Remembering Lost Love

It was a dark and stormy night. Yes, it was. Jack brought the garbage out and came back holding the collar of a soggy, quaking and bewildered dog. She was also tiny, mud-covered and tagless.

Naturally Carole swooped down and bundled her into the living room. The one with the Coit-clean ecru carpet. The one we don't wear shoes on. Lucy exclaimed, "Ack! Ack!" But of course nobody listened.

In no time flat Carole washed, dried and brushed the little thing. I sat in my matriarch chair and fretted with the intention of being obvious. Then, before I could do anything to prevent it, the shivering mite crept into my chair and snuggled up to me quiet as a little mouse. I didn't know what to do---I'd never held a dog before! Well, I discovered I'm not made of stone.

For the next three weeks Bonnie Lou, as I'd named her, refused to leave my side. Jackthedog and Sam the Incontinent Pup were still frequent visitors. Bonnie Lou made sure she kept her little body between me and the presumptuous invaders. Meanwhile Carole visited the shelters, placed "found dog" ads and hung posters in public places.

"Think how you'd feel if you lost your pet," she said. I couldn't imagine. "What goes around comes around." she added. "You don't want this on your conscience do you?" Frankly I didn't give a darn. I wanted Bonnie Lou.

Well, sad for me it came around that Bonnie Lou's original owners showed up. (They called her Hannah---what an insipid name.) But they were from North Dakota and Carole was delighted to share stories about FAAARgo. And of course they all agreed nobody from NoDak would ever keep someone else's dog.

I was very sad for a long time and am still blue every time I think of her. So if any of you know a lonely little Westie girl out there, tell her Lucy is waiting with open arms.

PS All the best to Terri at http://www.islandwriter.net/ on her adorable new Scottie baby Duncan!