A dog’s life

I remember the day I

returned from school and

my dog Pepper did not

greet me at the door. 

***

Then my father sat me down

and reminded me that Pepper

had been with the family

since before I was born

***

And — as such, Pepper decided

it was time for her to

retire to a farm upstate

***

Furthermore, my dad said,

“Pepper told me to tell you, personally — Good-bye. And thank you.”

***

I started to cry,

but then mom appeared

and presented me with

a new puppy!

Which I named, Pepper 2.

***

And just like that all my

suspicions faded away.

***

— Until later that night.

It was just a past my bed-time,

when the phone rang.

***

I answered it.

***

It was Pepper.

***

She barked and whimpered into the phone.

***

“Pepper, is that you? I asked.

“Are you ok, girl?”

***

Then a voice:

“Get that receiver away from Pepper!”

***

And then the line went dead.

***

It was then I knew father had lied.

.

 

 

 

42 thoughts on “A dog’s life

  1. Pepper had been inducted into the military, where she rose to the grade of sergeant. But she missed her old home. And so she started a band: Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.

  2. Oh, the farm upstate is real, all right. I used to live there. Thousands of elderly dogs as far as the eye could see. And the smell—! For dogs, it is heaven. For humans, not so much.

  3. I had tears forming in my eyes at the first, then I felt better as the tale went on and then I was left thinking that Pepper was being held captive by Vincent Price. Lets go get Pepper tref. That Price guy needs to be taught a lesson.

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