The Consolation of Canis Majoris VI

Wake up in a low, slow growl. A good growl. What is it?

Feel a small space of warmth around me; but, everything else is cold: behind me, above me, beyond me. Remain still. The ears, which normally are up, are up, and then some. Listening closely for some clue. Listening. But, it’s just a far-off whining, and then a rising but distant grating. Nothing.

Then, realize that this dog has got to go. But, everything is cold: resolve to hold it and return to sleep. Draw the legs and head into a tighter curl.

...

It's no good: can't hold it.

Long since learned this: dare not simply bark an honest, forthright bark. This provokes nothing but a jarring clamor and the appearance of Himself wearing what looks like a death mask, with a furiously matted head coat, cursing and muttering indecipherably. A good chance, under these circumstances, that he’ll swing his foot at the underbelly, just as the old bladder is about to give.

Instead, begin with a muffled, tentative bark, steadily increasing in frequency and volume, until there is a stirring above. Pause for a moment, then continue until there is the soft creak of the bed coils and the hard creak of the floor board progressing above and down the stairs.

This is very much how they wake themselves. They have a box that emits a continual siren until one of them reluctantly rises. Take this as further evidence of their troubles.

He comes shuffling and scratching, but not cursing, and opens the gate and the door. No dog enjoys going out on a frigid night. In the first place, the ground is invariably frosty and sharp, and the air is biting, and the poor plumbing takes a while to get going. In the second place, there is always the tension that a small, striped, furry face will appear from behind a bush, and one, in mid-stream, will be forced to make chase.

Fortunately, no face appears.  Watch Himself, standing just inside the door, his eyes closed, weaving slightly.  One day, in his drowsiness, he'll allow this dog to follow him back to his den and crawl onto the foot of this bed, stretched out in wonderful coziness.

Comments

[Ned]

Am enjoying the dog's eye view. Very well done.