It was in late-August,
the day my sister and I
returned home from summer camp
and our old dog Pepper was not
at the door to greet us.
***
Our father sat us down
and solemnly reminded us
that Pepper
had been with the family
since before we were born …
***
But then, seeing our faces,
he stopped and
thought for a moment,
and then explained that while we were at camp,
he had sent Pepper
to live on a farm upstate,
— a magical farm!
One where she could play all day long
and live a life of ease.
***
And, most importantly, he concluded,
it had been mostly Pepper’s decision.
***
We were suspicious, but
then mom appeared
and presented us with a surprise:
a puppy
we named,
Pepper 2.
***
And suddenly, once again, all seemed right in our world.
***
That is, until, later that night,
just a little past our bed-time …
***
The phone rang.
I answered.
It was Pepper.
***
She barked & whimpered
into the phone.
“Pepper is that you?” I asked.
“Are you ok, gurl?”
***
Suddenly,
I heard a human voice say,
“Get that receiver away from Pepper!”
And then the line went dead.
***
It was then I knew our father had lied.