It’s been a long week here at the dog hotel. I’ve been passing the time by making up a story of an imaginary dog. If you want to read it from the beginning you can go back to Monday, March 11th for the rest of the story.
***
Eric didn’t want to leave the shelter. “There must be some mistake. We just dropped that puppy off two days ago. How could he not be here?”
“Let’s go Eric. He’s not here.” Dad gently placed his hand on Eric’s shoulder.
As they walked past the front desk Eric spoke to the woman at the counter. “If that puppy shows up please give us a call.”
The woman nodded but didn’t look up from the book she was reading.
Eric didn’t even notice the pile of slush he stood in as he stepped out the door. “Dad, do you mind if I just walk around for a bit?”
“Go ahead Eric. I’ll wait for you in the truck.”
A nearby field looked like a good place for Eric to calm his mind. He didn’t care that it was covered with wet, heavy snow and he trudged along through it heading toward the back of the shelter building. Around back he noticed a lot of footprints, and paw prints and figured this must be where the dogs were taken for walks.
Off in the distance stood several trees and Eric noticed that many of the tracks headed that direction. He began following the tracks to the trees.
“What am I doing? My dad’s got to get to work soon.” Eric turned to head back.
As Eric turned he thought he heard something that sounded like a yip. He turned back toward the trees but saw nothing. Walking back toward the direction of the truck Eric heard the sound again. This time when he turned around he saw a puppy tugging at the end of a leash. Was it? Could it be? It looked like it.
Running as fast as the sloshing snow would allow, Eric made his way toward the puppy. Dropping his knees into the snow he scooped up that puppy, while the puppy turned into a bundle of wiggles and kisses.
“I take it you two know each other,” said the woman holding the puppy’s leash.
“We sure do,” said Eric. “I thought I’d lost this little guy.”
“I normally come and walk the dogs later in the day, but I have to be somewhere today so I came in early. Looks like we got back just in time.”
Eric could hardly speak through his tears. “Thank you. Thank you,” he said.
“Let me take this little guy inside and get him dried off. You can go around front and fill out the paperwork. He should be ready about the same time you are.”
***
Eric held the puppy tightly in his lap as they headed home.
“Eric, we’ve still got one thing to work out,” his dad said.
“What’s that,” said Eric getting a little worried.
They stopped at a traffic light and Dad looked directly at Eric. “Just one thing Eric. What are you going to name him?”
“I’ll come up with something,” Eric said.
***
Now that that puppy has a home, I sure hope my person shows up at this dog hotel and takes me back home soon. Bongo