A habit of 12 years...glancing out the cabin screen door to check that Nick is still sitting on the bottom step. If he is not there, he has followed a chipmunk to the woodshed or is on the neighbors porch waiting for a handout. He never strays far.
Then a sinking recognition, he is gone. Gone forever.
My eyes follow the green plastic line up the steps to a place closer to the door. There at the top of the steps, on the landing is a small ball of black fuzz with tan eyebrows looking up at me.
Another sense of surprised revelation. I have a new puppy. He will wander off with no sense of boundaries, exploring the details of this new world he has been brought to. He was named Pelle, after "Pelle the Conqueror", a film from 1989. He will have to be a conqueror to fill the void left by Nick's death.
The view across the yard and down the grassy driveway to the highway and the woods beyond is the same. A new dog is on guard.
rate
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 24
I'm sorry it took me a few days to get here, been struggling with the usual family emergencies. (Everyone's okay, but I must say, I hate ERs!)
Nick was so beautiful, and so is Pelle. I love tricolors! One of my best childhood friends was a tricolor collie, he went everywhere with me. A really good pal.
I'm very happy you got a new pup - it really does help, even though at the time you can't imagine getting another dog. My daughter had just bought her puppy, Balto, before we lost our Max, and that little dickens has been an amazing comfort.
((Hugs)) Aaron
So sorry that it's taken me so long to reply to this article Ann. I'm way behind here on Gather and trying to play catch up.
I have two 12 year old labs and when they die, I'm sure to be widowed as the husband, though he did not want them at first - they were strays I found on the side of a Louisiana road - even though he didn't want them - he now can't live without them - they changed his life...and we have a 3 year old chihuahua who runs the family with that shrill voice...Ok lets say animals run my kingdom...wonderful story and gorgeous dogs - both of them! Salud.
Yes, your Pelle kinda looks like our Charlie! They're such a joy to have as family members.
Enjoy your new pup!
The new pup is so totally different in character that is really is like starting from scratch. It will take some time to figure him out. That challenge keeps me from comparing. Meanwhile, the click of toes on hardwood floors fills me with happiness.