Dog Days: 08.09.2013

The habit made its way into her life easily while he was away on what seemed to be a long vacation. His things were still left in his apartment in the dark of the night and the bright of the day. She missed something in his routine that would have revealed that he would be gone for any length of time.

Binoculars on her eyes at all hours of the day and night, save the few hours of sleep her body would force her into, left red rings and slight bruises on her high cheek bones. The pain of his absence was pain unlike anything.  Worse than the ache for him, worse than the minor possibility that he would run late on occasion and routine would be disrupted.  The pain required alleviation.

The habit. Ohhhh, yes the habit felt so good at the moment and would leave her feeling raw and unable to move. The habit tools were an exacto blade and a pair of tweezers. A steady hand was nice but not required. Going on day four of his vacancy and the steady hand was...well, not so steady.

The workstation had a light overhead for a shadowless effect. Bolted to the table was a length of leather strapping with a buckle to meet the two. The habit routine goes as follows:

Binoculars, collect tools from the sink in the bathroom from the last cleaning, binoculars, lay down the dark red blotched stained towel below the strapping. Check again with the binoculars.....

Now, see, she didn’t want to do it. She had to have the pain taken away for a moment though. So she checked often to make sure he was still gone. Just in case....

…...lay left arm on the table, place wrist in strapping, buckle. Grit teeth. Grin madly.....Begin.

She didn’t mean for this to become the habit. She was cutting out pictures of him with her exacto blade....He’d been gone 8 hours. She tried to fill her time.....It hurts to miss someone you love so deeply....She was unfocused. She slipped. She skinned her forearm on the interior side three inches below her wrist about 2 inches long, half and inch wide. The blade was new and the fillet was superficial. It happened fast and the pain kicked in quick after but for that moment while she quizically stared at the pink flesh laying on the blood splattered worktable she felt.....amazing. It did the trick....It did the trick three times a day since that time.

Now she had a new collection on her table, 10 short strips of her flesh pinned and laid out to dry...a new fixation. Just till he returned. She promised she would stop once he returned. Really. She would.

It was mid-August and the dank studio, rife with the musk of trash and rank of drying flesh meshed well with the humid nasty heat.....But soon August would be over and soon he would return and soon the dog days of summer would be over.

Dog Days: 08.08.2013

They called her the Mountain Lady. She loved the walks up the mountain and down the mountain. She was loyal and true. She always ran when she saw a bus coming down the road she knew there’d be a lot of them. It was the best when she had friends to climb with and that big yellow bus generally meant there would be at least thirty.

She loved to climb up the windy long path to that old fire tower sniffing the blueberries as she went along. Sometimes she saw others just like her with their person. Sometimes there are just families climbing together. Then there are the locals they know who she was and never tried to call her home or bring her back to that giant red house she lived in. It was funny sometimes she would be brought home and her mom or her dad would say; “Yeah she climbs it all the time, hard to believe with that round belly of hers!” Round belly I would think; yup I do…I love the treats I receive from those who climb the mountain as I do. They always think I must be hungry since I just hiked a long way. Often I’m offered water which is so cool and refreshing.

I love my mountain. I hope to always be here to feel the breeze and coolness of the breeze.

Though my mountain is spectacular there are some things that make me sad. Those who do not take care of the mountain, those who race their car on the main road; My favorite people walk on that road sometimes and it scares me when those cars come racing on the road. I often cross the road and always look to make sure they aren’t coming.

One night I heard a sound, so I went outside. I had to check it out. It was coming from the side of the road in the gully. I quietly walked out there. I couldn’t really see anything. The next thing I knew my back hurt. What happened? I tried to move but I couldn’t. I just hoped My dad would come along. Then a shiny car with a bright light came down the road. I recognized that car, he got out and checked on me. He began crying. ‘Wait no’ I thought don’t cry I’m alright! Then I realized I was looking down on this man. I watched him walk over to my home and knock. My mom started crying, my 2 sisters, and 2 brothers too. Then my dad came over and wrapped me In a blanket and brought me out to a special place in the woods.  He said he was going to make me a nice bed.  

I am happy I still get to watch my family but I miss their snuggles. I at least will always be on my mountain and remembered as Bella the Mountain Dog. I still hear people talk about me wondering where I am as they hike that special mountain; Mount Blue Job.

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Here is a picture and a small comment about the real Bella with a group of HS students on a field trip.

Bella The Mountain Dog

Dog Days: 08.06.2013

Bella

I watched as the car pulled up the dirt driveway. Three of them got out. I remembered them from before, they had come over to play a week earlier. This time they didn’t have him with them.

They got out and the woman crouched down near me. She was smiling and seemed happy to see me but I sensed a little sadness when she looked at my family. I gave her a quick kiss to reassure her that I would be ok.

I took one last roam around the yard. I had no idea what their yard would be like but just knew it would be fine. I said my goodbyes to the chickens. I would miss them a little. Then I headed over to my family. I had been with them for a year and a half. I had watched the two children grow. I was there when the woman found out that they would have a third. They were fantastic. I would miss them but I knew they were making the best decisions for their family and in turn, for me.

After some rubs and snuggles I jumped into the car. I was so excited for a new adventure. I couldn’t wait to see my friend and my new home. We pulled up to the house, it was smaller than I was used to but seemed welcoming. My friend, Quincy, came bounding out the door. We were very happy to see one another. We played and ran.

After a walk with my new mom-person she brought me inside. I was happy to see my bed waiting for me with my toy on top. Only minutes had passed but I already was feeling like this was home. I spent the evening snuggling the human child and winning over the cat. Darkness fell and I got sleepy.

My new mom-person let me outside one last time then went into the bedroom to put the little one to bed. Somewhere outside someone set off fireworks. It made me nervous. Was this normal? Did my new family need me to protect them? Who would protect me? Quincy was sound asleep. He didn’t seem worried. Maybe I shouldn’t either. I tried to lay down but they noise kept going.

Right before I thought I couldn’t take anymore my new mom-person called for me. I happily went to her in her room. Somehow she knew I was a little scared. She invited me onto the bed where she and the little one were snuggled up. I curled up and immediately drifted off.

I knew then that I was home.

Quincy

I pretended to sleep while my family gathered the things they needed for the day. They were headed out and I was staying home. I tried to act like I didn’t mind. I refrained from crying at the door or looking out the window. I would lay on my bed and close my eyes. My mom-person would always rub my head and turn on the radio but after they left, I always got lonely. This day was no exception.

I heard them close the doors and drive away. Even the cat had gone out. I paced the hallway and sniffed the counters. It was boring being home alone. I could hear the two dogs across the street playing outside. I wish I had a playmate.

I had drifted off when I heard their car pull in. I could hear them getting out. One. Two. Three people. Wait, what was that? A fourth? The fourth one didn’t sound human. My senses are not quite as good as they had been when I was younger but I was pretty sure the fourth sound was a dog! I let out a whoop as my dad-person walked in the door.

The second I left the house I recognized her. We had played a week earlier. She was wonderful. Bella, they called her. We played and ran and got acquainted. This was so exciting. I really hoped she was here to stay.

My mom-person took her for a walk and I waited inside with my dad-person and the little one. I hoped Bella would like it here. I hoped she would be nice to my family, especially the little one. I adore her. I was there when my mom-person found out she was pregnant. I stayed by her side when she wasn’t able to leave the house. While she worried about her unborn baby, I would snuggle close to her and listen to their heartbeats. One in my mom-person’s chest and one, very faint one, in her belly.

I was there when they brought her home. She was so tiny. I got nervous when anyone would go near her. I watched her grow into a super fun toddler. We played and rolled on the floor. She is nearly three now. I love her so much. I really hope Bella loves her, too.

I could hear all 6 feet walking up the driveway. I met Bella and my mom-person at the door. I couldn’t control my excitement. I had a friend!! She came in and we played some more. She even was able to win over the cat. I was impressed. We eventually settled down and she layed on her bed. I couldn’t take my eyes off from her.

I woke up a few hours later and she was gone. I let out a little bark but it was drowned out by the annoying booms of fireworks. I got up and looked for her. Halfway down the hallway I saw my family’s bedroom door was slightly open. I poked my head in, not wanting to wake anyone. There she was. All curled up at my mom-person’s feet. I walked quietly up to the bed. Mom-person gave me a quick scratch behind the ears and invited me up. I hopped up being careful not to wake the sleeping little one or my friend. I gave them both a quick sniff and curled up, drifting off immediately.

I had a friend.

I was home.

Dog Days 08.05.13

She took me completely by surprise as I’d never thought I’d be into a gal like her.

Yet, there was something about her long legs and her brown eyes that I found irresistible. The way she rested her head on my knee made me fall in love in an instant. 

Her name was Charlotte and we’d take long, lazy walks together and sleep in on the weekends. Lucky for me she loved tofu just as much as I did and she’d sneak bites off my plate when she thought I wasn’t looking. She’d listen to me like no one else ever had — with no judgement or criticism, just love. 

Charlotte never asked for much, but what she did want, I was more than happy to give 100 times over. I cared for her in sickness and in health, for richer and poorer. It was true love.

Sadly, our relationship only lasted 4 years because she was up in years when I met her. I didn’t mind loving an old lady; she was my girl. But one day she was just gone and my life has never ever been the same. 

What I wouldn’t do to hear one more bay from her royal houndness.