend." I whisper. "You earned it"

~~~~~

Rest in peace Billy.
My baby,
My brother,
My friend.
You've earned it.