Nuthin's Pretty Cool

Nuthin’ is pretty cool

Days ago, the young giant, too easily distracted, wandered away from his fellow giants. First, he loped after a butterfly. A pretty butterfly with many black lines and splotches of other colors. Until he got distracted by a skittish squirrel, but that little thing climbed higher up a tree than even the giant could reach. With a sigh of disappointment, the big guy moved on. He followed the spots of light that danced through the trees. Until those faded at the end of the day, that disappointment was also soon forgotten when he got a whiff of food, delicious meat, and other good stuff. There are very few things that will hold this giant’s attention better than food.

He spent a few hours hunting through the garbage bags and eating all the tasty and smelly things he could find. Then he spent the night in a box, one that had fallen behind a dumpster. Each day he roamed, dividing his attention between what his nose found and anything that moved. Each evening, he found yet another pile of discarded food, and each morning, having slept in a box, he woke up as the birds started singing. Then he would set out to find those birds, only to be distracted by something else.

Little Lookie, on the other hand, hesitated before he left his yard. It was a good yard, a pretty yard with many toys, but nobody to play with. When he heard his little neighbor leave, he slipped under the hedge and trailed Bobbie. Wouldn’t it be great if the two of them could play ball, like they did a few days ago? Lookie knew that catching wasn’t his strength, but he would tirelessly run after the ball and bring it back. Today, Lookie had hesitated too long, though. His little legs were too short to keep up with Bobbie. He didn’t see his neighbor get in a van. And Bobbie never saw Lookie behind him.

Lookie whimpered at first when he lost sight of his friend. He kept running, though. Hoping he’d see or hear Bobbie so he could ask him to play ball. But Bobbie must have run even faster than normal. Lookie got himself all turned around, didn’t recognize where he was. He knew he was in a park, but it wasn't the same one he had visited with his mama. He called out, hoping his mama could hear him. But she probably had the TV on, or maybe he was too far from home.

Aimlessly, he wandered through this new park. And though it wasn’t the fantastic food his mama set before him every night, he was able to pull a few wrappers from a trash bin and put some food in his little tummy. Scared of all the strange sounds and shadows, he huddled under a park bench. Shivering more from fear than cold, even though he wasn’t wearing the coat, the one his mama would make him wear when they went outside.

What-cha doing under there? The giant asks. His voice was loud, making Lookie quiver with even more fear.

Trying to stay safe, the little fellow whispered.

That’s cool. You hungry? The big one, who was always hungry, was lying on its belly, staring with curiosity at the miniature thing.

The little one nodded. Very.

With a grunt and a huff, the giant stood up, towering over the undersized thing. He pushed against the trash bin, toppling it.

Let’s see what’s for breakfast. He poked his enormous head into the bin. Mostly snacks, but not bad. He declared. C’mon. Take your share. The behemoth urged his tiny new friend. After all, the giant had only made friends and had never met a stranger.

What’s your name? Lookie asked between licks, trying to clean the last of the goodness that used to be a Klondike bar.

Don’t know. The big one answered around a mouth full of cold hamburger, spitting out the pickle. I don’t think I own one. Do you have a name?

Yes. My mama calls me Lookie. The little fellow tried to unstick his tongue from the wrapper. How about I call you Luke?

Luke. The giant nodded, happy to have something called a name. He nudged yesterday’s cheese Danish toward his new friend. Here, you need to grow.

Thanks, but I think this is as big as I get.

For real? Luke looked at the undersized thing. Wow. I think my Mom had kids bigger’n you. He paused for a moment. I wonder where they are now.

I miss my mama. Lookie stopped eating, having lost his appetite.

The worst of their hunger stilled, for now, they wandered off. It wasn’t necessary to learn chapter and verse about the other’s life. It was great to have a friend to explore the park with, checking out each trash bin and finding a small creek to drink from.

Lookie soon fell behind. Luke’s legs were so much longer, and he covered so much ground with just one step. Lookie’s short legs just plum wore out trying to keep up.

Can you go any slower? Lookie puffed. I’m a bit scared out here on my own. The little fellow admitted. But I can’t keep up with you.

Luke stopped and looked back, waiting for Lookie to catch up. I don’t think I can go slower. But you could climb on my back. Go ahead and try it. Luke flattened his belly to the ground, and Lookie scrambled up, grabbing hold of the rope necklace Luke was wearing.

Ready? Luke asked. Lookie grunted, concentrating on holding on to the rope. Carefully, Luke stood up and loped off toward the next garbage bin.

For several days, they crisscrossed the park and checked out the garbage piles behind the restaurants. The highlight of their buffet was the couple of dozen egg salad sandwiches. At night, while they shared the box, Lookie slept soundly, knowing the Giant had his back.

Luke stopped in his tracks. The short hair on the back of his neck stood on end. That truck. His daddy had warned him about that truck. What had he said again? Run. Just run in the other direction whenever you see that truck.

So, he ran. Lookie lost his footing and slipped off the giant’s back, but he was desperately hanging on to the piece of rope around Luke’s neck. Alas, the little fellow had to let go; he couldn’t hold on any longer.

Luke now had a decision to make. Was he going to keep running away from the truck or stick with his new buddy? The new buddy who had admitted to being scared on his own. Luke stopped and turned around, found the little runt curled up in the grass, whimpering.

You okay, man? Are you hurt? Luke asked.

I think so, I mean, no, not hurt. Lookie stood up and shook himself off. Why’d you run, and why did you come back?

Duh! Luke scoffed and looked a little sheepish – as if he does emotions - hell, yes, he does! He nudged Lookie, toppling his little friend. His big ears picked up the sound of men running up the path, sensing that they were too close for Lookie to outrun them. Luke stood over his little pal. He’d defend him against whatever these men would want to do. Would they love them, or would they hate them? Would they kill them? He wished his dad had let him know.

The men stopped in their tracks as soon as they came around the corner. One of them hitched his pants up and pushed his mirrored sunglasses back in place.

“I’ll be darned! What a pair. Hey, fellows, how about you come with us? Hey? We've got food, and we can probably find you a home. Wha’da-ya say, hey?” Slowly, the two men came closer to Luke and Lookie.

You think they can find my mama? Lookie asked.

Don’t know, buddy, but it might be worth a try. Just stand still and let them do what they need to do, okay?

You’re not coming? Panic squeezed through his words. Cause then I’m not either. You came back for me. I’ll stick with you.

Luke sighed. Okay, you’re gonna be a hard case about it, aren’t you? Sorry dad. Alright. Together it is.

“Daryl wasn’t kidding,” Jason and Olivia, two volunteers at the animal shelter, stood back from the kennel, grinning, as they watched the gigantic dog, which they thought might be a cross between a Wolfhound and a Great Dane, sit in the corner of the kennel. The tiny Chihuahua was trembling, huddling between his front paws.

“What a pair. The little one has a chip. The owner is on her way. The big one doesn’t.” Jason shook his head. “Such a beautiful, friendly dog. Sure, he’s a bit rambunctious, maybe not even full-grown. Someone had claimed him, but he must have chewed through the rope.”

“Where’s my baby boy?” Lookie’s ears pricked up. Yapped at the sound of that voice, pranced on his hind legs, and scrabbled against the grill of the kennel. Luke wagged his tail. Happy for his little friend, trying not to think ahead. He rarely did anyway.

As soon as Jason opened the door of the kennel, Lookie rushed out, ran circles around his mama’s ankles, then he raced back in and nudged Luke forward. Come on! Come, say hello to our mama. Come on!

She’ll not have a big lug like me around. I’m nuthin’.

She will, too! She’s my mama. You’re my brother. So, she’s your mama too. He gave Luke a quick bite on his hind paw. And if you are nuthin’, then nuthin’ is pretty cool.

Ouch, Man! Okay, okay.

“Ma’am, is the big one yours, too?” Jason asked Marissa.

It took a minute to answer. She was laughing too hard watching Lookie yap and nip the big dog’s neck, while he rode the giant’s back toward Marissa.

“I think he is now.” She accepted a sloppy hello and scratched Luke behind his ear. “Hey, big boy.”