"Whoa Betty! No no no, that'll just make it worse." The lady pushed her head away and yelled to the man. Betty waited a moment out of respect, but quickly sniffed her little head back into place to resume her lick search.
"Go to the store and get a cone - shouldn't cost more than $12. Now that Betty's awake, she's going to be all over that thing, and we can't watch her all night." The woman handed a $20 bill to the man, who was putting on his coat and heading out the door.
When he returned, the man put a plastic-smelling sheet curled around Betty's neck. It was secured with plastic snaps and smelled new and awful. Betty tried to get down off of the couch, but whenever she looked down, the cone caught on the couch cushion. The children cooed and petted her but no amount of attention made up for how very very uncomfortable this ridiculousness was. She tried to walk around and sniff, but the cone kept catching on table legs and tennis shoes. Betty sat down on the floor, not quite sure what to do.
Friday, December 30, 2011
The Awakening
Betty rested for a good long while as the kids finished their homework. It was dark outside by the time that hunger and thirst moved the tender beagle from her pile of toasty blankets. The lady picked her up and set her down on the hardwood floor where Betty took some ginger steps and stayed up. She walked slowly but steadily to her water bowl. She ate a bit, not ravenously, but just a mouthful or so to calm her belly.
The lady hooked the leash on and carried Betty down the four steps at the front door of the house that lead to the outside. Betty sniffed the grass, sniffed the sidewalk, and peed. She just stood for a moment, still feeling the last effects of grogginess and getting more steady on her feet. The lady picked her up again and walked her inside.
On the couch, Betty curled up again with a bone, not quite interested. She was awake again and suddenly aware of her limbs, a small itch on her back, the specific site that was just now starting not exactly to hurt but definitely to make itself known. She licked her side, licked down to where the hair had been shaved away, and started for the area that hurt the most.
The lady hooked the leash on and carried Betty down the four steps at the front door of the house that lead to the outside. Betty sniffed the grass, sniffed the sidewalk, and peed. She just stood for a moment, still feeling the last effects of grogginess and getting more steady on her feet. The lady picked her up again and walked her inside.
On the couch, Betty curled up again with a bone, not quite interested. She was awake again and suddenly aware of her limbs, a small itch on her back, the specific site that was just now starting not exactly to hurt but definitely to make itself known. She licked her side, licked down to where the hair had been shaved away, and started for the area that hurt the most.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
The Foggy Home
The lady was walking toward them, holding out her arms to take Betty. They walked back through the rain to the car, which was parked in an apartment building parking lot very close by. The man drove and the lady cradled Betty and whispered. The kids, from the back seat, asked questions and tried to squirm out of their seats to pet Betty and kiss her sweet ears.
The girl started to cry and the boy covered his ears, just to hear that Betty was groggy and had an incision that would take time to heal. When they got home, the man went ahead to unlock the housedoor, but the lady stood with Betty curled in her arms, while the two kids cooed and petted her nervously. It was only three in the afternoon and they had homework to do, but they could think of nothing but Betty. It was odd to see her so calm and still like this.
The kids made a bed of blankets on the couch and the lady set her gingerly on it. Betty stayed there, curled on the foggy couch while the kids did their homework on the coffeetable and watched her. The man worried that she hadn't eaten, hadn't gone outside, but the lady said wait. Just let her sleep now. Betty wasn't thinking of eating or peeing or puppies or even wounds that would heal. She was dreaming with her eyes open, about a foggy house and a pile of blankets that smelled like the kids and the man's voice surrounding her like music and the lady's soft kisses on her head.
The girl started to cry and the boy covered his ears, just to hear that Betty was groggy and had an incision that would take time to heal. When they got home, the man went ahead to unlock the housedoor, but the lady stood with Betty curled in her arms, while the two kids cooed and petted her nervously. It was only three in the afternoon and they had homework to do, but they could think of nothing but Betty. It was odd to see her so calm and still like this.
The kids made a bed of blankets on the couch and the lady set her gingerly on it. Betty stayed there, curled on the foggy couch while the kids did their homework on the coffeetable and watched her. The man worried that she hadn't eaten, hadn't gone outside, but the lady said wait. Just let her sleep now. Betty wasn't thinking of eating or peeing or puppies or even wounds that would heal. She was dreaming with her eyes open, about a foggy house and a pile of blankets that smelled like the kids and the man's voice surrounding her like music and the lady's soft kisses on her head.
The Drugs
The man tried to set Betty on her feet to walk her outside. She took a few decent steps, but then buckled and lolled forward. He picked her up, made a call on his cellular phone, and walked out into the grey afternoon. Betty sniffed the air and licked his hand. Everything felt strange and slurred.
The lady was coming in the car, busy picking up the kids from school and heading back to where they were at the clinic. The sky was grey and Betty smelled the rain even before it fell. The clinic was closing and the man just wanted to hold Betty and walk.
Betty liked how he talked to her, sweetly telling her about the houses as they passed, asking who she really was and how had she really come to them and wherefrom. The rain and the talk and the steady movement along the sidewalk made everything feel like a dream so Betty just lay still and thankful to be in warm arms and familiar smells.
The lady was coming in the car, busy picking up the kids from school and heading back to where they were at the clinic. The sky was grey and Betty smelled the rain even before it fell. The clinic was closing and the man just wanted to hold Betty and walk.
Betty liked how he talked to her, sweetly telling her about the houses as they passed, asking who she really was and how had she really come to them and wherefrom. The rain and the talk and the steady movement along the sidewalk made everything feel like a dream so Betty just lay still and thankful to be in warm arms and familiar smells.
The Past Revealed
The day passed as a strange haze on unsteady feet. Betty smelled antiseptic floors and other dogs, heard unfamiliar talking and errant barking. A tall woman with bright eyes and strong arms walked Betty early in the day from one room to another. Another woman, blonde hair and gentle fingers, was the blurriest but seemed to be in charge.
By the time Betty could really open her eyes and focus, she was looking at the man, resting in his arms, as the blonde lady talked. Betty had already been fixed. They couldn’t be sure so they had to make the incision, but that is all that needed to heal. The blonde lady mentioned a cone that might need to go around Betty’s head so she didn’t disturb the site, but also said that it might not be necessary at all. Betty should heal pretty quickly.
The blonde lady also learned some things. Betty was older than the man had suspected – perhaps as old as two years old. They couldn’t say if she’d already had all of her shots, so they gave her the full workup. Betty looked very healthy and seems to have been taken care of, so most likely she was not out in the elements for too terribly long.
Friday, December 23, 2011
The Clinic
Betty was still excited about the special trip and could not sit still on the lady’s lap. It was still very early and the sky refused to wake up. The clinic was not far away and they pulled in to find a parking lot full of other cars and pacing dogs.
The man went into the building, coming back out after only a few minutes. “You would not believe this line. I have to fill out a form and then take a number. Just wait here I guess.”
The lady sang along to music as Betty paced, trying to hide under the foot pedals of the car. After much fussing, the lady and Betty settled on Betty being able to sit up on the drivers’ seat, but only if she could sit still. Finally, the man returned and Betty went into the clinic in the man’s arms, trembling.
The School
The boy got out, chasing after his favorite teacher and barreling into a large, wide building. Betty called good-bye, but only the people in the car could hear her. The lady and the girl took Betty out, on her leash, for a little walk as the yellow bus-beasts started to roll in. They walked to a lit sign announcing Holiday Break with dates slightly askew. Betty sniffed the grass around it. It smelled like the boy and the girl and car exhaust and old gum.
They walked past a small park and back to a garden that the school had planted, now frozen over a bit. There were still some plants showing, bright green but wilting. Betty made sure to pee outside of the boxes.
The girl desperately wanted everyone to see Betty, but the lady insisted that they could only walk by as the girl headed in for her school day. The girl beamed and ran over to a cluster of other girls, who were all pointing and smiling. A boy muttered ‘I wish I had a dog like that’ as they walked toward the parking lot to find their car once again.
Before the Long Tomorrow
Betty was going to have a very long tomorrow, but she didn’t know it yet. The lady and the man had made an appointment at a pet clinic, to make sure that Betty was current on all of her shots. And also not, in any way possible, going to make puppies. Not that Betty had even been thinking about that kind of thing.
So as Betty slept in a curl on their bed, the lady and the man talked about where the clinic was, what time to leave, and make sure no dog food is out in the morning. While Betty slept soundly, they tossed and turned.
The morning was cold and drizzly. The boy needed to go to school early for band practice, so after everyone ate and dressed, they all piled into the car. Even Betty. Which was so exciting she could barely stand it.
Monday, December 5, 2011
The Night
The man stripped everything from the cage and washed it, while the children went to the desks in their rooms and worked quietly. The house was still and busy. Betty didn't know quite where to be with everyone in different rooms, but she settled on the kitchen, where the man was looking in the refrigerator and talking to himself about options with chicken.
After a while, the lady came home, which made Betty very excited. Nothing was better than everyone together. The lady poured food into Betty's bowl, sprinkling a liver treat over everything.
After the man and the lady and the children ate their dinner, the lady took Betty for a walk. Just two blocks, but they spotted no less than five cats, the last of which was too pregnant to run away from Betty at all. The lady talked to Betty the whole time, saying that's just too many cats outside on a cold night in the city. And the pregnant one means more cats to come.
After a while, the lady came home, which made Betty very excited. Nothing was better than everyone together. The lady poured food into Betty's bowl, sprinkling a liver treat over everything.
After the man and the lady and the children ate their dinner, the lady took Betty for a walk. Just two blocks, but they spotted no less than five cats, the last of which was too pregnant to run away from Betty at all. The lady talked to Betty the whole time, saying that's just too many cats outside on a cold night in the city. And the pregnant one means more cats to come.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Alone
She was alone. Some noises came from the radio in the other room, but those weren't the noises of the children or the lady or the man.
Betty cried. She shook. She paced and peed and screamed so much that drool pooled at her paws. She dug at the towels and blankets so furiously that one of the towels was shredded and the bits, strewed about.
The sound of the front door opening made her heart race with joy. The man and the children were home! The man opened the cage, heaving a deep sigh and shaking his head, as Betty raced around, jumping from couch to couch to kid. "Really, Betty?" he said, "we were only gone twenty minutes!"
Betty cried. She shook. She paced and peed and screamed so much that drool pooled at her paws. She dug at the towels and blankets so furiously that one of the towels was shredded and the bits, strewed about.
The sound of the front door opening made her heart race with joy. The man and the children were home! The man opened the cage, heaving a deep sigh and shaking his head, as Betty raced around, jumping from couch to couch to kid. "Really, Betty?" he said, "we were only gone twenty minutes!"
The Cage
The man set to work immediately, clearing a spot in the dining room, and setting up a large and clanking cage. He lined the bottom of it with towels and thick blankets. At the back, a soft circular dog bed beckoned. Betty sniffed the bars and blankets, but wouldn't step in.
On the couch, the man sat, with Betty curled next to him, watching a video about training dogs. Betty looked up every once in a while, but she was frankly bored by the box with flashing lights.
She was much more interested later that day when he returned from the kitchen with a toy that smelled heavily of liver snacks. He called to her from the cage and threw the toy inside. She was certainly interested, but very nervous. When he picked her up and put her inside, she tried to run only to find the door shut already. Betty pleaded with the man but only heard the sound of the front door to the house closing and locking.
On the couch, the man sat, with Betty curled next to him, watching a video about training dogs. Betty looked up every once in a while, but she was frankly bored by the box with flashing lights.
She was much more interested later that day when he returned from the kitchen with a toy that smelled heavily of liver snacks. He called to her from the cage and threw the toy inside. She was certainly interested, but very nervous. When he picked her up and put her inside, she tried to run only to find the door shut already. Betty pleaded with the man but only heard the sound of the front door to the house closing and locking.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Another Beast
Betty was still shaken by the shock of children so happily walking into the rolling beast. The man and the lady petted her back to calm, only to have the added shock of another bus pulling up loudly near them. This one was mostly dirty white and the other people who had been standing headed toward it. The lady gave Betty one last stroke of the ear and walked off in the direction of the bus. Betty called to her not to go, but the man shushed and the lady went anyway.
Betty couldn't understand it and worried that the man might be waiting for yet another beast. But he set her firmly down, scratched the back of her neck and declared "Time to head back home, sweet Betty."
Betty couldn't understand it and worried that the man might be waiting for yet another beast. But he set her firmly down, scratched the back of her neck and declared "Time to head back home, sweet Betty."
Thursday, December 1, 2011
The Bus
They went back to the house, just in time for the lady to grab a bag and walk back out with the man and the children. Betty ran from one set of legs to another, to the giggling tripping sounds of the children.
They stopped and stood, clustered, at a corner just a couple of blocks away. Coated, hatted, mittened. Oddly enough, there were other people standing nearby, which made no sense to Betty. They didn't seem to be getting into cars or going into houses. Just standing. Which made her bark, even when she was turned away from them by the man.
A garrumphing yellow beast of a bus, flashing its angry lights, slowed to a stop and opened its doors with a screeching sound. Betty jumped and barked, and the man picked her up, smoothing her head and velvet ears. The kids got onto the bus, while other little people waved and pointed from inside its windowed belly.
They stopped and stood, clustered, at a corner just a couple of blocks away. Coated, hatted, mittened. Oddly enough, there were other people standing nearby, which made no sense to Betty. They didn't seem to be getting into cars or going into houses. Just standing. Which made her bark, even when she was turned away from them by the man.
A garrumphing yellow beast of a bus, flashing its angry lights, slowed to a stop and opened its doors with a screeching sound. Betty jumped and barked, and the man picked her up, smoothing her head and velvet ears. The kids got onto the bus, while other little people waved and pointed from inside its windowed belly.
The Corner Store
Morning surrounded the house in cold darkness so Betty stood at the top step outside the front door, sniffing the city air and watching. The corner convenience store lit the air and buzzed gently. As they walked by it, Betty discovered the strip of grass between the sidewalk and the store. It smelled like a stale smorgasbord of dogs and cigarette butts past. Betty wanted to sniff everything, just to make sense of it all.
The lady did not seem interested in lingering, and she curled the leash again around her hand so that Betty could only walk just nest to her. They turned a corner, staying on the sidewalk that curled around the store.
The grassy area here also smelled like every dog betty had ever smelled. With a few other new smells mixed in. A Slim Jim wrapper called to Betty and, just as Betty reached it, the lady snatched the wrapper up, uttering "Ick - no!"
The lady did not seem interested in lingering, and she curled the leash again around her hand so that Betty could only walk just nest to her. They turned a corner, staying on the sidewalk that curled around the store.
The grassy area here also smelled like every dog betty had ever smelled. With a few other new smells mixed in. A Slim Jim wrapper called to Betty and, just as Betty reached it, the lady snatched the wrapper up, uttering "Ick - no!"
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