Just Write It

Wolfie

It was around eight o'clock and I was sitting on my front porch talking with Devin. The hot and humid evening had brought us both out of our stifling homes. Maybe it was because of the heat, but it seemed darker than usual. The gray clouds that moved in across the stars gave the night a creepy, eerie feeling.

"There's not much that scares me," Devin said.

"What does?" I asked, tilting my head to the left.

"Don't laugh, Patricia?"

"I won't," I said, hoping that I wouldn't betray myself if it was funny.

"The only things that scare me..." he whispered, leaning in closer to me, "...are werewolves."

I wanted to laugh. I didn't, but I really longed to set it free.

"I'm serious." His didn't blink or twitch, I believed he was serious.

"You do know that werewolves aren't real?" I tried to keep from smiling: it was hard not to.

"I know they're not real. My imagination tends to run away form me and I( end up scaring myself."

Out of nowhere a woman walked up to us. She was being followed by a large white shorthaired dog.

"Excuse me," she said.

"Yes?" Devin asked.

"Do you have a bowl of water? I found this dog and he seems to be really thirsty." She smiled at us. At least her lips did; her eyes were devoid of any expression.

"I'll get some water for him." I stood up not wanting to be left alone with her.

"Are you sure? I can get it," Devin offered as I walked into the house.

"I'm sure. I'll be right back." I filled an old bowl with tap water.

Carrying the bowl of water, I stepped off the porch and placed the water bowl in front of the white dog. Raising his hind legs, the dog lowered his head to take a drink, the he stopped. Looking at me, he took a step in my direction. He didn't scare me, but I was curious what his attentions were. He surprised me by rubbing his head against my leg. Smiling, I knelt down beside him.

"Drink boy!" He stared at me. Laughing, I scratched behind his ears.

"He seems to have take a liking to you," the woman said smiling, with her blank stare. Up close, the homeless woman did not smell fresh and her clothes, tattered and worn.

"He sure has," Devin added as he rested his hand on my shoulder.

"Drink boy, drink!" I said. Lowering his head in obedience, he drank a little water.

"I found him wandering around. He's been in my neighborhood for week now. I can't keep him or I'd give him a home," the woman said while looking at me.

"Where do you live?" Devin asked. I sad down beside him on the porch steps.

"Just up the road," she answered, pointing down the street.

Devin and I looked up the street. We turned around and the woman was gone. The white dog sat at my feet.

"Where did she go?"

"I don't know," Devin replied.

The dog walked up the steps and sat behind me. I could feel his breath on the back of my neck. I turned around to look at him and our eyes connected. I found myself looking deep into his eyes, searching for any clues as to how he was feeling about being abandoned by the strange woman. He wasn't panting or wagging his tail, he just stared at me. My skin started to crawl. I could feel his warmth t the water bowl; now I felt a chill radiating off of him.