My name is Spikey. I’m a dog, with feelings — deeper than humans seem to think. I had a sad beginning. I didn’t know my dad, and had only got used to my mom during feeding times. Later I was hauled away to a pet shop. I was for sale, and placed in a small cage for humans to peer in.
Then three people entered the shop. An old man and old woman with a young girl not much older than I was. The little girl looked in the cage and spotted me. We made eye contact and I knew she was going to be my new owner.
But I overheard the old man, her grandfather, mutter, “No Kaitlyn, you can’t have a puppy”.
“You’re too young.”
With that they trudged out of the shop. My heart sank. I just knew Kaitlyn was meant for me. Another sad day was awaiting me.
Wrong. Granny twisted the old man’s arm and the three re-entered the shop and bought me. I can still feel Kaitlyn’s small hands around my body as she carried me to the car.
Kaity and I formed a close relationship. I never let her out of my sight. At night I’d crawl in with her and hide under the duvet. The only time we were separated was during school time. Otherwise we were tied to the hip.
This lasted for seven whole years. That is, until the day her dad came home and shouted two words.
“Affirmative action!”
I could tell they were bad words. It meant he couldn’t get work and had to look to a far-off country over the big waters.
Kaity’s folks had to sell their house with all the furniture, so they moved in with Granny and Grandpa – my buyers.
Then one day Kaity took me into her arms and said, “I’ll always love you, whatever happens”.
Her tears wet my face. Something bad was going to happen.
It did. The day they left for the airport Kaity kept running back to me crying: “Spikey! I don’t want to leave you, but I must, my pal! Maybe someday. . .”
I can still see her tear-stained face at the car’s window.
My heart broke. There won’t be another Kaity. Because of two bad words.
But maybe, like the day at the pet shop, she’ll re-appear and take me into her arms again.
A dog can pray, you know.
cliffb@telkomsa.net
www.cliffsclout.wordpress.com
