Good Boy

Just a little longer. 

My chin on the couch. I’m so tired. Everything hurt. When He touched my face it felt better. He brushed the hair from my eyes. Raising my head a little I licked His hand. It smelled like the BEACH. We used to go there together. My head would be out the window, and I could smell the whole world. At the BEACH, He would open the door and let me run. I ran and ran. My paws felt light. He threw the ball for me, over and over. I would bring it back, it was salty. And He would throw it again. He would sit on His blanket, call me His Good Boy. Then give me some of His sandwich. We would look at the Big Water in front of us. After a while He would start walking back to the car. I wanted to stay. I always waited before following.

Just a little longer.

Just a little longer.

We are in the car now. He carried me. Put me on my favorite blanket. It was soft. I could smell grass on it. I closed my eyes, and could see the Big Hill we would go to. On the hottest days, my tongue hanging, and breathing heavy. He knew what to do. He would laugh as we raced. Down the hill together we went. We lay on the blanket in the grass, tired, and He would pull out a cold stick that tasted delicious, (Ice Cream?) from a cold box. Then I would run. Sometimes grass hoppers would fly up and I would try and catch them in my mouth. They squirmed against my tongue, and I spit them out. This made Him laugh some more. The sun would be so bright, I had to squint my eyes. I knew it was time to go, when He picked up the blanket. I still waited to follow.

Just a little longer.

Just a little longer.

All the windows are rolled down, he knows I love the wind. I’m so tired, but I can still smell the world. I smell bread. I love bread. My eyes are still closed. I think of the day He was mad. I was a Bad Dog. I opened the Food Door, and pulled out all the bread. Why was it in there piled up? Why shouldn’t we eat it? Bread was so soft, smelled so good. After he picked it up, he patted my head, I was never a Bad Dog for long. Then we sat on the couch and watched The Box. I loved when we watched The Box. Mostly because he rubbed my shoulders, scratched my nose, and patted me until it was Bed Time. Bed Time was my favorite of all. We would lay on a big squishy pillow, lots of blankets, I could smell Him, I would walk in circles on the blanket until it was just right, He would smile, and rub my belly until my eyes would close. Sometimes when He stopped I lifted up my head, and He knew.

Just a little longer.

Just a little longer.

I smell bread again. Its so strong, like its right in front of me. I realize the car isn’t moving anymore. I open my eyes, still so tired. I see Him. He had opened the door to the car, and was holding a brown bag. Good Boy, He wasn’t smiling, and He patted my head again. He opened the bag and gave me my own bread. I wanted to eat it all, but for some reason I could only eat a few pieces. It tasted just like I remembered. I licked His face, it was salty and wet. Good Boy. He sat in the back seat with me. He didn’t say anything. I could hear the brown paper bag crinkling under His feet. I closed my eyes, I could see Him, when I first came Home. He carried me from The Place. The Place was loud, barking, echoing in my ears. Hiding in the corner, I remember He came. He had a brown bag, the scent hit my nose, and I didn’t feel scared anymore. He pulled out a piece of bread, and sat down, waiting for me to come to Him, I remember feeling small, I sniffed his leg, and let him scratch my chin. I loved Him. He was Home. In the car, He kept His hand on my back while I sat next to Him, He said home wasn’t far.

Just a little longer

Just a little longer. 

He was carrying me again. We are at the place that smells. Smells like MEDICINE, and CLEAN. Good Boy. So tired. My eyes are closed even while He carries me. I can hear noise in His chest, as I lay my head against Him. I hear voices, none of them His. We are in a room. It feels cold. He wraps the blanket around me. I put my nose against it so I don’t smell the CLEAN. Good Boy. His whisper tickles my ear. I think of us under the sky. He took us to the MOUNTAIN. He said it was like HEAVEN. We lay there at night, I could hear everything, and the smell of the fire and HOTDOG was strong. We walked there together, He let me run ahead, and I would wait for Him to come. I never went too far, He was Mine, and I was His. So tired, my eyes feel heavy, I try to lift my head, but cant. His hand on my head. Voices again. I hear Him, He sounds different. I tried to give Him a nudge, to show him it would be ok. I was His. It was colder, and He wrapped the blanket a little tighter. He always knew. I could smell His breath, it smelled of coffee and bread, His arms around me. We laid there, in the cold room. I don’t know how long. I could feel His chest rising and falling. The door opened and closed. I smelled grass, bread, sand, the mountains….Him and I in that room.

Just a little longer.