Take My Magic For Your Routine

Chapter 7

It's been two months since Hans and Rosamunda split up on their first date and stopped seeing each other. Hans was very unhappy and couldn't stand his loneliness; he spent time outside and would do anything just not to be at home. He avoided thinking about her because it brought him feeling of unhappiness and he felt sad; he avoided even to pass in front of her house and he arranged with his colleagues to take him from the other end of the street, so to get there he should turn to the other side, and not to where she lived.

So, life went on. But, one thing bothered Hans as much as he missed her. His beloved wolfhound Aldo was not feeling good for several days. He took him to walk to his favorite places, offered him his favorite food, but Aldo was unhappy just the same. He threw up and started losing at weight.

Hans became worried. He took the dog in his arms, put him at the back side of his golf that served well even his father and took him to the best vet in St. Johann.

"He looks pretty well for the condition he is in" said the veterinarian, an older gentleman in a blue suit after examining the dog thoroughly. "His breath smells very bad and his mouth is full of ulcers. Did he drink more water lately?"

"Yes, it worried me too. He was always thirsty and wet the trees."

"How old is he?"

"Much younger than me, sir. He is only seven years old."

"His kidneys are failing," said the vet seriously. Hans felt immense sadness.

"Is there any hope?"

"Young man!" said the veterinarian and put his hand on his shoulder, turning him around. "We can keep him alive with an aggressive treatment for one, at most three months. But those three months will be the worst he had in life. I see you are wearing a uniform, this dog must have been your companion on your roads in the mountain. Leave him alone. Let him remember the Alps by good."

"I see, sir," said Hans and took Aldo. But, instead of returning him to their home, he made a turn with him in his arms and took him to the herbal pharmacy of Rosamunda, which was near, behind the corner.

"Knock knock" he pushed the door and entered, carrying Aldo in his arms. Rosamunda surprisingly lifted her head, and the girl that worked there ran and started crying.

"Sir, what do you think you are doing! Animals are not allowed here! Take that dog outside at once!"

"It's all right, Ana" calmed her Rosamunda " Hans, what is the matter? Is Aldo sick?"

"I'm coming from Doctor Hambauer" said he "Aldo's kidneys are failing. He can't cure him. If you don't help him, he will die in a few days."

Rosamunda looked at the dog carefully and frowned a bit.

"I can try to help him with my ointment based on dandelion flower" she said "I've seen worse things than this that that ointment has cured. Does he eat or drink?"

"He eats, but he throws up," said Hans.

"Alright, let him take the medicine on an empty stomach then. I will give you a tincture from St. John's wort and give it to him before sleep."

"Oh, thank you! I hope he will be ok."

"Here is the medicine. Now go home and rest."

Ten days passed. Hans regularly, few times a day, put a capsule in his mouth and kept it shut until the dog swallowed the capsule. Before sleeping, he gave him a few drops of the tincture. Little by little, ulcers in the mouth of Aldo healed. He stopped throwing up. Aldo started eating his favourite food and lifting his head. His mood was good again.

One day, the doorbell rang and Hans went to see who was on the door.

How surprised he was when he saw a smiling Rosamunda, dressed in a colorful dress with blue sleeves, thin in her waist and with a blue scarf on her head! In her hand she had a big plate full of food that looked delicious and in which, according to smell, was mixed a number of herbs.

"Do I interrupt? I came to visit Aldo and I carry some of my special dog food. May I come in?"

"Of course you can," said Hans and moved aside so she could pass. "We are much better, thanks to you."

"Oh, here you are" said Rosamunda to the wolfhound who waved at her with his tail in Hans's living room "it's so nice to see you like this. Here, this is for you!"

And she put the plate before the dog, and he started eating hungrily.

"He likes it," said Hand with a smile.

"Aldo is a good dog. This food is full of herbs that are good for him. He will make it great."

"Thanks to you and your medicine. You are the great one, Rosamunda!"

"And to my magic, Hans, because by means of it I discover the secrets of nature."

On that Hans frowned obviously.

"Why don't you like when someone has power and does magic, so be it for doing a good deed and help someone?"

"Like you helped me to change my routine and grow?" he said bitterly " I was proud I did something difficult, that I carried a victory over myself, only to find out that I lost, that me and my work didn't solve the problem, but you and your magic!"

"Hans, the reason for the victory that you carried over yourself and your bad habits was not me and my magic. You made your decision to grow yourself. You took actions so that may happen. You chose to feel good when you made a step forward. Do you understand, Hans - what you did, you did yourself. Please, do not give the credits to me!"

"I must admit you are right" said Hans and his face lit a soft smile. "It was like that indeed. You are a great person, Rosamunda, and I respect you a lot. Will you forgive me sometime?"

"If I forgive you, will you feel proud again?"

"You bet I will!"

"Alright, then. I forgive you, and come tomorrow afternoon in my garden, I will make roasted vegetables for a barbecue. Bring Aldo, there is plenty for him, too."

"I can't wait!"