Some Things Never Die

1

I decided to take my dog for her second walk around 9:30am. Jaz is a retired race dog and loves nothing more than to lay around all day, but she also enjoys doing the same in the park. When I sat down on a bench, she laid down by my feet. A few yards away is a playground and a soccer field, which are rarely empty. A young boy and his mother walking along the path stopped and asked to pet Jaz. I leaned down and asked Jaz if it was okay for the boy to pet her. Jaz was feeling friendly, so I told him to go ahead, but that she did not want her ears rubbed. The boy complied.

"What kind of doggy is she?" the boy asked with a toothy grin.

"Jaz is a greyhound. She is a rescue. I adopted her from a retirement program for race dogs."

"They race dogs?"

"Yes but they should not. It is dangerous and inhumane. When I got her, she was recovering from a broken leg and a head injury. She's alright now. A slight limp, but she hates to run now and is a little lazy." Jaz looks at me and huffs. I smile down at her.

"I hate to run too," the boy said as he patted her head and stood up. He waved goodbye and headed on his way with his mother.

Jaz stood up too and nosed around in my bag for a treat. I sighed and helped her find the bag of baby carrots I usually carry for her on walks. As I fed her, I looked into her soft brown eyes and told her that she was a good girl. She put her paw on my leg to tell me she was ready to go home.

We headed back to our apartment and the doorman held the door open for us.

"Good morning Ms. Matthews, and good morning Jaz," he said.

We passed Mrs. Honeycutt on the way upstairs. I stopped and asked her if the elevator was out.

"Oh no, I am just trying to get a little exercise today," she replied. I smiled and headed up to my floor.

I stopped dead in my tracks a few feet away from my door which was open. Jaz let out a whine and stayed behind me. I whipped out my cell phone and started to dial 911 while crept towards my door.

"911 what's your emergency?"

"Hi, yes, I believe someone has broken into my apartment." I rattled off the address as I pushed the door open and poked my head in. I put the dog leash around the same hand as the cellphone and grabbed an umbrella sitting by the door. I held up the umbrella, ready to strike anyone that might still be in the apartment as I stepped into the living room.

"Oh shit," I said, dropping the umbrella as I noticed the body lying in front of the television, "Rosa."