Smells and Signals

This is the best.

Natalie always gives the best head pets.

I love Natalie.

If she were a smell, she would be honeysuckle and warm blankets.

I let out a massive sigh as I nuzzle further on her belly. It’s gotten a little round, but it’s still comfy!

Gus, who’s on Natalie’s other side, slips me some popcorn every now and then. I must be doing a good job.

Gus has been with me since day 1. He’s my guy. If he were a smell, he’d be oak and coffee.

We’re watching the moving thing showing some men riding around on giant dogs, holding onto shiny sticks and big frisbees. The giant dogs used to scare me, but we’re cool now – I met one.

Like I said, this is the best.

And then I felt it.

Natalie’s belly moved!

My eyes went wide and I shifted over it. What the heck?

More movement…

The giggles from Natalie and Gus signalled that everything was okay. So that’s good, but…

Oh….OH….Oh my dog!! That’s a people puppy!!

I told her congratulations and gave her tons of kisses. Apparently, I overdid it slightly, because she pushed me off. I couldn’t help it though.

I placed my head back on Natalie’s belly, her pets resuming. How didn’t I hear it before?

I hope you’re alright in there, little one. I can’t wait to meet you!

*****

Nooo! Mr Blue! Give him back!

I sprinted as fast as my paws could carry me.

My target?

Celine, the wretched Siamese cat from across the street.

She had stolen my favourite toy and sleep buddy, Mr Blue. Gus gave that to me when I was little. How dare she!

She laughed back at me. Except it wasn’t her usual catckle...she sounded like dying squeaky toy. Well, she could squeak as much as she wanted…I was closing in.

She usually gets her way when she comes around, but this assault on Mr Blue was crossing a line. She would not get away with this.

Power surged through my golden paws. My legs stretched long and moved quick. I felt like one of those giant dogs on the moving thing. I felt glorious.

I was about a bark away from biting her bunny tail.

And then…

My eyes snapped open and I pounced from the floor, ready for action. Ready for that squeaky Celine.

Oh…ha…just a dream.

I scanned the room for Mr Blue, who was safely snuggled in my bed.

By investigating the air, I could tell that Gus and Natalie should be home soon.

I wonder what they did today.

Maybe they went hunting. They’re super skilled at that. Quite often they come back with yummy food and snacks.

Maybe they were saving the world from other Celines.

Or maybe they were off taming those giant dogs.

In any case, while they were out, I held down the fort. I’m pretty good at it too, I think.

Trotting over to the front room, I commence one of my favourite guard duties…window-watching.

To my disgust, I see Celine walking around across the street as if she owned it. …Jerk.

I heard something in the distance.

Yes! Natalie and Gus!

Their car begins to pull into the driveway.

Yay! Oh, my dog! Hi guys! Wait!

I run to scoop up Mr Blue and return to my post. He likes saying hi too.

They head to the door. Gus has his arms full of bags, while Natalie, holding her swollen tummy, waddles after him. Looks like they went hunting this time.

Me and Mr Blue rush to meet them. I love it when they come home.

I say hi and tell them all about my dream as they enter. I also make sure not to forget my guard duties by investigating everything they got. They never have to worry; I always make sure it’s safe.

****

Gus and Natalie have been gone longer than usual. I miss them. Jaime’s here though, and he’s always a lot of fun. He’s really good at playing and he feeds me food that Gus and Natalie don’t on our walks…we don’t tell them that though.

We haven’t played that much today though. He’s been on his phone thing mostly, but that’s okay. He’s been giving me lots of pets.

A low rumble of a car enters my ears. They’re back!

I dart straight my window post. Yes! That’s them!

I bounce back over to Jaime, who slowly stands. Come on, look alive, Jaime. That’s no way to say hi.

I patiently, but impatiently, wait for Jaime to open the door. I can already smell Gus and…oh, it’s Mum too!

The door reveals Gus holding a bunch of stuff, followed by Mum behind him. She’s also carrying stuff.

I’m so happy to see them both. It’s been at least a week since I saw Mum!

I investigate what Gus has put down while they debrief Jaime on their mission as usual.

Something else caught my attention…a new smell…I trace it to Mum, who had reclined on the couch. What does she have in that bundle?

Her signals cause me to be cautious, so I slow my approach. My nostrils go double-time. This smell…it’s so lovely…familiar, but also like milky lotion.

I feel Gus’ hand on my head – which I take the opportunity to sneak attack kiss – as he settles next to Mum.

I peer over Mum’s arms and see…the people pup!! It’s here!

They shush me. Oops, sorry, sorry. I do my best to calm down, but it’s very hard to do when you want to celebrate. It’s so small…Nice to meet you, little one! What’s your name?

At which point Jaime left I’m unsure, I was way too busy inhaling every bit of our new little family member. Mum sadly broke my sniffing spree as she took the pup into the bedroom. I was about to follow but Gus began scratching THE spot behind my ear.

This is the best. Gus, the pup, Mum, Nat-wait…Where was Natalie? She usually comes home with Gus…Maybe she’s hunting?

Sniffles snap me back out of thought. I bombarded Gus with attention and kisses. Please don’t cry, Gus. I wasn’t ignoring you, I promise.

******

Gus hasn’t left much since he got home with Luke (they had to say it a fair amount of time before I figured out it was his name). Normally, I’d be thrilled that we had so much time to hang out, but he never plays anymore. Not even when I brought him Mr Blue.

Mum has been around more too. She hangs out with Luke and I. Luke’s a noisy one, but we do our best to comfort the little thing.

Natalie still isn’t home. I miss her. I don’t know where she is, but I hope she comes home soon. I keep a nose out for her when Gus takes me for walks – nothing so far though.

Where are you, Natalie?

****

I found Natalie.

We all were standing around a big, long box. I don’t know how, but I knew she was in there…and that she wasn’t coming out.

My heart tore.

Later that evening, Gus had taken Luke into the bedroom, leaving me with my untouched food for company. Gus’ cries found my ears through the door.

Slowly shifting to the door, I scratch at it. Please let me in.

The door cracked open and Gus welcomed me on the bed with him and Luke. Natalie’s scent faintly still on the sheets. We cried together as Luke slept.

*****

Luke’s being noisy again. He so often is. Gus can sometimes get him to quiet down but it does seem like quite the challenge. I try too, but Gus doesn’t like me kissing him.

Gus, on the other hand, kept getting quieter and quieter. He began drinking this stuff that smells nasty. Makes my nose scrunch every time. I don’t know what it is, but I know I don’t like what it does.

He fell asleep and forgot to feed me once. I had tried to wake him up and ask for food, but he got a little angry. I don’t know why. I window-watched and everything. …I must’ve done something wrong that day.

I miss Natalie.

He’s asleep now on the couch. Although how anyone could sleep through little Luke’s howling is a mystery, even from a whole other room. He should settle down soon…

But he didn’t.

If anything, Luke’s cries continued to spike. It was making me nervous.

I decided to check on him with Mr Blue, maybe that would help. I mean, it hadn’t so far, but you never know.

I trotted into the bedroom and up to Luke’s crate. Luke’s angry cries turned desperate. Abandoning Mr Blue, I investigated the situation as best I could.

Something was off…something wasn’t right…

Luke wasn’t right.

He wasn’t right at all.

I raced back to Gus, asking him to wake up.

He wouldn’t.

Luke’s cries swelling in my ears.

I pawed him, trying to keep my panic at bay. Come on, please. He needs help.

Gus, heavy in another world, waved me away.

I paced around nervously. What could I do?? I couldn’t help Luke, not like Gus could.

I checked back on Luke. He was screeching now. There was no other option. Gus had to wake up.

I quickly make my way back to Gus and began an assault of yells and paws, pulling at Gus’ clothes, doing anything, everything, I could to wake him up. GUS, PLEASE!

It worked.

Gus yelled back at me, angry and confused. But I didn’t care. I yelled right back while guiding him to Luke.

Gus finally focused on the screeching coming from the bedroom and stumbled past me.

He took one look at Luke and seemed to come to the same conclusion I did. He snatched Luke up and blew past me back to the main room for his keys. He wrenched the door open, then slammed it shut.

Before I knew it, I was alone and it was dead silent. I collected Mr Blue and took up my post at the window.

I’ll be here, but please come back.

****

Ow.

Luke’s gotten in the habit of grabbing my ears. That’s what I get for all the sneak attack kisses, I guess.

He’s been much better lately. Still noisy, but happy.

Gus has too. Although, he’s still very quiet.

None of his drinks smell nasty anymore. And he got me a bunch of new toys! Granted, some of them are probably Luke’s, but sharing is caring.

Mum still comes quite often, which is nice. I really like it when we all go on walks together because Gus will play a bit more. Can’t wait for Luke to join!

Things don’t feel the same without Natalie, but they are starting to feel more…normal.

Then Gus began taking away Natalie’s things and I began to lose her scent.

I didn’t touch my food for days.

Gus finally got me to eat by surprising me with a steak. He knows I can’t resist that…

He gave me lots of cuddles after. I felt a bit better.

****

It was Luke’s third winter when Emily started coming over. She’s pretty cool. She can throw the ball further than Luke can, so that was a big plus.

Celine would try and steal her attention when we left the house for walks. Can you imagine? Obviously, I said no to that.

During summer, we took a long drive to her house. It was weird staying somewhere new, but it passed a thorough investigation. It was completely worth it too, because the next day we went to the beach!

I had so much fun.

Luke and I did some expert digging; Emily and Gus took turns splashing with me. Gus hadn’t laughed or played that much in a long time. It was the best.

****

It was Luke’s fifth winter now. He’s getting really good at throwing, although I’m a little slower now.

Emily’s been living with us for a while now, but sometimes we all still go to the house near the beach. Mum comes too!

I follow Gus and Emily to join Luke on the couch, cleaning up pieces of popcorn that Gus ‘dropped’ along the way. We’re going to watch Luke’s favourite winter movie, Klaus. It’s pretty good.

Luke curls in Gus’ arms while I settle next to Emily, who give me great neck scratches.

I’ve decided as a smell she would be driftwood and lavender.

I sigh into her.

This is the best.